Best of Game Development — July 2024

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   Article

   gitconnected·2y

   I Built a 2D Game in 40 Minutes with Ebiten

   A business analyst who has led multiple development teams shares their experience of building a 2D game called 'Scorpions and Ferraris' in 40 minutes using Golang and the Ebiten library. The game, inspired by Frogger, features a scorpion avoiding cars to reach the other side of the screen. The post includes detailed steps for setting up the development environment, creating the game structure, and implementing game logic. Additionally, it discusses the use of Paint.net for modifying graphics.

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   Article

   Game Developers·2y

   Free Game development full course

   A seasoned game developer is offering a free course to teach C# and Unity, targeting aspiring game developers. The course aims to make the learning journey easier and includes regular lectures. Interested participants are invited to join by contacting the instructor on Discord.

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   Article

   Hacker News·2y

   kitao/pyxel: A retro game engine for Python

   Pyxel is a Python-based retro game engine inspired by PICO-8 and TIC-80. It supports a 16-color palette, simple sound channels, and includes image and sound editors. Pyxel runs on multiple platforms including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Web. It's open source and ideal for creating pixel art games. Installation is straightforward with pip, Homebrew, or manual setup, and examples are provided to help get started.

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   Article

   Lobsters·2y

   Block Coding for Godot: Lowering the Bar of Entry for a Powerful Tool

   Endless Foundation's new initiative introduces block coding for the Godot game engine, making it easier for beginners to learn game development. Block coding allows users to create programs using a user-friendly interface that bypasses complex syntax, making game creation more accessible. The goal is to bridge the gap between simplified tools and the professional Godot engine, leveraging the successful approaches of tools like Scratch and Blockly while preparing learners for advanced development.

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   Article

   Game Developers·2y

   How many of you were, or still are, Software Developers?

   The post explores whether game developers can be considered software developers, given that game development is a specialized branch of software development. The author shares their journey from a background in cyber-security, commerce, and mobile app development, to game development. They emphasize the importance of a solid software engineering background for effective collaboration in large teams, noting skills like CI/CD, Source Control, and design patterns as essential. The post raises the question of how many developers transitioned from software development to game development and shares experiences with this pathway.

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   Article

   The Verge·2y

   Indie studio opens up to share canceled Magic School project

   Dinosaur Polo Club, creators of *Mini Metro* and *Mini Motorways*, revealed their canceled project *Magic School* due to the need for a larger team. Despite the cancellation, no employees were laid off and their skills will be redirected to new projects within the *Mini* series. The studio's transparency offers a refreshing change in an industry often secretive about such cancellations.

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   Article

   The Knights of Unity·2y

   Database System in Unity using Resources and ScriptableObjects – The Knights of Unity

   Explore an efficient method to store and manage data in Unity using Resources and ScriptableObjects. This approach bridges the gap between developers and designers by allowing runtime data reading and easy data manipulation without additional plugins. It is particularly useful for RPG and multiplayer games, offering robust and simple data handling with dynamic loading from the Resources folder.

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   Article

   Godot·2y

   Release candidate: Godot 4.3 RC 1

   Godot 4.3 has reached the Release Candidate stage. All features are finalized, and critical regressions have been addressed. The community is encouraged to test this release candidate and report any issues. Highlights include Direct3D 12 support on Windows without the need for DXIL.dll and finalized support for Windows ARM64 devices. The release also includes numerous fixes for areas like audio, GUI, import, and rendering. Users are urged to backup their projects due to the pre-release nature of the software.

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   Article

   GamesIndustry.biz·2y

   "I just dropped them an email" – How a small studio won over Netflix to make a Queen's Gambit game

   Jamie Brayshaw from Ripstone shared insights at Develop Brighton on how the studio successfully pitched and developed a Queen's Gambit game for Netflix. Despite tight deadlines, the studio leveraged its chess game expertise and bold pitching strategy. The project faced numerous challenges, including adapting Unreal Engine for mobile, addressing a diverse audience, and ensuring smooth first-time user experience. Continuous user testing was crucial in refining the game, which includes bite-sized puzzles alongside traditional chess gameplay.

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    Article

    Codemotion·2y

    Summer Breeze Makes me Read Fine: 10 Tech Books for Your Vacations

    This post lists 10 recommended tech books for programmers to read during their summer vacations. It includes titles covering a variety of topics, from Linux and software architecture to AI, fintech, and game development. Each book is aimed at enhancing knowledge in specific areas such as algorithms, edge computing, data privacy, and digital sustainability.

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    Article

    Game Developers·2y

    Hello Everyone

    An experienced software developer with over 23 years in the industry shares their background and interest in learning and connecting with others. Initially inspired by a desire to become a game developer, they have expertise in various technology stacks, languages, frameworks, and databases.

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    Article

    Game Developer·2y

    Illusion of Skill: How to Make a Better Game in Less Time

    Playtesting is crucial in game development for improving game quality efficiently. Distinguished from quality assurance, which focuses on functionality, playtesting emphasizes player feedback to enhance game appeal. Prominent game designers from companies like Valve and Schell Games prioritize playtesting to refine their designs. Frequent testing and clear feedback can exponentially increase the effectiveness of game development, helping designers trust their intuition and avoid future issues. Indie developers are encouraged to test early and often, overcoming common excuses and embracing feedback to achieve a more successful game.

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    Awesome Elixir·2y

    Building a WoW server in Elixir

    Thistle Tea is a World of Warcraft private server project built in Elixir. The author shares details on implementing authentication, character creation, game server development, and synchronizing player actions. The project explores MMO server functionality using MaNGOS data, Elixir's actor model, and various Elixir tools. Future plans include adding PvP, quests, mob AI, and further optimizing the server.

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    Article

    DEV·2y

    Creating Snake Game In Power Apps

    A detailed guide on creating a snake game using Power Apps. The post outlines steps to set up a grid interface, handle the snake's movement, incorporate collision detection, and add gameplay elements like apples. It emphasizes learning and demonstrates innovative problem-solving within low-code environments.

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    Video

    Hacker News·2y

    Code a DOOM-like game engine from scratch in C [PART I]

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    Article

    Hacker News·2y

    Kien, the most-delayed video game in history, released after 22 years

    In 2002, an Italian team began developing Kien, a game for the Game Boy Advance. Despite being completed years ago, it faced significant delays due to market risks and high production costs. It has now been released 22 years later, setting a record for the longest delay in video game history. Driven by nostalgia and a revived interest in retro gaming, the game is finally available, backed by publisher Incube8. Kien is a challenging action platformer inspired by early Japanese games and Renaissance tales, capturing a unique essence that modern games often miss.

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    Article

    Lobsters·2y

    Bevy 0.14

    Bevy 0.14 introduces a host of new features including Virtual Geometry for efficient rendering of large meshes, Sharp Screen Space Reflections, Depth of Field effects, Per-Object Motion Blur, Volumetric Fog and Lighting, Filmic Color Grading, and PBR Anisotropy. It also includes enhancements like ECS Observers and Hooks, improved color APIs, and support for GLTF KHR_texture_transform, amongst others. This release leverages a release candidate process to ensure stability and immediate usability.

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    Article

    Codrops·2y

    How to Create Distortion and Grain Effects on Scroll with Shaders in Three.js

    Learn how to create interesting distortion and grain effects on scroll using shaders in Three.js. This tutorial covers setting up media and meshes, syncing HTML images with WebGL, and creating the shaders for the desired visual effects. Detailed code snippets and explanations are provided for setting up the camera, geometry, and the render loop. The tutorial also delves into creating the deformation and noise effects to enhance the scrolling experience.

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    Article

    Hacker News·2y

    Firing Myself

    At 22, the author was a junior engineer at a social gaming startup. Tasked with implementing a significant feature in the company's RPG, they accidentally deleted the USERS table containing critical data for tens of thousands of paying customers. The company had no recent backups, leading to a major crisis and emergency data recovery efforts. The author faced significant emotional and professional fallout, ultimately resigning and moving to New York City.

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    Codrops·2y

    Creating an Animated Displaced Sphere with a Custom Three.js Material

    This tutorial guides you through creating a stunning animated displaced sphere using custom shaders with Three.js and React Three Fiber. Key aspects include modifying a built-in Three.js material, displacing vertices for unique shapes, and addressing lighting and shadows post-displacement. Basic knowledge of React and Three.js is required.

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    Lobsters·2y

    Tough times on the road to Starcraft

    StarCraft's development was a challenging process fraught with frequent crashes and heavy reliance on patching rather than fixing core issues. The rush to meet tight deadlines, coupled with inexperienced developers and a change to a new programming language (C++), contributed to the instability. The development team had to manage competing projects such as Diablo, which diverted resources away from StarCraft. Key issues included poor programming practices like the misuse of doubly-linked lists and inadequate save-game implementation. Despite these challenges, the game eventually launched and set a new standard for Blizzard's release strategy.

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    Game Developer·2y

    A small games manifesto

    Brandon Dillon, co-founder of 2weeks, argues that the future of sustainable game development lies in smaller, more experimental games. He highlights the rising costs and risks associated with AAA games, exacerbated by technological advances and economic constraints. Dillon advocates for a return to smaller-scale development, which has historically led to innovative and successful franchises. He urges industry leaders to embrace new ideas and leaner production methods to ensure the long-term viability of their studios.

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    Article

    Hacker News·2y

    React App

    Detective Sheerluck is investigating the murder of Victim Vince with the help of Officer Cleo, an AI assistant. Cleo can provide case overviews and search locations for clues based on your directions. Each suspect in the game hides crucial information, and the player needs to piece together the truth to solve the murder. Sophisticated prompting and special critique & refinement methods are used to control the language models during gameplay. Players can explore clues, suspects, and use the top-left burger menu on smaller screens for navigation.

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    Article

    GamesIndustry.biz·2y

    GTA 6 and the PlayStation 4 problem

    As the gaming industry looks forward to a possible rebound in 2025 with the launch of new consoles and economic recovery, the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is highly anticipated to be a major event. However, the transition from older consoles like the PlayStation 4 to newer ones remains a challenge, as many players continue to use their older hardware due to economic reasons and the popularity of live service games. The launch of GTA 6 may push players to upgrade, presenting both opportunities and challenges for developers and hardware manufacturers.

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    Game Developers·2y

    Unrelated posts to game development kindly will be removed ;)

    Posts unrelated to game development will be removed to keep the group's focus and efficiency. However, sub-related posts are allowed.

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