Using AI Assistants¶

This guide shows you how to effectively use AI assistants with Asset Optics after setting up MCP integration.

Getting Started¶

After connecting your AI assistant:

Open your AI tool (Claude, Cursor, VS Code)
Start a conversation
Ask about your Asset Optics projects

Common Commands¶

Project Management¶

List projects:

What Asset Optics projects do I have?

Create a project:

Create a new Asset Optics project called "Space Shooter Prototype"

Get project status:

What's the status of my "Cozy Farm Simulator" project?

Task Operations¶

Create a task:

Add a high priority task to create the player jump animation

Create multiple tasks:

Add these tasks to the Alpha milestone:
- Create player controller
- Implement basic combat
- Add health system
- Create death animation

Update task status:

Mark the "Create player controller" task as done

Add a checklist:

Add a checklist to the player character task with these items:
- Set up Blueprint
- Add movement component
- Configure collision
- Test in level

Milestone Operations¶

Create a milestone:

Create a milestone called "Beta" due March 15th

Check milestone progress:

What's the progress on the Alpha milestone?

List milestone tasks:

Show me all tasks in the "Prototype" milestone

Planning¶

Generate a project plan:

Create a project plan for implementing a dialogue system with milestones and tasks

Break down a feature:

Break down "Inventory System" into tasks with priorities

Sprint planning:

Create a 2-week sprint for working on the combat system

Workflow Examples¶

Starting a New Project¶

Create the project:

Create a new project called "Platformer Adventure" for a 2D platformer game

Set up milestones:

Create milestones for this project:
- Prototype (2 weeks): Core movement and one level
- Alpha (6 weeks): All mechanics, 5 levels
- Beta (10 weeks): Polish and all 20 levels
- Release (12 weeks): Bug fixes and ship

Add initial tasks:

For the Prototype milestone, add these tasks:
- Create player character with basic movement
- Implement jump mechanics
- Create first level layout
- Add basic enemy
- Implement death and respawn

Daily Standup¶

Start each day with:

What should I work on today in Asset Optics?

The AI will check your Focus Mode priorities and suggest tasks.

End of Sprint Review¶

Summarize the progress on the current milestone. What was completed? What's still open?

Feature Planning¶

I want to add a crafting system to my game. Create a detailed task breakdown with subtasks.

Plan Approval Workflow¶

When AI creates plans, they require your approval:

In Unreal Engine Plugin¶

AI creates a plan
"Plan" badge appears in the Asset Optics header
Click the badge to review
See all proposed changes:
Tasks to be created
Milestones to be added
Updates to existing items
Click Approve or Reject

In Web Dashboard¶

AI creates a plan
Notification appears in the header
Click to review the plan
Approve or reject

Plan Expiration¶

Plans Expire

Plans expire after 30 minutes if not approved. The AI will need to recreate expired plans.

Tips for Effective AI Use¶

Be Specific¶

Less effective:

Add some tasks

More effective:

Add 5 tasks for implementing the player movement system, including:
- Basic walking
- Running
- Jumping
- Crouching
- Climbing

Provide Context¶

Less effective:

Create a milestone

More effective:

Create a milestone called "Vertical Slice" due in 4 weeks. This should demonstrate 
the core gameplay loop with polished graphics and one complete level.

Iterate¶

You can refine AI-generated plans:

That task breakdown looks good, but can you add priority levels? 
Make the player controller urgent, and everything else high priority.

Use Natural Language¶

AI understands natural requests:

"What's blocking me right now?"
"Add a task for that bug we discussed"
"Move the inventory task to in-progress"
"I finished the animation, mark it done"

Limitations¶

What AI Cannot Do¶

Access Unreal Engine directly
Modify actual game assets
Make changes without your approval
See content that isn't in Asset Optics

Approval Required¶

All changes require human approval:

AI proposes changes
You review and approve
Only then are changes applied

This ensures you maintain control over your project.

Example Session¶

Here's a typical session with an AI assistant:

You: I'm starting a new game jam project. The theme is "connections". Help me set up Asset Optics.

AI: I'll help you set up a game jam project in Asset Optics. I'll create a plan for:

Project: "Game Jam - Connections"
Milestone: "Hour 0-12: Core Mechanic"
Milestone: "Hour 12-36: Content"
Milestone: "Hour 36-48: Polish & Submit"

[Plan created - approve in Asset Optics]

You: Approved. Now add some initial tasks for the core mechanic phase.

AI: I'll add tasks to the "Hour 0-12: Core Mechanic" milestone:

Create player entity (Urgent)
Implement connection mechanic (Urgent)
Create first puzzle element (High)
Basic UI for connections (High)
Test core loop (Medium)

[Plan created - approve in Asset Optics]

You: Great! What should I work on first?

AI: Based on your Focus Mode, I recommend starting with:

Create player entity - This is urgent and has no dependencies
Implement connection mechanic - Also urgent, but depends on having a player

Would you like me to add a checklist to the player entity task?

Next Steps¶

Explore Focus Mode to understand how priorities work
Learn about the Planning Board for managing tasks
Review Configuration for advanced settings