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Unity vs three.js: What are the differences?
Introduction
Unity and three.js are both popular frameworks used in game development. However, they have significant differences that set them apart. In this comparison, we will explore six key differences between Unity and three.js.
Platform and Compatibility: Unity is a powerful game engine that allows developers to create games for multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and many others. On the other hand, three.js is a JavaScript library that runs on web browsers, making it compatible with different operating systems and devices.
Development Environment: Unity provides a comprehensive Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with a visual editor, scripting, and debugging tools, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced developers. In contrast, three.js primarily relies on coding within a text editor, requiring developers to have a strong understanding of JavaScript and WebGL.
3D Capabilities: Unity is known for its advanced 3D capabilities, offering features like real-time rendering, physics simulations, and animation tools. In comparison, while three.js also supports 3D graphics, it is more focused on utilizing the power of WebGL to create interactive 3D experiences within web browsers.
Community and Resources: Unity has a large and active community of developers, providing extensive documentation, tutorials, forums, and asset stores filled with ready-made game assets. In contrast, three.js also has a dedicated community, but it is relatively smaller compared to Unity, resulting in fewer resources and support options.
Ease of Use: Unity provides a visual editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and a wide range of built-in tools, making it easier for non-programmers to create games. On the other hand, three.js requires a deeper understanding of JavaScript, WebGL, and 3D concepts, making it more suitable for experienced developers.
Cost: Unity offers a free version that allows developers to get started without any upfront cost. However, certain advanced features and platform deployment may require purchasing a license. In contrast, three.js is an open-source library, completely free to use, modify, and distribute.
In summary, Unity is a versatile game engine with multi-platform support, powerful 3D capabilities, and an extensive set of resources. On the other hand, three.js is a JavaScript library focused on creating interactive 3D experiences within web browsers, requiring a solid understanding of JavaScript and WebGL.
When I started to learn game development, I've tried to use Unity multiple times because it's the most popular option. But never get it worked because of the clunky UI which is very hard to understand for a new user. After some time, I've decided to try UE4 despite there was a lot of rumors that it's "heavy" or requires an AAA team. And suddenly it clicked, everything works as I expecting, UI is clear and much more powerfull, no need to build custom tools to work on the game itself. Blueprints are very helpful for beginners, C++ has a lot of "syntax-sugar" - macroses, a lot of convenient in-engine types for everything. Later while working with Unreal, I've realized it has very consistent roadmap with constant improvements and adding new features. At the same time, each major version update is painless so you can upgrade your project during development to get new features. UE4 is free to use with the full list of features and you only have to pay royalty after getting your first $1 million from the project (and that's just the default case, you can always discuss custom license with an upfront fee, if you want to).
I chose Unity over Unreal Engine because Unity has a more user friendly UI for beginners looking to learn game development. Additionally, as someone who uses a lot of online resources to learn new languages and tools, I found a lot of tutorials covering game development with Unity as the core engine. This doesn't mean Unreal is not a great choice for game development, I just personally found learning game development much smoother with the amount of resources available with Unity.
Pros of three.js
Pros of Unity
- Because it's a powerful engine, you can build anything16
- C# language14
- Very Popular11
- Easy to Use7
- He Has A Free VErsion6
- Cross Platform6
- 2nd Game Engine In The World5
- Good Choise4
- Very Large Showcase4
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Cons of three.js
Cons of Unity
- Hard to get started with4
- Clunky UI4
- Closed source4
- No consistency with updates3
- Requires to build a lot of tools3
- Gigantic by being 9gb (thats what setup says)2
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What is three.js?
What is Unity?
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