Unity Game Development Project

Learning Journey & Motivation

Module 431 presented the perfect opportunity to step outside our comfort zone and tackle something we had always wanted to learn: game development with Unity. Despite having no prior experience with Unity or C#, we leveraged our strong Java programming foundation to master a completely new development environment.

Working as a collaborative team, we embarked on creating a 2D platformer from concept to published game, implementing advanced features like procedural level generation, complex animation systems, and professional project management practices.

Game Concept & Features

"Knightaro" is a 2D action platformer featuring a knight character navigating through procedurally generated levels, battling enemies, collecting coins, and surviving challenging obstacles.

Game Concept Development

Our planning began with extensive brainstorming sessions, exploring various game genres and concepts before settling on our final direction through systematic analysis.

Project Management Strategy

We implemented professional project management practices using Trello for task organization and Gantt charts for timeline management.

Trello Board Organization

Color-Coded Task Categories

General Tasks

Documentation

Enemy Systems

User Interface

Scene / World

Player

Info

Project Timeline (Gantt Chart)

Administrative Phase

• • Preference matrix development
• • Gantt diagram creation
• • Utility analysis completion
• • Documentation framework setup

Technical Implementation

• • Unity fundamentals and C# learning
• • Core game mechanics implementation
• • Animation systems and visual effects
• • Testing and quality assurance

Preference Matrix Analysis

We employed a systematic decision-making approach using preference matrices to evaluate project goals across three key stakeholder categories: operational, personal, and coaching objectives.

Animation System Architecture

The game features a sophisticated animation system using Unity's Animator component with state machines, conditional transitions, and blend trees for smooth character movement.

Unity Animator State Machine

Complete animation flow showing idle, movement, jumping, attacking, and death states with conditional transitions.

Animation Implementation

Animation states are controlled through conditional parameters and state machine logic, ensuring smooth transitions and responsive character behavior.

C# - Jump Animation Controller

if ((Input.GetButtonDown("Jump") && IsGrounded()) || 
    (Input.GetButtonDown("Vertical") && IsGrounded())) {
    
    anim.SetTrigger("jump");
    Jump();
}

Procedural Level Generation

One of the most technically challenging features implemented was the procedural level generation system, creating infinite, varied gameplay experiences.

void Update() {
    // Check if player is close to the end of generated platforms
    if (Vector3.Distance(player.position, lastEndPosition) < PLAYER_DISTANCE_SPAWN_LEVEL_PART) {
        SpawnLevelPart();
    }
}

void SpawnLevelPart() {
    Transform selectedPlatform = levelPartList[Random.Range(0, levelPartList.Length)];
    SpawnLevelPart(selectedPlatform, lastEndPosition);
    lastEndPosition = GetEndPosition(selectedPlatform);
}

void SpawnLevelPart(Transform levelPart, Vector3 spawnPosition) {
    GameObject newPlatform = Instantiate(levelPart, spawnPosition + offset, Quaternion.identity);
    newPlatform.transform.SetParent(levelGrid.transform);
}

Comprehensive Testing Strategy

We implemented a systematic testing approach using true/false positive/negative methodology to ensure robust game functionality across all features and edge cases.

while True:
    working = input("Funktioniert es? ")
    predictionright = input("Vorhersage richtig? ")
    
    if (working == "ja"):
        output = "True"
    else:
        output = "False"
    if (predictionright == "ja"):
        output += " Positive"
    else:
        output += " Negative"
    print(output)

Development Workflow

Our collaborative development process emphasized continuous communication, shared decision-making, and agile adaptation to challenges while maintaining high code quality standards.

Challenge Resolution

Throughout development, we encountered various technical and logistical challenges that strengthened our problem-solving abilities and collaborative skills.

Final Deliverables

The project culminated in a fully functional, published game that exceeded initial expectations and demonstrated comprehensive mastery of game development principles.

Player Feedback & Reception

Community feedback validated our technical achievements and design decisions, highlighting the project's success in creating engaging gameplay experiences.

Technical Skills Developed

Learning Methodology Impact

This project demonstrated the effectiveness of self-directed learning combined with systematic project management in mastering complex technical domains.

Professional Portfolio Value

This Module 431 project serves as a comprehensive demonstration of technical learning agility, collaborative development skills, and the ability to deliver complete software products from concept to publication.