Unity Resources (Updated 03/22/2012)

The overview of Unity Resources can now be found here 

 
As promised, this blog entry is going to give an overview of existing Unity resources. I have tried to cover a wide variety of video and text-based tutorials, extensions for Unity and links to most example projects and documentation on the web. I have tried to categorize the resources and also present them in an order that should get you started in no time. Furthermore, I have spent a substantial amount of hours either absorbing these tutorials/docs completely or at least scanning through them (I haven't bought any paid tutorials except Will Goldstone's book). Thus, I believe all of these links should lead you to some form of valuable information about Unity. Thanks to all the authors for doing such an incredible job. Without further ado, my take on summarizing resources for Unity.

Unity website: http://unity3d.com/

Which license do you need? http://unity3d.com/unity/licenses

Download the free version of Unity to get started: http://unity3d.com/unity/download/

If you have no previous experience with Unity, start with these six video tutorials which give a quick overview of the Unity interface and some important features
http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/video/

Continue with a more in-depth text-based walk through of very basic Unity functionality and work flow http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Manual/Unity%20Basics.html

To get you started with scripting, have a look at the following PDF document. It was written for an older version of Unity, but still covers relevant aspects of scripting with JavaScript. (2 hours to complete, no previous JavaScript knowledge required)
http://docwiki.unity3d.com/uploads/Main/Scripting%20Tutorial.pdf

Unity features three scripting languages; JavaScript, C#, and Boo. Depending on your scripting language of choice, you might want to choose different tutorials to get started with Unity. Each tutorial link will also mention which scripting language is used. Most Unity tutorials available on the web are using JavaScript. Notice that JavaScript is commonly used for web applications. Unforunately, books which cover JavaScript are normally of little use for Unity's implementation of JavaScript. But worry not, a vast amount of tutorials will follow...

If you want to familiarize yourself with Unity's functionality more, browse through Unity's manual. You can skip the “Basics” section as we already went through this (see above).
http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Manual/index.html

For a printable version of the 600+ pages manual, see http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/printable.html

Unity Videos (including Tutorials)http://video.unity3d.com/ 

Live Online Unity Classes (currently for basic introduction to Unity)http://unity3d.com/support/online-training/ 

If you rather prefer to jump into the action, skip the manual and basic resources altogether and have a look at several books which have been published on Game Development with Unity (several recently added on 03/22/2012). 

1) Author Will Goldstone guides you through a complete project and introduces most of Unity's functionality (using JavaScript). The book is available as print and digital version and all needed assets and resources can be downloaded with the book. It's been a helpful investment from my point of view.
http://www.packtpub.com/unity-game-development-essentials/book
This forum thread discusses the book and its content.
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=29041
The updated version of this book for Unity 3 can be found on Amazon.
Amazon Link

2) Ryan Henson Creighton more recently published "Unity 3D Game Development by Example Beginner's Guide". Find out more about the book here: https://www.packtpub.com/unity-3d-game-development-by-example-beginners-guide/book
and the forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/61349-Unity-3D-Game-Development-by-Example

3) Craig Stevenson and Simon Quiq (publisher Deep Pixel) released "Unity 3 Blueprints: A practical guide to Indie games development". Their website provides all the art assests and code to create four classic games from scratch (Match the Pairs, Top-Down Shooter, Tower Defense, Marble Madness).
Amazon link

4) Sue Blackman wrote a book in which she guides the reader through the development of a Javascript-based project which resembles an adventure-type of game. Sue highlights the viewpoint of an artist working in game development. See the forum thread and the amazon link.

5) Coming up on 07/17/2012, Deniz Opal, Sean McCracken and Mike Renwick are publishing "Professional Unity and C#: Multi-Platform 3D Game Development" on Amazon. See this link for a special pre-order price. As the name implies, this book will focus on C# development.


To get up-to-date on Unity 3 functionality, check out the following official documentation:

Unity 3 - What's new? 
http://unity3d.com/unity/whats-new/unity-3

- Beast lightmapping Basics -
 http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Manual/Lightmapping.html
- Beast Lightmapping In-Depth -
 http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Components/class-LightMapping.html
- Tree Creator -
 http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Components/class-Tree.html
- Umbra Occlusion Culling -
 http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Manual/Occlusion%20Culling.html

New Unity3.5 functionality (link)

- Shuriken particle system
http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Components/class-ParticleSystem.html

 - Built-in Pathfinding
http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Components/comp-AIGroup.html 

__________________________________________________
You are now faced with the choice of tackling example projects provided by Unity Technologies or jump straight into user-generated tutorials. As the example projects are quite complex, I would suggest working through some video tutorials first. Nonetheless, here are the links for Unity's official example projects. They can be taken completely apart, reverse-engineered and reused for own projects.

3D Platform Game
http://unity3d.com/support/resources/tutorials/3d-platform-game
2D Platform Game
http://unity3d.com/support/resources/tutorials/2d-gameplay-tutorial
Iphone tutorials and more example projects
http://unity3d.com/support/resources/tutorials/

More Unity Example projects
http://unity3d.com/support/resources/example-projects/

Car Tutorial by Unity Technologies
http://unity3d.com/support/resources/tutorials/car-tutorial

Now, let's head on to TUTORIALS. This list starts with mostly basic and general tutorials at the top and lists more specific tutorials at the end.

Will Goldstone , author of the Unity Game Development book, worked on a series of helpful video tutorials here (using JavaScript): http://learnunity3d.com/ (also http://learnmesilly.com/).
More recently by Will Goldstone: http://www.unity3dstudent.com/

TornadoTwins Video Tutorials
They show step by step how to create a simple game using Javascript.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TornadoTwins 

Walker Boys Studio - Unity Tutorials from the Guildhall at SMU (an extensive list of tutorials with more on the way)
http://walkerboystudio.com/html/unity_training___free__.html

CannedMushroom Video Tutorials (Unity and other software)
This is a series of projects intended for 2-hour self-instructed lessons using JavaScript
http://www.youtube.com/user/cannedmushrooms

Unity Jumpstart
Proof of Concept Game to learn creating your own game from the ground up (JavaScript)
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=28433
http://www.unityjumpstart.com/ProofOfConcept_1/

UnityCookie (CGCookie)
A series of tutorials for an introduction to Unity and several scripting video tutorials (using Javascript)http://cgcookie.com/unity/ 

3dbuzz.com
Series of Unity tutorials in C# (among many other tutorials)
registration required (free)
website - http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/sv_home.php
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/37093-Over-7-hours-of-Unity-Training-Videos-Download-them-now!

BurgZergArcade - Unity Tutorials
Hack&Slash Tutorial using C# and plenty of other information and useful tutorials
website - http://www.burgzergarcade.com/

InsurgentX Advanced Video Tutorials
Series of JavaScript tutorials starting from the very basics and slowly increasing in complexity to build a sophisticated game from scratch
http://www.youtube.com/user/InsurgentXdotcom

UnityScript Basics (Scripting Basics for Noobs)
If you're new to scripting, read up on this good introduction to scripting in Unity. Lots of analogies are provided which makes it really easy to understand. The details are explained for UnityScript, but the introduction is great for any scripting language.
website - http://www.unityscript.com/lessons1/basics.php

Catlike Coding C# Tutorials - text-based tutorials that walk you through creating simple projects, the most complex being a side-scroller game. http://catlikecoding.com/unity/tutorials/

InfiniteAmmo Tutorial
General Introduction to Unity (3 parts so far)
Some scripting covered using Javascript (e.g. movement controls)
http://infiniteammo.ca/blog/impromptu-unity3d-intro-tutorial/

Technicat
Introduction to Game Development with Unity including Workflow, Scripting, GUI, Version Control, etc.
http://technicat.com/games/unity.html

Advanced Media Lab at North Carolina State University
http://vimeo.com/channels/ncsuunity

GearTech Games
4 Videos on how to work through a project (and more videos)

• workflow between Modo and Unity
  
• lightmapping
  

http://www.geartechgames.com/GearTech_Games/Beginning_a_Project/Beginning_a_Project.html

Making Sense of Unity
These video tutorials provide more indepth coverage of unity scripting using Javascript (not meant to be introductory material)

• lecture style explanations of concepts
• more entertaining and not like most other screen-capture tutorials :)

http://www.youtube.com/etphonemyhome

IO Development Diary
This series of video tutorials (some paid, some free) follows the development of a Space Shooter and covers a Modo-Unity workflow and C# scripting.
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=55762
website - http://fallingbrickwork.fearedfuturegames.com/

Virtual Autonomy
Guide for working with Google SketchUp and Unity
(also shaders and multi-user environments)
text-based with screenshots
http://virtualautonomy.com/blog/index.php/tutorials/

Robotduck - Blog
The blog of this Unity user provides tips on Unity scripting and functionality and showcases some of his projects
http://robotduck.wordpress.com/

Ethical Games
Unity Tutorials for Flash Developers
http://ethicalgames.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/unity-for-flash-developers-tutorial-1/

Car Tutorial
Physics Setup for a car, AI for driving around racetrack
http://www.gotow.net/andrew/blog/?page_id=78

Terrain Tutorial
seven videos on how to create terrains in Unity from heightmaps to finish
http://vimeo.com/album/156452

In-Depth Terrain Tutorial
text-based with screenshots
http://www.unifycommunity.com/wiki/index.php?title=Terrain_tutorial
forum thread
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=16941

Paul Bourke - Unity for stereoscopic display
text-based with screenshots
http://local.wasp.uwa.edu.au/~pbourke/miscellaneous/stereographics/Unitystereo/

Paul Bourke – Unity and Idome
text-based with screenshots
http://local.wasp.uwa.edu.au/~pbourke/miscellaneous/domemirror/UnityiDome/

RENCI – Unity for Dome projections
http://unc.renci.org/rencinews/the-dome-corner-006

Official Unity Tech. Tutorial for the Animation View (NEW) 3-part-series of video tutorials
http://unity3d.com/support/resources/tutorials/video-animation-view

PAID TUTORIALS

VTC - Unity tutorial using JavaScript (subscription based content on vtc.com)
http://www.vtc.com/products/Introduction-to-Game-Development-Using-Unity-3D-Tutorials.htm
Unity-Tutorials (mostly paid and some free tutorials)
http://www.unity-tutorials.com/ 

Design3.com (subscription based tutorials, Unity-related content among other software like Maya, 3DS Max, Photoshop)
http://www.design3.com/software/unity

Polypusher.net Tai-Pan Development Set Tutorial Series
For an annual payment of 40 Euros, PolyPusher.net offers insights into the complete development process of their RTS Tai-Pan. All assets are included royalty-free and tutorials are delivered as videos or pdf-documents. I have not tested their tutorials yet, but their work seems impressive and of high quality.website - http://www.polypusher.net/taipan.php
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/104599-Tai-Pan-Development-Set-Tutorial-Series

GENERAL RESOURCES

Once you went through some or all of these tutorials, you should be creating your own content in no time. Next, I'll provide an overview of general resources for Unity. Whenever you need to find some information about Unity, scripting, projects, collaborations or anything Unity-related, check these links out:

Searching for resources - The All-In-One Unity Reference Search
http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=001712401338047450041:csfhqk-trfa
credit goes to Robotduck for providing this link to the public; tremendous time saver (see http://robotduck.wordpress.com/)

Unity Scripting Reference
http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/ScriptReference/index.html

Unity Component Reference
each available Component described in detail
http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Components/index.html

Unity Wiki (UnifyCommunity)
http://www.unifycommunity.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Unity Answers
Invaluable when you have specific questions about Unity or Scripting
http://answers.unity3d.com/
This link should also get you started on learning Unity
http://answers.unity3d.com/search?q=learning+tutorial

Unity Forum
http://forum.unity3d.com/
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=30633

Unity Feedback
feature requests go here
http://feedback.unity3d.com

Unity IRC
Point your favorite IRC client to irc.freenode.net and join #unity3d to chat in real time.

Overview of Unity Resources
http://www.reddit.com/r/unity_tutorials/

Overview of Unity blogs
http://www.reddit.com/r/unity_blogs/

TOOLS AND EXTENSIONS

Lastly, I want to list extensions and tools which can make your life as a Unity developer easier.

Unity Extensions

• Terrain Toolkit
  
• External Lightmapping Tool
  
• Locomotion System
  
• Explosion Framework
  
• Head Look Controller
  

http://unity3d.com/support/resources/unity-extensions/
overview of some extensions – Unity youtube and vimeo channels
http://www.youtube.com/user/Unity3D
http://www.vimeo.com/unity3d/videos

Visual C# Express-  free IDE for your C# development
http://www.microsoft.com/express/Downloads/#2008-Visual-CS

3DAttack - Tools and Home of Unity Creative Magazine
First Person Shooter Developer Kit
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=53136
website - http://www.3dattack.us/3DAttack/News.html

AngryAnt
One of Unity's developers provides projects to extend Unity's functionality (e.g. pathfinding and AI)
http://angryant.com/ 
forum thread Path - http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/19341-Pathfinding-in-unity-First-Path-1.0-tutorial-now-available!

sturestone's A* Pathfinding (currently version 2.9)
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/67417-A*-Pathfinding-2.9-Is-Released-(Unity-3-Compatible)

Weltenbauer
Augmented Reality / Webcam Input
http://produktion.weltenbauer.com/#/5
forum threads:
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=32613&highlight=toolkit (Webcam Toolkit)
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=11889&highlight=toolkit (ARToolkit Extension)
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=32669&highlight=toolkit (UnityAR)

SeeingMachines FaceAPI / VisionBlaster – Head Tracking in Unity (purchase required)
http://visionblaster.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=62&lang=en
and http://www.seeingmachines.com/product/faceapi/downloads/

Mostly Tigerproof – Using Google Analytics and Unity to track game stats
This is a blog entry about Google Analytics and Unity
http://blog.mostlytigerproof.com/2009/10/06/gathering-statistics-using-google-analytics-and-unity-3d/

Antares Project - Extensive Set of Tools to extend the Unity Editor - Open Source
Also available: Antares.dll (free for non-commercial work)
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=50843

Antares Deformator - Deform your meshes (Beta Version)
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=54290

UniWii – WiiMote implementation
http://www.unifycommunity.com/wiki/index.php?title=UniWii
forum thread
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=7284

Unity Terrain Tools - EasyRoads (purchase required)
http://unityterraintools.com/downloads.php
forum thread
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=23519

Six Times Nothing - Road/Path Tool and River Tool http://www.sixtimesnothing.com/

Dastardly Banana - FPS Weapon Tool, Radar example http://dastardlybanana.com/Downloads.htm

Starscene Software - Tools, Games and Utilities for Unity (purchase required for utilities)
http://www.starscenesoftware.com
e.g. Vectrosity - Line Drawing Tool
http://starscenesoftware.com/vectrosity.html
Fractscape - Terrain Tool
Stitchscape - Stitch multiple terrains together

GUIX - visual Menu/GUI builder (purchase required) http://www.ennanzus.com/developer/GUIX/buy.htm

EZ Game Saver - saving tool (purchase required)
http://www.anbsoft.com/middleware/ezs/index.htm
Note that I will cover saving to text file in a later blog

Fire Tool - Realistically spreading fire (on hold for the moment)
http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=49588

Decal Framework - Easily place decals in your scene
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=54613

Visual Logic Editor by NeoDrop (Antares VIZIO, Work in Progress)
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=31132

Nimbus Volumetric Clouds
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=51972

RapidUnity Vehicle Editor Resource Pack
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=56257

Ocean 3D - Ocean Simulation
website: http://www.nikko3d.com/index.php/downloads-2/

ShaderFusion - Node-Based Shader Editor (Requires Unity3)
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=60611

Strumpy Shader Editor - Node-Based Shader Editor
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/56180-Strumpy-Shader-Editor-Beta-3.1-released-(performance-usability-upgrade)

Overview of extensions on UnifyWiki
http://www.unifycommunity.com/wiki/index.php?title=Extensions

LightUp (purchase required)
Extension of Google Sketchup (Lighting Solution) which works nicely for exporting lightmaps to Unity
http://www.light-up.co.uk/

Community Project - GTAIV Vehicle Replica (Pledge of > USD 50 required)
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=50493

Stereoscopic Solutions
3D Anaglyph System (purchase required)
Stereoskopix3D

Plugin for Kinect's Primesense Camera
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/67982-Kinect-plugin

Unity Web Suite - tutorials and examples in C# to create online content
forum thread - http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/17674-Unity-Web-Suite-(Examples-Tutorials)
website - http://www.nickbreslin.com/2009/04/phphandler-20-released/

Tools for Visual Programming:
Antares Universe - Vizio (forum thread)
cost (as of 05/22/11) Euro 142.50 
Visual programming tool similar to the approaches of Quest3D and Virtools.

Playmaker by Hutong Games
cost (as of 05/22/11) Euro 95.00
Visual State Machine Editor (website and forum thread)

uScript by Detox Studios (Beta Version)
website and forum thread
Visual Scripting Tool based on UDK's Kismet

Brain Builder by boldai (in development)
website and forum thread



Latest Update:
11/14/2011 - added PolyPusher Tai-Pan Development Tutorials
03/22/2012 - added additional Unity books and UnityCookie