PowerBots Retro News and Updates
Written by Jeremy Rhoades - Monday, Oct 3, 2022 at 9:00am
If you've been keeping an eye on the PowerBots Retro Steam Page, it's no secret that we haven't been pushing updates. However, this is for an exciting reason that we can finally talk about: PowerBots Retro is being rewritten in Unity!
That's right, after years of saying "hey, Minecraft did it ten years ago, why can't we?" - we're finally making the sensible choice of putting down our custom Java engine. This was a challenging decision and not an easy thing to give up. I put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into that engine and will be sad to see it go. But this is all for the best and I'm looking forward to the improvements that Unity will bring.
Why are you switching to Unity?
Unity has claimed its place as one of the most popular game engines for indie developers. Here's a list of the top reasons we're making the jump:
- No more Java hassle
- Easy porting to different systems (mobile, Switch, Steam Deck, etc.)
- Easier to code
- Less glitchy (especially for online play)
- Working with an established company
Unity has left a lasting impression as a company that cares about indie developers. I've had the privilege of meeting with a few of their employees and every interaction has been a positive experience. They're really trying to make indie game development work as an occupation - even if you're not using their engine.
Was the Java version all for nothing?
Definitely not! Writing this engine was an incredible learning experience and brought a solid behind-the-scenes view of how game engines work. The experience gained has greatly sped up the process of the rewrite and inspired many ideas for the future of Nonage.
If your name made it to the credits, you provided valuable feedback that helped prototype what this game will lead up to. Your name will rightfully remain in the credits after the switch is made.
An extra special thank you to everyone who took part in testing this wanky engine that was built with (perhaps a bit too much) love.
How far along is the rewrite?
The progress made for PowerBots Retro in Unity is much further than expected! Cruising through Unity courses has been a blast and the benefits are clear. In addition, the many brilliant people I've had the pleasure of working alongside in the IT world have helped me understand the application development process as a whole. If you have access to the Amazon App Store, you can test “PowerBots Arcade” today. Google Play and Apple App Store releases coming soon!
Be sure you're signed up for a Nonage account and keep an eye out for the emails!
Back to home
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