Unreal Engine Diaries
Unreal Engine Diaries is a raw, unedited audio journal from a solo developer documenting the experience of building a virtual world with Unreal Engine after being laid off. The podcast covers technical challenges, identity struggles, and occasional breakthroughs, with topics including Unreal Engine 5, vibe coding, AI tools for solo devs, MetaHumans, and indie game development. It offers honest, no-tutorial, no-sponsored dispatches from someone figuring things out in real time, aimed at others building in Unreal or considering it.
Episodes
Vibe Coding: The Good, The Bad, and The AI
Wild world of AI and its complicated relationship with Unreal Engine in today's episode. I’ve been mulling over how this new tech can feel like a double-edged sword—exciting yet, at times, downright disappointing. You see, while AI has made some tasks smoother, it also has a knack for gaslighting, leading us to wonder if we can even trust it with our code. I mean, let’s get real: there’s something
Unreal Engine 5.8: The New Features That Got Us Talking
So, here’s the deal: our latest chat dives headfirst into the whirlwind that is Unreal Engine 5.8, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride! We’re tackling the shiny new features that have everyone buzzing, particularly the revamped crowd system which, honestly, left me scratching my head a bit—who knew the old system was doing just fine? But hey, we’re all about exploration, right? I mean, I’m knee-
Traveling for Inspiration: How Real-World Experiences Shape 3D Creations
Today, we’re diving into the idea that to create truly immersive digital environments, we’ve got to step away from our screens and into the real world. I mean, let’s be real: there’s no substitute for feeling the grass under our feet or soaking in the atmosphere of a city we’re trying to recreate in Unreal Engine. I’ve been holed up in front of my computer for weeks, but now that I’m outside by th
UnityAI and Unreal 5.8: Navigating the Frictionless Future of 'Sentient AI'
UnityAI and Unreal 5.8: Navigating the Frictionless Future of 'Sentient AI'This episode was recorded in my typical raw, unedited fashion—though I’ve added a video component this time around, mostly because the internet told me to. But let’s be honest: the core of this show is, and always will be, about the unpolished reality of being a solo developer in a world that’s changing faster than we can c
The Acceleration Trap: AI Workflows, Workaholism, and the Future of being an Expert
The Acceleration Trap: AI Workflows, Workaholism, and the Future of the ExpertThis episode was recorded in one take. No edits, no safety nets—just a raw conversation about the "mad" pace of development when you stop fighting the tools and start dancing with them.Lately, my head has been spinning. After two years of grinding away at an overly ambitious open-world project in Unreal Engine, the wall
AI, Unreal, and the Art of Making Mistakes
Let me tell you, this episode dives right into the wild world of Unreal Engine, where the host spills the beans about their chaotic yet thrilling journey of blending AI with game development. The main takeaway? It’s all about embracing the messiness of creation—because who hasn’t been neck-deep in tutorials only to wonder, “What on earth am I doing?” With a casual vibe, our host shares tales of ov
AI Coding in Unreal Engine (Breakthrough): How AI is Changing My Game Development
Alright, buckle up, folks! We’re diving into the wild world of AI and game development, where I’ve just had a breakthrough that’s turned my chaotic creative process into a smooth ride. Seriously, I’m talking about using AI to streamline my workflow in Unreal Engine, and let me tell you, it’s addictive! Over the past few days, I’ve cranked out features I’ve been dreaming about for ages, like a meta
Unreal Engine and AI Coding: My Hilarious Coding Misadventures
The recent push toward AI video generation felt like a massive shortcut, but I realized I was just playing creative roulette. You hit a button, wait for a result, and hope it matches the vision in your head. When it doesn't, you realize you have zero levers to pull to fix it. That lack of control is exactly why I’ve moved back into the heavy lifting of Unreal Engine 5.7. In an engine, if something
Choice Paralysis in Unreal Engine: When Too Many AI Tools Kill Productivity
Today, we're diving into the wild world of creativity and productivity—or, as I like to call it, my chaotic journey of trying to get stuff done. I’m out here wandering through the woods, reflecting on how this podcast has turned into my accountability buddy while I grapple with the daunting challenges of using Unreal Engine. You know, it's a real love-hate relationship, especially when I find myse
Epic Games Layoffs & Usual AI Shenanigans (Life's a Mess, But So Is This Episode)
Contact: cmonkxxx@gmail.comAbout This EpisodeThis is a raw, unedited entry from the Unreal Engine Diaries. If you are looking for a polished, corporate tech news summary, you might want to look elsewhere. This is a personal message from the trenches of solo game development, recorded in the evening after a busy day. There is a lot on my mind. It is a monologue-conversation between friends about th
Vibe Coding and Unreal Engine: Are We There Yet?
Ever feel like you're drowning in a sea of tech tools and workflows, unsure of what actually matters? Yeah, me too. In this chat, we dive into the chaos of being overwhelmed by endless options, especially when it comes to creative software like Unreal Engine and AI tools. I’m a month into this whole unemployment gig, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride of productivity mixed with a bit of ex
AI Identity Crisis: What Happens to Craft When Prompts Replace Skills
Feeling like we're all standing on the edge of a creative cliff, this episode dives into the wild world of AI’s impact on our beloved Unreal Engine. As we grapple with this identity crisis in our toolset, we’re not just pondering our past methods of making art but questioning if we’ll ever have to learn all those complex technical skills again. You know, the endless cycles of blueprints, UV mappin
AI Takes My Job, But Gives Me Purpose // Meshcapade acquisition // Seeddance 2.0
Getting replaced by a script is one thing. Having it happen while navigating private life is another — it’s the kind of timing that forces a hard look at what actually matters.I’m currently caught between two worlds: the deliberate, manual craft of building in Unreal Engine and the "magic trick" of AI generation. There’s a massive psychological difference between creating something and just overse
The Daily 5 Minutes: How Showing Up in Unreal Engine Changed My Workflow
Subscribe and watch my live streams on youtube!email me: cmonkxxx@gmail.com and introduce yourself!Alright, folks, here we go: the heart of this episode is all about the magic of showing up every single day, even when life tries to throw a wrench in the works. I’m diving into my personal journey of grappling with that pesky feeling of being overwhelmed and how I’ve turned it around by committing t
When Life Gets in the Way: A Developer's Real Talk
Progress on the project has been effectively nonexistent lately. For the past two weeks, "work" has mostly consisted of opening Unreal Engine, shuffling a few meshes around, and closing it again. It’s a low-effort ritual to avoid admitting I’ve stalled, but it’s the reality of trying to maintain a technical passion project while life throws curve balls at the schedule.This stagnation isn't a failu
FAB 2025 Review: What the Marketplace Data Tells Us About Solo Dev Survival
Recording through a cold isn’t ideal, but there’s a certain honesty in a congested voice that matches a congested schedule. January felt like being stuck in a washing machine—spinning through family obligations and work resets while trying to keep a creative project from drowning. When the energy is drained, the "creative drive" usually gets sacrificed first, but I'm pushing back against that.I’m
Creativity: Do Our Best Days Expire?
Is your best work already behind you? It’s the question most veteran creators dodge while frantically pivoting to the next "essential" skill. After a career spanning print, UI/UX, and now the technical weeds of 3D design, I’m digging into the quiet anxiety of the creative plateau.We’re stripping away the "inspirational" fluff to look at the bell curve of talent. In an era where AI and shifting tre
Mobile 3D Workflow: Building in Unreal Engine on a MacBook
You don't need a high-end workstation to make a dent in a complex project; sometimes a MacBook in a quiet room is actually better for pure technical focus. Lately, I’ve been trading brute-force rendering for smarter workflows—specifically, 3D scanning physical shoes ordered online to bypass the friction of manual modeling in Unreal Engine.The real challenge isn't the software, though—it’s the info
Virtual Fashion in Unreal Engine: Why I Stopped Designing for Screens
Transitioning from UX Design to 3D Clothing and the Reality of Creative Problem SolvingBlog Post: From Pixels to PatternsThis episode is a "dump of ideas"—a way to clear my mind as I transition into a new creative field. I’ve spent the last decade in UX design, but I can feel the market changing. Between AI and the "templating" of the web, the space for dedicated UX designers is shrinking, and I’m
The Black Friday Haul (Rome - Italian Town) MetaHuman Clothing Crisis: Why Dressing Virtual Characters Costs More Than Real Ones
Everyone knows it’s easy to start a project, but getting back to it when the excitement fades? That’s where the real struggle is. In this episode, I’m looking at how hard it is to maintain momentum—whether it’s podcasting or working in Unreal Engine—and how easily we get distracted by "shiny object syndrome," playing with Metahumans instead of actually building the world.I also break down how I na
Starting Over in Unreal Engine: From Eternal Learner to Finishing Things
This episode is basically a production diary where I talk about my journey with Unreal Engine. The main focus is on shifting from just learning forever to actually finishing projects. I want to create a space to share insights that might click with you if you're on a similar path—dealing with that mix of excitement and those moments where you just feel discouraged.Over the last two years, I've hit
Recommended
Everyday AI Made Simple - AI For Everyday Tasks
FemTech Focus
Not Too Sensitive - Empowering Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) To Own Their Sensitivity
Mother Daughter Relationship Show
Skin Deep MDs with Dr. Mamina Turegano, Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky and Dr. Jenny Liu
girl talk 🎧🫧
Booked, Blonde & Busy w/ Olivia Ponton
LOVE SOMEONE with Delilah
Classical Christian Education
Veritas Vox - The Voice of Classical Christian Education
Enjoy Teaching Again | Elementary, Teacher Burnout, Student Behavior, SEL, Classroom Management
Entrepreneur Kids Legacy Show - Family Motivation, Business Boss Babies, Inspirational Speakers and Healthy fun food
