Intel processors crashing Unreal engine games (and others)

Introducing Matt from Alderon Games


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Welcome to Broken Silicon, a gaming hardware podcast. I am your host, Tom, and today I am thrilled to have on someone with an extensive history in game development. Matt has also been very vocal about the ongoing Intel instability issues we are seeing right now. This is significant not only from a journalism perspective but also from a game development perspective, as we often have guests who are tech YouTubers or CPU architects. It's crucial to hear from those working directly with the hardware that we discuss week after week. There's so much insight that can be gained from conversing with individuals using the technology in real projects.


Matt, please introduce yourself. Let us know where you're from, what got you into game development, and provide us with examples of projects you've worked on, sharing as much of your work history as you wish.


Matt:
Sure! Hey everyone, I'm Matt; I run Alderon Games. My background is primarily in programming, but currently, I manage the entire company. I've been involved in games for over ten years, and I’m currently working on a dinosaur survival game called "Path of Titans." In the past, I’ve worked on mods and games like "Breaking Point" and "The Isle," along with various contracts and some VR projects. We're also developing a complete replacement for Steam, so we’re publishing games ourselves. This adds complexity beyond just making the game, as we're handling backend services, purchases, and refunds.


What drove you to become a game developer? I assume you played many games as a kid. What was your journey?


Matt:
It all started with my dad. When I was playing games like "Runescape" and "World of Warcraft," he would often say, “Why waste your time playing games when you could be making them?” That sparked my interest, especially in multiplayer games. There's something about the human experience in multiplayer that I find fascinating, so naturally, a lot of the games I work on now focus on that aspect.


Did you always plan to focus on multiplayer games, or was it something you stumbled upon?


Matt:
I've always been inspired by games like "DayZ" and the multiplayer experiences they offer. However, when I started as an indie game developer, there were many challenges. People advised against making multiplayer games as a newcomer because they are complex and resource-intensive. The first game I worked on was an MMO, and I quickly learned about the scalability issues and requirements. Over time, I realized the importance of balancing gameplay and the content needed for multiplayer experiences, which led to my current projects.


Tom:
Let's touch on your experiences with different hardware platforms. Which platform excites you the most for game development? Do you prefer working on optimizations for the various Nvidia GPUs, integrated graphics for broader access, or console development?


Matt:
For me, PC development is the most exciting due to its flexibility. However, it's a developer's nightmare in terms of fragmentation. Between different graphic cards from AMD and Nvidia and various Windows versions, it becomes challenging. In contrast, console development simplifies things — once you know the specs, you can be confident that the game will run identically across all units.


Tom:
You raised an interesting point about Intel's recent issues. From your experience of developing for Intel versus AMD, do you believe Intel’s current instability will affect future development?


Matt:
Absolutely. The inconsistency in driver updates and stability issues hampered our game development. We've faced problems with Intel’s integrated graphics, leading to crashes and frustrating customer experiences. In contrast, working with AMD has been significantly smoother.


Tom:
You mentioned the upcoming PS5 Pro and its implications for game development. What are your thoughts on the hardware trade-offs with that console, especially concerning the GPU performance and RT capabilities?


Matt:
While the uplift in performance is promising, I question the CPU's stagnation. The focus seems to be on GPU enhancements, which is great, but the experience should be holistic. If the CPU performance doesn't improve alongside the graphics capabilities, game developers may find themselves bottlenecked. Optimizing for one without considering the other has often led to challenges in development.


Continuing on that path, have you been paying attention to the potential impact of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite on future gaming development? Does it bring any new opportunities or challenges?


Matt:
I have mixed feelings about it. While the idea of an efficient APU is appealing, the reality of driver support and development tools lags. To create a viable gaming environment, Qualcomm must provide robust support for developers and optimize tools for ease of use.


Tom:
Looking back at the gaming landscape today, do you believe VR is a viable future for gaming, or is it quickly fading out?


Matt:
VR’s appeal is limited by logistical challenges — the need for space, comfort, and the issue of motion sickness. While the technology can be compelling, it currently lacks widespread accessibility and user-friendliness, which hinders its growth as a mainstream platform.


Tom:
All right, before we wrap up, please promote yourself! Where can people find your games and support you?


Matt:
You can find us at AlderonGames.com and check out "Path of Titans." Sharing our games and the ongoing issues at Intel will help more than anything. Thank you for having me on the show!


Tom:
Thank you, Matt! And to our listeners, don't forget to subscribe to "Broken Silicon" and support our channel on Patreon. We appreciate you tuning in!

This podcast episode is brought to you by Jaa, which helps you build your next PC hassle-free. Check the link in the description to find great deals and support the channel. Also, visit cdkeyoffer.com and use the offer code "BROKEN SILICON" to save 25% on Microsoft software, and don't forget V Ramen, where you can save 10% with the same offer code on their delicious ramen products. We'll discuss our sponsors further later, but for now, let's dive into the show.


[Music]


[Applause]


Welcome to Broken Silicon, a gaming hardware podcast. I’m your host, Tom. Today, I’m thrilled to have someone with an extensive game development background on the show—Matt from Alderon Games. He’s been vocal about the ongoing Intel instability issues, and I believe this perspective is vital, not only for journalism but also for game development. Many guests we have are TechTubers or CPU architects, but we must also hear from those using the hardware we discuss weekly.


Matt, please introduce yourself. Where are you from, what got you into game development, and can you share some of your projects?


Sure! I’m Matt, I run Alderon Games, primarily a programmer but now I’m managing the whole company. I’ve been in the game industry for over 10 years. Right now, I’m working on a dinosaur survival game called "Path of Titans," but I’ve also worked on mods and a game called "Breaking Point," as well as on a dinosaur game called "The Isle." We've also developed a platform that acts as a replacement for Steam, allowing us to publish games ourselves.


What inspired you to become a game developer?


It all started with my dad. While I was engrossed in games like "Runescape" and "World of Warcraft," he encouraged me to create games instead of just playing them. I became really interested in multiplayer games, which now heavily influences the games I develop.


You've focused extensively on multiplayer experiences—did you always know you wanted to make those kinds of games?


Yes, I’ve always enjoyed multiplayer games, and I thought the experience was incredible. Initially, I wanted to create a massive MMO, but as an indie developer, I quickly realized how challenging that would be. Over time, I gravitated toward smaller projects like survival games that allow for multiplayer interaction, as they’re easier to manage.


What hardware excites you to develop for? Do you prefer optimizing for NVIDIA GPUs with their specs or console development?


This is a tough question; I find excitement in developing for PC due to the flexibility it offers. However, PC can be a nightmare because of its fragmentation compared to consoles. When developing for consoles, all units run the same specs, eliminating out-of-date driver issues. If a game crashes on Intel integrated graphics, it’s difficult to help users who are experiencing adversity, especially if there’s no new driver update available.


Based on your experiences with the PS5 Pro, do you think the right hardware trade-offs have been made?


I have some concerns. Keeping the same CPU speed seems off, especially after a few years since the last generation. However, if the GPU performance is considerably better, that could help make the gaming experience worthwhile. Still, I do worry that they may overstate their specs and features.


Do you think the PS5 Pro will face similar challenges to frame rates as seen with the current generation?


Absolutely. It's always a balancing act between resolution, frame rate, and graphical fidelity. While consumers want 60FPS, higher graphical settings will often dip performance. Developers will need to focus on optimizing for both. The consumer experience becomes problematic when it isn't standardized across different units.


Are there specific issues related to the AMD vs. Intel chipset experiences that you've dealt with as a developer?


Definitely. AMD has made significant improvements in usability and reliability of their chipsets, especially in their latest offerings. Developers have generally had a more stable experience with AMD than with Intel's offerings recently. The lack of timely driver updates and bugs experienced with Intel CPUs can create major problems.


As for the future of ARM on Windows with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite, do you think there’s potential there?


Qualcomm has a mountain to climb. While I see potential in ARM architecture for gaming, the current state just isn't ready. They need to get their drivers and software support in place, and that will take time. If this becomes an integral part of gaming, we'll need to see developers take it more seriously, both for hardware and software development.


What would you say about the future of VR gaming? Is the excitement waning?


Yes, it seems like VR is losing steam. There was a point when the excitement and novelty were high, but now it feels like the market is shrinking. For VR to take off, it needs to be more accessible, seamless, and universally adopted by the gaming community. Until then, it may remain a niche market.


Can you share where people can find Alderon Games and support you?


You can check out Alderon Games at aldarongames.com. Your support by spreading the word is incredibly helpful, especially as we navigate the challenges in the industry.


And as always, support the podcast through patreon or by sharing it with friends. Thank you for tuning in!


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