Interesting take, but I have never
not wanted to try out a game engine until I saw this article's screenshots.
Like, since I was a literal child in middle school I've always loved tinkering on new projects in an unknown game engine: I remember writing code in the most truly random environments (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenix_Project) because I was more enamored with tinkering on demos in different game engines than actually writing games because I wanted to learn how to make my own game engine like a "real" game developer.
_
But that first screenshot in the article felt off, and then the second felt even worse, and I went to the actual site to make sure it wasn't just the screenshots and if anything the screenshots were nicer (brighter, better organized) than the actual site!
I think it's because I associate a game engine with an upbeat optimism, and selling the idea that you too can make cool shit!... and even the tiny ones have this homely feeling of I made cool shit! and I'm sharing it!
Meanwhile going with brutalism as your core theme feels like it's takes a shit on the idea that anything could actually be cool. It doesn't feel warm or invigorating in any way shape or form.
I didn't even realize I could have such a strong reaction to a game engine landing page, but I guess there's a first time for everything.
(Also I totally acknowledge I might just not be the target market for this, positioning is half the battle of marketing, so maybe the real lesson is knowing your market well)
Like, since I was a literal child in middle school I've always loved tinkering on new projects in an unknown game engine: I remember writing code in the most truly random environments (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenix_Project) because I was more enamored with tinkering on demos in different game engines than actually writing games because I wanted to learn how to make my own game engine like a "real" game developer.
_
But that first screenshot in the article felt off, and then the second felt even worse, and I went to the actual site to make sure it wasn't just the screenshots and if anything the screenshots were nicer (brighter, better organized) than the actual site!
I think it's because I associate a game engine with an upbeat optimism, and selling the idea that you too can make cool shit!... and even the tiny ones have this homely feeling of I made cool shit! and I'm sharing it!
Meanwhile going with brutalism as your core theme feels like it's takes a shit on the idea that anything could actually be cool. It doesn't feel warm or invigorating in any way shape or form.
I didn't even realize I could have such a strong reaction to a game engine landing page, but I guess there's a first time for everything.
(Also I totally acknowledge I might just not be the target market for this, positioning is half the battle of marketing, so maybe the real lesson is knowing your market well)