Introduction to Unity Environments

• This is session 1, an introduction to Unity Environments

Installing Unity

• To install visit unity.com/download
• Click Download, then subscribe to the Student's version
• Install Unity Hub from the download folder using the UnityHubSetup.exe file
• Run Unity Hub
• Register for a Unity account
• Fill in the required details
• Log in to Unity Hub to install the Unity Editor
• Select the Unity Editor version to install
• Add any additional tools

Getting to Know the Unity Editor

• The Project Dialog is the first interaction
• Start a new project

Getting Started

• To create a new project open the new project dialog
• Choose a template
• Name the project
• Specify a save location

Project on Unity Editor

• The Unity Editor is composed of a toolbar, hierarchy window, scene view, game view, project window and inspector

The Project View

• The Project view contains everything created for the project, including files, scripts, textures, and models

Note: Assets and Objects

• An asset is any item that exists as a file in the Assets folder
• Textures, meshes, sound files and scripts are examples of assets
• A game object is an object that is part of a scene or a level
• Assets can be created from game objects, and game objects from assets
• It is recommended to manage assets inside Unity, as external management may corrupt the project

Note: Project Organization

• As projects grow larger, managing assets becomes difficult
• Every asset type, such as scenes, scripts, and textures, should have its own folder
• Every asset should be in a folder
• If using nested folders, ensure the structure is logical
• Folders should be specific rather than vague or generalized
• Select assets of a certain type quickly with the Favorites button
• The search bar lets looking for specific assets

The Hierarchy View

• The Hierarchy view presents all items in the current scene, not the entire project
• A new Unity project's Hierarchy view includes a default scene featuring Main Camera and Directional Light game objects
• Items added to the scene appear in the Hierarchy view

TIP – Nesting of Game Objects

• Nesting is the act of establishing a connection between two or more items
• Dragging one item onto another nests it under the other
• Nesting creates a parent/child relationship
• The item on top is the parent, while those below become children

Inspector View

• This Inspector view show properties of a selected item
• Clicking on an asset or object in the Hierarchy view automatically displays information in the Inspector view
• Each game object is a container for components like Transform, Camera, and Audio Listener
• Components can be added using the "Add Component" button

The Scene View

• The Scene view visualizes the game environment

The Scene View Controls

• Draw mode controls scene drawing, with "Shaded" as the default to display textures in full color
• 2D/3D view switches between 3D and 2D perspectives; the scene gizmo is hidden in 2D view
• Note that in 2D view the scene gizmo is hidden
• Scene lighting toggles ambient lighting; the default includes built-in ambient lighting
• Audition mode enables or disables audio source functions
• Game overlay dictates the visibility of elements such as skyboxes and fog

The Scene View (Cont....)

• The Gizmo selector chooses gizmos for visual debugging and setup, and it controls the visibility of the placement grid
• The Scene gizmo indicates the current facing direction and aligns the Scene view with an axis
• The scene gizmo allows Scene view operations
• The axes for the control has X,Y and Z indicators

The Game View

• A "play" button provides a full simulation in the editor
• Enables playing, pausing and stepping through the scene
• Play begins the current scene
• Pause halts the execution
• Step makes the game run a single frame at a time for debugging
• Look for the functions of Aspect drop-down, Maximise on Play, Mute Audio, Stats and Gizmos

The Toolbar

• Transform tools manipulate game objects
• Transform gizmo toggles control how gizmos appear in the Scene View
• Game view controls manage the Game view
• Account and Services buttons manage the Unity account and related services
• The Layers drop-down menu allows selection of the object layers in the scene
• By default all objects are visible

Navigating the Unity Scene View

• Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out
• The Hand Tool (hotkey: Q) is used to move about the Scene view
• Click-drag: Drags the camera around the scene
• Hold Alt and click-drag: Orbits the camera around the current pivot point
• Hold Ctrl (Command on Mac) and right-click-drag zooms the camera

Flythrough Mode

• Flythrough mode allows scene movement with a familiar first-person control scheme
• Holding down the right mouse button activates Flythrough mode
• Move the mouse: Causes the camera to pivot
• Press the WASD keys: The WASD keys move you about the scene. Each key corresponds with a direction: forward, left, back, and right, respectively.
• Press the QE keys: The QE keys move you up and down, respectively, within the scene.
• Hold Shift while pressing the WASD or QE keys: Has the same effect as using the WASD or QE keys but much faster, consider Shift to be your “sprint” button.
• Additional resources can be found at https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/explore-the-unity-editor-1#

Exercise

• Create a new scene via File > New Scene or Ctrl+N (Command+N on Mac)
• In the Project view, create a folder named "Scenes" by right-clicking Assets > Create > Folder
• Save the scene in the "Scenes" folder via File > Save Scene or Ctrl+S (Command+S on Mac), and give it a descriptive name
• Add a cube using GameObject > 3D Object > Cube, Create > 3D Object > Cube in Hierarchy, or right-click in Hierarchy view and select 3D Object > Cube
• Select the added cube and experiment with properties in the Inspector view
• Practice Scene view navigation using Flythrough mode, the Hand tool, and snap controls, using the cube as a reference point