Game Development with Unreal Engine and C++ - Part 1 & 2
Tue 25 Mar 2025 10:00 AM - Wed 26 Mar 2025 2:30 PM
The Bridge, Dumfries, DG2 9AW
Description
Summary
Embark on a thrilling journey into the world of game development with Unreal Engine, a powerful and versatile game engine. This course will guide you through the process of creating stunning and immersive games. Learn how to navigate the Unreal Engine interface, design 3D environments, create engaging gameplay, and add captivating visuals and sound effects. Explore the power of Unreal Engine's Blueprints visual scripting system and C++ programming to customize your game's behavior and interactions. Whether you're a beginner or have some programming experience, this course will provide you with the tools and knowledge to bring your game ideas to life.
Eligibility
You need to be a Dumfries and Galloway region resident at the age of 19 and above, the caveat to that is that you're a school leaver with no positive destination in mind.
Pre-Requisite
This course is designed for beginners with no prior experience in game development. Familiarity with general programming concepts is required.
Course Duration
Two Days (1000 to 1430 hours GMT) with a 30-minute break in both sessions.
Course Objectives
- Gain a foundational understanding of the Unreal Engine development environment.
- Learn the basics of Unreal Engine's visual scripting system (Blueprints).
- Implement core gameplay mechanics using C++ scripting in Unreal Engine.
- Create interactive elements and functionalities for a simple 3D game.
- Understand the integration of C++ and Blueprints for game development.
Outline
Day 1
Introduction to Unreal Engine (1 hour)
- Overview of Unreal Engine features and functionalities
- Navigating the Unreal Engine interface (Editor, Viewports, Content Browser)
- Understanding core Unreal Engine concepts (Actors, Components, Classes)
Unreal Engine for 3D Games (1 hour)
- Working with 3D assets (meshes, materials, textures) in Unreal Engine
- Level design principles and creating basic game environments
- Introduction to Unreal Engine's lighting and rendering systems
Blueprints Visual Scripting (1 hour)
- Introduction to Blueprints as a visual scripting tool in Unreal Engine
- Creating simple logic and event-driven behaviors using Blueprints
- Understanding the advantages and limitations of Blueprints
Hands-on Lab 1: Building Interactive Objects with Blueprints (1 hour)
- Participants create a 3D object in Unreal Engine and implement basic interactions using Blueprints.
- Design logic for object rotation, movement, and user input handling with Blueprints.
- Test and debug the interactive object behavior within the Unreal Engine editor.
Day 2
Introduction to C++ Scripting in Unreal Engine (1.5 hours)
- Setting up a C++ development environment for Unreal Engine projects
- C++ classes, objects, and functions for game development in Unreal Engine
- Understanding the integration of C++ code with Blueprints
Hands-on Lab 2: Implementing Game Mechanics with C++ (1.5 hours)
- Participants create a simple C++ class for player movement mechanics (WASD controls)
- Integrate the C++ class with a Blueprint actor to control player movement in the game world
- Implement collision detection and basic physics interactions using C++ code
Animation and Game Design Considerations (1 hour)
- Introduction to animation tools and techniques in Unreal Engine
- Integrating animations with game characters and objects
- Understanding game design principles for a cohesive gameplay experience
Course Wrap-up (30 min)
- Q&A and Discussion on Game Development with Unreal Engine and C++
- Showcasing and playing the created simple 3D games by participants
- Introduction to further learning resources for Unreal Engine and C++ game development
- Course Feedback.
Note: This course focuses on providing a basic understanding of game development with Unreal Engine using both C++ and Blueprints. The hands-on labs introduce core concepts like player movement, collision detection, and integrating C++ with Blueprints for building simple 3D game mechanics. The course can be extended to cover additional topics like advanced animation, networking, and game optimization based on the participants' skillset and available time.
Location
The Bridge, Dumfries, DG2 9AW