
### The Problem
While working on my flappy bird remake (Rocket Robot), I came across a problem. The problem was that I need to have pillars at different heights but I was using the same mesh for each pillar. This meant I needed to stretch the entire pillar in the Z access to get an assortment of different heights.

![Streched Pillars](Stretchpng.png)

### 9-Slice Scaling
While working at one of my previous employers as a Game Developer, I was often working with UI’s and Buttons. This reminded me of a similar problem we had with the button texture not always coming out looking the same on different buttons. The solution to this was 9-slice scaling.

9-slice scaling is an image rescaling method where the 4 corners are kept in the same proportions while the middle sections are scaled. This helps keep those rounded edges no matter the side of the image.

![Streched Pillars](483px-Traditional_scaling_vs_9-slice_scaling.png)
Image *[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9-slice_scaling)*


### Solution
This gave me the idea for my solution. Unfortunately, in Unreal Engine you can’t scale parts of the Static Mesh, or at least I don’t know of any ways to achieve this. My method involved cutting my mesh into 3 separate sections: a top, middle and bottom.

![Pillar onstruction](Pillar_Construction.jpg)

I then created an Actor that took the three meshes and positioned them together so it looked like there were no splits in the mesh. I then wrote code that would change the scale of the middle section and keep the top piece at the correct height.

The scale of the middle section was worked out backwards. I would get a random pillar height ( within a range), subtract the top height and bottom height. Taking the current middle height, divide it by the remaining height and that gave me the scale that was needed.

```cpp
	float TopMeshHeight = MeshTopSize.Z;
	float BottomMeshHeight = MeshBottomSize.Z;
	float MiddleMeshHeight = MeshMiddleSize.Z;
	float MiddleMeshNewHeight = (PillarTotalHeight) - (TopMeshHeight + BottomMeshHeight);

	float UpdatedScale = MiddleMeshNewHeight / MiddleMeshHeight;
	MiddlePillarSize = FVector(MiddlePillarSize.X, MiddlePillarSize.Y, UpdatedScale);
```
### Conclusion
Obviously the middle section is stretched, but the top and bottom sections keep their ratios which was perfect for my use case. This could still be improved on by taking a smaller section that would scale better or using a mesh that wouldn’t be as noticeable when stretched.

![Final Image](Pillar_Out_Come.png)

Ultimately I was happy with this solution and thought I would share the idea. Maybe it will give someone else an idea.


A Better Way of Stretching Meshes in Unreal Engine


Hi there! 👋

I’m SylarAtomic - Welcome to my dev blog! I’ve been a developer professionally for 3+ years. Back in 2019, when I started my first job, I worked as a game developer creating HTML5 games using JavaScript and Pixi.js. This was my first introduction into the world of creating games. After working for that company for 2 years, I moved to my current company, which focuses more on 3D architecture. I’ve worked here as a developer creating 3D webpages to help our clients sell apartments and houses. 


### Back in the day
Ever since I got my first computer, I've been interested in finding out how things worked. This didn’t always please my parents when they came home to find that I had taken my first computer apart, but I always managed to put it all back together, and it still worked, so that was good news!

As I got older, I continued to be curious and when it came time to choose a degree to study, I went with a BSc Computing. I wouldn’t say a degree is completely necessary to develop games, but as I’ve found in the software field, it's one of those things that isn't needed until it's needed. When you have a degree, no one asks for it; when you don’t, everyone wants one. Ultimately, I am glad I got my degree first.

![Developer Working](GameDev.png)
Image from *[Medium](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1\*KbYaeKKyTGzNTKjIiBzb3w.png)*

### Full Game Dev Mode
At the beginning of 2022, I decided that I wanted to move my career back towards game development: this time towards PC / Mobile games. Since then, I have been using my free time and weekends to improve my craft and learn as much as possible about game dev. From Youtube, podcasts, books and even Udemy courses, I have been throwing myself into the world of game dev. My goal is to become a game developer. Some could argue that I am already a game developer, but until I’m getting paid to do this, I don’t consider my goal as completed.

I know I will achieve this goal, as I have the sheer determination to get what I set my mind on. It will be a lot of hard work and many late nights, sacrificing free time but ultimately, if I have to wake up and do something in order to pay the bills, I might as well do something I enjoy!

I want to create games that are fun and that people will remember for years to come. Any gamer can answer the question, "what was one of your all time favourite games?" I want one of the games I’ve worked on to be the answer to that question.
   

![Unreal Engine 5](Unreal-5.jpg)
Image from *[Unreal Engine 5](https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/share-1200x630-a-1200x630-22326b97f383.jpg)*

### Game Engine
My game engine of choice is Unreal Engine. I chose Unreal because of my previous C++ experience from university. This blog will primarily be focused on Unreal Engine (sorry Unity Users). Nothing against Unity; I have used it previously but I had stronger  skills with C++, so I ultimately decided against it. 

You don’t need to know C++ to learn Unreal Engine. They have made it really easy to use without any C++ knowledge as you can use their visual script system called “Blueprint”.

For now, all I’ll say is that blueprints are fantastic and I have used them a bunch in the games I’ve created.

So far, I’ve created three games in Unreal Engine: one in Unreal 4, and two in Unreal 5. I even competed in my first game jam! (That was hectic). 

The game jam was a great learning experience and I would highly recommend trying one out even if you are on your own. What you can do is choose a game jam, do it along with everyone else and only sign up if you completed a game. This way, you aren’t under any stress of getting it finished if other events pop up.

![Start Line](Start.jpg)
Image from *[Medium](https://miro.medium.com/max/1060/0\*-RDfUUMDd2F1L2po.jpg)*


### Getting Started

After choosing a game engine, my next step was to start learning. Off to Udemy I went! (You could also use YouTube tutorials). If you are looking to get into Unreal Engine and want to follow some courses on Udemy, I would highly recommend Game Dev Tv courses. Game Dev Tv has multiple courses that cover a wide range of game types and styles. What I especially like about these courses is that you are building games while you learn. They take you through the process of building your own game step by step. These are the courses that I have done:
- Unreal Engine Blueprint Game Developer (Good starting point)
- Unreal Engine 5 C++ Developer: Learn C++ & Make Video Games
- Unreal C++ Multiplayer Master: Intermediate Game Development (Optional)


Podcasts are another great medium to learn about game dev. I have mostly been following these podcasts:
- Game Dev Field Guide 
- Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer’s Podcast


What has worked best for me so far has been consistency. I have found doing a little bit of game dev everyday has helped me to continue to move forward.

Ultimately, if you are on the fence about getting into game dev, the biggest mistake you can make right now is not starting.

I’ll be using this blog to share my journey as well as give advice and write guides to help others along. Stick around and let's learn new things together!


Introduction

A Better Way of Stretching Meshes in Unreal Engine

Introduction