This course is part of the Game Design and Development with Unity 2020 Specialization

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376 ratings

Brian Winn

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Game Design and Development with Unity 2020 SpecializationMichigan State University

About this Course

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If you love games and want to learn how to make them, then this course will start you down that path. Making games is a creative and technical art form. In this course you will familiarize yourself with the tools and practices of game development and well as the process. You will get started developing video games using industry standard game development tools, including the Unity 2020 game engine. At the end of the course you will have completed two hands-on projects, including an Intro to Unity project and a 2D Shooter game, and will be able to leverage an array of game development techniques to create your own basic games.

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Course 1 of 5 in the

Game Design and Development with Unity 2020 Specialization

Beginner Level

Computer Literate

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Video Game Development
Unity
Game Design
technology
Game Making

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 1 of 5 in the

Game Design and Development with Unity 2020 Specialization

Beginner Level

Computer Literate

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.77/5 (182 Ratings)

Brian Winn

Full Professor

Media and Information

148,922 Learners

8 Courses

Offered by

Michigan State University

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 150 years.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating95%(2,781 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

From Game Player to Game Developer

The only thing more fun than playing games is making them. You can make games. All it takes is some time, a willingness to learn and a passion to create. You don't need to be a "coder" to make games. Part of the beauty of games is that they take a variety of skills to make. Art, creativity, and systems thinking are just as important as code. Join us in this journey into game making! This first module will provide you with an overview of this course and the entire specialization. The module will also introduce you to the game design and development process and get you up and running with Unity, the game engine we will use across this course.

3 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 88 min), 6 readings, 3 quizzes

13 videos

Course Overview6mMeet the instructor: Brian Winn6mAbout MSU1mThe Game Design Process - Part 1: How are Games Made?5mThe Game Design Process - Part 2: The Role of the Game Designer9mThe Game Design Process - Part 3: The Game Development Team4mThe Game Design Process - Part 4: Costs and Limitations5mGame Engines Overview8mSolar System Project Overview2mUnity Setup12mCreate a Unity Project4mImport Assets2mUnity Editor Overview18m

6 readings

Additional Resources10mDownload and Install Unity 2020.35mTroubleshooting Tips10mDownload Project Assets10mUnity Editor Quick Reference10mAdditional Resources10m

3 practice exercises

Course Overview10mGame Design Process15mGame Engines and Unity Editor15m

Week2

Week 2

5 hours to complete

Understanding Core Unity Concepts

One of the reasons we use Unity is its visual editor which makes creating interactive games accessible to both creative and technical individuals. In this module, you will continue working on the Solar System project and from start to finish. Using a variety of graphical and audio assets and a library of scripts, you will create a simple model of our solar system. By the end of the module, you should have a good understanding of the Unity editor, the core concepts of building projects in Unity, and the workflow for creating games.

5 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 131 min), 4 readings, 4 quizzes

10 videos

Working in 3D Space6mSetting up the Scene9mMaterials13mLights13mAdding Behaviors13mCameras17mAudio8mPrefabs15mBuild & Test17mFinish the Project16m

4 readings

Solar System Assignment15mTaking Screenshots10mMac Users: Read this when doing peer review10mAdditional Resources10m

3 practice exercises

Working in 3D Space15mMaterials, Lights, Behaviors, and Cameras15mAudio, Prefabs, Building, and Deploying15m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Building Your First Game

2 hours to complete

18 videos (Total 114 min), 2 readings

18 videos

2D Shooter Project Overview3mCreate a New Unity Project1mGet the New Input System1mImport the Asset Package1mPlayer Setup Visual4mPlayer Setup Controls5mPlayer Setup Health Damage5mPlayer Setup Fighting Back6mCameras Framing the Action7mLevel Setup Environment Sprites8mGame Loop Setup 1 Management and UI9mGame Loop Setup 2 Pause Screen11mGame Loop Setup 3 In-Game UI and Main Menu7mAudio and Music2mAdding More Levels3mCode Basics9mFinish the Project14m2D Shooter Modification Examples7m

2 readings

Downloading Project Assets10m2D Shooter Assignment15m

Week4

Week 4

5 hours to complete

Coding Gameplay Systems and Finishing Up

5 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 58 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

9 videos

Unity Programming - Part 1: Introduction6mUnity Programming - Part 2: Object-Oriented Thinking3mUnity Programming - Part 3: Anatomy of a C# Script5mUnity Programming - Part 4: C# Overview4mUnity Programming - Part 5: C# Variables12mUnity Programming - Part 6: C# Conditionals and Loops9mUnity Programming - Part 7: C# Functions and Classes5mUnity Programming - Part 8: Using C# within Unity8mCourse Wrap Up1m

2 readings

Unity Programming Quick Reference10mMac Users: Read this when doing peer review10m

1 practice exercise

Programming in Unity15m

Reviews

4.7

113 reviews

5 stars
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4 stars
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3 stars
2.91%
2 stars
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1 star
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TOP REVIEWS FROM GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 1: 2D SHOOTER

by FBMay 11, 2021

The course introduced to me the basics of game development using Unity in a very simple way.

by HAMar 11, 2021

A really great introduction to unity and great videos that will guide through the course

by RIDec 5, 2022

I can create top down shooter game now, and understanding more about unity 2D and 3D.

by SAMay 9, 2021

the course is great as an introduction, but more scripting videos would have been helpfule.

View all reviews

About the Game Design and Development with Unity 2020 Specialization

Break into the video game industry with theoretical, technical, and practical knowledge from one of the world’s best programs.

In this completely revised 2021 version of the Specialization, learners build the skills necessary to design and development games. The Specialization focuses on both the theory and practice of game making. From a technical standpoint, learners create four game projects in the latest Unity 2020 game engine, include a 2D Shooter, 2D Platformer, First-Person Shooter, and 3D Platformer. In the Capstone Project, learners create a completely original game of their own design from initial concept up to the first playable prototype. The Specialization comes from the Michigan State University game program which is ranked as one of the top programs in North America.

Game Design and Development with Unity 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
What version of Unity is covered in the course?
The course was originally built with Unity 5.1.x. However, we recently updated lessons to Unity 5.4.x where there were notable differences between 5.1 and 5.4.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter

About this Course

Skills you will gain