Hey there! It’s been over two months since my last update. I wasn’t able to immerse myself in gamedev education quite as much as I would have liked (I’m always competing with my day job), but I’m happy to say I have kept up my classes and I have made progress!

I’m taking a Udemy course on Unreal Engine using C++. The course isn’t quite as stellar as I’d hoped, but it’s good enough, and it’s a far sight better than trying to navigate the vast gamedev jungle on my own. I definitely feel like I’m learning things I’ll be able to use later when I make my own games.

I hit a mini milestone of sorts yesterday: Through the course content, I implemented the ability to pick things up & throw them around the room! It doesn’t sound like much, but it felt pretty cool. Unreal Engine does so much for you, it’s easy to make use of one feature after another without really feeling like you’re the one doing anything. This, on the other hand, required more behind-the-scenes construction and manipulation of framework components. I’ve barely scratched the surface, but I can already see how I’ll be able to expand on what I’ve learned to build more sophisticated features.

Some people might wonder why I chose a course focused on C++ instead of Blueprint. The short answer is that I used to be a professional C++ developer. I haven’t used C++ since around 2001 when my career took a turn towards C# (and no regrets there, C# is a great language). Coming back to C++ after all this time feels kind of like coming home. Everything still feels familiar and comfortable. I had to rummage around a bit to re-learn some ideas that used to be second nature, and there are even a few new language features. Overall, though, it’s been great. It also helps that Epic Games has put together a fantastic framework. Their tools expand on the native capabilities in C++ without making it feel like you’re using some kind of over-proprietary, mutant version of the language.

If you’re just starting out on your gamedev journey as well, let me know! Post a comment below and include a link to your blog, twitter account, YouTube channel, etc. I’d love to see your work!

Thanks for reading!

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