Blueprints Visual Scripting for Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine's Blueprint visual scripting system enables designers to script their games and programmers to create base elements that can be extended by designers. With this book, you'll explore all the features of the Blueprint Editor, along with expert tips, shortcuts, and best practices.

The book guides you through using variables, macros, and functions, and helps you learn about object-oriented programming (OOP). You'll discover the Gameplay Framework and advance to learning how Blueprint Communication allows one Blueprint to access information from another Blueprint. Later chapters focus on building a fully functional game step by step. You'll start with a basic first-person shooter (FPS) template, and each chapter will build on the prototype to create an increasingly complex and robust game experience. You'll then progress from creating basic shooting mechanics to more complex systems such as user interface elements and intelligent enemy behavior. The book demonstrates how to use arrays, maps, enums, and vector operations and introduces the elements needed for VR game development. In the final chapters, you'll learn how to implement procedural generation and create a product configurator.

By the end of this book, you'll have learned how to build a fully functional game and have the skills required to develop an entertaining experience for your audience.

What you will learn

Understand programming concepts in Blueprints

Create prototypes and iterate new game mechanics rapidly

Build user interface elements and interactive menus

Use advanced Blueprint nodes to manage the complexity of a game

Explore all the features of the Blueprint editor, such as the Components tab, Viewport, and Event Graph

Get to grips with OOP concepts and explore the Gameplay Framework

Work with virtual reality development in UE Blueprint

Implement procedural generation and create a product configurator

Who this book is for

This book is for anyone interested in developing games or applications with UE5. Although basic knowledge of Windows OS is required, experience in programming or UE5 is not necessary.