Week 16 - Project Update #6: Output, Download, & Takeaways

Week Overview

Project Update #6: Output, Download, & Takeaways

🎉We've reached the finish line! This week, I finished off my final project for my independent study and so my journey as documented on this blog has come to an end. However, I'll still keep learning of course so my journey itself is it not over yet!

I've had a lot of fun in this study learning about a new language and how I can utilize Unreal to my advantage by leveraging both C++ and Blueprint languages together.

The final project files for this independent study are publicly available and can be downloaded from here. These files are a zipped version of the project and will need to have their source code recompiled. For a larger zip file containing the entire project folder (doesn't need to be recompiled), please use this link instead.

The modules I've completed this week along with some overview shots of the maps I've created can be seen below. Next, I'd like to talk about some takeaways I have after completing this independent study.

Takeaways

This study has taught me that I can learn new languages with ease when I put my mind to it. C++ is a compiled language, which was a step away from the dynamic runtime feel of Python that I'm used to, but as I had experience with Blueprint scripting, thankfully it didn't feel too foreign.

I've been an Unreal nerd for the past few years now, and seeing the engine flourish as it does when you're able to combine the use of both Blueprint & C++ in order to maximize the advantages of each was a real treat, and I'm looking forward to being able to put it to good use in future projects. I think that as I've advanced in my studies at RIT, it's been advantageous to keep in mind the idea of reverse engineering one's future, and this independent study has certainly helped me to do so, as I believe it has helped me both to fill a gap in my Unreal knowledge as well as get accustomed to working with coded languages in real-time game & render engines.

Additionally, although I had a pretty firm grasp of the essentials of Object-Oriented Programming already, I feel it was useful to go over a few design paradigms and best practices when working with OOP in order to help cement them in my brain and allow me to start using them on a daily basis. As someone who is quite organized in their everyday life, OOP is a method of programming that both makes sense to me and helps me feel that my code can be more secure, extensible, and reusable for use in future projects.

All in all, I've really enjoyed my experience in this independent study and feel it's been time well spent. I'm excited to continue down this path of learning and I'm excited for what's next!

Project Progress

Click on images to open them in a larger view.
Jump to:
- General
- C++ Basics Map
- Object-Oriented Design Map
- Unreal Applications Map

General - Jump to Top

While I made no significant progress in general this week, I have finished the project itself. The project files are publicly available for download and perusal above.

C++ Basics Map - Jump to Top

No progress has been made on this map this week, but here are some overview shots:

Object-Oriented Design Map - Jump to Top

No progress has been made on this map this week, but here are some overview shots:

Unreal Applications Map - Jump to Top

I finished off my third and final content map this week, along with the project! This week centered around some of the more advanced topics, finishing off my Class Setup section and working through the C++ to Blueprint & Back as well as Miscellaneous sections. The modules I completed are listed below.
Class Setup