Game Development with Unity

124 topics across 7 chapters

Chapter 1

Unity & C# Foundations

Unity Editor Essentials (Scenes, GameObjects, Components, Prefabs)

3 subtopics

Create a small scene with transforms, hierarchy, and prefabs

Prefab variants and nested prefabs practice

Use Play Mode vs Edit Mode safely (avoid losing runtime changes)

C# for Unity (syntax, OOP, collections, events)

3 subtopics

Write MonoBehaviour scripts: fields, methods, serialization basics

OOP practice: interfaces and composition for gameplay behaviors

C# events and delegates in Unity (publish/subscribe)

Scripting Lifecycle & Execution Order

2 subtopics

Understand Awake/OnEnable/Start/Update/FixedUpdate/LateUpdate

Coroutines vs async/await: choose and implement correctly

Input Systems (legacy vs. new Input System)

2 subtopics

Set up the new Input System package and create an Input Actions asset

Implement rebindable controls and device switching (KBM/controller)

Version Control & Project Structure

3 subtopics

Git basics for Unity: .gitignore, LFS, branching workflow

Organize Assets/Packages folders and naming conventions

Resolve Unity merge conflicts (scenes/prefabs) with YAML and smart merges

Data-Driven Design (ScriptableObjects, JSON, configs)

3 subtopics

Create ScriptableObject-based item/weapon/enemy definitions

Load gameplay configs from JSON and validate them

Build an in-editor tuning workflow (custom inspectors basics)

Chapter 2

Core Game Architecture & Systems

↗ Data-Driven Design (ScriptableObjects, JSON, configs) (see Chapter 1)

Scene Management & Game State

2 subtopics

Implement additive scene loading and scene transitions

Build a basic game state machine (boot, menu, play, pause, gameover)

Saving & Loading

2 subtopics

Implement save data with JSON (versioning and migrations basics)

Persist player progress across sessions (local storage best practices)

Event & Messaging Patterns

3 subtopics

↗ C# events and delegates in Unity (publish/subscribe) (see Chapter 1)

UnityEvent vs C# events: tradeoffs and correct usage

Implement an event bus (with unsubscribe safety)

Entity Patterns (Component-based, composition, ECS overview)

2 subtopics

Apply composition over inheritance for character abilities

ECS basics: when DOTS helps and when it doesn’t (conceptual)

Game Feel (feedback loops, juice, tuning workflow)

2 subtopics

Add responsive feedback: screenshake, hitstop, camera punch

Create a balancing/tuning checklist and iterate with playtests

Chapter 3

Gameplay Mechanics (2D & 3D)

Physics & Collisions (2D/3D)

3 subtopics

Configure Rigidbody/Rigidbody2D, colliders, and layers correctly

Implement raycasts/overlaps for combat and interactions

Use Continuous collision detection and understand tunneling

Player Movement Controllers

2 subtopics

2D controller: acceleration, jump buffering, coyote time

3D controller: character controller vs rigidbody approach

Camera Systems

2 subtopics

Follow camera with smoothing and look-ahead

Use Cinemachine for common camera rigs (follow, free look, confiner)

AI Basics (state machines, steering, NavMesh)

2 subtopics

Implement a simple AI state machine (patrol/chase/attack)

Bake and use NavMesh; basic avoidance and path debugging

Multiplayer Foundations (netcode concepts)

2 subtopics

Multiplayer concepts: authority, prediction, lag compensation (overview)

Create a minimal networked prototype (sync transforms + actions)

Chapter 4

Graphics, Animation & VFX

Rendering Pipeline Basics (Built-in vs URP vs HDRP)

2 subtopics

Choose URP/HDRP/Built-in based on target platform and features

Set up URP project with quality tiers and render scale

Materials, Lighting & Post-Processing

3 subtopics

Lighting basics: realtime vs baked; lightmaps and probes

Post-processing stack: bloom, color grading, vignette tuning

Optimize lighting/shadows for performance (culling, cascades, baking)

Animation System (Animator, rigging basics)

2 subtopics

Animator Controller basics: parameters, transitions, blend trees

Animation events vs timelines; syncing gameplay to animation safely

VFX (Particle System, VFX Graph overview)

2 subtopics

Particle System basics: bursts, trails, sub-emitters

VFX Graph overview: when to use it and common setups

Shaders & Shader Graph (foundations)

2 subtopics

Shader fundamentals: UVs, normals, PBR concepts (high-level)

Build common effects in Shader Graph (dissolve, fresnel, scrolling)

Chapter 5

Audio, UI & Player Experience

Unity UI Toolkit & UGUI (Canvas)

2 subtopics

Create UI screens: main menu, pause menu, HUD with anchoring/scaling

UI architecture: view/presenter separation and navigation flow

UX for Games (menus, HUD, accessibility basics)

2 subtopics

Accessibility basics: text size, contrast, remapping, reduced motion

Implement player settings menu (audio, graphics, controls)

Audio (mixer, spatial audio, SFX workflow)

2 subtopics

Set up Audio Mixer groups and snapshots for gameplay states

Spatial audio basics: 3D sound settings, rolloff, doppler pitfalls

Localization & Text Systems

2 subtopics

Externalize strings and switch languages at runtime

Handle fonts, RTL, plurals, and text expansion (basics)

Chapter 6

Optimization, Debugging & Build Pipeline

Profiling & Performance Fundamentals

2 subtopics

Use Unity Profiler to find CPU/GPU bottlenecks

Set performance budgets (FPS, memory) per target platform

Memory, GC & Frame-Time Stability

2 subtopics

Reduce garbage: pooling, avoid allocations in Update, struct pitfalls

Stabilize frame time: batching, culling, fixed timestep reasoning

Debugging & Automated Testing

2 subtopics

Debug with logs, gizmos, and conditional compilation symbols

Write PlayMode/EditMode tests for core systems (smoke tests)

Builds & Deployment (PC/Mac, Android, iOS, WebGL)

3 subtopics

Build settings and scripting define symbols; manage platform differences

Mobile builds: input, performance, IL2CPP, permissions basics

WebGL constraints: memory limits, compression, asset size strategies

Asset Pipeline (import settings, addressables overview)

2 subtopics

Import settings: textures, models, animations; per-platform overrides

Addressables overview and when to adopt it

Chapter 7

Shipping, Live Ops & Career-Ready Portfolio

Production Workflow (scope, milestones, vertical slice)

2 subtopics

Plan a vertical slice and define “done” criteria for features

100

Task tracking and iteration loop (bugs, playtests, retros)

101

Monetization & Platform Requirements (high-level)

2 subtopics

102

Monetization models: premium, ads, IAP, battle pass (pros/cons)

103

Platform compliance basics: age ratings, privacy, common policies

104

Analytics, Telemetry & A/B Testing (concepts)

2 subtopics

105

Define key metrics (retention, session length, funnel events)

106

Instrument gameplay events and validate data quality

107

Live Ops (content updates, events, balancing)

2 subtopics

108

Build a content update strategy (events, rotations, economies)

109

Run balancing patches safely (changelogs, telemetry-informed tweaks)

110

Publishing Basics (Steam, itch.io, mobile stores)

2 subtopics

111

Prepare store assets: trailer, screenshots, capsule art checklist

112

Create a release checklist: QA passes, crash monitoring, rollback plan

113

Portfolio Projects & Interview Prep

3 subtopics

114

Build 3 portfolio mini-projects (2D platformer, 3D prototype, UI-heavy)

115

Write case studies: problem, approach, tradeoffs, results (with gifs)

116

Prepare interview demos and debug live (profiling + architecture questions)