Game technology is already playing a huge role in the film industry. With the power of Epic Games tools like the Unreal Engine and MetaHuman Creator, screen entertainment like Star Wars becomes easier than ever to produce. Live in-camera visual effects are possible with the latest game engines and in this talk from 2021, the experts from Epic Games show how this can be done.
Plus what role does Epic Games’ own Fortnite play in the future of entertainment? When the lines between what’s real and what’s not blur together, what then defines reality? As gamers dive deeper into the metaverse, will the chasm between the physical and the virtual world disappear altogether?
The reality of Unreal Engine
At the online conference Beyond Games #1 (May 2021), Sallyann Houghton and Rachel Stones from Epic Games talk about the powerhouse that is Unreal Engine. From the differences between GPU and CPU technology to the practical uses of Unreal Engine today, the insightful session discusses the features of the free-to-download tool across different applications. It enables businesses big and small to achieve what was previously unachievable when it comes to VFX.
No longer just a tool for game development, it provides special effects production on TV, film, advertisements, and events with a higher degree of quality. And it also makes what would’ve taken weeks and months to complete quicker and easier.
In this video, Houghton and Stones share a stunning behind-the-scenes look at real-time production (not post-production) at an actual Star Wars shoot. They also offer a sneak peek at the mindblowing MetaHuman Creator tool, which invites anyone – even those with no programming background – to create characters and breathe life into them through realistic visuals and movements in just a few clicks.
The metaverse is here
Houghton and Stones also share valuable insights on how Epic Games’ Fortnite is bringing the metaverse to gamers everywhere. The game is opening doors for collaborations with big brands, more community events, and a truly virtual space where communities can come together on a social level. They also expound on their outlook for the future, the gaming industry as a whole, and beyond.
How do you tackle security measures when it comes to the responsible use of the MetaHuman Creator tool? What does it mean for Fortnite – and any other brand – to be truly part of the metaverse? Towards the end of this video session, Houghton and Stones answer a few hand-picked questions from the audience to cap off the talk. If you’re curious about how tinkering around with Unreal Engine can boost production for you, you’re a film fan keen to see how game technology will revolutionise movie making, or you’re simply in awe of the limitless possibilities in the metaverse, settle back for this video session with Sallyann Houghton and Rachel Stones from Epic Games.
Catherine plays video games for a living, reads comics for inspiration, and writes because she’s in love with words. Her Young Adult fantasy novel, Of Myths And Men, has been published by Penguin Random House SEA and is her love letter to gamer geeks, mythological creatures, aliens, and epic quests to save the world. She one day hopes to soar the skies as a superhero, but for now, she strongly believes in saving lives through her works in fiction. Check out her books at bit.ly/catherinedellosabooks, or follow her on FB/IG/Twitter at @thenoobwife.
