Posts

Hello! This post is the first in a new series where I’m going to make a tower defense game in Pico-8 and explain exactly how to do it, from scratch. If you’re looking to learn how to code, or you know how to code and are interested in learning how to make games, this is for you! I think making games is an excellent way to learn how to code, for several reasons. You get instant feedback on the code you write, through actually playing your game! There’s a lot of freedom in that there’s usually no right or wrong way to do things - what’s more important is whether something is fun or not, and that’s for you to decide. And finally, there’s many different aspects of game development to explore, from coding game mechanics to visual effects and pixel art, level design, sound effects and music and more. If you get stuck on one problem, there’s always different things to try and work on while you recharge. ...

I meant to write about how my sabbatical/gap year is going much earlier - it’s been almost 4 months now - but never got around to it. I’m definitely enjoying my break so far, but I didn’t realise how much I needed a break until it started. When I wrote about leaving my job I did mention I wanted rest, but also liked the appeal of having more time to spend on hobbies and other things too. I think I underestimated how much rest I needed. Now that I can actually rest during the day (well, sometimes), it’s clear how much rest/sleep I must have been sacrificing in order to work full-time. If I had continued to work over the last few months, it would have really taken a toll on my health. I’m glad I left when I did. ...

I recently treated myself to a Powkiddy RGB30 handheld console. It’s a great little device with an unusual square screen, which is perfect for playing Pico-8 games on (which is something else I’ve been getting into recently - more on that in another blog post!). Anyway, it turns out it’s also really good at running emulators, so after a bit of playing with it I inevitably ended up revisiting probably the favourite game of my childhood: Sensible World of Soccer (or SWOS for short). ...

As I write this, I’m one week away from leaving my role at Grab and embarking on a career break of (most likely) 6-12 months. Although I’m not looking for employment again yet, I thought it’d be good idea to note down my criteria for a future job now, for future reference. Type of Company My ideal company would be an already-successful startup or medium-sized company. I’ve worked for very large companies before and find earlier-stage companies to be more enjoyable and rewarding, although I have had negative experiences with startups that didn’t do so well. ...

This post is 100% written by a human. (me, obviously.) After just over 8 years at my current job, I’ve decided to leave. I don’t have another job lined up. In this post I’m going to try and put down some of the reasons behind my decision. It’s a personal decision, so if you’re expecting me to go on about my employer or some workplace drama, prepare for disappointment. I will be trying to avoid mentioning my employer here. There’s certainly a lot of stories to tell, people to thank, and yes, perhaps a few things I could rant about if really pushed, but that’s not why I’m leaving, so it’s not going on my blog! ...