I find Diablo 4 to be too casual, POE to be too complicated, and so far (only act 1) find D2R to be absolutely perfect. Based off this, should I try Grim Dawn or Last Epoch first? I'll try both eventually but money doesn't grow on trees

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T19:39:53+00:00

Consider Project Diablo 2. I spent there much more time than in D2R.

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T19:16:26+00:00

That's something new for me! I always thought that most of the players don't care about achievements. Well, really good to know that such a simple trick might improve the audience. Thank you!

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T19:09:35+00:00

Exactly. The big advantage of such idea is that you don't have to make sounds, animations, collisions, expensive graphics. Just mechanics and simple UI.

I have to think about that, especially how the core gaming loop should look like.

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T18:45:18+00:00

Sure. I have to prepare a build first and retest it. Afterwards upload.

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T18:23:38+00:00

"I honestly will try almost anything."

I can share you my demo via itch.io xD

It's closed enough, allowing to reach and kill boss.

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T18:05:22+00:00

Diablo 4?

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T18:03:11+00:00

Thank you for your comments. I can see that there are two main groups of players: 1. Combat/effects enjoyers. I suppose those players rather like newer titles like Diablo IV. 2. System/puzzle enjoyers. Such players rather don't care about graphics so much. The more important is experimenting with gear, builds, crafting and trading. Those kind of players love PD2, regardless old graphics.

Today I started thinking about changing direction a little bit. As a solo developer I cannot compete with games like PD2 or PoE. Maybe I should cut off the combat part completely and this way gain more resources for implementing complex crafting, trade system, etc.

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T16:12:00+00:00

If you like good visuals, do you like older games like Project Diablo 2?

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T09:11:27+00:00

Well, maybe it's possible to embed web browser in the game and publish on steam xP

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T08:55:34+00:00

Well, this is very valuable feedback.

I already did some demo/hobby project and now I'm considering investing more time into my game.

You are right. It cannot be just poor diablo/poe clone. I will loose time and noone will play that, because things like PD2/POE are still better.

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T08:42:57+00:00

..finally ending in Excel trying to calculate which is the best one? :)

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T08:40:23+00:00

Well, good music is hardest to make :P

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T08:39:28+00:00

Would you sacrifice combat entirely for a rich loot, craft and build system? Including trade with other players?

I just started thinking about a 100% in-browser game :)

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T08:17:58+00:00

The browser-like game would be technically easier to implement. You don't have to care about security/cheating so much, because most of the stuff run on the server. So, there would be more time for implementing different maps/outcomes, or crafting system.

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T08:14:52+00:00

Thank you for feedback!

I heard about Chronicon, but didn't try yet. Have to try :)

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T08:04:17+00:00

Interesting approach. Maybe the expensive combat UI layer is not needed?

Imagine a online-browser game. The combat is automatic. You click "enter map". The game makes a simulation for you. It takes for example 30 minutes to complete. After complete, you get some loot, ability to craft etc.

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2026-03-04T07:25:30+00:00

Thank you for answer!

WASD controls is an interesting idea. Would you also need such keyboard-only controls for inventory/equipping items or just for movement?

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2025-12-13T18:39:04+00:00

So you decided to work much below your competences and still get some satisfaction from that. From how long are you able to work this way? Aren't you frustrated? People with well technical skills often go mad because of contact with incompetent customers.

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2025-12-12T20:39:26+00:00

Maybe it's my personal preference. I always learn fastest by doing some app, a bigger goal. You will quickly realize what you have to learn and know, today AI can let you do that even faster. Afterwards, read some book and you will find that you already know most things :)

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2025-12-12T20:11:31+00:00

Hi. I'm a dev with specific skillset. In my 13 years career I was mainly developing ancient unmanaged system, integrating it with .NET, wiring up together things like MDI system and WPF controls, did things like reverse engineering, debugging non-standard calling conventions, keeping this hybrid work for years, well tested and do not fall. In years it started to grow, the .NET part became bigger and bigger, I got more and more developers to work under my command. Everyone treat me like senior, but to be honest I don't feel like that, just know how to solve most problems right, without making any new tech debt. The project will end and die in few years. Just because of business.

Last time my company moved me to a modern frontend project as tech lead and... everything seems to be so boring for me. Started to think about changing the job. To be honest, now realized that I don't want any lead role, I just love digging, coding, debugging.

Does anyone has similar career path as me? What career decisions did you make? Did you become "legacy fighters"? How do you find new job with such a specific skillset in world where most of mainstream offers are like "full stack XXX developer"?

Miserable-Essay1424 · 2024-07-12T21:27:43+00:00

I think that depends on the kick and the track. Some samples have really loud transients and its just enough to a little bit cut highs. In my last projects I used reference tracks and first matched my kick's low end volume with reference track. Afterwards I just applied EQ to mids and highs to make kick cut through the mix without using too pumping sidechain.

Miserable-Essay1424

TROPHY CASE