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Metaverse Minute: How to make your metaverse debut

December 8, 2022 in Industry | 7 min. read
Metaverse Minute: How to make your metaverse debut | Hero image
Metaverse Minute: How to make your metaverse debut | Hero image
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Real-time 3D requires highly interactive content that is both dynamic and responsive. As the leading platform for creating and operating this type of media, Unity can help pave the path to the metaverse.

This is especially true since 3D makes up the foundation of most metaverse experiences. The more accessible and easy-to-use the technology is, the more people are likely to create with it. This concept now extends beyond games as other creators across industries embark on their journeys into the metaverse.

Funny enough, we’ve heard that many of our digital twin followers have yet to create with the Editor. If you’re curious about how to use Unity, you can download the free version and follow along with some best practices we’ve outlined in this post.

You can also check out our seven-track workshop series to go from beginner to VR worldbuilder. So if that’s what you’re looking for, scroll down and dive into the metaverse for beginners.

Get to know 2021 LTS

There are a few features included in our 2021 LTS release that we think are particularly exciting for metaverse creators: Volumetric Clouds in the High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP), baked-in visual scripting, and Shader Graph. Here’s a brief breakdown of each:

Volumetric Clouds in HDRP

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Environmental details are important for simulating real-world scenarios. With Volumetric Clouds, you can cast believable shadows onto the landscape with real-time light scattering, global wind influence, Volumetric Fog interaction, and more.

Visual scripting

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If coding’s not your thing, you can use drag-and-drop graphs instead of writing code from scratch. Visual scripting works through graphical elements, which represent functions, operators, and variables. You can connect these nodes from their ports by using edges. Instead of having to write code line by line, you have the capacity to do everything visually.

Shader Graph

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Build shaders visually instead of writing code. Details like textures, water ripples, and foliage blowing in the wind can make your digital twin feel more real. Shader Graph enables quick iteration with a built-in preview for almost every node, and as such, better oversight of your output.

Now, let’s turn to Unity…

There are so many tips, tricks, and resources you can find by searching online. Here are just six of our top tips for those new to Unity.

1. The Unity Hub is your friend

The Unity Hub is your content browser system. It’s where you can activate licenses, manage your account, download templates, and access projects.

2. 3D URP is a pipeline for the metaverse

The Universal Render Pipeline (URP) is great for building something you want to deploy across many platforms like smartphones, tablets, Quest, and HoloLens.

3. Embrace our lil’ scene gizmo

You might be wondering, who’s that tiny box guy with the green, red, and blue arrow? Meet your buddy for navigating the Editor! Here are three basic controls to help you get started:

  • Pan: Hold Alt + click-drag the middle mouse button
  • Zoom: Hold Alt + right-click and drag
  • Rotate: Hold Alt + click and drag

Take a look at this handy Unity Learn session to speed up your onboarding.

4. Manage all the details in the Inspector

Use the Inspector to edit the settings for almost anything in the Editor; think GameObjects, Unity components, Assets, Materials, and in-Editor settings and preferences.

5. Remember that Play Mode changes won’t be saved

When you enter Play Mode, your project starts and runs as it would in a build. But any changes you make in the Editor while in Play Mode will reset when you exit, so be careful.

6. Components are understated ‘superpowers’

If you want things like audio, lighting, or different physics behaviors, you can select from the Component menu. To open the Component browser, choose Add Component from within the Inspector.

Let’s get creating

Ben Radcliffe and Jerome Maurey-Delaunay, our rockstar senior technical specialists, are here to further guide you as you make your way in the metaverse. Follow these seven, 90-minute Road to the Metaverse sessions to build immersive worlds in VR and bring digital objects to the real world with AR.

The world is better with more creators in it

We can’t wait to see what you create. If you want to share your first project with us, be sure to tag Unity on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

For more on Unity for digital twins, check out our recent demo or the new starter package.

December 8, 2022 in Industry | 7 min. read

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