Game Dev setup-engine

Engine configuration wizard for Godot 4.6, Unity 7, and UE 5.6. Handles project creation, version control, renderer settings, and platform-specific setup with version-aware references.

Game Dev Setup Engine — Engine Configuration Wizard

🎯 Purpose

Guide users through configuring a game engine project from scratch. Handles Godot 4.6, Unity 7, and Unreal Engine 5.6 with version-aware settings, renderer selection, and platform target configuration.

🤖 Multi-Platform Notes

Platform	Notes
OpenClaw	Can read/write engine config files directly. Best for generating correct file content and writing it to the right location.
Claude Code	Can run engine CLI commands (godot --headless, Unity -projectPath, etc.) and edit config files. Run detection commands to verify installs.
Cursor/Windsurf	Good for editing config files in the project. May have LSP support for GDScript/C#.
GitHub Copilot	Can suggest config file content. Let the user paste or review.
Generic LLM Chat	Output config file content as code blocks. User must paste into correct locations.
Any AI	Can guide through manual setup steps. Always state: "I can tell you the steps OR write the files for you — which do you prefer?"

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🔍 Phase 1: Engine Detection

Step 1.1 — Ask

"Which engine are you using?"

text

1) Godot 4.6
2) Unity 7
3) Unreal Engine 5.6
4) Other (specify)

Step 1.2 — Check Installed Version

If on a terminal-capable platform, run:

Godot:

bash

godot --version
# Expected: 4.6.stable or similar

Unity:

bash

# Check Unity Hub for installed versions, or:
find /Applications/Unity -name "Unity" -type f 2>/dev/null
# Windows:
where Unity 2>/dev/null

Unreal:

bash

# Check Engine association (Windows)
# Look in: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\UE_5.6\

Step 1.3 — Version-Aware Config Reference

Setting	Godot 4.6	Unity 7	UE 5.6
Renderer	Forward+ (3D), Compatibility (low-end)	URP (default), HDRP (high-end)	Deferred (default), Forward (VR)
Script	GDScript, C# (.NET 8)	C# (.NET 8)	C++, Blueprints
Build Target	Windows, Mac, Linux, Web, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Linux, Web, Android, iOS, Consoles	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Consoles
Version Control	Git (.gitignore provided)	Unity Version Control or Git	Perforce (recommended) or Git
Plugin/Market	Asset Library	Asset Store	Fab / Marketplace

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⚙️ Phase 2: Project Initialization

Godot 4.6

Create project.godot:

gdscript

[application]
config/name="My Game"
config/description="A game made with Godot 4.6"
config/icon="res://icon.png"
run/main_scene="res://scenes/main.tscn"

[rendering]
renderer/rendering_method="forward_plus"  # or "mobile" or "compatibility"
renderer/anti_aliasing/quality="high"     # or "medium", "low", "disabled"

Then ask:

"Create the standard folder structure?"

text

res://
├── assets/        # Raw assets (sprites, models, audio)
│   ├── art/
│   ├── audio/
│   └── fonts/
├── scenes/        # .tscn files
├── scripts/       # .gd / .cs files
├── resources/     # .tres / .res files
├── addons/        # Plugins
├── levels/        # Level scenes
└── tests/         # Unit tests (GDScript 2.0 unit test)

Render pipeline: Forward+ default. Switch to Compatibility for 2D-only. Switch to Mobile for mobile targets.

Unity 7

Create project with Unity Hub, then set up:

text

Assets/
├── _Project/
│   ├── Scripts/
│   ├── Scenes/
│   ├── Prefabs/
│   ├── Art/
│   ├── Audio/
│   ├── Resources/
│   └── Settings/
├── ThirdParty/
└── Plugins/

Render Pipeline Selection:

• URP (Universal Render Pipeline) — default for most projects. Good for mobile, cross-platform, 2D, and mid-range 3D.
• HDRP (High Definition RP) — high-end PC/console 3D only.
• Built-in RP — legacy. Only use for existing projects.

Ask: "URP or HDRP? If you're not sure, pick URP."

Input System:

• New Input System Package (recommended for all new projects)
• Legacy Input Manager (existing projects)

Version Control:

• Generate .gitignore for Unity
• Default meta file tracking
• Ask about Unity Version Control if on a team

Unreal Engine 5.6

Create via Epic Games Launcher or manually:

text

Project/
├── Content/
│   ├── Characters/
│   ├── Environments/
│   ├── UI/
│   ├── Audio/
│   └── Blueprints/
├── Source/
│   └── [ProjectName]/
│       ├── [ProjectName].h
│       ├── [ProjectName].cpp
│       └── [ProjectName].Build.cs
├── Config/
└── [ProjectName].uproject

Render Pipeline: Deferred Renderer (default). Switch to Forward for VR or high-framerate targets.

Startup settings:

• Ask: "Blueprint-only or C++ ?"
• Ask: "Template? (Blank, Third Person, Top Down, etc.)"

---

🔧 Phase 3: Platform Configuration

Step 3.1 — Target Platforms

Ask:

"Which platforms will you target?"

text

1) Windows/Mac/Linux (desktop)
2) Web (HTML5/WebGL)
3) Mobile (Android/iOS)
4) Console (requires approval)
5) All of the above

Step 3.2 — Platform-Specific Settings

Engine	Windows	Mac/Linux	Web	Mobile
Godot	Default	Default	texture/force_keep_filtered off, audio → use_mobile_for_hq	rendering/texture/vram_compression on
Unity	IL2CPP, DX11/12	Mono, Metal	WebGL 2.0	IL2CPP, Vulkan (Android), Metal (iOS)
UE	DX12/11	Vulkan/Metal	N/A	Vulkan

Step 3.3 — Version Control Setup

Generate .gitignore based on engine:

• Godot: https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/Godot.gitignore
• Unity: https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/Unity.gitignore
• UE: https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/UnrealEngine.gitignore

Ask: "Initialize a git repo and create .gitignore?"

---

✅ Phase 4: Verification

Step 4.1 — Build Test

Ask:

"Should I try to build an empty project to verify the setup?"

If terminal-capable:

Godot:

bash

godot --headless --build-solutions --quit

Unity:

bash

# Requires Unity CLI path setup
Unity -projectPath . -buildTarget StandaloneWindows64 -quit -batchmode -logFile build.log

UE:

bash

# Generate project files
# Windows:
"[Epic Games]\UE_5.6\Engine\Build\BatchFiles\Build.bat" [ProjectName]Editor Win64 Development -project="[full path]"

Step 4.2 — Basic Scene

Create a default scene with:

• A camera
• A light (for 3D)
• A test object (cube or sprite)
• Attach a script that prints "Hello, World!"

Ask: "Want me to create a test scene to verify everything works?"

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📋 Setup Summary

After completing, output a setup summary:

markdown

# Engine Setup Complete

## Project
- **Project:** [project name]
- **Engine:** [engine + version]
- **Location:** [path]
- **Renderer:** [renderer name]

## Configuration
- [ ] Folder structure created
- [ ] Version control initialized
- [ ] Platform targets set: [list]
- [ ] Test scene created and verified

## Next Steps
- Run `game-design-doc` to write the GDD
- Run `architecture` for system design
- Run `sprint-dev` to start development

🚨 Troubleshooting

Godot

• GDScript not highlighting? Install Godot extension for your editor.
• .NET not detected? Install .NET 8 SDK.
• Export templates missing? Install via Godot → Editor → Manage Export Templates.

Unity

• Package errors? Re-import from Package Manager → My Assets.
• Scripts not compiling? Check .NET profile and API compatibility level.
• "No Unity version associated" — open with Unity Hub.

Unreal

• Visual Studio not detected? Install Game Development with C++ workload.
• Shader compilation errors? Update GPU drivers.
• Slow startup? This is normal for first launch.