Rao Dao Zao
@raodaozao.net
Solo game developer and recovering Warcraft III modder, also known as "Robbie". Warning: may contain strong language and scenes of mild peril. (He/Him)
Blog: https://www.raodaozao.net
Working on isomechtric action-cRPG Exon: http://www.raodaozao.net/exon
Blog: https://www.raodaozao.net
Working on isomechtric action-cRPG Exon: http://www.raodaozao.net/exon
Dungeon Siege is neither a satisfying action-RPG nor an engrossing tactical party RPG. In trying to straddle the line it has only managed to make the worst of both worlds... But god damn if it doesn't look good doing it.
Blog 998: Dungeon Siege
It's okay, there actually is a dungeon that is under siege (right at the end).
raodaozao.net
January 5, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Dungeon Siege is neither a satisfying action-RPG nor an engrossing tactical party RPG. In trying to straddle the line it has only managed to make the worst of both worlds... But god damn if it doesn't look good doing it.
Reposted by Rao Dao Zao
It's time to start shouting about EDJAM 2026!
Will you be in Edinburgh Jan 30th to Feb 1st? Then come join us and make cool stuff in our big annual 48h game jam!
100ish people, all disciplines/experience levels welcome, super friendly! Hybrid options for joining too 🧡
Sign up: bit.ly/edjam26
Will you be in Edinburgh Jan 30th to Feb 1st? Then come join us and make cool stuff in our big annual 48h game jam!
100ish people, all disciplines/experience levels welcome, super friendly! Hybrid options for joining too 🧡
Sign up: bit.ly/edjam26
January 3, 2026 at 9:11 PM
It's time to start shouting about EDJAM 2026!
Will you be in Edinburgh Jan 30th to Feb 1st? Then come join us and make cool stuff in our big annual 48h game jam!
100ish people, all disciplines/experience levels welcome, super friendly! Hybrid options for joining too 🧡
Sign up: bit.ly/edjam26
Will you be in Edinburgh Jan 30th to Feb 1st? Then come join us and make cool stuff in our big annual 48h game jam!
100ish people, all disciplines/experience levels welcome, super friendly! Hybrid options for joining too 🧡
Sign up: bit.ly/edjam26
Reposted by Rao Dao Zao
Wow, looks like the flood of Chinese scraper traffic has finally abated. Guess they've successfully trained their LLM on my entire blog archive... at least my stats should start to make sense again.
December 30, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Wow, looks like the flood of Chinese scraper traffic has finally abated. Guess they've successfully trained their LLM on my entire blog archive... at least my stats should start to make sense again.
I can't believe it's been 12 years since Riddick (2013). I know it didn't exactly follow hot on the heels of Chronicles (2004), but... it does feel at this point like we're never going to get any more Riddick. 😞
December 29, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I can't believe it's been 12 years since Riddick (2013). I know it didn't exactly follow hot on the heels of Chronicles (2004), but... it does feel at this point like we're never going to get any more Riddick. 😞
Right on schedule, we have reached the "this is just annoying" phase of not having shaved for a week. 🧔♂️
December 28, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Right on schedule, we have reached the "this is just annoying" phase of not having shaved for a week. 🧔♂️
Reposted by Rao Dao Zao
When I say "DVD" I usually actually mean "blu-ray", but "blu-ray" just doesn't slip off the tongue quite as easily. Just be glad I'm not saying "video" or "tape".
December 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
When I say "DVD" I usually actually mean "blu-ray", but "blu-ray" just doesn't slip off the tongue quite as easily. Just be glad I'm not saying "video" or "tape".
Gave my mousemat a proper festive clean. Let's see if THAT improves my aim when UT day rolls around.
December 24, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Gave my mousemat a proper festive clean. Let's see if THAT improves my aim when UT day rolls around.
I think my problem with Elder Scrolls games is that Light and Heavy armour are different tracks. Shouldn't Heavy armour be something you progress _through_ Light armour to get to? Heavy armour should be categorically better, but that's counterbalanced by having to go deep into armour to get there.
December 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I think my problem with Elder Scrolls games is that Light and Heavy armour are different tracks. Shouldn't Heavy armour be something you progress _through_ Light armour to get to? Heavy armour should be categorically better, but that's counterbalanced by having to go deep into armour to get there.
Watched Gods of Egypt last night. It may be a big dumb CGI-fest, but at least it's got style. Can't argue with sets and costumes and creatures that look like that.
December 22, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Watched Gods of Egypt last night. It may be a big dumb CGI-fest, but at least it's got style. Can't argue with sets and costumes and creatures that look like that.
Snuck a cheeky wee playthrough of Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance in before crimbo and dear god, I am so fundamentally opposed to the concept of air units in RTS games. Air units suck and ruin everything.
December 21, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Snuck a cheeky wee playthrough of Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance in before crimbo and dear god, I am so fundamentally opposed to the concept of air units in RTS games. Air units suck and ruin everything.
It's easy to forget what a banger The Sun Always Shines on TV is. Actually, Hunting High and Low is one of the few albums where I know _every_ word... and woe betide the poor fool who stands within earshot of me when it's on. 🗣️🎤
December 21, 2025 at 11:20 AM
It's easy to forget what a banger The Sun Always Shines on TV is. Actually, Hunting High and Low is one of the few albums where I know _every_ word... and woe betide the poor fool who stands within earshot of me when it's on. 🗣️🎤
Killing time between finishing UT2004 and shiny new crimbo day games by picking up my last Oblivion save. Immediately remembering why I gave up on it -- high level Oblivion is ass. I know we all love to hate Skyrim for being shallow, but damn, at least melee combat isn't a chore.
December 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Killing time between finishing UT2004 and shiny new crimbo day games by picking up my last Oblivion save. Immediately remembering why I gave up on it -- high level Oblivion is ass. I know we all love to hate Skyrim for being shallow, but damn, at least melee combat isn't a chore.
I see that Red One is on ITV tonight. I'm pretty certain that was only out in the cinemas last year, which makes it an abnormally fast descent to terrestrial (usually it's three years).
You're god damn right I'm going to tape it and subject myself to the horror.
You're god damn right I'm going to tape it and subject myself to the horror.
December 19, 2025 at 9:33 AM
I see that Red One is on ITV tonight. I'm pretty certain that was only out in the cinemas last year, which makes it an abnormally fast descent to terrestrial (usually it's three years).
You're god damn right I'm going to tape it and subject myself to the horror.
You're god damn right I'm going to tape it and subject myself to the horror.
The best thing about being on holiday is that I have no idea what day it is anymore.
December 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The best thing about being on holiday is that I have no idea what day it is anymore.
You didn't seriously think you'd get away without a UT2004 blog this year, did you? I've been playing for years and somehow only just discovered the hidden Onslaught ladder.
Blog 997: Onslaught
Vehicular manslaughter? I 'ardly know 'er!
raodaozao.net
December 18, 2025 at 11:06 AM
You didn't seriously think you'd get away without a UT2004 blog this year, did you? I've been playing for years and somehow only just discovered the hidden Onslaught ladder.
I've got 3 hours in Levels to get Exonmas building and playable. THE RACE IS ON!
TONIGHT from 6pm until late is our last GameDevEd of the year! Come and enjoy the company of Game Developers in and around Edinburgh who are bearing through the cold winter nights and frantic holiday days. Some may even bring wintery versions of their projects for you to enjoy! #scotgamedev
December 16, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I've got 3 hours in Levels to get Exonmas building and playable. THE RACE IS ON!
Reposted by Rao Dao Zao
TOMORROW, at OX184 from 6pm until late will be our Final GameDevEd of the year! Bring hastily cobbled together versions of your games that have holiday-themed additions to their assets to show off if you so wish! #scotgamedev
December 15, 2025 at 3:33 PM
TOMORROW, at OX184 from 6pm until late will be our Final GameDevEd of the year! Bring hastily cobbled together versions of your games that have holiday-themed additions to their assets to show off if you so wish! #scotgamedev
I'd swear my hi-fi only has like... 2 random seeds. I always put my crimbo playlist on shuffle and I manage to instinctively predict the next song with ~90% accuracy -- which can only happen if the same sequence has been repeatedly seared into my brain.
December 13, 2025 at 11:49 AM
I'd swear my hi-fi only has like... 2 random seeds. I always put my crimbo playlist on shuffle and I manage to instinctively predict the next song with ~90% accuracy -- which can only happen if the same sequence has been repeatedly seared into my brain.
In trying to build a small, snowy level to mark the festive season, I have established that... yeah my tools are totally fucked. Catastrophically broken in so many wonderful and unexpected ways. Absolutely delightful. 😌
December 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
In trying to build a small, snowy level to mark the festive season, I have established that... yeah my tools are totally fucked. Catastrophically broken in so many wonderful and unexpected ways. Absolutely delightful. 😌
Can't believe I got nerd-sniped into doing the @thinkygames.com Thinky Dailies. I'm not a habitual puzzler but they're so damn bite-sized and accessible. I've never done Sudoku in my life before, let alone Weird Sudoku -- and yet, here I am! Ugh!
December 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Can't believe I got nerd-sniped into doing the @thinkygames.com Thinky Dailies. I'm not a habitual puzzler but they're so damn bite-sized and accessible. I've never done Sudoku in my life before, let alone Weird Sudoku -- and yet, here I am! Ugh!
And with that, I'm off work for a month -- time to make some god damn video games! First order of business will be to see if I can cobble Exon back together enough to bring a snowy level to @gamedeved.bsky.social this week. 👀🌨️
December 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
And with that, I'm off work for a month -- time to make some god damn video games! First order of business will be to see if I can cobble Exon back together enough to bring a snowy level to @gamedeved.bsky.social this week. 👀🌨️
Started watching The War Between The Land and The Sea last night, because it sounded like the kind of B-movie nonsense that is exactly my bag... only to discover it's a bloody Dr Who spin-off. 🤮
December 10, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Started watching The War Between The Land and The Sea last night, because it sounded like the kind of B-movie nonsense that is exactly my bag... only to discover it's a bloody Dr Who spin-off. 🤮