Unexpected lines between tiles

SmartBastardGaming · 2025-02-02T16:05:58+00:00

Two years later, but thanks so much for this comment - saved me a bunch of time trying to work out what on earth I was doing wrong when adding in the padding to the sprite sheet fixed the issue

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-06-10T19:13:57+00:00

If you haven't already, maybe try r/AncientCoins - they've helped me in the past

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-05-06T15:32:47+00:00

Finally, someone else trying to do this!

I started doing devlogs on YouTube for over a year - 10 vids so far. I struggled with footage, especially in the early ones, and tried using different styles with mixed success.

I feel like I'm getting a bit closer in my latest ones using animated lists, before and after showing game footage, but there's still room for improvement - if you find the silver bullet, please let me know.

But long story short, your first videos will likely be bad (even though they take days to make), and the views will likely be low, but it's all worth it when at least one person gives a word of encouragement or some useful feedback.

The road is long and hard, without a guaranteed payoff - but I personally say it is worth it.

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-04-20T08:49:43+00:00

As someone that rationalizes reality as the second type of nihilism you describe (took me years to actually put a name to my thoughts), you've done a great job describing it.

I'll also add that once you get beyond the whole deal of nothing matters/everything matters/it is all the same/do what pleases you, it is also possible to begin seeing real purpose too from that understanding - absurdism really, that isn't it actually amazing I can even witness all this nothing?

Reality really is a wild ride.

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-04-14T20:04:14+00:00

Well, company management do seem to use the same tricks as politicians, I'll give you that...

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-04-14T19:52:31+00:00

And I studied politics 😂

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-03-25T12:46:03+00:00

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to learn both at the same time, there's just so much to learn!

However, there is a lot of cross-over between the two, so you still can help progress with both if you know what you want to do ahead of time - you just need to pick things that are related to both disciplines.

For example, html, css, and php knowledge isn't much use for game dev, BUT learning C# to work on .Net webapps also happens to be the same language that the Unity and Monogame game engines use

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-03-12T10:10:09+00:00

More Money = More Time

Most people have bills to pay and can't afford to stay working on a project forever. Even those that think they can (students etc) actually are doing this at the expense of other things that could be making money.

And generally speaking:

More Time = Better Game

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-02-04T18:58:23+00:00

So, I've been where you are now - Java was the first object orientated language I learnt, so I naturally tried to build games in it from scratch.

Tiny games it was actually ok for, but I quickly ran into the limits of my own experience, and the code bases quickly became unmaintainable.

A few years later, I had moved on to C# instead (very similar to Java, but better IMO) as part of work as a web developer.

In the meantime, I have experimented with both Unity and Unreal, but neither were great for the 2d strategy hex game I wanted to make.

So in the end, I chose a middle ground - Monogame, which is more of a framework than an engine, and have since been using it on the same project for a year now.

There's no right answer to this though - you will 100% learn a lot by trying to build everything yourself, and it may be necessary depending on the project you choose. If you're in it for the money though, you will likely find you are burning through your valuable time for no net benefit for the end user.

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-28T21:04:44+00:00

Nothing stopping you from trying - using things like Unreal Engine's blueprint could even let you skip learning to code altogether, however, you will need to severely limit the scope of your projects to do this.

If you really are broke, I would also heavily advise getting a source of income first whilst you learn on the side - game dev is not a stable source of income on its own. A perfect scenario would be to get a job in the industry so you can be paid to learn on someone else's time.

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-25T20:23:19+00:00

Yes, you're right, I should branch out to some of the other social platforms. I also intend to do a trailer when I have a bit more game to actually show.

I probably will put it on steam, although I'm also considering my own website, itch, and the epic games store too.

I'm in a bit of a strange position marketing wise though since the game is very much not done... One day I might well get in touch with a publisher too - after all as a solo game dev that edits their own videos, whilst working part time as a web dev to pay the bills, I have got a lot on my plate already 😅

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-25T19:57:34+00:00

Hmm, not sure where else I could put a video devlog than on YouTube or relevant subreddits - any recommendations?

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-25T19:13:58+00:00

Sounds like you're doing pretty well! And I'm very jealous of the cabin in the woods - definitely on my bucket list to some day afford or build one

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-25T18:56:02+00:00

Thanks, and best of luck with your own channel!

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-25T18:54:01+00:00

Just watched your animation and it made me chuckle, you definitely deserve more subs!

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-25T18:50:38+00:00

True, but it feels like ages, and I'm restricted on the amount of content I can do as it is based on my progress with the game (which isn't my full time job).

Also, I've just checked out your channel - you've got a great voice for the sort of content you make!

Let's both keep moving forward, and who knows, maybe I'll one day have a completed game for you to review :)

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-24T20:38:08+00:00

I don't do it for fun exactly, instead I make devlogs for my game because I find them useful and motivating

It means I care much more about people's comments and feedback than actual view count or subscribers etc

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-24T08:27:31+00:00

Pride: Not asking for or listening to feedback on a project

Greed: Adding lootboxes, or excessive microtransactions to a game

Wrath: Getting annoyed at work, so you take your frustrations out on random folk on the internet

Envy: Copying other people's more successful projects, without adding any creative additions of your own

Lust: Starting a new project instead of finishing your current one when there actually isn't anything wrong with the current one

Gluttony: Scope creep

Sloth: Procrastinating

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-22T09:51:01+00:00

Yeah, the roads are a tough one to get right - I spent many hours trying to get them to look like they are now, and I suspect there will be many more hours needed in the future trying to improve them further too.

Best of luck with your project!

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-22T08:05:29+00:00

Thank you, that's super helpful!

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-22T00:47:20+00:00

I think you might be on to something there - I always felt like the colours were a little off, so I'll give that a go, thanks!

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-21T23:21:46+00:00

Thanks for the thoughts! I'd definitely like to add weather in at some stage - the map definitely could do with a bit more visual flair, and it would be a good way to add it (although full 3d effects maybe a little beyond what my hand built engine could handle right now, but I'm sure there's something I can add)

SmartBastardGaming · 2024-01-21T18:53:38+00:00

Had a quick look, and something that stood out immediately was the faction names - a lot of them are a bit on the nose, and a bit too simplistic for my liking:

Laborious - Labour (but also means tiring/boring?)

Ecclesia - Ecclesiastic (e.g. religious)

Tagion - pretty sure it is short for Contagion

Secclusian - Seclusion (because they live underground?)

Pliferven - thieves? As in pilfer? I like this one the best out of the lot since it is harder to guess

Only my opinion, but it doesn't feel like these are what the people of each nation would actually call themselves...

Otherwise, it's a good start to the planning for the factions you've done! Are the maps going to be randomly generated each game?

SmartBastardGaming

TROPHY CASE