I just had a bunch of game developers tell me how much my game looks terrible. They said that the lighting was terrible, my trees need to be thrown into the trash, my ground texture is ugly and flat, and the mountains in the distance adds nothing to the game.

I am surprised that the Discord issue is not AWS related. They use Google Cloud from what I read. Usually, most internet issues can be traced back to AWS. My next guess is that they pushed some AI garbage that broke everything.

This is a reminder that if you want to keep friends close, you need to make sure that you have several sources to keep in touch. That way, if one source breaks or turns into a pile of Manticore poo, you have other places to communicate.

I actually kind of like Nintendo implementing VTuber technology into their chat.

Why does the Gamecube Fox McCloud look better than the Switch 2 Fox McCloud?

Not a big update today, but I have been working on Lily's victory animation. I wanted each character's animations to reflect their personalities more. Giving each character a different feel. Even if the in game physics are the same. #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #smile #familyfriendlygame

Remember, if you are laughing at the failure of a convention due to bad management, you are laughing because you like to see the not-so-great management fail. The con itself is never what you are mad at. People have wonderful memories at conventions. Even those people are laughing at these days.

My game may be taking longer to make than I wanted, but I do like that I am able to go over my code from months ago to spot less efficient code and optimize it. I have even gone over the 3D models and optimized them a little recently.

The new ice cream timer is working as intended. I need to work a little on the visual and balancing the pickups, but it now works. Collecting a number of consecutive pickups will add the next scoop (up to 3). #gamedev #indiedev #familyfriendlygames #independentdeveloper #smile

I know people probably get tired of me saying it, but there was no reason Six Flags America had to close. It was treated badly by corporate and had so much potential. Many of the top management thought of it as a way to bigger parks and nothing else. But it was going in the right direction.

New ice cream timer visual. Even though it is a simple cartoon like visual, I like this better than the old render of the 3D ice cream objects. This looks more like it belongs on the UI. #gamedev #indiedev #indiedeveloper #familyfriendlygames #smile #endlessrunner

Neither of my accounts are blocked. I guess I am not good enough.

Too bad I am still mad at Six Flags. I will be driving past some "bucket list" coasters of mine when I drive to Whinny City Pony Con. But there is no way in Tartarus I would give Six Flags money.

My first game, and I am already taking existing models and making changes to them to look like new characters.

I just watched one of those facts about a movie you didn't know videos. It was so badly AI generated that every fact that was not already well known was completely false. I am done with those videos. Unless it came from someone's mouth during an interview, I am not trusting it.

Today, a big name voice actor and streamer promoted Smile Run on his stream. I got 1 more wishlist tonight. Yay!!!

Happy #WishlistWednesday everyone. How about a fun level based endless runner with fun characters? Wishlist now on Steam. Comments at play tests include "Simple concept and really fun to play" #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedevelopment #familyfriendlygame store.steampowered.com/app/4545080/...

I learned that the park that bought one of the biggest coasters from my early childhood is closing. I hope the coaster gets moved again, but I am not very hopeful on such an old coaster.

I know I could never run a convention. But I do know the basics of making sure everyone is treated well to the best of my abilities.

Deleted scene from the next animation. I sent it to a friend who is a yoga instructor, and she did not like it. The scene will still exist, but I was told to watch videos of people doing the poses rather than just looking at pose examples. Kit struggling was fun.

Don't look at wishlist count, don't look at wishlist count, don't look at wishlist count.

Due to the interest in my game project, I have started to apply for real jobs again. This sucks.

I was told yesterday that 3D platformers are the lowest selling genre on Steam. What a punch in the gut after making a lot of good progress the last couple of days.

The Smile Run Steam page is now up. There will be a new gameplay trailer showing all 4 environments by the end of the week. Check it out and add it to your wishlist. store.steampowered.com/app/4545080/... #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedevelopment #familyfriendlygame

I will take drone footage of Six Flags America, but I am not a fan of people sneaking into the park. As a ride technician of 15 years there, I know that some areas can get dangerous if you are not careful. Also, what makes you special that you should be allowed where you are not supposed to be?

It seems that keeping your phone volume at 50% so that it is loud enough to make sure I do not miss texts from friends is not normal. Also, replying as soon as possibleis also not normal. Over the years, people have asked why I always reply so quickly. I thought that's what you are supposed to do

I am so happy to see big theme parks starting to ban "influencers". These people like to run around parks interfering with people's day of fun. And the videos are usually not fun to watch.

Sky, Forest, Water, Cave environments all in the same run. The heart of Smile Run is now working. The game is randomly transitioning between all 4 environments. #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #indiedeveloper #gamedevelopment

I don't hate it, but the old light looked so much better. I also really need to add the trees to the forest environment soon (the giant brown slab on the ground). They are all made. I just need to make the random designs. Still working on water now that I fixed the light.

I finally opened my Twilight Princess for the Wii U. Yes I opened a game that was around $200, but I was never going to get rid of it. I even carefully cut open the Amiibo in a way that I can put it back in the box later for display. I am not a fan of the 3D Zeldas, but I like it so far.

Just great. Now AI is hallucinating fake roller coaster accident stories. They have just enough true facts to make it believable, but make up a ton of false information that makes the industry look bad.

I finally have some early swim testing. I still need to work on making the player feel that they have better control. This is a bit clunky. I also expect to adjust the size of the obstacles (and obviously lower the floor some.) But I am happy so far. #gamedev #indiedev #solodev

If more AI shows up in movies and games, guess what, I have 40+ years of movie and game collecting. I will never complete what I have now.

People who use AI have no idea how to solve problems on their own. They would be useless if you take their devices away.

I am so happy how well these two came out. Every model is getting better than the last.

Can dragons swim?

Can dragons swim?

People are saying that the news about Six Flags selling 7 parks sucks because they could have sold Six Flags America rather than closing it. That is not SFA's case. I knew in 2010 that the land was the most valuable in the entire company. A company buying small parks could not afford it.

It is so frustrating that bringing up the work I am doing for my game company will immediately cause friends and family to stop talking to me. Especially my family who will 100% ignore any comment I make about it. I have lost weeks of work due to depression because of it.

My home for 15 years. These videos really hurt to watch, but I still can't stop watching them. I dream about being back at this place just about every other day. There were bad days at work, but overall, I loved working there. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hULI...

My home for 15 years. These videos really hurt to watch, but I still can't stop watching them. I dream about being back at this place just about every other day. There were bad days at work, but overall, I loved working there. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hULI...

As the news gets more and more depressing each day, I am reminded that I am working on a project designed to bring joy to people. I can't stop now.

I am so tired of friends inviting their friends to events I host at conventions. If I wanted the event to be open, I would have posted the time and room number. It has happened to me every time I host something. I am still bummed out about it.

It does feel good that many of the tutorials I am watching are more medium or advanced tricks. I can do basic Blender well enough to throw together an object quick enough. But now I am working on making what I have look better.

My next short involves doing yoga poses on all three of my characters. This will be a stress test on my ability to pose my characters properly. No, I will not just do simple poses. That is not the joke of the video.

I want to play Twilight Princess, but I am not sure what version to open after all these years. I have both the Wii and Wii U versions.

Ugh. I had to upload my ID last night because I was a single member LLC. Even though I know it was a tax requirement, it still felt dirty.

Introducing Mimi. The owner of the Smile Cafe where the Smile Builders hang out. She hands out the gifts for the Smile Runs and provides happiness to everyone around her.

I am moving my 3rd character to the file where I make all my interior stuff. She was teased a bit in October, but then I stopped working on her. She is 1 of only 2 adults I have in my head for the series (for now). She is a fun addition.

If the entire world seems dark, light up your little corner of it. Take your little corner and make it the best corner in the world. And don't let the bad guys in. That is YOUR corner.