Mark Ripley
@markripley.com
Fractional CTO. I help tech startups scale. Making games since 1981, 200+ published titles. Solo indie dev.
LinkedIn: https://markripley.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grumpyoaf
Indie: https://wearedinosaurs.uk
LinkedIn: https://markripley.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grumpyoaf
Indie: https://wearedinosaurs.uk
'kinell you'd think I'd be good at this shit by now.
markripley.com/portfolio.pdf
markripley.com/portfolio.pdf
markripley.com
February 18, 2026 at 9:40 AM
'kinell you'd think I'd be good at this shit by now.
markripley.com/portfolio.pdf
markripley.com/portfolio.pdf
Goddamnit, bubble, just burst already!
February 17, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Goddamnit, bubble, just burst already!
Reposted by Mark Ripley
Today is probably a fine day to mention that I've been working on a self-hostable Discordslacklike called Chatto. It's steadily moving towards feature parity with the big kids, with everything crammed into a single compact 50 MB executable that can run off the cheapest VM you can find.
February 9, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Today is probably a fine day to mention that I've been working on a self-hostable Discordslacklike called Chatto. It's steadily moving towards feature parity with the big kids, with everything crammed into a single compact 50 MB executable that can run off the cheapest VM you can find.
Unity today announced a new AI feature, claiming to almost create an entire casual game in one click. Hmm.
Watch as I take you through the press release, whereupon grumpiness and hilarity (thinly disguised as industry comment) ensues.
youtu.be/-RtFTiJfHLM
Watch as I take you through the press release, whereupon grumpiness and hilarity (thinly disguised as industry comment) ensues.
youtu.be/-RtFTiJfHLM
Unity AI - more clickbait to keep investors happy
YouTube video by Grumpy Oaf: Game Dev & Industry Insight
youtu.be
February 17, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Unity today announced a new AI feature, claiming to almost create an entire casual game in one click. Hmm.
Watch as I take you through the press release, whereupon grumpiness and hilarity (thinly disguised as industry comment) ensues.
youtu.be/-RtFTiJfHLM
Watch as I take you through the press release, whereupon grumpiness and hilarity (thinly disguised as industry comment) ensues.
youtu.be/-RtFTiJfHLM
Alright, here's a thought for you:
If making games was made illegal tomorrow, meaning no more games could be released, I bet 99% of the gaming public wouldn't notice or care.
There's so many games available, via stores or emulation, they'd keep gamers happy for years.
If making games was made illegal tomorrow, meaning no more games could be released, I bet 99% of the gaming public wouldn't notice or care.
There's so many games available, via stores or emulation, they'd keep gamers happy for years.
February 17, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Alright, here's a thought for you:
If making games was made illegal tomorrow, meaning no more games could be released, I bet 99% of the gaming public wouldn't notice or care.
There's so many games available, via stores or emulation, they'd keep gamers happy for years.
If making games was made illegal tomorrow, meaning no more games could be released, I bet 99% of the gaming public wouldn't notice or care.
There's so many games available, via stores or emulation, they'd keep gamers happy for years.
I feel a youtube rant about Unity coming on. 10+ years of frustration, vomited up onto one grumpy video. Could get ugly.
February 17, 2026 at 9:27 AM
I feel a youtube rant about Unity coming on. 10+ years of frustration, vomited up onto one grumpy video. Could get ugly.
Must...resist...
Forget The Talking Flower, This Is The Cutest Upcoming Mario Toy. (Repost)
Forget The Talking Flower, This Is The Cutest Upcoming Mario Toy
Eggcelent
www.nintendolife.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Must...resist...
Well I was going to do a video on how to get MQDH running on Ubuntu, but it can't be done (unless you use a VM, which sorta defeats the object).
Not a catastrophe, as everything MQDH does can be achieved using other tools, it's just handy. Ah well.
Not a catastrophe, as everything MQDH does can be achieved using other tools, it's just handy. Ah well.
February 16, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Well I was going to do a video on how to get MQDH running on Ubuntu, but it can't be done (unless you use a VM, which sorta defeats the object).
Not a catastrophe, as everything MQDH does can be achieved using other tools, it's just handy. Ah well.
Not a catastrophe, as everything MQDH does can be achieved using other tools, it's just handy. Ah well.
Reposted by Mark Ripley
Now that's what I'm talking about. VSCode can suck it. NeoVIM is dead to me. This is a TUI text editor for this century.
getfresh.dev
getfresh.dev
February 14, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Now that's what I'm talking about. VSCode can suck it. NeoVIM is dead to me. This is a TUI text editor for this century.
getfresh.dev
getfresh.dev
Reposted by Mark Ripley
I really felt for our postie today. I saw him hobbling away having obviously putting his back out carrying all the Valentines Cards I received.
Poor sod.
Poor sod.
February 14, 2026 at 11:31 AM
I really felt for our postie today. I saw him hobbling away having obviously putting his back out carrying all the Valentines Cards I received.
Poor sod.
Poor sod.
First proper video has shipped - where I mentally fumble a solution to OpenAI et al going bust.
youtu.be/XlPFp9T55vI
youtu.be/XlPFp9T55vI
How to earn from AI once the bubble bursts
YouTube video by Grumpy Oaf: Game Dev & Industry Insight
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 8:23 PM
First proper video has shipped - where I mentally fumble a solution to OpenAI et al going bust.
youtu.be/XlPFp9T55vI
youtu.be/XlPFp9T55vI
The Grumpy Oaf YouTube channel is now live, hosting precisely one intro video featuring yours truly. Just had a bout of flu, so now I no longer look like a ghost, the YT sausage machine shall enter full production.
www.youtube.com/@grumpyoaf/v...
www.youtube.com/@grumpyoaf/v...
Grumpy Oaf: Game Dev & Industry Insight
Game developer for 45+ years with 220+ shipped projects across retro micros, web, mobile, PC, console, VR and XR. Now a fractional CTO helping startups build tech properly (and avoid costly mistakes)....
www.youtube.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:34 PM
The Grumpy Oaf YouTube channel is now live, hosting precisely one intro video featuring yours truly. Just had a bout of flu, so now I no longer look like a ghost, the YT sausage machine shall enter full production.
www.youtube.com/@grumpyoaf/v...
www.youtube.com/@grumpyoaf/v...
Can we have this in NI too please :) @niscreen.bsky.social
February 11, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Can we have this in NI too please :) @niscreen.bsky.social
I wonder how many people googled "IRC client" today.
February 10, 2026 at 10:14 PM
I wonder how many people googled "IRC client" today.
Reposted by Mark Ripley
I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.
February 10, 2026 at 6:10 AM
I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.
Today I've been reviewing grant applications, which I flippantly call "crushing dreams". However, there's so much innovation in the majority of applications I typically end up approving them, providing gushing comments urging them on.
It's a great job, spreading happiness into people's lives.
It's a great job, spreading happiness into people's lives.
February 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Today I've been reviewing grant applications, which I flippantly call "crushing dreams". However, there's so much innovation in the majority of applications I typically end up approving them, providing gushing comments urging them on.
It's a great job, spreading happiness into people's lives.
It's a great job, spreading happiness into people's lives.
Lots of discord around Discord 😀
So...where's everyone moving to?
So...where's everyone moving to?
February 9, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Lots of discord around Discord 😀
So...where's everyone moving to?
So...where's everyone moving to?
Today is AI video recording day. Got to do it today 'cos I fully expect the MS/Oracle/AWS/nVidia/OpenAI bubble to burst tomorrow, so I want to get this out then I can appear all knowledgable and prophetic.
Basically the premise is how to make a sustainable, fair business whilst tech bros burn.
Basically the premise is how to make a sustainable, fair business whilst tech bros burn.
February 8, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Today is AI video recording day. Got to do it today 'cos I fully expect the MS/Oracle/AWS/nVidia/OpenAI bubble to burst tomorrow, so I want to get this out then I can appear all knowledgable and prophetic.
Basically the premise is how to make a sustainable, fair business whilst tech bros burn.
Basically the premise is how to make a sustainable, fair business whilst tech bros burn.
Are there any video editors out there that aren't steaming piles of shit? I mean, how hard can it be....
February 6, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Are there any video editors out there that aren't steaming piles of shit? I mean, how hard can it be....
First video recorded. Phew! Now I need a nap.
February 6, 2026 at 2:05 PM
First video recorded. Phew! Now I need a nap.
Reposted by Mark Ripley
My god, I hadn't spotted it either. That's really lovely.
500 years of Frasier repeats on C4 and only just noticed that the delivery man who brings in Martin's chair in the first episode is the same guy who takes it away in the finale.
February 6, 2026 at 10:17 AM
My god, I hadn't spotted it either. That's really lovely.
Well that's another software suite going in the bin.
February 5, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Well that's another software suite going in the bin.
Ubuntu installed on Windows machine. Unreal not only works, it flies! Even coped with opening a project from a previous version.
Godot, Rider, Gitkraken (no Fork, boo!), Vivaldi all installed and working. Unity next, then experimental stuff like Meta Quest Dev Hub under Proton/Wine or something.
Godot, Rider, Gitkraken (no Fork, boo!), Vivaldi all installed and working. Unity next, then experimental stuff like Meta Quest Dev Hub under Proton/Wine or something.
February 3, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Ubuntu installed on Windows machine. Unreal not only works, it flies! Even coped with opening a project from a previous version.
Godot, Rider, Gitkraken (no Fork, boo!), Vivaldi all installed and working. Unity next, then experimental stuff like Meta Quest Dev Hub under Proton/Wine or something.
Godot, Rider, Gitkraken (no Fork, boo!), Vivaldi all installed and working. Unity next, then experimental stuff like Meta Quest Dev Hub under Proton/Wine or something.
I've emerged from CV updating hell. Even made one of those AI / gatekeeper - friendly versions with all the meat stripped out.
I'll see if it makes a difference - my plan is to lure them with the airhead version, then thwap them with the full-fat version once they nibble.
I'll see if it makes a difference - my plan is to lure them with the airhead version, then thwap them with the full-fat version once they nibble.
February 3, 2026 at 12:05 PM
I've emerged from CV updating hell. Even made one of those AI / gatekeeper - friendly versions with all the meat stripped out.
I'll see if it makes a difference - my plan is to lure them with the airhead version, then thwap them with the full-fat version once they nibble.
I'll see if it makes a difference - my plan is to lure them with the airhead version, then thwap them with the full-fat version once they nibble.
I have Steve Hillage going round my head. Who knows how he got in there!
February 3, 2026 at 11:30 AM
I have Steve Hillage going round my head. Who knows how he got in there!