Getting Started with UDK

Build a complete tower defense game from scratch using the Unreal Development KitOverviewLearn how to greybox your level by building basic shapes and reshaping the environmentUse the visual scripting tool Kismet to create all of the gameplay for your project, from spawning waves of enemies to bGetting started with UDKCopyright o 2013 Packt PublishingAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior writtenpermission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded incritical articles or reviewsrt has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracyof the information presented. However, the information contained in this book issold without warranty, cither express or implied. Neither the author nor PaclPublishing and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damagescaused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this bookPackt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of thecompanies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitalsHowever, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this informationFirst published July 2013Production Reference: 1040713Published by Packt Publishing ltdLivery place35 Livery streetBirmingham b3 2PB UKISBN978-1-84969981-5www.packtpub.comCoverImagebyAbhishekPandey(abhishek,pandey1210@gmail.com)CreditsAuthorProject CoordinatorJohn p doranSuraj bistReviewerProofreaderDan weisslinor Perry-SmithAcquisition EditorIndexerErol StaveleyPriya SubramaniCommissioning EditorProduction CoordinatorYogesh DalviShantanu agadeTechnical editorsCover workMausam KothariShantanu AgadeVaibhay pawarCopy editInsiya MorbiwalaLaxmi subramanianAbout the authorJohn P. Doran is a technical game designer who has been creating games for over10 years. He has worked on an assortment of games in teams from just himself toover 70 in student, mod, indie, and professional projectsHe previously worked at LucasArts on Star Wars 1313 as a game design internHe later graduated from DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, WA,with a Bachelor of science in game designJohn is currently a software engineer at DigiPen's Singapore campus and is tutoringand assisting students with difficulties in computer science concepts, programming,linear algebra, game design, and advanced usage of UDK, Flash, and Unity in adevelopment environmentThis is his third book after uDK ios Game Development Beginner's Guide andMastering unk game Development, both of which are also available fromPackt PublishingHecanbefoundonlineathttp://johnpdoran.comandcanbecontactedatjohn@-ohnpdoran comI want to thank my brother Chris doran and my fiancee Hannah maifor being supportive and patient with me as I spent my free time andweekends away from them as i had to spend time writing the bookOn that same note, i also want to thank samir abou samra and elieHosry for their support and encouragement while working on thisbook, as well as the rest of the DigiPen Singapore staffI want to thank Erol Staveley who approached me for writing againas well as everyone else at packt who were so helpful, as always!Last but not the least, I'd love to thank my family as well as myparents, Joseph and Sandra Doran, who took me seriously when Itold them i wanted to make games for a livingAbout the reviewerDan Weiss is currently a programmer working at Psyonix Studios in San Diego,CA. He is a 2010 graduate of DigiPen Institute of Technology, having worked ontitles such as Attack of the 50ft Robot! during his time there. He has been working inthe Unreal engine since 2004, independently producing the mod unreal demolitionfor Unreal Tournament 2004 and Unreal Tournament 3. At Psyonix he has beeninvolved with Unreal engine work on mobile devices, having released ARCSquadron for ios devicesWww.Packtpub.comSupport files, eBooks, discount offers and moreYoumightwanttovisitwww.packtPub.comforsupportfilesanddownloadsrelatedto your bookDid you know that Packt offers e Book versions of every book published, with PDFandepuBfilesavailable?Youcanupgradetotheebookversionatwww.packtpubcom and as a print book customer, you are entitled to a discount on the e Book copy.Get in touch with us at service@packtpub com for more detailsAtwww.packtpub.comyoucanalsoreadacollectionoffreetechnicalarticlessignup for a range of free newsletters and receive exclusive discounts and offers on Packtbooks and ebooksPACKTLIBhttp://packtlib.Packtpub.comDo you need instant solutions to your it questions? PacktLib is Packt's online digitalbook library. 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Simply use your login credentialsor immediate accessTable of contentsPrefaceChapter 1: Augmenting the UDKWhat we will achieveBefore we beginBlock out simple-level geometryPrepare for lift-off788889Engaging thrustersObjective complete24Supplemental information24Defining KismetUsing a third-person perspective25Engage thrusters25Objective complete28Classified information28Kismet primerBenefits and drawbacks of using Kismetunar32Chapter 2: Tower Defense33Spawning enemies33Enemies damaging the base44Creating/Spawning a single tower52Multiple towers made easy- prefabs63Engage thrusters63Summary66Table of contentsChapter 3: Detailing Environments67Applying materials69Placing staircases73Adding in-level boundaries80Spawning weapons86Objective complete90Summary90Chapter 4: Finishing TouchesObtaining Flash92Setting up Flash92Creating our main menu92Creating our HUD100Creating the main menu into UDK10Cooking and packaging our game120Taking the project to the next level122Summary122Index125PrefaceThe UDK, which is a free version of the popular and award-winning Unreal 3 engine,is an amazing and powerful tool to use for projects of any kind. You can use it tocreate high-quality games and make your dream games a reality. UDK can be a littleintimidating based on the level of games it has contributed to the ever growing andexciting world of gaming Overcome all your apprehensions with this step-by-stepguide and build a complete project within the Unreal Development Kit with uniquegameplay, custom menus, and a triple A-rated finishThis book will help you create a custom Tower Defense game within UDK and agame you can show your friends, even if you have absolutely no prior knowledgeof udK game developmentIn next to no time, you will learn how to create any kind of environment withinthe UDK. With your basic environment created, you will make use of simple visualscripting to create a complete Tower Defense game with enemies attacking in wavesWe then finish off the game with custom menus and a Heads Up display. Thefinal step is to release your game into the world and give others the excitementof playing itWhat this book coversChapter 1, Augmenting the udk, introduces us to the UDK and helps us create ourgameplay environment out of nothing but making use of CSG and briefly touchingon Kismet to create third-person gameplayChapter 2, Tower Defense, teaches us how to implant the basic gameplay for ourproject making use of Kismet to spawn enemies, and how to create spawnabletowers in the game world making use of prefabs