AccuRIG AI Search 🤖, Unity Sand Simulations 🏜️, Gabe's Startup Advice 💡
🛠️ Crafting and Creativity in 3D Art
Crafting a Sci-Fi Lightsaber Hero Prop: A Complete 3D Art Breakdown
Join 3D artist Logan McComish as he takes you through the creation of a unique sci-fi lightsaber hero prop. From careful blocking out to high poly modeling, efficient UV mapping, detailed texturing, and compelling Unreal Engine 5 presentation—including character integration and dynamic lighting effects—this breakdown reveals the technical skills and artistic choices behind a polished final piece.
Blender 4.5 Anime Magic: Behind the Scenes with CGDASH_’s Latest Animation
Discover the stunning 2D-style anime scene by 3D artist Virendra Kumar (CGDASH_), created with Blender 4.5. Alongside the animation, enjoy a behind-the-scenes workflow overview and time-lapse showcasing the creative process. Known for sharing free shaders and retro-style animations, CGDASH_ continues to inspire with accessible tools and tips for anime-style Blender art.
📰 Latest Industry News
AccuRIG 2.0 Adds AI-Powered Animation Search with 4,500+ Motions
Reallusion’s free auto-rigging tool AccuRIG 2.0 now features an Add Motions tab that lets users seamlessly browse and preview over 4,500 animations from the ActorCore library using AI-powered Smart Search. This integration simplifies workflow by allowing easy filtering and applying animations directly within the software, with export support to all major DCC tools. Alongside UI and performance upgrades, this update sets the stage for the upcoming Character Creator 5 release.
Dig into Unity’s Sand Simulation for Archaeological Games
Developer TurnerJacky shares an intriguing Unity project simulating sand with texture blur, perfect for archaeological excavation-style games. While the original creator isn’t planning a game, the open-source project files invite developers to craft unique digging experiences. Sand remains a powerful muse for 3D artists, with connections to experiments in Houdini and other creative works, making this a great resource for game creators inspired by natural simulations.
🎮 Video Game Business Insights
Gabe Newell’s Startup Advice: Focus on Customers, Not Venture Capital
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell advises new entrepreneurs to stop chasing venture capital through flashy pitches and instead focus on creating real value for customers. He believes capital will naturally follow when you prioritize customer happiness, partners, and employees. Newell warns that overfunded startups fixated on fundraising often waste money and time. His customer-first philosophy, reflected in Valve’s unique culture, offers valuable lessons for game developers and anyone building a sustainable business.
Indie Game Publishing Insights with Critical Reflex's Rita
Dive into the world of indie game publishing with Rita from Critical Reflex as she shares her unique approach to selecting and supporting innovative indie titles. Discover why Critical Reflex favors unconventional games and learn valuable tips for pitching publishers, including the ideal stage for presenting your playable prototype. Rita reveals how every budget matters, ensuring that even smaller indie projects have the opportunity to shine.
🔧 Developing and Publishing Indie Games
Streamlining Error Handling: C++ 23's 'Expected' for Game Developers
C++ 23 introduces the 'expected' feature, revolutionizing error handling by allowing functions to return either a success value or an error, minimizing performance overhead. This innovative approach facilitates functional programming ideas and simplifies error management. Explore how this new C++ feature can enhance your game development process, offering a robust alternative to traditional methods like exceptions and status codes.
Indie Dev Insights: Porting Games Across Xbox, PlayStation, Switch & More
Thomas Stewart, a solo indie game developer, shares his journey of creating and porting his games like Bridges & Docks and Tanks, But No Tanks to major platforms including Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Atari VCS. In this devlog, he offers valuable insights into the challenges and learnings of multi-platform game development from a solo developer’s perspective. Follow his self-employment adventure and discover tips for indie game success.