Merge branch 'source' into source

Author: ozkriff

content/news/045/ambient.gif

@@ -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)
@@ -97,6 +97,61 @@ Participate [by joining the Discord server][cybergate-dis].
 [cybergate-yt]: https://youtube.com/channel/UClrsOso3Xk2vBWqcsHC3Z4Q
 [cybergate-dis]: https://discord.gg/R7DkHqw7zJ
 
+### [Jumpy]
+
+![Online Matchmaking Menu Page](jumpy.png)
+_Online Matchmaking_
+
+[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, Jumpy released [v0.7.0][jumpy_v0.7.0] with support for online
+and LAN network games! Networking has been a long time comming, with many
+architecture decisions being made specifically with networking in mind. While
+network performance may still need to be tweaked, and there are still some bugs
+to fix, the proof-of-concept was a success. You can start matches on your local
+network, or online, with no configuration necessary!
+
+The Fish Folk game series has a [pre-launch page up on Kickstarter][jumpy_ks],
+expected to go public in mid-May.
+
+[Jumpy]: https://github.com/fishfolks/jumpy
+[jumpy_v0.7.0]: https://github.com/fishfolk/jumpy/releases/tag/v0.7.0
+[jumpy_twitter]: https://twitter.com/spicylobsterfam
+[jumpy_discord]: https://discord.gg/4smxjcheE5
+[spicy_lobster]: https://spicylobster.itch.io
+[jumpy_ks]: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/erlendsh/fish-folk
+
+### [Thetawave][thetawave-itch]
+
+![thetawave-gameplay](thetawave.gif)
+
+Thetawave is an open-source, physics based, space shooter game.
+This month, Thetawave 0.1.0 was [released][thetawave-release].
+The main features of this update were:
+
+- local multiplayer,
+- a second character,
+- many sprite adjustments,
+- and many gameplay tweaks from in-person playtesting with
+  the [thetawave arcade cabinet][thetawave-arcade].
+
+The easist way to play the most up to date version of Thetawave
+on your machine is to download it through the
+[Spicy Launcher][spicy-launcher]. Otherwise, you can play the game in your
+browser on the [itch.io page][thetawave-itch].
+
+Feel free to reach out in the #thetawave channel in
+the [Spicy Lobster discord server][spicy-discord] if you are
+interested in contributing.
+
+[thetawave-itch]: https://metalmancy.itch.io/thetawave
+[thetawave-release]: https://github.com/thetawavegame/thetawave/releases/tag/v0.1.0
+[thetawave-arcade]: https://twitter.com/carlosupina/status/1650200385485774850
+[spicy-launcher]: https://github.com/spicylobstergames/SpicyLauncher/releases/tag/v0.3.0
+[spicy-discord]: https://discord.gg/52WCcgJkcE
+
 ### [Way of Rhea][wor]
 
 [![Steam Puzzle Fest April 24 - May 1 Way of Rhea](wor-puzzle-fest.jpg)][wor]
@@ -129,6 +184,40 @@ Also, Way of Rhea was part of the [Steam Puzzle Fest][wor-puzzle-fest]!
 
 ## Engine Updates
 
+### [Ambient][ambient-github]
+
+![A 10-second preview of what's possible with Ambient 0.2](ambient.gif)
+_A 10-second preview of what's possible with Ambient 0.2_
+
+[Ambient 0.2](ambient-blog) is now out after two months of development.
+Ambient is an open-source runtime for building high-performance multiplayer
+games and 3D applications powered by WebAssembly, Rust and WebGPU. Projects
+consist of assets and logic built around the currently Rust-only Ambient API,
+and these projects can be loaded by any compatible runtime running on any
+platform.
+
+This release brings a few major features, including basic support for playing
+sounds, being able to run WASM on the client (in addition to the server), and
+automatic proxying of servers by the Ambient Proxy. This allows anyone with
+the URL to connect to a server, without having to worry about port forwarding.
+
+Finally, Ambient UI can now be used from guest code. Combined with networking
+and ECS, this unlocks an exciting new capability: multiplayer UI! The blog post
+walks through the creation of a basic multiplayer beat sequencer using these
+features.
+
+Check out [the GitHub][ambient-github] to get started with building for/or
+on Ambient yourself, or chat with the developers and other explorers on
+[the Discord][ambient-discord].
+
+_Discussion: [/r/rust][ambient-reddit], [Hacker News][ambient-hn]_
+
+[ambient-github]: https://github.com/AmbientRun/Ambient
+[ambient-blog]: https://www.ambient.run/post/ambient-0-2
+[ambient-reddit]: https://www.reddit.com/r/rust/comments/138ii11/ambient_02_multiplayer_ui_sound_clientside_wasm/
+[ambient-hn]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35828165
+[ambient-discord]: https://discord.gg/ambient
+
 ## Learning Material Updates
 
 ### [Bevy <3 Github Actions][bevy-github-actions-blog]
@@ -142,10 +231,90 @@ to GitHub Pages using GitHub Actions.
 [piotr-siuszko]: https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@MevLyshkin
 [bevy-github-actions-blog]: https://mevlyshkin.com/blog/bevy-github-actions
 
+### [Exploring Bevy's Game Of Life Example][exploring-gol-blog]
+
+![red dots or black bg](explore_gol_drawing.gif)
+_Game of Life Simulation_
+
+[Yendor][yendor] published [a mini-tutorial series][exploring-gol-blog]
+exploring compute shaders in Bevy using their [Game of Life example][bevy-gol]
+and adding some new featues to it: camera controller, wrapping simulation, and
+drawing on the simulation.
+
+[yendor]: https://github.com/lecoqjacob
+[exploring-gol-blog]: https://lecoqjacob.github.io/bevy_shader_playground/bevy_gol_example/index.html
+[bevy-gol]: https://github.com/bevyengine/bevy/blob/main/examples/shader/compute_shader_game_of_life.rs
+
+### [Test-Driven Development in Rust Game Development with Bevy][bevy-tdd]
+
+![TDD in Rust game dev with bevy](bevy-tdd.png)
+
+[Edgardo Carreras writes about his experience][bevy-tdd] with Test-Driven Development
+while developing a game engine in Rust using Bevy. TDD is an iterative software
+development approach that involves writing automated tests before writing the code.
+In the article, Edgardo explains the benefits of TDD and how it can help in game
+development. He also shares his testing process, including how he used Bevy's ECS
+architecture to write tests for his game engine.
+
+_Discussions: [/r/rust_gamedev](https://reddit.com/r/rust_gamedev/comments/12bnzin/bevy_tdd)_
+
+[bevy-tdd]: https://edgardocarreras.com/blog/tdd-in-rust-game-engine-bevy
+
 ## Tooling Updates
 
+### [Rustracer][rustracer]
+
+[![Youtube screenshot: demo with a couple of cars inside a box](
+rustracer.jpg)][rustracer-0.2.0 demo]
+
+Rustracer, a PBR [glTF 2.0][glrf-2-0] renderer based on Vulkan ray-tracing.
+It can render (almost) any glTF 2.0 scene by pure path tracing at an interacive speed.
+Compared with rasterization-based glTF renderers, Rustracer needs some
+(scene-dependent) time for sample accumulation in exchange for global illumination.
+
+On top of that, the control panel provides a rich set of viewing options
+and debugging utilities.
+
+It also can serve as a glTF viewer or a reference renderer.
+
+The code base itself is a learning resource for [Ash] (Vulkan bindings in Rust),
+hardware ray tracing and glTF processing in Rust.
+
+[rustracer]: https://github.com/KaminariOS/rustracer
+[rustracer-0.2.0 demo]: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD1H28onwV_kdxp1ajUL6riK_dNzMAXGj
+[Ash]: https://github.com/ash-rs/ash
+[glrf-2-0]: https://www.khronos.org/gltf
+
 ## Library Updates
 
+### [Backpack]
+
+![left part is "crab simulator" game where the player gains an item
+right part is "clash of crabs" where player is able to use the item](backpack.jpg)
+_Minimalist schema for sharing items in different games_
+
+[Backpack] is an inventory system to share items between different games,
+for example:
+
+- Raise a crab in Crab Simulator,
+- Make it fight in Crab Shooter,
+- Cook it in Crab Cook...
+- Gain a crab skin in your favorite game!
+
+[Backpack] is in a pre-MVP state: a tech prototype is working.
+
+The project is not affiliated or related to Blockchain/NFTs:
+it uses a PostgreSQL DB to store users, games and items.
+Authentication is done via email/password,
+third party authentication via OAuth will be a future goal.
+An Authenticated user can create apps and add item definitions to these.
+Other users can get an independant instance of that item and modify its data.
+
+The next project milestone is
+2 minimalist interconnected games released by the end of 2023.
+
+[Backpack]: https://github.com/Vrixyz/backpack
+
 ## Popular Workgroup Issues in Github
 
 <!-- Up to 10 links to interesting issues -->