1998's Unreal was a big deal, but its free editing tool was the true game changer—and the origin of countless careers
Recruitment into game development is a many-tentacled thing in 2024. You might decide to study a degree in one of its specific disciplines, or enroll in the university of YouTube and have a crack at some amateur projects with a view to building up your portfolio. There are masterclasses with legendary industry figures. There are internships and game jams.
This article first appeared in PC Gamer magazine issue 393 in February 2024, as part of our Tech Tales series. Every month we talk about the ups and downs of PC hardware, with a look back on our own history with the hobby.
In 1998, there was UnrealEd. Bundled in with Epic Megagames' scandalously pretty first-person shooter were all the creation tools Cliff and the gang used to make the game. Just there on the disc. For free. For many of us at the time, that was an offer we couldn't refuse.
And for those of us who were also 12 years old and idiots, UnrealEd proved an utterly baffling foray into a scary world we hadn't previously considered. Spend an hour looking into that white box of a new project, trying to make wireframes, textures, anything appear, and you very gain an appreciation for the people who put games together.
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