This project started as an introduction to plug ins. I've set up a runtime mesh plug in that randomly changes the color of the shooting covers at launch. At the start of the project, it featured a paintball material that would leave various colored and shaped paint spatter when the projectile collided with another mesh. I have since transformed this project into more of a traditional 3rd person shooter with the projectile now exploding when it hits the enemy player.
What started as an introduction to plug ins became an introduction to AI with blueprints as well. When I initially finished this project for a prior course there was no NPC, HUD, damage output, or health mechanics. Creating the AI and its sensing capabilities with blueprints served as a great learning experience for me to later revisit and turn into C++ for other projects. This project shows a range of my skills and abilities because it features some minor level design, material creation, blueprint setup, and programming.
The initial creation of this project was interesting because it taught me the use and functionality of plug ins within Unreal Engine 4. Polishing it became more exciting because it gave me the freedom and ability to make the project my own and add new functionality to it to show my skills. Feedback that I received after this project was initially created was to expand the features within it so that it would showcase a range of my abilities rather than one. In the end this has made the project seem more full and acts as a combination of some of my skills in game development. It also acted as a jumping off point for learning techniques like setting up a HUD, damage system, and AI. All of which I've been able to use in other projects afterward.
