Getting Started in Unreal

The Data Arena runs a custom version of Unreal Engine for Linux. All our staff are new to Linux so this has been an exciting learning process for us. Here you can find some of the steps we took to get acquainted with Unreal Engine and some of the projects we have worked on within it. This guide is just the steps we took and is not the only approach one can take to this learning. We hope these steps will help you get started.

Level Creation Basics

To get you started, the following tutorial series will walk you through creating an office space within Unreal using supplied assets.

These videos are great for getting a feel for how to move around Unreal Engine and incorporates a lot of shortcuts that will be handy in the future for your work. Even if architectural work isn't in your plans for Unreal this is a great simple place to get started.

Blueprint Basics

Unreal Engine makes use of a node-based system for its programming. While traditional C++ is an option, the node system is very approachable for both veterans and people new to coding. If you are new to coding, you may find it helpful to brush up on some basics before jumping in, as the concepts are still the same as traditional coding.

The linked tutorial series covers the basics of Blueprints, Unreal's method of coding. These start with basic concepts then quickly ramp up and are a great way to get to know your options. After you have a handle on these, looking at a practical example can be helpful. I found the concepts this tutorial covered interesting:

This tutorial will move fast but covers aspects of making a functioning blueprint you may not have considered when starting out.

This page will continue to be updated as we learn more, we hope you'll stay tuned