Blog
PROJECTGAME DEV
Dragon Gate: Tournament
Local-Multiplayer Combat-Racer
Compete in a tournament of short, chaotic sprints. Whoever falls too far behind gets wiped out, but can still make a big impact with homing missiles. An old-school game that can fill entire evenings and end friendships.
GAME DEV
Side Quest: Game Development
How Can You Fit Game Development into Everyday Life Alongside a Job?
On the challenges and joys of game development alongside a full-time job, and how you can successfully make room for your passion.
D&D
Exploration Without Limits
Bringing journeys through castles, dungeons, and landscapes to life
Making travel and exploration exciting in D&D is a challenge. With simple mechanics and a focus on meaningful decisions instead of map-work, the path becomes the adventure.
PROJECTGAME DEV
Wash It! – Battle of Wash'a'lot
Local-Multiplayer Browser-Game
Vapordrive combines innovative game mechanics with procedural environment generation and a nostalgic look. A unique experience that playfully explores the challenges of everyday life.
PROJECTGAME DEV
The War of Art
LLM powered Card Game
The result of my first offline game jam is a short, entertaining card game against Prince Eugene of Savoy, powered by ChatGPI and TTS.
D&D
Overcoming DM Burnout
When the ideas stop coming
A reflection on the experience of creative block as a Dungeon Master. What matters is the balance between methodology, creative freedom, and surprise, in order to craft a meaningful finale for long-running campaigns.
GAME DEV
Available Multiplayer Solutions
Understanding Multiplayer – Part III
Multiplayer applications require careful planning and strategic decisions. A wide range of solutions and criteria help developers choose the right technology for the best possible player experience.
GAME DEV
Multiplayer SDKs & Patterns
Understanding Multiplayer - Part II
Multiplayer development requires careful planning and the right choice of infrastructure and SDKs. The article gives an overview of hosting topologies and provides valuable insights into the code changes needed for multi-user applications.
GAME DEV
Multiplayer Development Basics
Understanding Multiplayer - Part I
Multiplayer development requires a deep understanding of synchronization, data management, and network topologies. This article covers the fundamentals and challenges to help you approach this complex topic in a structured way and avoid later pitfalls.
D&D
The Power of Unwritten Rules
The Secret Key to Immersion
Unwritten rules of play shape the experience in tabletop role-playing games. Deliberately deployed inconsistencies can serve as plot twists that create tension without destabilizing the game world.
D&D
Permanent Character Deaths Are Wasted Potential
Permanent character deaths can be epic, but they often lead to frustration and extra work. This article explores why profound turning points and meaningful resurrections offer a better alternative.
GAME DEV
Godot: Dive into Shaders
A deep dive into shader programming, from simple color gradients to complex 3D structures. The article shows how a few lines of code can achieve impressive visual effects.
D&D
More Consideration and Respect in Your Tabletop RPG Group
A new practice fosters empathy and respect in roleplaying groups. The check-in round enables an open exchange about feelings and creates a supportive play environment.
D&D
The Posters of Our D&D Journey
Six striking posters tell the story of epic battles and moving moments from our D&D campaign. A look behind the scenes of the story.
D&D
6 D&D Homebrew Rules for More Immersion
Six optional rules for D&D bring more immersion and tactical depth to the game without sacrificing simplicity. These rules encourage creative solutions and strengthen the narrative experience.
PROJECTGAME DEVAI
Humans. Never. Change.
Procedural Generated Action-Horror
An innovative action-horror shooter that strands players aboard the leaderless spaceship "Amber Hawk". A unique AI and dynamic level design create a gripping experience.
D&D
Introducing New Players Into an Existing Campaign
Integrating new players into an existing campaign requires tact and creative approaches. It's about creating a harmonious play experience that involves and enriches everyone at the table.
GAME DEV
What Godot Does Better Than Unity
Godot gives developers decisive advantages through open-source access, ease of use, and flexibility, while the engine brings fresh perspectives to game development.
D&D
One D&D: Reading Between the Lines
A look at the upcoming rule changes in One D&D reveals Wizards of the Coast's effort to improve existing systems without introducing a new edition.
D&D
Alignments in D&D
An Attempt at an Explanation
A nuanced look at the alignment system in D&D 5e, which raises more questions than it answers, and an exploration of its potential benefits for DMs and players.
D&D
A Little Elden Ring in Your D&D Adventure
Bringing Elden Ring's mysticism and atmosphere into D&D. Insights into conflict, subjective truths, and living worlds create a captivating play environment that invites reflection.
D&D
Plot Armor in Homebrew D&D and How to Overcome It
The loss of characters in homebrew campaigns raises questions about DMing and the balance between challenge and fun. A look at plot armor and randomness as factors in the game.
D&D
Managing a Homebrew Campaign: Three Lessons
Lessons from real-world DM experience shed light on the balance between preparation and improvisation. Strategies for note management and the right tools support effective, creative play.
GAME DEVAI
Challenges of AI in the RTS Genre
Real-time strategy games demand complex decisions that call for sophisticated AI solutions. This post gives an overview of the different levels of decision-making and their challenges in AI development.
PROJECTGAME DEV
Scribble Killer
Mini Jam Gam #7
In an exciting 48-hour game jam, Scribble Killer was born, in which the player creates a city only to destroy it again with a ballpoint pen.
GAME DEVAI
Learning AI with Rule-Based Systems
Rule-based systems enable adaptive AI in video games through predefined rules that respond to player strategies and dynamically adjust AI behavior.
PROJECTGAME DEV
Himmelfahrt
Arcade Shoot 'em up
A project that awakens childhood memories. Born from a 30-day challenge, it offers exciting insights into development with Godot and a minimalist aesthetic.
D&D
What DMs Can Learn from the Art of Animation
Animation and D&D share the art of bringing stories to life. The principles of animation offer valuable approaches for setting player expectations and intensifying experiences.
PROJECTGAME DEV
Listen Here You Little Sh*t
Manasoup Game Jam 2021
An exciting look behind the scenes of a game made at the Manasoup GameJam 2021. Discover the challenges and creative process of a team competing in their first game jam within 48 hours.
PROJECTGAME DEV
Game Development for the Gamebuino META
A fascinating look into developing small games for the Gamebuino META. An experience shaped by limitations and creative solutions.
GAME DEV
Collision Detection With Spatial Hash Maps
Spatial hash maps offer an efficient method for collision detection in 2D and 3D spaces by projecting spatial structures into one-dimensional hash tables, minimizing computational overhead.
D&D
The First Steps of an Organic Homebrew Campaign
A fresh approach to homebrew campaigns that reduces the creative workload while boosting player engagement. For a shared adventure full of danger and character development.
GAME DEVAI
2.5D Grid-Pathfinding in Stronghold Crusader
A new approach to pathfinding in 2.5D graphics plays a central role in implementing strategy games. Innovative solutions to typical challenges show how agents navigate complex terrain efficiently.
D&D
Minor Illusion: An Attempt at an Explanation
An analysis of the illusion spell Minor Illusion sheds light on the complex relationship between perception and reality in D&D.
GAME DEVAI
A* Pathfinding in Video Games
The use of the A* algorithm for pathfinding in video games is explained in detail, including its efficiency, challenges, and the integration of influence maps to optimize performance.
D&D
A Narrative Approach to the Hide Action in D&D 5e
A new approach to the Hide action in Dungeons & Dragons 5e promotes a consistent, understandable framework that supports both fun gameplay and narrative coherence.
PROJECTGAME DEV
Vapordrive
Semester Project
Vapordrive combines innovative game mechanics with procedural environment generation and a nostalgic look. A unique experience that turns the everyday challenges of life into gameplay.
GAME DEV
3D Autotile Wall Building
A look into developing a 3D building system inspired by Stronghold Crusader. Challenges like autotiling and pathfinding offer exciting approaches to procedural generation in strategy games.
PROJECTGAME DEV
Level Design in the Hammer Editor
TTT Castillo – Murder in the Fortress
A week of intensive level design, inspired by a Moorish castle, resulted in a complex Trouble in Terrorist Town map. Traitor rooms, fetch quests, and creative traps offer exciting mechanics for players.
GAME DEV
Shooter – Case Study
A first-person shooter in Unity becomes an exciting playground for experimentation: from complex state management in the character controller to light optimization through light maps. Insights gathered for future projects.
PROJECTGAME DEV
Dungeon Deliverance
Semester Project
Early insights into developing a 2D auto-scroller in Unity, the challenges of pixel art, and creatively shaping decisions within a limited scope of action during gameplay.