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.
I’ve migrated fediverse following/followers over to my profile on mastodon.gamedev.place. ross.karchner.com will now cross-post to that account.
I’ve decided I want the full-fat Mastodon experience again, for now at least.
Finished reading: The Arab of the Future by Riad Sattouf 📚
The Smithsonian has a model of the ship from Close Encounters of the 3rd kind. If you look closely you can find R2D2 and a couple of other Easter eggs.
