The Caleb J Ross Game Development Blog

Content Writers, Programmers, we chase the same high

May 8, 2022

Programming and content writing initially seem like functions at opposite hemispheres of our brain. Though programmers will insist that creativity is part of programming, and content writers will insist that structure is part of content writing, I have witnessed a reductive division between the “left brainers” and “right brainers.” But that division isn’t actually so static. The gulf isn’t so wide.

Podcast Island. And Unreal Engine 5 Game (that I made!)

April 28, 2022

Constraints support motivation supports learning

Rogue Jam Ep. 1…That’s my game!

April 19, 2022

I have kinda, sorta shared a stage with Reggie Fils-Aimé, Peer Schneider, and Daemon Hatfield.

Learning Things I Don’t Want to Learn but Need to Learn Anyway (Maybe)

March 22, 2022

I know learning animation is important
I’m intimidated by learning animation, so I’m avoiding it as much as possible
I have no practical use in mind for animation, which supports my aversion
Looked forward to a future devlog where I inevitably dismiss animation as “super easy”

I Made a Chess Set…and a Chess Game

February 12, 2022

Blender 3D Eevee Render of a chess set as the black Knight stares down the white King

I learned an important lesson: things move much faster when other people are helping.

Solve a puzzle with cats and laser pointers? We talk Brainstorming!!!

February 12, 2022

The game-making lessons we learned are:

Lack of exposition + personal artifacts = introspective environmental storytelling. Gamifying the mundane. Anywhere decisions can be made (ex: where to place physical items in a room) a game can be born. (Unpacking). Shout out to Ian Bogost’s “How to do Things with Video Games.”
All characterization is with dialog, conversations with demons. Fiction writing rule: Dialog, not exposition, makes for the best characters. Show don't tell. This game is a reminder that mechanics alone don't need to bear the weight of a game alone; the "what a crazy character that is" appeal can support and, maybe even, still the show. (Shin Megami Tensei 5)
Obligation is inherently less motivating than discovery. Obligation lacks personal investment. (Mass Effect 2)

What is Procedural Generation and How Can We Get Caleb to Not Hate it?

January 30, 2022

The game-making lessons we learned are:

Music both directs and enhances the mood. Chill must support a chill atmosphere but also it provides feedback to the player that this is a game (or section of a game) that should allow for chilling out. Lack of enemies alone doesn’t signify a conflict-free scenario. (Valheim)
Pawns as a terrain generator. Live environment manipulation disguised as offensive actions. (Chess)
Character movement is the most important part of games in which moving a character is central to the experience. Duh, right? I’ll be refining movement in my next game for a very long time before moving on. This means the environment and puzzles I create will be anticipating the good movement, rather than possibly having been built with sub-par (ie, only suitable) movement in mind. (NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…)