Spectator Drawing Tool
Hey everyone!
We realized we haven’t yet highlighted one of our favorite features in Smelogs Playground the paint/drawing tool available in the Spectator UI! While it’s been in the game for some time, we wanted to properly introduce it and share why we think it’s such a game-changer for analyzing matches.
What does it do?
- Works during live spectating and in replays: Perfect for breaking down strategies or analyzing key moments.
- Client-side only: Your drawings are currently visible only to you, but we’re considering an option to let others see them in the future.
- A full palette: Draw with any player color, plus white and black, for clear and versatile annotations.
- Easy cleanup: There’s a delete/clear all button to quickly reset your canvas.
- In-game and in 3D space: Unlike traditional tools that are limited to 2D overlays, our solution works directly in the 3D environment of the playground, giving you complete freedom to annotate the battlefield itself.
Why is this important?
Many commentators and analysts in other games rely on third-party tools to draw over a static screen, which can feel limiting. With Smelogs Playground, you’re not tied to a fixed perspective or external software. The entire playground becomes your canvas, allowing for deeper insights and more engaging explanations during both live matches and replays.
How did we do it?
We use a material with a render target texture, in a simple Blueprint we track the cursor’s position and draw lines based on the selected color on the texture. The texture/material on a plane in 3D space above the Playground ground.
- Line thickness: It’s currently fixed but could be made adjustable in the future.
- Room to grow: We’re exploring new features, like shared drawings, more tools, and enhanced customization options, based on community feedback.
Your Feedback Matters
We’re proud of how intuitive and useful this tool has become, but there’s always room to improve!
If you’ve used the drawing tool, we’d love to hear about your experience. What additional features would make it even better for you?
Let us know ! Your ideas will help us shape the future of Smelogs Playground. 