Hello Patrons! I'm here with a round-up of what's been happening in my world. Let's jump straight in.
This month I released a new video - it's episode two of my series, Game Dev 101, and it's all about prototyping. A big chunky vid about why prototypes are a key part of game development, and how to use them more effectively.
I had a great chat with Luke Muscat, of Fruit Ninja fame, for this one. It's always good to get an expert voice - especially when it comes to game dev, as I still have very limited experience with actually making and releasing games!
Once that was done I went straight into full development on the Boss Keys episode of Hollow Knight Silksong. Which is... getting there!
This is obviously a big and complex game, with three very different acts, about 30 unique areas, more than 40 bosses, sequence breaking, side quests, and more. The final video, covering all of these topics, will be more than an hour long.
I've written the script, made all of the motion graphics (so expect lots of maps, graphs, charts, and more!), and started placing in the footage. Now it will just be a case of extending that process until the whole thing is done.
And that will be my last video of 2025 before I stop for Christmas and my paternity leave!
It's funny actually - I realised the other day that the Boss Keys episode on Hollow Knight was the first video I made in this house, that I bought with my wife. And so it's kinda apt that the follow-up, on Silksong, will be the last video I make before we welcome a new person into that house!
Outside of YouTube, my time has - again - been focused a lot on prepping for parenthood. I have read loads of books! Listened to loads of podcasts! I've built cots and prams and chests of drawers! I've been to so many antenatal classes and appointments! And I've cleaned everything. And I mean everything! My house has never been this spotless.
There's only a few bits left to do - at which point I can finally just relax and wait for things to kick off.
Outside of that I've played a few games. I decided to replay Dead Rising for some reason. I think I might do a video on that when I'm back to video making.
I feel like that game was ahead of its time - it had a repeating structure, permadeath, and stuff that carries over from run to run. Back in 2006 that seemed very unorthodox. But today that just sounds like one of the many roguelikes we all play. So that's a topic I'd like to explore - how would Dead Rising be made, and received, if it was released 20 years later, in 2026?
Also, speaking of time loops in games, I played a game called Rue Valley. This is a very Disco Elysium inspired game (think zero combat CRPG, with skill checks, an inventory of thoughts, and so on) - but as a Groundhog Day time loop.
Your character wakes up in the middle of a therapy session, and then follows clues and leads before the world ends 47 minutes later. Then repeat.
I think it has promise, but it kinda fumbled things. It ended up being more linear than I first expected. And more restrictive - part of the fun of a time loop is getting to do mad and stupid things without consequences. It's also just a bit buggy, unpolished, and has some weird design quirks. I ended up leaving this one unfinished.
I also started Hell is Us. This is a game with light Dark Souls combat, and a focus on exploration. You're given free rein to follow clues, leads, and investigatory threads as you try to solve a central mystery.
I'm intrigued - but not captivated. The central mystery and the characters and the world-building aren't grabbing me yet, so I'm pushing myself to keep going in the hopes that I get more invested.
Hm, sounds like I'm not getting gripped by any games at the mo! But there's Metroid Prime 4 in a couple days...
Outside of games, I'm loving the TV show Pluribus - a slow burn sci-fi from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. And I had a wonderful time with The Chair Company - a show that I can only really describe as "silly David Lynch".
Oh, and as for movies - Train Dreams on Netflix is one of my favourites of the year. A beautiful, haunting, tone poem about life, love, loss, progress. I have the soundtrack on repeat as it stirs those same emotions again.
Anyway. That's me. I'm almost done. Life is exciting but terrifying. I'll let you know how I get on...
Mark