Best of Gaming — November 2024

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·1y

    A summer intern once saved Valve from a near-fatal lawsuit after a publisher 'decided to go World War 3' on it, and it all hinged on one email

    Valve narrowly avoided bankruptcy due to a legal battle with Vivendi, who had acquired Half-Life's original publisher, Sierra. During the dispute, Vivendi overwhelmed Valve with documents in Korean, which a summer intern managed to sift through, finding a crucial email that shifted the case in Valve's favor. This victory was pivotal for Valve, allowing it to retain ownership of its IPs and significantly influencing the development of PC gaming as we know it today.

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·2y

    How Tiny Glade 'built' its way to >600k sold in a month!

    Tiny Glade, a relaxing building game by Pounce Light, sold over 600,000 copies on Steam within a month of its release. The game appeals to fans of cozy, freeform builders and boasts highly positive reviews. The developers shared insights into their iterative design process, the strong community engagement, and the use of procedural generation to create an immersive experience. Tiny Glade's success is attributed to effective marketing and the game's viral appeal, showcasing the potential for indie games to thrive with the right approach.

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    Video
    Avatar of primeagenThePrimeTime·2y

    It's Not Looking Good For Game Devs...

    Major game companies like Nintendo and Sega are initiating lawsuits over patented game mechanics, potentially setting a precedent that could negatively impact smaller studios. These lawsuits could compel smaller developers to settle out of court or face financial ruin. The trend may lead to larger companies using patents to stifle competition, mirroring past behavior in other tech sectors, and raising concerns about the future of innovation in the gaming industry.

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    Article
    Avatar of dhhDavid Heinemeier Hansson·2y

    House rules in Fortnite

    Fortnite can be an excellent tool for teaching kids cooperative discipline and valuable life skills in a wholesome setting. It helps children learn to work together, lose gracefully, and handle frustrations. Playing as a family squad strengthens bonds and offers rewarding experiences by striving for and celebrating shared objectives.

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    Article
    Avatar of gamedeveloperGame Developer·2y

    Must-have tools and libraries for indie game developers in 2024

    Technology advancements have empowered indie game developers to create games that rival those from big studios. Key tools include game engines like Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot; audio tools such as FMOD Studio, Audacity, and Melodrive; graphics tools including Blender, Aseprite, and Krita; and programming tools like Visual Studio and JetBrains Rider. Essential libraries and middleware include Photon Unity Networking, Steamworks SDK, and Box2D. These tools provide the necessary functionality, community support, and affordability for successful game development.

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    Video
    Avatar of brackeysBrackeys·2y

    Best Games from the Brackeys Game Jam 2024.2!

    The post discusses the highlights of the 12th Brackeys Game Jam where over 10,000 participants created numerous games. It features handpicked standout entries, detailing unique and diverse gameplay mechanics. The video also encourages viewer participation in future game jams and promotes Senma Academy's game development courses.

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    Article
    Avatar of game_developersGame Developers·2y

    web-game competition (not a game jam)

    A competition has been announced for players to beat a challenging modded level of the browser game n-gon. The game is a 2D physics rogue-lite platformer shooter made with matter.js. The competition is primarily aimed at the n-gon GitHub community, with the first player to complete the level winning a prize.

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·2y

    I tracked down the guy who gave a negative review to Battlezone 98 Redux after playing for over 8,000 hours, and came away convinced he was right

    The post discusses Scott Smith, also known as Herp McDerperson, who left a negative review for Battlezone 98 Redux after playing it for over 8,000 hours. Smith pinpoints numerous issues with the remaster, from bugs to changes that affected the multiplayer experience. His criticisms stem from a deep connection to the original game and a sense of loss for the community that once thrived. Despite leaving a harsh review, Smith continued playing to help others, revealing a complex relationship with the game and its community.

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    Article
    Avatar of godot_developersGodot Developers·1y

    Built with Godot: Evil Roots

    Evil Roots is a game developed using Godot for the 'Buddy Up Jam: Spring 2022' game jam. The game revolves around a cursed 1000-year-old sacred tree spreading evil through its roots, turning people into zombies. Players must cut the tree with 1000 chops to save the world.

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    Article
    Avatar of gamesindustryGamesIndustry.biz·2y

    The state of the indie games industry in 2024

    Indie game developers face significant challenges in 2024, including securing funding, maintaining visibility, and keeping up with rapid technological changes. Many developers, such as those from Finji and Don't Nod Montréal, express that the competitive market and long development cycles strain their resources and budgets. Discoverability is also a major issue, with new games struggling to stand out among numerous high-quality titles. Industry support through events, mentorship, and better marketing strategies can help indie developers thrive.

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    Article
    Avatar of game_developersGame Developers·2y

    I'm currently developing a game and don't know whether I should develop it in unity or godot

    World of Thoughts, a mystical game set in a world shaped by the emotions and thoughts of its inhabitants, involves collecting luminous fragments reflecting the emotional spectrum. It features a 3D low poly style and combines puzzle-solving with environmental exploration. The developer is uncertain whether to use Unity or Godot for its creation.

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    Article
    Avatar of gamesindustryGamesIndustry.biz·2y

    Atari acquires Transport Tycoon IP

    Atari has acquired the Transport Tycoon IP from veteran game developer Chris Sawyer. The company has plans to preserve and potentially expand the classic management game, possibly including new releases and merchandise. Atari has been actively acquiring retro brands and indie games, adding Transport Tycoon to its growing portfolio alongside titles like Locomotion and RollerCoaster Tycoon.

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    Article
    Avatar of shahbazawangamedevShahbaz Awan Game dev·2y

    LOST ON EARTH DEMO RELEASE DATE CONFIRMED!(a game in process of development by Shahbaz Awan)

    Lost On Earth, an open-world game focused on story and world exploration, will release its demo version on 31 December 2024. The demo will feature one engaging world and be available for free on Itchio.

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    Article
    Avatar of jeffgeerlingJeff Geerling·2y

    AMD Radeon PRO W7700 running on Raspberry Pi

    The Pi community has successfully enabled AMD Radeon GPUs, including 6000 and 7000-series, to work on the Raspberry Pi 5. Some modern AAA games can run at low FPS on the Pi's hardware, while older games like Portal 2 run smoothly. This guide details how to set up and patch the Raspberry Pi OS for AMD GPU support, including firmware installation and kernel recompilation. It also addresses hardware transcoding support and provides a list of hardware used for the setup.

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    Video
    Avatar of codemonkeyunityCode Monkey·2y

    TOP 10 NEW Games, Made with Unity! (OCTOBER 2024)

    Highlighting the top 10 new games made with Unity released in October 2024, the post includes various genres but notably excludes horror games. Featured titles include 'Wind Blown', a new fast-paced Roguelike from the creators of Dead Cells, and 'Gunsmith Simulator', allowing players to fix, modify, and use highly detailed, realistic guns. The post displays the versatility of the Unity engine and includes links to discounted asset bundles and an upcoming 7-hour tutorial video.

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    Article
    Avatar of godot_developersGodot Developers·2y

    I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

    The author is creating a 2D game based on suggestions from the community. Updates will be posted during development, and the final game will be available for free on itch.io.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·2y

    Can Nintendo’s Alarmo run Doom? You bet it can

    Nintendo’s adorable Alarmo alarm clock can run Doom, thanks to hacker GaryOberNicht. By utilizing a method that uses a USB mode and a USB-C port, custom firmware can be loaded onto the Alarmo without opening it. Gary shared the software and instructions on Github, making it accessible for anyone interested in modding their Alarmo.

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    Article
    Avatar of collectionsCollections·2y

    Steam Requires Disclosure of Kernel-Level Anti-Cheat Software on Store Pages

    Valve now mandates that game developers disclose the use of kernel-level anti-cheat software on Steam store pages. This move aims to enhance transparency and address privacy and security concerns, allowing players to make more informed decisions about game installations. The new requirement applies to both new submissions and existing games, while the disclosure of other anti-cheat software remains optional.

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