Tools & Software
Welcome to the Tools & Software page! Here, I’m excited to share the essential tools and software that power the development of my indie games and help keep this blog/devlog running smoothly. From the game engines to the art software, coding environments, and everything in between, each piece of technology plays a critical role in bringing my creative visions to life. Whether it's designing intricate game worlds, crafting immersive experiences, or writing up my latest devlog post, these tools allow me to stay organized, efficient, and inspired. I believe in using the best software that fits my needs, and I'm always exploring new options to improve my workflow. Take a look below to discover the digital tools that make everything possible!
My engine of choice is the Godot Game Engine, which I began using in 2023. While I have prior experience working with Unity (and C#) as well as programming without an engine using Java, I found something uniquely appealing about Godot. Its lightweight nature, coupled with the intuitive and enjoyable experience of programming in GDScript, quickly won me over. Since then, I’ve fully embraced Godot for my indie game development projects. Additionally, the fact that Godot is fully open-source and free to use is a major benefit, aligning with my values of accessibility and community-driven development.
That said, I firmly believe that the engine or tool you use should align with what works best for you. Whether it’s Godot, Unity, Unreal, or something else, success comes from investing time and effort to truly understand the tool at hand. Don’t get caught up in the so-called "Engine Wars"—experiment with different options, and find the one that feels right for you. The journey of learning and creating is far more important than the software you use to bring your ideas to life.
Did you know, you can Godot on the Go?
Welcome to Xogot, a complete game development environment that runs on your iPad! Xogot is built on the popular Godot engine and offers a native iPad experience optimized for touch.
- Xogot Documentation
Xogot is a groundbreaking project that makes it possible to run the Godot engine natively on mobile platforms. As far as I know, this is the first game engine to fully support mobile development in such a way. The talented developers behind Xogot are making impressive progress and are working towards releasing the first candidate version. As of this post, it is still in early access through TestFlight, and anyone interested can sign up to participate and help test the platform.
Xogot is not just a convenient tool for continuing development on the go with an iPad, but it also opens up a new world of possibilities for developers who prefer to work entirely mobile. Xogot empowers you to create and iterate on your projects from anywhere, without the need for a traditional computer.
While Xogot has yet to announce its pricing model upon official release, it’s clear that the team is committed to providing a user-friendly experience with the best interests of its community in mind. They are very active on their Discord, offering prompt support for bugs and questions, ensuring that users are never left in the dark.
Head over to Xogot today to sign up for early access and experience this innovative product firsthand!
After many many years away from pixel art, a period so long that my tool of choice back then was MSPaint (yes, really), I found myself exploring new software options. I tried several, including Pixaki and Pixquare on iPad, Aseprite on PC/Mac/Linux, and Photoshop. Ultimately, I decided to settle on Pixquare, with the possibility of integrating Aseprite into my workflow as well.
While Aseprite is widely regarded as the go-to pixel art tool with its impressive array of features, I found Pixquare to be a compelling alternative. It offers many of the same essential features, along with a few unique tools of its own, all while allowing me the flexibility of mobile creativity. Whether I’m sitting on the couch with my iPad or working at the airport before a flight, I can easily continue creating on the go. Additionally, transitioning my work from Pixquare to Godot on my Mac is seamless—thanks to simple AirDrop file transfers.
If you're considering getting into pixel art, especially if you have an iPad, I highly recommend giving Pixquare a try. The creator Son Nguyen is active on his discord, and takes feed back seriously which lets us know as creators that the sky is the limit for this application, and worth investing time in learning it. While using a stylus offers a different experience, I was able to successfully create art using just a mouse back in the day, and tools like Aseprite are perfect for that. However, for those seeking the freedom to create without being tethered to a desk, Pixquare offers a uniquely mobile and creative experience worth exploring.
More coming Soon!
Stay tuned, I got just enough done on this page to publish it, however, with time restraints and prioritizing my daily posts and development, I'll add more tools when I can.