Bringing Unreal to Reality – A Journey Toward an Unseen World 2024-03-25

UNSEEN 2nd Cohort Meetup Field Sketch

Bringing Unreal to Reality - A Journey Toward an Unseen World

The second cohort of “UNSEEN,” a training program for Unreal Engine programmers jointly launched by Smilegate Future Lab and Epic Games Korea, officially kicked off with a meetup on February 28. On that day, 25 selected participants gathered for their first meeting. Excitement filled their faces as they anticipated the UNSEEN journey ahead. Here’s a look into the energetic and passionate scene from the UNSEEN 2nd cohort meetup. 

The First Encounter of UNSEEN 2nd Cohort Who Passed a Highly Competitive Selection Process

Anyone with an interest and passion for game development can apply to join “UNSEEN.” The three-month program is structured around a curriculum focused on Unreal Engine-based game development. Participants will learn everything from basic to advanced topics needed for game development using Unreal Engine in a systematic way. They will also receive mentoring from professional developers, gain insights into real-world practices, and improve their collaboration and communication skills by working on projects together. 

On the first day of the program, the participants—meeting each other for the first time—were already bonding as peers sharing the same goals. One participant was especially memorable for passionately illustrating and explaining their ideas with drawings.

The meetup began with the introduction of mentors from the UNSEEN program. Experts from various fields such as game planning and development, including mentors from Smilegate Entertainment, were introduced. Smilegate Entertainment’s Technical Director Kim Se-Yeon delivered congratulatory remarks, saying, “You only get three big opportunities in life, and I hope this UNSEEN program becomes one of them.” Kim added, “We’ve selected the most skilled and energetic mentors at Smilegate. I encourage you to communicate actively with them and absorb as much of their knowledge and experience as possible to grow.”

The introduction to the UNSEEN program continued. According to interviews conducted during the participant selection process, most applicants had previously studied on their own or relied on fragmented beginner-level lectures. As a result, there were limitations in learning Unreal Engine in depth. To overcome these shortcomings, UNSEEN was designed with a five-step milestone system, allowing students to create and demonstrate tangible results while systematically mastering Unreal Engine. In addition, peer programming, code reviews, and other peer-learning formats were introduced to facilitate deep understanding of the material.

*Pair Programming: A method where two programmers work together at a single computer—one determines the direction of programming, while the other writes the code. 

The program also emphasized the importance of defining problems during project work and collaborating with peers to find solutions. Students were encouraged to regularly write learning notes and development journals, and mentors provided practical advice that could be immediately applied in the field. Furthermore, Future Lab offered comprehensive support to help students focus on their studies, including stipends, funding for group study sessions, access to research spaces, and mentoring from Smilegate’s professional developers. 

The Start of UNSEEN 2nd Cohort: Learning and Growing Together

Professor Lee Deuk-woo, who also serves as a mentor for UNSEEN, gave a presentation titled “How to Prepare for Game Development.” He stated, “Sticking only to conventional frameworks will no longer produce successful games. The key to game development now lies in how deeply a new concept is realized.” He emphasized that “UNSEEN supports participants in becoming innovative creators by offering differentiated curriculum and mentoring from Unreal Engine developers.”

Kwon Oh-chan, an evangelist from Epic Games Korea and a mentor for UNSEEN, also offered valuable advice to the participants. “I joined as a mentor because I believe in UNSEEN’s mission to nurture creative Unreal Engine developers who can contribute to the game industry,” Kwon said. “To become a great developer, you need to cultivate a sharp eye for content and learn to communicate your ideas and intentions effectively.” Kwon added, “UNSEEN will be a tremendous help in growing into a skilled developer and expanding your career.” 

The meetup concluded with a briefing on the upcoming schedule for the second UNSEEN cohort. After wrapping up the first day, the participants engaged in a networking session with their mentors, asking questions and sharing expectations for the program. The next three months promise a journey of learning and growth for the members of UNSEEN 2nd cohort.

5 Milestones of Project-Based Unreal Engine Learning

UNSEEN is structured around five milestone phases designed to help participants engage in self-directed learning and game development. Each stage offers a progressive curriculum to ensure that students gain a systematic and in-depth understanding of Unreal Engine. 

Phase 1: Onboarding – Meetup, Development Environment Setup, Agile Workshop

The onboarding process begins with a two-day meetup. Students are divided into Groups A, B, and C, and work together to plan how they will learn and grow with their peers. They discuss effective methods for giving and receiving feedback with peers and mentors, while establishing a growth mindset to carry them through the rest of the program.

Phase 2: Project Planning Week (2 Weeks) – Game Design Workshop

This phase focuses on designing the game. Participants write a project proposal and prepare to begin the actual programming phase. During this period, dedicated workshops help them dive deep into their concepts, while exchanging ideas and feedback with peers to refine their programming strategies. 

Phase 3: Project Development (3 Months) – Individual Projects Using Unreal Engine

Based on their project plans, students create a prototype. Every two weeks, they participate in a “Sprint Review” session to share progress and exchange feedback. Ongoing communication and feedback are encouraged both online and offline. If they face unresolved issues, they can seek help during dedicated “peer feedback sessions” with mentors. 

Phase 4: Curriculum Learning – Specialized Unreal Engine 5 Curriculum for Programmers

This phase provides a specialized curriculum tailored for programmers using Unreal Engine 5, allowing participants to grow into self-directed Unreal developers.

Phase 5: Participation Programs (Periodic/Ongoing) – Mentoring, Pair Programming Day, Project Retrospective, Demo Day, etc.

To support efficient game development, UNSEEN offers various supplementary programs. Participants can take part in group studies, Pair Programming Days, and both online and offline “MoGakCo” sessions (coding together in the same space), enhancing development productivity.

If additional learning is needed, participants may organize group study sessions with their peers. They can also join Pair Programming Days to maximize collaborative learning. The program will conclude with a project demo and review session at the end of June.