Sebastien Lavier

As a freelance rigger, I need to make sure my builds have a lot of flexibility. So I've recently reworked my lid modules to add variable joint counts. By utilizing a curve-based output I can changed the amount of joints used based on the needs of the project. Higher joint counts for fidelity and control, lower counts for simplicity and optimization. Or I can test and iterate to find a happy middle ground. So animators using my rigs on film or game projects can enjoy the same features, such as: - Automated lid follow with eye movement - Main controls to position the lids through translation and sculpt the curvature with rotation/scale  - Secondary controls for finer detail (If there are enough joints to support it) - Manual or automated blinking. Animate controls, or activate the automated meet point between your posed lids for a perfect seal I've been using iterations of this system over my last few projects, both commercials and games. The core elements of this system have been floating around in my head since 2018, so it's been great to finally put it to the test. 

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We work with handpicked Unreal teams to test our new #Photon Fusion for Unreal Engine. We can not wait to launch this free for development this year. - UE-first approach: Works seamlessly with the native engine workflow - Native replication support: Uses Unreal’s own settings (rep, repNotify, etc.) - Blueprint & custom RPC support - Shared physics simulation with prediction (clients cooperate to drive the world forward) - Very accurate networked physics using our new Forecast technology with Chaos - Server-side logic support (beyond engine code) - Serverless deployment via Photon Cloud (20 regions, 2B+ MAU) - Enterprise-ready: Dedicated setups, SLA, full support - 10x-50x more cost-effective compared to dedicated servers

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Can you built a Unity game WITHOUT opening the Unity Editor? Yes, it’s possible. In my latest experiment, I used Cursor AI + GitHub to build a full-fledged Tic-Tac-Toe game — and the best part? I didn’t even open the Unity game engine until the final stage! Here’s what I did: ✅ Created a GitHub repo ✅ Connected it with Cursor AI ✅ Gave a few well-crafted prompts ✅ Watched as the AI handled scripting, scene setup, and logic — all from VS Code 🎮 From generating HTML versions to refining a Unity-native build, this process was a mix of automation, iteration, and a little manual intervention. But it proved one thing loud and clear: AI is not just assisting, it’s evolving the way we build games. ✨ I also created additional public repos including: An Object Pooling system A Procedural Story Generator 👨‍💻 Check out the full breakdown and live demo in my new video: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dHvkBv-h If you're a Unity developer (or even just curious), this is a must-watch. #GameDevelopment #Unity3D #CursorAI #AItools #GitHub #CodingWithAI #IndieDev #GameDevTools #LinkedInGaming #NikhilMalankar

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A good game isn’t good enough anymore. The challenge isn’t just quality. Good games are failing today. Well-reviewed titles, crafted with passion, are launching into silence. It’s not just about quality – it’s about visibility. A big part of my work is making content visible and that’s where our industry keeps slipping. Why? Because the bar for discoverability has changed and many of us haven’t adjusted. We often blame marketing missteps or product features; that’s fair. But zooming out, the broader trend is undeniable: oversaturation + limited attention = discoverability collapse. 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆... 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘. In 2024, nearly 19,000 games launched on Steam. On paper, it looks like a golden age. But here’s the twist: 2/3 of all PC playtime went to just FIVE titles. And most aren’t new – they’re SIX+ years old. • For developers: it’s oversaturation. • For players: it’s discoverability hell. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. In 2021, money was everywhere. Studios raised millions with slides alone. By Q4 2024, funding dropped 47% – the lowest in five years. That pushes pitches toward sequels and spin-offs, while bold new games get shelved. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟰-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁. Players don’t just choose between games. They’re splitting hours with Netflix, TikTok, YouTube, podcasts. Even sleep is a competitor… and sleep is free. On average, they’ve got 3 hours a day for screen time. We’re all fighting for the same slice. These problems won’t fade. AI, UGC platforms, and cheaper tools will only accelerate supply. The flood isn’t slowing. 𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘀 𝗱𝗼? Extraordinary effort now goes into differentiation and marketing. Even then, discoverability is harder and less predictable than ever. For indies, it feels like the deck is stacked… and honestly, it is. That’s why discoverability isn’t a side problem. It is the number one problem in games. Solving it will decide who survives the next decade. The biggest underutilized dev team? ↳ YOUR PLAYERS. The biggest underutilized marketing team? ↳ YOUR PLAYERS. In 2024, creators earned $1B+. That’s GDP, not UGC. And with 10.7% of global playtime happening inside player-made content, the shift is real. There are 2 big trends: №1: Game-as-a-Platform. Build tools, templates, and incentives. №2: Players in the Dev Room. Not just feedback forms but real authority, through sandbox tests, player councils and revenue share. Platforms like PlayMakers, Overwolf, or Mod(.)io are showing the way: giving players the tools, turning them into creators, rewarding them for creativity. So here’s the real question for the future: Are you still asking how to make more content? Or are you building a system where players make it for you – better, faster, at scale? Thoughts?

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Industry is shifting, AI is being used more and more every day. Unreal's and Unity's MCPs can easily be connected with Claude and they do the work for you. Yes, it is not great right now, but it will be soon. So what should game devs do? Build up the skills that most don't have. Start building on open-source along with game engines, you know low-level tech too! Here's my 10 Open-Source Project Recommendations: 🚀 PROJECT 1: PONG CLONE Tech Stack: SDL2 + OpenGL + GLM Skills: Game loops, input handling, OpenGL rendering, matrix transformations, basic shaders, collision detection PROJECT 2: BREAKOUT GAME   Tech Stack: OpenGL + bgfx + ImGui Skills: Graphics API abstraction, sprite batching, texture management, debug overlays, performance profiling PROJECT 3: SIMPLE PLATFORMER Tech Stack: Godot/Defold/Cocos2d-x Skills: Engine extension with C++, tilemaps, state machines, camera systems, level editing workflows PROJECT 4: PHYSICS PLAYGROUND Tech Stack: Box2D + Chipmunk2D Skills: Rigid body dynamics, constraint systems, collision callbacks, physics optimization, performance comparison PROJECT 5: 3D PHYSICS DEMO Tech Stack: Bullet + ReactPhysics3D   Skills: 3D collision shapes, character controllers, raycasting, physics debugging, memory management PROJECT 6: 2D MULTIPLAYER ARENA Tech Stack: ENet/RakNet Skills: Client-server architecture, UDP networking, state synchronization, lag compensation, packet optimization PROJECT 7: 3D MULTIPLAYER PROTOTYPE Tech Stack: Urho3D + Mirror/Photon Skills: Networked transforms, RPC systems, authority patterns, cheat prevention, scalability planning PROJECT 8: AUDIO-DRIVEN GAME Tech Stack: OpenAL + SDL_mixer + FMOD Skills: 3D audio positioning, beat detection, audio streaming, latency management, DSP effects PROJECT 9: 3D ADVENTURE DEMO Tech Stack: Ogre3D + Eigen Skills: Asset pipelines, PBR rendering, skeletal animation, scene graphs, lighting systems PROJECT 10: CUSTOM ENGINE CAPSTONE Tech Stack: SDL2 + bgfx + Bullet + OpenAL + ENet + Lua Skills: Engine architecture, component systems, scripting integration, cross-platform builds, tool development PROGRESSION PATH: 🔸 Projects 1-2: Rendering & input fundamentals 🔸 Projects 3-5: Engine usage + 2D/3D physics depth   🔸 Projects 6-7: Networking patterns & latency handling 🔸 Project 8: Audio systems & gameplay synchronization 🔸 Projects 9-10: Full 3D pipeline & multi-library orchestration While AI automates the mundane, developers who understand these fundamentals will be the ones creating the next generation of groundbreaking games. Keep building great games!💪🏼 *** 🔗 Learn Game Development at: https://lnkd.in/g2GhgeRJ Mayank Grover Manas Gangwani Bhavyam G. Aryan Saxena #GameDev #OpenSource #GameProgramming #Programming #Tech

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