I have no Programming Skills

I just saw an ad for URE and thought I’d check it out. I have no coding training. The ad said I would be able to use this with out coding skills. Is this true? I don’t mind putting in the work to learn this engine. But is it truly drag and drop for those who don’t code and able to build the game we want? Thanks in advance!

Blueprints ARE a programming language of sorts, so you can’t expect to make a full game without any coding knowledge, but blueprints are much simpler to learn as code is represented in a more visual manner. This may sound harsh, but: Creating a production quality game is NOT a simple task, I have 4 years of experience in computer programming, and am still not comfortable of embarking on a solo game project, as I know how difficult it can be. If you are not willing to put in several years of effort (less if you are already experienced) in order to make a game come to life, you will just give up in a few months from now when you are stuck on a problem that takes weeks to solve.

Just have realistic expectations, and prepare for failure (and success), because that is what programming is all about. I have tutored several people so far in programming, and a majority of them have given up and quit (Don’t worry, I didn’t scare them away lol), so my advice is to not give up if you start learning to program. Great challenges come with great rewards, remember that!

lol are they really running ads like that? Where did you see this ad, any screenshot?
Only reason they’d run ads of such lie is if Tencent isn’t happy with results so far.

Here’s a screenshot. Haha too good to be true I guess!

I have actually been developing with GameSalad which is drag and drop. But if this is programming heavy I definitely don’t have the time to learn it. It’s not that I get weak in the knees it’s just the reality of my situation. Maybe one day I will learn to program or maybe I will learn a little but at a time each day. I’ll just stick with that I got for now then.

Hi Motorcycle Boy,
I had the same thoughts as you prior to downloading the engine, and what i would say is that the Blueprint system for me so far has been excellent.
Even though I have only managed to implement some mechanics and features (more due to my time constraints and work) there has not really been any issue which has totally stopped progress.
As is said above, pluck away at Unreal when you can and persevere. Before you know it you will feel much more confident and competent using the editor.

I believe Unreal has provided a crash course video for C++ programming. Just run through it, make some coffee.

I think the add is trying to say “no C++” required.
If you learn Blueprints, you’ll become a coder too. It’s visual, but as said above, it’s a programming language too.

Lol, time for me to email the UE4 marketing team and make a complaint about that ad.

It’s not a programming language. It’s a visual scripting language.

C++ is a programming language.

That’s incorrect, here is the definition of a ‘Visual Programming Language’, which blueprints are:

The AD is still misleading though. There are important things that Blueprints still can’t do.

One of the most important thing is having no in-game input-key change option. Which is well, a must for maaaaany games.

You can make almost everything with blueprints though, it got a point.

Yes but even something like that can be made in just a few minutes in C++, but I see your point.

The UE4 docu begs to differ - Blueprints Visual Scripting in Unreal Engine | Unreal Engine 5.3 Documentation

Notice at the top - ‘Visual Scripting Language’

It’s not a programming language. Everything you call in Blueprints has already been coded in C++, it’s just exposed to the Blueprint scripting engine. It’s not a programming language. Sorry.

Just like Unrealscript wasn’t a programming language - it was a scripting language.

Yea but C++ is a programming language and since it is used in Blueprint nodes I can see them calling Blueprints a programming language even though they aren’t that in the end. I wouldn’t called it a script either though but that is what they call it so what can we do.

Yes but programming languages are made by other programming languages and so on, the further down the hierarchy, the more restrictions that language has.

It’s not a programming language. Simple as that.

You can’t use it in any context outside of the unreal engine. Go look at what you can do with a real programming language like C/C++, Java, C#, Python, etc…

The only thing you can do with Blueprint is script gameplay in UE4. It is not a programming language.

IMHO The best of both worlds is to know C++ and Blueprints but then you CAN program a game in blueprints only if you do not need special code. It is when you need to deviate away form the standard game mechanics that you will eventually find yourself needing it.

So far I have just been brain storming concepts but already can see some things are going to function better in C++ and I prefer C++ or assembly over any scripting language.

C? C++, JAVA?!? C#(really?), Pythffwhat? pff
real programming languages? w.t.f…

sigh :rolleyes:
Here we go again; the story of Mel, a ‘real programmer’…
Datamation magazine, 1983:

*P.s: since you are a real programmer I’m sure you are proficient as much as Mel and that talk about C++ scripting being a programming language was a joke, right?! Every real programmer knows that C is for teens to play around and C++ is stuff for minor children having their first contact with a PC; to be a man they gonna learn real programming later, of course!
And of course you knew the story. Hell, I’m no real programmer and even I know the legend…

I never understood the snobbish attitude some programmers have with regards to choice of language. A language is a tool, plain and simple, and there are reasons why higher level languages like Java and C# are popular and it’s not because they’re easier for idiots to use. I started with Java and later moved to C, and you know what? It’s not that hardcore. Took me a bit of effort to get to grips as I had to learn more about how memory is used, but not much.

Back in the early days, before concepts such as object orientation, software was generally simple enough that you could expect one or two guys to write it in a few months. Then you had your star programmer, like Mel in 's story. He would use some cryptic low-level language and basically disappear behind mountains of coffee cups, churning out black magic that nobody else could hope to understand but would run amazingly well.

That was great then, but we live in an age now where software has grown in complexity to the extent where you can’t rely on one guy to do it all. Often it involves multiple components running across different platforms. You no longer program for a specific machine, but hundreds of potential configurations and driver types.

Speed of execution is no longer the one and only requirement for software, other factors such as ease of supporting the software, extending it and maintaining strict coding standards when working with large teams are now equally important. It’s no good having software that runs ultra fast if it only works with one system configuration and only one person on Earth has the knowledge to modify and extend it.

Languages like Java still need skill to implement. There are still a hundred ways to mess something up and one or two ways to do it the fast and efficient way. It still requires a logical mind to design and build components, and intimate knowledge of the language to implement. You may not need the same intimacy with the hardware, but since knowing a particular processor is now largely useless due to the variety of platforms your software must run on that’s not really a disadvantage. The exception of course is writing driver software, which is where someone like Mel would still fit in.

In short, snobbery over programming languages is daft. They all have their uses for particular situations with pros and cons. You wouldn’t write UE4 in assembly language because that would be like constructing the empire state building using hammer and nails instead of a crane.