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Find out everything you need to know to use the powerful Unity engine to its full potential for 3D and 2D game development, simulation, artificial intelligence, and beyond. From the basics of scripting to techniques for interactivity, AI and behavior, animation, narrative, and networking, this flexible, mind-bogglingly popular engine is useful for anything that needs some form of visuals and real-time simulation. With this thoroughly updated problem-solving cookbook, beginner to intermediate Unity developers will get started in two ways: First, you'll learn about the Unity engine through brief recipes that teach specific features of the software and scripting systems. Second, you'll apply a collection of snippets of code to address common scenarios, such as properly keeping score, or accepting input, or sharing state over the network. Using the cookbook format, this edition pinpoints the problem, sets out the solution, and discusses how to solve your problem in the best and most straightforward way possible. You'll find solutions for: 2D and 3D graphics Math, physics, and character control Animation and movement Behavior and AI Sound and music Narrative and dialogue Input and gameplay Scripting and user interface Simulation and synthetic data creation Networking and accessing web content Analytics and telemetry Cover Copyright Table of Contents Preface Audience and Approach Organization of This Book Conventions Used in This Book Using Code Examples O’Reilly Online Learning How to Contact Us Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Working in Unity 1.1 Getting Around in Unity Problem Solution Discussion 1.2 Working with Game Objects Problem Solution Discussion 1.3 Working with Components Problem Solution Discussion 1.4 Working with Prefabs Problem Solution Discussion 1.5 Working with Scenes Problem Solution Discussion 1.6 Managing Assets Problem Solution Discussion 1.7 Building Unity Projects Problem Solution Discussion 1.8 Accessing Preferences Problem Solution Discussion 1.9 Installing Unity Packages Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 2. Scripting 2.1 Adding a Script to an Object in a Unity Scene Problem Solution Discussion 2.2 Running Code at Specific Times in a Script’s (or Game Object’s) Life Problem Solution Discussion 2.3 Creating Frame Rate–Independent Behavior Problem Solution Discussion 2.4 Using the Components of a Game Object Problem Solution Discussion 2.5 Finding Objects Attached to a Game Object Problem Solution Discussion 2.6 Singletons Problem Solution Discussion 2.7 Using Coroutines to Manage When Code Runs Problem Solution Discussion 2.8 Managing Objects Using an Object Pool Problem Solution Discussion 2.9 Storing Data in Assets Using ScriptableObject Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 3. Input 3.1 Getting Simple Keyboard Input Problem Solution Discussion 3.2 Using the Unity Input System Problem Solution Discussion 3.3 Using Input Actions Problem Solution Discussion 3.4 Locking and Hiding the Mouse Cursor Problem Solution Discussion 3.5 Responding to Mouseover and Click Events Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 4. Mathematics 4.1 Storing Coordinates of Varying Dimensions Using Vectors Problem Solution Discussion 4.2 Rotating in 3D Space Problem Solution Discussion 4.3 Performing Transformations in 3D Space with Matrices Problem Solution Discussion 4.4 Working with Angles Problem Solution Discussion 4.5 Finding the Distance to a Target Problem Solution Discussion 4.6 Finding the Angle to a Target Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 5. 2D Graphics 5.1 Importing Images as Sprites Problem Solution Discussion 5.2 Adding a Sprite to the Scene Problem Solution Discussion 5.3 Creating a Sprite Animation Problem Solution Discussion 5.4 Creating a Sprite with 2D Physics Problem Solution Discussion 5.5 Customizing Sprite Collision Shapes Problem Solution Discussion 5.6 Using a Composite Collider Problem Solution Discussion 5.7 Using the Sprite Packer Problem Solution Discussion 5.8 Applying Forces to 2D Objects Problem Solution Discussion 5.9 Creating a Conveyor Belt Problem Solution Discussion 5.10 Using a Custom Material for Sprites Problem Solution Discussion 5.11 Managing Sprite Sorting Problem Solution Discussion 5.12 Using Sorting Groups Problem Solution Discussion 5.13 Creating a 2.5D Scene Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 6. 3D Graphics 6.1 Creating a Simple Material Problem Solution Discussion 6.2 Controlling a Material’s Property Through a Script Problem Solution Discussion 6.3 Creating an Unlit Material Problem Solution Discussion 6.4 Setting Up a Material Using Textures Problem Solution Discussion 6.5 Making a Material Use a Shader Problem Solution Discussion 6.6 Setting Up a Bloom Effect Using Post-Processing with the Built-In Render Pipeline Problem Solution Discussion 6.7 Setting Up a Bloom Effect Using Post-Processing with the Universal Render Pipeline Problem Solution Discussion 6.8 Using High-Dynamic-Range Colors Problem Solution Discussion 6.9 Setting Up a Project to Use a Scriptable Render Pipeline Problem Solution Discussion 6.10 Creating a Shader Using the Shader Graph Problem Solution Discussion 6.11 Creating a Glowing Effect Using the Shader Graph Problem Solution Discussion 6.12 Exposing Properties from a Shader Graph Problem Solution Discussion 6.13 Animating a Shader over Time Problem Solution Discussion 6.14 Controlling the Speed of an Animated Shader Problem Solution Discussion 6.15 Using a Subgraph to Reuse Graph Components Problem Solution Discussion 6.16 Implementing a Dissolve Effect Using a Shader Graph Problem Solution Discussion 6.17 Using Baked Lighting and Real-Time Lighting Problem Solution Discussion 6.18 Using Baked Emission Sources Problem Solution Discussion 6.19 Making Static Objects Cast Shadows on Dynamic Objects Problem Solution Discussion 6.20 Using Light Probes to Influence Lighting Problem Solution Discussion 6.21 Using Reflection Probes Problem Solution Discussion 6.22 Faking a Dynamic Emissive Object Problem Solution Discussion 6.23 Rendering to a Texture Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 7. 3D Physics and Character Control 7.1 Running Code a Specific Number of Times per Second Problem Solution Discussion 7.2 Allowing the Player to Look Around Using the Mouse Problem Solution Discussion 7.3 Controlling a 3D Character Problem Solution Discussion 7.4 Interacting with Switches and Objects Problem Solution Discussion 7.5 Picking Up and Putting Down Objects Problem Solution Discussion 7.6 Detecting When an Object Is Touching Another Object Problem Solution Discussion 7.7 Detecting When an Object Is in a Trigger Area Problem Solution Discussion 7.8 Implementing Moving Platforms Problem Solution Discussion 7.9 Implementing Platform Riding Problem Solution Discussion 7.10 Responding to Being Pushed by Objects Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 8. Animation and Movement 8.1 Animating an Object Problem Solution Discussion 8.2 Basic Character Movement Problem Solution Discussion 8.3 Inverse Kinematics Problem Solution Discussion 8.4 Masked Movement Problem Solution Discussion 8.5 Blended Movement Problem Solution Discussion 8.6 Navigation and Animating in Sync Problem Solution Discussion 8.7 Cinematic Camera Tracking Problem Solution Discussion 8.8 Automatically Switching Cameras Problem Solution Discussion 8.9 Keeping Multiple Objects in View Problem Solution Discussion 8.10 Dollying a Camera Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 9. Logic and Gameplay 9.1 Loading a New Scene File Problem Solution Discussion 9.2 Managing Hit Points Problem Solution Discussion 9.3 Creating a Top-Down Camera Problem Solution Discussion 9.4 Managing Quests Problem Solution Discussion 9.5 Dragging a Box to Select Objects Problem Solution Discussion 9.6 Creating a Menu Structure Problem Solution Discussion 9.7 Creating a Wheeled Vehicle Problem Solution Discussion 9.8 Keeping a Car from Tipping Over Problem Solution Discussion 9.9 Creating Speed Boosts Problem Solution Discussion 9.10 Creating a Camera That Orbits Around Its Target Problem Solution Discussion 9.11 Creating an Orbiting Camera That Won’t Clip Through Walls Problem Solution Discussion 9.12 Detecting When the Player Has Completed a Lap Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 10. Behavior, Simulation, and AI 10.1 Enemies Detecting When They Can See the Player Problem Solution Discussion 10.2 Defining a Path That AI Entities and the Player Can Follow Problem Solution Discussion 10.3 Letting Entities in Your Game Follow a Path Problem Solution Discussion 10.4 Finding a Good Distribution of Random Points (Poisson Disc) Problem Solution Discussion 10.5 Enemies Detecting Where They Can Take Cover Problem Solution Discussion 10.6 Building and Using a State Machine Problem Solution Discussion 10.7 Building a Simulation Environment for Machine Learning Problem Solution Chapter 11. Sound and Music 11.1 Playing Sounds Problem Solution Discussion 11.2 Setting Up a Mixer Problem Solution Discussion 11.3 Using Audio Effects Problem Solution Discussion 11.4 Using Send and Receive Effects Problem Solution Discussion 11.5 Ducking Problem Solution Discussion 11.6 Using Multiple Audio Zones Problem Solution Discussion 11.7 Playing Audio with Scripts Problem Solution Discussion 11.8 Using a Sound Manager Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 12. User Interface 12.1 Working with UI Controls Problem Solution Discussion 12.2 Theming Controls Problem Solution Discussion 12.3 Animating the UI Problem Solution Discussion 12.4 Creating a List of Items Problem Solution Discussion 12.5 Fading Out List Items Problem Solution Discussion 12.6 Creating Onscreen Position Indicators Problem Solution Discussion 12.7 Custom Editors Problem Solution Discussion 12.8 Property Drawers Problem Solution Discussion 12.9 Attribute Drawers Problem Solution Discussion 12.10 Asset Processing Problem Solution Discussion 12.11 Wizards Problem Solution Discussion Chapter 13. Files, Networking, and Screenshots 13.1 Saving Files Problem Solution Discussion 13.2 Saving an Image File of Your Game to Disk Problem Solution Discussion 13.3 Loading Textures from Disk Problem Solution Discussion 13.4 Saving and Loading a Game’s State Problem Solution Discussion 13.5 Downloading and Parsing JSON from the Web Problem Solution Discussion 13.6 Scripted Importers Problem Solution Discussion Index About the Authors Learn everything you need to know to use the powerful Unity engine to its full potential for 3D and 2D game development, simulation, artificial intelligence, and beyond. From the basics of scripting to techniques for interactivity, AI and behavior, animation, narrative, and networking, this flexible, mind-bogglingly popular engine is useful for anything that needs visuals and real-time simulation. With this thoroughly updated problem-solving cookbook, beginner and intermediate Unity developers will learn about the Unity engine through brief recipes that teach specific features of the software and scripting systems. You'll apply a collection of snippets of code to address common scenarios such as properly keeping score, accepting input, and sharing state over the network. This cookbook pinpoints the problem, sets out the solution, and discusses how to solve your problem in the best and most straightforward way possible. You'll find solutions for: • 2D and 3D graphics • Math, physics, and character control • Animation and movement • Behavior and AI • Sound and music • Narrative and dialogue • Input and gameplay • Scripting and user interface • Simulation and synthetic data creation • Networking and accessing web content • Analytics and telemetry