Episode 4: Advanced 2D Rendering & Performance Techniques in Unity

Take your 2D projects to the next level! In this episode we unpack Unity’s newest rendering and animation tools—and the performance tricks that keep them running smoothly.

What you’ll learn:

• 2D Lights: Dial in color, intensity, and fall‑off for atmospheric scenes.

• Sprite Shape: Sculpt free‑form terrain that tiles and swaps sprites automatically.

• Custom Sprite Sorting Axis: Guarantee correct draw order in card & board games.

• Custom 2D Shaders + VFX Graph: Build dazzling GPU‑driven effects with Shader Graph.

• Reduce Overdraw: Tight meshes, merged sprites, and smart culling for higher FPS.

• Custom Sprite Outlines & Library Editor: Trim transparency and manage huge asset sets.

• Sprite Swap: Re‑skin characters at runtime with streamlined keyframing.

• New 2D Animation Tools: Live deformation previews, IK solvers, and pivot tweaks.

• Pro Tips from Happy Harvest: Neutral poses, higher‑res source art, and halo sprites for subtle lighting.

Plug these tips into your pipeline to unlock richer visuals and faster frame rates.

Episode 3: Optimizing Workflow and Enhancing 2D Graphics in Unity

In this episode, we're diving into powerful techniques to streamline your Unity workflow and elevate your 2D graphics to new heights. We'll explore:

• Save and Load Selections: Quickly manage object groups.

• Customizing Duplicate Numbering: Maintain clarity in object naming.

• "EditorOnly" Tag: Exclude objects from builds.

• Editor Colors & Playmode Tint: Clearly differentiate edit and play modes.

• Align Cameras: Efficiently match cameras and scene views.

• Sprite Atlases: Optimize sprites by reducing draw calls.

• SpriteAtlas API: Control sprite atlases dynamically at runtime.

• 2D Pixel Perfect Package: Ensure crisp pixel art visuals.

• PSD Importer Package: Import Photoshop files seamlessly.

• Efficient Tilemap Creation: Create optimized grid-based worlds.

• 2D Skeletal Animation & IK: Create smooth, realistic animations.

Tune in to significantly enhance your productivity and visual quality in Unity!

In our second episode, we dive deeper into the Unity editor, focusing on advanced techniques that offer precision and boost efficiency. We'll explore Focused Inspectors, Presets, Scene Visibility, Scene Picking, and the powerful Search and Query Builder tools. Learn to customize your workflow for maximum impact, from detailed property inspections to smart scene management.

Welcome to the first episode of our 10-part series, "Unity Mastery: 100 Tips to Supercharge Your Game Development Workflow."

In this episode, we kick off with 10 powerful tips to enhance your productivity using Unity’s editor. Discover how to streamline your workflow with faster package retrieval, reduce Play mode entry times, optimize Scene view performance, and more.

Whether you’re managing large prefabs or navigating complex hierarchies, these expert strategies will help you make the most of Unity 2022 LTS. Join us and start transforming your development process today!

80+ tips to increase productivity in Unity 2022 LTS

This episode explores how to optimize mobile game performance in Unity, focusing on techniques to achieve smooth gameplay and stunning graphics across a wide range of devices.

• This episode will cover important considerations like profiling with both Unity's built-in tools, like the Memory Profiler and the Profile Analyzer, and platform-specific tools, such as Xcode Instruments for iOS, and Android Studio or ARM Mobile Studio for Android.
• Listeners will learn how to use the Unity Profiler to identify performance bottlenecks in their games. This includes learning how to interpret common markers like Gfx.WaitForCommands and Gfx.WaitForPresent to understand CPU and GPU bottlenecks.
• This episode will also discuss managing memory usage and reducing the impact of garbage collection. Key techniques covered include object pooling, minimizing string operations, and using the incremental garbage collector.
• The episode will cover advanced rendering techniques, such as draw call batching, and how to optimize for the GPU. Listeners will learn about different batching methods including SRP Batching, GPU Instancing, and Static Batching, as well as the importance of minimizing state changes between draw calls.
• This episode will also touch upon asset optimization, UI optimization, and audio optimization. This includes optimizing texture and mesh import settings, using techniques like Level of Detail (LOD) and Occlusion Culling, and choosing appropriate audio compression formats.
• The episode will introduce listeners to Unity's Adaptive Performance feature, which allows for dynamic adjustment of game settings based on device thermal trends.
• Listeners will learn how to use this feature to prevent thermal throttling and deliver a smoother player experience, particularly on Samsung Galaxy devices.
• The episode will also examine the Data-Oriented Technology Stack (DOTS) and how it can be leveraged for performance enhancements.

This episode aims to provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of mobile game optimization techniques in Unity, empowering them to create high-performing and visually impressive games for a global audience.

Tired of messy Unity projects where data and logic are intertwined?

This episode explores ScriptableObjects, powerful assets in Unity that can revolutionize how you organize and optimize your game development. Learn how ScriptableObjects go beyond simple data containers to enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and make your projects cleaner and more scalable.

We'll uncover practical use cases for ScriptableObjects, from managing inventories and character stats to implementing design patterns like the Observer and Strategy pattern.

Discover how to leverage ScriptableObjects to empower designers to tweak gameplay values and create variations without writing code. We'll also look at advanced debugging techniques and address potential pitfalls to watch out for.

Whether you're an indie developer or part of a larger team, join us as we unlock the full potential of ScriptableObjects and level up your Unity game development skills. Create modular game architecture in Unity with ScriptableObjects

This week, we're diving deep into two essential resources for aspiring game developers: "The Unity Shaders Bible" and "Visualizing Equations," both by author Fabrizio Espíndola.

• First, we'll unlock the secrets of breathtaking visuals with "The Unity Shaders Bible." This book provides a clear and comprehensive guide to understanding shaders, those powerful tools that control how light, shadows, and textures appear in your games. We'll break down key concepts like ShaderLab, HLSL, and Cg programming languages, making them accessible whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your skills.
• Next, we'll journey into the world of mathematics with "Visualizing Equations." This book takes a hands-on approach to teaching essential math concepts for game devs, helping you translate complex equations into practical code.

Whether you're an aspiring artist or a code-savvy developer, this episode will equip you with the knowledge and resources to elevate your game development journey!

Unity Shader Bible

Visualizing Equations