Building unity games for Microsoft platforms

Building Unity Games For Microsoft PlatformsDave VoylesTech Evangelist@DaveVoyles

Intro to Unity

Two Microsoft Platforms• Windows 8 • Windows Phone 8

Unity works everywhere

Unity is also headed to Xbox One…

ID@Xbox• C++ / DirectX 11• Unity• Start making games for Windows 8

now!

ID@Xbox

Resources:

• Official Page: http://www.xbox.com/en-us/Developers/id• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XboxOneIndieDevs/• Twitter: @ID_Xbox• More Info: http://wakeupandcode.com/xb1/

• DirectX Tool Kit – native “XNA” for Windows 8: http://www.tonicodes.net/blog/directx-tool-kit-native-xna-for-windows-8/

Intro to game development

A basic game loop

•Start: This is where the program performs any initialization.

•Stop: Here, any open resources should be released before exiting.

•Update: All the game logic goes here, modifying the state of objects.

•Draw: This is where all the drawing goes.

Build a portfolio

Make a website

Tons of free options:• Wordpress• Blogger• Squarespace

Host your content here• Catalog of games• Links to your social

media• Blog about your work

Think Small

One Game a Month Club

One Game a Month Club• http://www.onegameamonth.com/

• Excellent Example: Liza Shulyayeva (@Lazer)• Finished 12 games in 12 months!• http://liza.io/one-game-a-month-1gam-done/

One Game a Month Club• Finish your project in 30 days or less• Stuck for more than a few days? Move on!

• Use forums as much as possible• Build on what you’ve finished last month

ResourcesFree Image Editors:

• Photoshop CS2

• Paint.Net

• GrafX2 (pixel art)

Animation Tools:

• Spriter

• ShoeBox

Audio Tools:

• bfxr (create sound effects)

• Audacity (create and edit effects / music)

ResourcesUnity:

• Download Unity• Unity tutorials (programming, editor, graphics)• Free Unity sample projects • Unity 2D Platformer sample• Walkthrough video for the 2D sample• Introduction to Unity's new 2D Workflow• Free artwork for 2D games

Free Assets:• 3D tutorials - http://www.3dtutorials.org/• Professional music - http://www.glitchthegame.com/downloads/• 2D Art - http://www.glitchthegame.com/public-domain-game-art/