book

Learning Unreal Engine Game Development

by Joanna Lee

February 2016

Beginner

274 pages

5h 48m

English

Packt Publishing

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What this book covers

Downloading the example codeDownloading the color images of this bookErrataPiracyQuestions
What goes into a game?
ArtistsCinematic creatorsSound designersGame designersProgrammers
The sound engineThe physics engineThe graphics engineInput and the Gameplay frameworkLight and shadowPost-process effectsArtificial intelligenceOnline and multiplatform capabilities
Unreal EditorMaterial EditorThe Cascade particle systemThe Persona skeletal mesh animationLandscape – building large outdoor worlds and foliageSound Cue EditorMatinee EditorThe Blueprint visual scripting system
Unreal objects
The start menuProject BrowserContent BrowserToolbarViewportScene OutlinerModes
Exploring preconfigured levels
ViewsControl keys
Useful tip – selecting an object easilyUseful tip – changing View Mode to aid visuals
Useful tip – positioning objects in a level
Useful tip – rotating objects in a level
Useful tip – using the drag snap grid
BSP BrushBackgroundBrush typeBrush solidity
Creating a Material in UnrealMaterials versus TexturesTexture/UV mappingHow to create and use a Texture MapMultitexturingA special form of texture maps – Normal Maps
Collision configuration propertiesSimulation Generates Hit EventsGenerate Overlap EventsCollision PresetsCollision EnabledObject TypeCollision ResponsesTrace ResponsesObject ResponsesCollision hullsInteractions
Blocking VolumeCamera Blocking VolumeTrigger VolumeNav Mesh Bounds VolumePhysics VolumePain Causing VolumeKill Z VolumeLevel Streaming VolumeCull Distance VolumeAudio VolumePostProcess VolumeLightmass Importance Volume
Level Blueprint
Materials
The rendering systemPhysical Based Shading ModelHigh Level Shading LanguageGetting startedCreating a simple custom materialCreating custom material using simple texturesUsing custom materials to transform the level
DirectXDirectX12Pipeline state representationWork submissionResource access
Configuring a Point Light with more settingsAttenuation RadiusIntensityUse Inverse Squared FalloffColorAdding and configuring a Spot LightInner cone and outer cone angleUsing the IES ProfileDownloading IES Light ProfilesImporting IES Profiles into the Unreal Engine EditorUsing IES ProfilesAdding and configuring a Directional LightExample – adding and configuring a Sky lightStatic, stationary, or movable lightsCommon light/shadow definitionsStatic LightStationary LightMovable LightExercise – extending your game level (optional)Useful tipsGuidelinesArea expansionPart 1 – lengthening the current walkwayPart 2 – creating a big room (living and kitchen area)Part 3 – creating a small room along the walkwayPart 4 – Creating a den area in the big roomCreating windows and doorsPart 1 – creating large glass windows for the dining areaPart 2 – creating an open window for the window seatPart 3 – creating windows for the roomPart 4 – creating the main door areaCreating basic furniturePart 1 – creating a dining table and placing chairsPart 2 – decorating the sitting areaPart 3 – creating the window seat areaPart 4 – creating the Japanese seating areaPart 5 – creating the kitchen cabinet area
What is animation?
Preparing before animationHow is animation created?
Importing animation from Maya/3ds MaxTutorial – importing the animation pack from MarketplaceWhat can you do with Persona?Tutorial – assigning existing animation to a PawnWhy do we need to blend animations?Tutorial – creating a Blend AnimationTutorial – setting up the Animation Blueprint to use a Blend AnimationAnimGraphEventGraph
Understanding a Behavior TreeExercise – designing the logic of a Behavior TreeExample – creating a simple Behavior TreeHow to implement a Behavior Tree in Unreal Engine 4Navigation MeshTutorial – creating a Navigation MeshTutorial – setting up AI logicCreating the Blueprint AIControllerCreating the Blueprint characterAdding and configuring Mesh to a Character BlueprintLinking AIController to the Character BlueprintAdding basic animationConfiguring AIControllerNodes to add in EventGraphAdjusting movement speedCreating the BlackBoardDataAdding a variable into BlackBoardDataCreating a Behavior TreeCreating a simple BT using a Wait taskUsing the Behavior TreeCreating a custom task for the Behavior TreeUsing the PickTargetLocation custom task in BTReplacing the Wait task with Move ToImplementing AI in games
What is a particle system?
Modules
ResearchThe iterative creative process
Crafting P_FireplaceObserving the solo emitters of the systemDeleting non-essential emittersFocusing on editing the Flame emitterLooking at the complete particle system
The audio formatThe sampling rateBit depthSupported sound channels
How to open the Sound Cue Editor
Introducing terrain manipulationExercise – creating hills using the Landscape toolLandscape creation optionsMultiple landscapesUsing custom materialImporting height maps and layersScaleThe number of componentsSection Size
Adjusted camera functionsZoomField of viewDepth of fieldCamera movementTiltPanDolly/track/truckPedestalCapturing a sceneLightingFramingSome framing rulesShot typesShot plan

Content preview from Learning Unreal Engine Game Development

Chapter 5. Animation and AI

This chapter is about animation and artificial intelligence (AI).

Animation is what we need in order to see things move in a game. AI is what is required for characters (other than the player) to know how to behave and react while you are in the game.

We will cover the following topics in this chapter:

Definition of animation
3D animation
Tools required for animation in Unreal Engine 4
Learning to add animation to your game
Using an Animation Blueprint
Learning about Blend Animation
AI in games
Designing a Behavior Tree (BT)
Using a Blueprint to implement AI in your game

What is animation?

Animation is the simulation of movement through a series of images or frames.

Before computers came into the picture, animation was created using ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781784398156Supplemental Content