Jekyll2026-06-12T23:43:19+00:00https://maxcouling.com/feed.xmlMax CoulingCybersecurity consultant by day, plush-game developer by night. Projects, hardware build logs, book & game reviews — and a playable arcade.Pete’s Rescue Mission is live in the Arcade2026-06-12T20:00:00+00:002026-06-12T20:00:00+00:00https://maxcouling.com/games/2026/06/12/petes-rescue-mission-launchThe site has an Arcade now, and the first cabinet is a game I made: Pete’s Rescue Mission, a pixel-art platformer starring my actual plush dog Pete on a quest to rescue his brother Cheeto from the Green Man.

Some facts about it:

  • Pete cannot jump, because he is a plush. Instead you tap ← → ← → rapidly until his little corduroy arms become a helicopter rotor. This is the whole movement system and I stand by it.
  • Every sprite, tile, backdrop, song and sound effect is generated by code. There is not a single image or audio file in the project — just fourteen JavaScript files and an HTML page.
  • The final boss is defeated by swiping a credit card at him. $9.99 per swipe. Charged to me, personally.
  • Jet Plane, the German Shepherd who is the wind, is based on a real dog.

Five stars. I’m not biased, the rating system on this blog is just very accurate.

▶ Play it here, or read the technical write-up on how a game with zero assets works.

]]>Silent but Tactile: Akko Penguin Switches2026-01-01T01:00:00+00:002026-01-01T01:00:00+00:00https://maxcouling.com/hardware/2026/01/01/akko-penguin-switchesI decided it was time to upgrade the typing experience. I got my hands on some Akko Penguin Tactile Silent Switches and installed them into my keyboard.

The goal was to get that satisfying tactile bump without the loud clack that wakes up my girlfriend and the dog. These switches are incredibly silent and feel smooth.

Check out the process and the shots:

Switch Detail

Switch Side View

Keyboard Assembly

Finished Keyboard

]]>Welcome to the ‘Coul’ new website2025-12-14T23:00:00+00:002025-12-14T23:00:00+00:00https://maxcouling.com/update/2025/12/14/welcomeWelcome to my new website. I decided to upgrade from the standard corporate look to something more… aesthetic.

This site functions as a central hub for:

  • My CV and professional history.
  • Software projects (check out my GitHub).
  • Hardware projects (keyboards, Pis, and more).
  • Reviews of books and movies I’ve consumed recently.

Stay tuned for more updates. End of line.

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