Corona sdk difference from Unity

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Okay so I’m also a beginner corona learner and I’ve done Infinite Skills videos, Udemy video’s multiple times for repetition sake along with and different Youtube videos and read some of the Lua books.  I’ve definitely gotten better in the past 6 months and am now just trying to give myself simple projects like building my own tic tac toe and pong game for experience.  

I would be open to other suggestions from the community on other ways to progress my knowledge base both in corona and how to think like a developer.  Sometimes I just sit in front of a blank screen wondering what should I do?  

Now the Unity question…  I don’t know much about unity, but here in NYC “they” are offering a beginner 8 week course for $2k, I’m trying to get an understanding of the difference in knowledge base this might offer.  As this price tag is roughly 1 months rent I’m on the fence on whether I should follow it or not.

I’m enjoying learning to code and each day I take steps forward I was but I’m not sure how difference Unity is.  Is it like another path, does corona and Unity have similar feature so having knowledge in both would be helpful?  Thanks!

#2

Hi @albertcox,

The community can provide input on this, but as a general overview, Corona is geared toward 2D/2.5D apps, including games, utility/business apps, e-book apps, etc. Unity is a purely 3D engine which is solely geared toward games. So, it depends on the scope of your potential projects, and what type of apps you envision creating.

Best regards,

Brent

#3

@albert

Corona Question

Hi.  Can you tell us…

  1. Choose the phrase that best finishes this jingle, “Game developers just wanna …”
  • “show something to their peeps”,
  • “make big piles of monies”,
  • “learn lots on the journey”
  • “have fun”
  1. Are you passingly familiar with … to an expert in:
  • Trigonometry
  • Vector Math
  • Programming (list languages)
  • Physics
  • Art (list programs you know how to use)
  • Sound (list programs you know how to use)
  1. What are your goals (OK to have more than one, but order choices by priority)?
  • Get a job.
  • Make money on my own.
  • Do contract work.
  • Form a team and work with others.
  • Use games to get better at some specific thing (like programming or math).
  • Learn about the art and science of game development purely for learning sake.

Yes, I know question 1 and 3 are similar, but once we know what you know (2), knowing your motivation will help us answer you.

Meanwhile, I generally suggest that users who want to learn for learning sake, do the following:

  1. Choose 5 to 10 simple games you like playing on your phone or tablet.
  2. Select the simplest of these.
  3. If this looks like something you might be able to duplicate, try to make it in Corona.
  4. If this looks too hard, either go back to step 1 and choose simpler games, OR analyze the game you selected, choose a single mechanic from the game and try to reproduce it.
  5. Along the way, ask good questionsand get help when you get stuck.
  6. Repeat…

Unity Question

I’ve used both Corona and Unity.  Both serve a purpose and fill a different niche.

If you want to make 3D games, then Unity is a good choice.  If you want to make 2D games, Corona is a great choice.  I say this because Corona has a comparatively gradual learning curve and is very powerful.  Yes, you can make 2D(-ish) games with Unity, but the learning curve is steep (tools, language, game loop concepts, object concepts, …).

At the end of the day, if you are a beginner, I think Corona is a much better place to start.  All you need is a computer, Corona, and maybe an art program (Gimp or other free) and sound Program (Audacity), and you’re good to go.

-Ed

#4

I’ll tell ya, after deciding to build mobile apps for my home business a little over a month ago, I looked into both of them, AND Titanium Appcelerator, AND Gamesalad, and I came to the realization that, yes, both Unity and Appcelerator offer things that Corona doesn’t, or at least doesn’t without a comparable investment of time and money in Enterprise and native development, but I was afraid of getting perpetually lost in the learning phase with both Unity and Appcelerator, and Gamesalad just has too many limitations for me (I’m interested in making photo apps and things that utilize device cameras, which Gamesalad can’t do). 

I want to build apps! – not just learn things, and having very meager programming experience, LUA and Corona are a better fit for me. Javascript is conceptually similar to LUA in many ways but still more complex in practice. Just one opinion. 

For what it’s worth, unless you’re already a javascript, java, C or Objective-C pro, I say stick with Corona and actually get things done. :wink:

You WILL be able to leverage whatever you do learn of LUA and programming in general if you decide to tackle another programming language later.

#5

  1. “Game developers just wanna think of fun creative puzzles for peeps”

  2.  I’m an amateur in all of the above and willing to spend time getting better…

  3. Make $1G a month would be ideal and i’d quit my career (technically i’m unemployed)…  in all seriousness I have enough to support myself for 2-3 years and don’t want to go back to an office job so I’m thinking of just utilizing some time management and practice the above set projects of duplicating games I like to play like “Bouncing Ball”  

it sounds like unity is great at 3D and corona is great at 2D.

I do love the idea of growing and learning programing… I’m even reading books like the “The Practical Programmer” to help my mind develop with it comes to creative solutions and problem solving.

As of now my scope is based on developing simple puzzle like game or even something like bouncing ball because i would like to start small and grow.

I just know there’s other tools out there and I want to peak my head in and check them all out but not too confused at looking at things like “phaser”, “unity”, “construct2” when I should focus time on Corona.

Thanks for the replies!

#6

Hi @albertcox,

The community can provide input on this, but as a general overview, Corona is geared toward 2D/2.5D apps, including games, utility/business apps, e-book apps, etc. Unity is a purely 3D engine which is solely geared toward games. So, it depends on the scope of your potential projects, and what type of apps you envision creating.

Best regards,

Brent

#7

@albert

Corona Question

Hi.  Can you tell us…

  1. Choose the phrase that best finishes this jingle, “Game developers just wanna …”
  • “show something to their peeps”,
  • “make big piles of monies”,
  • “learn lots on the journey”
  • “have fun”
  1. Are you passingly familiar with … to an expert in:
  • Trigonometry
  • Vector Math
  • Programming (list languages)
  • Physics
  • Art (list programs you know how to use)
  • Sound (list programs you know how to use)
  1. What are your goals (OK to have more than one, but order choices by priority)?
  • Get a job.
  • Make money on my own.
  • Do contract work.
  • Form a team and work with others.
  • Use games to get better at some specific thing (like programming or math).
  • Learn about the art and science of game development purely for learning sake.

Yes, I know question 1 and 3 are similar, but once we know what you know (2), knowing your motivation will help us answer you.

Meanwhile, I generally suggest that users who want to learn for learning sake, do the following:

  1. Choose 5 to 10 simple games you like playing on your phone or tablet.
  2. Select the simplest of these.
  3. If this looks like something you might be able to duplicate, try to make it in Corona.
  4. If this looks too hard, either go back to step 1 and choose simpler games, OR analyze the game you selected, choose a single mechanic from the game and try to reproduce it.
  5. Along the way, ask good questionsand get help when you get stuck.
  6. Repeat…

Unity Question

I’ve used both Corona and Unity.  Both serve a purpose and fill a different niche.

If you want to make 3D games, then Unity is a good choice.  If you want to make 2D games, Corona is a great choice.  I say this because Corona has a comparatively gradual learning curve and is very powerful.  Yes, you can make 2D(-ish) games with Unity, but the learning curve is steep (tools, language, game loop concepts, object concepts, …).

At the end of the day, if you are a beginner, I think Corona is a much better place to start.  All you need is a computer, Corona, and maybe an art program (Gimp or other free) and sound Program (Audacity), and you’re good to go.

-Ed

#8

I’ll tell ya, after deciding to build mobile apps for my home business a little over a month ago, I looked into both of them, AND Titanium Appcelerator, AND Gamesalad, and I came to the realization that, yes, both Unity and Appcelerator offer things that Corona doesn’t, or at least doesn’t without a comparable investment of time and money in Enterprise and native development, but I was afraid of getting perpetually lost in the learning phase with both Unity and Appcelerator, and Gamesalad just has too many limitations for me (I’m interested in making photo apps and things that utilize device cameras, which Gamesalad can’t do). 

I want to build apps! – not just learn things, and having very meager programming experience, LUA and Corona are a better fit for me. Javascript is conceptually similar to LUA in many ways but still more complex in practice. Just one opinion. 

For what it’s worth, unless you’re already a javascript, java, C or Objective-C pro, I say stick with Corona and actually get things done. :wink:

You WILL be able to leverage whatever you do learn of LUA and programming in general if you decide to tackle another programming language later.

#9

  1. “Game developers just wanna think of fun creative puzzles for peeps”

  2.  I’m an amateur in all of the above and willing to spend time getting better…

  3. Make $1G a month would be ideal and i’d quit my career (technically i’m unemployed)…  in all seriousness I have enough to support myself for 2-3 years and don’t want to go back to an office job so I’m thinking of just utilizing some time management and practice the above set projects of duplicating games I like to play like “Bouncing Ball”  

it sounds like unity is great at 3D and corona is great at 2D.

I do love the idea of growing and learning programing… I’m even reading books like the “The Practical Programmer” to help my mind develop with it comes to creative solutions and problem solving.

As of now my scope is based on developing simple puzzle like game or even something like bouncing ball because i would like to start small and grow.

I just know there’s other tools out there and I want to peak my head in and check them all out but not too confused at looking at things like “phaser”, “unity”, “construct2” when I should focus time on Corona.

Thanks for the replies!