Unreal Engine GameDevelopment
How we developed a complete game from scratch in Unreal Engine using rapid ideation and crazy eight wireframes
The Challenge
Develop a complete game from scratch in Unreal Engine with intuitive UI that players understand without tutorials
The Problem
Games are complex: UI needs to be beautiful (art), functional (UX), technically feasible (dev), and serve gameplay (game design). How do you create a cohesive system when you're building everything from zero and need to ideate quickly under tight deadlines?
Rapid Ideation with Crazy Eights
How we generated and refined ideas at lightning speed
Our Ideation Process
8 Minutes, 8 Ideas
One minute per UI concept. No overthinking, just pure ideation flow. Quantity over quality in the initial phase.
Combat-Focused
Every sketch focused on how UI would work during intense combat. Clear, immediate feedback was essential.
Iterate & Combine
Best elements from multiple sketches combined into final concepts. Cross-pollination of ideas.
Building From Scratch
What We Built
- Complete combat system with responsive UI
- Inventory management that works mid-combat
- Health/mana systems with clear visual feedback
- Skill trees and character progression
Development Constraints
- Unreal Engine UMG limitations
- Performance requirements for smooth gameplay
- Real-time responsiveness during combat
- Cross-platform compatibility considerations
My Approach
From concept to playable UI in Unreal Engine
Learn the Engine
Dove deep into Unreal Engine's UMG system. Understanding technical constraints early meant designs that were actually buildable.
Prototype in Engine
Built UI directly in Unreal rather than just designing in Figma. This caught usability issues that only appear during actual gameplay.
Component System
Created modular UI components that could be reused and remixed as the game evolved. Documentation for everyone involved.
Playtest & Iterate
Regular playtests revealed what worked in real combat scenarios. UI that looked good might fail when players were moving and fighting simultaneously.
Key Design System Elements
Combat-first hierarchy
Critical information (health, ammo) always prominent during fights
Immediate feedback
Every action had clear visual/audio response in real-time
Adaptive interface
UI scaled and adjusted based on combat intensity
Performance optimization
All UI elements optimized to maintain 60fps during action
Accessibility considerations
Colorblind support, customizable UI scale, audio cues
Modular components
Reusable elements that could evolve with gameplay
The Outcome
Successfully developed a complete game with intuitive UI that players understood without tutorials. The rapid ideation process using crazy eights helped us generate and refine concepts quickly, while building directly in Unreal Engine ensured everything actually worked in real gameplay scenarios.
Key Achievement
Created a functional game UI system that survived multiple gameplay iterations. Players could understand all interface elements through use rather than explanation. The ultimate test of intuitive design.
What I Learned
Crazy eights generate breakthrough ideas
Time pressure forces you past obvious solutions into creative territory. Best concepts came from combination of multiple sketches.
Learn the tools deeply
Understanding Unreal Engine made me a better collaborator. I could design solutions that were actually buildable.
Context is everything
UI that works in Figma might fail in actual gameplay. Always test in real context with real players.
Build for iteration
Games change constantly. Modular systems that can evolve are essential for long-term success.