Author: Warren Lourens

What have i learnt?

For the Assessment 2 we needed to make some Domain classes and control classes. I learnt that it is possible to make a controller game object that was responsible for executing the needed controllers to run the game.

Why have i learnt this?

Being able to use a empty game object to control all the needed scripts that communicate with the back end such as communicating with the database.

How have i learnt this?

In class the tutor has given instructions and a demonstration on how to create a central game object that in essence becomes the a master controller. These game objects start their executions of code when the scene they are attached to load up.

What do you know now that you didn’t before?

It was unknown to me that you could make a empty game object that could be used to execute important procedures. By completing the assessment requirements i had to make a few controller game objects that executed a series of commands as the scene loads. For example in order for me to get the shake sensor to work in my phone i needed to create a empty game object that i named ‘AcceletatorManger’ attached to the game object was a simple script that would become active once that particular scene loaded.

What will i do to remember this?

Knowing that you can create game objects that execute a range of tasks indirectly attached to a particular sprite located within the scene. As i continue to develop applications through Unity3D i will continue to use empty game objects as a “Master controllers”.

What new understanding/skills have you gained?

Before the assessment i have had some experience with creating games with Unity3D. However i have never used a empty game objects as a controller to execute a range of tasks related to the overall execution of the game

What is the point?

It is important to note that you can utilize empty game objects to manage a series of tasks that work in the background to execute scripts that enhance the performance of the game or application.

What will i do to remember this?

Like all things it is important to continue to utilize what new skills you have gained in order to improve upon them.

What have i learnt?

Untiy3D has the power to create a wide range of applications such as 3d games that require a lot of resources, or the more modest 2d platforming games. The beauty of Unity is that it has all the needed elements to make almost anything the developer would like to create. For the course we needed to create a Text based game that met a range of criteria such as relying on user input to preform a range of tasks such an moving to a different position.

Why have i learnt this?

Unity3D is a powerful platform that can be used to a range of different purposes. Thanks to its diverse cross-platform application it is a fun method of developing skills in c# that are created in scripts and attached to game objects to make the game or application functional.

How have i learnt this?

In class we have been going though a series of tutorials that covered a wide range of unities that Unity3d offers in the way of application development.At first i was going to make a textbased game however, i was given the option of developing a 2d game as long as it still met the marking criteria

What do you know now that you didn’t before?

Unity3D is powerful tool that can be used to develop a range of different applications. Textbased games are were a game relies on the input from the user to preform tasks within the game such as opening bags, searching bodies or even communicate with NPCs populating the game’s world.

What is the point?

Developing a game where it requires the input from a user to store and retrieve data from a database. Communicating back and fourth from a database is important for any application not just in a game sense.

What will i do to remember this?

Linkedin has a range of Unity3d courses that cover how to send and retrieve data from a database from within the C# scripting language .Even tough the courses focus on a different method of communicating with a database it will still give mea great understand and further my development with both Unity and C# scripting to communicate with a database.

What new understanding/skills have i gained?

It is possible to develop a game or application that uses the input from the user to communicate with a database behind the scene, and based on the input will preform a series of actions associated with the given input. The easiest method of ensuring the input from a user is valid you can utilize a C# switch. The function of the switch is to store a series of actions that will only get preformed when the stored parameter has been met.

What have i learnt?

Sqlite manager is an application that you can download for free that gives the user a platform to manage there tables and database through the use of a GUI interface. Eventhough you can download the application from the formal website for free the company did place some restrictions on the program. Such a restriction would be the limiting the tables stored within the Sqlite manager to 20 rows of data.

Why have i learnt this?

Being able to view the tables that you create for your applications in an environment that is specifically constructed for sql data is import for ease of use and manageability.

How have i learnt this?

In class we needed to download the Sqlite manager for the use in our assessments.At first we had no idea that there was a restriction of 20 rows of data that can be stored within each table. Luckily for the purpose of our assessment we do not need to store large amounts of data.

What do you know now that you didn’t before?

I had no idea that it would be possible to send data from a application developed in Unity3D to a database using normal sql queries that we learnt in our database courses.As we are developing an application from within Unity3D we needed a platform that we could use to view the tables for our database and Sqlite manager fitted the bill perfectly.

What is the point?

All application that gather some form of data need a place to store that data in an organized manner. Sqlite manager offers the user the necessary platform to view an manage the data gather regardless of the application.

What will i do to remember this?

Knowing now how to send and retrieve data from a database to make more meaningful applications i will continue to further my understanding so that the data being stored will become more secure and meaningful.

What new understanding/skills did i gain?

Gaining the skill to apply database services to an application created in Unity3D opens more possibility to create more exciting applications from within Unity3D.

What will i do to fill in the gaps?

Reading online documents published by both Unity3D and Sqlite. I will also continue to complete courses on the subject found on Linkedin. Repetition is the key to mastery.

What have i learnt?

When you build an application for Android you need to consider how the user input will be received as there is no keyboard or mouse

Why have i learnt this?

In order to successfully develop applications for Android you will need to know what input the Android platform requires in order to get the touch input to work when the user’s fingers touch the screen

How have i learnt this?

During the class sessions we were required to develop an application and test it in a locally connected device or by making use of Bluestacks. When i first got the application to successfully run on a local Android device i soon discovered that the touch inputs were not automatic applied and needed to be coded using the Unity3D scripting tool.

What do you know now that you didn’t before?

I had no idea that developing applications in Unity3d would be so easy to convert your project to work on an Android device. With a few small modifications made to Unity3d such as installing the Android module and making some changes in the build settings that converts the project into a Android project. After you have completed those steps you can build the the project that will produce a APK file that you call install on your Android device and Run the application like a stand alone application.

What is the point?

Mobile device are become more powerful with each generation that is produced. With smart phones being so powerful more and more people are using them to complete tasks instead of a bulky laptop or desktop. Knowing how to develop applications for Mobile devices is important to keep up with the times.

What will i do to remember this?

I will continue developing small projects through Unity3d and with the knowledge of how easy it is to convert a project into a functional mobile application i will strive to improve each application.

What new understanding/skills did you gain?

How easy it is to convert an project into a Mobile application and made it function as a stand alone application.

What have i learnt?

Bluestacks is a free application that is used to simulate Android on pc. Thanks to the application pc users can run Android applications from their pc. The software is available on both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Why have i learnt this?

If you are developing applications to run on Android devices from such software as Unity3D, you can test the application directly using Bluestacks.

How have i learnt this?

For our assessment we needed to make a game that would run on a Android device. If you were unable to link your phone directly to Unity3D to test the application you had the option of running the game through Bluestacks which offered the same functionality as a proper Android device.

What new understanding/skills do i have?

Before the commencement of the course i had not heard of Bluestacks and how to build and run an application developed in Unity3D for Android devices.

What is the point?

It is a good way to test the functionality of an application that has been specifically developed for Cell phones.

What will i do to remember this?

I will be undertaking side projects throughout the summer period using Unity3D tool to create applications designed for Android.

What will i do to fill in the gaps?

In order to further my understanding of Bluestacks i will continue to use it for development purposes. To potentially improve my usage of the application i will explore its available functionality and online documentation if available.