Book Image

Google SketchUp for Game Design: Beginner's Guide

Book Image

Google SketchUp for Game Design: Beginner's Guide

Overview of this book

Creating video game environments similar to the best 3D games on the market is now within the capability of hobbyists for the first time, with the free availability of game development software such as Unity 3D, and the ease with which groups of enthusiasts can get together to pool their skills for a game project. The sheer number of these independent game projects springing up means there is a constant need for game art, the physical 3D environment and objects that inhabit these game worlds. Now thanks to Google there is an easy, fun way to create professional game art, levels and props.Google SketchUp is the natural choice for beginners to game design. This book provides you with the workflow to quickly build realistic 3D environments, levels, and props to fill your game world. In simple steps you will model terrain, buildings, vehicles, and much more.Google SketchUp is the ideal entry level modeling tool for game design, allowing you to take digital photographs and turn them into 3D objects for quick, fun, game creation. SketchUp for Game Design takes you through the modeling of a game level with SketchUp and Unity 3D, complete with all game art, textures and props. You will learn how to create cars, buildings, terrain, tools and standard level props such as barrels, fencing and wooden pallets. You will set up your game level in Unity 3D to create a fully functional first person walk-around level to email to your friends or future employers.When you have completed the projects in this book, you will be comfortable creating 3D worlds, whether for games, visualization, or films.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Google SketchUp for Game Design
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Time for action – creating a web playable walkthrough


  1. Go to File ¦ Build and Run. Now, select Web Player and click on Add Current (see the next screenshot):

  2. Click on Build & Run

  3. Click on Make New Folder and add a folder with a random name to your desktop.

  4. Click on OK and wait for the game to compile.

  5. When a web page comes up, click Install Now!

  6. On the Unity website click on Install Now. Run the file and follow the instructions.

  7. Now go to your desktop and open the folder you created. Double-click on the WebPlayer.htm document.

  8. Away you go in a web browser!

What just happened?

Unity is Middleware, which means it's a middle of the pipeline software program. It takes your assets, turns them into a game, and delivers them on as many gaming platforms as possible. You've just tried out one of them – Web. You can also deliver games to:

  • PC

  • Mac OS

  • iOS (Apple's iPad, iPhone and iPod)

  • Android (Google's mobile platform)

  • Xbox 360

  • PS3

  • Wii

With the free version of Unity, you can publish to PC, Mac, and Web.

You can now...