Unity3D complete project – Neon Space Fighter – shooting asteroids and spaceships in space arena

Introduction

Welcome to the Neon Space Fighter tutorial, where you'll learn how to use Unity3D to create a thrilling space combat experience. This tutorial will guide you through the creation of a complete project, from setting up the scene to implementing physics, graphics, and gameplay mechanics. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a fully functional space arena with shooting asteroids and spaceships.

Before We Begin

To complete this tutorial, you'll need:

• Unity Hub (download the latest version from the official Unity website)
• A computer with a decent graphics card and processing power
• Basic knowledge of Unity (not required, but helpful)
• This tutorial assumes you're familiar with Unity's interface and basic workflow

Step 1: Setting up the Scene

1. Launch Unity Hub and create a new project. Name your project "Neon Space Fighter".
2. Set the project's 3D Game template and choose a folder location to save your project.
3. Open the Unity Editor and create a new scene by going to File > New Scene or pressing Ctrl + N.
4. Name your scene "Main Scene".
5. Set the scene's unit of measurement to Centimeters and the scale to 100 cm.
6. Create a new Folder in the Project window by going to Window > Asset Store > Create > Folder. Name the folder "Asteroids".
7. Create a new Folder in the Project window named "Spaceships".

Step 2: Creating the Asteroids

1. Open the Asteroids folder and create a new Prefab by going to Assets > Create > Prefabs. Name the prefab "Asteroid".
2. Drag the Asteroid prefab into the Hierarchy panel and create a new GameObject under it. Name the object "Asteroid Model".
3. Create a Cylinder component for the Asteroid Model by going to Component > 3D Object > Cylinder.
4. Adjust the Cylinder's Radius, Height, and Subdivisions to create a small, irregular shape.
5. Apply a Material to the Cylinder by going to Component > Materials > Create > Material. Name the material "Asteroid Material".
6. Set the material's Albedo color to a dark gray or black using the Color Picker tool.

Step 3: Creating the Spaceships

1. Open the Spaceships folder and create a new Prefab named "Spaceship".
2. Drag the Spaceship prefab into the Hierarchy panel and create a new GameObject under it. Name the object "Spaceship Model".
3. Create a Box component for the Spaceship Model by going to Component > 3D Object > Box.
4. Adjust the Box's Width, Height, and Depth to create a small, sleek ship.
5. Apply a Material to the Box using the same process as before.

Step 4: Adding Physics to the Asteroids

1. Select the Asteroid prefab and add a Rigidbody component by going to Component > Physics > Rigidbody.
2. Set the Rigidbody's Mass to a low value, such as 0.1, to simulate small, lightweight asteroids.

Step 5: Adding Movement to the Spaceships

1. Select the Spaceship prefab and add a Rigidbody component, just like before.
2. Add a Character Controller component by going to Component > Character > Character Controller.
3. Set the Character Controller's Speed to a moderate value, such as 5.

Step 6: Creating the Shooting Mechanic

1. Create a new Script by going to Assets > Create > C# Script. Name the script "AsteroidShooter".
2. Attach the AsteroidShooter script to the Spaceship prefab by dragging and dropping it onto the prefab.
3. In the AsteroidShooter script, create a public Rigidbody variable to hold a reference to the asteroid being shot.

Step 7: Implementing the Shooting Logic

1. In the AsteroidShooter script, create a public void method named "ShootAsteroid".
2. Within the ShootAsteroid method, Instantiate a new asteroid prefab and set its position to the Spaceship's current position.
3. Set the asteroid's velocity to a random direction using Mathf methods.

Step 8: Adding Visual Effects

1. Create a new Material by going to Component > Materials > Create > Material. Name the material "Explosion Material".
2. Apply the Explosion Material to a small Particle System component by going to Component > Effects > Particle System.
3. Adjust the Particle System's Emitters to create a small explosion effect.

Step 9: Final Touches

1. Create a new Camera by going to GameObject > 3D Object > Camera.
2. Set the camera's Position to a moderate distance from the Spaceship and asteroid prefabs.
3. Adjust the camera's Field of View to a reasonable value, such as 60.

Congratulations! You've completed the Neon Space Fighter tutorial. Run the scene to see the finished project in action.