It’s been six years since I dreamed up Infamous Delights…

…and since then I’ve completely lost the Unity source code for Up the Tower, my VR game I was learning Unity with and developing at the same time. But looking back, it was probably for the best. I’ll be honest. I was proud about it for maybe a month or so, but I quickly realized just how basic and newbish my first attempt was. I faced the truth of it, that it was not something I could devote enough of my time to learning and evolving. On top of that, what I was really wanting to learn how to develop in, was Unreal Engine. Back then, I knew it was going to be the game engine that could deliver the most realistic environments. But just being inside the Unreal Editor for a mere 5 minutes was so overwhelming that I … quickly closed it and forgot all about it. That is … until now.

[Please allow time for all the pictures to download in the gallery… each one is nearly 4k!]

I am still determined to learn Unreal Engine and to master the ins and outs of game design and world building. I have so many creative ideas for gaming that pop into my head daily. And I’m certainly not getting younger, so about 2 weeks ago I finally loaded up the latest Unreal Engine version 5.3.2. Found a handful of youtube tutorials and dove in head first.

This is the time, yes, this is the right time to begin that journey. I’ve been slowly learning and mastering 3D modeling in Blender for almost 2 years now. And I have become stunningly proficient in it’s usage, including the key-combo shortcuts that have morphed it from a slow burn (and eventual burn *out*) to times where even I couldn’t believe how quickly I was able to accomplish creating a new 3D model from scratch. You see, I had recently bought some nice filament 3D printers, and I knew how incredibly useful it would be for me and my dreams of starting an IoT company. Many prototypes could quickly be built on-site, with protective cases, clips, etc.. all 3D modeled by yours truly. And thus, it was absolutey imperative that I learn Blender just so I’d have that ability going forward. I do wish I would sit down and force myself to learn more, such as rigging characters, making respectably long animations, and mastering fire and water simulations (rather than just dabbling in them). But, if I wait to even attempt to tackle my dreams until I am a master in all of these disciplines, well, let’s just say the chance grows larger and larger as the years pass by that I won’t get to ultimately tackle them since building that foundation of knowledge took longer than expected. So, pick your battles, right. Well, I finally mustered up the courage and determination – I have made more inroads to achieving my Unreal dreams in the past few weeks than I have in the entire 6 years since I first posted about my Unity VR endeavor.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have a ways to go. But the progress I’ve begun in building this Unreal foundation of knowledge in such a short time is … both terrifying and exhilarating!

Oh! I almost forgot! (heh, not really, I’m just finally getting to the actual ‘content’ this long-winded ‘article’ was created to be a vehicle for… )… I have pictures to share with you of my first, and most amazing thus far, Unreal successes. I’m starting out just getting familiar with the ropes. But with results that look like this – and look even MORE amazing in motion! – I cannot put it off any longer.

I will ultimately become a master at Unreal Engine 5.3.2.

Infamous is finally ready to enjoy his ‘delights’ once again!