“Webster’s Development Journey: From GoDot Back to Unity”
“Webster’s Development Journey: From GoDot Back to Unity”
After two years of trying to move Webster to GoDot, we decided to return to Unity, sticking with what we know best. This decision has been a major turning point for the project. With the introduction of AI tools, our development has accelerated like never before. Our creative and programming potential has reached new heights, and every day brings exciting new challenges. Plus, we’re composing all our own music and sound where possible, further personalizing the experience.
We’ve completely remade Webster, and in this video, you’ll see the stark difference: before AI, with just 0.5 years of experience, versus after AI, with two solid years of growth and learning. The improvements are incredible.
The goal is to publish Webster, and whether it succeeds or not isn’t the point—this journey has been all about persistence and passion. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s that drive that keeps us moving forward.
This video shows a glimpse of Webster before (Unity 2022 and prior) and after (2024+), showcasing just how far we’ve come.
MoboNode is a passion project where players take on the role of Dr. Boss, a computer scientist shrunk down inside an old PC whilst investigating AI Ethics at CERN. As he navigates a hazardous environment, he will battle digital threats and demonic entites, repair malfunctioning components and maintain the PC. The game is structured around linear missions involving fixing components, defeating enemies, and uncovering the fate of other scientists.
VIDEO PREVIEW OF IN DEV
Core gameplay revolves around base building and combat. Players can craft tools as weapons—like screwdrivers and EMF bombs—to combat rats, roaches, demonic entities, viruses and rogue updates (anything you expect to find inside a PC case). A base of operations exists inside the Power Supply Unit (PSU) serves as a safe zone for crafting and resting, creating a balance between exploration(combat) and strategy. The visual style leans into a retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic FPS games, while character design reflects a blend of human and machine elements. Key locations feature distinct environments, from the chaotic motherboard to the safe haven of the PSU.
After years of building MoboNode in Unity3D, we faced a pivotal decision: stick with what we knew or embrace the cutting-edge features of Unreal Engine 5. This was over a year ago! While the transition has presented its challenges, we firmly believe it’s the right move for our project.
We want MoboNode to stand out visually, and Unreal Engine 5’s advanced rendering capabilities, like Nanite and Lumen, promised to bring our vibrant world to life in ways Unity simply could not. Nanite allows for incredibly detailed assets without the usual performance trade-offs, while Lumen offers dynamic global illumination, creating realistic lighting that adapts in real time. This leap in visual fidelity has opened up exciting possibilities for MoboNode’s aesthetic, allowing us to create a more immersive experience for players.
However, switching game engines is no small feat, and we quickly realized the journey would not be without its struggles. Here are some key challenges we faced:
Unreal Engine 5’s Blueprints system feels like learning a new language. It offers a robust visual scripting environment that, while powerful, can be overwhelming compared to Unity’s simpler interface. As someone who prefers coding in C#, embracing Blueprints has become a necessity to fully leverage the engine’s capabilities. This shift required us to adapt our thinking and workflow significantly.
Migrating assets from Unity to Unreal was another hurdle. While some assets could be converted, others needed to be reworked or recreated to fit Unreal’s framework. This process was time-consuming but ultimately rewarding, allowing us to revisit and enhance our art and design.
Despite these challenges, the decision to switch to Unreal Engine 5 has begun to pay off, enhancing the overall vision for MoboNode.
Keep up-to-date on Development or contact us to get involved –> https://www.bossit.net.au/welcome-to-boss-it/programming/mobonode/
They are all great Engines and nothing is ever 100%. Utlimately it boils down to what kind of work your going to be doing, solo or team and/or creative art style 2D or 3D? Myself, I like to DIY everything and not use other peoples assets (I use Gimp(2D art) Blender(3D art) and FlStudio (Music Production).
If i were a starting Developer and making only solo games, using simple pixel art style, I would choose GoDot hands down. If i were a more 3D enclined artist, maybe have a team, dont mind lisencing agreements, then I would go with Unity3D, and if i wanted to focus on c++ and Realistic Environments, I would go with Unreal, However I would expect it would be a large investment of time to master.
Unity: Pragmatic Choice
Unreal Engine: The Tempting Beast
Godot: The Open-Source Appeal
Unity as the Practical Choice
Less delays, less procrastination, when using unity and it meets my current demands, I remain open to exploring Unreal Engine and Godot further as my skills progress.
In Conclusion
Just playing around with a Taviolo 60 map we found at Stanford. we can get 4x better resolutions using 600MB JP2 file. So, we did that, now were going to reverse engineer the source code of QGIS to make unity3D manage rendering it at a much higher level of detail, were talking an image that takes up 10GB memory without QGIS.
Progress on Taviolo 60 map we found at Stanford. Zooming | Panning and Environment systems. working with 12MB file, to replace with 600MB JP2 file and write custom code. We show the difference between our projects details and using specialist app QGIS in this video.
Unity3D, well-regarded for its prowess as a 3D Game Engine, has rolled out a revised pricing model that pertains to software installations. While Unity3D clarified that these charges apply exclusively to the initial installation, concerns have arisen, particularly concerning multi-platform deployments. This shift has ignited discussions within the Developer communities.
The decision to port some programs, from Unity to Unreal Engine 5 is a significant undertaking. Unreal Engine 5’s cutting-edge features, such as Nanite and Lumen, offer a promising environment to elevate the gaming experience, but how does that apply to 2 and 2.5D? This transition requires meticulous planning and resource allocation, thus we have requirement to reduce our Social Media Posts.
While Unity3D is not traditionally known as an AI development or 3D modelling platform, its capabilities in these domains have been continually expanding. Unity3D’s pricing changes introduced uncertainties and increased costs for developers. To ensure we maintain a sustainable approach in development, we have chosen to explore Unreal Engine 5 and Godot Engine for prototyping and smaller projects.
We have developed quite a few projects over the years, and Unity3D’s pricing shift has prompted us to re-evaluate our development strategy. While we transition our AI assistant to alternative platforms, we remain committed to innovation. Have you been betrayed by Unity? Please let us know.
More Information –>
https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/16ilfui/a_deep_dive_on_why_unitys_new_install_based/
https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/15/23875396/unity-mobile-developers-ad-monetization-tos-changes