This document discusses the advantages of using the Unreal Engine 4 (UE4) for game development compared to other game engines like Unity. It notes that UE4 is a complete toolset that supports multi-platform development including PC, console, web, VR/AR and mobile. It has visual scripting using Blueprints that allows artists and designers to code without programming. UE4 also has C++ integration and provides full source code access for free along with flexible licensing options.

1. DEVELOPING SUCCESS

2. VS

3. WHY YOU SHOULD BE USING UE4
• Epic Games makes games; Unity does not
• Unreal Engine past vs. present
• UE4 is a complete toolset; less reliant on Marketplace
• Blueprints
• C++ vs. C#

4. WHY YOU SHOULD BE USING UE4
• Flexibility
• Full source code
• Free to develop
• Custom licensing

5. Epic Games Makes Games

6. Unreal Engine’s Early Days
• AAA was the standard target
• Best for high end PC and console production
• Not for web, mobile or VR (they didn’t exist)
• Made for shooters
• Complex
• Expensive

7. Today’s Unreal Engine
• Multi-platform – PC, console, web, VR/AR, mobile and
more.
• Multi-genre framework and free sample content and
templates to get you started from your first use.
• Easy to learn and easy to master.
• Customizable and flexible with source code.
• Free and custom licensing options with no per seat
license fees for games.
• An enterprise leader with companies in automotive,
entertainment, architectural visualization and more.

8. UE4 is a Complete Toolset
• Unreal comes complete with everything you need to
build and ship.
• You can build without paying for additional plug-ins or
extras; but you can customize as needed.
• Built in:
• Editors for UI, materials, animations, particles
• Scripting system, state machines
• Starter content
• Much, much more!

9. Blueprints – Visual Scripting in UE4

10. Blueprints – Visual Scripting in UE4
• Allows coders to deal with big issues and artists to
implement their visions
• Unifies all sub-systems with one common visual
coding language
• Blueprints can be “nativized”; converted to C++
and machine code for best performance
• Robo Recall was made almost entirely with
Blueprints

11. The Magic of UE4 and C++
• C++ is integrated with the Unreal
Editor.
• Classes created in C++ can be sub-
classed and/or instantiated in the
Editor.
• Artists and designers can extend in
Blueprints, which will auto convert to
C++.
• Code at a high level: UE4 handles the
hard stuff and removes many of the
pain points of C++.

12. The Stylized 2D Platformer
The Flexibility of UE4

14. AAA Games in the Palm of Your Hand
Moving Mobile Forward

15. AAA Games in the Palm of Your Hand
Moving Mobile Forward

17. AAA Graphics on Mobile
MOVING MOBILE FORWARD

19. #EpicFriday
A Community Committed to Quality

21. VR Made with Blueprints
The Flexibility of UE4

23. Full Source Code – Free of Charge
• Distributed via GitHub for free
licensees and via Perforce for
custom licensees.
• GitHub branch synchs every 20
minutes, so it is up to date.
• Keep your modifications to source
or issue a pull request to Epic.
• Epic will vet the changes and
publish them to all UE4 developers
(and even put your name in the
credits!).

24. It’s Free to Develop on UE4
• Sign the EULA and download
UE4 to get started.
• Community based support
via AnswerHub.
• Additional code available for
PS4, Xbox One and Switch for
registered developers.
• You pay nothing until you
start making money.

25. Custom Licensing is Also Available
• Meant for serious developers that will ship games.
• More in depth support.
• UDN gives you answers quickly from the engineers that
made the features you have questions about.
• Allows for more flexibility on royalties.

27. David Stelzer – david.stelzer@epicgames.com