17. Game Script Programming

Scripting is a fundamental part of creating games, being responsible for defining the rules of the game, controlling the flow of the game, responding to user input and creating the artificial intelligence of the game's characters. In Unity, the most common scripting language is C#, which is a modern, object-oriented, general-purpose programming language.

Understanding Script Programming

Game scripting is the art of creating the systems that control the behavior of a game. This can include everything from game physics, like gravity and the way objects collide, to the behavior of game characters, like how they move and react to the environment around them.

Scripts are essentially the instructions that the computer follows to create the game. They are written in a programming language, which the computer can interpret and follow. In the case of Unity, this language is C#.

Why C#?

C# is a powerful and flexible programming language, ideal for programming games. It has a clear and concise syntax, which makes it easy to learn and use. Additionally, C# is an object-oriented language, which means it allows programmers to create complex objects with properties and methods, making it easier to model real-world concepts such as characters, items, and environments.

Scripts in Unity

In Unity, each game object can have one or more scripts attached to it. These scripts define the object's behavior, how it moves, how it interacts with other objects, and so on. For example, a script could be used to make a character move left when the left arrow key is pressed, or to make an enemy chase the player when he approaches.

Unity scripts are written in C# and are compiled by Unity before being executed. This means that scripts are checked for errors before the game runs, which helps prevent bugs and other problems.

Basics of Scripting Programming

There are some basic principles that are fundamental to programming scripts for games. The first is programming logic, which is the ability to think logically and sequentially. This is important because scripts are essentially a series of instructions that the computer follows in order.

The second principle is object orientation. As mentioned earlier, C# is an object-oriented language, which means it allows programmers to create complex objects with properties and methods. This is useful for modeling real-world concepts such as characters, items, and environments.

The third principle is understanding flow control structures such as loops and conditionals. These structures allow the script to make decisions and repeat actions, which is essential for creating interactive games.

Finally, it is important to understand events and callbacks. Events are actions that occur in the game, such as a character being hit by an enemy. Callbacks are functions that are called in response to these events, allowing the game to react to them appropriately.

Conclusion

Game scripting is an essential skill for any game developer. It allows you to create interactive and immersive games, with characters and environments that react realistically to the player and the world around them. With the help of Unity and C#, you can start creating your own games today.

Next page of the Free Ebook:

31Manipulating user input

3 minutes