Merge branch 'source' into boat-journey

Author: AngelOnFira

content/news/044/8bit-duels-game.png

@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ Feel free to send PRs about your own projects!
 - [Learning Material Updates](#learning-material-updates)
 - [Tooling Updates](#tooling-updates)
 - [Library Updates](#library-updates)
-- [Other News](#other-news)
 - [Popular Workgroup Issues in Github](#popular-workgroup-issues-in-github)
+- [Other News](#other-news)
 - [Discussions](#discussions)
 - [Requests for Contribution](#requests-for-contribution)
 - [Jobs](#jobs)
@@ -68,6 +68,145 @@ If needed, a section can be split into subsections with a "------" delimiter.
 
 ## Game Updates
 
+### [8bit Duels]
+
+![movement_animations](8bit-duels-game.png)
+_An 8bit Duels match_
+
+[@ThousandthStar] is creating a simple multiplayer turn-based strategy using the
+[Bevy Engine]. The [latest devlog] brings features like ownership indicators,
+movement and attack animations, and a chat system.
+
+The game is under development. The [8-bit Discord] is the best place to talk
+about the game.
+
+8bit Duels will be getting UI updates next, and the first version should release
+soon after that. Other troops are coming as well.
+
+_Discussions: [8-bit Discord]_
+
+[8bit Duels]: https://thousandthstar.github.io/
+[@ThousandthStar]: https://github.com/ThousandthStar
+[Bevy Engine]: https://bevyengine.org/
+[latest devlog]: https://thousandthstar.github.io/posts/8bd/8bd-part6/
+[8-bit Discord]: https://discord.com/invite/NbBcF4bGU5
+
+### [CyberGate][cybergate-yt]
+
+![Hit and blackhole particle effects](cybergate.gif)
+_Particles emit from bullet hits and blackholes_
+
+CyberGate ([YouTube][cybergate-yt], [Discord][cybergate-dis]),
+an ambitious multiplayer project in development by CyberSoul,
+aims to invite players into a constantly evolving universe.
+Harnessing the power of procedural generation and artificial intelligence,
+this work-in-progress aspires to provide an engaging experience
+that emphasizes exploration and discovery across its diverse worlds.
+
+The latest updates to CyberGate include:
+
+- Skybox Animation and Transitions
+- Dynamic Point Lights
+- Particle System
+- Post-processing Screen Shake for Hit Feedback
+- Hit Particle Effects
+- Blackhole
+
+They released the 7th major update in March,
+They are now working on universe generation alghoritms for the 8th.
+Participate [by joining the Discord server][cybergate-dis].
+
+[cybergate-yt]: https://youtube.com/channel/UClrsOso3Xk2vBWqcsHC3Z4Q
+[cybergate-dis]: https://discord.gg/R7DkHqw7zJ
+
+### [ZOMBIE DEMO GAME]
+
+![A person in a red suit shooting zombies with a pistol](zombie-demo-game.png)
+
+[ZOMBIE DEMO GAME] is a small third person zombie shooter by [@LPGhatguy] and
+[@evaera] that released this month.
+
+It features an astonishing 10 minutes of gameplay, a built-in level editor, and
+zombies! It was produced in order to practice shipping a game and uses a custom
+engine using wgpu, hecs, and lots of other great crates from the ecosystem.
+
+ZOMBIE DEMO GAME is available for Windows and Linux
+[on itch.io][ZOMBIE DEMO GAME] today.
+
+_Discussion: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/LPGhatguy/status/1632596982928687104)_
+
+[@LPGhatguy]: https://twitter.com/LPGhatguy
+[@evaera]: https://twitter.com/evaeraevaera
+[ZOMBIE DEMO GAME]: https://lpghatguy.itch.io/zombie-demo-game
+
+### Shifting Chamber
+
+![Shifting Chamber Screen shot](shifting_chamber.png)
+
+Shifting Chamber ([itch.io][shifting-chamber-itch],
+[Github][shifting-chamber-github]) is a simple tactics game where
+player, instead of moving the character, manipulates the map around it.
+The goal is to defeat the enemies by forcing them into hazardous
+positions - since they cannot be attacked directly.
+
+The game is in an early prototype / proof of concept phase.
+It is written with a help of the Bevy engine.
+There is currently only a WASM build (freely available on the itch.io)
+
+[shifting-chamber-itch]: https://maciekglowka.itch.io/shifting-chamber
+[shifting-chamber-github]: https://github.com/maciekglowka/shifting_chamber
+
+### [Jumpy]
+
+![Live Map Editing Example](jumpy.gif)
+_Live Map Editing!_
+
+[Jumpy] ([GitHub][Jumpy], [Discord][jumpy_discord], [Twitter][jumpy_twitter]) by
+[Spicy Lobster][spicy_lobster] is a pixel-style, tactical 2D shooter with a fishy
+theme.
+
+In the last month, the first [MVP release][jumpy_v0.6.0] of Jumpy was made. The
+release adds some major new features including a live map editor, critters,
+extended player animations, and basic AI. Soon afterward [an update][jumpy_v0.6.1]
+was made with revised maps and some important bug fixes.
+
+Along with the release is a new blog post, sharing thoughts on some of the lessons
+learned during development:
+[Jumpy v0.6 Retrospective][jumpy_retrospective].
+
+The efforts are now focused on getting network play implemented, with a two
+player LAN proof-of-concept already working. The hope is to get the remaining
+network issues fixed and the online matchmaker connected before making another
+release as soon as it's ready.
+
+[Jumpy]: https://github.com/fishfolks/jumpy
+[jumpy_v0.6.0]: https://github.com/fishfolk/jumpy/releases/tag/v0.6.0
+[jumpy_v0.6.1]: https://github.com/fishfolk/jumpy/releases/tag/v0.6.1
+[jumpy_twitter]: https://twitter.com/spicylobsterfam
+[jumpy_discord]: https://discord.gg/4smxjcheE5
+[spicy_lobster]: https://spicylobster.itch.io
+[jumpy_retrospective]: https://fishfolk.org/blog/jumpy-0-6-retrospective/
+
+### [Tunnet][tunnet-itch]
+
+![Tunnet screenshot: a weird looking computer network](tunnet.jpg)
+_Example of a puzzle in Tunnet_
+
+Tunnet ([Steam][tunnet-steam], [Itch.io][tunnet-itch]) by
+[@puzzled\_squid][puzzled_squid] is a short puzzle/exploration game where you
+build a computer network in an underground complex.
+
+This project is still WIP and a first [devlog][tunnet-post] has been
+posted this month. The post describes the main gameplay loop as well as some
+of the new environments recently added.
+
+The game is developed using Bevy and is expected to be released late 2023.
+
+[tunnet-itch]: https://puzzled-squid.itch.io/tunnet
+[tunnet-steam]: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2286390/Tunnet
+[tunnet-post]: https://puzzled-squid.itch.io/tunnet/devlog/507508/devlog-0-gameplay-loop-and-subnetworks
+[puzzled_squid]: https://puzzledsquid.xyz
+
 ### [Boat Journey][boat-journey-itch]
 
 [![Screenshot from the game Boat Journey showing ASCII art of a boat and some islands](boat-journey-screenshot.png)
@@ -96,12 +235,170 @@ Boat Journey was made for the [7 Day Roguelike 2023][7drl-itch] game jam. The de
 
 ## Engine Updates
 
+### hotline
+
+![hotline_client](hotline_rdg44.jpg)
+ _hotline live coding client_
+
+hotline ([GitHub], [Blog], [Twitter]) is a modern, high-performance, hot-reload
+graphics engine written in Rust. It aims to provide low-level access to modern
+graphics API features, while at the same time providing high-level ergonomic
+optimizations.  
+
+It uses Bevy's ECS so the focus can remain primarily on the graphics
+architecture. Direct3D12 is the only supported platform, but the graphics API is
+abstracted to account for future ports to Vulkan and Metal. The project is in
+its early stages but already has a decent amount of features showcasing
+different render strategies, async command buffer generation, plugin based
+architecture, and hot-reload support for Rust code, HLSL shaders, and render
+configs. It supports ImGui with docking and multiple windows, video decoding,
+complex image loading (cubemaps, arrays, volumes), and more.
+
+[@polymonster] has been live streaming development on [Twitch] with archives
+available on [YouTube]. Recently they have been designing a bindless material
+system.
+
+[@polymonster]: https://github.com/polymonster
+[GitHub]: https://github.com/polymonster/hotline
+[Blog]: https://www.polymonster.co.uk
+[Twitter]: https://twitter.com/polymonster
+[Twitch]: https://www.twitch.tv/polymonstr
+[YouTube]: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQRmui5w4Urz-h4P9CL7rmA
+
 ## Learning Material Updates
 
+### Developing an editor with egui
+
+![Gif displaying the functionality of the editor](TheGrimsey-Editor.gif)
+
+[@TheGrimsey] published a three-part series of articles about developing a Spell
+Editor with egui.
+
+- ["Databases & Editors (1/3)"] covers displaying egui windows & tables of
+  entries.
+- ["Editors (2/3): Editing entries"] elaborates on handling editing of entries &
+  properties such as enums.
+- Finally, ["Editors (3/3): Selection dialog & new entries"] talks about
+  developing a selection dialog and creating new entries.
+
+[@TheGrimsey]: https://mastodon.social/@TheGrimsey
+["Databases & Editors (1/3)"]: https://thegrimsey.net/2023/03/07/Bevy-Four-Editor.html
+["Editors (2/3): Editing entries"]: https://thegrimsey.net/2023/03/12/Bevy-Five-Editor-Two.html
+["Editors (3/3): Selection dialog & new entries"]: https://thegrimsey.net/2023/03/21/Bevy-Six-Editor-Three.html
+
+### [Writing NES assembly programs in a Rust DSL][writing-nes-programs-in-rust-video]
+
+[![Title slide from presentation about writing NES assembly programs in Rust](nes-programming-in-rust-cover.jpg)
+_Video: Talk about writing NES assembly programs in Rust_][writing-nes-programs-in-rust-video]
+
+This is a talk about writing a program for the Nintendo Entertainment System
+that exposes all of its audio processor registers through an interface that lets
+the user flip bits using the controller and hear the result in real time. The
+program is written in Rust using an Embedded Domain-Specific Language. The talk
+demonstrates the features of the language and how they can be used to help
+express NES assembly programs in Rust.
+
+Some features of the EDSL:
+
+- defining and calling assembly functions by string labels
+- using Rust as a powerful macro language (e.g. generate code inside a for-loop)
+- using Rust's type system to catch invalid combinations of instruction and
+  addressing mode
+
+The source code for the NES program described in the talk is
+[here][nes-audio-playground-github] and there is a [demo of the tool on
+youtube][nes-audio-tool-demo-video]. The PDF of the slides from the talk are
+[here][writing-nes-programs-in-rust-pdf].
+
+[writing-nes-programs-in-rust-video]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs-MrEoOX5Y
+[nes-audio-playground-github]: https://github.com/gridbugs/nes-audio-playground
+[writing-nes-programs-in-rust-pdf]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gridbugs/nes-programming-in-rust-sydney-rust-meetup-2023-03-01/main/slides.pdf
+[nes-audio-tool-demo-video]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHoISiWdPXo
+
 ## Tooling Updates
 
+### Tiger
+
+![Tiger screenshot](tiger.png)
+
+Tiger ([Github][tiger-github],
+[itch.io][tiger-itch.io] by
+[@agersant] is a visual tool to
+author game spritesheets and their metadata.
+
+Version 1.0 launched this month, which means Tiger is ready for production.
+It currently has the following features:
+
+- Easy-to-use timeline to author animation.
+- Supports perspectives for any 2D game (top-down, sidescroller, isometric,
+  etc.).
+- Automatically hot-reloads source images when they are changed.
+- Packs animation frames into texture atlases.
+- Can add and tag hitboxes.
+- Flexible template system exports metadata in any text-based format.
+- Free and open-source with a permissive license.
+
+[tiger-github]: https://github.com/agersant/tiger
+[tiger-itch.io]: https://agersant.itch.io/tiger
+[@agersant]: https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@agersant
+
 ## Library Updates
 
+### [`bevy_text_mode`]
+
+![Screenshot of 1-bit sprites drawn using bevy_text_mode.](bevy_text_mode.png)
+
+[`bevy_text_mode`] ([GitHub][bevy_text_mode-src]) by [yopox] is a Bevy plugin which
+makes it possible to set the background and the foreground color of a texture atlas
+sprite (built-in Bevy sprites only have a tint property).
+This plugin is convenient when using 1-bit tilesets such as [MRMOTEXT].
+
+The 0.1 release adds a `TextModeTextureAtlasSprite` component with
+configurable background, foreground, x/y flip and opacity.
+
+_Discussion: [Mastodon](https://mstdn.social/@yopox/110010264001721310)_
+
+[`bevy_text_mode`]: https://crates.io/crates/bevy_text_mode
+[bevy_text_mode-src]: https://github.com/yopox/bevy_text_mode
+[yopox]: https://github.com/yopox
+[MRMOTEXT]: https://mrmotarius.itch.io/mrmotext
+
+### Matchbox
+
+![matchbox logo](matchbox.png)
+
+[Matchbox] is a library for easily establishing unreliable, unordered,
+peer-to-peer WebRTC data connections using rust WASM (and native). This enables
+cross-platform low-latency multiplayer games.
+
+Previously, the socket opened a single udp-like data channel. In version 0.6,
+however, support for adding extra channels with configurable ordering and
+package retransmits was added. This enables direct p2p tcp-like connections as
+well.
+
+Two new crates were added in this release. `matchbox_signaling`, lets you
+set up a custom signaling server, also supporting client-server topologies,
+enabling scenarios where one player acts as the host for the other players.
+
+`bevy_matchbox` provides ergonomic usage with Bevy. Severely cutting down on the
+boiler-plate needed.
+
+The tutorial series on [how to make a p2p web game with Bevy, GGRS and
+Matchbox][extreme_bevy] was also updated to the latest versions of all three
+libraries.
+
+Read more about all the new features in the [0.6 release post][matchbox-0.6].
+
+_Discussions:
+[/r/rust](https://www.reddit.com/r/rust/comments/127ssuv/announcing_matchbox_06_painless_peertopeer_webrtc/),
+[/r/rust_gamedev](https://www.reddit.com/r/rust_gamedev/comments/127suhc/matchbox_06_released_painless_peertopeer_webrtc/),
+[/r/bevy](https://www.reddit.com/r/bevy/comments/127sn3o/announcing_matchbox_06_and_a_new_bevy_matchbox/),
+[Mastodon](https://mastodon.social/@johanhelsing/110119122081173196)_
+
+[extreme_bevy]: https://johanhelsing.studio/posts/extreme-bevy
+[Matchbox]: https://github.com/johanhelsing/matchbox
+[matchbox-0.6]: https://johanhelsing.studio/posts/matchbox-0-6
+
 ## Popular Workgroup Issues in Github
 
 <!-- Up to 10 links to interesting issues -->