iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

My friend has been trying to talk me in to doing an “urban hike” for a while. Finally did one today from South Bellevue Station to downtown Redmond. 16 miles later my feet are sore but I would do it again in a heartbeat. So many cool things I had missed nearby that I finally got to see on foot.

030

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Just got back from a quick daytrip with family up to Index, WA to stay at the historic Bush House hotel. I forgot how popular a rock climbing spot it is. Saw a run of climbers hauling their gear to and from the mountain.

052

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Yay! My mountain cat sticker + towel arrived today!! @kusahik2.bsky.social かわいい猫デザインありがとう！！

153

Reposted by Brendan Walker

Laura Lico @lauraivylico.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

What was my time at Polyarc like? Well... youtu.be/NzKtyhI6xUg

youtu.be

Farewell, Quill

YouTube video by Laura Lico - The Joy of Animating

65214

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

End of an era... but what a hell of a run it was.

Today marks the closing of Polyarc's story. Lots of feels. Allow me some selfish memories.

Truth be told, I actually started at Polyarc as a bit of an accident. I had originally left Bungie to pursue a crazy VR board game idea as a personal project. But after a month of working at home and getting tired of my cat's BS, Tam and Danny kindly offered to let me cowork in this tiny supply closet office space they were renting next to Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. They had these two single page pitches for VR games: one was a "Zelda like platformer / meets 'The Room' style puzzles" and the other was "head-to-head action/strategy game" both with rodent protagonists. I was skeptical at first. All that existed was A DK2 VR headset, an Unreal Engine install and a dream. After a few weeks of collaborating on a home brew PSMove tracked controller setup, I started seeing the magic of what would eventually become Moss and I knew I had to join in.

What followed was wild game development startup company ride. Demos in cramped GDC hotel rooms. Long nights racing the end of funding to get a game done. Getting trolled by mascots at the Sony PSX trade show. Trying to keep up with the ever changing landscape of VR headsets. Pitching new game ideas. Fundraising attempts. Fundraising failures. Pivoting.

But more important to me was the team I had the privilege of collaborating with. Trying to keep a small game company alive is a constant act of threading a needle many times over. And doing so often involves a great deal of stress and comprimise along the way. Truly the most thoughtful, creative, deliberate bunch of devs I've ever had the honor of working with. I am sad to no longer be part of that journey, but am eternally grateful to have experienced it with the team from start to finish.

2274

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Like a robin that flocks to freshly rained on soil, my cat Hugo knows exactly when laundry straight from the dryer has landed on the bed for folding. Guess that’s your towel now :/

030

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Watching the Mariner's Moose do the "In the air tonight" drum meme to kick off a sequence in the post-game fireworks show was deeply satisfying to watch.

000

Reposted by Brendan Walker

Sabbatical Games @sabbaticalgames.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Proud of Turning Manor being a part of @seattleindies.bsky.social's SIX Steam Sale! Check out all the great games from local indie developers. #Steam #indiegame #indiedev

store.steampowered.com

Seattle Indies Expo 2026

SIX is the biggest annual celebration of indie games and game creators from the Pacific Northwest and this year is no different.

0114

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

While passing thru downtown yesterday saw this awesome Hatsune Miku itasha! Was surprised to see one in the PNW as these are usually more common down in LA. I’ve joked with @straycatalyst.bsky.social about vinyl wrapping my dirty old 2006 Toyota Corolla.

030

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

My mom has a lot of alternative health explanations, but today her claim that recent constipation was due solar flares was a bit much lol. I’m not Astro-Proctologist, but I’m pretty there are mundane terrestrial explanations for being backed up.

030

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Me trying to grab all the groceries from the trunk in one go when any reasonable person would make two trips.

000

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

My cat Nacho decided to nuzzle my half drank beer can off my desk. And now my plastic floor mat is movie theater floor sticky :/

040

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Testing out a new 3 webcamera+mediapipe hand/arm tracking solution (custom app) for a vtubing rig in UE5. After a ton of iteration super happy with how this is working. Huge thanks for @jadedsketch.bsky.social for the 2d character art and @vlightning.bsky.social for the 3d character model.

151

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Weekend microcontroller shenanigans. Making a pc controlled turnable seat with a tiny servo.

270

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

SteamInput controller testing for Moss has turned my desk into a slurry and controllers, portable consoles and usb cables.

030

Reposted by Brendan Walker

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Yadiel Veunes | Wildlife Photographer Cuba Cuban tody "In Cuba 🇨🇺 lives a work of art with wings 🪽 It looks as if nature painted it by hand 🎨. It is more than just a bird... it is a tiny spark of life that lights up our forests 🌿✨ Small in size...immense in beauty."

18985151

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Our game is out today! Very proud of the work my teammates @polyarcgames.com and our partners at @bbigames.bsky.social did making this transition to flat gaming happen! And porting to so many platforms simultaneously! Hope y’all get to meet Quill soon.

152

Reposted by Brendan Walker

ScaryCatalyst 🎃 @straycatalyst.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

I also want to shout out @lauraivylico.bsky.social - she did an incredible job bringing Quill to life in Moss, and the ASL adds so much to the experience! www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAde...

youtube.com

Quill Using ASL

YouTube video by Laura Lico - The Joy of Animating

2128

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Fighting with my complete lack of experience in animation retargeting in Unreal makes me have a greater appreciation for Tech Artists. My clumsy hands meddling with IK and Control Rigs keep turning characters inside out.

020

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

On our last day in little Tokyo in LA we popped in to the Koyasan Buddhist Temple to grab a omamori (good luck charm) and a goshuin (temple seal stamp). I didn’t have my stamp book with me but Rev Mori kindly made one on a separate sheet for me. Super nice folks here!

030

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Saw several really cool vendors selling Techwear jackets at AX. I’m too old and fat to pull that style off, but appreciate younger folks innovating the space. I love the aesthetic.

030

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Ran into a brief pause in the Serendipity show due to a glitch, but the audience had no problem filling the time with pen light shenanigans.

020

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Ran into a bunch of Dragoons getting out of the Dokibird Rewind concert on the LA Metro while on our way to day 2 of the Serendipity show. Super fun taking over a train car with a bunch of Happi coats.

static.klipy.com

Dragoon Pregnant

ALT: Dragoon Pregnant

011

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Super amazing Day 1 of the Hololive Serendipity concert! Everyone crushed their sets, but I think Ina/Kronii cover of “Bad Apple” was hype as hell. Fellow DeadBeat also gave me this rad bracelet!!

050

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Random Shampoo (Ranma 1/2) stencil found on the street in Little Tokyo in LA.

0133

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

I always get the funniest initial check in photos of our cats (Nacho and Hugo) from our Rover sitter when we travel. Lazer eyes and grump face :[ Usually warm up after a visit or two.

040

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Checking in at hotel in LA the day before Hololive concert. Check in desk concierge asks customer in front of us what that they are in town for, which turns out to be the same concert. Watched as customer hopelessly tries to explain what a vtuber concert is to a normie.

static.klipy.com

Hololive Fubuki Confused Reaction

ALT: Hololive Fubuki Confused Reaction

020

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

I’m so happy! Today my long awaited “Rail Service Keycap Set” arrived! They came out looking great. Nice work on these @onionlabs.bsky.social!!

251

Reposted by Brendan Walker

corinne @artofco.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I haven't done an introduction message yet but I'm an ex-AAA dev turned #indiedev to work on a weird horror game I'm passionate about. Our game is in Next Fest! If it seems interesting consider wishlisting or checking out our demo! It really helps us out. store.steampowered.com/app/4040700/...

store.steampowered.com

Turning Manor Demo on Steam

All you have to do is count the differences and choose an exit. Easy right? Yet strange things start happening as soon as you sign the job contract… It's up to you to uncover what is happening at Turn...

2163

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I know nothing about soccer, but my Japanese tutor was really excited about the Netherlands v. Japan game today, so I give it a watch as context for the next lesson. While reading about the team, I discovered their awesome logo featuring Yatagarasu, a three-legged crow of Japanese mythology.

081

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

A story in two parts: Helping step mom clean out her garage last weekend. Find cool looking light bulb. Turn on. Discover I am an idiot for turning on and looking at it. (Was left over from recent furnace repair). Felt like I stared at the sun 🤦‍♂️

000

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Did a super quick trip up to the Griffith Observatory last night with Mom and niece (down here in LA for quick 2day family trip). It’s basically impossible not to take an amazing shot of the city here at night.

020

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Over a year and a half ago I had setup this raspberry pi birdhouse webcam meant for sparrows, but we never got any takers ... until this Spring! I setup a youtube live stream if you want to watch this lil fella. youtube.com/live/Nkixs-e...

150

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

@musicofsquareenix.bsky.social Wonderful show at Benaroya Hall tonight!! Thank you for coming to Seattle. May or may not have gotten weepy during the ChronoTrigger portion 🥺

030

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

@straycatalyst.bsky.social was awesome and got us killer seats at the SquareEnix concert at Benaroya Hall tonight. The choir in the back is killing it!

030

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Citizen-Kane-Slow-Clap pluralistic.net/2026/01/06/1... I’ve enjoyed every Cory Doctorow essay I’ve read, but this one really nailed the tension I had been feeling between AI being a tool for programmers and programmers being a tool AI. A boss once said, “most noble thing you can do is delete code”.

pluralistic.net

Pluralistic: Code is a liability (not an asset) (06 Jan 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

010

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Visited Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) today with fam. Tons of great local stuff here, but my favorite was the Seattle Center World’s Faire bit. Love the retro futurism.

020

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Vibes at MikuExpo Seattle were superb! Perfectly run show. Great crowd energy. Tons of pen lights. An artist sitting across from us even gave us a free stickers!

041

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Great super cut! This picture was what this dumpster fire of a year needed.

030

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Yeah wanted to 2nd this thumbs up of Exit 8 (8番出口). Went in expecting a terrible game-to-movie adaptation and left with big smile on my face. Great bite sized 8.5/10 psychological horror. I really like the cinematography in this one. Good lighting and lots of well executed continuous shots.

020

Reposted by Brendan Walker

corinne @artofco.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Good opportunity to point out there are a ton of great indie games that don't use GenAI and cost a fraction of AAA games. Here's the no GenAI game I'm working on. I'd love to hear any of your #indiegame recommendations as well! store.steampowered.com/app/4040700/... #indiedev #stoptheslop

store.steampowered.com

Turning Manor Demo on Steam

All you have to do is count the differences and choose an exit. Easy right? Yet strange things start happening as soon as you sign the job contract… It's up to you to unravel the mysteries of Turning ...

0133

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

While cleaning out some old filing cabinets I found a treasure a co-worker had sketched for me that I thought was lost to time: Pikachu, but buff as hell 💪

0257

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

It was an absolute honor to work with Kieran on Glassbreakers. Hire this man!

131

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Rode the new 2 line into the International District from Bellevue today! It’s finally here. The prophecy has been fulfilled!!

021

Brendan Walker @bwalker81.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Moving out of our current office in a few days. Left a fun little Batman surprise for the next tenants.

030