Belated congrats to friends & partners at @softrains.bsky.social on their nominations for the @glaad.bsky.social and @wingsfund.me #Awards 🏆 with #AmbrosiaSky🪐! It was a pleasure - and a real honour - to lend them a hand here and there 😊

omg everybody go draw a horse this is what the internet was made for gradient.horse

A Tale of Two Americas

Congrats to fellow #Vancouver devs @bapbapgg.bsky.social on the release of #YAPYAP🧙‍♂️ Time to grab that piss wand (yes, you read that right 😂) and go trash the wizard's castle!

phantom brigade was good in 2023, but a surprise 2.0 release last year--which fleshed out so much of its campaign--makes it REALLY good now

Out of Action just launched in Early Access and I can't recommend it enough! Instantly fun yet deep kinetic gunfights, that live up to the nostalgia-tinted memories of Action Half-Life and F.E.A.R. multiplayer. Incredible solo project by @dokugames.bsky.social 👏👏👏

It’s not even February but I am already calling it: On the Nature of Daylight will end up in my Spotify Wrap’s most listened songs. Again. I mostly blame Hamnet; re-watching Arrival (to a lesser extent) - and sure, Max Richter’s genius 😄

Massive thanks to Canada's Trade Commissioner Service for involving me in a mission to Japan last November 🙏 This gave me the opportunity to chat with the prestigious @nikkei.com about @bbigames.bsky.social, @shipbreakergame.bsky.social, the Canadian gaming ecosystem, and its vibrant indie scene 🍁

Looks like I am not the only one who has been craving for a G-Police spiritual successor ❤️

Just discovered this somehow. Colour me intrigued 👀

🇨🇦PM Carney just schooled our cowardly European leaders at #Davos. This speech was clearly aimed at them: "We must actively take on the world as it is, not wait around for a world we wish to be." "What does it mean for middle powers to live the truth? First it means naming reality..." (🧵1/6)

More than predictions - good resolutions by @malloryloar.bsky.social

Cats are marvelous creatures. Every nerve in their body is tuned to being a paranoid, defensive hunter that doesn't eat, drink or poop without every angle covered And then they'll walk up to a random hulking ape-thing and go 'I don't know you but I immediately trust you enough to sleep on your lap'

Best thing I’ve read this morning, from a human rights lawyer in Mexico. Translation is in the ALT-text.

Good morning, kids. Be safe out there. 🥰

new year new post

Pretty happy with the holiday gift 🎁🎄 we got @bbigames.bsky.social staff this year, to celebrate our acquisition of the @shipbreakergame.bsky.social IP! (and yes, we got some extra made for partners and fans - so be sure to hit me up at industry events next year 👀)

Cool find while helping my old folks move places - a soviet camera! Can’t wait to try it out 📸

"This is a little bit of proof, that you shouldn't be afraid to dig deep into your own lived experiences and culture for video games." –– Remy Siu, #1000xRESIST creative director. In this exclusive Peabody Conversation, Siu and actress Nhi Do reflect on what winning a Peabody means for #gaming.

Rien à rajouter 😂

“I was just following otters.”

I finished Ambrosia Sky: Act One by @softrains.bsky.social , and I can confirm that I had a great time. 🖖 The lore is interesting, the story is moving, the gameplay is very fun (halfway between a narrative and meditative game, a washing game, and System Shock 😁), and the art direction is fresh.

EmCon is next week! A gamedev conference where the speakers, the artist and even the venue are all Em. We're only doing this once, so get your tickets now! www.eventbrite.ca/e/emcon-a-ga...

I'm slowly making my way through Ambrosia Sky—one (short) mission every two or three days—and it's a real delight. A heavy atmosphere in keeping with the very nice art direction, fun gameplay, light puzzles, cool sci-fi lore, and a moving story. In space. ☝️

let it rain on us forever

Proud to help shine a spotlight on #GreaterVancouver #gamedevs through this Steam event @bbigames.bsky.social organized with @vangameconnect.ca & @seriouslyclara.bsky.social! 💸 130+ games, with discounts up to 90% 🕹 Dozens of studios, from indies to AAA 👀 Many hidden gems & trending upcoming titles

Recent discussion about the perils of doors in gamedev reminded me of a bug caused by a door in a game you may have heard of called "Half Life 2". I wrote it up over on Mastodon (I find it's better at long threads): mastodon.gamedev.place/@TomF/115589...

Massive overhaul for this sleeper hit from fellow #VancouverDevs🌄 Highly recommend giving it a try - plus it's 50% off! If you have never heard of it, imagine Front Mission by way of XCOM and Into The Breach. The timeline / planning system is so goddamn clever and makes you feel like a genius 🧠

ICYMI #AmbrosiaSky🪐 - ACT ONE from our friends at @softrains.bsky.social just launched last week, with @bbigames.bsky.social lending a hand here & there!

Je dis ça Je dis rien

Two very relevant articles / thought pieces about the current games landscape and its changing audience(s). First, Chris Zukowski’s.

🐙🛢️😱

Masterful community management and audience insight… from a non-games industry person!

"The same institutions that claim to protect the integrity of the game have built an economy dependent on its erosion."

How about… A French Kiss? 🤡🥁

Appropriately spooky business update 🎃 @bbigames.bsky.social has joined forces with @wearesecretmode.com on hit horror game Escape the Backrooms!

Winter is coming 😬 (or everlasting, one could argue) All this will just keep accelerating: • new ways of making games in a lean / derisked way (incl. as a side hustle) • new distribution channels and arbitrages • new monetization strategies • rush towards captive profitable nostalgia niches

A few #Vancouver🌄 #Canada🍁 devs biased #SteamNextFest shout-outs and recommendations, if somehow you are doom-scrolling and looking for something to play this weekend 🙂

is this good

Been following @dieaty.bsky.social's journey for a while - the man has been working relentlessly to find a path forward for his team post-Embracer collapse ❤️ Please consider helping them out: www.kickstarter.com/projects/goo... Some intriguing stuff here, like the talking planet, Solaris-style.

We're at #VancouverGameGarden all weekend with @softrains.bsky.social showcasing Ambrosia Sky! If you're local, come say hello! The event is free and the games are plenty (and wonderful)! We'd love to see you!

Looking forward to @vangamegarden.bsky.social🌱🕹 this weekend and hanging out with fellow independent studios & creators! @bbigames.bsky.social is providing hardware, while @stevenmessner.bsky.social and I will have #AmbrosiaSky🪐 from our friends at @softrains.bsky.social available to play 😀

Not sure who needs this - but: As I had to clean and set up a hand-me down PC over the weekend, I found a terrific ✨ Win 11 decluttering / optimization install guide✨ (preview in Spanish somehow, but guide in English) Great for gamers 🕹️, but not only! Made the OS noticeably more responsive 💪

In space, no one can hear you scream... for joy! Citizen Sleeper and Hardspace: Shipbreaker are teaming up for the Space Capitalism Steam Bundle! Two awesome sci-fi games, together at a permanent 10% discount! Buy it here: store.steampowered.com/bundle/58811...

Aaaaaahd one more leaving early access this week. halp