UIBuzz - Software and game development

I want to add a cross-platform leaderboard to my updated rebuild of Endless Hurdles. There are two options.
1. I build my own
2. I use a 3rd party service
In this episode, I will discuss the pros and cons of both options in the hope that it will help you when you need to make similar choices.

Play Endless Hurdles for iOS
https://peterwitham.com/eh

Contact me
https://peterwitham.com/contact

Could you show your support by buying me a coffee?
https://peterwitham.com/bmc

I have spent the last few weeks deeply investing in converting my site PeterWitham.com from WordPress hosting to static site generation through Astro. It has been an intense couple of weeks to beat my deadline before the WordPress hosting renews for another year. In this episode, I share tips and thoughts to help you do the same.

Mentioned in this episode
Astro
TailwindCSS

Contact me

Some thoughts on the wins and losses of developing a game by yourself versus a team.

I welcome your participation in the show and discussion of this topic.

• (00:00) - Introduction

In this episode of the UIBuzz podcast, I explore the journey of updating and porting my Unity game to Unreal Engine.
Delving into blueprints, I share my experience transitioning from traditional coding to a more visual approach. Embracing the efficiency and creativity that blueprint coding offers.

I discuss the ease of logic implementation and the abundance of resources available in the marketplace. While highlighting the time-saving benefits of utilizing plugins, I emphasize the importance of focusing on innovation rather than getting lost in technicalities. Reflecting on the challenges faced with publishing and exporting on iOS, I advocate for streamlined workflows to simplify the process.

Despite the hurdles, progress on the game remains steady, with dedicated development time each week. Stay tuned for more updates and insights on the evolving development journey!

As mentioned in this episode
Blog post - Porting from Unity to Unreal
My Godot Endless Runner video course

My Live streaming

Support this and future work by buying me a coffee. Thank you

https://peterwitham.com/bmc

In this episode, I am catching up on my indie game, Project Hack. I want to share my progress and plans as I build out the multiplayer version in Unreal Engine.

This is a fun passion project for me, and it fills the gaps between work and side projects that need to be done.

You can find the blog posts at
https://peterwitham.com/p8k

In this episode, I discuss the importance of adding achievements to games after implementing a leaderboard in my iOS game. I explain achievements, how they benefit player engagement, and how they extend the game's lifespan. I share examples like jumping hurdles and seasonal events to keep players coming back. Achievements provide goals, a sense of accomplishment, and friendly competition. I encourage game developers to integrate achievement systems for an enhanced player experience and competitive edge.

Join me on the podcast to share your game and app development thoughts.
https://peterwitham.com/contact

You can also show your support by buying me a coffee

https://peterwitham.com/bmc

In this episode of the UIBuzz podcast, host Peter Witham discusses the increasing challenges and restrictions app developers face when using app stores.

He highlights the need to explore alternative options, particularly web apps, to solve these problems. Peter emphasizes the advantage of web apps in terms of cross-platform compatibility and the ability to write code once. However, he acknowledges the difficulty in providing the same user experience as native apps, especially with the simplicity of one-click installs and home screen icons.

Peter believes that solving this problem will significantly contribute to the usability and popularity of web apps. He mentions the growing importance of web browsers, even on devices like the Apple Vision Pro, and wonders about the potential of other headsets.

Peter admits that he is not up to date with the latest web app technologies and asks for suggestions and recommendations from the community. He encourages listeners to share their thoughts and even invites them to join the show as guests to discuss this topic further.

Peter concludes by emphasizing the relevance of considering web apps as app stores become more complex regarding rules and revenue sharing.

As mentioned in this episode
EU and US Apple AppStore Changes

Contact me
https://peterwitham.com/contact

You can also show your support by buying me a coffee

https://peterwitham.com/bmc

I have found that the performance on Android of a Godot 4 exported game is just dreadful—some questions and observations in this episode.

You can also show your support by buying me a coffee

https://peterwitham.com/bmc

In this episode of the UI Buzz Podcast, I discuss adding Game Center support to my SpriteKit game. Adding game services, like leaderboards, can enhance the gameplay experience and encourage friendly competition. Integrating GameCenter was surprisingly easy, and it handles user accounts and cheating prevention. Resetting the leaderboard every seven days ensures fairness. I also mention the potential for implementing an achievement system tied to specific events. Game services can be used with different game development environments.

Also, I'm working on a Godot Engine video course and invite listeners to sign up for updates.

As mentioned in this episode,
Godot video course notification signup

You can also show your support by buying me a coffee

https://peterwitham.com/bmc

In this episode of the UIBuzz podcast, I discuss the issue of AAA games not meeting players' expectations and feeling bored and uninspired. 

The problem stems from game companies sticking to a successful formula and releasing new content that feels repetitive. For example, first-person shooters and multiplayer online games offer the same gameplay with minor additions. This lack of substance in DLCs and expansions has made players skeptical and turn to indie games for more exciting experiences.

I highlight the importance of indie game developers who take risks and create unique and experimental games. The rise in attention towards indie games challenges the dominance of AAA games with their hype-driven marketing. 

Support this and future work by buying me a coffee. Thank you

https://peterwitham.com/bmc