Unreal Engine 4: Create an Arcade Classic!

In this video, I guide you through the download and installation process for Unreal Engine 4.  Unreal Engine 4 is FREE to download and install!

In this video I'll show you the steps need to create a project in Unreal Engine 4.  For this project, we'll be using the 3rd person template to help get us started with some base assets and functionality.

Before we get rolling with our project, it's important we create an organized folder structure in the Content Browser.  This video shows you how.

NOTE:  Towards the final minute of this video you'll be informed that in later updates to the Unreal Engine, folders that are created but NOT populated with any assets inside of them will be deleted from your project automatically if you happen to close out your project!  No worries, you can simply create the folders mentioned in this video down the road in future videos as needed!

For this project, we'll be using some free assets available in the marketplace and adding them to our project.  This video shows you where and how.

In this video we'll begin by taking an overview of Unreal Engine 4's level editor.  This is where you'll be spending much of your time while making your gaming projects!

This video is a continuation of "Part 1."  We'll complete our discussion of the Level Editor here.

In this video we'll learn about the Content Browser.  This is where you can access all the content (meshes, sound effects, particle effects, etc.) you'll use to build a project.

This video is a continuation of "Part 1."  We'll complete our discussion of the Content Browser here.

In this video we'll be exploring how to navigate through your game world using mouse inputs.

In this video you'll learn how to navigate around an object in your game world using "Maya" style controls.

In this video you'll learn about the different Orthographic Views available to you.  These views are excellent to use when pinpoint object placement is desired or wanting to measure the distance between things.

In this video you'll learn about a few of the different view modes available in your viewports as well as other things you can turn on or off (such as viewing collision in your game or the world grid).

In this video we'll discuss the different methods of placing actors into your level. 

In this video we'll cover the different methods of moving actors in your level. 

This video will discuss how to rotate actors placed in your level.

This video covers ways you can scale (size up or size down) actors in your level.

Topics covered:

• What is "Gray Boxing?"

• Role of "Gray Boxing" in Designing Levels

• Using Geometry to Gray Box Levels

• Where to Find / Use Geometry in UE4

Topics covered:

• Additive and Subtractive Brushes
• How to Toggle between Brush Types
• Brush Ordering

Topics covered:

• Brush Specific Settings
• Converting Geometry into a Static Mesh

Topics covered:

• Modifying Brush Sizes
• Geometry Edit Mode
• Extruding Geometry

Topics covered:

• How to Toggle the Grid On / Off
• Unreal Units
• Object "Snap Settings"
• Snapping Objects to the Floor
• Snapping Objects to the Grid
• Adjusting an Object's Pivot Point
• Using the Measure Tool

Topics covered:

• Orthographic Views
• Building to the Grid
• Duplicating Objects
• Multi Object Selection
• Grouping / Ungrouping Objects
• Focusing Camera View on an Object

In this video, we'll practice using geometry to create common maze wall pieces we'll want to place when constructing our maze.

This video is a continuation of "Part 1" where we create more maze pieces needed for the construction of our maze.

With our maze pieces created, we'll start the construction of our maze layout.

This video is a continuation of "Part 1."  We'll complete our maze layout here.

In this video we'll be creating some basic materials we'll be using throughout our project.

This video is a continuation of "Part 1."  We'll complete our material creation here.

This video demonstrates a quick and easy way of applying materials to all walls of our maze.

In this video, we'll create the avatar for our enemy characters.

This video is a continuation of "Part 1."  We'll complete our enemy avatar creation here.

In this video, we'll be importing some sounds into our project.

In this video, we'll be creating Sound Cues.  Sound Cues can be made to manipulate the imported .wav files in a variety of ways.

This video gives a brief overview of what Class Blueprints are, what they consist of, how they can be used, and why you should use them.

In this video, we'll create your player character's shape using geometry and then set up all necessary components and component values.

In this video, we'll create and set the visuals for our Enemies.

In this video, we'll create the "home" that our enemies will start and spawn from.

We'll create our Pellet Blueprint in this video.  Pellets need to consist of a mesh and sound effect component.

This video shows the construction of a Cherry Blueprint.  This fruit will eventually spawn in for our player to eat (and score big points).

Taking some creative liberties, we'll be creating a speed boost power-up blueprint that can spawn into our level.  In this video, we'll added the needed components.

Topics covered:

• Defining what Blueprint Scripting is

• Node types

• How graphs work

Topics covered:

• What are Events?

• How Events are used in Scripting

• Ways to add Event nodes

• Event node examples

• Component Events

Topics covered:

• What are Functions?
• Ways to add Function nodes
• Function node examples
• Creating Functions

This video talks about what variables are, how they are used, and why they are important.  We will be making heavy use of variables in this project!  This is an important lesson to understand.

This video is a continuation of "Part 1."  We'll complete our discussion of variables here.

In this video, we'll talk about what "Flow Control" nodes are in Blueprint Scripting and how they can be utilized in making games.