Learn Unreal Engine 5 through a hands-on game project, progressing step by step from editor basics and Blueprints to AI, UI, cinematics, polish, and packagingFree with your book: DRM-free PDF version + access to Packt's next-gen Reader*Key FeaturesBuild a complete third-person game through a practical, step-by-step workflowDevelop gameplay systems using Blueprints without writing codeCreate levels, a player character, enemy AI, UI, gameplay, and an opening cutscene in one projectSolve common problems encountered during game development*Email sign-up and proof of purchase requiredBook DescriptionLearning Unreal Engine 5 can feel overwhelming when you re faced with a professional game engine, multiple editors, and interconnected systems. Instead of overwhelming technical jargon, this book takes a clear, step-by-step approach that shows you how the essential tools fit together as you create a playable game. You ll begin by installing Unreal Engine, setting up your first project, and exploring the editor to build and light levels. As you progress, you ll create gameplay with Blueprints, import and animate a player character, and configure controls with Enhanced Input. You ll then develop AI enemies and implement gameplay rules, mission objectives, and win-and-lose conditions. The book also guides you through creating a main menu and heads-up display (HUD) with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG), producing an introductory cut-scene with Sequencer, and polishing your game with environment assets, audio, and Niagara effects. Finally, you ll package the project as a standalone Windows game. By the end, you ll have built a playable third-person game and gained a foundation in Unreal Engine 5. You ll understand how its core tools and systems work together in a game development workflow, giving you the practical skills and confidence to create your own projects and take your first steps toward more advanced game development.What you will learnBuild and prototype 3D game levels using Unreal's Level EditorCreate gameplay logic visually with Blueprints (no coding required)Import, animate, and set up a playable characterConfigure player controls using Unreal's Enhanced Input systemBuild enemy AI that can sense and chase the player using Behavior TreesDesign menus and HUDs with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG)Produce an introductory cut-scene using the SequencerPolish your game and package it into a standalone playable fileWho this book is forThis book is for aspiring game developers, students, and hobbyists who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through hands-on game development. Whether transitioning from another engine or starting fresh, readers will find step-by-step guidance accessible. No prior Unreal Engine or programming experience is required. You should have basic computer skills and be familiar with common video game controls, mechanics, and objectives. It also suits artists, designers, and programmers who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through practical, hands-on game development and prototyping.

Learn Unreal Engine 5 through a hands-on game project, progressing step by step from editor basics and Blueprints to AI, UI, cinematics, polish, and packagingFree with your book: DRM-free PDF version + access to Packt's next-gen Reader*Key FeaturesBuild a complete third-person game through a practical, step-by-step workflowDevelop gameplay systems using Blueprints without writing codeCreate levels, a player character, enemy AI, UI, gameplay, and an opening cutscene in one projectSolve common problems encountered during game development*Email sign-up and proof of purchase requiredBook DescriptionLearning Unreal Engine 5 can feel overwhelming when you’re faced with a professional game engine, multiple editors, and interconnected systems. Instead of overwhelming technical jargon, this book takes a clear, step-by-step approach that shows you how the essential tools fit together as you create a playable game.You’ll begin by installing Unreal Engine, setting up your first project, and exploring the editor to build and light levels. As you progress, you’ll create gameplay with Blueprints, import and animate a player character, and configure controls with Enhanced Input. You’ll then develop AI enemies and implement gameplay rules, mission objectives, and win-and-lose conditions.The book also guides you through creating a main menu and heads-up display (HUD) with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG), producing an introductory cut-scene with Sequencer, and polishing your game with environment assets, audio, and Niagara effects. Finally, you’ll package the project as a standalone Windows game.By the end, you’ll have built a playable third-person game and gained a foundation in Unreal Engine 5. You’ll understand how its core tools and systems work together in a game development workflow, giving you the practical skills and confidence to create your own projects and take your first steps toward more advanced game development.What you will learnBuild and prototype 3D game levels using Unreal's Level EditorCreate gameplay logic visually with Blueprints (no coding required)Import, animate, and set up a playable characterConfigure player controls using Unreal's Enhanced Input systemBuild enemy AI that can sense and chase the player using Behavior TreesDesign menus and HUDs with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG)Produce an introductory cut-scene using the SequencerPolish your game and package it into a standalone playable fileWho this book is forThis book is for aspiring game developers, students, and hobbyists who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through hands-on game development. Whether transitioning from another engine or starting fresh, readers will find step-by-step guidance accessible. No prior Unreal Engine or programming experience is required. You should have basic computer skills and be familiar with common video game controls, mechanics, and objectives. It also suits artists, designers, and programmers who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through practical, hands-on game development and prototyping.

Learn C++ game programming through real-world demos of AI systems, animation, and rendering to build scalable, high-performance games using patterns you can reuse across any game engineFree with your book: DRM-free PDF version + access to Packt's next-gen Reader*Key FeaturesBuild real-time 2D and 3D games using C++ with practical, executable examplesGain proficiency in game programming domains like AI pathfinding, camera systems, animation, and rendering effectsBoost runtime efficiency with object pooling, LOD patterns, and terrain partitioning to create smoother, more responsive gameplay systems*Email sign-up and proof of purchase requiredBook DescriptionCreating responsive, intelligent games takes more than just following engine tutorials. It requires solving real development challenges with practical, efficient code. This book bridges theory and practice with proven algorithms and techniques grounded in real-world production needs, emphasizing clean, portable C++ implementations.Starting with raylib and the custom Knight engine layer, you’ll be introduced to a simple object-oriented scene and game object system. From there, you'll build responsive gameplay systems using essential data structures and algorithms, progressing through 2D rendering, collision detection, effects, and camera control before advancing to 3D graphics environments built using shaders, lighting, quad-tree terrain, and dynamic camera setups.You’ll animate characters using skeletal rigs, interpolation, and inverse kinematics for fluid movement and then develop game AI using FSMs, behavior trees, A* pathfinding, and steering behaviors. The book also covers neural networks, exploring their underlying theories, training processes, and tools. Throughout, the code is written in legacy-compatible C++ to ensure broad support across platforms and compilers.By the end, you’ll have gained the skills to build game systems that not only work but also scale, perform, and adapt like professional-grade code.What you will learnUse C++ data structures and algorithms to build core gameplay featuresImplement 2D/3D rendering with shaders, particle effects, and terrain systemsDesign camera systems like third-person, top-down, and split-screen viewsOptimize performance using object pooling and LODAnimate characters using skeletal rigging, interpolation, and inverse kinematicsBuild game AI with FSMs, behavior trees, pathfinding, and steeringApply neural network concepts in a turret defense projectWho this book is forThis book is for junior game developers, hobbyists, and computer science students entering game development, as well as C++ programmers looking to strengthen their skills. While some familiarity with C++ is helpful, the examples are explained step by step to remain approachable. Whether you're starting out or reinforcing your skills before diving into game engines down the road, this book offers a clear and practical foundation to make you a more effective developer, regardless of which tools you choose later.

Learn Unreal Engine 5 through a hands-on game project, progressing step by step from editor basics and Blueprints to AI, UI, cinematics, polish, and packagingFree with your book: DRM-free PDF version + access to Packt's next-gen Reader*Key FeaturesBuild a complete third-person game through a practical, step-by-step workflowDevelop gameplay systems using Blueprints without writing codeCreate levels, a player character, enemy AI, UI, gameplay, and an opening cutscene in one projectSolve common problems encountered during game development*Email sign-up and proof of purchase requiredBook DescriptionLearning Unreal Engine 5 can feel overwhelming when you re faced with a professional game engine, multiple editors, and interconnected systems. Instead of overwhelming technical jargon, this book takes a clear, step-by-step approach that shows you how the essential tools fit together as you create a playable game. You ll begin by installing Unreal Engine, setting up your first project, and exploring the editor to build and light levels. As you progress, you ll create gameplay with Blueprints, import and animate a player character, and configure controls with Enhanced Input. You ll then develop AI enemies and implement gameplay rules, mission objectives, and win-and-lose conditions. The book also guides you through creating a main menu and heads-up display (HUD) with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG), producing an introductory cut-scene with Sequencer, and polishing your game with environment assets, audio, and Niagara effects. Finally, you ll package the project as a standalone Windows game. By the end, you ll have built a playable third-person game and gained a foundation in Unreal Engine 5. You ll understand how its core tools and systems work together in a game development workflow, giving you the practical skills and confidence to create your own projects and take your first steps toward more advanced game development.What you will learnBuild and prototype 3D game levels using Unreal's Level EditorCreate gameplay logic visually with Blueprints (no coding required)Import, animate, and set up a playable characterConfigure player controls using Unreal's Enhanced Input systemBuild enemy AI that can sense and chase the player using Behavior TreesDesign menus and HUDs with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG)Produce an introductory cut-scene using the SequencerPolish your game and package it into a standalone playable fileWho this book is forThis book is for aspiring game developers, students, and hobbyists who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through hands-on game development. Whether transitioning from another engine or starting fresh, readers will find step-by-step guidance accessible. No prior Unreal Engine or programming experience is required. You should have basic computer skills and be familiar with common video game controls, mechanics, and objectives. It also suits artists, designers, and programmers who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through practical, hands-on game development and prototyping.

Learn Unreal Engine 5 through a hands-on game project, progressing step by step from editor basics and Blueprints to AI, UI, cinematics, polish, and packagingFree with your book: DRM-free PDF version + access to Packt's next-gen Reader*Key FeaturesBuild a complete third-person game through a practical, step-by-step workflowDevelop gameplay systems using Blueprints without writing codeCreate levels, a player character, enemy AI, UI, gameplay, and an opening cutscene in one projectSolve common problems encountered during game development*Email sign-up and proof of purchase requiredBook DescriptionLearning Unreal Engine 5 can feel overwhelming when you’re faced with a professional game engine, multiple editors, and interconnected systems. Instead of overwhelming technical jargon, this book takes a clear, step-by-step approach that shows you how the essential tools fit together as you create a playable game.You’ll begin by installing Unreal Engine, setting up your first project, and exploring the editor to build and light levels. As you progress, you’ll create gameplay with Blueprints, import and animate a player character, and configure controls with Enhanced Input. You’ll then develop AI enemies and implement gameplay rules, mission objectives, and win-and-lose conditions.The book also guides you through creating a main menu and heads-up display (HUD) with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG), producing an introductory cut-scene with Sequencer, and polishing your game with environment assets, audio, and Niagara effects. Finally, you’ll package the project as a standalone Windows game.By the end, you’ll have built a playable third-person game and gained a foundation in Unreal Engine 5. You’ll understand how its core tools and systems work together in a game development workflow, giving you the practical skills and confidence to create your own projects and take your first steps toward more advanced game development.What you will learnBuild and prototype 3D game levels using Unreal's Level EditorCreate gameplay logic visually with Blueprints (no coding required)Import, animate, and set up a playable characterConfigure player controls using Unreal's Enhanced Input systemBuild enemy AI that can sense and chase the player using Behavior TreesDesign menus and HUDs with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG)Produce an introductory cut-scene using the SequencerPolish your game and package it into a standalone playable fileWho this book is forThis book is for aspiring game developers, students, and hobbyists who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through hands-on game development. Whether transitioning from another engine or starting fresh, readers will find step-by-step guidance accessible. No prior Unreal Engine or programming experience is required. You should have basic computer skills and be familiar with common video game controls, mechanics, and objectives. It also suits artists, designers, and programmers who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through practical, hands-on game development and prototyping.

Learn C++ game programming through real-world demos of AI systems, animation, and rendering to build scalable, high-performance games using patterns you can reuse across any game engineFree with your book: DRM-free PDF version + access to Packt's next-gen Reader*Key FeaturesBuild real-time 2D and 3D games using C++ with practical, executable examplesGain proficiency in game programming domains like AI pathfinding, camera systems, animation, and rendering effectsBoost runtime efficiency with object pooling, LOD patterns, and terrain partitioning to create smoother, more responsive gameplay systems*Email sign-up and proof of purchase requiredBook DescriptionCreating responsive, intelligent games takes more than just following engine tutorials. It requires solving real development challenges with practical, efficient code. This book bridges theory and practice with proven algorithms and techniques grounded in real-world production needs, emphasizing clean, portable C++ implementations.Starting with raylib and the custom Knight engine layer, you’ll be introduced to a simple object-oriented scene and game object system. From there, you'll build responsive gameplay systems using essential data structures and algorithms, progressing through 2D rendering, collision detection, effects, and camera control before advancing to 3D graphics environments built using shaders, lighting, quad-tree terrain, and dynamic camera setups.You’ll animate characters using skeletal rigs, interpolation, and inverse kinematics for fluid movement and then develop game AI using FSMs, behavior trees, A* pathfinding, and steering behaviors. The book also covers neural networks, exploring their underlying theories, training processes, and tools. Throughout, the code is written in legacy-compatible C++ to ensure broad support across platforms and compilers.By the end, you’ll have gained the skills to build game systems that not only work but also scale, perform, and adapt like professional-grade code.What you will learnUse C++ data structures and algorithms to build core gameplay featuresImplement 2D/3D rendering with shaders, particle effects, and terrain systemsDesign camera systems like third-person, top-down, and split-screen viewsOptimize performance using object pooling and LODAnimate characters using skeletal rigging, interpolation, and inverse kinematicsBuild game AI with FSMs, behavior trees, pathfinding, and steeringApply neural network concepts in a turret defense projectWho this book is forThis book is for junior game developers, hobbyists, and computer science students entering game development, as well as C++ programmers looking to strengthen their skills. While some familiarity with C++ is helpful, the examples are explained step by step to remain approachable. Whether you're starting out or reinforcing your skills before diving into game engines down the road, this book offers a clear and practical foundation to make you a more effective developer, regardless of which tools you choose later.