Unreal Development Kit Game Programming with UnrealScript

Name: Unreal Development Kit Game Programming with UnrealScript
Rating: 4.1 (15 reviews)

Kick-start your career in game development with UnrealScript and the UDK

Created byPackt Publishing

Last updated 11/2014

English

What you'll learn

Understand the UDK files and folders for working with UnrealScript
Configure an IDE and the UDK Compiler to write and compile code and make debugging easier with custom console commands
Grasp the basics of UnrealScript workflow for making games and use the UnrealScript class hierarchy to build new features
Learn how to create states for working with timed behavior
Make customizable classes with Config files that integrate with the UDK Editor
Create feature-filled actors for your levels
Build custom Kismet nodes to control the logic of your game

Course content

8 sections • 43 lectures • 2h 22m total length

Course Introduction2:34
This video shows you everything you need to get set and started.
Exploring the UDK Installation Folder3:36
Be confident navigating the UDK folders.
Exploring UncodeX2:57
Understand the UnrealScript class hierarchy and how classes relate.
Configure Notepad++ for UnrealScript4:24
Make UnrealScript coding easier in Notepad++.
Compiling UnrealScript Source Code5:10
Build your changes and code edits with the UDK compiler.
Compiling UnrealScript Source Code Using the FrontEnd4:38
Learn how to totally customize your builds with the FrontEnd.

Getting Started at UnrealScript Game Development3:58
Learn the beginnings of UnrealScript coding.
The GameInfo Class2:59
Learn how to use UncodeX and Notepad++ to start coding a GameInfo class.
GameInfo Basics3:53
Create a "Hello World" application with the GameInfo class.
Compiling GameInfo2:57
Configure the UDK engine files to compile your code easily.
Testing GameInfo2:38
Compile the GameInfo class and test changes at runtime in the UDK.
Appendix to Compiling2:02
Safely edit .ini files for larger projects.

Getting started with Actors3:16
See how to make customized actor classes.
Integrating Actors into the Actor Classes Tab3:09
Build actors that can be dragged-and-dropped into a level.
Actors and Components4:13
Use components to customize actors: add meshes, light components, and more...
Using Editor Properties3:18
Create variables that can be edited from the UDK Editor.
Review1:50
Explore the rotation and sound sample variables.
Using the Content Browser to Help Code2:16
Copy and paste mesh names from the content browser to use in code statements.

Rotations in UnrealScript4:04
Rotating actors in the tick event to make them spin over time.
Testing the Rotation Code in the UDK Editor1:50
Create a customizable rotating actor in the level.
Collision Detection3:05
Respond to player collisions by playing sounds.
Using Class States3:21
Create a spinning and non-spinning state to customize how the power-up behaves.
Testing Class States3:25
Add state-changing features inside collision events.

Starting to Code the Main Game Logic3:04
Keep track of player progress with the GameInfo class.
Refining Game Logic with GameInfo3:35
Use GameInfo to manage player progress.
Tips and Tricks4:49
Search for actors in a level and make code more readable with Hungarian Notation.
Inter-object Communication3:18
Check for a game-win condition by having the actor and GameInfo class communicate.
Testing the Game So Far2:54
Create the game logic and the counter, and then test in the UDK Editor.

Configuring the Level with Kismet and Matinee3:23
Use Kismet and Matinee to create an animated sequence for the level end.
Customize Kismet with UnrealScript3:49
Extend a class from SequenceEvent to add new Kismet functionality.
Testing the Kismet Node2:18
Create a new Kismet node and test it in the Editor.
Activating Kismet Nodes5:15
Use the CheckActivate function to fire Kismet connections.
Testing Kismet Functionality in the UDK Editor2:53
Run the UDK Editor and create a Kismet graph to test.

Config Files3:13
Explore how config files relate to UnrealScript classes.
Customize GameInfo with Config Files3:32
Learn to initialize variables using settings in the config files.
Using the Config Keyword2:56
Make variables accessible to config files.
Using Config Files to Customize Game Settings3:38
Use config files to set the Statue Collection limit.
Completing the Game3:41
Complete the game and consider improvements.

Requirements

Taking a step-by-step approach, you’ll learn how to set up your development environment, discuss some core features of the UnrealScript programming language, and build a feature-filled game level in incremental stages.

Description

This course is a comprehensive introduction to UnrealScript presented by Alan Thorn, veteran game developer and author with over 12 years of industry experience. Taking a step-by-step approach, you’ll move from the basics of configuring the UDK and its files to coding a feature-filled game complete with timed behavior and editor integration.

Clear and concise, this course takes you from start to finish through the creation of a practical game in UnrealScript, demonstrating the core features of the language along the way. It starts by exploring how to configure UDK files and software and ends with a working game featuring time-limits, editor integration, component-based actors, and custom Kismet nodes.

Overall, you’ll see how to build a game from the ground up. Along the way, you’ll explore core UnrealScript features such as console commands for improving debugging, class states for dynamically changing actor behavior, custom Kismet nodes to control program flow visually, the ability to tweak class settings through text-based configuration files, and much more besides.

By the end of this course, you’ll have coded a feature-filled game in UnrealScript and the UDK. In achieving this, you’ll establish a solid foundation in UnrealScript that you can utilize when building your own games.

About the Author

Alan Thorn is a London-based game developer, freelance programmer, and author with over 13 years of industry experience. He founded Wax Lyrical Games in 2010, and is the creator of the award-winning game, Baron Wittard: Nemesis of Ragnarok. He is the author of 10 video-training courses and 11 books on game development, including Unity 4 Fundamentals: Get Started at Making Games with Unity, Focal Press, UDK Game Development, and Pro Unity Game Development with C#, Apress. He is also a visiting lecturer on the Game Design & Development Masters Program at the National Film and Television School.

Who this course is for:

This course is intended for newcomers to UnrealScript. If you’re already using the UDK Editor and are familiar with programming basics, then this course will help you move up to the next level, orienting you with the UnrealScript language.

Unreal Development Kit Game Programming with UnrealScript

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Getting Started6 lectures • 23min

Understanding the Class Tree and Making Custom Classes6 lectures • 18min

Beginning a Power-Up Actor Class6 lectures • 18min

Refining the Power-Up Actor Class5 lectures • 16min

Creating Game Logic with GameInfo5 lectures • 18min

Refining the Game with Exec Functions5 lectures • 15min

Customizing Kismet5 lectures • 18min

Moving Forward with Config Files5 lectures • 17min

Requirements

Description

About the Author

Who this course is for: