3D Game Development in Godot

1. Introduction

Godot is an open-source game engine that is highly versatile for 2D and 3D game development. In this lesson, we will focus on 3D game development, covering everything from setup to best practices.

2. Setup

3. Key Concepts

Familiarize yourself with the following key concepts in Godot:

• Nodes: The building blocks of Godot scenes.
• Scenes: Combinations of nodes that can be reused.
• Scripts: Code that defines behavior for nodes.
• Resource: Files that can be reused across projects.

4. Creating a Scene

To create a simple 3D scene:

1. Open your new project in Godot.
2. Create a new scene by clicking on the "+" icon.
3. Select "3D Scene" and add a "Spatial" node as the root.
4. Add a "MeshInstance" node and choose a primitive shape (e.g., Cube).
5. Add a "Camera" node to view the scene.
6. Add a "DirectionalLight" to illuminate the scene.

Your scene should look like this:

extends Spatial

func _ready():
    # Called when the node is added to the scene.
    print("Hello, Godot!")

5. Scripting Basics

Godot uses GDScript, a Python-like scripting language. Here’s a simple example:

extends Spatial

var speed = 5

func _process(delta):
    var direction = Vector3.ZERO
    if Input.is_action_pressed("ui_right"):
        direction.x += 1
    if Input.is_action_pressed("ui_left"):
        direction.x -= 1
    if Input.is_action_pressed("ui_down"):
        direction.z += 1
    if Input.is_action_pressed("ui_up"):
        direction.z -= 1

    direction = direction.normalized() * speed * delta
    translate(direction)

6. Best Practices

Adhere to the following best practices for efficient development:

• Organize your nodes in a logical hierarchy.
• Use scenes to encapsulate reusable elements.
• Optimize assets for performance.
• Regularly back up your project.

7. FAQ