book

Unreal Engine 5 Game Development with C++ Scripting

Name: Unreal Engine 5 Game Development with C++ Scripting
Author: Zhenyu George Li
ISBN: 9781804613931

by Zhenyu George Li

August 2023

Beginner to intermediate

384 pages

8h 6m

English

Packt Publishing

Read now

Unlock full access

Unreal Engine 5 Game Development with C++ Scripting
Foreword
Contributors
About the author
About the reviewers
Preface
Who this book is forWhat this book coversTo get the most out of this bookDownload the example code filesConventions usedGet in touchShare Your ThoughtsDownload a free PDF copy of this book
Part 1: Getting Started with Unreal C++ Scripting
Chapter 1: Creating Your First Unreal C++ Game
Technical requirementsUnderstanding C++ scripting in UnrealWhat is the difference between C++ and Blueprint?When do you use C++?What is the difference between C++ programming and C++ scripting?Creating your C++ Shooter project from a templateInstalling Visual Studio 2022Ensuring your UE has the source code installedLaunching the UE5 editor through the Epic Games LauncherCreating the MyShooter C++ projectAssociating VS with UE5 as the default source code editorOpening the C++ source code in VS (optional)Converting an existing Blueprint project to a C++ projectSummary
Chapter 2: Editing C++ Code in Visual Studio
Technical requirementsLaunching VSWalking through the VS IDE’s UICode editorMenusSearch boxToolbarSolution ExplorerOutput windowError List windowEditing code in VSControlling the caret (input cursor)The text editing keysCode selectionIntelliSenseUseful editing hotkeysPracticing C++ codingCreating a new C++ solution in VSCreating the main.cpp fileChanging the editor themeWriting the initial code for main.cppAdding the Calculator classSummary
Chapter 3: Learning C++ and Object-Oriented Programming
Technical requirementsWhat is C++?Exploring the C++ program structureDefining C++ functionsDefining functions with or without parametersCalling functionsWriting the main() functionWorking with a basic calculator programLearning the C++ syntaxUsing the C++ data typesDefining variablesUsing C++ arraysUsing C++ operatorsAccepting user inputAdding C++ commentsControlling the C++ flowWorking on the improved calculator programCreating references and pointersReferencesPointersUnderstanding OOPWhat is OOP?What are classes and objects?Creating classes in C++Creating objects in C++Working on an OOP calculator programAdding constructor and getter functions for the calculator classCreating the CalculatorEx class, which inherits from the Calculator classSummary
Chapter 4: Investigating the Shooter Game’s Generated Project and C++ Code
Technical requirementsUnderstanding the MyShooter C++ project structureUnderstanding the game program structureGetting familiar with the source codeMyShooterCharacter.hMyShooterCharacter.cppMyShooterProjectile.h and MyShooterProjectile.cppTP_PickUpComponent.h and TP_PickUpComponent.cppTP_WeaponComponent.h and TP_WeaponComponent.cppMyShooter.h and MyShooter.cppMyShooterGameMode.h and MyShooterGameMode.cppMyShooter.Build.cs, MyShooter.Target.cs, and MyShooterEditor.target.csLaunching Unreal Editor and opening the game project in Visual StudioSummary

Part 2: C++ Scripting for Unreal Engine
Chapter 5: Learning How to Use UE Gameplay Framework Base Classes
Technical requirementsCreating a Pangaea top-down game projectUnderstanding the gameplay framework base classesCreating game actor classesCreating the ADefenseTower classCreating the AProjectile classCreating the APlayerAvatar classRecompiling C++ projectsUsing the UPROPERTY macroThe UPROPERTY syntaxThe UPROPERTY specifiers and metadata keysMarking the ADefenseTower, AProjectile, and APlayerAvatar attributes as UE propertiesUsing the UFUNCTION macroThe UFUNCTION syntaxUFUNCTION specifiers and metadata keysTagging ADefenseTower and APlayerAvatar member functions as UFUNCTION macrosAdding components to the new actorsIncluding component header filesDefining private properties for these two componentsAdding public getter functions to the componentsCreating components in the class constructorCreating blueprints by extending the actor classesLearning about the Unreal gameplay framework classesLocating and creating gameplay framework classes in PangaeaLearning about the PlayerController classLearning about the GameModeBase classGameStateGameInstanceRetrieving class instances from your codeUsing the Cast template functionSummary
Chapter 6: Creating Game Actors
Technical requirementsSetting up the player avatarAdding SpringArmComponent and CameraComponent to PlayerAvatarInitializing the player avatarSetting up the character’s SkeletalMeshComponentImporting the character modelUsing the Hero skeletal mesh in BP_PlayerAvatarReplacing the game’s player pawnCreating the player avatar’s animation blueprintCreating the PlayerAvatarAnimInstance classCreating the ABP_PlayerAvatar blueprintCreating the State Machine on ABP_PlayerAvatarSyncing the movement speed with the animation instanceSummary
Chapter 7: Controlling Characters
Technical requirementsControlling the player character to attackAdding the Attack action to the action mapBinding the handler function to the Attack actionImplementing the OnAttackPressed() action handler functionImplementing the CanAttack() and Attack() functionsProcessing non-loop animationsImplementing the OnStateAnimationEnds functionDestroying actorsCreating the enemy characterCreating the Enemy classCreating the EnemyController classCreating the ABP_Enemy animation blueprintCreating the BP_Enemy blueprintTesting the gameSummary
Chapter 8: Handling Collisions
Technical requirementsUnderstanding collision detectionSetting the collision presetsUsing collisions for game interactionsDownloading and creating the weapon, defense tower, and fireball actorsPicking up weaponsSpawning a weapon for the enemyDefense tower firing fireballsMoving the fireball and checking whether the target is hitProcessing a defense tower hitSummary
Chapter 9: Improving C++ Code Quality
Technical requirementsRefactoring codeCombining the PlayerAvatarAnimInstance and EnemyAnimInstance classesMaking PangaeaCharacter the parent class of APlayerAvatar and AEnemyRefining codeUsing caching variablesCreating a fireball poolOutputting debug messagesUsing the UE_LOG macroPrinting debug messages to the screenChecking an Actor instance’s actual class typeSummary
Part 3: Making a Complete Multiplayer Game
Chapter 10: Making Pangaea a Network Multiplayer Game
Technical requirementsComparing single-player and multiplayer gamesLaunching the multiplayer Pangaea game in the editorUnderstanding multiplayer game network modesHandling network synchronizationsNotifying player attacks with RPCsSyncing actor variables to clients with replicationsUpdating the character health bar with RepNotifyProcessing hits on the serverSpawning fireballs on the server sideSummary
Chapter 11: Controlling the Game Flow
Technical requirementsDesigning the Pangaea game’s flowCreating the UI widgetsCreating BP_LobbyWidgetCreating BP_HUDWidgetCreating BP_GameOverWidgetAdding networking functions to PangaeaGameInstanceAdding UI widgets to game levelsAdding the game timerAdding the Timer variable to the APangaeaGameState classMaking the Timer variable replicableDefining OnTimeChangedDelegateCreating and binding the custom event to OnTimeChangedDelegateCounting down the timerDesignating APangaeaGameState as the project’s game state classDestroying a base defense tower to win the gameSummary
Chapter 12: Polishing and Packaging the Game
Technical requirementsPolishing the gameImporting and using high-quality game assetsFixing bugsProfiling and optimizationUsing Unreal Engine console commandsExploring modes and console commandsExecuting console commands in C++Packaging the gameConfiguring the project settings for packagingMaking the build a windowed gameAvoiding the hardcoded path for finding contentPackaging the projectWhat to do nextSummary
Index
Why subscribe?
Other Books You May EnjoyPackt is searching for authors like youShare Your ThoughtsDownload a free PDF copy of this book

Overview

Unreal Engine 5 Game Development with C++ Scripting offers a hands-on approach to learning game development with Unreal Engine 5 through C++ scripting. This book provides a comprehensive guide to mastering the essentials of C++ programming within the context of creating high-quality, professional games.

What this Book will help me do

Develop proficiency using Unreal Engine 5 and Visual Studio for game development.
Master the syntax and advanced features of C++ programming as it applies to game scripting.
Understand object-oriented programming concepts in the context of game development.
Build functional game features including UI, character control, and multiplayer systems.
Leverage UE5's gameplay frameworks and tools to streamline your game creation process.

Author(s)

Zhenyu George Li is an experienced educator in game development. With his deep expertise in Unreal Engine and C++ scripting, he empowers learners to advance their programming skills through practical, project-based approaches.

Who is it for?

This book is ideal for game developers with a basic understanding of Unreal Engine and blueprint scripting who want to expand into C++ programming. Whether you're a student studying game design, an artist with coding aspirations, or a software engineer exploring game development, this book helps bridge the gap between visual scripting and coding.

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.

Read now

Unlock full access

More than 5,000 organizations count on O’Reilly

O’Reilly covers everything we've got, with content to help us build a world-class technology community, upgrade the capabilities and competencies of our teams, and improve overall team performance as well as their engagement.

Julian F.

Head of Cybersecurity

I wanted to learn C and C++, but it didn't click for me until I picked up an O'Reilly book. When I went on the O’Reilly platform, I was astonished to find all the books there, plus live events and sandboxes so you could play around with the technology.

Addison B.

Field Engineer

I’ve been on the O’Reilly platform for more than eight years. I use a couple of learning platforms, but I'm on O'Reilly more than anybody else. When you're there, you start learning. I'm never disappointed.

Amir M.

Data Platform Tech Lead

I'm always learning. So when I got on to O'Reilly, I was like a kid in a candy store. There are playlists. There are answers. There's on-demand training. It's worth its weight in gold, in terms of what it allows me to do.

Mark W.

Embedded Software Engineer

Multiplayer Game Development with Unreal Engine 5

Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781804613931

Cloud Computing

Data Engineering

Data Science

AI & ML

Programming Languages

Software Architecture

IT/Ops

Security

Design

Business

Soft Skills