I’ve been checking out some older games in my Steam library that I haven’t played much. I’m not sure exactly what Jazzpunk is about yet, but I got to degauss some pigeons, and that was fun.
Just a little bit of Barbarian Blaster, the 2nd of 3 projects taught in Complete Godot 3D.
I was surprised that the first two projects are basically two dimensional (movement happens in two axis, and the camera is static). I hadn’t really considered using “3D” like that. I am now.
It turns out, I don’t have to use the “rawhide” version of Fedora just to get an updated kernel– so now the new machine is on Fedora 41, and I’m getting the kernel from the vanilla mainline repo.
If you’ve made a resolution to create your own website or blog (or have just been thinking about it) micro.one is a great way to get started. $1/month, and supports a custom domain name.
new year, new rig
Every three or four years I get the urge to build a PC. Most of the time, the urge passes and I move on to other ideas/projects/what have you.
This time, I built the dang thing!
Component-wise, the most interesting part is probably the GPU– I was able to get my hands on an Intel Arc B580 (Battlemage!) and it’s spent the last two weeks sitting in my office, unloved. Last night, I trekked down to Microcenter to buy the rest of the computer and, after some drama (it took me a while to figure out where all the screws were, how to attach the CPU cooler, and that the motherboard wanted the 8 pin OR 8+4 power connection, but not BOTH), I have a nicely specced little PC next to my desk.
By little, I mean about the size of a mini-fridge. A “mid tower” is still pretty huge.
Battlemage support in Linux still has a ways to go. I decided to start with Fedora Rawhide, so I can get any improvements soon after they land in the kernel.
So far, I’ve been able to play some games that were unusable or pretty rough on my laptop (a circa 2016 Lenovo Carbon X1), and Godot is humming along nicely. The Abandoned Spaceship Demo was really jerky on the laptop, but runs on the new box like it’s no big deal.
Dance like no one is watching, love like you’ve never been hurt, sing like no one is listening, and never give Brian Krebs a reason to call your mom.
2025: the year of 3D
Somewhere along the line, I told myself a story: Before making 3D games, I needed to learn 3D, as in get a handle on 3D graphics as a general topic, and perhaps develop some expertise in something like Blender.
From talking to people at gamedev meetups, it seems like maybe that story is nonsense?
To test that theory, I’ve been working on a Godot 3D tutorial and finding that things generally makes sense. Coming from 2D, I was surprised that:
- Up is positive, and down is negative (on the 2D canvas, it’s the other way around– like you’re always in the bottom right quadrant of the standard coordinate system, the origin is in the top left corner)
- I’m measuring things in meters instead of pixels.
Aside from that, the additional axis, and a new set of nodes to use, most of what I’ve learned about Godot still applies. So, in 2025, I’m hoping to make some 3D games.
And, maybe learn Blender.
Finished listening: The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle 📚
I really enjoyed this one! It makes me want to learn some more about the Molly Maguires and the non-fiction events the Pennsylvania portion story is based on.
I’ve finished the Inkscape course I was working through. I think it was worthwhile– the biggest aha! moments were: shape builder, the mesh tool, clipping shapes, symbols, and clones. I don’t think I’ll ever quite grok bezier curves.
Here’s a quick recreation of the character from Brakes Escape!
It’s unfortunate that itch.io got taken down because of an escalating set of automated processes and overreactions– but it’s got me thinking about hosting games myself. Own your data should apply to everything, not just blog posts and photos.
Finished Listening: The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 📚
Currently reading: Game Magic by Jeff Howard 📚
Finished reading: Light It, Shoot It! by Graham Chaffee 📚
Honestly this felt a little rushed, it was over before I had a chance to really care about these characters.
Finished reading: The Arab of the Future 3 by Riad Sattouf 📚
I decided I was tired of faking my way through Inkscape, so I grabbed this course on sale a few days ago. I’m about an hour into the course, but feeling pretty good about it. Grids, guides, the Align & Distribute tool were all minor epiphanies.
Finished reading: The Arab of the Future 2 by Riad Sattouf 📚
Nora Reed says you should have a website
If you don’t want to learn to use technology, other people will use it for you, and they will use it to place you under their thumbs in a way that makes it as impossible to switch to something else as they can. Making a website is a great way to experiment with getting agency over your relationship with the internet, your phone, and computers.
I’ve submitted Pinball Putt to the 1-Button Game Jam. A mini-golf/pinball mashup where you need to earn enough points to pass a level, without running out of strokes. Most of the level designs and some of the art were made by my son, Benjamin.
OK, I’m pretty happy that the dethrace project exists so that I can play Carmageddon natively on linux.
My “chill mini golf game” for the 1-Button Jam is coming together– though I don’t think I’ll be done for the 5pm deadline tomorrow. Luckily, the organizer said late submissions aren’t a problem, so I’m going to spend a few more days on it.
