2D Game Design in Unity

Price: Starting at $399
Age: 13 - 17
Skill Level: Intermediate–Advanced

About This Course

Utilize Unity and C# to dive deeper into game development, exploring a 2D design approach and analyzing different genres to learn about game design principles. Whether it’s arcade games of yore or new-age RPG prototypes that take a creative and freeing approach to play and battle, a 2D canvas can have as much depth as you put into it. Try your hand at creating pixelated art assets, and discover how to program working with gravity, collisions, and more. Unlock more of Unity’s power, and expand your development in exciting new ways.

Tools: Unity, C#, Visual Studio Community Edition

Topics Covered

Analyze different genres to learn about game design
Use C# and Unity to create gravity and collisions
Create art assets to design unique worlds
Construct a game from a 2D canvas

Sample Schedule

Here’s a sample of what a week in the course could look like! Please keep in mind that students will progress at varying paces; this is a general outline of the key material and overall student experience.

Monday

Students will start the course by analyzing games and discussing game design concepts. They’ll build a 2D top-down arcade shooter game in Unity using provided templates. Then they’ll build a 2D platformer game that uses gravity in rigidbodies as well as colliders and tags.

Tuesday

Using Piskel, students will create their own custom sprites to make their game unique. They'll learn the basic tools for making pixel art and how to export their sprites as art for their games. Then they'll import a sprite that they made into their Unity project to replace the art and reskin the game. They’ll also manage scenes and create a title scene to start their Unity game. Using knowledge of colliders and scene management, students will connect their scenes together to make a continuous game.

Wednesday

Students will create collectible items to open locked-off areas by coding objects to reference other objects and classes in Unity. Then they'll dive deeper into learning about saving data by utilizing PlayerPrefs for saving and loading the game between scenes and playthroughs.

Thursday

Students will work in an action game in Unity where they'll create a hitbox using specified positions and directions from the player and then determine the amount of time it's active for. And finally, they'll use collisions to destroy enemies. They'll use code to set up a health bar system. Then they'll connect those values to an image that appears on the screen to show the player what their current health is.

Friday

Students will choose their favorite game types that they made so far and expand upon them! They’ll expand upon this game, combine multiple scenes, and create a consistent theme and art style for their project. Then they’ll finish their games, build them out, and show them to the class! They’ll provide feedback to each other and spend additional time that they have working on adding those changes if they'd like to.

Course Formats

Virtual Camp

Ideal for kids and teens who thrive in a high-energy, team-oriented environment! Meeting Monday through Friday, campers spend 2 hours together with their peers and instructors and 2 hours working independently on their project. Not your average online learning, our virtual camps include the games and challenges that make iD Tech camps core memory makers.

Private Lessons

Ideal for kids and teens who thrive in a focused, 1-on-1 setting, need flexible scheduling, or both! Your child will unlock new skills at their own pace, led by an experienced mentor who is dedicated to their success. These 8, one-hour lessons feature customized curriculum and are available to be scheduled 24/7.

Portfolio-Boosting Transcript

At the conclusion of your child's course, they will receive an official iD Tech transcript outlining the skills they learned over the course of the week.

Learn from the best.

Passion for tech. Unmatched expertise. Personality that brings out the absolute best in your child. With 23 years of experience, we know there's no replacement for the best teacher. It's no surprise that iconic companies like Google, EA, Microsoft, and Disney hire the same talent we do. Our iD Certified instructors possess the whole package of skills that top employers seek.

100% USA-based, adult instructors
Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU
Rigorous background and reference checks
Robust training programs and certification
Adherence to American Camp Association accredited guidelines

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

Select your online format

Virtual Camp

Meets daily for 2 hours Monday-Friday

Private Lessons $449

8 lessons on your schedule

Get started

Frequently Asked Questions

What are game design “genres” and why do they matter?

It’s a question every game designer must ask themselves as they progress to intermediate and advanced levels. After all, the type of experience gamers are looking for varies widely based on the game genre. From classic arcade games to role playing games to first-person shooter games and many more, working within specific gaming genres is a great way to refine design and coding skills.

Why should my child learn with Unity?

As video games get more and more advanced, the production behind them is as sophisticated and complex as the making of blockbuster films! From coding to amazing graphics and sophisticated game mechanics, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. By combining a gamer’s eye for design and game mechanics with Unity programming, kids can level up their STEM skills.

What college and career opportunities does this course lead to?

As of 2021 the total market value of the gaming industry was $151.06 billion dollars, with steady growth predicted through 2027. This is just one indicator of exciting things to come in the gaming universe, and even more so in terms of job opportunities and careers in this field as designers, engineers, studio executives, and more.

Is this course suitable for all skill levels?

This course is intended for students who have completed a related course or have equivalent experience. With our small class sizes, each student will continue to receive individual attention and learn at their own pace.

What is the online camp experience like?

While we are proud to offer world-class experiences on many of the world’s most prestigious university campuses, we also recognize that many families need the flexibility of quality virtual learning! It’s with these families in mind that we’ve adapted the core elements of our flagship camps to an online format with our Virtual Tech Camps.

Like our on-campus programs, Virtual Tech Camps feature structured small-group sessions led by expert instructors. Each week includes live teaching of our signature, cutting-edge curriculum, plus peer collaboration, social time, and independent project work. To complete the experience, our Virtual Tech Camps incorporate all the magic of summer camp including games, challenges, and legendary iD traditions!

What are the technical requirements for this online course?

To run an online course with iD Tech, students will need a Mac or Windows computer (no Chromebooks, unless otherwise specified), a webcam, and a stable internet connection with access to Zoom video conferencing. Any course-specific installation requirements will be communicated after registration.