Something New
Hello friends! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week. It’s hard to believe 2024 is almost over. Reflecting on when I started this blog nearly a year ago, I’m amazed at how much I’ve grown as a game developer—and how much there still is to learn 🤣. Each week has brought new lessons and skills. Stepping out of our comfort zones can be challenging and intimidating, but it’s essential for growth.
You might have noticed the blog’s new look! Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve migrated my content to a self-built site (with some help from a template) and am now hosting it independently, moving away from platforms like Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress. I’ll admit, I was pretty intimidated and almost gave up a few times, mainly because I really dislike web development. But I’m glad I persevered and am happy with the outcome. It’s ironic that I found learning Cloudflare’s deployment process more daunting than delving into Unity’s complexities. This really shows the distinct challenges between web and game development.
On another note, I’ve started exploring shaders! I began crafting my first custom shader but had to scrap it once I realized I built it all wrong. Surprisingly, I’m not too upset about it; researching various techniques led me to discover springboards and other exciting features I’m eager to implement. My goal is to create a versatile shader that can adapt to different scenarios, scaling and changing color as needed. I’m excited to continue developing it.
I still don’t have a clear vision for implementing the map system in Martian Alchemist, at least visually, but that’s okay. I’m confident inspiration will strike eventually.
Embracing “something new” has been the unifying thread of this past year, and it continues to shape my journey not only as a developer, but as a human being. From launching Space Cats to a self-hosted site, from navigating shaders and rethinking Martian Alchemist’s map system, every challenge has pushed me further out of my comfort zone. It’s not always easy, but that’s the whole point, right? Growth isn’t about ease—it’s about persistence. So here’s to more “something new” in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Thanks for following along on this adventure, and as always, I’m excited to share what’s next.