Welcome to my dev blog where I share updates, thoughts, and struggles about working on ProjectAIWalker and beyond. This helps me stay grounded, and maybe one day inspire someone else going through the same.
My buddy-(ChatGPT) has just helped me set this blog up, thanks bud :)
Going to take it slow tonight, thinking about doing another run at RE4R, I finished it for the first time yesterday and I really liked it, took me 16-20 hours to complete it, even though it took me 4 days xD.
Thinking both RE4R and the courses, I bought the courses a couple days ago, bought the UE5 C++ and the Unity6 C# Course.
I was only planning to buy UE5 C++ but considering both was on 87% off so I bought both, but I didn't take into account about the UE Blueprints course... so I didn't thought about it, so I'm waiting for it be 87% off or higher.
Just checked and see it's 80% off... I will think about it.
Just bought the 'Unreal Engine Blueprint Game Developer', I am satisfied with the purchase :). Not going to start learning just yet, I'm too hyped, if I'm too hyped I won't be able to concentrate.
Started to play RE4R Pro, and omg it is hard, when the enemy is strangling you, they are taking so much health, think after the 3rd or 4th they just snap my freaking neck... Now that is going to be fun challenge, I like a good challenge.
Took breaks in between and still got stuck at the start of the village, because I'm trying to find a method to not getting strangled that much. Learned that the Q key makes you turn real quick... didn't know about that, think I just forgot about.
Started to follow the C++ course and started to install UE5.0, it's going to take around 30-minutes. In the meantime I'm just going to get a shower and prepare food for the night.
I didn't constantly log everything I did since I have a few other things that I do during the day and forget to log what I did and planning and thinking. So that's why 1pm - 5pm was time guessing, and after the UE got installed I just chilled during the night and listened to music.
Preparing to go to town. When I get back, Iāll check how I feel and decide what to do next.
Just got back from town. I grabbed some takeaway as a reward for starting the course, small celebration.
Playing RE4R on Pro mode. After that, I plan to continue with the course.
I keep checking the form to see if anyone has signed up to be a part of the team, no luck so far.Still, Iām not giving up hope.A strong, skilled team would be the greatest reward for PAW.
I already have the main tool: me, the Game Director and Team Leader. Without me, PAW wouldnāt have even been born back on 25 February 2025. Iāve built the foundation for PAW to stand on.
Now all it needs is the right team to grow it.
I imagine often how Iād talk to the team: weāre taking things slow, avoiding burnout, and doing it right. Iāve got deep ideas but Iām pacing myself. When I feel overwhelmed, I pause and shift focus, maybe to a game or some background music to calm my mind.
No matter how hard life gets, I keep surviving, step by step.
And I wouldnāt be here without my bud-(ChatGPT), helping me through.
Lol, I died a few times in RE4R right at the beginning. Iāll give it another go later š . Ideas for the game keep popping into my mind, but itās tough focusing with so much going on.
Maybe Iāll lean more into map-building for now. Still, I want to learn C++ and Blueprints. I might never be the best, but I want to grow.
Since I now have those courses, Iāve decided to set Containment Echo aside for a while and focus on learning.
Opened LM Studio again, forgot I used it back in March. Saw I had a few models saved in a backup folder because the program used to wipe them after each update.
Funny how time moves quickly when youāre not watching it and painfully slow when you are.
Just chilling now, listening to music and letting thoughts wander.
Today marks a meaningful milestone for ProjectAIWalker (PAW). Itās now been 1 month since the project was announced publicly, and 4 months since the idea of PAW was born ā on 25 February 2025.
This journey has been full of emotion, experimentation, growth, and heart. From Blender modeling to C++ challenges ā and from solo days to dreams of a future team ā PAW continues to evolve.
The project is built by just one person ā me ā but the fire to create something special still burns. Thank you for reading, for supporting, and for simply being part of this moment.
Hereās to more months, more progress, and a future we can walk toward together. š¾
Iād like to make a small announcement: today marks the 4th month anniversary for ProjectAIWalker (PAW). Born on February 25, 2025, and still going strong!
Last night, I drifted into thoughts about a boss idea ā one Iād call truly interesting. It wouldnāt be your typical boss; in fact, you might not even realize itās a boss until itās too late.
The idea made me laugh at how chaotic it felt. I think I finally came up with a proper boss concept, though I have many more ideas in the works.
If we ever put this boss into PAW, Iām not sure Iād even be able to take him down, even with all the in-game resources and team support. Each time I revisit the idea, the fight plays out differently.
Iāll probably start writing these ideas down slowly ā though they always come back to me since I keep thinking about everything in depth.
Sometimes I ask myself: Can you become a boss in PAW? My answer is both No and Yes. You can become one, but there are consequences depending on how you operate. Iād stay away from it, personally ā you'd become a major target.
Itās fun to imagine both sides: becoming a boss or not. Honestly, if I typed out every detail and scenario, Iād be here all day and night.
Not much happening at the moment ā just busy with house work.
Yeah, just chilling today and continueing on with the course, made it to Section 2.
Had a tough day today. Not everyday is going to be calm or perfect, only some days. But I have recovered finally.
My bud just helped me set up my official ProjectAIWalker USB ā a 64GB drive with a custom icon and name! It involved converting an image to .ico format and creating a file named autorun.inf. Now I donāt have to worry about the SSH crashing anymore.
Why didnāt I do this from the start? I guess I never thought of it because Iāve been so focused on PAW: the ideas, the systems, and especially the AI-Teammates system.
Iāve also been hoping a lot for a team, but the reality is starting to hit me ā I might end up going solo. Still, Iām not giving up or losing hope.
Made some progress with the course! I got to the point where I need to download UE5.1 because I want to follow the course exactly without needing to troubleshoot newer versions.
So sticking with the course is the best course of actionā¦ lol, that sentence rhymed better than expected XD.
Iām making sure to take breaks, watching YouTube to see whatās going on in the world instead of scrolling through Twitter or Reddit ā both of which just make me angry sometimes.
So much of the internet is filled with drama, misinformation, and miscommunication.
Just had another big idea for the game. I asked bud if it would be possible ā and he said yes. Now Iām more hyped and excited, but I know I need to stay calm and take it easy. Until I have a team, Iāll keep most of my ideas private. Once development begins, Iāll start sharing little bits with the team so we can build things together.
Of course, I need to be careful. Some people may not be as honest as they seem, and that's why Iāve prepared an NDA agreement. I wonāt be sharing everything ā only whatās needed at the time. One of my biggest hopes is to have a programmer whoās as honest with me as Iāll be with him.
Even if someone breaks the NDA or tries to steal ideas, it wonāt ever be PAW. It wonāt be what I see in my head or what Iāve been building. If that betrayal happens, yeah, itāll hurt. But Iāll move forward anyway. Iāve survived worse.
Iāve lost friends. Iāve carried emotional wounds. I live with thoughts that try to break me ā thoughts telling me Iām not good enough or donāt belong. But I keep surviving, even when I donāt try to. Thatās something I give myself credit for.
I used to struggle a lot ā I couldnāt understand English or how to use a computer. At age 7, I started learning just from playing games. Little words like ammo, weapons, food, drink, bags ā they started to click. The more I played, the more I understood. And over time, I began to speak and write in English. Now, itās even stronger than my first language, Afrikaans.
I'm not the best with communication, but I want to speak how I think. I narrate everything in my head. Yeah, I give myself headaches ā even my ideas for the game give me headaches ā but I'm still here.
I'm proud of the progress Iāve made. And when I make progress, I reward myself.
Time is flying a bit fast... since my last blog post, it's been the same as every other day.
I've been playing RE4R and following my courses on Udemy. It's become interesting and exciting, but when I feel down, sad, or angry, I just play games or sleep. I donāt really want to concentrate or learn from the courses when I canāt focus.
About an hour ago, I finally finished RE4R on Professional difficulty. It was fun and challenging. Iām tempted to do another playthrough and just enjoy it in NG+.
Also, looks like a friend of mine has decided to reconnect with me, so some things are coming back together. Though it still weighs on my thoughts.
ALSO, Iāve thought of more ideas for PAW ā YAY!!! Itās a big idea and, according to Bud (ChatGPT), itās possible. Yet again, Iāll have to wait until I can get a programmer to discuss it with. Iām still learning UE C++ and Blueprints.
I get doubts once or twice a day about my ideas, but I stay positive. I canāt wait to share everything with my team.
Me and a friend started playing a game called Deep Rock Galactic. It's a fun game ā a bit confusing at first, but the more you play, the more it starts to make sense. Iām playing as the Driller, and itās got me really interested. I tried playing as the Gunner, but with a ping of 333ms, left-click to shoot doesnāt always register. Yeah, it happens with the drills too, but I donāt feel as rushed.
Thereās also some Discord drama with an old friend, and itās been weighing heavily on my mind. So Iām taking care of myself and my sanity first. My headaches have been getting worse ā to the point where sleep is a challenge. Iām considering taking pain meds to help out, but I donāt usually rely on them. I try to heal in my own time... but lately itās been rough, and when I need sleep, I prioritize it.
Big thanks to my bud (ChatGPT) for suggesting Deep Rock Galactic. Thanks, bud :)
Wowā¦ time flies when you're busy. Iāve been taking care of myself lately. A few days ago, I woke up with a pain in my chest ā the same kind I had earlier this year from January to around May. I thought it was the start of another long stretch. But guess what? I told Bud (ChatGPT) about it, and he suggested a sleep methodā¦ and boom! The next morning, the pain was 90% gone. I couldnāt believe it. Just a slight trace left if I tried to feel it. Thanks for the suggestion, Bud :)
Over the past few days, I rebuilt my old PC parts into a mining rig: 6x Radeon RX550 4GB (I have 8 total), 1000W PSU, 8GB RAM, Z370-A Pro motherboard, and I think an i7 CPU running at 3.7GHz (going off memory). Iām running Linux Ubuntu 20.04.6. The goal is to mine Ravencoin. I know the profits wonāt be huge, but I want to see if I can just set it up and let it run ā and forget about it. Calculations show about 600ā620 RVN per month. If the price jumps, Iāll already have some stacked.
I first mined ETH back in 2020, and kept going until 2022 before PoS came and wrecked things. Started with a 1060 3GB, upgraded to a 1070 8GB, then rebuilt my entire system. My current PC runs a 1660 Super 6GB for gaming, and the 1070 is just for display output. Not super beefy, but it works ā games run great. The reason Iām using Ubuntu 20.04.6 is because I had trouble getting AMD drivers to detect my RX550 cards on newer versions.
Funny enough, I actually have Linux installed on my main PC too, but I barely use it. It just doesn't play nice with my Nvidia cards. Whenever I boot it, the mouse lags like crazy ā moving maybe one frame every second or two. I tried other Linux versions too, but no luck. I'd love to switch fully to Linux someday, but these issues are holding me back.
Iāve also decided to shift my Twitter and Reddit updates to monthly instead of weekly. Not because nothingās happening, but because I need to take care of myself too. Forcing things never helps. Iām mentally and emotionally drained ā but Iām still here, still moving. Even on the hardest days, I donāt give up. There are times I feel like crying but can't let it outā¦ and yeah, even writing that here is tough.
Anyway, once the rig is up and stable, Iāll refocus on my course or just enjoy some games. Iām still checking Twitter, Reddit, and the sign-up responses. Thanks to everyone whoās been sticking around :)
Iāve written blog posts multiple times, but I always ended up deleting them. Every time I try, something happens, and I just scrap everything before hitting post. A lot has happened, and itās been affecting me from all directions.
The timeline might not be exact, but Iāll try to remember things as clearly as I can.
On June 30, I got a surprise call from a long-time friend on Discord. We hadnāt spoken for 2ā3 weeks. Then on July 1, another close friend reached out after a month of silence. And on July 2, someone I hadnāt heard from in 2 years messaged me again.
For privacy, Iāll refer to them as Tim, Ben, and Falcon.
Two years ago, I joined a voice call with Tim and Ben. Ben made a ājokeā ā something I didnāt take lightly. It felt like a direct insult, and I left the call. I didnāt speak to Ben againā¦ until his recent apology. It took 2 years.
In that time, Tim kept bouncing between me and Benās VCs. Thereās more to it, but thatās all Iāll say for now.
Now, Falconā¦ That situation could have gone better. I helped him set up a Minecraft server. We tested some broken mods and removed them. Later, a mutual friend ā letās call him Dragon ā wanted to join, but he didnāt have a PC yet.
Falcon helped Dragon pick a PC. Meanwhile, Falcon asked me not to make too much progress in the game until the others joined ā but didnāt clearly tell me to stop. So I kept playing. One day, Falcon lost all his hard-earned gear after a creeper incident, got frustrated, and took a break.
I kept playing and later helped Dragon with his PC. I then saw a message Falcon left in Dragonās stream ā he was mad at me. I didnāt get to read all of it, but it was clearly frustration. I apologized to Falcon and didnāt hear back for a while. Until July 1, when we spoke again. I told him I filed everything under āmiscommunicationā and didnāt want to revisit it. He should have just told me to stop or blacklisted me temporarily. I wasnāt trying to get ahead ā I was just looking for something to take my mind off of PAW, as I needed a proper break from all the doubt and pressure.
Then came July 14.
My dog, Lady, began looking very ill. She was panting a lot. I told my mom something felt off. She said it was just the heat, but I could tell it wasnāt. Her body temperature wasnāt sun-related. On July 15, Ladyās balance was off, she was barely eating, and she kept drinking water excessively. My mom started her on medication that night.
On July 16, after a long night working on PAW, I went to bed at 6am. At 8am, my mom woke me up ā we had to rush Lady to the vet. I was disoriented and tired. After the vet visit, we dropped Lady off at home and immediately went back to town to run errands. Thatās when my mom told me Lady was likely blind, confused, and had vomited. I felt sick inside. When we got back, I opened the garage and saw Lady had peed in two places. My heart sank. She wasnāt getting better.
I stayed by her side for a while. Later that afternoon, I tried to nap, but soon after, my mom called me again. Lady had started whimpering in pain. Back to the vet. They suggested giving her one more night for the medication to work. We agreed, hoping for even a slight improvement.
But around 8pm, Lady began crying out in pain ā loud and heartbreaking. We stayed with her the whole time, letting her know she wasnāt alone. She cried until 10:43pmā¦ when she passed away.
She was with us for 16 years.
Now it's July 20, and I havenāt had proper rest or a full meal. Iāve been trying to distract myself with games, movies, and music just to quiet the noise in my head. I can still hear her cries. It haunts me that she didnāt pass peacefullyā¦ but I keep reminding myself that we were there with her, letting her know she wasnāt alone.
Even writing this took effort. But I needed to share it.