The Game Design projects are structured around two different software platforms. Unity is the preferred software, but it requires a decent computer to run. It will not run on the Chromebooks. If students don’t have access to a computer that can run Unity, I have projects that student can do using Scratch. Scratch is a free web-based game design platform that will run on the Chromebooks.
Unity Projects
Beginner Unity Projects
The projects are designed to get you up and running with Unity. They are not meant to be done in order. At some point, you need to know scripting and some C# to create your own games in Unity. If you don’t know any scripting languages, that is OK. There are some beginner Unity projects that don’t require any scripting and can get you started using Unity.
- C# Scripting: New to scripting or want some practice to see how C# and Unity work together. Here are two tutorials to help. One is a Codecademy tutorial to get you going in C#. The other in a Unity tutorial that explores how C# scripting works in Unity.
- Roll-A-Ball: Follow Unity’s Roll-A-Ball tutorial to create a simple pick-up game. You will create the game from scratch, creating your own objects and writing your own scripts.
- Maze Game: Expand the Roll-A-Ball game to make your own maze game.
- 2D Game Kit: Follow Unity’s 2D Game Kit tutorial to make a game with Ellen. This project requires no scripting, but getting the kit to work properly can be a challenge.
Intermediate Unity Projects
- 2D Game Kit Part 2: Continue building a game from the 2D game kit. Add more levels, hazards, and an inventory.
- Ruby’s 2D Adventure: Create your own 2D adventure game from the ground up.
Advanced Unity Projects
- 3D Game Kit. Take Ellen into 3D. This is an extension of the 2D Game Kit, but in 3D. It is a lot of fun, but a requires a beefy system to run. If you don’t have a newer computer with decent graphics card, don’t bother with it. Also, the Full Kit is about 4Gb in size. It’s huge!
Other Projects
- Other Unity Learn Projects: Unity Learn has many other great tutorials. Check out this list for some other projects like a first person shooter, karting game, and a platformer.
- Level Design: Do you have a good handle on one of the kits or can build a game on your own and want the next challenge? Focus on building levels for the game and make a progressively challenging game.
- Skill Tutorials: Want to learn a specific skill in Unity but don’t want to work your way though a whole project tutorial. This page has links to other videos focusing on very specific skills such as animation, spawning objects, scene management and more.
Scratch Projects
Scratch is on online game engine that can run on your Chromebooks. It will be used in this class for students who do not have access to a computer that can run Unity. It is much simpler and easier than Unity, but much more limited in what it can do. I normally use Scratch in my Intro to Computer Science class, so my Scratch Projects are in that class’s web pages.