In the 29th devlog for a spaceship game in Unreal Engine 5, LevelCap showcases enhancements like a new jump system with a targeting ring, refined animations, and immersive sound effects, along with a prototype level featuring a battle cruiser. He also details the creation of visual effects for the jump process, including a “jump bubble” and warp effect, while expressing excitement about upcoming ship designs and inviting community engagement.
In the 29th devlog for a spaceship game being developed in Unreal Engine 5, LevelCap introduces several exciting updates and improvements to the game. He highlights the new jump system, which includes a targeting ring that indicates various jump destinations and has been refined with new entrance and exit animations. The addition of sound effects, particularly an impressive warp transit sound created by Panzer V1, enhances the overall experience and ties the jump sequence together effectively.
The video showcases a prototype level where players can engage with a battle cruiser as part of a simulated distress call mission. LevelCap explains how the game is designed to allow seamless transitions between levels, reflecting the actual locations of planets and moons within a realistic solar system setup. This means players can theoretically fly between celestial bodies without entering a jump sequence, adding to the immersion of the game world.
LevelCap provides a behind-the-scenes look at the visual effects for the jump process. He describes the creation of a “jump bubble” effect, which involves a stretched sphere with a material that includes lightning and a black hole distortion effect. He details the process of building the material using noise textures and dynamic property nodes in Unreal Engine’s Niagara system, allowing for customizable properties like brightness, speed, and opacity during the jump transition.
Additionally, he discusses the warp effect, which was initially sourced from an asset pack and modified for the game. The effect is optimized for a top-down view, and LevelCap explains the elaborate construction graph that governs the materials. He also describes the post-processing material that adds screen distortion and a flash to white during the warp transition, enhancing the visual experience for players.
Finally, LevelCap shares his excitement about returning to ship modeling and concept art. The team is working on early game ships, and he teases some new designs from their concept artist that will be incorporated into the game. He acknowledges that the jump process has proven to be more complex than anticipated but emphasizes its importance in tying the game together. LevelCap invites viewers to join their Discord community for further updates and discussions about the project, encouraging player engagement and feedback.