Unity Engine Workshop 2024
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) student chapter at Don Bosco Institute of Technology (DBIT) successfully organized a two-day workshop on Unity Game Development on October 10th and 11th, 2024. The workshop aimed to introduce students to the basics of game development using Unity, a widely-used platform for creating interactive 3D and 2D games. Through hands-on training and real-time coding, students learned to build a simple yet engaging game titled "Roll-a-Ball." The sessions were led by Mr. Jigar Bhanushali, who not only guided students through the technical aspects of game creation but also fostered an interactive environment conducive to learning. The event also marked the launch of Teknack'25, an annual event by ACM DBIT, further underlining the significance of the workshop in the chapter’s broader academic calendar.
Day 1: 10th October 2024
The workshop kicked off at 9:00 AM with a warm welcome address from Ms. Susanne Lobo, Secretary of ACM DBIT. She thanked all participants for their enthusiasm and extended a special welcome to Mr. Phiroj Shaikh, Head of the Computer Engineering Department, and Mr. Amiya Kumar Tripathy, Professor in the same department. Both distinguished guests shared their encouraging words, motivating students to take full advantage of the workshop and immerse themselves in the world of game development. Their speeches served as the perfect opening for the inaugural session of Teknack'25.
Following the opening ceremony, the workshop leader, Mr. Jigar Bhanushali, took the stage to introduce the core objectives of the workshop. He began by explaining the basic features of Unity Hub, guiding participants through the process of setting up their first project. The session was designed to be interactive, with participants creating essential 3D objects such as planes and spheres, which would serve as the foundation for their "Roll-a-Ball" game. Throughout the day, students learned how to apply materials and textures to these objects, manipulate lighting, and incorporate basic 3D physics to bring their game to life. Mr. Bhanushali also focused on the practical aspects of camera control to enhance the gaming experience. The session was punctuated by periodic trivia games organized by the ACM team, offering participants a lighthearted break and an opportunity to network with their peers. At the end of Day 1, Mr. Bhanushali assigned a homework task, encouraging students to design the base scenery for their projects, which would be expanded upon in the next session.
Day 2: 11th October 2024
The second day of the workshop began at 2:00 PM, with Mr. Bhanushali addressing any lingering questions or issues from Day 1. He moved through the room, offering personalized assistance to students, ensuring that everyone was on the same page before diving into the next set of concepts. Building on the foundation laid in the previous session, Mr. Bhanushali introduced more advanced features to enhance the game's functionality, such as game borders to prevent the player’s ball from rolling outside the play area. He also demonstrated how to integrate power-ups, teaching students how to implement collision detection and trigger events that would make the game more interactive and enjoyable.
Further enriching the workshop experience, participants were introduced to Unity's UI elements, including CountText and WinText, which allowed them to incorporate real-time scoring mechanisms into their games. This hands-on introduction to prefabs—reusable game objects—streamlined development and helped participants create scalable and efficient game designs. As students applied these new concepts, Mr. Bhanushali offered real-time feedback, ensuring they could troubleshoot and optimize their work effectively. The session was full of practical experiments, with students confidently testing and refining their creations.
The workshop concluded with Ms. Tanisha Raorane, Vice-Chairperson of ACM DBIT, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Bhanushali for his engaging and informative sessions. To show appreciation for his hard work and dedication, Mr. Joshua Menezes, Chairperson of ACM DBIT, presented Mr. Bhanushali with a token of thanks. The event also recognized the most active participant, underlining the importance of engagement and enthusiasm in the learning process.
Overall, the Unity Workshop at DBIT was a tremendous success, offering participants an excellent introduction to game development. The blend of technical instruction, interactive engagement, and lighthearted activities created an enriching environment for all. The launch of Teknack'25 added a special dimension to the workshop, highlighting the beginning of a series of exciting initiatives by ACM DBIT in the coming year.
