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Deeper Dive Inquiry Post #1: Unity

csinthewest

What is Unity?

Unity is a cross-platform game engine used to develop 2D and 3D video games, simulations, and interactive experiences. It supports development for PC, mobile, console, and even virtual and augmented reality platforms. Unity uses C# as its primary programming language and provides a powerful editor that allows developers to design scenes, write scripts, manage physics, animate characters, and build fully playable games within one environment.

One of the reasons Unity is so widely used is its accessibility. Beginners can start building simple projects quickly, while advanced developers can create complex, professional-quality games. Many popular indie games were built using Unity, which shows how scalable and the engine really is.

Screenshot of unity logo
Source Under CC Licence: BY-SA 3.0

Why I Chose Unity?

As a Computer Science student, I wanted to choose a digital tool that would both challenge me and complement my degree. Unity stood out to me for several reasons:

  • It combines programming and creativity.
  • It strengthens my C# skills, which are valuable in industry.
  • It introduces me to game physics, object-oriented design, and event-driven programming in a practical way.
  • It allows me to build a tangible final product that demonstrates technical and design skills.
  • Unity has a free license for people who want to make personal projects which is amazing for a course such as this.

How I will be learning Unity

My main learning method will be through YouTube Videos. I have picked a version of Unity (Unity 2022 LTS) because it is a stable Long-Term Support (LTS) version that many developers use in real-world projects. Unity regularly updates this version and there is also a ton of online documentation and solutions for niche problems I may encounter since the version has been out a while.

Source Under CC License: BY-SA 4.0

Final Project

By the end of this course, my goal is to create a fully playable 2D platformer game. My goal for now is two levels, depending on how fast I learn Unity I will scale up or down the project for the course. The game will include:

  • A controllable player character
  • Smooth left/right movement
  • Jumping mechanics with gravity
  • Platforms and obstacles
  • A win/lose condition
  • Simple UI elements (start screen, restart option)