book

Unreal Engine 4.X By Example

Name: Unreal Engine 4.X By Example
Author: Benjamin Carnall
ISBN: 9781785885532

by Benjamin Carnall

July 2016

Beginner

506 pages

12h 53m

English

Packt Publishing

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Unreal Engine 4.X By Example
Table of Contents
Unreal Engine 4.X By Example
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
eBooks, discount offers, and moreWhy subscribe?
Preface
What this book covers
What you need for this book
Who this book is for

Conventions
Reader feedback
Customer support
Downloading the example codeDownloading the color images of this bookErrataPiracyQuestions
1. Introduction to Unreal Engine 4
Navigating this bookGame Projects you say?
Installing Unreal Engine 4
Creating your first project!
Navigating the Unreal Engine UI
Creating a basic actor
Objects, Actors, Pawns, and CharactersAdding components to your ActorThe component hierarchyModifying components3D transformation and axisAdding the Unreal factor
Pre-Built projects as a learning resource
Summary
2. Blueprints and Barrels – Your First Game
Creating your first BlueprintThe Blueprint windowWorking with BlueprintsBlueprint elementsGraphsFunctionsMacrosVariablesEvent dispatchers
Modifying the Hello Sphere Blueprint
Working with Blueprint graphsCompiling BlueprintsUsing Blueprint variablesUtilizing the Blueprint paletteBlueprint meta-data and string manipulation
Creating the Barrel Hopper project!
Creating our Character
Bringing our character to lifeGiving our character a meshCreating the character's camera
Game modes and how to make them
Creating and receiving input events
Creating the input EventsReceiving input eventsTweaking the character movement component
Building the level!
Camera tips and tricksCamera settingsControlling the cameraCreating the levelBlocking geometryGeometry Brushes and how to use themPlacing the geometryConverting a geometry Brush to a static meshApplying materials to geometry brushesLevel building and trigonometry!
Getting our barrels rolling
Applying physics to objectsBarrel spawners and Blueprint timersCreating Blueprint variablesEvent tickBranch nodesTrigger volumes and destroying Actors
Debugging our Blueprints
Masking our destruction with particles
Respawning the player
Delay nodesPlayer controllersHit Events
Summary
3. Advanced Blueprint, Animation, and Sound
Cleaning up shopLogic flowUsing a sequenceCreating custom camerasWhere do we spawn the camera?Spawning the camera objectSetting the Target ViewRespawning the player with a Blueprint functionCreating the Blueprint function
Animation with UE4
Animation ConventionsAnimation BlueprintsImporting and exporting animation assetsCreating your first animation BlueprintNavigating animation BlueprintsThe toolbarPopulating the Animation graphWorking with state machinesState nodesTransition RulesPlaying animations from within statesFinishing our state machineThe Animation Blueprint Event graphGetting our character runningWorking with BlendspacesCreating the running BlendspaceUtilizing the running Blendspace
Creating your first sound scape
Importing sounds and sound cuesWorking with sound cuesSound modificationPlaying sounds via animation notificationsWorking with animation assetsNotifiesCurvesAdditive layersStatistics barPlacing the animation notifiesFinishing our soundscapeExploding barrelsPlayers death rattleLooping level sound
Adding the finishing touches to Barrel Hopper
Ragdolls and Event dispatchersCreating a basic HUDMaking the HUD objectDrawing the in game HUDMaking the fontParsing information to and setting the HUDAn end goal for the player, the chapter, and the project
Summary
4. Unreal Engine, C++, and You
UE and C++Why use C++Polymorphism, virtual inheritance and templates
Hello World for C++
Exploring your first code classAccommodating for the Unreal Build ToolPre-Compile macros and youBreaking down the rest of the header fileThe default constructor and include listVirtual functions and calling the parentAdding components and object creatorsConstruction helpers and object findersBuilding the codeAdding Fire Particles and Hot CompilationSetting the sphere on fireHot CompilationHello world text and receiving events through delegatesAdding the 3D textDelegates and EventsPolishing the sphereChanging materials via C++
Extending C++ into Blueprint
Extending a class with no macro specifier supportExtending a class with macro specifier supportDefining a class with macro specifiersWorking with code created components
Blueprint native events and you!
Overriding a BlueprintNativeEvent
Summary
5. Upgrade Activated – Making Bounty Dash with C++
Creating a C++ characterCreate the C++ projectThe UE4 object hierarchy
Creating the Character
What we have been givenWhat we are going to needBountyDashCharacter's membersBountyDashCharacters methodsConstructing the CharacterBorrowing from the old to make the newAssigning Blueprints in code with generated classesSetting up the componentsAssuming default controlWriting the begin Play functionGetting In-Editor objects using the Game WorldSorting TArrays with LambdasSetting up inputs in C++Binding actionsHow our Character is going to TickCompile time
Creating the C++ world objects
Converting BSP brushes to a static meshSmoke and mirrors with C++ objectsModifying the BountyDashGameModeBountyDashGameMode class definitionBountyDashGameMode function definitionsGetting our game mode via Template functions Coding the floorFloor class definitionFloor function definitionsAFloor::AFloor() constructorAFloor::Tick()Placing the Floor in the level!Creating the obstaclesSpawning actors from C++!Obstacle Spawner class definitionObstacle Spawner function definitionsGetting information from components in C++Ensuring the Obstacle Spawner worksMinting the coin objectCoin class definitionCoin function definitonsMaking the coin Blueprint!Making it rain coins, creating the coin spawnerCoin Spawner class DefinitionCoin Spawner function definitionsTesting what we have so far!
Creating the interactions between the world objects
Pushing the CharacterABountyDashCharacter Collision functionsPushing the character backPicking up coinsCoin collision
Summary
6. Power Ups for Your Character, Power Ups for the User
Cleaning up shop and object hierarchiesBountyDashObjectModifying existing objects
Creating a Plug-in with C++
Modules and code filesThe anatomy of a pluginDescribing a pluginPowerUpPlugin.uplugin
Working with our first plugin module
PowerUpPlugin.Build.csDeclaring the PowerUpPlugin code moduleAdding the PowerUp objectUsing our plugin in engineCreating the BountyDashPowerUp object
Incorporating power-ups into Bounty Dash
Modifying the Coin SpawnerBuild, run, and test!Colliding with power upsPowering up the characterReducing the game speedMaking the coin magnetHow to create, load and smash Destructible Meshes
Creating HUDs using C++
ABountyDashHUDGetting information from our objectsSetting the HUD class in the game modeImplementing a custom DrawHUD function
Completing the Bounty Dash game loop!
The beginning of the end and pausing the gamePausing the GameRestarting the gameDrawing the game over text
Finishing the wall of death and polishing the project
Making the wall of deathMaking the new floor meshADestroyedFloorPieceModifying the AFloor objectBells, whistles and explosionsPlaying sound from C++Playing particles from C++Getting the character to runThe last bit of concealer
Summary
7. Boss Mode Activated – Unreal Robots
Setting up the project
The first-person character
Importing what we needBeginning the FPCEstablishing a FPC aim/movementDefining the FPC constructorDefining the FPC move and aim functionsCreating the input bindingsBinding the inputsAbstracting a BM character into BlueprintSetting a Blueprint object as the default pawn in a C++ game modeTesting what we have!
Adding a custom HUD and drawing a cross hair
BMHUD class definitionDefining the BMHUD
Creating the projectile
Defining the ProjectileInitializing the ProjectileColliding with the ProjectileSubclass templates and firing the projectileModifying BMCharacter accommodate for the projectileCreating the FPProjectile BlueprintModifying FPCharacter
Unreal Robots
AI breakdownPreparing your project for AI intergrationCreating the AI character base classCreating your first AI controllerBehavior tree breakdown and logic flowWhat are blackboards?
Creating a basic behavior tree and black-board!
Setting up the blackboardThe behavior tree EditorSetting up the behavior Tree
Creating a custom task via blueprint
Creating a custom decorator using blueprint
Creating a custom service using C++
Defining the BMArgoCheck class
Advanced collision in UE4
Defining the service tickAdding the C++ service to the BossBT
Integrating the AI Character
Creating a custom object collision channel
Modifying the level to support AI
What is a navigation meshAdjusting the NavMesh generation settingsPlacing a NavMesh in the scene
Placing the AI in the level and testing
Summary
8. Advanced AI and Unreal Rendering
Expanded AI and tracking projectiles
Tracking projectiles and you
Creating the line tracePreparing the projectileCreating the custom channel and testing the tracking!
Expanded AI
Damage in UE4Boss state and enums in blackboard!Interpreting our C++ enum in BlackboardModifying the BossBT to support Boss StatesDebugging BossBT to check Blackboard valuesUpgrading the ABMIControllerTracking to the playerTesting what we have so farArming the bossAdding the Turret boss stateThe Final Behaviour StateBMRandomMoveToFinishing the BossBTAI Complete
Rendering in UE4
UE4 Materials
What are materialsPhysically Based RenderingThe Material editorThe ToolbarThe ViewportThe Graph and Base material nodeThe Details panelThe stats panelThe PaletteStarting the Boss outer materialYour first material expression and color channelsApplying a Normal Map and the texture viewerEmissive color and masksAdding more detail and advanced material useTexture UV's and adding normalsFunctions of time within materials and pulsing glowMaking the Boss inner materialSetting up what we knowMasking values based on UVApplying the material to the Boss
Summary
9. Creating a Networked Shooter
Creating the projectAdding a marketplace package
Network multiplayer theory
Networking patternsPeer to Peer (P2P)Client/server
UE4 Networking
Dedicated or listen serversUE4 replicationNetwork roleRemote Procedure Calls (RPCs)Types of RPCDefining RPCsNet ownership, player controllers and game modes
Starting the networked First Person Shooter
Preparing the NS projectMaking a networked player characterNSCharacter visual and audio assetsPlayer states and networkingFinishing the Player class definitionWriting the ANSCharacter RPCsDefining the ANSCharacter functionsDynamic materials and material parametersGetting the player to shoot… onlineTaking damage and UE4 timersCleaning up shop
Preparing the ANSCharacter blueprint
Preparing the third-person MeshCreating the force feedback assetCustom collision channelHighlighting the VectorParameter that drives team colorMaking the fire montage assetsTying it all togetherTesting the multiplayer with a PIE session!
Spawn points and spawning the players
Defining the ANSSpawnPoint classANSSpawnPoint function definitions
Game modes and servers
Game mode class definitionConstruction the Game mode and Finding Spawn pointsEnding the Game and ticking the game modeConnecting playersSpawning the playersRespawning the player
Preparing our game map
Testing our game functionality
Drawing the HUD and preparing the lobby
Creating the GameStateDrawing in the HUD
Testing our Game
Summary
10. Goodbyes and Thank yous
Packaging a projectBuild TargetsBuild configurationCompiler specific building to configurationPackaging NS
Testing the NS package
Creating the listen server instance
Console commands
Connecting to the local hostProfiling using the console commandsConsole visualizationsWrapping up the NS project
What we have learned so far
The EditorsBlueprintsUnreal animationC++Artificial IntelligenceUnreal RenderingUnreal networking!
Summary
Index

Overview

Unreal Engine 4.X by Example is a practical guide designed to help you master game development using Unreal Engine 4. Through hands-on examples and detailed instruction, this book will walk you through creating complex game projects step by step, utilizing both the engine's visual scripting tools and the power of C programming. Whether you're new to Unreal or seeking to expand your skills, this book has you covered.

What this Book will help me do

Learn to utilize C programming with Unreal Engine to develop sophisticated game mechanics.
Master Unreal Engine's built-in editor and visual scripting system to streamline game development workflows.
Create feature-rich, interactive game projects including a multiplayer first-person shooter.
Get a comprehensive understanding of material shaders and visual effects to enhance the visual appeal of game worlds.
Design and implement captivating game worlds that align with your creative visions and gameplay goals.

Author(s)

None Carnall is an experienced game developer who has been extensively working with Unreal Engine. With a strong programming background and a passion for teaching, Carnall emphasizes example-driven learning to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Their approachable writing style ensures readers of all levels can grasp and apply the concepts.

Who is it for?

This book is perfect for aspiring or experienced game developers looking to harness the power of Unreal Engine 4. It caters to readers who have a working knowledge of C programming and are eager to create polished, interactive games. Beginners with commitment to learn C programming and game development basics will also find this book a great stepping stone to mastering Unreal Engine.

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