Any of you computer people know anything about Unreal Engine 4 Games?

[Onceuponatime]

My 12yo wants to download this to create his own video games, just for home use, not the public platform. He is light years ahead of me on the computer. Last year he downloaded Blender and has created some amazing graphics. I have no idea if this would be okay for him. I looked into what the interface does and the words "first person shooter" made me pause. I need someone to explain to me if they would let their 12yo download this program and why or why not. Thanks for any help you can give.

Edited October 4, 2016 by Onceuponatime

[forty-two]

My dh plays video games, and he says that basically, unreal engine is what you make of it. It's a platform for making games - you could make a first person shooter, but you could also make a ton of other types of games. He wouldn't have a problem with a 12yo using it.

 

Does that help any?

[wapiti]

My ds13 used Blender and Unreal Engine 4 last year in his computer class at school (often together? I don't know exactly).  No first person shooters were involved, so I don't know what that's about.  I can't think of any reason not to allow it.

[Onceuponatime]

My dh plays video games, and he says that basically, unreal engine is what you make of it. It's a platform for making games - you could make a first person shooter, but you could also make a ton of other types of games. He wouldn't have a problem with a 12yo using it.

 

Does that help any?

Yes! Thank your Dh for me.

[Joules]

I agree I wouldn't worry a bit.  In game development, First Person Shooter is more a description of the point of view of the game, not the level of violence.  You could be tossing cookies to animals in the zoo with a FPS perspective and game engine. It just means you are looking through the eyes of your character, usually seeing nothing but your character's hands, and the game usually involves projectiles coming from your character.

Edited October 5, 2016 by Joules