Game design, interactive mechanics, Unreal Engine pipelines, and creative workflows by Joe Stallings.https://quadraticgames.com/en-ushttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/why-vibe-coding-can-t-teach-game-architecture/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/why-vibe-coding-can-t-teach-game-architecture/When students bypass the friction of building basic mechanics from scratch, they miss out on the mental models required to diagnose why two systems are fighting over the same variable.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTgame-designartificial-intelligence-aihttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/stop-building-games-start-building-a-skills-inventory/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/stop-building-games-start-building-a-skills-inventory/Why first-time developers and game design students fail when chasing massive open-world pitches, and how building an inventory of modular, shippable micro-prototypes creates lasting momentum.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTgame-designhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/stop-coding-first-why-game-and-product-design-live-or-die-on-paper/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/stop-coding-first-why-game-and-product-design-live-or-die-on-paper/Flowcharts and pseudocode help kickstart your designs.They give you a fast, low-friction way to test your logic before writing your first line of code.Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTgame-designtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/1071-2/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/1071-2/Surround yourself with what genuinely sparks curiosity. My LEGO models aren't just decorations. They are daily reminders of why I love design and why I teach.Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTcreative-artsotherprojectshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/if-a-bot-can-do-your-homework-the-assignment-was-the-problem/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/if-a-bot-can-do-your-homework-the-assignment-was-the-problem/We’ve built schools that obsess over what students know instead of how they think. Let's change that.Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aihttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/is-openai-the-next-netscape/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/is-openai-the-next-netscape/They tech giants don't need to be first. They just need to be the default setting on your phone or laptop.Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aihttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/the-hidden-cost-of-free-navigating-the-shift-in-coding-platforms/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/the-hidden-cost-of-free-navigating-the-shift-in-coding-platforms/If you are teaching middle schoolers, you are operating in a minefield where "EdTech" collides with "Ad-Tech." Here is why it’s time to modernize your toolkit.Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTgame-designothertoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-engines-are-the-new-universal-design-tool/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-engines-are-the-new-universal-design-tool/Platforms like Unreal Engine and Unity are more than just "game engines." They are powerful real-time 3D simulation engines, and they're quietly becoming foundational across a shocking number of industries.Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTcreative-artsgame-designtoolsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/are-students-attention-spans-broken-or-are-our-courses/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/are-students-attention-spans-broken-or-are-our-courses/A series of AI flashcards won't cultivate the deep thinking students truly need - things like context, reflection, synthesis, and the support of an informed mentor.Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTothertoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/the-fascinating-world-of-zero-player-games/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/the-fascinating-world-of-zero-player-games/In a world obsessed with interactivity, zero-player games remind us that sometimes, the most compelling experiences come from stepping back and simply watching a world unfold on its own.Tue, 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aigame-designhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/artpixelfy-a-dive-into-pixel-art-and-retro-graphics/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/artpixelfy-a-dive-into-pixel-art-and-retro-graphics/Before high-definition graphics and advanced rendering techniques, video games were built around strict hardware limitations. With ArtPixelfy, you can explore the evolution of computer graphics and experiment with different historical video game palettes.Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTcreative-artsprojectstoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/ai-wont-replace-you-but-someone-else-might/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/ai-wont-replace-you-but-someone-else-might/AI is different from previous technological disruptions. It won’t eliminate all jobs outright, but it will create a competitive advantage for those who know how to use it. If you don’t learn to integrate AI into your work, someone else will.Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aitoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/ai_gamedev/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/ai_gamedev/AI is transforming game development with faster workflows, ethical concerns, and creative collaboration opportunities for artists, programmers, and storytellers alike.Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aicreative-artsgame-designhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/understanding-chatgpt-custom-gpts-and-ai-agents-whats-the-difference/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/understanding-chatgpt-custom-gpts-and-ai-agents-whats-the-difference/Explore the differences between ChatGPT, Custom GPTs, and AI Agents, and learn which AI tool suits your tasks and goals best.Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aitoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/tinyglade/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/tinyglade/Tiny Glade is a delightful game that doubles as an introduction to 3D modeling, spatial visualization, and design aesthetics.Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTcreative-artsgame-designtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/eve-frontier-a-visionary-leap/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/eve-frontier-a-visionary-leap/EVE Frontier combines blockchain, player-driven economies, and innovative gameplay. Is this the savior of Web3 games and the future of MMOs?Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aigame-designtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/lets-build-multilingual-translation-app-with-windsurf/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/lets-build-multilingual-translation-app-with-windsurf/Windsurf features a unique AI assistant, Cascade, which feels like an indispensable collaborator. Whether it was debugging, making smart coding suggestions, or streamlining tedious tasks, Cascade amplified my productivity.Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aicreative-artsprojectstoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/a-fun-duotone-image-editor-web-app/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/a-fun-duotone-image-editor-web-app/Learn how to build a fun and interactive duotone image editor web app with features like image uploads, Unsplash integration, and custom color effects. This step-by-step guide covers design, coding, and deployment, with tips on using AI to streamline development and enhance user experience!Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aiprojectstoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/what-exactly-is-ray-tracing/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/what-exactly-is-ray-tracing/Discover what ray tracing is and why it's revolutionizing computer graphics. Learn how this cutting-edge technology creates stunningly realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections in games, movies, and more.Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTcreative-artsgame-designtoolsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/exploring-how-openai-swarm-can-help-small-businesses/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/exploring-how-openai-swarm-can-help-small-businesses/OpenAI's Swarm can revolutionize small businesses by automating customer support, sales, marketing, HR, and internal workflows. Learn how AI agents collaborate to streamline tasks and improve efficiency, freeing up time for business growth.Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aiothertoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-api/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-api/Explore top game APIs from Blizzard Battle.net, Steam, and EVE Online. Create companion apps, detailed analytics, and enhance your gaming experience.Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTgame-designtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-of-life/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-of-life/John Conway's Game of Life raised some interesting philosophical issues about the nature of patterns, emergent behavior, and AI.Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aicreative-artsgame-designhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/teamtorch-your-friendly-neighborhood-hr-helper/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/teamtorch-your-friendly-neighborhood-hr-helper/TeamTorch is the brainchild of my efforts during a 24-hour hackathon hosted by LabLab. This innovative prototype application serves as a valuable human resources assistant for both existing employees and incoming hires alike for small to medium sized companies.Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aiprojectstoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/building-your-own-custom-gpt/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/building-your-own-custom-gpt/The power to create and customize GPTs is now accessible to everyone, irrespective of their coding expertise. This paves the way for a multitude of applications, encompassing personal endeavors, business innovations, and enhancements in public services.Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aitoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-sequel-concept-activity-kiss-rise-of-the-avatars/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-sequel-concept-activity-kiss-rise-of-the-avatars/Embark on a thrilling journey in KISS: Rise of the Avatars, the electrifying sequel to the acclaimed KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare ChildTue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTgame-designhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/goldberg-machine/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/goldberg-machine/The Rube Goldberg Machines' Unreal Learning Kit exemplifies Unreal Engine's potential to revolutionize STEM education. It underscores Epic's dedication to providing captivating and memorable learning experiences with Unreal Engine.Sat, 02 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMTcreative-artsgame-designtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/pinokio-the-ultimate-ai-browser/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/pinokio-the-ultimate-ai-browser/Explore Pinokio, a groundbreaking AI browser that simplifies the process of launching and automating AI applications.Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aitoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/using-mineways-to-export-minecraft-worlds-to-blender-and-3d-printing/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/using-mineways-to-export-minecraft-worlds-to-blender-and-3d-printing/Did you know you can export your Minecraft creations into Blender and other 3D graphics programs? Discover the world of Mineways and unleash your creativity!Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMTcreative-artstoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/harnessing-the-power-of-visual-imagery-in-creative-writing/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/harnessing-the-power-of-visual-imagery-in-creative-writing/Unlock new levels of creativity in your storytelling with an innovative exercise that uses images to inspire plot summaries. This method enhances observational skills, stimulates imagination, encourages conciseness, and fosters empathy. By harnessing the power of visual imagery, writers can create more engaging, memorable, and impactful stories.Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMTcreative-artshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/unleashing-creativity-together-the-magic-of-collaborative-storytelling-and-google-docs/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/unleashing-creativity-together-the-magic-of-collaborative-storytelling-and-google-docs/Collaborative storytelling with Google Docs is a fantastic way to make writing more social, creative, and fun!Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMTcreative-artsothertoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/my-first-visual-novel-a-journey-with-twine-and-ai/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/my-first-visual-novel-a-journey-with-twine-and-ai/I've just completed my first visual novel, and the journey was as exciting as the story itself. The stars of this journey? An open-source platform called Twine, and my trusty AI design assistants.Sat, 24 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aigame-designprojectstoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/the-wreck-of-the-compass-rose/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/the-wreck-of-the-compass-rose/This is an AI-assisted narrative of the notes I took from my last Dungeon's & Dragons play session!Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aicreative-artshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/top-free-open-source-tools-for-designers-developers-and-creative-educators/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/top-free-open-source-tools-for-designers-developers-and-creative-educators/While it's often believed that free applications can't match up to their paid counterparts, there are open-source options that come surprisingly close.Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMTtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/the-shark-whisperer/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/the-shark-whisperer/A story about a girl and a shark, completely written and illustrated by AI.Tue, 27 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTartificial-intelligence-aicreative-artshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/hello-dalle/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/hello-dalle/This AI platform can generate images from text descriptions in just seconds, allowing users to create stunning, unique - and sometimes outright creepy - visuals for their projects.Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/a-simple-guide-to-modular-synthesis-with-vcv-rack/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/a-simple-guide-to-modular-synthesis-with-vcv-rack/Modular synthesizers are complicated beasts. But what if you just want to play around with some awesome sounds?Sat, 12 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMTaudiotoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/rapid-prototyping/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/rapid-prototyping/"Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward." Welcome to the dynamic world of rapid prototyping for game design!Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMTgame-designhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/what-is-the-difference-between-ux-and-ui/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/what-is-the-difference-between-ux-and-ui/There are many similarities between user experience and user interface design, but there are also some crucial differences.Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMTgame-designtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/teaching-with-fortnite-creative/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/teaching-with-fortnite-creative/What better way to teach students the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) curriculum than using things they already know and love like Fortnite, Minecraft, Legos, etc.?Mon, 05 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMTgame-designtoolsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/angies-place-official-release/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/angies-place-official-release/The public release of "Angie’s Place," my game submission for the Core 2.0 Invitational hosted by Manticore games, is now available to play for free.Fri, 01 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/behind-the-scenes-at-angies-place/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/behind-the-scenes-at-angies-place/Read "Behind the Scenes at "Angie's Place"" on Quadratic Games.Tue, 14 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/testing-your-game/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/testing-your-game/This handy checklist from the folks at Mantacore Games shows you everything you need to check for before publishing a game.Tue, 31 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMTgame-designhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/bk/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/bk/Read "A Burger King Whopper" on Quadratic Games.Sat, 28 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMTprivateishhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/core-invitational/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/core-invitational/I am honored and humbled to have been one of only 50 developers around the world to be invited to the Core Invitational. This game development contest runs from August 12 to September 13 and includes a whopping $140,000 in prizes (including a Tesla Model 3)!Tue, 10 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/dy5topia/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/dy5topia/dy5topia is my submission for "DYSTOPIAN WORLDS: a deadmau5 x Core Collab Jam." The jam objective was to create a dystopian world using Core.Tue, 27 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMTgame-designunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/fortuna/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/fortuna/Fortuna! is an original composition and the title song for the (imaginary) game, Return to Treasure Island.Mon, 14 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMTgame-designaudiootherhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/j-p-winkles-jungle-hunt/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/j-p-winkles-jungle-hunt/J.P. Winkle's Jungle Hunt! is a 3D walking simulation / treasure hunt built in Unreal Engine and designed by Quadratic Games.Mon, 29 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/machina-vol-ii-industrie-available-on-spotify-itunes/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/machina-vol-ii-industrie-available-on-spotify-itunes/Machina Vol. II: Industrie finds me and my AI companions delving into electronic music and ambient soundscapes, creating new music using vintage synthesizers and drum machines.Wed, 03 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMTaudiohttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/epic-megajam-2020-until-death/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/epic-megajam-2020-until-death/Until Death...? is a 3D platformer game that was submitted to the Epic MegaJam 2020.Sun, 20 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/white-north-crafting-surviving-in-unreal-engine/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/white-north-crafting-surviving-in-unreal-engine/I've been working on a crafting and survival game for the past few weeks, with the working title of "White North."Fri, 27 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/quick-review-ultimate-icon-generator/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/quick-review-ultimate-icon-generator/Ultimate Icon Generator is a clever little tool for generating icons for 3D meshes in Unreal Engine.Wed, 11 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectstoolsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/machina-vol-1-dawn-now-on-spotify/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/machina-vol-1-dawn-now-on-spotify/Machina is a multi-album musical concept project containing songs composed, performed, and mastered using artificial intelligence (AI).Wed, 28 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMTaudioprojectshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/first-person-walking-controls-for-oculus-rift/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/first-person-walking-controls-for-oculus-rift/Download this Unreal Engine VR project with gamepad-like player movement for the Oculus Rift.Wed, 12 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMTprojectstoolsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/unreal-engine-asset-review-modular-synth-ui-pro/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/unreal-engine-asset-review-modular-synth-ui-pro/Having a modern synth inside of the game engine with access to all of the parameters at runtime is incredibly powerful. It won't be long before we have gorgeous, true procedurally-generated music and soundscapes that can respond to events in the game.Tue, 04 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMTaudiotoolsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/cinematic-short-a-hunters-tale/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/cinematic-short-a-hunters-tale/If you have ever used Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple's Final Cut, etc., you should find the workflow of cinematics in Unreal Engine relatively intuitive.Sun, 02 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMTprojectstoolsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/deep-flight-one-for-studio-one/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/deep-flight-one-for-studio-one/Earlier this week PreSonus released Deep Flight One for Studio One, an expansion pack for Presence XT. The presets sound fantastic out of the box particularly the pads, drones, and soundscapes.Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMTaudiotoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/cat-earth-society-ftw/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/cat-earth-society-ftw/Cat-Earth Society (CES) was an award-winning submission to the 2019 Epic MegaJam. CES won the TINY AWARD for the best game that came in under 100MB. The original 5-member development team is expanding on CES and working towards a future commercial release! Be sure to join our Discord server for the latest updates on the game. If you haven't seen or played Cat-Earth Society, read on.Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/presonus-studio-vs-logic-pro-part-1/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/presonus-studio-vs-logic-pro-part-1/In the first part of a two-part article, I provide some background on my history with digital audios workstations (DAW) as I prepare to leave Logic Pro for Studio One.Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMTaudiotoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/drone-mountain/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/drone-mountain/Drone Mountain is a semi-realistic drone / quad-copter simulation built in Unreal Engine. A quad-copter is a multi-rotor helicopter that is lifted and propelled by four rotors. You can pilot your drone in an Arctic environment with a control scheme that is similar to what real-world drone pilots use. The game is free to download and play, and you can get it over at itch.io .Mon, 27 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectsunrealhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/character-creator/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/character-creator/Before switching to Unreal Engine, I built this character editor in Unity using the visual scripting system Playmaker. You can try out a low-resolution WebGL build by clicking here .Tue, 23 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojectshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/blast-from-the-past-espn-blue-ribbon-and-team-ratings/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/blast-from-the-past-espn-blue-ribbon-and-team-ratings/Fun article I wrote about college basketball rankings, Blue Ribbon, and ESPN from my days working on EA Sports' NCAA College Basketball.Mon, 25 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMTgame-designhttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/source-control-in-unity/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/source-control-in-unity/After much evaluation, trial, and error, I've decided to go back to GitHub and GitHub Desktop.Sun, 24 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMTtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-design-document-gdd-template/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/game-design-document-gdd-template/This Game Design Document (GDD) template should work for most any kind of game on any kind of digital platform.Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMTgame-designtoolshttps://quadraticgames.com/posts/quadratic-fallingwater/https://quadraticgames.com/posts/quadratic-fallingwater/The first playable "game" project I built (mostly) by myself is called Fallingwater. Check it out!Sat, 16 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMTgame-designprojects