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GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video

Originally published 2026-09-03 on Advisory Hour.

Originally published as an Advisory Hour Substack post on 2026-09-03. This first-party site copy preserves the text, localizes public supporting media, and connects the record to its project trail.

Original post

GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.
GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Pip the Dinosaur is a ridiculously fun detour for me. The game has grown. I’ve swapped out the procedurally generated sound effects with real sound, music, and now suddenly the game is feeling transformed. The stages now feature a few sonic-style loops. I’m calling this adventure “Folded Thunder”.

GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.
GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.

This week there’s been so many advances along the frontier. Advances that allow me to take all those posts I shared with you about Local AI and generate all the things. I find myself with access to a video model that generates video faster than I can write sentences for substack. I contemplated bombarding this post with so many videos. Instead, I’ll restrain myself to a curated selection. Instead of me telling you about Pip? I’ve asked Pip to introduce themself.

GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video video 1 from the original Advisory Hour post.

The game itself has grown in capabilities. This is perhaps the richest gameplay that I think i’ve done today. It builds on all the prior titles in little ways. You could draw a little, crooked line from every past project to this one. The thing is? It’s just fun to play. You’re a fast moving dinosaur!

GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.
GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.

There’s loops, inclines, ramps and more. And just this orientation with the sprite is great. If you’ve seen my earlier game projects, this just represents a whole console generational change.

GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.
GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Pip the Dinosaur is a fun little distraction. The villain, Mr. Blank, really pops in the videos. As the Chief Villain Officer of the game, he owns it. The contrast of Mr. Blank and his slick looking machinery versus Pip’s folder paper origami world is a clear and intentional contrast of aesthetic motifs.

GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.
GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Pip has a youthful energy, which allows me to create a fun contrast within the character itself. For example, Pip is frightening when the character roars. Mr. Blank is an adult in Pip’s world. Layered in are those tensions between Mr. Blank and the battle with childhood wonder. I wouldn’t mess with a dinosaur, even if it is made of paper.

GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video video 2 from the original Advisory Hour post.

This is the first game project that I’ve done where the thought of connecting in a game controller and figuring out that step made sense to me. I still might. Seeing this on the TV might change how I think about future projects.

GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.
GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.
GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.
GameLab: Pip the Dinosaur in Video image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Until next time!

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