Unreal Engine 4 (UE4) is a powerful game engine that allows developers to create high-quality games across multiple platforms. In this quick start guide, we will cover the basics of getting started with UE4 and some key concepts for creating your own games.
Installation
Before you can start developing in UE4, you need to install it on your computer. To do this, go to the Epic Games Store (https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download) and download the latest version of UE4 for your platform. Once installed, launch UE4 from the desktop icon or start menu.
Creating a Project
Once you have UE4 installed, create a new project by clicking on the “New Project” button in the main window. In the “Create Project” dialog box, choose the type of project you want to create (e.g., 2D, 3D, AR/VR) and select the template that best suits your needs. You can also customize various settings for your project, such as the resolution and aspect ratio.
Setting Up Your Scene
The next step is to set up your scene by adding assets (e.g., objects, lights, cameras) and adjusting their properties. To do this, you can use the “Content Browser” on the right-hand side of the window. Drag and drop assets from the content browser onto the “Scene Hierarchy” panel on the left-hand side to add them to your scene. You can also select an asset in the content browser and adjust its properties using the “Details Panel” at the bottom of the screen.
Adding Scripts
UE4 supports C++ and Blueprint visual scripting, which allows you to create interactive elements in your game without writing code. To add a script to your project, right-click on an asset in the scene hierarchy and select “Create C++ Class” or “Create Blueprint”. You can then open the script editor and write your code or use the blueprint visual editor to create event graphs and connect them to your assets.
Creating Animations
Animations are a key part of any game, and UE4 makes it easy to create animations for your characters and objects. To create an animation, first, you need to define the keyframes for your animation in the “Animation Blueprint” tool. You can then preview your animation in real-time using the “Play Animation” button in the content browser. You can also export your animations as FBX files for use in other software.
Building and Deploying Your Game
Once you have created your game, you can build it for various platforms (e.g., Windows, Mac, iOS) using the “Build Settings” panel in the main window. You will need to configure the build settings to match the platform you want to target. After building your game, you can deploy it to your target device or distribute it online through various channels.
Summary
UE4 is a powerful and flexible game engine that allows developers to create high-quality games across multiple platforms. By following these basic steps, you can get started with UE4 and start creating your own games. There are many resources available online for more advanced topics, such as network programming, physics simulation, and AI.