Hey game developers - if you are looking into publishing as a possible route to help launch your game, I wrote up this guide about what contractual pitfalls to be aware of when considering partners and negotiating terms. (This also exists in a talk format, if video is more your speed)

Absolutely no reason for Danny Go songs to go as hard as they do

7 new companies added, including 2 new verified: VERIFIED Goldpact Goblins (new company from ex-Neon Doctrine) PLAYSENSE NEWLY ADDED ORGS Weekend Games (new publisher from Secret Sauce) Polden Publishing Pixel Doors Isle of Strays Ares Interactive, Inc.

Zoltar said I should start that side project I've been considering 🤔🤔🤔 I'm not one to discard the sage advice of the allmighty Zoltar, so I guess it's time to get things rolling on my next secret side quest.

Also, I had a successful first DICE! And managed to have a little Vegas fun, too.

LA: I'll be doing my next talk in a couple weeks on 2/24 @ UCLA and it's an open RSVP: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... We'll be talking about balancing creative vision against commercial success. It's called "Weird Games, Real Money with Akupara Games' Alyssa Kollgaard"

learn.unity.com The talk from myself and Réne Otto of DeviantLegal on Publishing Contract Red Flags is available for viewing on Unity! We went over a lot of good info from both the publishing and legal perspectives.

Giving a talk to Unity developers tomorrow morning, wish me luck!

Still have room for some meetings in a couple weeks at DICE!

"I feel like aliens are real." 🛸 Experience the playable existential crises of @jeremycouillard.bsky.social’s surreal indie games NOW on GOG and Epic Games Store! Explore Lavender Island, descend through the Fuzz Dungeon, and find your way home to Karzalinx in JEF. It's an endlessly strange trip.

Big news: floppy disk sweaters digitalpreservation-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk/knitting-thr...

youtu.be/_RujOFCHsxo?... Evergreen monologue.

House Democrats Draft Incredibly Powerful Social Media Post hard-drive.net/house-democr...

It feels misguided to be putting energy into anything that isn't directly opposing fascism in this country. Trying to remember raising good humans, making subversive art and caring for my community all has its place in the fight, but it is hard to just go to work every day like everything is normal.

The audacity of the DICE Vegas ticket prices

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've been to: Finntroll Kalmah Zeal & Ardor Dethklok Rome

I'm starting to book meetings for DICE Vegas and GDC - priority to existing partners, other pubs or folks with biz dev opportunities for @akuparagames.bsky.social - indie publisher with 10 years of critically acclaimed games in our portfolio. Select game pitch availability.

Building cyberpunk book nooks to keep the terror at bay

Facebook memories bullying me today by reminding me what I looked like before baby #2 😅 Photographer: Whitaker Foto MUAH: Well Attired

Doing a basketball

🎸 Dead Pets: A Punk Rock Slice of Life Sim is releasing February 6th! 🎸 Dead Pets will FINALLY be on top of the world! 🤘 Well, after we make a bit of money first... and I get Vel, Jay, and Brian to ACTUALLY show up for practice… 😅 Wanna help?

How your email finds me

Talking to Norwegian game devs as part of Spawn Point Trondheim was a good time. Joined by reps from Devolver, Offbrand Games and Bifrost. Every time I have to leave to come home to the USA it feels harder 😔

Another good time at AGDQ. The VOD is weirdly blue, kinda like the blue filter they put over the Twilight movies...It was cool yuckin it up with @yelsraek.bsky.social on couch playing this silly weird game. youtu.be/70i15EL-9BQ?...

Today’s QUESTION OF THE DAY is a video game one. What four classic video games to you find yourself replaying no matter how old they are? These are mine:

I've spent the last 2 days talking to people in Norway about politics, and the situation back home in the states has only been getting worse in that time. They were all very curious to hear about the situation(s) and were shocked at the reality of it all.

I was impressed the first time I saw St. Olav's cathedral a decade ago, but that shit is even more majestic in winter.

I have brunost and no one can stop me

Me while living in America: Wow I hate living in America Me every time I travel to Scandinavia: Wow I hate living in America: Even Harder Edition

Obligatory airport drink. On my way to Norway!

I leave for Norway tomorrow and this SoCal girly is STRUGGLIN' to know how to pack for winter in Scandinavia

On a roll, built this kit I've had sitting around for 3 years. Now I'm out of stuff to build.

Made another cyberpunk doodad. My child is obsessed because apparently love of Rube Goldberg machines is genetic

www.twitch.tv/dukedonuts Return to Zork with special guest @discordiadystopia.bsky.social

Me when I don't have any meetings

www.dkvine.com?p=news_body&... Stop n Swap design doc! 💖

Had a pretty good year professionally, did a little Wrapped about it 💕

Built a couple book nooks over the holiday.

-Got promoted to COO -Launched a website for the community that was well received -Gave 2 industry talks -Got to advise one of my game dev heroes in an official capacity -Went to 6 events professionally, 2 out of the country -Helped Unity launch their first Steam sale -Helped launch 5 games

I miss regularly having excuses to play dress up 😭 I haven't modeled in 3+ years, and don't go to many costumed events nowadays with 2 young kids at home. In 2026 I'd like to find more opportunities to dress fun again!

Me and @dukedonuts.bsky.social if we were inanimate objects

I make some Crimmas food

I went to rewatch Battle Kitty with my kids now that my youngest is old enough and Netflix removed the show AND the interactive tech a year ago. It was live for only 2 years and is already lost media. 🥲

Show me how your 2025 went

What should I buy in the Steam Winter Sale?

Do you like roguelike games? Do you like Puzzle Quest? Do you wish both of those were in the same place? You're in luck: kfsoftware.itch.io/puzzlerogue Puzzle Rogue is early access, playable in-browser! It's fully featured and you can play through the first area. Let us know if you slay the Wyvern!

To end out 2025, I just pushed a big update to my portfolio website! It's nice to have a public archive of all the work I have done :) www.alyssakollgaard.com

Had a great time chatting about indie games publishing landscape and @publisherpath.bsky.social with John O'Connell from DDM/IndieCade/WIGI at Creators Camp yesterday! Had about 40 folks in the crowd, heavily academia-skewed. Looking forward to doing more. 💪

I didn't know the weird elder art teacher came in a VR variant and I want the lady in black to adopt me 🥺

My takeaways from TGA: -I have wildly divergent tastes from the general public -Space and sci fi action is oversaturated -Split Fiction robbed -People who wear tons of perfume in enclosed spaces are jerk asses