Unity Core Concepts

Getting Familiar with Unity Playground Script 

Setting Up the Project

Adjusting the Camera and Adding Obstacles

Introducing Health 

Creating Objects

Finishing the Game and Next Steps

Getting Started with Unity Playground Curriculum Guide.pdf

Getting Started with Unity Playground is a perfect project for students who have no/limited familiarity with Unity. This curriculum guide consists of eight lesson plans that correspond to 45-60 minute class periods. 

Throughout the course of the project, students create a spaceship game using directions and assets provided. The last tutorial closes  with an open-ended assignment: students have to complete their first Unity game by adding original ideas and Playground visual scripts to the Unity project. 

Unity Playground_Script Reference Guide.pdf

Unity Playground_ Script Cheatsheet.pdf

This is a perfect project for anyone who is getting started with Unity for the first time. You will learn everything from how to navigate the Unity interface to creating your own game without using a single line of code. Educators, make sure to download the Getting Started with Unity Playground Curriculum Guide  and other supporting documents for detailed instructions on how to teach this in class! 

Getting Started with Playground: For Educators

2480da49-3c82-5cc0-86ce-3b5b066041cd:KNyBhALw6RpujrBA0XsE5U

Create a Background

Create and Add Interactivity to the Player

Add the Rotate script to the Player

Add a Flame to the Spaceship

Playground for Educators - 2 - Setting Up the Project.mp4

You will learn how to add a background and a player that can move and rotate. You will also learn how to add particles to your GameObjects so that they look animated.

By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to

Change the spaceship from SpaceshipRed to SpaceshipBlue

Add other Particles to the spaceship, by going to Project > Prefabs > Particles > select a particle

Games

You’ll set the scene by creating a background for your game.

Create a new scene by going to File > Create a New Scene

In the Project View, navigate to Images > Backgrounds > BG_Space and drag it into the Hierarchy

Go to the Inspector window and change the Draw Mode from Simple to Tiled.  Expand the Visibility Options and set the Sorting Layer to Background to ensure that this element will always be behind other game elements

Resize BG_Space to fit the whole screen  by making sure that the image covers the grey rectangle that represents the camera 

Drag BG_Space from Project to Hierarchy

Make changes in the Inspector window

Now, you’ll add a player to the game and add a script that allows it to move around.

Go to Project > Images > Spaceships > SpaceshipRed

Go to Inspector > Add Component > Search for Push and add it

When you add the Push script, you will notice that a Rigidbody 2D was also automatically added to the Inspector. This is because physics is required to make the game object move

Make adjustments: on Rigidbody 2D, change the Gravity value to 0 and Friction to 2  and on the Push (Script), change the Push strength from 5 to 8

Test the game by clicking the Play button and use the arrow keys to move the spaceship

Push script applies a push in a direction when pressing a key

Changes made in the Play mode are not saved! Get out of the Play mode and make the changes again if you want them to be reflected in the game

Add the Push script to the BG_Space

Changing the Push strength makes the arrow bigger

You’ll add another script to allow the player to rotate.

Go to Inspector > Add Component > Search for Rotate and add it to allow steering

Change the Input keys (Type of Central) from Arrow Keys to WASD

Test the changes by going to Play mode. Tweak the values of Rigidbody 2D > Angular Friction and Rotate (Script) > Speed

Change the Input keys from Arrow Keys to WASD

Now for the finishing touches: you’ll add a particle to your player to make it look more animated.

Go to Project > Prefab > Particles > P_Flame and drag it on the Hierarchy

Parent the P_Flame under SpaceshipRed. Now, the flame will move in unison with the red spaceship

Change the initial position of the flame on the back of the vehicle. While selecting P_Flame in the Hierarchy, go to Inspector > Transform and change the Position, Rotation, and Scale values to your preference. You can also do this by using the Position, Rotate, and Scale tools on the top left hand part of the screen  

Save the scene by going to File > Save As > give it a name and save it in the Scenes folder

Parenting GameObjects: Child GameObjects inherit movements from the parent GameObjects

Setting Up the Project

1. Create a Background

2. Create and Add Interactivity to the Player

3. Add the Rotate script to the Player

4. Add a Flame to the Spaceship

Complete this tutorial