Game in the Brain

https://godotengine.org/article/godot-web-progress-report-8

Nicco Salonga’s expertise with Godot will hopefully lead to the development of a Progressive Web App (PWA) for products we can sell on DriveThru RPG. A PWA is essentially a web app that runs directly in the browser, making it system-agnostic—it works across Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and even FreeBSD as long as the browser is up to date. Unfortunately, Apple’s iOS has restrictions that limit PWA functionality. The key advantage here is that users aren’t tied to a specific platform.

Godot and PWAs:
Godot can export games into PWAs, which positions Godot as a core tool for Game in the Brain. Imagine using Godot to create tools for tabletop RPGs where all the immersive details can be procedurally and fractally generated.

• Procedural Generation means that random generators follow specific rules and constraints, ensuring consistency within the generated content.
• Fractal Design allows the output to be broken down into finer details or abstracted into broader categories. For example, a population of 100 million can be analyzed down to socio-economic, political, and cultural groups, demonstrating the interconnectedness of systems. A world-builder’s toolkit must include understanding these relationships, where changes in one area ripple through the entire system, creating both positive and negative feedback loops.

Data Management:
We’re also exploring tools that integrate a database, allowing users to export and move CSV/XLS files across devices. While advanced features like auto-syncing within a network are on our radar, these would depend on community support and sufficient demand.

Mneme World Generator Tools:
One of the projects I plan to commission is the Mneme World Generator. This app will allow users to create star systems, worlds, factions, and cultures without the need to roll each step manually. Users will be able to export their data to XLS, with various report formats available depending on their data structuring and pivot table skills. This hobby pushes your data analytics into overdrive!

• Cost Estimates: A basic prototype could cost around $2,000, with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) estimated at $4,000. A polished version could reach up to $12,000. If the project gains traction, we could consider a Kickstarter campaign. Once funded, the project will be open-sourced, with all files and documentation made available to the community. At Game in the Brain, our goal is to provide everyone with the tools to make something even better.
• 3D Version: Developing a 3D version of this tool could cost two to three times more.

Mneme Ship and Habitat Generator:
Another tool on the horizon is the Mneme Ship and Habitat Generator, which will help users create ships and habitats quickly. Initially, this will be in table form, but there’s potential to develop a 3D version. The app could use procedural tools from Blender to apply rules that dictate how a ship develops as components are added.

• Cost Estimates: A prototype might cost $2,000, with the MVP estimated at $3,000. The 3D version, complete with visual models, would likely cost three times more.

In all these calculations, I haven’t factored in any salary for myself. Like most of my projects (and al my previous books), this is a passion pursuit funded by my income as an IT Director. While I advocate for supporting open-source developers so they can do this full-time—and I genuinely love gaming—my priority remains preventing the erosion of democracy as mega-corporations drive up the cost of living, monopolize technology, and influence politicians to their advantage.

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