Requirements for Learning/Using Unity Thread

Hello IndieDB.
I am a 16 year old (very) novice game developer, I have a question that I searched the answer for and I couldn't get what I need.
What do I (exactly) need to learn and use the Unity 3D engine. All the pages that I found were revolving on how much the user's knowledge in programming and game development is.
I have been using Game Maker since '07, but I haven't really started to seriously make games with it until about 6 months ago, I know some basic GML, Java, Visual Basic and really (and I mean really) simple and basic C++. I generally understand the structure of a video game, I have made some (2d) games with GameMaker in the past, I have pretty much zero experience with 3D programming and modeling in general. Also C# has been recommended to me and I have been told that it is very similar to Java and C++.

I forgot to mention I don't have really powerful computer at the moment.
My specs are :
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
Processor: Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2400 @ 1.83 GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.8GHz
GFX: ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
RAM: 2.5 GB

Thank you.
-Manny.

jesus your computer's freaking obsolete. o.O
anyway, for unity you pretty much have to know either javascript or C#, as they are the languages used in unity. I'd suggest checking out tutorials and the unity script reference for useful info

you seem more than capable to use unity

maybe you just need some video tutorials

try these

3dbuzz.com

Guiboune wrote: jesus your computer's freaking obsolete. o.O

Yes, it is xD
I've been using this laptop for some years now as you might imagine, (Damn! Toshiba makes f***ing durable computers.)
My main (desktop) computer is broken at the moment, and I intend to buy a new one soon
Thank you for your feedback

Well, I have dabbled in Gamemaker and Unity a bit (not much) so maybe I could help. warning- long post up ahead.

Road to your first game
1) Do the tutorials which come with Unity first and you should get familiar with it. I particular focused on the Unity tutorials which involved using the script editor.

From what I remember Unity was similar to Game Maker in that you could write small piece of code (scripts) and basically attach them to an object in a scene. Working in a 3D environment is definitely tricky but from that point you can focus on learning the 'new stuff' ie. cameras while running faster through some of the more familiar stuff.

I recommend starting with a fixed camera ( one click to set to isometric view- tutorials show you how).

I suggest you play around with the tutorial stuff until you get comfortable with where things are and what they do. The tutorials are pretty decent for that.

Then I recommend getting some stuff from the Asset Store they should have kits like Match-3, Puzzle - something simple- the aim here is to get practice in before leaping into something more complex (platformer, racing game, fps). This will give you some exposure to the more detailed processes by reading the scripts that work and then deconstructing them ( seeing how others have done it you can see how to do it yourself.)

You should be able to put out something gamemaker-ish but polished with this combination. Change up the art and such, tweak the scripts and you can have something satisfyingly playable.

Go through the full cycle all the way to deployment (for a sense of achievement and also just to get familiar with things.)

More advanced usage

2) Learn C#
- start building up your knowledge as Unity uses Monodevelop for its scripts (though I think you can also use Java) but C# might also be useful if you are interested in going Playstation Mobile (different discussion I digress)- but all in all I think this would be a good way to go.

3) Buy some dedicated Unity books
- Currently on my shelf, I can recommend buying Unity 3 : Game Development Hotshot and Holistic Game Development for Unity. (available from Amazon) but there are others you can buy and use. These will teach you not just programming but mechanics you might want to use in your games.These include some basic stuff and more difficult stuff.

4) Search Unity forums for what you might not know
- asking might be hard ( sometimes feel bad when you get generic answers or 'already been answered') but there are people who do user-tutorials for Unity, so you can find bits and bobs here and there by searching their forums.

Art
5) In terms of 3D modeling
- there's Blender if you want to make your own stuff ( lots of people use Blender cos' it's good and it's free)
- Buy 3D models from stores
- Hire someone to make models for you (ask deviantART people- cause you can see their work- you would be interested in "Low Poly" models)
- Get some tutorials on 3D modeling- there are lots around.
- Asset Store should also have kits with 3D models so you can easily populate your game.

Start small - stay small - but focus on doing it well. Even if it is a small free game with little gameplay, you can really cut your teeth nicely on such a project. Then move up to the more detailed and expansive games- there are also kits for this in the Asset Store so look around at what you can invest in and what you will spend time learning.

I think you should do fine but I really recommend starting with something small that you know how it should work inside and out- that way you can focus of filling in the knowledge gaps rather than fighting with mechanics.

hope this helps.

Not Java but JavaScript, and yes.
Java is pretty close to the C languages in appearance. This isn't 1996 anymore, get it right and stop giving me small slivers of hope.

Edited by: somonels

Thank you all for your great feedback, I live in Saudi Arabia, I don't believe my local bookstore has Unity books and I'm currently not capable of online purchase, but I'll search in more bookstores hopefully.

Thank you.
-Manny.

You're welcome. I would definitely recommend trying to find a way to get a paypal account- very useful even for when you want to sell your games- so definitely look into that. There are tons of resources available (low and high prices) - so you can really get off your feet quite quickly. But for now the free resources should be sufficient.

Here are two sites for you to check out:
Walker Boys
GamedevTuts

All the best working in Unity.

Don't forget burgzerg hacknslash tutorials:http://www.burgzergarcade.com/hack-slash-rpg-unity3d-game-engine-tutorial

Get a C# book.

Practice will teach you more than reading but doing both really reinforces concepts.

Your computer is worse than mine, lol, working with 3d programs and importing large textures takes for-ev-er. But it can run Unity, and just think, if it can run your games on your computer, it can run anywhere

Edited by: shindig