Course Overview

Course Details

Course Delivery: Online Course

Course Availability: On Demand

Instructor: Don Hileman – Unreal Authorized Trainer

Course Description

GD 203: Gameplay Systems & Blueprint Scripting moves students beyond design theory and environment construction into the logic and architecture that powers interactive gameplay. Using Unreal Engine’s Blueprint visual scripting system, students learn to design, build, and balance the underlying systems that define how a game feels and functions — from player movement and combat mechanics to inventory systems and AI behavior.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Design and implement core gameplay systems including health, inventory, scoring, and progression
2. Use Unreal Engine’s Blueprint visual scripting system to build functional game logic without traditional code
3. Create and manage player controllers, game modes, and game state frameworks within Unreal Engine
4. Develop basic AI behaviors using Unreal Engine’s Behavior Trees and Blackboard system
5. Debug, optimize, and iterate on gameplay systems through structured playtesting
6. Communicate system designs clearly using flowcharts, system diagrams, and technical documentation

Topics Covered

Gameplay systems design · Blueprint visual scripting · Player controllers & input mapping · Health, damage & combat systems · Inventory & progression systems · Game state & win/lose conditions · Basic AI & Behavior Trees · Debugging & optimization · Systems documentation

Course Format

This course combines lecture-based instruction with weekly hands-on labs in Unreal Engine. Students will complete milestone-based projects building increasingly complex gameplay systems, culminating in a fully functional game prototype with interconnected mechanics presented during a final showcase.

Who This Course Is For

GD 203 is designed for students who have completed GD 202 or have equivalent experience with Unreal Engine and level design fundamentals. It is ideal for aspiring gameplay designers, systems designers, and developers who want to bring their game worlds to life through interactive logic and mechanics built in an industry-standard engine.