iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

DevDave @davidhardie.net · 15/09/2026

A few thoughts on Unreal Engine GAS after my time with it: www.davidhardie.net#blog TLDR: There's friction and frustration, but less than if I was building from scratch. It's a definite recommendation, even with a pixel art setup. #unreal #gamedev

davidhardie.net

Hardie Softworks

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 06/09/2026

i feel your pain: bsky.app/profile/davi...

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 02/09/2026

Just over a year ago, the antagonists were found irl.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 21/07/2026

getting back into pixel UV mapping, but this time trying out some layering strategies. this would make characters with custom equipment feasible while keeping a certain aesthetic. can sometimes look a little trippy.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 21/07/2026

might have to, long exit ramp for me at the moment, though

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 21/07/2026

they definitely have chosen a path, haven't they?

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 21/07/2026

i worry for Unreal Engine's future. there are rumblings that Disney may want to purchase Epic Games. if that happens, start the clock on enshittification. my guess is they'll gate features behind paywalls. line only go up. #unrealengine #gamdev #indiegamedev

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 21/07/2026

yeah, you could say i'm a gamer.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 16/06/2026

why is it always like this

a person holding up a megaphone to their phone in a desperate ettempt to hear the person on the line. The person says "hello welcome to fucker helpdesk PLEASE HOLD"
the caller is then bombarded with loud noises. the text reads: THE LOUDEST MOST DISTORTED ELEVATOR MUSIC BEAMED DIRECTLY TO YOUR EARDRUMS

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 15/06/2026

gave state trees a try. felt familiar but didnt quite hit for me #unrealengine #gamedev

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 11/06/2026

It had a certain charm, didn't it?

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 11/06/2026

In Kiopioke you're a bird 🐦 who pokes your beak into objects and flings into the air. You also play as an elephant 🐘 with a stretchy trunk. Hundreds of levels, multiple endings, secret areas, and quirky characters. 🕹️ 🔗 store.steampowered.com/app/2696660/... www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC7g...

youtube.com

Kiopioke Release Date: July 18. Gameplay Trailer

YouTube video by Hardie Softworks

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 05/06/2026

It looks like Steam's popular upcoming algo has been changed; it's gonna hurt small games bigtime. From what I gather, the wishlist cutoff is something like 300K where it used to be 7K-10K. Ouch. This vid explains it and the probable downsides. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYML... #gamedev #indiegame

youtube.com

The Steam Marketing Meta just got worse...

YouTube video by BiteMe Games

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 01/06/2026

A lot of people on Steam still don't know that getting the first 10 reviews is imperative. Once my game hit that mark, the discovery queue started showing my game. So, uh, if you liked a game and the dev team is small, please drop a review. Otherwise it stays buried. #gamedev

graph showing steam page views for Kiopioke over time from July 2024 to August 2024. Views are under 500 per day until the 10 review threshold is hit, then views spike to over 4500 in a day.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 28/05/2026

Occasionally refactoring and starting to notice something as RAM prices skyrocket. If this continues then maybe I can fit my game on a SNES cart. #solodev #gamedev

graph showing avg price of RAM in the first few months of 2026. Price increases for about 9 to almost 18. Graph also shows asset class size in MiB over time. One is for Disk size, which reduces from about 24 to 18. The other is for Memory Size, reducing from about 23 to 15.

memory size map showing class dependencies

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 27/05/2026

late to the party on this set but could you add me please?

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 24/05/2026

This thing was responding to a post I made about releasing free content for my game. Idk why it irks me so much, but it does.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 24/05/2026

So this is the output of the wOrLd ChAnGiNg tool of the future? An "agent" who replies to a 10 month old post to spew "advice" on *checks quote* "tiered progression systems" and "paywalled content." For a platformer meant to be 5-10 hours. Brilliant. No fucking notes. #gamedev

a great example of what AI agents actually do: nothing of value.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 20/05/2026

Visualizing NPC zone coverage with a whiteboard and kids magnets. Of course the home team defence are the stars. #gamedev

Whiteboard of ice hockey defensive zone coverage.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 14/05/2026

guys i think its been enough time that i can finally say this: risk of rain 2 OST is a certified classic and i'm never going to stop listening to it, not even if you tell me to. yes i'm that committed, so don't even try. #music #ost music.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

music.youtube.com

Risk of Rain 2 - Album by Chris Christodoulou

Listen to Risk of Rain 2 by Chris Christodoulou on YouTube Music - a dedicated music app with official songs, music videos, remixes, covers, and more.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 08/05/2026

Having trouble figuring something out, so I'm trying some really simple language pseudo code. Maybe too simple. This will surely lead to a solution. #gamedev #unrealengine

Pseudo code reading:

important opponent(s) enters my zone
i am defender. i am responsible. so is my friend
is he around? where is he?
i cover 2 bads? or maybe MORE?
i know! triangels

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 05/05/2026

Here's how I do sprite recolouring: -Apply UV map pixels to a sprite -Use the UV values to select colours from a Coloured UV --->add customization options like hair colour, beard, etc -Add shading #gamedev #pixelart #Habs

png of a sprite recolouring process. Shows each step of the process. Text is:
Title: How I Recoloured Sprites (general process)
UV Map + Character Sprite = UV Mapped Sprite
UV Mapped Sprite + Coloured UV with Character Options + Shading = Final Sprite.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 04/05/2026

Been spinning my wheels on NPC behaviour logic, particularly on how NPCs should choose another NPC to defend against in a sports setting. Finding literature and examples has been difficult. Anyone know a direction I could explore? #gamedev

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 19/04/2026

Always hard to know when to pull the trigger on these decisions but play tests are so valuable. Good luck!

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 14/04/2026

I think the saying goes "fifth time's the charm" #hockey #NHL #oilers #kings

meme of cartoon kid praying on his bed. He says "Please god let the oilers play the kings in the first round again because it would be so fucking funny."

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 05/04/2026

Felt the urge to update and refresh my site. Goal was to keep it clean, make it more "dark mode", and sort the updates. Also gave me a chance to move to Bootstrap5 and learn some new javascript tricks. Happy with the result. www.davidhardie.net

davidhardie.net

Hardie Softworks

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 05/04/2026

For things like this they're gonna have a hard time, that's for sure.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 05/04/2026

Experiencing the same with my pawn behaviour logic. I keep telling myself that once I cross some magical threshold that it'll be easier. At this point I'm used to telling myself these lies if it keeps me going.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 28/03/2026

Here's an interesting watch about a dev couple executing a strong vision to create a game based on Irish mythology which is often borrowed and misconstrued by other games.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 06/03/2026

Oh sorry, I assumed you were using Unreal Engine but that may not be the case. CMC is unreal's built in character movement component.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 06/03/2026

It's Bandcamp Friday and I'm really proud to share the album I created called Kiopioke: Songbird. Hard charging tunes that build excitement with catchy melodies. Perfect for work or workouts. #bandcampfriday #music #chiptune #OST davidhardie.bandcamp.com/album/kiopio...

davidhardie.bandcamp.com

Kiopioke: Songbird, by David Hardie

14 track album

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 06/03/2026

This is really smooth. Are you using CMC or custom?

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 26/02/2026

Reaper DAW and Magical 8bit Plug. gets close to authentic sound without learning assembly lol.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 26/02/2026

megaman 2, 9, and 10 are playing in my head all the time.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 12/02/2026

What other stats do you want to see in a hockey game? #gamedev #hockey

a data structure showing player stats: speed, shot power, shot accuracy, faceoffs

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 11/02/2026

If your goal is for a smaller audience then anything other than steam will suffice.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 07/02/2026

Easier to keep track of. At least that's what I have seen so far.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 06/02/2026

Refactoring from Behaviour Trees to State Trees. help #unrealengine

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 03/02/2026

Test was a success. Absolutely thrilled to continue the project! #gamedev

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 03/02/2026

Testing Steam Remote Play Together on a prototype tonight with some friends. High hopes for this one, wish me luck! #gamedev #steam

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 28/01/2026

HoF trolling from this #Habs fan. For those not in the know, the 67 is not some reference to the meme, but rather to the last time the Leafs won the Cup, 1967. (Montreal has 10 cups since then.) They aren't even playing Toronto. Just chef's kiss work from this legendary hater. #NHL #hockey

picture from a broadcast of a Habs/Vegas NHL game. The camera is focused on The Vegas coach, but a fan in the background is stealing the spotlight; he is wearing a Canadiens jersey with the nameplate "Leafs Suck" and the number 67, a reference to the last year the Leafs won a Cup.

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 25/01/2026

West games are on late so I don't know how Calgary and Vancouver do their powerplays and penalty kills, but based on the stats, I'm guessing it looks like this. #pixelart #nhl

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 23/01/2026

forgot to mention that this plugin is FREE! AHHHhhhhh

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 23/01/2026

Just found out about PaperZD. It enables animation blueprints for sprites. With state machines. It's...it's glorious. The multi-directional feature 😙🤌 #gamedev #unrealengine #pixelart

screenshot of unreal engine PaperZD Animation blueprint with a pixel art hockey player. User has highlighted the multi-directional feature as a "game changer".

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DevDave @davidhardie.net · 13/01/2026

I can attest that they get messy on NPCs as well!

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