We are currently using the Unity Game Engine. To get the engine and have everything set up, be sure to not use a WiFi connection as it can damage downloads if the signal becomes too weak, interrupted or drops off. You will need to also create a member account on that website.
INSTRUCTIONS:
First, go to the website and create a member account at https://unity.com/Â
A membership with Unity is needed when you open the HUB to access downloads such as free and paid for assets from the Unity Asset Store and other such features.
Go to this link and download the HUB at https://unity.com/download.
Select the appropriate one for the Operating System you are using. (Currently development is for Windows).
Next, choose the correct engine by going to the archive link at https://unity.com/releases/editor/archive.
Go to the tab list as 2021X for version 2021.3.27 LTS if it doesn't show up on your HUB list of available downloads.
A small window will open in your browser to ask you to allow using to open the file in the HUB once it has been installed. Be sure to allow as this will apply for other downloads.
LEARNING:
If you are not familiar with the engine or haven't used one before, be sure to search for information on YouTube.
There are a lot of basic tutorials for that, along with other important subjects that include optimization, lighting and so forth.
At this time we are not using specialized lighting such as High Definition Render Pipelines as an FYI.
However, you can learn many other functions such as learning how to set light schemes to linear, optimizing lighting and scene creation.
If you do intend to use audio files they should be in WAV or MP4 formats, and files for models are preferably FBX.
If you create animations, for humanoid characters you have to set both the animations and the character rig to humanoid. For everything else such as creatures or other animations, you can leave them as defaults.
IF YOU ARE NOT CODING:
It is preferable you do not include scripts in exported packages unless you are specifically working on coding.
If requested packages include scripts ask about them first before trying to use them so we can avoid any breaks or conflicts.
If a package downloaded has a "standard assets" folder, be sure to remove that and its associated content as these often have other dependencies that will be in conflict with the development processes.
WARNING:
Never update to a new version of the engine in mid project development as it often breaks scripting and architecture of the project in question.
All volunteers need to use the same version of the engine as often times Updates also have their own bugs due to alterations and changes to the Engine's API.
That means progress cannot be made till the company who provides the engine is able to get around to fixing the issues in other versions. The current one we are using is stable.
NOTES AND DISCLAIMER:
If you are provided requested assets that have been paid for by Cyberathia you can only use them in Cyberathia, LLC projects.
Otherwise you will have to pay for those licenses yourself in order to use them in your own projects to the ones who have made them available on the Unity Asset Store.
Be sure to read the policies on the Unity Website for more information about policies and their terms of usage, and the separate policies and terms of use of those content providers.
Cyberathia LLC is not liable if you use those assets in other projects that are intended to be used solely in Cyberathia (the game) and/or any potential future projects of Cyberathia LLC. You are solely responsible if you use such assets without paid for and registered content.
In reverse, if you paid for assets to be used in a project you intend to submit to Cyberathia LLC for inclusion, we cannot accept them for the same reason that we will not have been the ones who paid for such licenses.
This may also hold true for some free assets, so if you are uncertain of such matters, go to the Unity Website and contact the content providers for any permissions, and be sure to have them contact us so we can be granted permission for such usage.
Any original content created specifically for Cyberathia is the exclusive property of Cyberathia LLC and may not be used in any other projects outside of those being developed by Cyberathia LLC and its participating volunteers.
Otherwise all such content and material is the exclusive property of their respective owners.
Thanks again for your interest, and your help is always appreciated.