Training - Unity: What the Manuals Don't Teach You


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COURSE DETAILS


Game development using Unity can be complicated. Unity has hundreds of different features, many of which aren’t programming related. But programming is a big part of Unity.

Writing C# is straightforward and easy for beginners to pick up. However, it’s easy for games development beginners and seniors alike to fall into common traps: simple programming mistakes, obvious optimisation faux pas as well as overlooking foundational programming techniques that circumvent some of Unity’s well-known limitations. This course intends to pass on the hard-won insights of experienced developers in these areas.

This first-of-its-kind, in-person training will take place over 2 consecutive weeks, the first in studio and at workstations provided by Cloth Cat, an award-winning animation and games studio based in central Cardiff. The second week will be remote.

This course is intended for people who have some games development experience who want to enhance their software-specific skills, this course will deliver the knowledge and insights needed to work on future productions.

Trainees will come out of the two weeks feeling stronger with their programming knowledge, more confident in their ability to write code like a senior or lead and feel they can explain complex foundational coding practices to their peers.

In the first week, you will work in the Cloth Cat studio, to learn about, best practices for mastering Unity, using Integrated Development Environments (IDE) effectively, source control using GitHub, data oriented programming using scriptable objects, best practices to working alone and together, automated Importing processes, helping artists to help you, why writing tools make happy teams, and understanding how to choose and use good quality Unity Asset Store plugins.

In the second week, you will work remotely (with an option to continue working in the studio) and will be supported by our experienced trainer to apply and practice using the techniques that have been learned in week one. This will include some of the daily standups, one-to-ones, peer reviews, and end of day wrap ups (all important parts of the games development process).

Trainees will also receive a resource pack including, code sample, workshop slides and access to a closed Discord Server.

Who is the trainer? 

Highly experienced games developer and trainer Matt Griffiths (Bird in Sky)

has worked in the games industry for 16 years, ranging from multiplayer, award winning parachute simulators for the Ministry of Defence, to tools programming at Frontier Developments, PSVR and all kinds of games at FuturLab - as well as personal experience releasing games. Matt also has experience delivering month-long programming bootcamps with Northern Ireland Screen in Belfast, delivering a broad level of unity-based lessons.

So come and join us for this unique training opportunity and discover what using Unity games development software - with training taking place in a production environment - means in practice, at one of the top animation and games studios in Wales.

DELIVERY DETAILS

A. How this works

This programme is fully funded by Media Cymru and is delivered in partnership with Cloth Cat Academy.

This 10-day course is open to any Welsh or Wales-based professionals working – or seeking to work – in the screen sector (games, animation, VFX, post-production and film & TV).

All participants will receive a training bursary of £100 per day to cover their time out of work to train. Travel expenses can also be claimed to support attending the course.

There will be a maximum of 8 training places for this course.

B. Who can apply?

This course is open to any Welsh or Wales-based screen sector professionals working – or seeking to work – in the media sector.

This course is for people who have some games development experience who want to enhance their software-specific skills. You will be asked to provide some evidence of your experience in the application.

You will need to have a computer capable of running Unity 6 and have a Discord account.

C. When and Where?

  • Application deadline 17:00 on Friday 24th January 2025.
  • Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 31st January 2025.

We ask that you ensure, you can commit to all the following training dates:

E. Access and Accessibility

If you have any specific requirements that would make this application more accessible to you (such as advice, scribing or reading support) or would like this application in an alternative format (video or audio formats, audio narration, large font, plain text, or alternative language) please email [email protected]

The full set of application questions are available here.

E. Any Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]