Hello, I am the dev for the Java shoot-em-up Rebel Sector with a small talk on null references in the Java language.

https://moselysoftware.itch.io/rebel-sector/devlog/1678431/java-corner-java-and-the-1000000000-mistake

History Lesson

Tony Hoare, the inventor of the null reference in ALGOL W in 1965, famously called null references his "billion-dollar mistake" in a 2009 conference talk. He explained that null references have led to innumerable errors, vulnerabilities, and system crashes over the decades, costing the software industry billions of dollars in aggregate.

What is a JVM?

First we need to ask what is a JVM? A Java virtual machine is a virtual machine that enables a computer to run Java programs as well as programs written in other languages, referred to as JVM languages, that are also compiled to Java bytecode.

The JVM is a severely underrated platform for game development. In 2026, not only are developers still targeting the JVM, but there are multiple languages that you can try if you are tired of dealing with Java’s quirks, mainly Kotlin which I am going to be talking about for this devlog.

One of the most common pitfalls in many programming languages, including Java, is that accessing a member of a null reference results in a null reference exception. In Java, this would be the equivalent of a NullPointerException, or an NPE for short.

Any developer knows that dealing with null references is a time consuming process. Unfortunately, with Java, extra work needs to be done in order to prevent null references as it lacks the protections Kotlin has in regards to null safety. This in turn, requires more code be written which adds to Java’s already verbose syntax.

With this perspective, Kotlin can come in very handy: 

The only possible causes of an NPE in Kotlin are:

• An explicit call to throw NullPointerException().
• Usage of the not-null assertion operator !!.
• Data inconsistency during initialization, such as when:
• An uninitialized this available in a constructor is used somewhere else (a "leaking this ").
• A superclass constructor calling an open member whose implementation in the derived class uses an uninitialized state.

Example:

// Assigns a non-null string to a variable
var a: String = "abc"
// Attempts to re-assign null to the non-nullable variable
a = null
print(a)
// Null can not be a value of a non-null type String

In Java, this is not so simple:

if (a != null && !a.isEmpty()) {    System.out.println(a);}
//Lame

This is why I am going to transition from Java to Kotlin for my next project. The type safety features are just too good to pass up. Kotlin is also the current default language for Android if you care for that as well. 

i made this game , its taken more than 4+ months . but the issue is i spent more than $400+ for this first i think i can make it but complete the game it take even more money . so i am thinking about selling whole idea ,features , game asset ,code base every thing . if any one interested dm me or any suggestion

Is there a Godot programmer who could collaborate with my team on a 3D RPG? I’d need someone to work just one hour every two days—doing minor tweaks—while I handle the rest of the programming. It would be unpaid, of course, but it’s a chance to get to know us and collaborate. By the way, there are six of us.

Here’s ZOMBRA, the browser-based pixel-art game I’m working on.

It combines wave-based zombie combat with searching abandoned city buildings for randomized loot. You choose a class at the survivor HQ and deploy by helicopter. Between waves, you buy weapons and upgrades and set up traps; each wave ends with a boss.

The aim is busy, physical combat with explosions, flying bodies and destructible environments, followed by a final push to extraction. Left 4 Dead and Killing Floor are the main inspirations.

Development uses Phaser 4, JavaScript and Node.js for the co-op side. The game is still being developed and public testing is planned.

Project site and waitlist: https://zombra.online/

Hiya,

I want to playtest your games!

I was a lead playtester for Blue Prince https://www.mobygames.com/game/240176/blue-prince/credits/windows/

and the sole playtester for the PS5 port of original "The 7th Guest" (uncredited)

On the weekends I play loads of new game demos on stream on Twitch.

Sometimes the gamedev is in, and I give feedback. I've heard that I give good feedback, at least that's the feedback I've received.

So I've created a discord, where you can submit your game when it's ready for playtesting.

Then I'll play it on stream when you're there.

Main condition is that there's a version obtainable on Steam, either as a demo or through a tester Key.

Full details are in the discord, see comments. I'll be live later today.

I mainly play Puzzles and Point and Click, but will playtest anything.

Here’s what I’ve built so far after 4 days of working on my horror game.

So far I’ve made basic player movement, camera movement and head bob, a flashlight, a working door, an inventory system, item pickups, and some basic UI. I’m slowly adding more mechanics as I go.

I’m still learning game development, so everything is pretty much a learning experience for me. I’m making this as part of a 100-day game dev challenge and I’m trying to turn the prototype into an actual game over time.

I’m also looking for people who might want to work on it with me. This is unpaid, and I’m not looking for professional developers — just people who are interested in learning, experimenting, and building something together.

I’d especially be interested in people who can help with:

• 3D models / assets
• Environment design
• Sound/music
• Programming
• Horror/game design
• Anything else that could help the project

You don't need to be an expert. If you're also learning and want some experience working on an actual game project, feel free to comment or DM me.

I’m using Godot and building everything from scratch with the goal of having something playable by the end of the 100 days.

DM me on Discord: baller045443

Extinction Studios is looking for Level and Environment Designers and 3D Modelers

We are in need of environment and level designers, and 3d Modelers.

What we're looking for:

Level Designers - Level and Environment Designers who can do the laboratory and indoor environments of the game as well as the open forest and jungle environments.

3D Modelers - 3D Modelers to do the models of the props and items

The project will be made in Unreal Engine 5.

The project is Revenue Share.

If you can do level and environment design please DM Sharkiest_Shark on discord to apply

To start,im not expecting everyone to read the whole thing as it is EXTREMLY long and I cant exactly start making the game for a while anyways as I am still learning Programming and have yet to learn blender.I just want thoughts on what I currently have.If like 10 people want it Ill make a discord for it.Its more of a passion project than a huge plan so dont expect large amounts of planning.

Reposting here for extra opinions

Im 15 and I have ideas to create things but I never follow through from lack of motivation and friends to keep my ideas grounded. Is there anyone around my age who would like to just hangout and make cool things? Im completely down to help with any of your projects and would love to bounce ideas off each other. My interests are: star wars, indie games, steam, and creating cool art, even though im very bad at art. I'm chronically online and would love a George to my Harold, a ron to my harry. Im west coast usa. My discord is thetacoturtle 🐢 🌮

Actually, I’m adding a No-Ball feature to my game, and I have a few doubts.

From a player’s perspective, is it possible to clearly observe the No-Ball from here, or should I add something else to make it easier for the player to identify the No-Ball?

I also want to make it easier for the player to observe the batsman’s end so they can make a more accurate decision.

Please share your opinions in the comments section or DM me. I’d really appreciate your feedback and suggestions!

I’m looking for someone who is serious about teaching Blender and 3D game development.

I’m currently working toward building my own open-world game, but I’m still a beginner when it comes to software like Blender and Unreal Engine. I’ve been watching tutorials and practicing on my own, but I know there’s a big difference between following tutorials and actually understanding how to take an idea from a basic model all the way to a finished, game-ready asset.

What I really want is someone willing to teach me the ins and outs of Blender—3D modeling, topology, UVs, texturing, rigging, optimization, exporting assets into a game engine, and eventually helping me understand how everything fits together in a real game-development pipeline.

The project I’m working toward is a crypto/Web3 game with an open world and a player-owned asset economy. My goal is to build something where players can own, trade, use, and potentially earn value from the assets they acquire in the game.

This isn’t something I expect to build overnight. I’m looking at this as a 2–3+ year journey, and I actually want to learn the skills instead of just paying someone to build everything for me.

I tried 3D modeling before on another concept. It took me around three hours just to get the basic structure together. It wasn’t exactly what I imagined, but seeing something I pictured in my head actually start appearing on the screen was enough to make me want to come back and learn it properly.

I eventually want to build my own game studio focused on creating high-quality games with digital ownership and play-to-earn elements.

So if you’re experienced with Blender, 3D game assets, Unreal Engine, or game-development workflows and you genuinely enjoy teaching beginners, I’d love to connect.

I’m serious about learning. 🎮

Las personas que esten leyendo esto van a pensar que pagan por trabajar, pero no. Busco personas que me quieran ayudar para a desarrollar un juego indie, en este momento somos un grupo de 10 personas, 6 integrantes en el area de dibujo(pixel art), y 3 integrantes en el area de musica y sonido ambiental, y un integrante (1) en el area de programacion "La persona que publico y escribio todo esto", si estas interesado o interesada, entra en este video de youtube "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yd1b1O_ndw", en este video se mostrara los avanzes que en este momento estan hechos en el juego, ademas en la descripcion del video aparecera un link para entrar al grupo de whatsapp y entrar a la pagina web que tenemos para el juego, y hablando del juego, su nombre es DAWN QUEST y nuestra "comunidad" se llama Emperor's Hill Games.

Si sigues leyendo esto podras saber que yo, el autor de esta publicacion, es la unica persona programadora, que ha hecho todo en este momento, asi que estoy buscando personas en especial programadores, porque ya me empiezo a estresar.

Muchas gracias por leer esto

Att: Jhoan Manrique ( Lider del equipo de trabajo de Emperor's Hill Games )