Image by Craig Adderley
So why am I trying to learn Unreal Engine? With so many great game engines out there, why this one in particular? Well, the big reason of course is that I can download it and play with it completely for free, which suits my rather slim budget quite well. Another reason is that I have some old friends in similar situations as myself who are also learning UE, which means I’m not alone. The game engine also has an impressive array of capabilities that will allow me to do just about anything I’ve ever imagined.
Nothing beats free software with a huge range of support behind it. I don’t have the time or extra cash to go to a school where I have access to expensive software. Plus, I may spend a year learning it and then decide I want to try something else. Free means there is no pressure to make an income out of this if I don’t want to. For now it’s still fun and engaging, but I’m still a newb. This is a similar line of thinking that directed my interest toward learning Blender and not Maya.
Unreal Engine is software developed by Epic Games, offering a myriad of capabilities including robust graphics and advanced rendering features, including high-quality visual effects, realistic lighting, and detailed textures. This enables developers to create beautiful, lifelike environments and characters. UE is a preferred choice for creating AAA titles and cutting-edge virtual reality applications. It’s relatively user-friendly and offers a wide range of built-in tools for various aspects of game development, such as level design, animation, physics simulation, and visual scripting through Blueprint. These intuitive tools streamline the development process, empowering both seasoned professionals and newcomers to bring their creative visions to life.
Unreal Engine also supports multiple platforms, including PC, consoles, mobile devices, and VR headsets. This cross-platform compatibility allows developers to create games for diverse audiences without needing a lot of extra software or resources.
Another benefit of Unreal Engine is the community support and extensive documentation. The engine boasts a large and active community of developers, fostering collaboration, sharing of knowledge, and access to numerous resources, tutorials, and forums. This support network is invaluable for developers seeking assistance, troubleshooting, or guidance during their game development journey.
Now we are back to UE’s attractive pricing model. While it used to have a royalty-based system for revenue generated from games, Epic Games now has a more friendly approach, offering royalty-free access to the engine’s full suite of tools, making it even more accessible to developers of all sizes. Of course if you make an awesome game and get a ton of money you need to pay your dues, which is fine. If I somehow manage to publish something with this engine that makes more than a million dollars, Epic is welcome to their cut.
In summary, Unreal Engine’s graphical capabilities, user-friendly interface, versatility, support, and price point, make it an easy favorite for people like me who are starting out and exploring our options.
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