Build Your First Game

Game Design and Development with Unreal Engine

About the Class

Step inside the world of game development and create something of your own. In this beginner-friendly class, you’ll learn the basics of Unreal Engine, the same tool used to build many of today’s top games. Each session mixes guided lessons with time to experiment, so you’ll finish with a small playable game and a big sense of accomplishment.

The class is designed for high school students, but it’s open to anyone ages 13 and up, including adults who are curious to try game development for the first time. No prior experience is required, but students will need to bring a laptop capable of running Unreal Engine (Mac or PC). You can check the system requirements and download Unreal Engine here.

Homeschool students who take this class along with Build Your First App can count the two together as one credit of computer science if they attend the full semester. A syllabus is available for that purpose; contact us to request a copy before the class begins.

Why Come?

🎮 Learn the fundamentals of Unreal Engine
🧩 Build your own playable game from scratch
💡 Work alongside other aspiring creators
🏆 Gain real skills for future projects or portfolios

Location:

Bletchley Commons
411 University Ridge
Greenville, SC 29601

Course Details
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When:
Wednesdays
Jan 14 - Apr 29
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Start:
4:30 PM
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End:
5:30 PM
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Where:
411 University Ridge

Course Outline

Build a Simple Playable World

Start with a small starter level and learn how to move, jump, look around, and interact with the world.

Learn basic navigation, the Unreal interface, and how character movement works.

Game Environments

Build the terrain, add props, move objects, and design your own mini scene.

Learn how to place actors, sculpt landscapes, and use the Unreal content browser.

Game Mechanics with Blueprints

Make doors open, platforms move, or lights switch on when the player gets close.

Learn the fundamentals of Unreal’s Blueprint visual scripting system.

Build a Collect-the-Coins Game

Build collectible items, sound effects, and a simple scoring system.

Learn collisions, triggers, pickup logic, and basic UI elements.

Puzzle and Obstacle Challenges

Design buttons that activate platforms or gates to make a starter puzzle game.

Learn Blueprint events, timelines, and interactive game elements.

Third-Person Adventures

Customize a third-person controller and design a small adventure zone.

Learn character animation, camera settings, and third-person movement.

Power-Up Abilities

Give your character a cool ability like sprint, dash, double-jump, or slow-motion mode.

Learn Blueprint functions, variables, and ability logic.

Enemies and Moving Hazards

Add simple enemies or moving obstacles that chase, patrol, or block the player.

Learn how basic game AI works, including how to set up paths and behaviors for characters that move on their own.

Design Health and Respawn System

Design health bars, damage zones, and a way to respawn after losing.

Learn UI widgets, player states, and damage events.

Create a Mini Platformer Level

Use platforms, jumps, hazards, and collectibles to build your own short platforming course.

Learn level design basics, challenge pacing, and environment layout.

Sound, Music, and Ambience

Give your game life with background music, footsteps, impacts, and environmental audio.

Learn audio cues, attenuation, and sound triggers.

Visual Effects and Particle Systems

Add sparks, glows, dust, fire, or magic effects to your world.

Learn Niagara basics and how to attach effects to objects and actions.

Create a Simple NPC or Dialogue Moment

Add a non-player character with simple dialogue or interaction prompts.

Learn interactable actors, UI prompts, and Blueprint communication.

Build a Playable Mini-Game of Your Choice

Choose from templates like a maze, a race, a chase, a shooter, or a puzzle and customize it deeply.

Learn how to combine multiple concepts from earlier weeks.

Game Showcase Day

Share your playable mini game, explain what you built, and play each other’s creations.

Learn how to talk about game design and celebrate your progress.

Register To Attend

Please see the course requirements and dates above before registering to attend. If you have multiple attendees, please sign them up separately.

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