Have you ever wondered how game companies created their games? Have you been researching how to become a unity developer or how to learn game development? If so, then you have come to the right place!
Today, we will be taking a look at a variety of different topics that are closely related to game development. However, we’ll be only focusing on one particular game engine and that is Unity and by the end of this article, you should be able to answer the following questions:
But before we get to the actual process of how to become a unity developer, let’s understand first what is Unity and what makes Unity stand out from other game engines.
What is Unity?
Unity is one of the most popular game engines that you can use for game development. It is just so good that you can create games in just 10 minutes or less. But what makes it stand out to other game engines?
Unity vs. Other Game Engines
The following are the features that makes Unity stand out.
Easy to use
Compared to other game engines, Unity is one of the easiest tools to learn. In fact, if you ever get lost, you can easily navigate to their manual page through the help tab.
Well, it’s just a manual. Do you say?
Their documentation is very straight to the point and easy to understand and navigate through. It’s like their manual is not only meant for beginners but also for the ones that have experienced Unity.
Easy Programming Language
Unity used to work with JavaScript (also known as UnityScript), Boo and C# all at the same time but since working with three programming languages at the same time is one hell of a job, they decided to get rid of JavaScript and Boo, and stay with C#, which we believe is a good decision.
C# is one of the easiest programming languages out there and if you want to become a Unity developer, learning the programming language C# is your way to go. C# is also based on C which makes it easier to transition to other programming languages.
So you know C# already but still don’t know how to use it with Unity?
Well, Unity also provides scripting references! If you ever get confused about their built-in attributes and functions, you can just find it on their scripting references and there they explain each and everything.
Multi-Platform Development
Unity offers a multiple platform development which means you can build your games for android phones and later on build it for iOS, Windows PC, Mac and other platforms without having any issues at all.
Compatibility
Unlike Unreal Engine, Unity allows you to create complex projects for low-end devices without requiring a powerful computer setup. However, if you are looking to create a project that is too detailed then obviously none of the two will help you out. So if you think your computer is not the best then we suggest you start with mobile game development or casual game development.
With that said, Unity is the best game engine for developers who only have low-end computers.
Affordability
Compared to other game engines, Unity is very affordable. In fact, if your plan is to just learn game development, you can have Unity personal license for FREE!
Best Community Ever
Unity has the best and the most active community ever. Compared to other game engines, Unity provides a very good community that can support you throughout your game development journey.
Not only that, but Unity is also everywhere. You got scripting issues? search it on Google and you will find your answer immediately. You want tutorials? We have plenty of gaming tutorials here dedicated for Unity development.
How To Become A Unity Developer: Step by Step Guide
We’re not going to lie but learning how to develop video games is hard. Not only that but it also offers a TON of work. However, if you compare it to other skills or career paths, becoming a Unity developer is actually one of the easiest and coolest choices you could ever make!
If you’re still reading all the way here then that makes you really fit for this kind of career. Let’s get through the process of becoming a Unity developer.
Step 1: Understand Why You Want To Become A Unity Developer
The first and one of the most important steps on how to become a Unity developer is understanding and identifying your reasons for why you want to become a game developer.
Why do you want to learn game development?
Is it because you’re just curious about how games are created? or you really want it to turn into a career? or you have game designs in your head that you want to become a reality?
Most games especially the ones that are created by big companies are often created by multiple people with different roles. There are game designers, animators, 3D modeling, programmers, and sound designers.
Now why is this important?
Well, understanding the purpose of your quest and knowing what you really want to achieve will not only benefit you but also save you from future headaches.
You see, game development is a very tedious task especially if your game projects are overly huge.
Step 2: Installing Unity Editor
Before you can start learning how to become a Unity developer, obviously, you will need to install Unity into your computer.
Once you arrived to the plans and pricing page, just select Personal under the Individual tab and this should allow you to download the latest Unity Hub Installer.
Step 3: Playing Around Unity
Once you are able to use Unity, play around and understand each corner of the editor. Unity also provide free projects that you can download from their Asset Store and so if you ever get confused or lost, this is where you can use their documentation.
Step 4: Taking Unity Courses Online
Another way to fasten your learning journey is by taking Unity courses online. However, if you’re not interested in spending money on these courses then YouTube is your best option.
There are hundreds of free videos online that can help you understand how to use Unity. We recommend our good friend Brackeys. He provides good and straight to the point tutorials that will surely help you start.
Step 5: Never Stop & Focus On Your Projects
If you’re really serious of becoming a game developer then you have to commit to it. It’s unfortunate that we often see game developers start their project and after a couple of months they just get sick of it and stopped working. This is mostly the case especially if they only care for the profit of their work.
If you really want to become a Unity developer then you have make sure that you finish your projects. So don’t stop and just focus on finishing your projects.
Step 6: Publish Your First Game
After some time, usually 3-6 months, you should be able to publish your very first game. Wai-what?! I should be able to publish a game in just 3-6 months?! I don’t even know how to animate my character yet!
Well, that could be true that some game projects may take much time longer than 6 months but the whole point of learning to become a Unity developer is to start from a small game. We suggest to not look too much into detail like animations or graphics since they do take most of the time in development.
Now let’s say you have your first game ready for publishing. Where can you publish your game?
There are many places that you can publish your game but it all just depends on which platform your game is built. If it is meant for PC then publish your game on Steam. If it is a game meant for Android mobile phones then publish your game on the App Store. Just don’t forget to indicate that you are the developer who created the game as it will increase your respect+ points (*wink*).
Bonus Tip For Becoming a Unity Developer
We understand that learning how to create video games is hard and that’s why we’d love to provide you more tips and hopefully these helps you boost your learning journey.
Improve your programming skills
Every game developer knows that you always need to improve your skills in order to create something spectacular. If you’re looking to become a great Unity Developer, you need to learn everything about Unity editor.
Taking courses online regarding Unity and experimenting will also come in handy. You always need to try this out and improve your skills the best way you can, as it will make a huge difference in the long term. Plus, you can even read books on the topic, and Unity itself has a lot of tutorials and videos you can go through.
There are also plenty of Unity Game Development Cookbooks that you can use and download online that will surely help you learn game development and the whole process of game development.
Get a certification
So you’re taking this very seriously and you want your next career to be a Unity Developer. Well, acquiring a programming certification or even a Unity certification can help as well.
You want to show gaming companies that you have what it takes to work with Unity. Many times companies want developers with experience or a certification that shows their expertise. Get that, and you will have an advantage for getting jobs as a Unity Developer.
Learn more about the production process
A good Unity Developer will always have a plan in place for the game. You want to avoid situations when you are a feature creep and constantly focus on adding features. What you want to do is to plan everything accordingly and prepare a proper production map. That will give you more insight and focus, and you can also prevent any issues that can sometimes arise.
Understand how you can use the asset store
Some people that use assets get a bad rap, but they usually rely on them too much. Assets and templates can help you save time, and they can be very helpful. Since Unity has its own asset store, it makes a lot of sense to check it out and testing it for yourself. It can make a huge difference for you and people will appreciate it more.
Find ways to create systems that you can reuse and re-purpose
Automating stuff or having scripts to make the job easier is very helpful for every game developer. A Unity Developer in particular will appreciate this because you get to customize everything in the future. It works seamlessly and it will make your process a lot easier.
We recommend reading our tutorial on how to create a custom unity editor. This will help you customize your games much faster instead of doing it manually.
Study the Unity roadmap and be active on their forums
Every good Unity Developer stays on the forum, interacts with the Unity creators, talks about features and bugs, etc. These things will help you become a great developer and you will be able to focus a lot more on results and value.
Stuff like this can always make a huge difference, and it will surely give you the outcome that you would expect. You need to stay up to date with their roadmap too, since it will help you figure out whether you need such functions in your game.
Conclusion
Becoming a Unity Developer is a dream come true for a lot of programmers. While it can be tricky to become a Unity Developer at first, with the right planning, education and focus you can make it work. Yes, it requires a lot of practice, but it will help you pursue your dreams while also being able to create outstanding games!
