How can I learn C++ with UE4?

[sylvain_l]

I’m just a hobbyist, and I can only share what’s worked/is working for me

@Yawzheek;571982

I have to be honest though, I wanted to ask the same question weeks ago.

It’s just boring as all get out learning C++ with console I/O or reading files over and over. It would be a lot funner if, “the basics” could be recreated in UE, and even help learn the engine as well. I mean, even a simple for loop iterating over a boundary would be funner if you could actually watch “pretty” graphics throw it on the screen, you know?

yep I agree, the “bottom-up” way isn’t the fancier. But At the end it often help to shape your mind/practice in a good way.

problem is part in your mind because you associate
visual = looks great = I’m proud of what I’m looking at/making = it’s fun
text/console = looks boring/awfull = I’m boring/bored/awfull = it’s crappy/awfull

try to put away that.
try to stop to overvalue the graphics/visuals.

if it can help, remind yourself, that some of the greatest features available in games have nothing to do with the fancy visual:

• networking ! (it’s all about data, how to send them between computer, etc… Internet, LAN party wouldn’t exist without that)
• I/O : no way to have a game without interactivity ! (keyboard & mouse inputs, kinect,… and feedback to user like sounds or just a score on the screen)
• files (write/read), imagine if we couldn’t save files or read them, how could we save the game, or even get the fancy graphic from the files on the HD to the screen

if you can’t change your mind on the fancy appeal; go for playing directly with UE4 or with modding already existing games, there are tons of youtube vids to learn to do a lot of things.
It’s also possible to learn from a more “top-down” perspective. having to deal with the fancy effect/visual and all the things at once can be a challenge to really understand what is involved without getting lost. But some of the great game creator have learn first modding other games.

Also an important part of programming, is just to shape your mind into “problem solver” mode.
It’s about learning to recognize pattern of problem and which pattern of solution are best to solve them. It’s just about practicing that a lot. and learn that bugs and failure are the way to success and that you’ll never end to learn

**
At the end, you are the only one to know what’s best for yourself, try different method if necessary, and take those which works best for you.

last comment: try to know if you want to really program games or design games. that’s kinda two different things.**

re-re-edit

I forget the playing way. today there are more and more game that are about learning by playing

• human ressource (a little game about algorithm solving puzzle)
• tis-100
• and there also game to learn javascript (couldn’t get the name, lost in my wishlist on steam)