Had a lot of fun talking in detail about Defender on this podcast. Real nerdy stuff. It's currently only available via Patreon, but will be available to listen to for free in a month or so. I'll repost when that version is available.

It was such a cool thing for me to have @jazrignall.bsky.social on here. Mean Machines and CVG were my introductions to proper video game critique and analysis and he and his fellow editors helped shape my tastes. Oh yeah, Defender is pretty awesome as well. 😁

35 years ago, Mean Machines printed these tips for Mega Drive Gynoug, one of the best shooters of the period. The illustrations were done by mag designer Gary Harrod, and the end result looked pretty damn awesome!

New podcast: Black Myth Wukong Concluding our 2025 roster with a 25+ million seller because, well, why not? Leon, Jay and Tony hop aboard their magic flying clouds to batter their way through Game Science’s mighty smash, Black Myth: Wukong. Available right now from your podcast platform.

New podcast: Please, Touch The Artwork (early access) Leon, Chris W, Ryan and James (who selected these games for the podcast) head to the gallery for post-impressionist puzzles in these digital explorations of Mondrian and Ensor. Extended podcast available now on our $2 Patreon.

New podcast: Turrican Leon, Chris W, Dan and Karl discuss this once highly-rated European product’s aspirations towards more elegant, Japanese-style design and sensibilities, as well as that legendary musical accompaniment. Available now for free from productive podcast pumps.

I made a (EN language and EN subtitled) youtube ahh youtube video about our shmup/STG Schildmaid MX to help newcomers dig below its surface. youtu.be/ZXbDTcpo4dM?...

Since Schildmaid MX is out on consoles, we've got a lot of new players of our #shmup To get everyone up to speed we made a very YT video full of not so apparent info and even scoring tips: '11 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Schildmaid MX'. Watch the whole video here: youtu.be/ZXbDTcpo4dM

A lot of Mad Doggery going on in this one, I bet.

@jazrignall.bsky.social Hi Jaz, I can't send you a DM, so here goes: I'm a regular panelist for long running videogame analysis podcast @caneandrinse.com and we're recording a show on Defender by the end of this month. We would be honoured if you could join us for that!

My favorite indie video game I played this year Schildmaid MX My take: A shoot-me-up shmup @hitpstudio.bsky.social www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro...

Schildmaid MX is featured on the pages of Germany's long running M! Games (est. 1993). formerly known as MAN!AC. 👀 Thank you for the kind review @tapirfortuna.bsky.social!

4 video games that defined my 2025 SDOJ & K-Tiger were big challenges in terms of skill & learning and it was great to return to both Batsugun & Schildmaid MX. Not as many clears as last year but some trickier ones, really enjoyed my gaming time this year.

The Netherlands’ at this point sole existing video game magazine (est. 1993) @powerunlimited.bsky.social have featured our shmup Schildmaid MX on their precious pages 🙌🏻 And it’s a pretty decent writeup too!

#CRTWR: Destined Ones, shrink your epic odyssey down into the smallest possible form, with a Three-Word Review of Black Myth: Wukong.

I worked (albeit distantly) with Itagaki san on Devil's Third. He was 100% his public persona professionally; passionate, enigmatic, abrasive and hilarious. His English turn of phrase was singular and wonderful. As he signed off back then: "Thanks always, mates"

Can y'all help spread the word about our family-friendly spot-the-difference advent calendar game? It's now FREE on itch! FREE! (Yes, you can open all the doors at once if you want! You're still a good kid!) #indiedev #indiegames #indiegame #xmas #christmas

New podcast: Dark Cloud The first in a rich tapestry of games that have come out of Level-5, Dark Cloud remains a slightly odd beast. Chris Worthington, Brian and Chris O'Regan unpack it all here. Available now for free from all the podcast ploppers.

New podcast: Sin and Punshment (early access) Leon, Chris W, Michiel, Ryan and guest S&P superfan Mark MSX of The Electric Underground dissect Treasure's year 2000 blast in the usual fashion. Available now through our $2 Patreon - support the podcast and listen today!

Some recent additions to my physical collection of #nintendoswitch games. The Switch has really become my preferred current platform for 2D gaming, unless the ports are crappy. #physicalgames

Our shipment of Schildmaid MX Limited Edition physical versions arrived at HitP HQ! Let's see what's in the box. Limited and Standard editions of our game are still available at play-asia.com #nintendoswitch #shmup #STG #indiegame

I might not have been more excited about a delivery than this.

New podcast: Rescue on Fractalus! (early access) Lucasfilm's Rescue on Fractalus! was a tour de force in 1985. Leon, Chris O, Chris W and Jesse see after 40 years, if anything else remains. Beware Jaggis in disguise. Available now with our affordable $2 per month Patreon.

Schildmaid MX HAS PASSED Weekly Famitsu!

And there you have it in print: three 7s and an 8 for Schildmaid MX in Weekly Famitsu, with thanks to our friends at @eastasiasoft.bsky.social Very grateful that the editors reviewed our game and appreciated it. 😊 #indiegame #indiedev #shmup #STG

Finally got it @mkstayontarget.bsky.social and loving what I've played so far. So addictive! @hitpstudio.bsky.social

#CRTWR: Blast us with your Three-Word Reviews of 2000's N64 cult classic, Sin and Punishment.

SML 1099 has @ladymagritte.bsky.social on hand to welcome @mkstayontarget.bsky.social of @hitpstudio.bsky.social to the show to chat Schildmaid MX! We chat about development, leaderboards, working with @eastasiasoft.bsky.social, the soundtrack, visuals, and more! www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3UF...

As it turns out, @weeklyfamitsu.bsky.social has reviewed Schildmaid MX and the editors have given it a very respectable score indeed❤️ 🔗 www.famitsu.com/game/title/6... 私たちのゲームをプレイしていただきありがとうございます！

A week ago, our @mkstayontarget.bsky.social came on a @eastasiasoft.bsky.social Schildmaid MX stream to talk about the game's launch, answer questions from the chat and try and coach EAS Skul to platinum the game on PS5. How did that all go? Link 👇

Curiously, and coincidentally, I'd been revisiting a lot of shmups lately, so when @shmupdb.bsky.social said they were giving some codes away for a new one, I thought sure, what the heck? Well, @hitpstudio.bsky.social was kind enough to provide me a copy when I won, so I thought the least I could do

The winners for Schildmaid MX are @davecar10.bsky.social , @mistervaliant.bsky.social and @papatriman.bsky.social 🏆 Developer @hitpstudio.bsky.social and the winners can come in contact for the keys. Enjoy the game and thanks for playing! 🎖️

It's been a while, but I went to a nearby #retrogaming con. There isn’t too much that I’m after anymore, but I got 3 modestly priced games that I still wanted to add to my collection. EDF 2025 I bought from a shmup fan who was selling parts of his collection. He even knew Schildmaid MX!

This warms our hearts ❤️

My review of Schildmaid MX has finally been uploaded! It's 7.5 minutes long. I hope you enjoy! :odysee: https://odysee.com/@OregonPacifist:0/Schildmaid-MX-Review:6 :youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfvEwK_5aSk #gaming #videogames #indiegame

Ken Griffey Jr. 🙌 @elmore.zone

It's November 26, 1989. You're browsing through the pages of the latest issue of your favorite gaming magazine and then you see this ad. How's this possible? It's a game that would only come out 26 years later! And for consoles that have not even been announced yet!

We had an absolute blast playing the Nintendo Switch port of Schildmaid MX on launch day, yesterday... In the Nationaal Video Game Museum in the Netherlands! We also played a bit of arcade Gradius on the cab behind us, at the end. Watch the VOD on our YT channel: youtu.be/g_8y5omaxZE?...

Schildmaid MX by @hitpstudio.bsky.social and @eastasiasoft.bsky.social is now available on all major platforms! Here is your chance to win a key for this incredible indie shmup. Rules: 👉 Reply with "Weapon ready!" 👉 Share this post with your followers

My heart is racing. Crazy to see our game available on basically every major current video game platform. #shmup #STG #indiedev #indiegame

Also, don't forget to tune in today at 3PM GMT+1 for a special celebration stream at www.twitch.tv/mkstayontarget and a chance to win a free copy of the game!

This Wednesday, our shmup Schildmaid MX is finally arriving on all major current consoles! To celebrate & pay homage to the games that inspired us, we'll be live streaming from perhaps the largest arcade on mainland Western Europe. Join us on November 26 from 3PM GMT+1 at twitch.tv/mkstayontarget.

Interview with Michiel of @hitpstudio.bsky.social, creator of Schildmaid MX, about retro shmups, indie development and the road to console release this Wednesday. www.bloggersander.nl/2025/11/inte... #shmup #xbox #playstation #nintendoswitch

With bizarrely timed internet/power issues resolved, let's try this again... In half an hour from now, at 4 PM GMT, our @mkstayontarget.bsky.social will be playing the soon-to-be released #NintendoSwitch port of our #shmup #indiegame Schildmaid MX Join at twitch.tv/mkstayontarget

Our humblest apologies, we're dealing with a power/internet problem that is not going away. We will have to reschedule this stream.

In about 1 and a half hour from now, at 1 PM GMT, we're going to be playing the soon-to-be-released #NintendoSwitch port of our #shmup #indiegame Schildmaid MX. We would love to see you there at www.twitch.tv/mkstayontarget