Master Unreal - Unrealscripting

[Nysuatro]

Hey everybody.

I am thinking about buying the unrealscriptbook.
http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Unreal-Technology-III-Introduction/dp/0672330822/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

But I wanted to be sure this is a good idae for UDK.
I guess there is not much difference with previous versions of unrealengine.

Greetz

EDIT: Ow srry, just found out that the book hasnt released yet. SO I guess its a recent book :D Thx anyway

Nysuatro

[Solid Snake]

I guess there is not much difference with previous versions of unrealengine.Unreal Engine 1 and 2 weren't that different, but Unreal Engine 3 is a completely different beast.

[FrozenDozer]

Uhm what? He isn't talking about Unreal Engine 1, 2 and 3.
He is talking about UT3 Enginebuild and UDK Enginebuild (which has quite some differences, but not really in UnrealScript)

[Nysuatro]

ok, thanks for the replyes

[Solid Snake]

FrozenDozerI don't know, I guess when someone asks me what the differences are between versions of Unreal Engine, I tend to think 1, 2 and 3 rather than UT3 and UDK.

[decko]

When you look at the table of contents of the book (http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/toc/0672330822/ref=dp_toc/191-5393798-7633451?ie=UTF8&n=916520) you will see that the headlines are almost identical to the official unrealscript reference (http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/UnrealScriptReference.html). So if you understand everything in the reference, the book probably isn't of much use.

[ffejnosliw]

When you look at the table of contents of the book (http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/toc/0672330822/ref=dp_toc/191-5393798-7633451?ie=UTF8&n=916520) you will see that the headlines are almost identical to the official unrealscript reference (http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/UnrealScriptReference.html). So if you understand everything in the reference, the book probably isn't of much use.
I would have to say that is a gross over-generalization. If you understand everything about UnrealScript, then perhaps the book will not help you very much (though I am sure there are some things in it that would help just about anyone). But, very few people would probably claim to know everything about UnrealScript. Just because the topics are the same (and they almost have to be since it is a book covering the language versus a document covering the language) doesn't mean they contain identical information. If they did, we never would have written the book. It would have been pointless.

The topics in the examples are varied and cover more than just the basics of the language. Writing mutators, creating new AI, creating new gametypes, creating new Kismets actions and events, using replication, creating weapon modifications, creating a sentry turret from scratch, creating UIs...these are hardly things covered in the UnrealScript Reference document. I'm not telling anyone to get the book or not. I gain nothing either way. But let's not misrepresent what it contains simply by glancing briefly at the table of contents.

[The Wanderer]

Besides, the reference guide is about 60ish pages, the paperback book is 900+. Either they used worlds biggest font or there is indeed a lot more in it.
My bet is on the latter.

[decko]

I would have to say that is a gross over-generalization. If you understand everything about UnrealScript, then perhaps the book will not help you very much (though I am sure there are some things in it that would help just about anyone). But, very few people would probably claim to know everything about UnrealScript. Just because the topics are the same (and they almost have to be since it is a book covering the language versus a document covering the language) doesn't mean they contain identical information. If they did, we never would have written the book. It would have been pointless.

The topics in the examples are varied and cover more than just the basics of the language. Writing mutators, creating new AI, creating new gametypes, creating new Kismets actions and events, using replication, creating weapon modifications, creating a sentry turret from scratch, creating UIs...these are hardly things covered in the UnrealScript Reference document. I'm not telling anyone to get the book or not. I gain nothing either way. But let's not misrepresent what it contains simply by glancing briefly at the table of contents.

Of course the book is much more detailed than the reference. I am just saying that if you are new to UnrealScript, you will do just as fine reading about variables and functions in the book, as in the reference document.
I am not saying you will master unrealscript by reading the reference, but this is seldom the point when you are learning something new.

On another note, I would say that it is too bad that nor the TOC neither the description of the book reveals that the book covers ai, sentry guns and what not, as I am sure a lot of people would be interested in this.

[RJM74]

I noticed that the book is titled "Introduction to Unreal Script". Maybe they will do the same for the Unreal Script books as they have done for Level Design books and further down the line produce an Advanced book also.

[Braintree]

Does anybody know if the Introduction to UnrealScript book will be available before Christmas ?

[Nysuatro]

My other question. Are there tutorials or something unrealscript related tutorials planned by Epic ?

[danimal']

Considering the quality of the other 2 books in the series (they're superb), I'd definitely say get this.

And I utterly disagree with the reference comment. It is VASTLY easier for a new person to learn through tutorials of the type buzz always does. The tutorials in the first two books are excellent, I doubt it'll be any different in the 3rd.

danimal

[DaemonXR]

I will by this book for sure.

[CupcakeMan]

Already got it on order :D

[McTavish]

The second half of the book looks pretty advanced anyway, networking and stuff. I think this book would be a great buy for anyone its not even that expensive. Ill definitely be getting it, I have lots of programming books lying around and there great for referencing to.

[McTavish]

When you look at the table of contents of the book (http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/toc/0672330822/ref=dp_toc/191-5393798-7633451?ie=UTF8&n=916520) you will see that the headlines are almost identical to the official unrealscript reference (http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/UnrealScriptReference.html). So if you understand everything in the reference, the book probably isn't of much use.

P.s. thats a rediculous statement, the UDK Reference your listing here is just a "UnrealScript Language Reference"

Its more like a dictionary or a glossary than anything

[DaemonXR]

I am so sad they postponed publishing for February. I hardly wait to get my hands on this one. I find my self lost here on this site and even on Unreal wiki regarding unrealscript. Even i understand the way object programing work there is no any reference to explain me what i need to know as beginner in this. I read almost all post and even past some tutorials (ie. hourences) i still don't know the basics of this. The relations between classes and so. I am learning C# but cant see any use of that when compare to Uscript. Where and how to check relations between classes in unrealscript. Where to check. In Development/Src/UTgame/Classes or Src/Engine/Classes?
What is worst i dont know how to use UnCodex v237. I will kill myself:D
I dont want to write my own code but to try understand and modify existing one...

[Taxxem]

Buzz does a great job on tutorials. I will give fair warning... Though I have not seen the book it is based off of UT3 not off of UDK. Though unrealscript is unrealscript they may reference classes or functions that do not exist in UDK. So just don't get confused.

[clintonman]

I'm hoping that the book has been delayed because they are updating for UDK. Fingers crossed...

[DaemonXR]

Buzz does a great job on tutorials. I will give fair warning... Though I have not seen the book it is based off of UT3 not off of UDK. Though unrealscript is unrealscript they may reference classes or functions that do not exist in UDK. So just don't get confused.

Heh, well as Dn2 said in StarterGuide thread i just need to find my center whatever that mean:D I have a headache of reading all this i collected here and there:confused:
I am also hoping that they postponed book cause of UDK.......

[ffejnosliw]

I'm hoping that the book has been delayed because they are updating for UDK. Fingers crossed...
I wouldn't get your hopes up too high on that one.

But for those waiting, Epic has made several chapters available in the UnrealScript section here:

http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/UDKProgrammingHome.html

[DaemonXR]

I wouldn't get your hopes up too high on that one.

But for those waiting, Epic has made several chapters available in the UnrealScript section here:

http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/UDKProgrammingHome.html

I already downloaded everything related to udk up to now. Have more than 10GBs of data of vids, docs and pdf in my database. Thnx anyway;)

[AutopsySoldier]

OP, thanks for posting that link!

I ended up purchasing the first book to the series...I almost bought all 3 of them at the same time, lol.....I got stop doing stuff like that.

[Joseph Ferano]

Apparently the book has been pushed back even further. March 8, 2010 according to amazon;

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0672330822/ref=s9_simi_gw_s4_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1EJA63WNZXKSAP1J81TY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

This kind of sucks, but I think that this book may have been pushed back so that it uses UDK as its reference instead of UT3. If that is so, I do not mind the wait. This book is going to be awesome.

[Sir. Polaris]

I preorded the book as well. When I was in school I bought the Mastering Unreal Technology for Level Design (http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Unreal-Technology-Level-Design/dp/0672326922/) to bring up from UT2004 mapping skills from Rainbow Six community mapper to more detailed master. The book was surprisingly gold, it was one of the few books worth it's price and weight cover to back.

I was so pleased with that book I even sold a few to freinds and have now preorderd this copy in hopes that I can get the last aspect of unreal under my belt. (aside from the new sub programs of UE3 editor)

[DaemonXR]

Apparently the book has been pushed back even further. March 8, 2010 according to amazon;

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0672330822/ref=s9_simi_gw_s4_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1EJA63WNZXKSAP1J81TY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

This kind of sucks, but I think that this book may have been pushed back so that it uses UDK as its reference instead of UT3. If that is so, I do not mind the wait. This book is going to be awesome.

I dont really see another reason for delay:)

[DaemonXR]

The UK Amazon still says Feb 28.
Look:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Unreal-Technology-Introduction-UnrealScript/dp/0672330822/ref=/ref=cm_cd_t_pb_i

You know what we should do? Nobody should buy this book anymore and send them e-mails saying: Thanks, but I won't buy this anymore.

This is taking too long!!!! They should release this book for free now, because when the book gets released, Unreal engine 3 will be old tech, and Unrea engine 4 will be out.

Also, why this is the only book for uscript for Unreal 3 that I can find?

You must be aware that nowadays technology can be followed only by big company's and large teams of professionals. If Epic release new engine it will cost big money. I mean BIG! Why they release UE 3 for free for us anyway, what u think?
I am really glad i can play with this to be honest. I doubt i will make world next best video game ever:) but for a hobby and better understanding how things work and to actually make something nice i will go for it.
Anyway maybe they are really tuning book to match with UDK.
After all regarding price of 32 US dollars u get thousand of pages of really valuable material plus full version of UT3. Well, somebody invest a lot of knowledge and time in this. Dont u think same?
And UDK is powerfull engine even if they lounch next gen engine in near future.

[Himura]

Hello,

The books are "compatible" with the UDK???

I thinking to buy the books.

Thanks
regards.

[ffejnosliw]

Hello,

The books are "compatible" with the UDK???

I thinking to buy the books.

Thanks
regards.
Depends on your definition of compatible. The books were all made to work with Unreal Tournament 3. Most of the concepts and material is still applicable to the UDK, but there will be times when we discuss features, functions, etc. that were available in UT3 but are not available in the current UDK build.

[Hyrage]

The UK Amazon still says Feb 28.
Look:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Unreal-Technology-Introduction-UnrealScript/dp/0672330822/ref=/ref=cm_cd_t_pb_i

You know what we should do? Nobody should buy this book anymore and send them e-mails saying: Thanks, but I won't buy this anymore.

This is taking too long!!!! They should release this book for free now, because when the book gets released, Unreal engine 3 will be old tech, and Unrea engine 4 will be out.

Also, why this is the only book for uscript for Unreal 3 that I can find?
Taking too long? Are you sure your time is important? A group of person with the right knowledge finally decided to release a great book about UnrealScript & UDK for the UDK community and you blame them. It takes a lot of time and effort to publish a book and there isn't much information yet about UnrealScript for new comers.

Don't buy it, but I'll certainly do.:o

[AutopsySoldier]

The UK Amazon still says Feb 28.
Look:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Unreal-Technology-Introduction-UnrealScript/dp/0672330822/ref=/ref=cm_cd_t_pb_i

You know what we should do? Nobody should buy this book anymore and send them e-mails saying: Thanks, but I won't buy this anymore.

This is taking too long!!!! They should release this book for free now, because when the book gets released, Unreal engine 3 will be old tech, and Unrea engine 4 will be out.

Also, why this is the only book for uscript for Unreal 3 that I can find?

You're an idiot.

Go ahead and do that, write them an email and tell us how it went.

[eAlex79]

Hmm. I don't really know UT3. I bought a copy for 9 Euro, got cheap, to see what the Engine was "back then". There got Engine functionality removed from UDK that was in UT3? What functionality? I see stuff added and/or changed.. not removed.

And I think, at least at the moment, UDK looks to be what will be Unreal Engine 4.. isn't it? Why would they put things like lightmass to the Engine if development is concentrated on a new engine?

Of course, I guess at some time they will tear off development, UDK get's only fixes then, or no updates at all anymore, while the Engine herselfs goes DX11 or whatever. Or maybe we are lucky and Epic takes UDK users with them and UDK just stays in development and get's all the new stuff.

I think we got the latest at the moment. For free. I guess most of us here are like Betatesters. A few others get the opportunity to make money out of it. *Demanding* books for free now, too.. goes a bit far. At least in my opinion. Sometimes when I read in the UDK forum I think was not such an good idea to mix the UDK forum up into the game forums of Epic...

lol

[Hyrage]

Am I sure my time is important???? What kind of question is this?

Am I blaming the autors of the book? Really???? They finished that book a long time ago, months now. The book is not beeing changed or updated to work with UDK. The book is done.

But let me put this on another way: You want to buy a car. The company that sells the car says that it will be delivery on a certain date, and that you can buy it. Then you go ahead and buy it! But that date comes, and no car. They delay the delivery date. Ok, you think that this is fine, because they give you another delivery date. But that date comes again, and no car. And this keep going, delays over other delays. Are you going to be happy? And remember that you did read the autors saying that the car is done, but you never receive it.





Am I an idiot?? Really? Are you sure that I'm the idiot? I don't insult people that I don't know. So, go ahead and take a look at a mirror, before you start to insulting someone that you don't know.

Write them an e-mail??? Well, hummm... Why didn't I think about that??? Hummm... Of course I sent them an e-mail. So, do you want to know their answer? There was no answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Is your time so important?"

This question is related to your EGO :o, depending on how big it is (Answers: YES = Big, NO = Small). You don't show any respect to the authors of that book, the work they've done, the time and money the required to do the project for us or the time required to publish one of the rare book teaching UnrealScript for UDK.

You could even consider yourself lucky that the release of that book was delayed. It gives you much more time to learn other things, plan a better project, play with your children, take a walk with your dog, satisfy your wife or yourself, play more games, etc... what whatever that is... enjoy your free time ^^.

Be positive dude :cool:

[DaemonXR]

All this that you said so far doesn't have nothing to do with the book or what I said.


Than u r seriously missing the point here:D
But u r wright about constant delays, its not fair. I agree.
But then again, i dont care. I will buy the book when it hit market. I am not in any kind of rush. And oh for 32 US dollars i can drink a eight beers in local disco club m8:D:D:D

[Sir. Polaris]

A 912 page book for 32 USD (28.5 pages per dollar, 0.03c per page) is a great price. Most textbooks are 100 USD and you used them never.

I eat, slept and breathed this book:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZPE6DVmRL._SL160_.jpg (http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0672326922?ie=UTF8&tag=operationflao-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121&creative=390961&creativeASIN=0672326922)

I paid $71.99 CAD (67.76 USD) for that book, at my schools book store, and I read it cover to cover at least 2 times. The amount of time I saved using it as reference when somthing wasn't quite right or I wanted to know about some sub feature was immense. I can only presume the next book will be the same.

[infl1ct1on]

One more thing. You talk like they are doing a favor to all of us. This is bussiness! They set a value to their work and every one will pay for that work!

Oh, I assume that companies can't do us favors just for the reason alone that this is a business? Hmmm according to you, I guess the developers of the Unreal Engine 3 aren't doing us a favor either by releasing the UDK for free because it is a business?

Where is your logic?

[AutopsySoldier]

Oh, I assume that companies can't do us favors just for the reason alone that this is a business? Hmmm guess the developers of the Unreal Engine 3 aren't doing us a favor either by releasing the UDK for free because it is a business.

Where is your logic?

Because they hope to get more people making indie games...which in return is going to give them revenue.

There...it's business.

[infl1ct1on]

Because they hope to get more people making indie games...which in return is going to give them revenue.

There...it's business.

You seem to have misunderstood me :). I obviously know the reason why they made the UDK and I know they are doing my team and everyone else here a HUGE favor by doing so!

I was just wondering why that guy said businesses can not do people favors.

[BigDaz]

Well, lots of people already bought that book when it had its first release date, and they keep delaying to deliver something that people paid with their money. Also, you have to remeber that 32 US dollars are a lot of money in some countries.

I bought the other first two books. And I am glad I didn't bought the volume 3 yet.

Has anyone actually paid for this book in advance? I certainly haven't.

[Danbanna]

I bought the book, and I can't get any of the assets to import with out them crashing, so if you want to use the assets on the CD good luck.

[AutopsySoldier]

I bought the book, and I can't get any of the assets to import with out them crashing, so if you want to use the assets on the CD good luck.

Are you using UnrealEd? Those assets aren't from the UDK.

I bought the first two books and been doing the tutorials with no problems, but in UnrealEd from Unreal Tournament 3

[Maul]

I was about to ask that.. if those books are for the UnrealEd or for UDK... seems like it was good for me not buying them so soon...

I'm just starting and watching those videos from the UDK website which are awesome, I noticed the books are by the same person, Zak guy (sorry if you're reading this Zak I don't remember your full name), I wonder if anyone here who has the books suggest that they are good to learn about UDK or if I'm better skipping them and waiting for any UDK book that exist (?) or that show up in the future ?

Googling around I couldn't find any Unreal books other than that Mastering series and I'm inclined on buying them if they will be useful, which is appearing to be after reading this thread, even though the assets might not import properly...

TIA for anyone who can answer that.

[AutopsySoldier]

I was about to ask that.. if those books are for the UnrealEd or for UDK... seems like it was good for me not buying them so soon...

I'm just starting and watching those videos from the UDK website which are awesome, I noticed the books are by the same person, Zak guy (sorry if you're reading this Zak I don't remember your full name), I wonder if anyone here who has the books suggest that they are good to learn about UDK or if I'm better skipping them and waiting for any UDK book that exist (?) or that show up in the future ?

Googling around I couldn't find any Unreal books other than that Mastering series and I'm inclined on buying them if they will be useful, which is appearing to be after reading this thread, even though the assets might not import properly...

TIA for anyone who can answer that.

I bought the first 2 books...they're awesome...I also watched all those vids you're talking about...the books definitely go into a lot more detail than the vids did.

Also...when you buy the book you get a code to DL Unreal Tournament 3 from Steam for free, which has UnrealEd to follow along with the tutorials.

[Maul]

Awesome man, thanks a lot, I'll buy one of them tomorrow !

I found the one Sir. Polaris mentioned, will take a few weeks to import, time to finish with the videos and play by myself a little, then I'll "eat" that "Art of Level design" :)

This UDK is soo much easier and better than XNA, C++, I almost feel like it was a waste of time to learn all that stuff lol

[FrozenDozer]

I just pre-ordered the third one!

I can't wait, and I really hope this book teaches me unrealscript up from the beginning. Anything else would not be cool because I don't know any other Languages like C++ or Java. This is the first programming for me :D

[BigDaz]

The free Unrealscript videos on 3DBuzz.com are a good introduction to programming while you wait :)

[Sir. Polaris]

Awesome man, thanks a lot, I'll buy one of them tomorrow !

I found the one Sir. Polaris mentioned, will take a few weeks to import, time to finish with the videos and play by myself a little, then I'll "eat" that "Art of Level design" :)

This UDK is soo much easier and better than XNA, C++, I almost feel like it was a waste of time to learn all that stuff lol

Hopefully your talking about this book:
http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51vaMEQov1L._SL500_AA240_.jpg (http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0672330822?ie=UTF8&tag=operationflao-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121&creative=390961&creativeASIN=0672330822)

Thats the one I just bought, the other one is how I refined my skills so I could Pwn Hard as a level designer in UE2.

As for XNA it's a powerful and easy to use system. I could teach anyone here XNA quicker then I am learning unrealScript :D. C# is a rapid programming language and as such it's intelisence and general speed of programming is quick. What you and others touch on is the classic - Do I use a engine prebuilt or build my own?

The question's answer is how much control do you need, how much time do you have and how much money do you have at your disposal. UE3 is great because you don't need to reinvent the wheel each time you go to do anything. Being well supported and widely used allows you to allow pick up talent and merge code with other projects. All the background code, engine optimization and girth that is needed to make a engine a tank - is there.

It however comes at a steep cost. XNA is free and free (al be it need a gold live account) to publish. Your content is playable on all Xboxes and Zunes (pending you made it for it's requirements). C# is a nice and easy language to learn as well and with XNA your forced into classes and object ordinated programming - which is also good. XNA comes with, lets say, 80% of the backround wheel already coded you as well. So with XNA you work on making the game not building frameworks and beating out a engine.

If you really need the control then you need to get down and dirty and code by hand a DX or OpenGL game, a engine doesn't take too long (somthing of unreals scope I would think would take 8 months or so for a team if they knew what you where doing). The problem is that you building somthing 1000's of other people have coded and your not building the game.

So again, the question is - how important is the framework of this "house" to you? How much control do you need? and how quickly does this need to be done? and how much money do you have?

UE3 is a powerful system and with the editor and easy to learn controls and subsystems, it's a worthy choice pending you don't want to get into the guts of the engine or feel the need to "optimize" your self. I dont know how UE3 handles it's girth (size, due to amount of support it provides) - I wonder what the smallest possible deployable size is. That there is also a major problem with prebuilt engines - size.


Has anyone actually paid for this book in advance? I certainly haven't.

I have preorderd the aforementioned book. I need a background in UnrealScript and its for the UE3 engine - thats my requirements.


Because they hope to get more people making indie games...which in return is going to give them revenue.

There...it's business.

There is also a war being fought which epic is a part of, See: PC Gaming Alliance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Gaming_Alliance). As well what better way to fuel a army of future UnrealScript programmers and fill the net with talk and showcases of great mods - then to give us the tools we need to succeed.

[BigDaz]

I have preorderd the aforementioned book. I need a background in UnrealScript and its for the UE3 engine - thats my requirements.


Well yeah I've preordered it too but I haven't paid for it. Sorcerer has claimed many people have already paid for the book but I'm pretty sure nobody has.

[Maul]

@ Sir. Polaris
No I'm really talking about the first one, the Art of level design :

http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Unreal-Technology-Level-Design/dp/0672326922/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264973804&sr=8-1

However I'm actually in doubt about the differences of the book above and this one :

http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Unreal-Technology-Introduction-Design/dp/0672329913/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264973804&sr=8-3


Now in regards do XNA, well I already am a C# developer, did look into the XNA a bit, but seriously, I didn't put much confidence on it, I haven't found decent performance games, and my problem is that I actually don't have the manpower to develop a whole new engine from zero...

Most of what I really expected to do, I saw already developed on UDK, and I'm enjoying it a lot ;) Still need to learn A LOT, and then figure how to change the gameplay from Unreal FPS to the games I wanna make, and get more artists to help me then, cause I've never been good at drawing heh

[Sir. Polaris]

A reminder that first book is for UT2004 (UE2) not UT3 (UE3).

I wouldn't be so sceptical about the quality of the books, there is really little to be "doubted" when it comes to this chain of books. While UE3 (UDK, UT3, Vegas, Gears) are similar to UE2 (UT2004, Rainbow Six) there is profound differences in how scripting, particle effects and physics are now handled. While at it's core I'm sure the code is not far from different how it is interacted with on a editor level is greatly improved. Cascade for starters takes the old emitter actor and cranks it to a whole new level. Kismet allows for easy visual scripting and From what I see a far better Cinematic system.

Everything in 2004 was rough and the menus where annoying and liked to auto close. UE3's editor is much more visual and I feel more robust. You would be foolish to learn the old ways, only to unlearn to get back on track in UE3. The most powerful systems and physics wont even be covered as well.

For me I just need to learn UnrealScript (http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0672330822?ie=UTF8&tag=operationflao-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121&creative=390961&creativeASIN=0672330822) for now.

So anyways, I would advise against it unless you are very poor :D, so much has moved around and changed the book will be of little worth I think, unless your reading only for concepts and nothing into practical use of the editor.

@ XNA
XNA is a framework built over DirectX to help take the redundancy out of making a game, It's true you'll need to build some basic "engine things" but it's so high level compared doing by hand with C++ and DirectX that you should be good to go within months. All you need is the knowledge and the drive you just need to make it happen.

It handles pretty much everything short of giving you a playable FPS demo. As I said in another post, it really boils down to how much control you want. Yes unreal is a AAA title maker, but it doesn't come without it's flaws and it sure doesn't give you the most control :D

[Maul]

Thanks a lot for the tips in regard to the books, I'll be getting the "Introduction to Level Design with Unreal Engine 3" then, and skip the "Art of Level design", I hope my international credit card finally arrives tomorrow... :)

[stuki]

Hi all,

i just found a new book on amazon, anyone got more informations about?

http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1598631489/ref=s9_simi_gw_p14_i4?pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=18E1XJ3BKNR15QDFHRA0&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463375173&pf_rd_i=301128

UnrealScript Game Programming All in One

Description:
UnrealScript Game Programming All in One provides you with an introduction to the basics of UnrealScript, an essential part of the Unreal Tournament game engine. This game engine has been used to develop some of the most popular, most praised games in existence today. If you are new to programming and want to begin with a language that puts you in a position to immediately work with a game, then UnrealScript is ideal. Written to help you develop the fundamental programming skills you need to immediately begin working with modifications to Unreal Tournament, this book offers approximately 70 starter programs designed as beginner-level workarounds to the Unreal Tournament class hierarchy. Get ready to jump into this easy-to-follow guide to programming, UnrealScript, and Unreal Tournament!

Synopsis:
"UnrealScript Game Programming" focuses on providing professionals, students, and hobbyists with a solid grounding in the features and development tasks characteristic of UnrealScript. A comprehensive guide to the features of programming a game, it begins with basic language features and how to set up a primary computing environment for programming and progresses through the construction of a complete, fully function game in Unreal Tournament. "UnrealScript Game Programming" gives readers a welcome alternative to the spotty, incomplete, and inconsistent treatments of basic programming and basic programming features that characterize all other sources of information about UnrealScript

[DaemonXR]

WTF!!! I have some books about programming from Thomson course technology but didnt been aware for existence of this book???

[Sir. Polaris]

I've never been a fan of Thomson Publishing. I would like to know about this book as well if it's any good.

All Thomson books I have ever bought I find dry and lacking of understanding. I'll give it that they cover everything, but never in any detail It seems.

This author as well seems questionable :D, I feel sorry for him only 5% of people on his page buy his book :)

[AutopsySoldier]

I bought Volumes I and II...I haven't started reading Volume II yet...but MAAAAAANN!

I'm finding A LOT of typos on the first one...if the second is just as bad...I don't know if I'll end up getting the third one...I mean, it's going to be a book on UnrealScript...I don't think I want that book full of typos.

[danimal']

You guys do realize you can go read actual chapters of the book for free and see whether you think it teaches you anything useful. I personally think the chapters are fantastic, they teach you stuff you ACTUALLY want to learn, such as the chapter on making a minimap with player locations, making a custom turret class that tracks players, etc. Just saying, rather than speculate you could... you know... go read some chapters and form an opinion? For example:

http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/MasteringUnrealScriptInterfaces.html

And if a few typos preclude you from using a really valuable source that covers things nothing else out there covers... good luck?

[BluePlanetGames]

Looks like the udn is down at the moment.

[AutopsySoldier]

And if a few typos preclude you from using a really valuable source that covers things nothing else out there covers... good luck?

Well...when there's typos in the instructions...and files missing from the DVD, yes...it does make it hard to follow them.

[DaemonXR]

And if a few typos preclude you from using a really valuable source that covers things nothing else out there covers... good luck?

I agree with Danimal! I am not so picky about typos. I have Vol 1&2 and i even didn't notice to much typos. I know what i need to read:D
Secondly i dont care for DVD content. I actually want everything "made by DaemonXR" so dont care for someone assets on dvd. I just need the book to learn.

[danimal']

Well...when there's typos in the instructions...and files missing from the DVD, yes...it does make it hard to follow them.

Just like with ordinary speech, unless the typo is REALLY egregious, you can figure out what someone meant by context. I understand the fear that this would be more problematic with scripting, but it's really not. First, the compiler will tell you: line 81, I don't recognize THIS particular word. Second, the nature of writing code involves a ton of repetition. So even if someone misspelled a variable or a function, it's going to be in multiple places, so if you don't catch it, the compiler will. Someone would literally have to misspell the word consistently for it to be a real problem.

As for files, that's definitely more annoying, but in every lesson I've seen, they mostly just give you either a demo level to do stuff in or provide you with a simplistic object that could be replaced by any existing mesh/actor in the UDK.

I mean I sort of understand it, you paid for a product and would expect it to be error free. But at the same time, people are already creating threads and howling that it's not out. Hence, they rush it. Would you rather wait a few more months to get a 100% error free copy or get your hands on it now? Either wait around a year for a second edition, or wait for someone to write a 100% error free edition you approve of. I personally don't think that's a very good idea, but like I said, good luck with that :)

[gigamaxjur]

well guys, i preordered this book without hesitation, thou i already read the free chapters on epic help pages, i also printed a few, and the preorder price is really cheap, if i would be to print all that stuff i would pay a lot more and also loose time for printing and all, so yeah i will probably know everything about the free chapters be4 the book is released (march 15 is the date amazon will start shipping), but im not douting the book will be great, If you know Jason Buzby history, you already know all his products are simply great!
If i understand correctly this book will not cover UDK changes, and mostly it doesnt have to since changes from ut3 to UDK engine are not big, just a few functions are moved to other classes for optimiziation etc...!
Im sure that one who understands UT3 scripting completely wont have any problems making same stuff work in UDK!
SO i am really looking forward to getting this book :) !
------------------------------------------------------------
UDK tutorials www.unrealphd.com
FREE UDK tutorials:http://www.youtube.com/UnrealPHD
OR:http://www.facebook.com/pages/UnrealPHD/186908166785

[Wraiyth]

I preordered this ages ago and it has been delayed 7 or 8 times. The original date was November last year and its been pushed back from there. I'm probably going to just cancel my preorder, I'm getting an email every 2-3 weeks saying its been delayed. Complete joke if you ask me

[frvge]

It would be delivered to me by 4/5th of May now. Grrr. I'm really thinking about cancelling. Could a US citizen call the publisher and ask wtf is going on?

[FrozenDozer]

Amazon.com says 8th of April ...

Guys, wtf is going on? I hoped to get it THIS month and now I have to wait for another one? WTF IS THIS?

Maybe you could TELL us why it's taking so long. People would be less angry then (including me).

[nish]

hello my name is nish,

i also posted this in the veichle thread as well

i am trying to modify the "cicada" aircraft in ut3 so i can use scripts for a flying ship that i have designed.

Now like allot of people here im not a coder and i really need some help if any one can give me any advice, help or tutorials on understanding/modifying the cicada script, it would be most appreciated.

thank you for your time
nish

[RJM74]

I also ordered this around November time from Amazon along with the other two books. Those both arrived within five days unlike this one. I keep getting emails from Amazon regarding this book saying that the release date has been set back by the publisher. The latest I recieved says May just like Frvge's.

[Hyrage]

The release date of this book is just ridiculous.

[Nysuatro]

Have been waiting since I started this topic, hehe

[LennardF1989]

No offense to anyone, but I've said it before and will say it again: The book is not going to learn you more than the average programming book.

Pick up this one: http://www.amazon.com/Java-Beginners-Guide-4th-Ed/dp/0072263849
Read it, try it and you'll know Java, C# AND UnrealScript at the same time.

Getting the hang of UnrealScript doesn't lie in the syntax but how the structure works and the only way to find that out is by messing with it. Heck, I started completely blank on UnrealScript two years ago with just basic programming skills and I sure found my way around without needing any book about UnrealScript. All you need to learn is what calls what and when gets called when (like events).

EDIT:
And I really recommend the book in the link above, it's very thick (about 700 pages) and treats you like a noob but with respect (lots of examples and questions). It's perfect to pick up Java first and evolve that into C# and UnrealScript (really, the syntax is very similiar). You can read parts from it overhere: http://books.google.nl/books?id=Ctp0L7t1lB4C&dq=java+herbert+schildt+beginners&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=nl&ei=NzOUS5uDMMTTjAee7dn-Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Note that a language is just syntax, how you use it is the same for any other.

[Makaze]

I'm going to have to disagree. While most of the example chapters tend to walk you through admittedly basic programming concepts that you can learn any where in any language. They do so using real world problems in the unreal engine, things that you may actually put into a game, and take you from a blank file to a fully implemented feature in game. Heck, the interfaces tutorial is about making a minimap, the states one about making a turret, and the function one about making schools of fish.

You can't learn that from a Java book.

[MadV]

Maybe not. But you can learn programming concepts from just about any book on programming, after you've gained that knowledge it's a lot easier figuring things out by poking around in the UnrealScript code, understanding code and comments from others, etc. Then you can learn to make anything you want, without needing a specific tutorial on making something.

[Makaze]

Absolutely, a basic understanding of general programming concepts is a must. And having that knowledge makes learning just about anything dealing with unreal easier. I was merely pointing out that the unreal script book contains more info than just unreal syntax and general programming knowledge, it has methods and examples of how to do things in the engine, which at times can be "special". So while a generic programming book is a great companion, it's not necessarily a substitute.

[MadV]

Right... I agree with that. I hope their book is a lot better than the UnrealScript videos on their website, though, kind of a joke those. Hardly any programming in them, just setting up a few classes and some default properties.

[Makaze]

3DBuzz is largely a site for artists to learn to use their various programs. They've branched out to include some programming content but it's not exactly their primary focus so the UDK tutorials tend to center around the artist centric editor rather than script.

I was fairly impressed by the 7 sample chapters on the UDN. They're not rocket science but they provide a starting point to build on. Now if the damn thing would only come out...

[MadV]

Had a look at the sample chapters, and yeah, not too shabby. I'll probably pick up this one.

[FrozenDozer]

I want this book. Now. I want to start when the UDK is a up to date engine, not when UE4 comes out :S

[FrozenDozer]

The release has been pushed back another month. Now it's 5th of may...

[FrozenDozer]

And again, 1st of July...

This sucks, srsly. What about an fixed releasdate and not pushing it back and back and back and back?

[NothAU]

I do want to get the book, but god damn. It's already finished, they're just pushing it back to screw with us

[Ayalaskin]

I remember when the release data was in december, and i thought, "lets wait two months to get the book and learn unrealscript".
What a fool.

[junkens]

it already has a 37% discount on it! wuhu! :D
Because I never used ue1 oder ue2 I don't know if the previous volumes would help me in getting better with ue3. That's the reason why I wait for volumeIII. Someday it will come!
The book is not a lie!

[DJMidknight]

no its a late tool lol

[frvge]

I just cancelled my preorder.

[AutopsySoldier]

I just cancelled my preorder.

lol

I wont be getting the 3rd one either...already have the first 2. The first one was full of typos, messed up images and missing files on the DVD. Haven't bothered reading the 2nd one...I think I'm going to go buy some Eat3d dvd's on UDK instead.

[skipgamer]

I remember when the release data was in december, and i thought, "lets wait two months to get the book and learn unrealscript".
What a fool.

I'm still thinking that... What a fool.

[Kasigawa]

WTF is taking it so long to come out, it should've came out months ago!

R A G E

I saves some money for it, but it never came out. No choise but to wait some more.

BTW the money wasd used for gas.

[FrozenDozer]

Cancelled mine, too.

[CreativeCoding]

lol

I wont be getting the 3rd one either...already have the first 2. The first one was full of typos, messed up images and missing files on the DVD. Haven't bothered reading the 2nd one...I think I'm going to go buy some Eat3d dvd's on UDK instead.

That one folder labeled "pr0nz" was an accident left by me.

Anyhow, I'm too lazy to click on previous page, anyone want to tell me why everyone is canceling their preorder?

[Kaldrick]

Because of massive delays.

[danimal']

Internet nerd rage is my guess. They get free chapters, and an entire game in script provided to them, but they want MOAR! :) The irony of complaining about errors on quick releases, then complaining about delays on the other hand never ceases to amaze me.

[Snufkin]

I'm still getting my copy in July hopefully just as long as it doesn't get delayed even further. It's bound to be a very useful book.

[Prezadent]

It's bound to be a very useful book.

I've heard you can't judge a book by its cover, I think the same could be said for the binding. Groan. :D