iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Complaining about "pick one of three" in roguelikes is like complaining about coyote time in platformers. No shame in using smart, established game design instead of forcing in unique systems that make your game worse. #gamedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Level-5: "With GenAI, development took 2 years instead of 5!" So the price will be 40% of normal, right? I wouldn't take your plagiarized slop for free. Heartbreaking to see a formerly visionary game developer ruin its legacy like this.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I kinda hate the Earth, Wind, and Fire song, where they rhyme September and remember over and over again, forever. Could have at least thrown a few dismembers in there.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

We need Found Pet fliers so we can get closure when people who put out fliers for lost pets find them. "Cat found! If we lose it, we'll call you."

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

My reaction to the recent Mega Man Dual Override news:

Eli from Labyrinth Memoria edited into the Shut Up and Take My Money meme.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The only bad art is art which promotes hate and misinformation. Even less skillful art is a reflection of someone's growth and what they're feeling at that moment. Kids' art is beautiful because it's a snapshot of their interests at a brief and formative stage of their lives.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I do comics now, apparently. Characters are from my upcoming turn-based RPG, Labyrinth Memoria. #pixelart #gamedev

A four panel comic with pixel art from Aevin's upcoming game, Labyrinth Memoria.
"Meet Eli, a rambunctious young gunslinger. His best friend is a sentient mask called Iyemmel. She's pure evil."
Iyemmel: "That's overly reductive. Once I'm queen, I'll have anyone who says that put to death."
Eli: "Hahaha! Wow, EML, you tell the wildest stories!"
Iyemmel: "The garotte? No, too pedestrian..."

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

In Zelda NES, level 1 is cyan, and level 2 is blue. This is narrative. It was a story to 5-year-old me, watching in awe as my mom reached that new, mysterious, colorful place. Colors, music, aesthetics inform how you respond emotionally on these journeys. "Aesthetics as narrative." #indiedev

A room in Level 2, the Moon Dungeon, in the original NES Legend of Zelda. A crew of snake-like enemies called Ropes guard a key.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

@gravitygales.bsky.social took a foray into the Spectral Web: Hitodama. Check out the video! Thanks so much to Eskay and Vivian for giving the game a shot. It was a delight to watch, and the two of you are hilarious. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbaB...

youtube.com

Two Queers Play The Spectral Web: Hitodama | Boy with a Coin

YouTube video by 80% Relatable

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Labyrinth Memoria is my comfort game. There's been countless times when I've pulled it out when I was depressed or anxious, and it helped me feel better. That's something that keeps me going, the thought that the things I make might be someone else's comfort when they need it. #indiedev #pixelart

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

When I'm not busy doing game development, I like to relax with different game development.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Get the Spectral Web: Hitodama for $1.50 in the Steam Summer Sale! Help a young boy escape from a labyrinth full of monsters in this top-down metroidvania inspired by NES classics like the Legend of Zelda. store.steampowered.com/app/2547400/... #indiegame #indiedev

store.steampowered.com

Save 50% on The Spectral Web: Hitodama on Steam

Explore a Labyrinth full of magic, monsters, and mystery in this dungeon crawler inspired by retro classics. Wield unique spells to battle enemies, break blocks, and uncover hundreds of secrets hidden...

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Society's so obsessed with conformity we demand it even from the plants, chopping down or poisoning whatever doesn't fit in our green grass lawns of uniform height. As a weed myself, I say let them grow.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

With randomizer modes, my games have "limitless content." But isn't rolling a single die limitless content? Satisfying content aligns roughly with development time, whether that's making more levels or refining a procgen function. I'd like to think my randomizers balance that well. #gamedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Acheron is a place of reflection, a place of despair... It also has a very nice beach! Acheron Island is a Remix zone, taking aesthetics and themes from an older zone and mixing things up. The layouts are totally different, and the difficulty's a bit higher, too. #indiedev #indiegame #gaming

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

If I had the funds, I would love to support artists, musicians, and programmers by hiring them for my game. But my resources are limited, so I do it all myself. Not all my stuff is fantastic, but it's made with care and love and intent by a human, and I learn more about things every day. #gamedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

How is it that I, a solo dev with no programming background and a budget of $0, code with no AI, but bigger studios with professional programmers suddenly find it impossible? People have programmed in way more obtuse languages since before I was born. Why's it suddenly impossible now? #gamedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I want to make a 3D realistic fishing game where you can play a 2D fishing minigame where you can play an 8-bit fishing minigame and it keeps going down recursively, like a reverse Evoland of fishing games. But developing like six different game worlds seems like too much work for a gag. #gamedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Ghosts in the Spectral Web only feel heat and thirst if they retain enough humanity deep in their souls. Some consider their lingering humanity a weakness. I, on the other hand, am vulnerable to heat, but keep taking long cardio walks in 90+ degree weather for some reason.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Sparks fly in this week's zone showcase: Power Cell! Use buttons to divert electric currents to light the way and open doors. But the electricity makes otherwise simple paths a challenge. What does a Labyrinth power plant power, exactly? Don't think too hard about it. #indiedev #gamedev #indiegame

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Gen AI is like a cookie factory that makes the dough from the crushed up cookies of all the grandmas in the world.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I'm amazed by @quest64official.bsky.social's ability to nearly singlehandedly reignite passion for a 28-year-old game that's by most accounts "okay at best". As for me, I've always been a believer. Quest 64, and its Game Boy Color demake, are great, especially their innovative magic system.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

It's amazing how often I see something in AAA games that I thought was universally accepted as bad design. You can break the "rules" creatively to good effect, but that's not what I'm talking about here. Just professional dev teams that ought to know better putting in clearly awful stuff. #gamedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Me: Check out how I align the camera for this screen scroll! Non-gamedev friend: Wow.... Me: Why aren't you excited?! #gamedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

When I showed the Spectral Web: Yuurei at the PRGE last year, I got long play sessions, mostly from a handful of kids. I figured my core audience is adult Nintendo fans, so I'm not even sure why. But it's great hanging out with people deeply immersed in the game rather than a bunch of brief players.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I find it hilarious that the gamedev feed apparently automatically includes posts with the word Godot in t hem, so I keep seeing unrelated posts about the play Waiting for Godot. #gamedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Psykid is a psychic-powered youth whose look and abilities might seem a little familiar. His Electron spell can be controlled and steered into enemies, while Freeze explodes in a burst that freezes foes. His Strong Psi trait boosts a handful of energy-based spells. #gamedev #indiedev #gaming

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

I've been putting burrowing mechanics in zeldalikes years before Mina the Hollower was a twinkle in someone's eye. Surely this means they stole the concept from me. (It doesn't. And don't call me Shirley.) #gamedev #indiedev #gaming

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

I'm grateful for the influx of followers from @eternalskies.neocities.org's #noAI game devs starter packs. But truly supporting AI-free games means wishlisting, playing, and reviewing them. Consider starting by wishlisting my own retro zeldalike. store.steampowered.com/app/3870000/...

store.steampowered.com

The Spectral Web: Yuurei on Steam

Explore a giant, shifting Labyrinth and face off against powerful, ancient ghosts in this old-school action game inspired by 8-bit classics!

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

It's funny that the Steam store recommends games based on play time in your own unreleased games. But this one is on point, since it's a very similar genre.

A screenshot from the Steam store recommending Mina the Hollower since you recently played the Spectral Web: Yuurei.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

I've been a game developer since I was five years old, making paths over imaginary lava with discarded bathroom tiles, running and jumping through the level with little finger-legs. My first tileset was flooring tiles. #gamedev #indiedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The Spectral Web: Yuurei combines zeldalike exploration with Mega Man-style weapons. Traverse over 80 colorful zones, uncover hundreds of secrets, and face off against ancient phantoms. Wishlist today! www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Ip... store.steampowered.com/app/3870000/... #PitchYaGame #indiedev

youtube.com

The Spectral Web: Yuurei Trailer

YouTube video by AevinAbstract

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

WIP demonstration of a new push block effect. It needs a visual cue that it's about to explode, like shaking or something. Effects like this are cool because they mesh well with existing mechanics, creating a chemistry kit for custom levels or my own level design. #gamedev #indiedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

In Poisonous Corridor, pools of corrosive poison cover much of the floor. Standing in them too long damages you, so you'll have to be quick-footed to survive. Watch out for witchrobes! A shader gives the poison pools a nice sheen. With its jazzy music, this zone is a lot of fun. #indiedev #gamedev

A game screenshot of Cal, a red-headed boy, standing in a Labyrinth zone with orange and green bricks and big green pools of poison.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

I got my start in ZQuest Classic. One of my games, "Yuurand: Tales of the Labyrinth", is even listed in the article. If you like retro games and zeldalikes, give this a read, and maybe get involved with ZC and its friendly, dedicated fan community. www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus... #indiedev #gamedev

pcgamer.com

How a '90s Zelda PC port became a fangame factory, turning one legend into a thousand

The story of ZQuest Classic, the fangame factory that turned one legend into over a thousand more.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Last summer, I threw together a test character in the character creator. He resembles a built-in character, but with green skin and red eyes. Today, Zombie Cal went on a big adventure to Steam's Workshop, then back home to my laptop. We've been through a lot together. #indiedev #gamedev #pixelart

Low resolution pixel art of a boy with green skin, blue hair, and red eyes.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

The Spectral Web: Yuurei features zeldalike action, with Mega Man-style spells, and metroidvania map design. Here's a trailer. Wishlist it on Steam today! www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Ip... #gamedev #indiedev

youtube.com

The Spectral Web: Yuurei Trailer

YouTube video by AevinAbstract

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

The Steam store page for the Spectral Web: Yuurei is up! Looking for classic zeldalike action, with lots of hidden items, cool spells, and an intriguing story? Head over there to check out the new trailer and wishlist the game! #indiedev #solodev #godotengine store.steampowered.com/app/3870000/...

store.steampowered.com

The Spectral Web: Yuurei on Steam

Explore a giant, shifting Labyrinth and face off against powerful, ancient ghosts in this old-school action game inspired by 8-bit classics!

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

The official art for the Spectral Web: Yuurei is here! Credit goes to the excellent @satrathai.bsky.social. #indiedev #solodev

A beautiful seductress with pink hair stairs hungrily into the red gem on her necklace. A boy stares her down, a swirl of yellow energy around one hand, and a human heart in the other.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Here's a demonstration of the (WIP) custom character maker for the Spectral Web: Yuurei! Make your character, choose your starting spell and trait, and explore the Labyrinth! www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvZv... #indiedev #gamedev #solodev #godotengine

youtube.com

Spectral Web: Yuurei Character Creation

YouTube video by AevinAbstract

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

When deciding your game's price, pricing too low can imply bad quality. The right price balances respect for the time you put into your game with the amount of content you provide for players. Don't make my mistake. Be confident in your game. Price appropriately. #indiedev #gamedev #solodev #gaming

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Reposted by AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei

Ash Wayling (M0D3Rn) @ashwayling.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

The developers of PEAK explain pricing

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

In my mobile RPG side project, Labyrinth Memoria, tool items are used for opening barriers and playing minigames. Here's the Stygian Keys. Symbols and colors help with accessibility. "Simple" mode is all you'd need to progress, but there's a full mode just for playing around. #indiegame #indiedev

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

I've been working on poses for character portraits, and just couldn't resist... Still needs some work, but it's been a good learning exercise for drawing hands. Oh, and if Eli is representing you in court, you've got big problems. #indiedev #AceAttorney

Pixel art of a boy pointing like an ace attorney and shouting "Objection!"

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

I'll be at the @retrogamingexpo.bsky.social with the @pigsquad.com! Come see me on Sunday, October 19th and be one of the first to play The Spectral Web: Yuurei! I'll showcase its Fragmented Randomizer, which stitches together a selection of over 70 zones into one big map. #indiegame #indiedev

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Reposted by AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei

Portland Indie Game Squad @pigsquad.com · 03/10/2025

Yipes, we're going to have quite a few games at the booth. Who's all going to @retrogamingexpo.bsky.social in a couple weeks?

A lineup of 35 games that will be showcasing at PIGSquad's Portland Retro Gaming Expo 2025 booth. Thumbnails include ghosts, possums, axes, snakes, robots, open roads, horses, sushi, portals, bunnies, letters, campfires, dogs, energy orbs, slushies, and so much more.

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Testing some mechanics with the new Beam spell. There's still some cleanup to be done, and juice to add, but the mirrors and prisms are pretty fun! #indiedev #indiegame #gaming

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AevinAbstract | Spectral Web: Yuurei @aevinabstract.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

One of the fun things about Yuurei is the variety of different spells and characters. Here's Will utilizing his flame form signature and other abilities to claim a new attack spell. #indiegame #indiedev #solodev #zeldalike

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