Unity is a 2D and 3D game engine that was created in 2005. It was created by Unity Technologies in order to give more developers access to game development tools, which was a novel idea at the time. The engine has changed and expanded dramatically over its long life, keeping up with the latest technologies and practices.
Even today, the game engine’s primary goal is to provide the most robust set of tools for the game development industry while also making the engine as simple to use as possible for game developers of all skill levels (yes, including beginner developers). It is in charge of 3D rendering, physics, and collision detection. Essentially, this engine includes physics so that developers don’t have to worry about every last detail.
Key Features of Unity!
Here are some key features of Unity game engine that makes it different from other game engines.
Graphic Support
Unity supports both 3D and 2D graphics. It gives you the freedom to choose the art style you want for your projects. Each graphic type has its own set of specialized tools (for example, sprite sheet cutting for 2D graphics) and even its own script APIs to call on for different physics options that are appropriate for each style.
3D graphics also provide a very powerful set of tools. These tools includes the ability to create custom materials, build shades using the Shade Graph, customize lighting, use post-processing effects, and much more. You can even generate 3D terrain and 2D tile maps directly in the engine.
User Friendly Architecture by Unity!
Unity provides a very clear method for creating your game architecture. In a game project, each “level” is divided into a Scene, and each Scene contains all of the game objects required for the player to use the level – whether that’s the background, player character, enemy, bullet, or something else.
Unity also allows objects in the Hierarchy to have a parent-child relationship, making it very simple to add multiple objects (such as an outfit, gun, or collider for collision detection) to a single parent player character object. Beyond that, this engine includes the Inspector tool, which provides quick access to all of your object’s properties, allowing you to change things on the fly without having to dive into the code all the time.
Unity Scripting API
Rather than starting from scratch, Unity includes a powerful scripting API that provides quick access to the most commonly used features. This includes both general game features and specific API calls that allow you to access specific engine features and nuances.
For example, while you can change the color of text in the engine, the Scripting API exposes those elements so you can change them via code as well. This applies to everything accessible via the Unity Inspector, including position, rotation, materials, audio playback, and more. There is also a wealth of documentation to assist you.
Unity is Built for Number of Platforms
Unity games allow you to build for an enormous number of platforms. You can export games for Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, and other platforms as long as the developer downloads the necessary kit. You can even export HTML5 games if you want to publish your game on the web (assuming performance is optimal).
The engine also forces you to make as few changes as possible for each build, reducing the need for multiple versions of your project for each platform.
Capabilities for VR and AR
When it comes to developing with newer technologies such as VR and AR, Unity is a key supporter. There are numerous packages available for VR that support nearly all VR headsets on the market, and they are constantly updated and kept flexible with this changing technology. You can even run your VR games through the engine.
AR, on the other hand, is not to be left behind, with numerous packages for AR Core and AR Kit. It also provides the AR Foundation, which was created to enable Unity developers to create AR apps for both Android and iOS at the same time, eliminating the need for separate projects. In addition, Unity now includes the XR Interaction Toolkit, which makes developing VR and AR games even easier. So, suffice it to say, Unity is a staunch supporter of XR technologies.
Large Store for Assets in Unity!
Unity has you covered if you need graphical assets, specific game genre templates, audio, particle effects, or anything else. Its massive asset store contains a wide range of paid and free assets suitable for any game project.
While Unity creates some of these, many are created by the community, giving you a wide range to choose from. Furthermore, Unity makes it very simple to add assets to your collection and install them into your project using the package manager, which eliminates the need to fiddle with files manually.
Comprehensive Tools for Animation
Unity includes a comprehensive set of animation tools for both 3D and 2D graphics. While you can import animations from other programs, such as Blender, Unity allows you to animate your projects directly within the engine. This includes everything from changing the position and rotation of an entire object to physically manipulating the bones in a 3D model. Unity even allows you to add bone rigging to 2D images.
Furthermore, its Animator system makes it simple to create an animation state machine. This means you can not only play animations based on what the player is doing (such as jumping), but also smoothly transition between each animation. Furthermore, because the Animator is presented in a more visual graph format, it is simple to understand how everything connects.
Rendering Pipeline Options
A computer’s ability to render graphics to the screen is no easy task, and how it does so can have a significant impact on the performance of your games. This is why Unity includes several built-in render pipeline options for getting your game from scene to play screen. This enables developers to select the render pipeline that best suits their projects’ graphical requirements.
Additionally, Unity provides the Scriptable Render Pipeline API, which allows developers to create their own pipeline if they so desire. As a result, there is a great deal of flexibility in terms of how the game is rendered for players!
Coding Language Used in Unity!
There are numerous coding languages available, and some are better suited to specific scenarios than others. To understand the code and logic in Unity, you’ll need to know C#.
However, users do not need extensive coding knowledge to use Unity. C# is a beginner-friendly language, so you can get by without writing much code, but Unity will give you a good introduction to C# if it’s new to you or you want more exposure to the language.
However, using code will give you more options and allow you to be more flexible in how you customize your game. As a result, before you begin developing games with Unity, you should learn C#.
Why Choose Unity?
It’s free for beginners
Unity is completely free to use. You can even sell games created with Unity’s free version. Only when you reach the $100,000 mark do you have to start thinking about expensive licenses. In beginning, You don’t need to worry about these extra costs instead concentrate on the game development process itself.
User Friendly!
While understanding the Unity UI requires some practice, after that, using Unity is a breeze. As previously stated, Unity’s architecture is very simple to grasp. Adding objects is as simple as right-clicking in the appropriate location. Furthermore, with the Unity Inspector, most properties are easily exposed. These properties can be adjusted directly from the engine, no need to start from scratch if you don’t want to.
Furthermore, if you aren’t ready to learn C#, Unity offers kits and frameworks to take out even more of the grunt work, so being beginner-friendly is a strength of the engine.
Simultaneously Powerful and Versatile!
With the features listed above, there is no doubt that Unity is capable of almost anything. You can render even the most demanding graphical projects using its high-quality pipelines. At the same time, Unity provides one of the most robust sets of tools – from animation to its Shade Graph. They can be used to create virtually any type of game or project. If you only have a hazy idea of what you want to do with your project, Unity can accommodate almost anything.
Huge Community of Unity due to its Popularity!
There are numerous Unity discussion areas where you can talk shop with other developers on Unity’s own forums. With a larger community, you have more opportunities to network and get assistance with any coding issues you may encounter.
A lot of Learning Resources!
Unity, like its large community, simply has a lot of learning resources available. There are countless tutorials available to assist you in creating anything from a simple platformer to a multiplayer battle royal. With so many tutorials available, you should be able to find something that suits your learning style. So, don’t worry about having only one resource that you find boring; there will always be another to learn from.
Unity, whether you like it or not, is still one of the most popular engines, and for good reason. It has a plethora of features and benefits, whether you’re creating games or require real-time 3D graphics for another industry. As a result, learning to use Unity is a fantastic option for aspiring game developers everywhere. Regardless, you should be better prepared to make your own Unity decisions now. That being said, if Unity is the engine for you, we hope you download it soon and enjoy your future projects!