The Unreal Engine Proficiency Project - Log 00
Over the next 12 months, I aim to achieve an advanced level of proficiency in Unreal Engine (using both Blueprints and C++), a tool often regarded as challenging to master by many.
One of the deepest personal issues I've had to deal with over the years is the constant feeling of not going deep enough into a certain field to stop feeling like an imposter and start feeling like I've mastered something. This issue is rooted in a lack of focus, which has been exacerbated by the overstimulated modern lifestyle that we all currently have to deal with. I know this is on me, which is why I've always been trying to find new ways to counteract it.
In the months leading up to this writing, I started studying the principles of deep work, flow, and ultralearning. The timing couldn’t have been better for the exploration of these topics. Why? Because the past months have been a time of transition as I've made Unreal Engine the main tool for my projects.
I quickly realized that the best way to master a tool of this magnitude is by crawling through the mud — not taking shortcuts in my learning process and embracing the tedious process of internalizing and proceduralizing knowledge. This writing marks the starting spot of a journey that encapsulates the essence of this project: an endeavor driven by a desire to conquer personal challenges and achieve true expertise.
I'm embarking on a year-long journey to shed the novice feeling in Unreal Engine by learning it in a deep and intense way. I'll document the process to create a roadmap for others who also want to conquer their own minds and master this tool. Make no mistake, I'm not only doing this for that reason but also for my own practicality as I really want to finish my game, Spaceman Memories.
This intersection of motivations is based on the principles of Ultralearning, which I'll be sharing more about as I progress through each day of the process. The inspiration behind this project is The MIT Challenge by Scott H. Young but unlike that project in which he had a clear roadmap using the MIT curriculum as reference, I will be building the map on the go.
I don't intend to fail, but there's a possibility I could fail spectacularly in this endeavor as I'm aiming to learn many different topics aside from coding within the engine. Regardless, I'm confident that this will be an insightful journey during which I will openly share both my victories and my losses.