Creating a game compass

Continuing with our search for new spaces where materials can enhance the functionality of our apps and games, let's explore a place that we haven't been before: the User Interface, or UI. I'm sure you are already familiar with these interfaces, as they are part of our everyday life – be it in any computer program that we use, an app, or any other piece of software with which we interact. Many of the elements that make up these assets are the familiar buttons, drop-down menus, and logos that we often see on our screens. However, materials also have a big role to play, especially in a game engine such as Unreal where they can help to further enrich the UI experience. We'll take a look at this by creating an in-game compass that will help us orient ourselves within the game world:

Getting ready

Since we'll be creating a compass material to use in the UI for this recipe, what better setting to use as a backdrop than the ocean?! We'll be revisiting the level we created...