Windows Surface Pro 3

Unity Engine
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1

Is it possible to create a private game and have it run on Windows Surface Pro 3 and still use the Gyro system inside the tablet?

Im creating a personal project that I do not want published on the Windows Store, but still want to use it on a Surface Tablet.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks!

2

Yes, of course, it’s possible to create an instal package from Visual Studio, you then simply copy it to Surface and install it.

3

“Create an Install Package”? Do you mean part of the “Build” options in unity? Basically I would create a “Build” from unity selecting the Standalone PC option and just copy the output to the Surface Tablet? Or are you saying I need to install VS on the tablet?

4

When you build to Windows Store Apps from Unity (in Build menu), you get a Visual Studio solution, open solution, in the solution explorer, right click on solution, Create App Packages, create it for local testing, few files will be produced, copy those files to Surface, run provided powershell script, and you’re done.

You don’t need to install Visual Studio on the Surface .

5

Thanks Tomas!

Also, What about Unity Remote 4? If I need to test my scene inside the Surface Tablet since it uses Gyros. Will it work if I install Unity Remote 4 some how? Curious if I need to create a build every time I’m ready to test and transfer it to the Surface, or if I can have some sort of direct connection?

6

To clarify what I’m doing, we’re converting our 3D architectural animation scene into a Unity Scene where the client can navigate through the walk-space by holding a iPad or Surface tablet and rotating the tablet to physical look around the space on the screen. It’s working well on our iPad, but we want to use a Surface tablet for a number of reasons. Any advice on helping with this transition is appreciated!

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Why not just set the configuration as release and just deploy it to the surface from visual studio?

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Unity Remote 4 works only on Android and iOS afaik.

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You can install debug tools to surface and then you can run your app from Visual Studio on device.

10

I have visual studio installed on my surface pro 3 itself and I build and test right on the device.

11

Dustin,

Just to clarify, I need to only install Visual Studio on to my Surface Pro, create my Unity Scene on my desktop PC, but then export (build) as “Windows Store” and copy those files to the Surface Pro to run it? Or am I missing something?

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That’s exactly right. After you build from Unity, just copy the Windows Store or Universal whatever you create over to your Surface Pro. Then open that solution in Visual Studio and run it.

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This would work.
You can also install debug tools on your surface, then you will be able to do remote debugging from your PC on the surface.

1 Like
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Aurimas,

I’m installing Visual Studios on my Surface. A few issues:

First, the only experience with Visual Studio I have is writing C# for Unity and letting Unity debug, I’m not sure how I’m going to debug with Visual Studio on my Surface Tablet. I’m assuming its related to the steps Thomas mentioned above where he states - “Create App Packages, create it for local testing, few files will be produced, copy those files to Surface, run provided powershell script, and you’re done.” Is that the same thing?

Second, our office is running Windows 7 , and Unity just informed me I can not create a “Windows Store” build unless I’m on Windows 8. Is there a workaround for this or do I need to upgrade my PC to Windows 8? Not sure if I can do that now, unless you know of a solution? Possibly installing Unity on my Surface and copying the developed Unity files from Win7 machine to the Surface?

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Also! Another important question:

Do I want VS Express 2013 for Windows or for Windows Desktop to install on my Surface Pro. I currently have Windows Destktop installed on my Windows7 PC machine. Not sure if that makes a huge difference.

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You can only build from Unity for WSA, if you’re running on Windows 8 machine. There is no workaround for that.
Unity generates a Visual Studio solution, but it requires Unity too, as some tools from Unity directory are used when building VS solution.
So, options you have:

  • install both Visual Studio and Unity on Surface, then you can build and run your Unity project there. No extra steps needed.
  • install Visual Studio remote debugging tools on surface. Then you can do build on PC, setup remote dubugging and deploy to surface that way.
  • build on PC, copy package to surface and intall it via PowerShell.
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Aurimas,

Thank you very much. Im interested in the second option. Install Visual Studio remote debugging tools on surface. Is there any documentation on this? Since I’ve never done it this way before I’m not exactly sure where to begin. Not even sure if I need VS Express 2013 for Windows or for Windows Desktop on my Surface (would that make a difference or it doesn’t matter?)

I’m also looking into upgrading my office machine to Windows 8. Sounds like that will solve a lot of my issues. By the way, how are you connecting to your Surface from PC? Wifi? Or A-Male to A-Male USB cable?

Thanks again!

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Use VS 2013 community edition
Aurimas - are you sure Unity is required to be installed? I thought as long as the assemblies are there that go with the build you’re fine in running the Visual Studio Solution
And I just do it over the network Teriander.

19

Dustin> you’re right.
Aurimas probably assumed that you might want to edit your Unity project on the Surface, some people do that :slight_smile: Not sure, if it’s very convenient.

You can connect to Surface via Wifi, or buy and Ethernet-To-USB adapter, and use that for wired connection

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I use WiFi to a shared folder on my dev machine but I’m only dealing with small test projects so it’s pretty easy to cpy.