[PumpIron]

I am a beginner/intermediate coder, and am wondering whether it would be better to learn code prior to developing games via unity or to dive straight into it.

I try to learn code from e-books but the process is fairly boring. I feel like designing a game could be more efficient and fun. I have designed games previously in Stencyl and Game Maker, but not using code but rather the game engines interface so I have little experience.

Update:

Thought I should update you guys on my progress with unity. It's been about 10 days since I started watching tutorials and slowly learning. I dedicated around 1 hour a day to Unity and learning c#. I would literally force myself to watch these videos and follow through with the scripting. Just now do I have the basic knowledge to be able to put together a decent basic game. Today I spent about 4 hours trying to make a replica of floppy bird. I made something extremely close and fought through many bugs, which is why it took so long.
I definitely feel that it is better to learn through experience and troubleshooting rather than by theory and reading books.

[Dispersia]

You say you're an intermediate programmer, but in what language? If C#, then yes you could easily jump into unity and start scripting away. Otherwise no, you're going yo want to learn the language first or your game will be running at 5 fps and you won't be able to do nearly anything without googling, sorry to say.

[PumpIron]

You say you're an intermediate programmer, but in what language? If C#, then yes you could easily jump into unity and start scripting away. Otherwise no, you're going yo want to learn the language first or your game will be running at 5 fps and you won't be able to do nearly anything without googling, sorry to say.

I don't mind googling or following tutorials to learn. I'm just asking whether it's efficient to learn while working on a project.

[Dispersia]

I don't mind googling or following tutorials to learn. I'm just asking whether it's efficient to learn while working on a project.

To be honest, that is the best way to learn. That's why internships are so effective. It makes you face real life scenarios and challenges that you have to figure out. That's what coding is, so to answer, yes. Its great to learn while you do something like this

[Syndicate]

I also have the goal of making video games in mind. I decided to opt for the boring, learn C# as a language first then move over to Unity. I only started C# a few months ago. Here's how I began:

I finished most of Essential C# 5.0 by Mark Michaelis and Eric Lippert up until the Events chapter.

http://www.amazon.ca/Essential-5-0-4th-M...ntial+C%23

And just now I'm beginning to make basic games in Unity and it seems to be coming along smoothly. To familiarize myself with Unity and its way of using C# I bought this book.

http://www.amazon.ca/Unity-Development-H...ity+3D+Sam

However, I would say get started on learning the Unity interface and wait for this book to come out.

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-C-Program...1466586524

It'll teach/refresh your C# while learning Unity. And if you look through the table of contents, unlike other books it doesn't just stop at the basics like how to declare a method. It goes over events and design patterns towards the end and all that knowledge is taught with Unity in mind. I'm definitely going to get it when it comes out.

I wish the book would have come out earlier in the summer, could have killed two birds with one stone.

[Dispersia]

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-C-Program...1466586524

Looks interesting, I just wanted to point out that you can buy it for new for less than used however. Lol. And someone is selling it new for $186. Wut.

[PumpIron]

I also have the goal of making video games in mind. I decided to opt for the boring, learn C# as a language first then move over to Unity. I only started C# a few months ago. Here's how I began:

I finished most of Essential C# 5.0 by Mark Michaelis and Eric Lippert up until the Events chapter.

http://www.amazon.ca/Essential-5-0-4th-M...ntial+C%23

And just now I'm beginning to make basic games in Unity and it seems to be coming along smoothly. To familiarize myself with Unity and its way of using C# I bought this book.

http://www.amazon.ca/Unity-Development-H...ity+3D+Sam

However, I would say get started on learning the Unity interface and wait for this book to come out.

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-C-Program...1466586524

It'll teach/refresh your C# while learning Unity. And if you look through the table of contents, unlike other books it doesn't just stop at the basics like how to declare a method. It goes over events and design patterns towards the end and all that knowledge is taught with Unity in mind. I'm definitely going to get it when it comes out.

I wish the book would have come out earlier in the summer, could have killed two birds with one stone.

Im going through the Unity tutorials and quite frankly learning quite quick. They have a page where they teach you the majority of the Beginner Scripting : http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modul...components

I went through that today, and am referring to it as I progress through these basic 2D game tutorials. I would say that this type of learning in my opinion is so far working much better than when I was reading books just like you were.

[Syndicate]

Looks interesting, I just wanted to point out that you can buy it for new for less than used however. Lol. And someone is selling it new for $186. Wut.

What's also interesting and I didn't realize when I linked it to OP earlier, was that last time I checked (which was two days ago on August 3rd) it was to be released on Aug 14th. However now it says it already was released on August 1st? The powers that be are trolling me.

Im going through the Unity tutorials and quite frankly learning quite quick. They have a page where they teach you the majority of the Beginner Scripting : http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modul...components

I went through that today, and am referring to it as I progress through these basic 2D game tutorials. I would say that this type of learning in my opinion is so far working much better than when I was reading books just like you were.

To each their own of course. I like learning from textbooks because generally they are more comprehensive and thus I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything, also I'm just that kind of nerd haha.

[PumpIron]

Thought I should update you guys on my progress with unity. It's been about 10 days since I started watching tutorials and slowly learning. I dedicated around 1 hour a day to Unity and learning c#. I would literally force myself to watch these videos and follow through with the scripting. Just now do I have the basic knowledge to be able to put together a decent basic game. Today I spent about 4 hours trying to make a replica of floppy bird. I made something extremely close and fought through many bugs, which is why it took so long.
I definitely feel that it is better to learn through experience and troubleshooting rather than by theory and reading books.

[SIM-888979]

C# is definitely something you need to pick up if you're using Unity.

[PumpIron]

C# is definitely something you need to pick up if you're using Unity.

Yea definitely that or Java Script. The big question was whether it was possible to learn while working on a project. The answer is yes.

[Rаziel]

Coding isn't everything you need to dev a game. Math. that's the language you need to be fluent in.

[Sajuuk]

Start learning C++. I'll regret recommending that to you, but it's the best for game development. Don't use Unity.

[The-Noob]

Start learning C++. I'll regret recommending that to you, but it's the best for game development. Don't use Unity.

Why? User would have more success learning to program with c# and Unity and would most likely enjoy it more than learning c++ as a starting point.

[Sajuuk]

Why? User would have more success learning to program with c# and Unity and would most likely enjoy it more than learning c++ as a starting point.

Fine, whatever. Go ahead, develop a game in C#, I don't care. Just wait and see what happens.