Hi guys, I’m a newbie to UE4. I had this idea for a story-based game. It wouldn’t work well as a typical visual novel, since a bit more lively animation is needed in this game. I thought about using RPG Maker for this game, but I didn’t feel like I would get my story across as well with that engine. So, I decided to try UE4.
My question is, where do I even begin with scripting for this game? This type of game relies on player choices, and different choices can change where the story is going to go. So where do I start? How do I make the engine remember the player choices?
Any help or advice for getting started would be great. Thanks!
A Visual Novel is Text-based Interactive Fiction (IF) with Graphics. I hope your intention is to produce one in 3D (maybe even VR as its limited movement schemes are perfect for Visual Novels in my opinion). Have you ever written and completed a text-based branching IF? IF not, I recommend doing so before even jumping into the UE4 engine. This will help you figure out how you want to handle branching narrative and dialog, data storage (datatables) and even the game mechanics.
I’m using IF approach to developed the narrative/dialog for ExORION FTPS. From my perspective, its logical to use a IF for 3D game with branching narrative. I was introduced to a text-based IF scripting language from ChoiceOfGames.com a few years back. I wrote my first Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) (which is the bases for ExORION). As a Solo Game Developer, I actively seek user mediate and procedural generative (AI) content creation systems I can implement in my design and workflow. There are a few Proc IF Generators out there like Versu.
Novels, Narratives, Dialogues are all about Text (or vocalized Text) from my perspective. I love books and audiobooks, so even though my game is real-time action, I incorporate a means in my game design to translate input/output and events from the gameplay into text. and text can be converted in audio vocals. This is actually very easy to do, for text output, think of it as simply printout a function call to a log, for input using a input prompt to feed into string *switch *construct to parse word commands to fire specific events.
I’m very interested in a Blueprints-based Conversation Interactive Story System. Do you have any plans to develop those? BTW, what bb codes did you use to link your image in the signature? I’ve been struggling to get images to link on my post.
This may be of interest. Just found the Link a Visual Novel: Home’s Embrace, in which all the Voice Acting was performed by a member our game studio (headlesstudios.com).
In regards to the Conversation Plugin, I exclusively use Blueprints for Gameplay and C++ Plugins for functionality not exposed to Blueprints. Its the reason for the inquiry on a Blueprints-based Convo Interactive System. Although, I’m not developing an Endless Runner that package does spark my interest.
H o l y s m o k e s,
Just figured out the url can be set in the image properties with that icon. I’ve been overlooking it the whole time. Thank you again.
I would start with the basics, there are a lot of free resources in UE4 channel. After you dig a little deeper then you will have a better idea on how to do it
