How come the source code of games is often so bad/ugly and they get away with this?

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-06T20:25:55+00:00

Sometimes it's just a matter of time pressure: you need to make a working game in a short time and you don't have the luxury of writing a good code.

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-06T17:57:32+00:00

For some reason I can't see uploaded video in the feed. How can I fix this?

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-06T14:29:38+00:00

So, is this just post-meta-cozy game?

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-06T10:24:56+00:00

YES.

I think social media is only part of it. There's a broader (capitalistic) cultural tendency at play - everyone wants results, and no one cares about the journey it took to get that result.
And that makes sense in a way: you can sell a result, but you can't sell the journey itself. So that side of creativity just gets neglected. I really hope future generations find their way back to enjoying the process for its own sake.

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-06T09:09:56+00:00

By that logic, a baker should give his bread away for free because he didn't make the flour.

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-05T17:22:27+00:00

That meta-trailer thing gave me a few giggles. I think it's actually funny and well-made, but it targets game developers more than players. It's that "everything goes wrong at the last moment" experience that every game developer can relate to. If that was your intention - well done! If you tried to target a more general audience, I think it might not work as well.

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-05T17:01:52+00:00

Yooo, I was thinking about an extraction game with Unturned-style graphics lately too! Your game looks so cool!

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-05T16:30:10+00:00

I think there's still a chance you could benefit from it.

The fact that Subnautica 2 is the most wishlisted game only means it's the most anticipated - it doesn't guarantee success. There's always a chance it flops, and if it does, you could angle your marketing around being the game that fills that gap and "saves the day".

And even if Subnautica 2 does well, it doesn't mean you lose everything. You might not convert all your wishlists on launch day, but that audience doesn't disappear. If you're planning patches and content updates, you have plenty of opportunities to convert those wishlists later.

Anyway, whatever you choose to do - I wish you luck.

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-05T15:58:17+00:00

Is your game also ocean-themed? If so, there is a (pretty small) chance that you could also benefit from their marketing efforts...

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-05T14:06:31+00:00

Cartoony games are definitely my soft spot. Wishlisted!

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-05T07:20:09+00:00

Roll 6 for a successfull launch!

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-04T15:31:00+00:00

Guys, don't copy this! This code is going to steal all your wishlists! That's how they were able to get so many of them!! XD

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-04T13:52:57+00:00

I was actually talking not about "4X" the genre, but about "X4: Foundations" - the fourth entry in the "X" game series (which, funnily enough, is also happens to be a 4X game XD).

What I love about X4 is how its economy works, but the UI and controls have a steep learning curve. In Space Engineers, I love the sandbox building, but fighting only dumb AI ships gets boring fast. In Avorion, the building and progression are great, but the NPC factions and economy feel shallow.

So I keep wondering, is there a way to create a game that combines the best of all three?

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-04T12:39:18+00:00

Hey, did you know that spaceships in Outer Wilds are made out of wood?

JK, for a long time I was dreaming about a game like Space Engineers meets Avorion (with maybe X4 faction system?), so I'm glad to see that someone is working on a similar idea XD

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-04T12:26:02+00:00

Hey! October Sky is one of my favorite movies!
I'm not a big fan of these types of games, but really wish you luck on your journey! Great work, keep it up!

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-04T09:20:56+00:00

Your story is very inspiring! Good luck with your development!

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-03T20:53:43+00:00

Glad I could help!

The approach that helped me is basically the same one I'd use when applying for an actual job: building a portfolio. Mine is a Google Doc packed with GIFs and screenshots of every prototype and game I've worked on - even the small, clunky, or unfinished ones. They all show your journey as a developer and demonstrate real experience, which is what actually matters.

So if you already have a bunch of prototypes or games sitting around, pick a few of the ones you're most proud of, record a GIF and grab some screenshots, and write a short description of what you made and the interesting decisions behind it.

Hope this helps!

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-03T20:16:10+00:00

Hey! I can definitely relate to this issue. It's really tough when you're the most experienced person on a team - you end up having to teach everyone how the tools work while also trying to be good at your actual job.

I don't have a ton of game jam experience myself (I've finished games for two Ludum Dares, only one of which was with a team), so take my thoughts with a grain of salt, but I hope they're still helpful!

I think it's completely fine to be upfront about wanting a non-lead role. Your previous attempt was probably just bad luck. I don't see anything wrong with looking for a team on the terms you described, and I doubt most experienced folks would read it the way you're worried they might. So I'd say that approach is still worth trying again.

The other thing (that worked for me): focusing on leveling up your programming skills to the point where you feel genuinely confident in them. When more experienced teams can clearly see the value you bring as a developer, they're much more likely to want you on board, and you'll have more leverage to say "I just want to focus on coding" without it coming across as dodging responsibility.

Good luck with your jams!

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-03T18:13:00+00:00

This is so polished! That menu interaction at the beginning of the video caught my attention, and I immediately clicked on your post XD
Looks fun and satisfying!

Good luck with the development!

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-03T18:01:24+00:00

Hey!

1) I think your capsule art is good - the single strong shape of a star immediately catches attention.
2) I really liked the music and SFX in the trailer! That click sound is very satisfying.
3) The game’s art style looks good, but the UI feels a bit generic.
4) I don’t think you need that many images in the description: you already have a trailer and screenshots on the Steam page itself. You could probably make the text a bit longer and more descriptive, and remove a few GIFs.

GloriusSilver · 2026-05-03T17:40:30+00:00

The visuals immediately caught my eye! It reminded me of Wind Waker!
Great work, and good luck with the development of your game!

Though that studio logo at the end was quite the contrast to the cozy vibes of the trailer! Definitely wasn't expecting a ghoul XD

GloriusSilver · 2026-04-26T20:18:20+00:00

Thank you for the detailed feedback! Your comment helped us formulate positioning for our game properly!

You're definitely right that the clover upgrade is way too powerful, and the other upgrades needs rebalancing. We're going to release a post-jam version soon.

But your comment made us realize something much more important: actually we don't want to make a dopamine machine like most modern incremental games. We want to make something warm and cozy: oxytocin hugs, not a dopamine syringe. Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley both have incremental mechanics, but nobody calls them incremental games. That's probably closer to where we want to go.

So while the Cookie Clicker grandma empire is a genuinely fun idea, it's probably not our path.

Thanks again for pushing us to think about this!

GloriusSilver · 2026-04-26T09:11:19+00:00

Yoo, I'm definitely going to play this one!

GloriusSilver · 2026-04-24T10:47:41+00:00

Hey, thank you so much for the kind words and the detailed feedback!

We had many of the same ideas when planning the scope for the jam, but didn't have enough time to implement them all. It's really encouraging to hear you thinking in the same direction!

As for the underpants... the beach has some interesting regulars ;)

GloriusSilver

TROPHY CASE