Build NFT metaverse with Unity on Algorand

Download and install Unity Hub to manage multiple Unity versions for projects, then install Unity 2020 with Visual Studio and build support for Android, iOS, and WebGL.

Launch Unity via Unity Hub, create a new 3D project named NFT project, save it in the Unity project folder, fetch 3D modules, and install the Visual Studio editor.

Learn how to integrate Algorand blockchain into Unity by adding the .NET Algorand SDK via NuGet, configuring Visual Studio, and resolving Unity plugin dependencies for a functioning NFT metaverse project.

Regenerate missing Visual Studio project files from Unity by selecting Visual Studio in external tools, then reopen the solution and sign in if prompted.

Learn to send a simple Algorand transaction in Unity by coding a payment from a test account to a player account, converting amounts to micro algos and setting transaction parameters.

Obtain your Algorand server and API token, then sign and submit a transaction in Unity and wait for it to complete, with error handling and success logs.

In Unity, attach the Algorand script to an empty GameObject, run a 1-to-1 transfer, and verify the transaction and fee on the Algorand explorer.

Code the get player account balance function in Unity to fetch and display the player's Algorand balance. Convert micro algos to algos and verify balance on the UI.

Create your first NFT asset programmatically in Unity on the Algorand blockchain, configure asset params, sign and submit the transaction, and verify the NFT on testnet.

Opt in to receive an NFT asset by constructing a transaction with the sender address and asset id, signing, submitting, and verifying the result in Unity.

Transfer the NFT asset from a sender to a receiver in Unity 3D using Algorand, including constructing the transfer asset transaction, signing, submitting, and awaiting confirmation.

Master NFT metaverse development in Unity on Algorand by setting up Unity, integrating Algorand, creating and transferring NFT assets, and swapping Algos, with plans to build an in-app NFT store.

Learn how to implement a generic singleton in Unity to provide a single accessible instance for interacting with Algorand components, assets, and servers, ensuring consistent access across the scene.

Create a reusable Algorand account as a scriptable object in Unity, enabling operations like obtaining the address, transferring assets, and signing transactions via an action menu item.

Implement Algorand account logic in Unity by serializing username and passphrase, creating or retrieving accounts with the v2 model, and safely obtaining the account address.

Implement Algorand account logic to sign transactions and retrieve a user's assets, including NFT holdings on the testnet, using a server connection and asset lookup by ID.

Implement a reusable Algorand account check to verify NFT ownership, returning the asset count or false when not owned, and test in Unity to ensure assets exist and compile.

Create two Algorand accounts: player and game main, using the assets menu, assign usernames and mnemonics, and prepare to transfer NFTs from the game main account to the player.

Create a reusable Algorand server object in Unity to share the same connection across scenes, and switch between test net and main net using a configurable API address and token.

Verify API address and token are non-empty, obtain a valid server connection, and fetch transaction parameters while logging errors and throwing exceptions when connection or params fail.

Instantiate the Algorand server object in Unity by creating a green server named algo server test and configure it with the testnet API address and token.

Create a Unity asset scriptable object for Algorand NFT assets, wiring a server, accounts, and asset fields like name, decimals, total shares, URL, and rendering sprite.

Implement a Unity editor context menu to generate an NFT asset, creating it only if the asset ID is zero and retrieving Algorand transaction parameters.

Create NFT asset params by configuring creator and clawback addresses, decimals, default frozen, freeze, manager, name, reserve, total, unit name, and a metadata string to finalize the asset.

Instantiate gem coin, the game currency NFT, in Unity on Algorand by setting its name, decimals, 10 trillion supply, and metadata hash, then generate on testnet and verify asset ID.

Create a Unity Algorand manager as a singleton to coordinate the testnet server, main account, player account, and game token, and implement a balance display for the player's balance.

Debug the balance update in Unity with Visual Studio by setting breakpoints and attaching to Unity to identify and fix the overwriting that shows zero instead of 11.998 algos.

Explain how to perform an atomic buy of an NFT: verify funds and opt-in, then transfer game currency to the main account and deliver the NFT in one atomic transaction.

Execute an atomic group transaction that transfers an NFT asset from the main account to a player and returns game currency in a single signed group.

Learn to fetch the player's in-game currency balance with Algorand manager, reuse the has NFT asset check, and validate funds against the game currency price to return true or false.

Create and connect an NFT store UI in a Unity Algorand metaverse, implementing account management and transactions, and dynamically fetch and display NFT assets with ownership status.

Learn to import free UI assets from the Unity Asset Store, organize them in a third-party folder, and prepare a basic user interface for an NFT store in Unity.

Create the NFT store by turning the inventory item into a prefab and placing it inside the canvas, then adjust its scale and position for the store.

Modify the inventory prefab to become the NFT store by updating the text label, removing unused elements, and replacing with NFT images, then save changes back to the prefab.

Create a dynamic NFT store UI in Unity by sizing and centering a panel, adding a grid layout group, duplicating item panels, and preparing a store item prefab.

Style the panel store item in Unity as an NFT by adding a chosen image and a TextMeshPro buy button, show an owned label when owned, then save the prefab.

Create the store item component script in Unity to toggle the buy button or owned text based on NFT ownership, wiring NFT asset, ownership flag, and panel grid layout.

Code the logic to mark items as owned, toggle the owned text, and enable the buy button, using the Algorand manager to buy assets and refresh the nft store ui.

Create a dynamic item store in Unity for the Algorand NFT metaverse that refreshes the listing after purchases, instantiates store item prefabs, and binds assets and images to the UI.

Implement the item store listing logic in Unity to refresh the UI based on asset ownership in Algorand, showing owned state and hiding buy button when owned.

Trigger a user interface refresh for each asset during update, using a refreshUI method and a refresh flag, then render images through the item store.

Create and connect three Algorand NFT assets in Unity, configuring server, metadata, and sprites, then link them to the in-game store for a ready-to-test NFT metaverse.

Test displays of three nfts in the store and confirm they appear when you press play. The next lecture will implement the buy action and complete the store interaction.

Connect the buy button to the code by triggering the buy item function on click, update the panel store item prefab, and test the NFT purchase flow.

Debug the buy NFT item flow in Unity with Algorand testnet, ensuring token balance, asset opt-in, and transaction refresh correctly reflect ownership after purchase.

Move Algorand network tasks off the main thread in Unity using asynchronous calls, starting with Unity core routines, and explore options like C-sharp callbacks and unique task for better performance.

Improve load performance by asynchronously fetching the player's balance from the Algorand network and updating the balance UI, reducing main-thread work and leaving the rest of the system responsive.

Transfer assets back to the owner on the testnet using Algo Seiner, then verify in Unity by buying an NFT item and confirming ownership as it stops spinning.

Build a secure NFT purchase flow by adding a game server that validates data, confirms NFT existence, and guards against tampering in transactions between the game client and Algorand.

Install Node.js and npm to power a game server using a simple node stack; download from nodejs.org, choose your OS, and verify installation via the terminal.

Install and verify Node and npm, then download and install Visual Studio Code for Mac, distinguishing it from Visual Studio used with Unity for the Node server.

Learn to initialize a node-based game server for a Unity metaverse, create a game-server folder, configure npm, and define index.js to interact with Unity and Algorand.

Install server packages with npm by adding express, express generator, and Algo SDK, saving them to package.json, and verify dependencies to enable a server that communicates with the Algorand network.

Learn to create a node express server, set up index.js, run on port 3000, and expose a /items endpoint that returns a JSON array of weapons, then test with localhost:3000/items.

Hook the Algorand SDK into the game server by creating a balance endpoint, configuring a client with token, server, and testnet, and validating the connection.

Fetch a player's Algorand balance via the Algorand SDK, retrieve account info and assets, and handle micro Algorand with six decimals while prepping for dynamic arguments.

Learn to call the game server from Unity to retrieve a wallet balance using a web request, coroutines, and a local host endpoint in the Algorand manager.

Learn how to fetch NFT assets from a server in a Unity game, replacing hardcoded prefabs with a dynamic endpoint that delivers available NFTs on each app launch.

Build a server endpoint for store items in the Unity game on Algorand, returning a JSON array of assets with name, unit name, decimals, total, frozen, and rendering.

Add two NFT store items, warrior and witch, with metadata hash to the JSON, update their Unity values, push items, relaunch the server, and fetch the updated store from Unity.

Fetch store items from the Unity client by calling the game server endpoint, using UnityWebRequest and yield-based routines to retrieve NFT asset data for the item store.

Convert fetched server data into json objects by defining an NFT structure, serializing with a json utility, and parsing a list of NFT assets in Unity.

Convert nft structs into algorand nft assets within a Unity-based metaverse, including mapping asset properties, sprites from a pool, and refreshing the store UI.

Demonstrate Unity displaying NFTs from the game server, verify correct sprites, fix console warnings, and instantiate Algorand NFT assets as strings to reflect backend changes.

Add a new nft item from the game server by creating a dog asset in Unity, obtaining its asset id from algo desk, and relaunching the server to display it.