Category: Educational

22 Sep

10 Syndromes in Game Development Every Indie Should Know

pouria / Educational / / 0 Comments
"Hero poster for the article '10 Syndromes in Game Development Every Indie Should Know.' A dark blue futuristic background with grid lines and abstract node diagrams. The title is written in bold white letters with a glowing accent: '10 Syndromes in Game Development – Every Indie Should Know.' At the bottom, the author’s name appears: Pouria Mojdeh — Architect, Independent Game Developer, University Lecturer."
10 Syndromes in Game Development Every Indie Should Know

Introduction

Game development is often portrayed as a thrilling journey of creativity, passion, and technical skill. From the outside, it looks like an endless playground where ideas are transformed into interactive worlds. But for those who actually walk this path—especially indie developers and small teams—the reality is far more complicated. The process of making a game is not only about code, art, and design; it is also a psychological marathon. Along the way, developers face recurrent patterns of thought and behavior that can quietly sabotage their projects. These patterns are what we call syndromes.

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08 Sep

Top 10 Universities for Game Design in the World

pouria / Educational / / 0 Comments
ChatGPT Image Sep 8 2025 01 26 57 PM
Top 10 Universities for Game Design in the World

Introduction

The video game industry has grown into one of the most dynamic and influential creative sectors of the 21st century. What began as a niche entertainment form has now surpassed both the film and music industries in terms of global revenue. Today, video games are not only a source of leisure but also powerful platforms for storytelling, education, social connection, and even political expression.

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08 Sep

Blender: A Jack of All Trades for Generalists, a Master of None for Professionals

pouria / Educational, Things I Think / / 0 Comments
Blender software critique – generalist vs professional use Blender interface showing modeling tools Comparison of Blender with Maya and 3ds Max Blender character modeling limitations ZBrush vs Blender sculpting workflow Substance Painter texturing compared with Blender RizomUV professional UV mapping vs Blender UV Maya rigging tools vs Blender rigging features Houdini VFX simulation vs Blender simulation Blender performance in small projects Blender crashing on heavy scenes Blender free software appeal for beginners Blender add-ons marketplace paid tools Professional 3D pipeline diagram including Blender Blender as a generalist’s tool but not for studios
Blender software critique – generalist vs professional use

Author’s Note

I have lived and taught 3D software for over twelve years. I spent an entire year wrestling with Blender—not out of hype or community pressure, but to understand it myself. The conclusion is clear: Blender is a software that tries to do everything—modeling, animation, compositing, even video editing. It is like a mixed pizza: you taste a bit of everything, but you never get the depth of any one flavor. I am not against Blender; I am against the claims that present it as a “replacement for everything.” Respecting every tool is essential, but so is drawing a line between a learning tool and a professional tool. Blender is great for beginners and small projects, but in specialized and large-scale work, its hidden costs reveal themselves—from paid add-ons to frustrating instability. This article is not an attack on Blender; it is a defense of specialization. Blender has value, but not for everything, and not for everyone.

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