Cinematic Sequence Device Design Examples

Available in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) only, this device is perfect for creating cutscenes for player onboarding, in-game instructions, or just for fun!

Starting Weapon Sequence

The Cinematic Sequence device has settings that you can use to create a basic opening sequence to give the player their starting weapons one by one instead of all at once!

Devices Used

• 1 x Cinematic Sequence device

• 1 x Player Spawner device

• 1 x Item Granter device

Set Up the Devices

1. Place a Player Spawner device.

2. Place an Item Granter device.

3. Customize the Item Granter as follows:

   

   Option	Value
   On Grant Action	Keep All
   Item List - Index [0] - Item Definition	Tactical Assault Rifle L1
   Item List - Index [1] - Item Definition	Tactical Pistol L1
   Item List - Index [2] - Item Definition	Grenade
   Receiving Players	All

4. Create a level sequence called StartingWeaponsSequence.

5. Place a Cinematic Sequence device.

6. Customize the Cinematic Sequence device as follows:

   

   Option	Value
   Sequence	StartingWeaponSequence
   Auto Play	Yes

7. Open the StartingWeaponSequence and add the Item Granter to the timeline. Create three keyframes for gameplay events. The first will Grant Item and the next two will call Cycle to Next Item.

   

You now have the basic functionality for an opening weapon sequence!

Design Tip

Simple effects like this are a great way to give your game a more polished, cinematic quality. Making gameplay changes sequential instead of all at once can also give the player a chance to process what’s happening during the game. In this example, players see each weapon separately for a better starting understanding of their loadout!

Survival Platforming Minigame

You can use the Cinematic Sequence device to trigger different sequential events with different devices. 

In this example, you’ll create a simple platforming mechanic with beacons to indicate where the player should jump.

Devices Used

• 1 x Cinematic Sequence device

• 1 x Player Spawner device

• 1 x Damage Volume device

• 16 x Prop Manipulator devices

• 16 x Beacon devices

Set Up the Play Area

1. Create a platform in the sky using 16 floor pieces from the Fortnite > Galleries > Building > Pirate Cove Gallery.

2. Place a Player Spawner device on one of the floors.

3. Customize the Player Spawner so Visible in Game is set to Off.

   

4. Place a Damage Volume device below the platform.

5. Customize the Damage Volume as follows:

   

   Option	Value
   Zone Width	20.0
   Zone Depth	20.0
   Zone Height	0.0
   Damage Type	Elimination

Configure the Disappearing Platforms

1. Place a Prop Manipulator device on one of the floor pieces.

2. Customize the Prop Manipulator so the Start Hidden option is set to On:

   

3. Duplicate this Prop Manipulator, placing one on each of the 16 floor pieces.

4. Change the Prop Manipulator that the player spawns on to not start hidden.

5. Place a Beacon device in the center of one of the floor pieces.

6. Customize the Beacon as follows:

   

   Option	Value
   Beacon Particle Style	Flare
   Enabled on Phase	None

7. Duplicate this Beacon and place one on each of the 16 floor pieces.

8. Go through each Prop Manipulator/Beacon pair and rename the devices in number order. 

9. Create a level sequence and name it PlatformSequence.

10. Place a Cinematic Sequence device.

11. Customize the Cinematic Sequence as follows:

    

    Option	Value
    Sequence	PlatformSequence
    Loop Playback	True
    Auto Play	True

12. Follow the pattern of Gameplay Event keyframes below, with each of the Beacons in order. 

    For the first beacon, Disable it on the first frame and Enable again at 60 frames before the sequence loops. For all of the other Beacons, Enable on the first keyframe, then Disable 60 frames later.

    

13. Follow a similar pattern for all of the Prop Manipulators in order, this time with the first Prop Manipulator calling Show Props on the first frame and Hide Props 60 frames later.

    

You now have the basic functionality for a survival platforming minigame!

Design Tip

The Cinematic Sequence device is great for this kind of timed gameplay. Keyframes can be copy/pasted easily on the timeline, so you can quickly get sequential repeating behavior on different devices like this!

Build a Rhythm Game!

With the ability to time different gameplay events with the Cinematic Sequence device, you can create the core functionality of a rhythm game.

Devices Used

• 1 x Cinematic Sequence device

• 1 x Player Spawner device

• 1 x Item Granter device

• 3 x Prop Manipulator devices

• 1 x Score Manager device

• 1 x Radio device

Set Up the Basic Functionality

1. Start with the Shark Island starter island.

2. Place a Player Spawner on the helipad and customize it so that Visible in Game is set to Off.

3. Place an Item Granter.

4. Customize the Item Granter as follows:

   

   Option	Value
   Item List - Index [0] - Item Definition	Pistol L1
   Receiving Players	All
   Equip Granted Item	True
   Spare Weapon Ammo	999
   Grant on Game Start	True

5. From the Fortnite > Galleries > Props > Egg Gallery, place three large eggs in the sky over the water. These will be the targets.

6. Place a Prop Manipulator on one of the eggs.

7. Customize the Prop Manipulator as follows:

   

   Option	Value
   Start Hidden	True
   Modify Prop Health	True
   Is Prop Invulnerable	True

8. Duplicate this Prop Manipulator and place it on the two other eggs.

9. Place a Score Manager.

10. Customize the Score Manager as follows:

    

    Option	Value
    Display Score Update on HUD	True
    HUD Message	Hit!

11. Configure the following function on the Score Manager so that when one of the eggs is hit, the Score Manager increases the player’s score.

    

    Function	Device	Event
    Activate	Prop Manipulator0–2	On Damaged

Configure the Rhythm Mechanics

1. Place a Radio.

2. Customize the Radio as follows:

3. Create a level sequence and name it MusicSequence.

4. Place a Cinematic Sequence device.

5.   Customize the device as follows:

   

   Option	Value
   Sequence	MusicSequence
   Loop Playback	True
   Auto Play	Tru

6. The player should be shooting the eggs on frames 0, 30, and 60. As such, you’ll make it so that the Prop Manipulators show the eggs 10 frames before these moments and hide them again 5 frames after to give the player a fair window. 

   Set up the level sequence as follows. The first keyframe for Prop Manipulator 0 Hides the prop and the second one Shows it. For prop Manipulators 1 and 2, the first keyframe Shows the prop and the second Hides it again.

   

Modify Island Settings

Make the following modifications to the island settings object.

• Under Round, change Stat Value to End to Score, then change Stat Value to End to 10.

  

You now have a basic rhythm game!

Design Tip

This example uses a very simple repeating pattern to show the basics of rhythm mechanics with the Cinematic Sequence device, but you can use the timeline to create much more complicated compositions! Explore using different objects to represent different types of notes, with an  indication of which notes will be coming next!