In just 24 lessons of one hour or less, learn how to start using Unreal Engine 4 to build amazing games for Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, the web, Linux–or all of them! Sams Teach Yourself Unreal Engine 4 Game Development in 24 Hours’ straightforward, step-by-step approach shows you how to work with Unreal Engine 4’s interface, its workflows, and its most powerful editors and tools. In just hours you’ll be creating effects, scripting warfare, implementing physics–even developing for mobile devices and HUDs. Every lesson builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success. Organize new projects and work with the Gameplay Framework Master Unreal’s units and control systems Import 3D models and work with the Static Mesh Editor Create new landscapes and use Unreal’s foliage system Bring characters and creatures to life with the Persona Editor Apply materials and build lighting Integrate and modify audio with the Unreal Sound Cue Editor Craft particle effects and simulate physics Set up and react to player inputs Build levels and entirely new worlds Get started with powerful Blueprint visual scripting system Script an arcade game from start to finish Create events that respond to player actions Spawn Actors during gameplay Design and create action-based encounters Optimize games for mobile devices and touch-based inputs Build menus with Unreal’s UMG UI Designer Prepare your game for deployment Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Unreal Engine 4 game development tasks. Practical, hands-on examples show you how to apply what you learn. Quizzes and Exercises help you test your knowledge and stretch your skills. Notes and tips point out shortcuts and solutions. All the project files and assets you'll need are available for download, including "before-and-after" files demonstrating initial setup and proper completion for every exercise.  

Table of Contents:
HOUR 1: Introducing Unreal Engine 4     1 Installing Unreal     2 Creating Your First Project     4 Learning the Interface     7 View Modes and Visualizers     14 Playing a Level     16 Summary     17 Q&A     18 Workshop     18 Exercise     19 HOUR 2: Understanding the Gameplay Framework     21 Available Resources     21 Asset References and the Reference Viewer     29 Gameplay Framework     30 Summary     35 Q&A     35 Workshop     35 Exercise     36 HOUR 3: Coordinates, Transforms, Units, and Organization     37 Understanding Cartesian Coordinates     37 Working with Transforms     38 Assessing Units and Measurements     42 Organizing a Scene     45 Summary     50 Q&A     51 Workshop     51 Exercise     52 HOUR 4: Working with Static Mesh Actors     53 Static Mesh Assets     53 Static Mesh Editor     54 Viewing UV Layouts     57 Collision Hulls     59 Static Mesh Actors     66 Summary     73 Q&A     73 Workshop     73 Exercise     74 HOUR 5: Applying Lighting and Rendering     75 Learning Light Terminology     75 Understanding Light Types     76 Using Light Properties     82 Building Lighting     83 Summary     87 Q&A     87 Workshop     87 Exercise     88 HOUR 6: Using Materials     89 Understanding Materials     89 Physically Based Rendering (PBR)    90 Material Input Types     91 Creating Textures     94 Making a Material     96 Summary     105 Q&A     105 Workshop     106 Exercise     107 HOUR 7: Using Audio System Elements     109 Introducing Audio Basics     109 Using Sound Actors     112 Controlling Sounds with Audio Volumes     119 Summary     120 Q&A     120 Workshop     121 Exercise     122 HOUR 8: Creating Landscapes and Foliage     123 Working with Landscapes     123 Sculpting Shapes and Volumes     127 Using Foliage     133 Summary     136 Q&A     136 Workshop     137 Exercise     137 HOUR 9: World Building     139 Building Worlds     140 World Building Process     141 Summary     157 Q&A     157 Workshop     158 Exercise     159 HOUR 10: Crafting Effects with Particle Systems     161 Understanding Particles and Data Types     161 Working with Cascade     162 Using Common Modules     168 Setting Up Materials for Particles     172 Triggering Particle Systems     176 Summary     177 Q&A     177 Workshop     178 Exercise     179 HOUR 11: Using Skeletal Mesh Actors     181 Defining Skeletal Meshes     181 Importing Skeletal Meshes     186 Learning Persona     191 Using Skeletal Mesh Actors     199 Summary     201 Q&A     201 Workshop     202 Exercise     202 HOUR 12: Matinee and Cinematics     203 Matinee Actors     203 Matinee Editor     206 Curve Editor     212 Working with Other Tracks     215 Working with Cameras in Matinee     216 Summary     220 Q&A     220 Workshop     221 Exercise     222 HOUR 13: Learning to Work with Physics     223 Using Physics in UE4     223 Simulating Physics     227 Using Physical Materials     230 Working with Constraints     234 Using Force Actors     239 Summary     241 Q&A     241 Workshop     242 Exercise     242 HOUR 14: Introducing Blueprint Visual Scripting System     245 Visual Scripting Basics     245 Understanding the Blueprint Editor     247 Fundamental Concepts in Scripting     252 Summary     264 Q&A     264 Workshop     265 Exercise     266 HOUR 15: Working with Level Blueprints     269 Actor Collision Settings     271 Assigning Actors to Events     272 Assigning Actors to Reference Variables     274 Summary     284 Q&A     284 Workshop     285 Exercise     286 HOUR 16: Working with Blueprint Classes     287 Using Blueprint Classes     287 The Blueprint Editor Interface     289 Working with the Components     291 Working with the Timeline     296 Scripting a Pulsating Light     300 Summary     307 Q&A     308 Workshop     308 Exercise     309 HOUR 17: Using Editable Variables and the Construction Script     311 Setting Up     311 Making Editable Variables     312 Using the Construction Script     314 Summary     321 Q&A     321 Workshop     322 Exercise     323 HOUR 18: Making Key Input Events and Spawning Actors     325 Why Spawning Is Important     325 Creating a Blueprint Class to Spawn     326 Setting Up the Spawner Blueprint     329 Spawning an Actor from a Class     332 Summary     336 Q&A     336 Workshop     336 Exercise     337 HOUR 19: Making an Action Encounter     341 Project Game Modes     341 Knowing Characters’ Abilities     342 Using Blueprint Classes     344 Actor and Component Tags     350 Summary     351 Q&A     351 Workshop     352 Exercise     352 HOUR 20: Creating an Arcade Shooter: Input Systems and Pawns     355 Identifying Requirements with a Design Summary     356 Creating a Game Project     356 Creating a Custom Game Mode     359 Creating a Custom Pawn and Player Controller     361 Controlling a Pawn’s Movement     365 Setting Up a Fixed Camera     371 Summary     373 Q&A     373 Workshop     374 Exercise     375 HOUR 21: Creating an Arcade Shooter: Obstacles and Pickups     377 Creating an Obstacle Base Class     378 Making Your Obstacle Move     381 Damaging the Pawn     384 Restarting the Game on Death     388 Creating a Health Pickup     391 Creating an Actor Spawner     397 Cleaning Up Old Obstacles     403 Summary     403 Q&A     404 Workshop     405 Exercise     405 HOUR 22: Working with UMG     407 Creating a Widget Blueprint     407 Navigating the UMG Interface     408 Creating a Start Menu     413 Sample Menu System     425 Summary     426 Q&A     426 Workshop     427 Exercise     427 HOUR 23: Making an Executable     429 Cooking Content     429 Packaging a Project for Windows     430 Resources for Android and iOS Packaging     435 Accessing Advanced Packaging Settings     436 Summary     437 Q&A     438 Workshop     438 Exercise     439 HOUR 24: Working with Mobile     441 Developing for Mobile Devices     442 Using Touch     454 Using a Device’s Motion Data     459 Summary     462 Q&A     462 Workshop     463 Exercise     464 Index     465