Constructing Levels in UE5

Name: Constructing Levels in UE5
Author: Ken Geary

Overview of level template, building, and streaming levels

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Course: On-Demand

Hello, welcome to this lesson in Unreal Engine. In this lesson, we will learn about the many level templates available in Unreal Engine. By starting with these level templates you can modify and build on them, create your own game or explore all the components and blueprints as part of your self-learning experience. You'd also bring these level template components into your own project as you need. Start by launching Unreal Engine 5. The left column of icons list various level template categories. This includes your recent projects, games, film/video & live events, architecture and automotive product design & manufacturing. Let's first explore the games category. a thumbnail image appears on the right with a brief explanation of what the level template consists of. We will explore some of the more common level templates for each category. The first person template, set your character in a point of view from what the character sees. New to Unreal Engine 5, this template has a function where you can walk around and select a weapon to use. (gun shooting) The weapon shoots spheres that react to other objects used in the physics system built in to Unreal Engine. The top down template is similar to the third person template except you control the third person character by clicking an area you want to move to. The vehicle template simulates the physics of an actual vehicle, includes a head up display, or HUD, displaying current vehicle speed and gear. The film/video & live events category, you have a blank template, virtual production, DMX, and InCamera VFX. The virtual production template allows you to enable virtual cameras, including feeding in SDI video if you have the proper capture card. The DMX template allows you to connect to DMX lighting commands to allow lifelike previsualization of live shows. InCamera VFX allows you to set up a virtual studio using physical LED backgrounds with overlayed 3D real time elements. In the architecture category, again, we have a blank template, archvis, hololens viewer, design configurator, collab viewer, and handheld AR. Archvis focuses on pre-visualization of architecture project using models imported from a data smith plugin. This is closer to a 2D approach for quick visualizations. The design configurator allows interactive toggling between designs and animation sequences. In your automotive category, you again have a blank template, photo studio, collab viewer, product configurator, hololens viewer, and handheld AR. The photo studio template showcases cinematic views of your automotive or product design. You can import your CAD designs using the data smith plugin. The product configurator template allows users to swap the provided model with their own assets. As you can see in this brief overview, there are enough ready made templates in Unreal Engine to get you started in any project type you need to create. In the next lesson, we're going to learn how to build levels in Unreal Engine. Thanks for watching.

Intermediate Provider : Ken Geary 3 Lessons · 22m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

In these lessons, you’ll review the many level templates available in Unreal Engine 5, use the Cube Grid modeling tool to rapidly build levels, and utilize level streaming to dynamically load and unload assets during gameplay.

Unreal Engine 5 comes with many level templates to choose from depending on what category you need to work with such as Games, Archviz, Video Production, Live Events and Product Design. We will explore the most popular templates for use in your projects. Level layout or “gray boxing” is a rapid way to create levels before adding assets created in other apps. The Cube Grid modeling tool places a flat grid in your level that you can quickly extrude shapes from as well as cut out sections for doors and windows with just a few clicks. We’ll also explore level streaming and how to add a streaming level volume to your level to trigger what assets will load and unload when crossed, a technique designed to maintain a game’s high frame rate.

What You'll Learn

Utilize Unreal Engine 5 level templates across categories such as Games, Archviz, Video Production, Live Events, and Product Design
Build levels rapidly using the Cube Grid modeling tool to extrude shapes and cut out doors and windows
Design levels through layout or "gray boxing" before adding assets created in other apps
Set up level streaming using a streaming level volume to load and unload assets during gameplay
Maintain a high frame rate by triggering which assets load and unload when a streaming volume is crossed

Key Takeaways

Unreal Engine 5 includes many level templates organized by category, including Games, Archviz, Video Production, Live Events, and Product Design.
The Cube Grid modeling tool places a flat grid in the level from which you can quickly extrude shapes and cut out sections for doors and windows with just a few clicks.
Level layout, or "gray boxing," is a rapid way to create levels before adding assets made in other applications.
Level streaming uses a streaming level volume to trigger which assets load and unload when it is crossed, a technique designed to maintain a high frame rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this course cover?

It covers reviewing the level templates available in Unreal Engine 5, using the Cube Grid modeling tool to rapidly build levels, and using level streaming to dynamically load and unload assets during gameplay.

Which lessons are included?

The course includes three lessons: Level Templates, Level Building, and Level Streaming.

What is the Cube Grid modeling tool used for?

The Cube Grid modeling tool places a flat grid in your level that you can quickly extrude shapes from, as well as cut out sections for doors and windows with just a few clicks.

Why is level streaming useful?

Level streaming lets you add a streaming level volume that triggers which assets load and unload when it is crossed, a technique designed to maintain a game's high frame rate.

What skills are associated with this course?

The associated skills include Level Editor, Rendering, Unreal Blueprint, UnrealScript, Unreal Development Kit, and Unreal Engine.