iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 21/09/2026

Should I get distracted today & not work on my game art?

A picture of the anime movie "Look Back" collectors edition 4k blue ray dvd set. On the desk is the dvd case & art print with art from the movie showing a girl with long black hair & a pink long sleeve shirt grabbing the hand of another girl with short black hair & a light blue shirt. They appear to be outside at a farm. There is also a book titled "look back: making book" that came with the dvd.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 17/09/2026

Natural light makes such a difference, even with digital art. I would also say it makes me more creative, too.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 13/09/2026

Was at @rosecitycc.bsky.social & had a blast like usual. Got to meet Danny Trejo! Always worth the 3hr drive from WA. #RCCC #RoseCityComicCon

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 31/08/2026

When you 1st start out on your journey making games, there are tons of resources available to help you figure out your direction. What often is overlooked is learning how to deal with negative reviews. I tend to look at it as still being positive & try not to take it personally, which can be hard.

A screen shot of a game review. Heres the players review:
Too short, too basic. I can't even called it a game. It's a walking sim 2D (literaly, you can't run) or a depression sim. And because you can't run, you will take a slow 5 to 10 minutes to finish all game. The best alternative and more satisfying depression game is The Cat Lady trilogy, real adventure horror games that shows what all depression types or faces can do to a person, definitely more "fun" and challenging than this short interactive story. Loretta is also a better alternative.

The developers reply:
Hello & thanks for sharing your thoughts. The point of the game is that there are no fast ways through depression, no shortcuts. That was the purpose of the games pace. As someone who playtested the game several dozen times, I definitely understand how slow it can feel. I did eventually release a re-telling of the game a few years ago and made sure to have things faster based on feedback. Thanks again for playing, I sincerely appreciate it. Take care.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 18/08/2026

If you were to ask me whats most important thing to me Ive experienced over my time making games, its the fact that 5 yrs after release, theres still about 4-10 people a month that buy my little $4 game on XBOX. That means more to me than than anything.

Part of a bank statement showing a payment/deposit of $5.59 from MIcrosoft.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 08/08/2026

Hey friends! If you enjoyed The Dark Crystal or The Secret of Nimh as a kid, you must get The Council of Frogs by @secondatbest.bsky.social. Do it!

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 22/07/2026

My game will have painted static image cut-scenes rather than fully animated. Working on some place-holder frames to paint later so they dont look gross. Using #Spine2D by @esotericsoftware.com to make the keyframes. Slowly getting there! #gamedev #indiegame

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 16/07/2026

Just finished painting the longest animation for my game so far. This bugger has 23 frames total, OOF! #indiegame #gamedev #rebelle8

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 13/07/2026

Hey friends! Been busy & havent been as active as I would like. So heres another frame animation for my game! I painted this in #Rebelle8 by @escapemotions.com, the best real paint simulation that exists! Sooo much painting to do 😭 #gamedev #indiegame #indiedev

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 21/06/2026

If you dont have any kids like me, happy keeping it in your pants day!

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 16/06/2026

After seeing all this news about more game industry layoffs, this is my face (my moms dog & she still a cutie)

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 18/05/2026

Hey peeps! Wanted to share a frame animation for my videogame. This is the same character I shared the last year but with a final paint in #Rebelle8 by @escapemotions.com. Really love the chunky chunks you get. Only about infinity dozen more to go! #gamedev #indiegame #indiedev

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 04/05/2026

Hey peeps! Havent shared much lately because I been working on boring stuff. I finally have something cool to share! In the game, each screen acts as a separate painting. This is what that transition looks like. I love it! (placeholder art so ignore the garbage) #gamedev #indiegame #indiedev

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 15/04/2026

This happened ha ha. They yummy.

A picture of 9 ramen cup of noodles from the movie K Pop Demon Hunters. There are 3 different varieties shown. 3 with Rumi, 3 with Mira, & 3 with Zoey.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 12/04/2026

My mom's doggie says she thinks you're cool

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 21/03/2026

While DLSS5 may be garbage, it did make me pretty

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 10/03/2026

Hey friends! Not at #GDC but dis me up here in the PNW making an #indiegame. There are so many of from all over the world. Share your pic & lets see all the amazing people behind the games! #WhatAGameDevLooksLike #gamedev

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 14/02/2026

To those that are spending Valentines day alone like me, show yourself some love! Hooked myself up with 5.5lbs of chocolate! This thing is huge! I also wrecked it like my heart is ha ha!

The chocolate heart is out of the box. The person has their hand on it to show how huge it is. The chocolate heart is over twice the width of their hand and almost twice the height. Huge!

The chocolate heart has been carved open with a knife. It has been destroyed!

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 10/02/2026

Fun thing to see where you fall on the bluesky map. I am now legit!

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 02/02/2026

Played the 1st build of my games prototype! Still work to do, but my game is coming to life, yay! Also, ignore the garbage placeholder art. If you squint it looks amazing🤣! Once this is done I will reach out to get some play testers for the 10min build. #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame

Image shows an early build of a video game. There is a bigfoot creature with 4 large rodent animals following him on some terrain. The art has an unfinished, quick paint look to it.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 28/01/2026

If anybody is struggling for gift ideas for valentine's day, Amazon sent me an amazing idea, that I now share with you! Just get them an in d ustrial sized jug of cherry scented shampoo! You're welcome.

A cell phone notification with a picture of a large bottle of cherry scented shampoo. The bottle has an industrial look, like something a hospital would use. The words "treat someone you love on valentine's day" appear in the notification.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 19/01/2026

I been stuck in a creative black hole on my #indiegame for a bit. I learned over the years you cant force creativity. It needs to come to you naturally. Trying to force it isnt healthy for us & our games may suffer from that. I took some time off & I got some stuff figured out! #gamedev #indiedev

A picture of Boromir from "The Lord of the Rings" movie with the phrase: One does not simply force gamedev to happen

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 13/01/2026

Being a succesful #indiedev can mean a few things: -made some $ -game on a major console But there is also what I consider the most important & thats making players feel something. When you make something personal & people actually understand you that gives me a feeling that $ simply cant. 😭

Game review: This was such a poignant experience. I decided to play this game, because I have been struggling with depression for as long as I can remember, and I connected with it so much that it made me tear up multiple times until a singular tear fell down quite dramatically... I absolutely loved the way this game represented depression. the distortion centering the twisted self & wiping of memories caused by this seemingly inescapable and consuming darkness. how it often feels like your own brain is your worst enemy. always struggling to remember and understand anything about yourself and your life... the conflicting feelings... I could feel it all so viscerally, especially when being accompanied by the amazing music and visuals. thank you so much for this game!

Developers reply: Thank you so much for playing! When I set out to make this game, my goal was to make a short game that shared what my personal struggle was like. I wasn't sure if I could cover something so powerful & complicated in 15 minutes & have it make sense. In the end, I understood my game... but would anyone else? To hear that you understood & felt what I was trying to share means so much to me. Thank you so much for sharing. May you always find your way to the light.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 09/01/2026

Saw a lot of peeps doing this. I have had a boring life ha ha.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 24/12/2025

May you all have a good Christmas. If its not your thing may your day be glorious! Its important to remember as an #indiedev to take time off from making your #indiegame & surround yourself with friends & family instead of computer screens. Take that time of to recharge & enjoy the ones you love!

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 23/12/2025

Here's were all my failed attempts at #gamedev happen. Let's see your setups! #indiedev #indiegame

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 16/12/2025

Reminds me of this lego set I haven't built yet

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 22/11/2025

psssst... My little game will be on sale for just $1 on Nov 28th on @itch.io! #indiegame #gamedev #indiedev

a picture showing the title screen of the video game "untitled darkness" showing a male looking person reaching up towards a glowing light in the shape of a door

a picture of a video game showing a male character kneeling in front of a pregnant female character

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 19/11/2025

While I havent shared much #gamedev lately, Ive still been at it. I made this placeholder animation to show you some of the animations Ive been working on. Now take a look at this style, but imagine it wasnt painted in 2 minutes ha ha. #indiedev #indiegame

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 15/11/2025

Today is my bday. This day never meant much to me until I lost my stepfather 4 yrs ago on Nov 14th. Now I am reminded of the great man my family lost, but also how us kids all are who we are because of him. It sounds like a sad day, but it is not. These are happy tears. Oh, Fuck cancer.

A picture of an amazing stepfather with the statement “Because of this man, I know men can cook, clean, & raise their kids the same way woman do. Because of this man, I know I shouldn’t just come home from work, sit in the chair & ask the wife “whats for dinner?” Because of this man, I know I can be so much more than what old sexist gender roles say I am to be. Because of this man, I am who I became, this person you see before you. While I am finding it hard to figure out who I am supposed to be without him now, knowing he set me on the right path gives me hope. Fuck cancer. Love you pops.”

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 12/11/2025

After about 7 hrs, I am finishing building it! Love how it came out, but building it kinda sucked at times because of how tiny it is.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 10/11/2025

What have I done to myself?

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 06/11/2025

My wallet, it screams in pain

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 04/11/2025

In case you forgot, I am your cool #gamedev uncle

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 07/09/2025

Yesssss. Went to #RoseCityComicCon2025 yesterday. Got to meet the coolest of the three! May Hong was a sweetheart 💕 #KPopDemonHunters

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 29/08/2025

If you're at #PaxWest2025 stop by booth 762 & say hi & play some fun games! #ZombMe #indiegame

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 29/08/2025

Good morning Seattle! Had a lovely ferry ride, now see you all soon at #PaxWest2025!

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 28/08/2025

Hey friends! Sharing a test climb animation for my #indiegame. While it wont win any awards, I do like how it came out. This is frame animation on 3s if youre curious. Oh, this is all placeholder art, so ignore all the garbage ha ha. #gamedev #indiedev

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 18/08/2025

This is me today. Who else will join me?

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 08/08/2025

I am unfortunately unable to work on my #indiegame due to reasons beyond my control for a while. These are difficult times.

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Tom Orden @8bitpxl.itch.io · 25/07/2025

That dude right now after you cooked him:

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