Web Technology Corp. has released version 1.1 of the UE4 plug-in for their 2D sprite animation authoring tool, OPTPiX SpriteStudio.
OPTPiX SpriteStudio is equipped with an easy-to-use dedicated editor that can greatly reduce the time spent creating sprite animations and effects. It allows designers to focus on being creative by producing elements for 2D or 2.5D games straightforwardly. By using this tool in combination with UE4, which in itself makes game creation more efficient, a high quality 2D game can be created with ease.
Furthermore, the plug-in was developed by historia Inc, a game studio specializing in creating UE4 games. With development studios in mind and a knowledge of UE4, historia worked to integrate the OPTPiX SpriteStudio plug-in with Blueprint and UMG inside the engine.
Only a couple of drag-and-drop actions plays the data from OPTPiX SpriteStudio
The integration has been designed so it can be utilized immediately. After downloading and activating the plug-in and just two drag-and-drop actions, developers are allowed to play the data from OPTPiX SpriteStudio without the need to build any code solutions or configure any settings. Custom OPTPiX SpriteStudio data can be used, as well as the sample data provided.
Perfect control via Blueprint
Combining OPTPiX SpriteStudio with Blueprints allows for a varierty of actions, from animating characters to 2D effects to animated HUD layers. Through Blueprint alone, developers can achieve any kind of operation including playing and stopping animations, replacing textures and receiving events using user data. Players from OPTPiX SpriteStudio can be added to a class as an Actor Component, so it’s really easy to create a 2D game using the plug-in together with collision detection inside UE4.
OPTPiX SpriteStudio integration with Paper2D
Implemented as an Actor Component, OPTPiX SpriteStudio can play data alongside working with Paper2D (UE4’s built in sprite system). It’s possible to use Paper2D as a base for animations, and then switch to OPTPiX SpriteStudio when more elaborate animations are wanted.
Licenses for academic use and personal development is provided
SpriteStudio can be used for free by students and personal developers. A one-month free trial is provided to all others, so try making a 2D game with UE4 and OPTPiX SpriteStudio today!