Unity TPS Player Controller - Unity Animator Controller for Player Tutorial - IGI 3 Game Clone 2022

Introduction

This tutorial guides you through creating a Third Person Shooter (TPS) player controller in Unity, utilizing the Animator Controller. This is part of a larger course focused on game development with Unity, aimed at helping you build your own 3D game. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a functional player controller that integrates with Unity's animation system.

Step 1: Setting Up the Unity Project

• Open Unity and create a new 3D project.
• Import any necessary assets, including character models and animations.
• Set up your scene by adding a terrain or ground object where the player can move.

Step 2: Importing and Configuring the Animator Controller

• Right-click in the Project window and select Create > Animator Controller.
• Name your Animator Controller (e.g., "PlayerAnimator").
• Double-click on the Animator Controller to open the Animator window.
• Add animations by dragging them from the Project window into the Animator window.

Step 3: Setting Up Animation States

• In the Animator window, create states for each animation (e.g., Idle, Run, Jump).
• Create transitions between these states:
  • Right-click on a state and select Make Transition to another state.
  • Set conditions for each transition based on parameters (e.g., speed, jump trigger).

Step 4: Creating Player Movement Script

• In the Project window, right-click and select Create > C# Script and name it "PlayerController".
• Open the script and implement the following code snippet for basic movement:

using UnityEngine;

public class PlayerController : MonoBehaviour
{
    public float speed = 5f;
    private Animator animator;

    void Start()
    {
        animator = GetComponent<Animator>();
    }

    void Update()
    {
        float moveHorizontal = Input.GetAxis("Horizontal");
        float moveVertical = Input.GetAxis("Vertical");
        Vector3 movement = new Vector3(moveHorizontal, 0.0f, moveVertical);
        transform.Translate(movement * speed * Time.deltaTime);

        if (movement.magnitude > 0)
        {
            animator.SetBool("isRunning", true);
        }
        else
        {
            animator.SetBool("isRunning", false);
        }
    }
}

• Attach this script to your player character in the Unity Editor.

Step 5: Assigning the Animator Controller

• Select your player character in the Hierarchy.
• In the Inspector window, find the Animator component.
• Assign the Animator Controller you created earlier to the Controller field.

Step 6: Testing the Player Controller

• Save your scene and play the game in the Unity Editor.
• Use the WASD or arrow keys to move your character.
• Ensure the animations play correctly according to movement.

Conclusion

You have successfully set up a basic TPS player controller in Unity using the Animator Controller. Your player can move and animate based on input. Next steps could include adding shooting mechanics, health systems, or enemy AI to further enhance your game development skills. Continue experimenting with different animations and controls to create a more engaging player experience.