UIBuzz - Software and game development

I sit down with my good buddy Leo G. Dion from the EmpowerApps show to discuss Apple's WWDC 26 developer conference. We cover the announcements and where we think this year will go for developers and users. Support this Podcast by buying me a coffee ★ Support this podcast ★

This week, I'm diving into the recent announcement that AI company Anthropic is financially supporting Blender, the beloved open-source 3D modeling tool. Anthropic pledged 240,000 euros as a corporate Patron member — but the community pushback was swift. Blender responded transparently, apologized to the community, and agreed to seek broader input going forward. The arrangement was also restructur...

In this episode, I dive into a fascinating challenge with my hacking game, Project Hack. A developer played it, wrote a script that instantly hacked all available server money, and exposed a major design problem I hadn't considered. Now I'm wrestling with how to reward skilled players without breaking the early game experience. Play the game now on early pre-release on itch.io I'd love your feedba...

In this episode, I share my surprisingly positive experience diving into 3D game development with Godot. Despite what I'd read online, performance has been more than acceptable for my current project. I also walk through my mixed results exporting 3D assets from Unity into Godot — models come in fine, but texturing can be a mess. I'm seriously considering a ~$30 plugin to streamline the workflow....

I'm sharing a crucial reminder about data protection: automate your offsite backups now. I've seen too many drives fail over the years. Whether you're using GitHub, cloud services, or your own home lab, make sure you have encrypted remote backups. One day, it might save everything you've created. ★ Support this podcast ★

I'm pivoting my hacking game Project Hack from Unity to web technologies—React, TypeScript, and Vite. This shift lets players write JavaScript scripts to hack in-game, using the Monaco editor and a custom terminal. I'm building for desktop with Tauri and adding D3.js for network visualizations. The game now supports multiple playstyles: click-based or code-based hacking. It's live on itch.io in ea...

Hey everyone! In this episode, I'm sharing my journey of converting my iOS apps to Android using AI assistance—and honestly, I didn't expect it to work this well. What I Covered: I've been getting constant requests to bring my Job Finder Tracker and Sub Radar apps to Android, but learning Kotlin from scratch wasn't realistic with my limited time outside the day job. So I decided to try a different...

In this episode, I share my thoughts on the 2025 Game Awards, celebrating indie developers and questioning the hype around AAA game trailers with distant release dates. I discuss the rising costs of games, shifting audiences, and why smaller, more creative titles are winning my attention.  Please tune in for my honest take on where the gaming industry is headed! ★ Support this podcast ★

Game Development Challenges and Innovations I've been busy with my game project, Project Hack, making significant UI changes and integrating new features like a leaderboard. Balancing gameplay is a major challenge, but I've devised strategies to keep it fair. Looking forward to sharing more progress and insights with fellow developers. Follow for more updates on my game and app projects! Mentioned...

In this episode, I share my journey of using AI tools like Claude Code and Bezi to solve real-world Unity game development problems—cloud saves, player management, and handling large numbers. I discuss what worked, what didn’t, and why specialized AI tools can make a significant difference. If you’re a game dev hitting roadblocks, check this out and let me know your thoughts in the comments! Video...

In this UIBuzz episode, I discuss using Cursor, an AI-enhanced IDE based on Visual Studio Code, to build a React app and then a SwiftUI app. Despite some issues, Cursor efficiently handled tasks, proving to be a valuable tool for developers. Reach out to me at PeterWitham.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Here are some thoughts on using prebuilt assets to build your games and apps. Personally, I think it's fine to use them, but I want to offer both sides for consideration. (00:00) - Introduction (01:14) - The Pros (03:47) - The Cons (06:55) - Contact me on X (07:25) - Support the Podcast Support the Podcast https://peterwitham.com/bmc Contact https://peterwitham.com/contact ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, I discuss Warframe, an amazing free-to-play game. I highlight its fair monetization, cross-platform play, and community engagement, contrasting it with the failures of other AAA studios. I encourage listeners to try Warframe and support its developers if they enjoy it. Try Warframe at warframe.com Reach out to me at www.peterwitham.com/contact ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the UIBuzz podcast, I return after a month's break to discuss my recent projects and a concerning trend in the gaming industry. Including an update to my " Endless Hurdles " game timed with the Olympics, learning Blender for 3D graphics, and developing a new macOS project management app. I also delve into Bungie's layoffs, scrutinizing management's decisions and their broader im...

I talk about my experiences learning Blender in public to create some 3D assets for my games. Then I discuss testing on multiple devices to get a real feel for performance problems with your apps and games. Mentioned in this episode My Godot Endless Runner video course Joey Carlino's excellent Blender modeling video ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the UIBuzz podcast, I delve into the important topic of valuing your time. I discuss why it's essential to recognize the worth of your time and the fine line between offering services for free and charging a monetary value for your efforts. I give practical advice on handling changing circumstances, especially when transitioning from offering free to paid services, and stress th...

I want to add a cross-platform leaderboard to my updated rebuild of Endless Hurdles. There are two options. 1. I build my own 2. I use a 3rd party service In this episode, I will discuss the pros and cons of both options in the hope that it will help you when you need to make similar choices. Play Endless Hurdles for iOS https://peterwitham.com/eh Contact me https://peterwitham.com/contact Could y...

I have spent the last few weeks deeply investing in converting my site PeterWitham.com from WordPress hosting to static site generation through Astro. It has been an intense couple of weeks to beat my deadline before the WordPress hosting renews for another year. In this episode, I share tips and thoughts to help you do the same. Mentioned in this episode Astro TailwindCSS Contact me   ★ Support t...

Some thoughts on the wins and losses of developing a game by yourself versus a team. I welcome your participation in the show and discussion of this topic. (00:00) - Introduction (00:14) - Solo game development (03:53) - Buy me a Coffee (04:52) - Contact Me Contact me to share your thoughts https://peterwitham.com ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the UIBuzz podcast, I explore the journey of updating and porting my Unity game to Unreal Engine. Delving into blueprints, I share my experience transitioning from traditional coding to a more visual approach. Embracing the efficiency and creativity that blueprint coding offers. I discuss the ease of logic implementation and the abundance of resources available in the marketplac...

In this episode, I am catching up on my indie game, Project Hack. I want to share my progress and plans as I build out the multiplayer version in Unreal Engine. This is a fun passion project for me, and it fills the gaps between work and side projects that need to be done. You can find the blog posts at https://peterwitham.com/p8k ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, I discuss the importance of adding achievements to games after implementing a leaderboard in my iOS game. I explain achievements, how they benefit player engagement, and how they extend the game's lifespan. I share examples like jumping hurdles and seasonal events to keep players coming back. Achievements provide goals, a sense of accomplishment, and friendly competition. I encour...

In this episode of the UIBuzz podcast, host Peter Witham discusses the increasing challenges and restrictions app developers face when using app stores. He highlights the need to explore alternative options, particularly web apps, to solve these problems. Peter emphasizes the advantage of web apps in terms of cross-platform compatibility and the ability to write code once. However, he acknowledges...

I have found that the performance on Android of a Godot 4 exported game is just dreadful—some questions and observations in this episode. You can also show your support by buying me a coffee https://peterwitham.com/bmc ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the UI Buzz Podcast, I discuss adding Game Center support to my SpriteKit game. Adding game services, like leaderboards, can enhance the gameplay experience and encourage friendly competition. Integrating GameCenter was surprisingly easy, and it handles user accounts and cheating prevention. Resetting the leaderboard every seven days ensures fairness. I also mention the potentia...