book

Game Development Projects with Unreal Engine

by Gustavo Reis, Hammad Fozi, Gonçalo Marques, David Pereira, Devin Sherry

November 2020

Beginner

822 pages

16h 34m

English

Packt Publishing

Read now

Unlock full access

About the BookAbout the AuthorsAudienceAbout the ChaptersConventionsBefore You BeginInstalling Visual StudioEpic Games LauncherCode BundleGet in touchPlease leave a review
IntroductionExercise 1.01: Creating an Unreal Engine 4 ProjectGetting to Know UnrealEditor WindowsViewport NavigationManipulating ActorsExercise 1.02: Adding and Removing ActorsBlueprint ActorsExercise 1.03: Creating Blueprint ActorsThe Blueprint EditorEvent GraphExercise 1.04: Creating Blueprint VariablesExercise 1.05: Creating Blueprint FunctionsThe Float Multiplication NodeBeginPlay and TickExercise 1.06: Offsetting the TestActor Class on the Z AxisThirdPersonCharacter Blueprint ClassMeshes and MaterialsMeshesMaterialsManipulating Materials in UE4Activity 1.01: Propelling TestActor on the Z Axis IndefinitelySummary
IntroductionCreating and Setting Up a Blank C plus plus ProjectExercise 2.01: Creating an Empty C plus plus ProjectContent Folder Structure in Unreal EngineWorking with the Visual Studio SolutionSolution AnalysisThe Engine ProjectGame ProjectDebugging Code in Visual StudioExercise 2.02: Debugging the Third Person Template CodeImporting the Required AssetsExercise 2.03: Importing a Character FBX FileThe Unreal Game Mode ClassGame Mode Default ClassesGameplay EventsNetworkingGameModeBase versus GameModeLevelsThe Unreal Pawn ClassThe Default PawnThe Spectator PawnThe Unreal Player Controller ClassExercise 2.04: Setting Up the Game Mode, Player Controller, and PawnAnimationsAnimation BlueprintsEvent GraphThe Anim GraphState MachinesTransition RulesBlend SpacesExercise 2.05: Creating a Mannequin AnimationActivity 2.01: Linking Animations to a CharacterSummary
IntroductionThe Unreal Character ClassExtending the Character ClassExercise 3.01: Creating and Setting Up a Third-Person Character C plus plus Class Extending the C plus plus Class with BlueprintsExercise 3.02: Extending C plus plus with BlueprintsActivity 3.01: Extending the C plus plus Character Class with Blueprint in the Animation ProjectSummary
IntroductionInput Actions and AxesExercise 4.01: Creating the Jump Action and Movement AxesProcessing Player InputDefaultInput.iniExercise 4.02: Listening to Movement Actions and AxesTurning the camera around the characterMobile platformsExercise 4.03: Previewing on MobileExercise 4.04: Adding Touchscreen InputActivity 4.01: Adding Walking Logic to Our CharacterSummary
IntroductionCollisionProject SetupExercise 5.01: Converting DodgeballCharacter to a Top-Down PerspectiveLine TracesCreating the EnemyCharacter C plus plus classExercise 5.02: Creating the CanSeeActor Function, Which Executes Line TracesVisualizing the Line TraceExercise 5.03: Creating the LookAtActor FunctionCreating the EnemyCharacter Blueprint ClassSweep TracesExercise 5.04: Executing a Sweep TraceChanging the Visibility Trace ResponseMulti Line TracesThe Camera Trace ChannelExercise 5.05: Creating a Custom EnemySight Trace ChannelActivity 5.01: Creating the SightSource PropertySummary
IntroductionObject Collision in UE4Collision ComponentsCollision EventsCollision ChannelsCollision PropertiesExercise 6.01: Creating the Dodgeball ClassPhysical MaterialsExercise 6.02: Adding a Projectile Movement Component to DodgeballProjectileTimersSpawning ActorsExercise 6.03: Adding Projectile-Throwing Logic to the EnemyCharacterWallsExercise 6.04: Creating Wall ClassesVictory BoxExercise 6.05: Creating the VictoryBox classExercise 6.06: Adding the ProjectileMovementComponent Getter Function in DodgeballProjectileActivity 6.01: Replacing the SpawnActor Function with SpawnActorDeferred in EnemyCharacterSummary
IntroductionBlueprint Function LibrariesExercise 7.01: Moving the CanSeeActor Function to the Blueprint Function LibraryActor ComponentsExercise 7.02: Creating the HealthComponent Actor ComponentExercise 7.03: Integrating the HealthComponent Actor ComponentInterfacesBlueprint Native EventsExercise 7.04: Creating the HealthInterface ClassActivity 7.01: Moving the LookAtActor Logic to an Actor ComponentSummary
IntroductionGame UIUMG BasicsExercise 8.01: Creating a Widget BlueprintAnchorsExercise 8.02: Editing UMG AnchorsExercise 8.03: Creating the RestartWidget C plus plus ClassExercise 8.04: Creating the Logic for Adding the RestartWidget to the ScreenExercise 8.05: Setting up the DodgeballPlayerController Blueprint ClassProgress BarsExercise 8.06: Creating the Health Bar C plus plus LogicActivity 8.01: Improving the RestartWidgetSummary

IntroductionAudio in UE4Exercise 9.01: Importing an Audio FileExercise 9.02: Playing a Sound When the Dodgeball Bounces off a SurfaceSound AttenuationExercise 9.03: Turning the Bounce Sound into a 3D SoundExercise 9.04: Adding Background Music to Our GameParticle SystemsExercise 9.05: Spawning a Particle System When the Dodgeball Hits the PlayerActivity 9.01: Playing a Sound When the Dodgeball Hits the PlayerLevel DesignExercise 9.06: Building a Level BlockoutExtra FeaturesSummary
IntroductionProject BreakdownThe Player CharacterExercise 10.01: Creating the Side-Scroller Project and Using the Character Movement ComponentSide Scroller versus 2D Side ScrollerActivity 10.01: Making Our Character Jump HigherFeatures of Our Side-Scroller GameEnemy CharacterPower-UpCollectibleHUD (Heads-Up Display)Steps in AnimationCharacter Animation PipelineThe Concept StageThe 3D Modeling StageThe Rigging StageAnimationAsset Export and ImportExercise 10.02: Exploring the Persona Editor and Manipulating the Default Mannequin Skeleton WeightsActivity 10.02: Skeletal Bone Manipulation and AnimationsAnimations in Unreal Engine 4SkeletonsSkeletal MeshesAnimation SequencesExercise 10.03: Importing and Setting Up the Character and AnimationActivity 10.03: Importing More Custom Animations to Preview the Character RunningSummary
IntroductionBlend Spaces1D Blend Space vs Normal Blend SpaceExercise 11.01: Creating the CharacterMovement 1D Blend SpaceActivity 11.01: Adding the Walking and Running Animations to the Blend SpaceMain Character Animation BlueprintAnimation BlueprintsExercise 11.02: Adding the Blend Space to the Character Animation BlueprintVelocity VectorsExercise 11.03: Adding the Blend Space to the Character Animation BlueprintActivity 11.02: Previewing the Running Animation In-GameInput BindingsExercise 11.04: Adding Input for Sprinting and ThrowingExercise 11.05: Reparenting the Character BlueprintExercise 11.06: Coding the Character Sprint FunctionalityActivity 11.03: Implementing the Throwing InputAnimation State MachinesExercise 11.07: Player Character Movement and Jump State MachineTransition RulesExercise 11.08: Adding States and Transition Rules to the State MachineExercise 11.09: Time Remaining Ratio FunctionActivity 11.04: Finishing the Movement and Jumping State MachineSummary
IntroductionAnimation Blending, Anim Slots, and Animation MontagesExercise 12.01: Setting Up the Animation MontageAnimation MontagesExercise 12.02: Adding the Throw Animation to the MontageAnim Slot ManagerExercise 12.03: Adding a New Anim SlotSave Cached PoseExercise 12.04: Save Cached Pose of the Movement State MachineLayered blend per boneExercise 12.05: Blending Animation with the Upper Body Anim SlotThe Throw AnimationExercise 12.06: Previewing the Throw AnimationThe Super Side Scroller Game EnemyExercise 12.07: Creating the Enemy Base C plus plus ClassExercise 12.08: Creating and Applying the Enemy Animation BlueprintMaterials and Material InstancesExercise 12.09: Creating and Applying the Enemy Material InstanceActivity 12.01: Updating Blend WeightsSummary
IntroductionEnemy AIAI ControllerAuto Possess AIExercise 13.01: Implementing AI ControllersNavigation MeshExercise 13.02: Implementing a Nav Mesh Volume for the AI EnemyRecasting the Nav MeshExercise 13.03: Recasting Nav Mesh Volume ParametersActivity 13.01: Creating a New LevelBehavior Trees and BlackboardsComposites TasksDecoratorsServicesExercise 13.04: Creating the AI Behavior Tree and BlackboardExercise 13.05: Creating a New Behavior Tree TaskExercise 13.06: Creating the Behavior Tree LogicActivity 13.02: AI Moving to the Player LocationExercise 13.07: Creating the Enemy Patrol LocationsVector TransformationExercise 13.08: Selecting a Random Point in an ArrayExercise 13.09: Referencing the Patrol Point ActorExercise 13.10: Updating BTTask_FindLocationPlayer ProjectileExercise 13.11: Creating the Player ProjectileExercise 13.12: Initializing Player Projectile SettingsActivity 13.03: Creating the Player Projectile BlueprintSummary
IntroductionAnim Notifies and Anim Notify StatesExercise 14.01: Creating a UAnim Notify ClassExercise 14.02: Adding the Notify to the Throw MontagePlaying Animation MontagesPlaying Animation Montages in BlueprintsPlaying Animation Montages in C plus plusExercise 14.03: Playing the Throw Animation in C plus plusGame World and Spawning ObjectsExercise 14.04: Creating the Projectile Spawn SocketExercise 14.05: Preparing the SpawnProjectile() FunctionExercise 14.06: Updating the Anim_ProjectileNotify ClassDestroying ActorsExercise 14.07: Creating the DestroyEnemy() FunctionExercise 14.08: Destroying ProjectilesActivity 14.01: Projectile Destroying EnemiesVisual and Audio EffectsExercise 14.09: Adding Effects When the Enemy Is DestroyedExercise 14.10: Adding Effects to the Player ProjectileExercise 14.11: Adding VFX and SFX NotifiesActivity 14.02: Adding Effects for When the Projectile Is DestroyedSummary
IntroductionURotatingMovementComponentExercise 15.01: Creating the PickableActor_Base Class and Adding URotatingMovementComponentActivity 15.01: Player Overlap Detection and Spawning Effects in PickableActor_BaseExercise 15.02: Creating the PickableActor_Collectable ClassActivity 15.02: Finalizing the PickableActor_Collectable ActorLogging Variables Using UE_LOGExercise 15.03: Tracking the Number of Coins for the PlayerUMGText WidgetAnchorsText FormattingExercise 15.04: Creating the Coin Counter UI HUD ElementAdding and Creating UMG User WidgetsExercise 15.05: Adding the Coin Counter UI to the Player ScreenTimersExercise 15.06: Adding the Potion Power-Up Behavior to the PlayerActivity 15.03: Creating the Potion Power-Up ActorExercise 15.07: Creating the Brick ClassExercise 15.08: Adding the Brick Class C plus plus LogicSummary
IntroductionMultiplayer BasicsServersDedicated ServerThe Listen ServerClientsExercise 16.01: Testing the Third Person Template in MultiplayerThe Packaged VersionConnections and OwnershipRolesExercise 16.02: Implementing Ownership and RolesThe Server WindowServer CharacterClient 1 CharacterThe OwnershipTest ActorThe Client 1 WindowVariable ReplicationReplicated VariablesExercise 16.03: Replicating Variables Using Replicated, RepNotify, DOREPLIFETIME, and DOREPLIFETIME_CONDITION The Server WindowThe Client 1 Window2D Blend SpacesExercise 16.04: Creating a Movement 2D Blend SpaceTransform (Modify) BoneExercise 16.05: Creating a Character That Looks up and downActivity 16.01: Creating a Character for the Multiplayer FPS ProjectSummary
IntroductionRemote Procedure CallsServer RPCDeclarationExecutionValid ConnectionMulticast RPCDeclarationExecutionClient RPCDeclarationExecutionImportant Considerations When Using RPCsExercise 17.01: Using Remote Procedure CallsEnumerationsTEnumAsByteUMETADisplayNameHiddenBlueprintTypeMAXExercise 17.02: Using C plus plus Enumerations in the Unreal Engine 4 EditorBi-Directional Circular Array IndexingExercise 17.03: Using Bi-Directional Circular Array Indexing to Cycle between an EnumerationActivity 17.01: Adding Weapons and Ammo to the Multiplayer FPS GameSummary
IntroductionGameplay Framework Classes in MultiplayerExercise 18.01: Displaying the Gameplay Framework Instance ValuesThe Server WindowServer CharacterClient 1 CharacterThe Client 1 WindowClient 1 CharacterServer CharacterGame Mode, Player State, and Game StateGame ModeConstructorPlayer StateGame StateUseful Built-in FunctionalityExercise 18.02: Making a Simple Multiplayer Pickup GameActivity 18.01: Adding Death, Respawn, Scoreboard, Kill Limit, and Pickups to the Multiplayer FPS GameSummary

Overview

"Game Development Projects with Unreal Engine" is your ultimate resource to start learning game development using Unreal Engine 4 (UE4). With a hands-on approach, this book covers essential concepts, techniques, and methods required to create robust game projects and bring your creative ideas to life.

What this Book will help me do

Learn to navigate Unreal Editor and create gameplay using blueprints.
Build complete game projects including a dodgeball, a side-scroller, and a multiplayer FPS game.
Develop advanced features like AI behaviors using Blackboards and Behavior Trees.
Incorporate user interfaces, animations, and particle effects into your game projects.
Test and polish your projects, adapting designs for mobile platforms.

Author(s)

The authors bring a wealth of experience in game development and Unreal Engine expertise. They have collectively contributed to teaching countless developers through their practical, project-based approach. With specializations ranging from animation to C++ programming, their practical experience offers readers hands-on guidance and industry insights.

Who is it for?

This book is perfect for aspiring game developers with basic knowledge of C++ who want to learn Unreal Engine development. If you're curious about creating your own games, be it for fun, career growth, or professional project development, this book is crafted for you. Experienced developers seeking to refine their Unreal Engine skills will also find valuable insights.