My Capstone
BY DYLAN B
Overview
My capstone is in Unity as I show what I have learned while exploring with making
code, a game, and 3D modeling, with help from an experienced friend. My
strand choices are the project strand and occupation strand with my essential
question being “How can I better my passion for programming and incorporate it
into future jobs”. I have found several possible jobs opportunities that may be
available for me in the near future.
My Question
Starting with the questions along the lines of:
how can your hobbies influence future jobs?
What steps can I take to better my artistic hobbies
How can I use my passions to make profit?
How can I use/build on my interests of codding?
What can I do to incorporate my interests into my career?
After breaking down the questions and what was available to me, I decided that
the essential question “How can I better my passion for programming and
incorporate it into future jobs” fit the criteria the best.
“How can I better my passion for
programming and incorporate it
into future jobs”. I believe my essential
question can strongly involve the
project strand this is because
the project strand is connected to Project
tangible products
and programming counts as a
Strand
tangible if it is coherent code. Along
with code I have also tried other types
of projects that closely relate to
computer programing like 3D
modeling my room using unity.
I chose the occupation strand
because my question directly relates
to possible future career paths and
occupations to do with programming. Occupation
When making my project for
programing I used well known and
Strand
user friendly game design software
that are commonly used by people
who program professionals.
For my capstone I have decided to explore
and learn different types of computer
programming and use different methods to
better my passion for programming and
have some of the basic skills to be make it
possible to incorporate it into future jobs My Project
My project consisted of me trying out
common software like unity and Maya and
other programs I haven’t heard of like
blender. Using Unity, I have tried recreating
my room using 3D modeling making a small
3D platformer using basic motion code
which I learned from someone who has
much experience with game design.
Along with this I experimented with other
forms of programming but found that I was
most interested in game design.
For my action plan I made a
rough straightforward plan
with six steps. This action plan
only consisted of the unity
game I planned to make but I
added ,ore as I worked. The My Action Plan
steps started as a basic
layout, level design, coding
for the player, coding for the
levels, then finishing touches.
This plan changed frequently
as I continued, and I ended
with the plan to learn how to
make a 3D platformer along
with what jobs this could
connect to.
What Happened
Originally my plan was to explore how a
3D game that’s a platformer is made
and then making one myself which I
broke down into several simple steps.
After creating my code and having a
functional platformer level I wanted to
continue to learn and make things that
had to do with game design as of the
kinds of programming game design
interested me the most. My
experienced friend/ mentor told me
about making a model of my room.
How they relate/ project expanded
My project relates to my question because I expanded my passion for
programing and found that I am interested in game design along with graphic
design and with my new understanding of how some of the common software
that professionals use. This has led me to search for jobs that use the same
software, this consists of Unity, Maya, and Blender
The Breakdown
INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT TUTORIALS (WHICH
LOOKING BACK, I SHOULD HAVE) INSTEAD
I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON ERRORS AND
PROBLEMS UPON RUNNING INTO THEM.
DOING THIS ALLOWED ME TO BREAK THE
WORK DOWN. I HAVE SEPARATED THE BULK
OF THE PROJECT INTO PARTS LIKE CODING,
BUILDING, TESTING, 3D MODELING, AND
THEN, WHAT I LEARNED WITH POSSIBLE JOBS.
Player
Using a cylinder as the base to my
player with a camera and
character controller linked to it. My
character is able to jump, look all
around him, and move fluently with
my c# script. After some trouble,
the player-cylinder is capable of
traversing the simple obstacle
course that I have created
Movement
Taught to me by a friend this
movement script is by far the most
useful code that I have learned so
far. When applied to a character
controller this c# script allows for full
movement of the player with little
to no difficulties. This code can be
reused for future projects and
Jump
Although this code had brought
me a lot of trouble and can
probably be simplified the jump
script works well with my platformer
and fits well when matched with
my movement scrip
First Person Camera
Also made with the help of my
friend along with a bit of trial and
error when applying the script to
the player. Like the movement this
is very important and is reusable
Errors
To my surprise I did not encounter as many errors
as I originally thought I would and the errors I did
find had not been the hardest to resolve. The
most common errors I found was the semicolon
error CS1002 and the missing type or namespace
error CS0246. These errors are common for those
who are just starting to use unity and can be
solved by carefully checking over your code for
any outstanding mistakes like a missing
semicolon at the end of a line of code or
checking the name of the namespace and
compare it with the name that already exists to
see if they are any different.
Gameplay
Although it can be hard to see because of my amazing platformer skills the
level that I had made is very simple. If I where to create a new level knowing
what I have learned during the process of this capstone Id like to think it
would be a lot more interesting and contain a bit more of a challenge. My
plan for the original platformer was going to be set in space to make it easier
to deal with more elaborate jumps but I decided against it in the end,
although I liked the jumping that I had made so I kept the moon-like gravity
Actual
Gameplay
Movement
showcase
By putting the game tab
in the side bar, I am able
to show both viewpoints
of the player as well as a
spectator in a side-by-side
fashion. This shows what
the player looks like when
moving around the
environment and allows
for visual problems to be
better found. This however
does not apply to me
because my character is
a cylinder
3D MODELING
Using unity and what I have learned from making a small platformer I was able to recreate a rough
copy of my own room which includes my belongings and such. I did this with simple shapes to first
create an outlook that included my bed, desk, closet, shelves, door, and other larger objects. As I
continued, I began to add more of my smaller things like computer, tv, lamp, and trinkets on my shelves.
With most of the main building in place I started by adding detail and depth to the things I had made
along the lines of doorknobs, light switches, curtains/blinds, bedframe, buttons, etc. With the creation of
the room the next step I took was adding colour to it. I found that 3d modeling is something I enjoy and
could see myself doing in the future.
This is a
video of
the early
stages
This is
near the
end
stages
What I've Learned
From this I have learned a lot about different types of programming but
mainly both visual and game design. I have learned that game and visual
design might be something I want to pursue as a future career. After
overcoming obstacles that I haven’t thought about before and am not used
to I think I have learned useful skills that will help me if I am able to continue to
explore other strands of programming.
Possible Jobs
As mentioned previously I have taken a liking to the kinds of programming
and design that I have briefly explored, and I think I will carry on with this type
of hobby with the possibility of getting a job in the same field. Jobs I have
found that I am interested in video game design, 3D modeling, and maybe
even sound design. Job opportunities with similar descriptions that are
available near or in Vancouver are:
InkPad Studios which delivers mobile gaming content
Kabam making incredible experiences for hundreds of millions of players
around the world.
Enginetap Studios who are seeking an experienced iOS and Android
software developer and I am assuming they want people that are able to
use Unity.
Bibliography
https://support.unity.com/hc/en-us/articles/206116726-What-is-CS0246-
https://answers.unity.com/questions/1386061/c-error-cs-1002-expected.html
https://gamedevacademy.org/tutorial-multi-level-platformer-game-in-unity/
https://www.google.com/search?client=opera-
gx&q=game+developer+jobs+in+vancouver&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-
8&ibp=htl;jobs&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjAoYPY85zxAhUCu54KHY4JA8wQudcGKAJ6BAghECg&sxsrf=ALeKk0
3QcO-
jsBykEK3mD_DZ7A6mze0Bmw:1623872289961#htivrt=jobs&htidocid=D6zFWLxRUE38PPL5AAAAAA%3D%3
D&fpstate=tldetail
https://angel.co/company/inkpad-studios/jobs/67907-game-developer-position-in-a-mobile-gaming-
startup?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic
https://www.peersight.co/job/enginetap-interactive-inc-game-developer-unity-in-vancouver-
bc.amp?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic
