Unity 3D and Playmaker Essentials ─ Game Development from Concept to Publishing

In introducing new students to game development there are two crucial components to consider: the theory behind video games (design) and the practical creation of games (implementation). This book provides the theoretical background into the topics of game development, such as: characters, stories, level design, tools and skills needed, interface design, audio and game mechanics. The book will transition into demonstrating how to implement these into actual game product through the use of Unity3D and the Playmaker visual scripting plugin. By providing both theoretical and practical information to the reader, students will emerge understanding how to make a game and also how to design a game.

Jere Miles is the lead instructor of game development at Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He earned his BS in computer science from Florida State University and his MS in computer science from Appalachian State University. While at ASU, his graduate thesis and research focused on improving the believability of non-player characters within simulated environments such as video games. He has been creating games since first learning BASIC on an Atari 800 back in the early 1980s. His specific interest within video game development revolves around stories and characters drawing heavy inspiration from the gameplay mechanics of old text adventures and point-and-click adventure games. He has been married for 20 years and has two boys preparing the enter college.