The Epic Games Unreal Fest was recently held in Orlando, Fl. The event is the largest event dedicated to game developers using the Unreal Engine. Recent Graduates from the Nicholson School of Communication and Media’s Digital Media: Game Design program participated in a jam hosted by Epic Games at Full Sail University the weekend before the event. The group won Fan Favorite (Best Overall) and were invited to present their game at the student showcase during Unreal Fest. “We went in hoping to make something fun. None of us expected to win, and it was an honor to showcase our work at such an important industry event.” said Zachary Poynor ‘25.
The jam was focused on UEFN, Unreal Editor for Fortnite. UEFN lets you design your own Fortnite island with full control over gameplay, mechanics, and design. While it has its roots in the game modding community, it’s more powerful than the average set of tools that just let you make levels. This set of tools allowed the team to build something fun that required strategy, and skills to win.
The team included Zachary Poynor ‘25, Brayan Soto ‘25, and Jeremy Myers ‘25, who are all UCF alumni from the Digital Media: Games Design program, along with Alexander Swanson, a Full Sail Student. The team created a 1v1 tower defense game called Fight for the Fracture. It’s simple at first glance but the player must collect resources and use them to spawn enemies that attack the other player. The goal is to survive longer than your opponent while trying to overwhelm them with your attacks.
“This was actually my first-ever game jam, which made the whole experience even more memorable. We built it to be fast, fun, and chaotic in the best way. There’s just enough strategy to keep you thinking, but enough action to keep you moving.” Poynor ‘25 explained. After winning Fan Favorite, the team members each received tickets to attend Unreal Fest.
Unreal Fest is a major conference where game developers, designers, artists, and studios come together to explore new tools, showcase projects, and learn from one another. Just being there was exciting for the team. Being part of it was something else entirely. At the student showcase, the team had the chance to present their game to UEFN developers, Epic staff, and other attendees. People stopped by to play, asked questions, and offered feedback. Some were working directly in UEFN, so hearing their thoughts was incredibly valuable. The response was positive across the board, and we left with a list of ideas we’re excited to use for future updates.
One of the most rewarding parts of the experience was seeing how their education at UCF translated into real development. Quick iteration, strong communication, and a clear understanding of gameplay mechanics were all things we’d studied and practiced. Putting those skills to use in a high-pressure environment showed us just how far we’ve come.
“I’m really proud of what we created, and even more thankful for the opportunity. If you’re a student in game design or just curious about how games are made, I highly recommend doing a game jam. You’ll learn more in one weekend than you might expect. And tools like UEFN make it easier than ever to turn an idea into something real and playable.” Soto ‘25
If you want to try the game, it’s live now on Fortnite. It’s two-player only, so grab a friend and use this island code: 3691-4206-4813. If you play, the team would love to hear your thoughts.
Written by Peter Smith and Zachary Poyner.
Published to Nicholson News on July 1, 2025.
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