UIBuzz - Software and game development

The advantage of shorter games for players and developers

Why Short Games Feel So Satisfying (for Players and Developers) In this episode of the UI Buzz podcast, host Peter Witham reflects on the satisfaction of short games compared to long-running open-world experiences like World of Warcraft. He explains how shorter games—often idle or progressive titles found on places like itch.io—can be completed in a few hours or days, letting players finish, enjoy, and move on. Peter argues these games also benefit developers by requiring less content, enabling clear end goals, and reducing the risk of projects never being finished, especially for solo creators. He connects this to why game jams work well due to tight time limits that prevent major scope creep. With attention harder to earn and keep, he believes short games can provide a more reliable win for both players and developers. 00:00 UI Buzz Short Games 00:21 Long vs. Short Games 00:52 The Satisfaction of Short Games 01:19 Idle & Progressive Games 02:08 Developer Benefits 03:19 Game Jams & Scope Creep 05:33 Final Thoughts Contact Peter https://peterwitham.com/contact ★ Support this podcast ★

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Development exercises, game updates, hot stuff!

Peter returns after a busy summer with a catch-up episode covering two main topics: Concept driven mini projects: Instead of building full games or apps, Peter has been creating small, focused projects to explore specific mechanics (like player tracking and object movement in idle/progressive games). These serve as both livestream content and a reusable reference library of techniques. ProjectHack.net goes into production: Peter's hacking-style idle game is now fully released and playable in-browser at ProjectHack.net/game. A major update with missions is coming soon. The game runs on any device via the web, with instant content updates. Support the show: Buy Peter a coffee at PeterWitham.com/BMC Contact: PeterWitham.com/contact ★ Support this podcast ★

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AI usage, do users care? And thoughts on mental health and my latest game release

In this episode of UIBuzz, I reflect on a busy month away, share the release of my game MooFO on Itch.io, and discuss my take on AI declaration of use in game development. Including why I think the "AI used" checkbox needs more granularity. I also open up about intentionally stepping back from side projects, the mental health benefits of that break, and why, honestly, evaluating your numbers matters more than artificial self-imposed pressure. Play MooFO on the web at https://peterwitham.com/moofo ★ Support this podcast ★

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Apple WWDC 26 Keynote reactions

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 ★

Blender and Anthropic: Funding and Fallout

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 restructured from an ongoing membership to a one-time payment. My take? Nothing wrong happened here. Blender needs financial support to thrive, and a little community patience goes a long way. Buy me a Coffee and help this Podcast survive https://peterwitham.com/bmc ★ Support this podcast ★

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What to do when you make a feature in a game too good?

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 feedback — https://pwitham.itch.io/projecthack/community ★ Support this podcast ★

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My Godot 3D experiences and Unity China Packages

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. Contact me https://peterwitham.com/contact Could you show your support by buying me a coffee? https://peterwitham.com/bmc ★ Support this podcast ★

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Back it up off site! Because you should!

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 ★

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Pivot to Web-based Tech for Scripting in Project Hack

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 early development. This approach eliminates engine constraints and accelerates feature development. Check it out at projecthack.net and share your feedback! ★ Support this podcast ★

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My experiences with AI-assisted Android porting of iOS apps

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 approach: using Claude Code AI to help convert my existing iOS apps. The Process: Working with Claude Code and an Android developer friend, I fed the AI my handcrafted iOS source code and asked it to analyze the architecture, technologies, and features. It came back with a solid five-phase plan: Phase 1: Build data structures and database (replacing Core Data with Room) Phase 2: Create UI with basic CRUD operations Phase 3: Add advanced features like calendar and local notifications Phase 4: Set up syncing capabilities Phase 5: Testing and refined features like PDF importing The Results: In less than 12 hours of work time, I went from nothing to a fully functional Android app. About 90% of the conversion was handled by AI, with manual tweaking needed for specific features like customizable push notifications. The app now runs beautifully, even on my ancient test tablet. Key Takeaway: AI alone wouldn't have gotten this right, but by feeding it a well-architected project I'd built by hand, it got me most of the way there. This approach lets me learn Android development while getting apps to market quickly. Moving forward, I'll be building all new apps for both platforms from the start, keeping me platform-independent and flexible for whatever trends come next. Check out Job Finder Tracker at https://www.PeterWitham.com/jft Support this podcast by buying me a coffee, this keeps the podcast advertising free with no interruptions ★ Support this podcast ★

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My thoughts on the 2025 game awards

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 ★

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Game balancing is hard

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 Project Hack Sub Radar subscription tracking app Contact me peterwitham.com/contact ★ Support this podcast ★

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AI for Unity game development, my experiences

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 version https://youtu.be/2QEJyDjMzb4 ★ Support this podcast ★

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My experiences with Cursor for creating applications

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 ★

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The Pros and Cons of using Prebuilt Assets

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 ★

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How Warframe got free to play right and everyone else gets it wrong

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 ★

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Project updates and my thoughts on the Bungie game studio layoffs disaster

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 implications for the gaming industry. I share my frustration over the industry's treatment of employees and encourage a shift towards valuing and nurturing talent. Listeners can join the conversation with me on X @UIBuzz and find more details about my projects on PeterWitham.com and my live streams on twitch.tv/compileddev. ★ Support this podcast ★

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Learning Blender in public and a great video resource, plus game testing advice

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 ★

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Everything you do has value

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 the importance of not feeling guilty about charging for your work. I encourage listeners to reflect on what their time is worth and to find a balance that works for them. I emphasize the need not to feel bad about charging for your services if your situation changes and you can no longer offer them for free. Thank you for tuning in! If you have opinions on this topic, contact me at PeterWitham.com/contact. Share this episode with someone who might benefit from this perspective. ★ Support this podcast ★

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Should you use 3rd party services or make your own for game backends?

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 you show your support by buying me a coffee? https://peterwitham.com/bmc ★ Support this podcast ★

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