iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 22/09/2026

Starting my first day at Drexel University! Not as a professor, but as a grad student! This has been a long time coming. Excited to get started!

It's me. I'm wearing a pea green coat and a black t-shirt with the opening text from Bubble Bobble.

"Now, it is beginning of a fantastic story! Let's make a journey to the cave of monsters. Good Luck!"

4220

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 09/09/2026

It's still too busy in a lot of places, but certain screenshots just scream stop-motion. Very cool.

040

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 13/08/2026

I don't know what caused this to become a trend in indie games recently, but I want people to know I'm here for it.

Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved

010

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 10/08/2026

Researching potential institutions for grad school and uh... what?

Text from a grad school admissions page that says international students who received a BA from a non-english institution need a Duolingo score of 110. I emphasize my bafflement at this with three poorly drawn red question marks.

210

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 31/07/2026

Thanks to everyone who came up and were interested in phillymakesgames.com or just enjoyed the talk! We'll have more updates on the site and other updates soon! (Photo credit: @philsalv.bsky.social )

Me at the podium of the Paychex theater of the Strong Museum. My slide says 'I didn't know they made games in Philadelphia! - Badically Everyone Not in Philadelphia '

091

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 28/07/2026

On the train to Rochester. See all you other game history eggheads soon for Save the Games!

030

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 30/06/2026

Finally started messing around with decompiled N64 games and it's changing my life.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time Gohma fight at 4K60, with the traditional HUD elements replaced with fan HD mods.

Link looking at a kokiri girl on a balcony with Z Targeting in 4K

Link and Saria talking in 4K. The dialogue is patched to be 8x scaled resolution from a custom fan mod.

Super Mario 64 Bob-omb Battlefield in 4K. Draw distance is off, so elements that are far away that would normally not be visible on hardware can be seen clearly in the sky

220

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 10/05/2026

I agree with the thesis, though not sure where the idea Pikmin was inspired by Bosch is coming from. However, I found out that the game's art was inspired by Tim Burton's style, and now I desperately want a Pikmin game that looks like this. (source: www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/64323/6...)

A pencil sketch of a pikmin chilling in front of a hill with a twisty tree. It's a sketchy drawing.

190

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 25/04/2026

QuickShot focused on alternative form factor controllers, such as flight yolks, as well as the auto-fire feature. I had their normal-looking controller as a kid (bottom of the ad). So, not really a big surprise, but I didn't know about the handlebar & seeing it in a TV show threw us for a second.

A magazine ad for quickshot controllers. They all are some combination of black, red and blue.

030

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 25/04/2026

No one talking about the episode mentions the controller, just the sound effects of Donkey Kong that can be heard (the game, console and TV are never shown). Thankfully looking into the controller didn't take long; it's a QuickShot NES Handlebar controller. Note the blue strip at the top.

An NES handlebar controller from QuickShot. There's a blue strip style button for start and select on top toward the back, with a toggle switch for auto fire just under it. On the front of the controller are two, big, red plastic buttons for the directional pad and one button. They have blue trim around the buttons.

160

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 25/04/2026

Last night I watched one of my favorite Are You Afraid of the Dark episodes with @rainknight.bsky.social, the Tale of the Dark Music. Good episode, still holds up, but one thing really shook us up... What the hell is that controller she's using?

A girl around 9-10 years old with a very 90s haircut is playing a video game that can't be seen off to the side. She is holding a game controller that has handlebars similar to a bike, and its difficult to see where the buttons are. There is a visible blue strip along the top of the controller

281

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 09/03/2026

Hey friends at GDC: @totter87.bsky.social and my book is at the book store! Go take a look if you're there. Or get it here if you're not at GDC: www.routledge.com/Level-Design...

World Design for 2D Action Adventures from Chris W. Totten and Adrian Sandoval on a table at the GDC book store inches away from Steve Swink's excellent book Game Feel

152

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 06/03/2026

And also nine favorites of mine from my9games.com.

9 games
Chrono Trigger
Mother 2
Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Super Mario World
Portal
Metal Gear Solid
Silent Hill 2
Rockin Kats
Half-Life

270

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 21/02/2026

Got on a train and suddenly want to play Final Fantasy VIII.

171

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 03/02/2026

I'm extremely excited for this month's IGDA Philly meeting featuring @hthrflwrs.bsky.social of Unfair Flips and Fish Fear Me fame! We won't be recording this one, so if you can't make it in-person check the link below for details on joining the livestream. igda.org/news-archive...

The Design Philosophy of Heather Flowers
Tuesday, February 10th @ 7PM
Hybrid Event: In-person and Webinar
Drexel URBN Center
3501 Market St, Philadelphia, PA
Open to the public

073

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 20/12/2025

Proud to have the back of my head make a cameo appearance in the new @katewillaert.bsky.social video.

A screencap of GDC 14 with game developer Koji Igarashi on stage. A red circle is placed around the approximately 1/4 corner of the back of my head that is in view, showcasing a tuft of messy orange hair.

0100

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 16/12/2025

I understand the siren song of AI for mock ups as a game designer who sometimes has difficulty articulating the exact thing in my head. But in reality, I've never had an issue using mocks, pseudo-code, prototypes, etc. that can be whipped up quickly (and having a good time doing it!).

A finished Little Nemo idle pose standing in front of a mock-up stick figure face consisting of a big circle, and simple lines for the eyes and mouth. A single line sits atop its head. The simple mock is meant to demo a guy with a big head and a bit of the floor strapped to the top of his head

An in-progress digital ink of the enemy; A big guy with a beard chewing on something, with a big square plank on his head. Art by Chris Totten

A stick figure representing Peony from when we started discussing her bomb throwing mechanic. This mock shows an example of her arc, with text explaining how it will work:
"Hold attack longer, longer throw! No control over height/angle, just distance based on held
Visualizer to see where bomb will land
Alternatively: Continue holding will bring distance lower, an then higher again until release

Peony in the ice palace, poised to throw a bomb off a ledge. The visual indicator has not been implemented as of this time

060

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 12/12/2025

I could watch the game awards, OR I could make meatloaf and watch Pluribus

A glazed meatloaf in a baking dish on tinfoil.

The cut up meatloaf on a plate with potatoes and green beans

160

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 27/11/2025

Ok American followers, what's everyone making for dinner today? I just pulled out my hassleback potato gratin! (Recipe is Kenji-Lopez Alt)

Casserole dish full of creamy, crispy potatoes on their sides

Close up of the corner of the dish, showcasing the thinly sliced potatoes

040

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 13/10/2025

Hey folks, @totter87.bsky.social and I will be going over some of the topics we cover in our 2D level design book for the Philly IGDA meeting tomorrow tonight! The event will be hosted via Zoom (and I'll be live at Drexel for in-area people) and you can pre-reg here: bit.ly/IGDAPhillyMo...

Hybrid event: In-person and Webinar
Drexel Excite Center
3401 Market St., Philadelphia PA
Open to the public

055

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 06/09/2025

You ever just decide to do a deep dive into the Falcom RPGs? Y'know, just to see what the fuss is all about?

A black Analogue Pocket that I'm holding. Ys Book 1&2 for the PC Engine CD is on screen.

030

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 01/09/2025

I did a labor today and gave my Mister a facelift.

Dynamic 3/4th view of a Mister with a custom 3D printed, console-esque case.

3215

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 28/07/2025

Making good use of @rainknight.bsky.social's garden bounty.

Fresh tomato sauce with garden fresh peppers (and store bought onions and garlic)

A finished pasta dish using said sauce, with fussilli pasta, fresh basil, and shredded parmesan cheese.

171

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 25/07/2025

If there's one thing I'm good at, it's having opinions about video games.

330

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 21/06/2025

My first #RandomGameSaturday in a while is not so random. I'm just excited for Swery's keynote at @narrascope.org this morning.

My hand holding a copy of Spy Fiction for the PS2 against a dark grey backdrop

130

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 12/06/2025

Thank you! I'm absolutely going to make that tomorrow for I think. The final texture came out perfect for dipping.

000

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 12/06/2025

Also, read this while making tomato soup, funny enough

100

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 05/06/2025

I *think* the idea was a younger version of the book's original description (the scar is a reference to it, at least), but yeah, this mostly just reads as very generic and isn't hitting for me either.

040

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 23/05/2025

With art from Kazuma Kaneko, who conceptualuzed many of Megami Tensei's demons. Yes, really.

040

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 27/04/2025

Had to get real low for today's Arya selfie

010

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 13/04/2025

Arya reminded me I forgot our regular photo. I apologize for the error.

Adrian smiling at the camera with Arya, a beige pug mix, resting next to him

150

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 13/04/2025

Our DnD campaign has merch (Or at least a cool t-shirt courtesy @badassatron.bsky.social and his sister)!

Badassatron at our DnD table, with a black and purple t-shirt that says "The Ebontide: A War of Shadows"

161

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 30/03/2025

Been a minute since we did a dog selfie at D&D with Arya.

Adrian with a white and brown pug/terrier mix named Arya on his lap.

060

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 22/03/2025

Sad I had to miss GDC again, but this is a pretty good alternative.

A selfie across the street from the Palace Theatre on Broadway in NYC. A banner for Glengary Glen Ross is lit up above.

0220

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 14/03/2025

Buttoned up my first finished hardware mod. Replaced the capacitors and screen protector on this (formally non-functional) GameGear, and installed the RetroSix USB-C CleanPower and CleanAmp boards to boot.

A powered-on GameGear with the Sonic Chaos title screen on display.

Top of a Game Gear highlighting the USB-C power connector where the DC barrel jack used to be

0160

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 05/03/2025

Sitting down to eat dinner when suddenly-

A woman stands at the doir way with a giant Mr Saturn plushie covering her entire head. She rests her arm on the door frame confidently

2102

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 02/03/2025

Hi Brian, working on Little Nemo & the Nightmare Fiends, a hand drawn, nonlinear action-adventure based on the classic Little Nemo in Slumberland comics!

2150

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 31/01/2025

My favorite part of this book is that my favorite enemy design concept has been immortalized for future generations of game designers to study.

A two panel storyboard for Little Nemo and the Nightmare Fiends. Nemo is against a dark grey background with a black, straight line platform under his feet. A simple, white circle with a stick figure face that is three times as big as Nemo faces him. The second panel depicts the face spitting at Nemo, with the saliva as a completely different art style. A third panel shows a detailed sketch of a giant chewing, the artist's depiction of the mock storyboard to its left

071

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 26/01/2025

DnD night means its Doggo Selfie night.

080

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 17/01/2025

My little present for today (no, I'm still not over it)

A blue can of Georgia Prime Blend coffee

252

Adrian Sandoval @adriansandoval.net · 10/01/2025

While I ponder finally pulling the plug on my Facebook account, let me share one of my favorite @rainknight.bsky.social pieces of me and my friends playing Rock Band that's been my cover photo for the last few years.

Digitally inked, black and white sketch of four men playing Rock Band, with two singing on mic, a guitarist, and a bassist

052