The games industry is comparable in size to the film industry and has grown significantly ahead of it in recent years. Unity is one of the most iconic gaming engines available today and is the most popular tool for developing games of all types. The Unity developer community is extremely large: more than 1.5 million people are actively developing on Unity3D. Unity allows you to create games of all possible types. There are plenty of highly successful games such as Escape from Tarkov (FPS), Monument Valley (Puzzler), and This War of Mine (Strategy / Survival) all built-in Unity. Due to the cross-platform game engine, games created by Unity can be deployed across 25+ leading platforms from IOS to Android, Windows to macOS, Xbox to Playstation using one codebase.
Unity developers are involved in all stages of the game production lifecycle: creating, testing, reworking, maintaining, updating, and modifying. The work does not stop at the release of the game - you need to constantly test the product for correct operation with new versions of operating systems and new equipment, monitor user complaints and promptly fix errors, release additions and modifications to the game.
How to become a game developer:
Programming Language
For developing games with unity, first, you have to learn C#. Unity uses the powerful C# programming language. With C # and Mono, a cross-platform implementation of .NET, Unity projects can build and run consistently across different operating systems. Check out the unity website. It contains lots of tutorials and other sample stuff.
If you plan to create online games, it is highly desirable to know ASP MVC, a framework for building web applications that simplifies networking and working with databases.
Unity3D Editor
Unity developers spend most of their time in the editor, so you need to study it thoroughly. Besides, the Unity software libraries require additional study - a Unity project is significantly different from a regular C# application. To become a professional Unity developer, you need to learn the following:
- basic manipulation of the scene, objects, assets, and prefabs;
- vectors, projections, and mathematics for 3D graphics;
- creating a user interface in the game;
- work with materials;
- physics modules for 2D and 3D;
- animation system Mecanim;
- particle systems;
- work with audio;
- light and post-processing;
- work with different graphic pipelines;
- work with artificial intelligence.
Teamwork tools
The game is rarely done alone. To work effectively, you need to be able to use tools for teamwork. First of all, these are version control systems. The officially supported and recommended systems for Unity are Perforce and Plastic SCM. Some companies use the more mainstream and free Git, however, this requires additional effort to set up Unity.
You need to be aware of the following tools also:
- task management systems (Asana, Basecamp, JIRA, Redmine);
- bug trackers (JIRA, Redmine, Bontq, YouTrack).
A professional Unity developer should understand what kind of people are working on a project and what their responsibilities are. First of all, these are game designers, ordinary and 3D artists. It must be remembered that the larger the company, the narrower the specialization of a particular specialist becomes. For example, a programmer can deal exclusively with an artificial intelligence system, a 3D artist can only do modeling, other people will work on texturing and animation.
Educational materials, courses on creating games
Without high-quality and comprehensive training, it is impossible to become a sought-after Unity developer.
Official Tutorial:
The Official Unity Learning Portal
C# Programming Books
Learning C# by Developing Games with Unity
Unity Books
Training in game development, immersion in the profession, and career prospects
To start a career as a Unity developer, you need to not only master the language and system but also have practical skills.
Start with simple 2D games like Tetris or a flappy bird. Simple games are easier to implement on your own, but they provide skills in basic functions: loading scenes, creating a user interface, working with resources. Then you can move on to 3D games. Here, too, it is better to start simple, gradually introducing new features and changing the architecture of the game. This will create a portfolio that you can use for your interview later.
According to qualifications, developers are divided into three conditional levels: Junior, Middle and Senior.
Junior is a beginner developer working in a team led by more experienced colleagues. The junior is most often assigned simple, non-critical tasks. At this level, the employee usually stays for 1-1.5 years, after which he is promoted to Middle. Junior Game Developer must have the following competencies:
- have a good knowledge of C #;
- have experience in Unity development, the portfolio should not be empty;
- basic knowledge in linear algebra (example);
- basic knowledge in 3D modeling.
The middle is an experienced specialist who can carry out all the assigned work. Solves both critical and routine tasks. Has sufficient qualifications to manage juniors. All core Unity tools and technologies must be known to the middle developer. Many have been working at the middle level for years and decades. To become a senior takes great and determined efforts.
Senior is a programmer with the highest qualifications. Can complete any task within its technology suite. Seniors have vast experience, broad outlook, and often have excellent management skills. It takes 6 to 8 years to grow from junior to senior.
Team Lead Unity Developer is a middle-level programmer who is mainly involved in management activities. It is the team leaders who create the conditions for the productive work of the team. They are paid not for the written code, but for meeting deadlines and the quality of the project as a whole.
Also, stand out is the Unity VR Developer - a specialist working in the field of virtual reality. Such a programmer must have special knowledge related to specific equipment - glasses and a virtual reality helmet. Unity AR Developer is a similar specialization, but not related to virtual, but augmented reality.
The demand for Unity developers is growing day by day. In coming years the profession of a game developer on this engine will be promising.
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