UnrealScript

UnrealScript is a proprietary scripting language developed by Epic Games for use with their Unreal Engine. It was first introduced with the release of Unreal Engine 1 in 1998 and remained the primary scripting language for Unreal Engine 2 and Unreal Engine 3. UnrealScript is an object-oriented language, though its syntax and structure differ from more mainstream object-oriented languages like C++ or Java.

The language was designed to be relatively easy to learn for game developers, allowing them to create game logic, modify existing game elements, and implement new features without needing to recompile the entire engine. This enabled rapid prototyping and iteration during game development. UnrealScript utilized a class-based inheritance system, where developers could create new classes that inherited properties and functions from existing ones, facilitating code reuse and modular design.

Key features of UnrealScript included its event-driven nature, built-in support for common game development tasks such as physics simulation, AI behavior, and network replication, and its tight integration with the Unreal Engine's editor and tools. Despite its effectiveness, UnrealScript was gradually phased out by Epic Games. With the release of Unreal Engine 4 in 2014, C++ became the primary scripting language, supplemented by the visual scripting system Blueprint. While UnrealScript is no longer actively developed or supported for new projects, it remains a significant part of Unreal Engine's history and influenced many popular games.