iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nothing sucks the absolute fucking life out of an arcade clear grind than the game being too fucking easy until stage 3 or 4 please god make these games better earlier for my own sanity at least

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pang @birthbydrip.neocities.org · 29/09/2026

a late one for you tonight... monkey ball is one of the most elegantly designed precision arcade games ever made, a game that takes a design staff primed on racers and lets them create economic geometry puzzles, only building towards alien grandeur in their structures at the end. link below!

first few paragraphs: Sega was the master of exaggerated, nuanced physics engines, and Monkey Ball fits that mold to a T. There’s three stylistic inaccuracies that sew Monkey Ball’s unique physics together:

Friction is present as a constant inhibiting force, but in a sense this helps hold the monkey on downward slopes. This gives Monkey Ball a “sticky” quality.

Collisions can and often do pop the monkey up in the air, where speed is uncapped. This, and the fact that the collisions seem relatively elastic,1 make collisions actually a boon for gaining speed rather than a total obstacle.

It’s a common misconception that Monkey Ball has the player control the tilt of the stage, letting the monkey freely roll throughout it. Instead, the player is actually controlling the direction of gravity, offering very similar effects to stage-tilting while also providing essential air control to the monkey.

The three of these combined make Monkey Ball an intuitive, forgiving engine that encourages aggressive play.2 Speed gains are always at the player’s fingertips and rely heavily on environmental awareness. With that intrinsic concentration in the engine, the stage design can then follow suit. Monkey Ball’s stages are focused and brief; many stages have a max time limit of only 30 seconds, intend for you to beat them in less than half of that, and have a theoretical lower bound of only a couple seconds. While the stages are static and encourage memorization, the short length and nuanced physics put the micro-movements front-and-center in comparison to broader routing, and this creates its own form of complexity-oriented dynamism for those who can’t memorize frame-perfect input strings.

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Willa Harlow Ross @willaharlowross.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

FINAL FIGHT 1cc on hardest dips. Win/popoff clip here; full video linked in the next post. Will also do a commentary at some point soon.

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Will Quinn @willquinnart.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Daily bunny no.3453 is looking back

Bunnies sit at a table outside a cafe, called the Luna Cafe. It is on the surface of the moon, looking at a distant planet earth. They sip from mugs while a third bunny watches from a second floor balcony.

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I can’t put into words how much I hate the utterly dogshit healthcare setup in this absolute shithole of a country

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The Rabbit 2026 Indie Games Residency - Call closed @therabbitgames.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

🐰 Meet another team joining The Rabbit 2026! Maddison Baek, solo dev behind Hellfire Railway Interactive, is working on Mutasmagoria 🔮 Narrative puzzle adventure. You’re a vet at an alien zoo. Time is ticking. 🎥 youtube.com/watch?v=1LxFJbydxPc #indiedev #gamedev

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Mason @finalmasonry.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I cleared #The_King_of_Dragons on #Default difficulty using just a single credit! Aka a 1 credit clear! Full run in the replies! I estimate that this took about 15 - 20 hours. I did only light save state practice and mainly played runs. #1cc #Arcade

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I’ve had a really nice birthday today but more importantly Cinco Paus has finally clicked for me and it’s actually got me reconsidering the years of slander I’ve been giving roguelikes lmao, maybe my brain simply wasn’t mature enough to see the vision this whole time…

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Officially just turned 27 and I already feel a deep sense of sadness, not so much about getting older just that 27 is a really fucking ugly number and I don’t like it!!

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Could very easily see myself going on a puzzle game arc for many of the same reasons why my overall taste has been gradually shifting towards arcade design

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pang @birthbydrip.neocities.org · 20/09/2026

to wrap up my trio of klonoa articles for this year, I've got a look at empire of dreams, another valiant effort by the now production jobbers to keep a namco series trucking. the results actually sets a new standard for klonoa puzzling, and you can read about how in the link below!

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Cass (makes games) @cassmakesgames.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

New blog post: How to 1 Credit Clear (1CC) Arcade Games I get asked about this from time to time so I thought I'd write a post about it. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but hopefully it helps make arcade games feel a little less intimidating. They're just games! duckberet.com/blog/how-to-...

duckberet.com

How to 1 Credit Clear (1CC) Arcade Games - DUCK_BERET

Arcade games are fun! Here's how to learn to clear one of them without using any continues.

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pang @birthbydrip.neocities.org · 13/09/2026

been a while since my clear so I went back and re-familiarized myself with the original puzzle bobble! it's arguably the most influential true arcade puzzler of all time (tetris and puyo were pc games!) and stunningly unique on every level. link to my review below!

It’s hard to imagine that Puzzle Bobble arose from nowhere in particular, but none of the post-Tetris random-piece puzzle games that came prior resemble it: it’s match-three, but the board is designed by-hand and drops from the ceiling, crumbling only as the player shoots bubbles into it. One might surmise that, in an alternate universe, a continuous lineage from Breakout and Arkanoid to Puzzle Bobble exists, with some intermediary game that blends the real-time paddle of the former with the match-three of the latter, yet none exists. The key genetic trait retained here are the ricochets, a dollop of the basic kinetics from the block-breakers injected into the more modern puzzle concepts. Puzzle Bobble combines this with a hexagonal grid to create craggy playfields where one can sneak bubbles into crevices.

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Cass (makes games) @cassmakesgames.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

New blog post: How I Design Original Arcade-Style Games Arcade players kept telling me that Hyper Bun Buster's game mechanics felt arcade-like, despite it not playing like any existing arcade games. Here are some tips if you want to design arcade-like games too. duckberet.com/blog/how-i-d...

duckberet.com

How I Design Original Arcade-Style Games - DUCK_BERET

How I designed the original arcade-style game mechanics in my game Hyper Bun Buster: Rocket Hammer Action

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Almost made yet another bad financial decision (buying a Superstation One despite being skint) until I saw they’re making a watermelon red version and nearly fainted omg hand it over neow

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Whoever decided to change the activity page on Backloggd to that shit please change it back or I will find you

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

People keep saying Nintendo hired That Man but he’s BEEN employed for some time now, he’s ascended the corporate ladder, won the hearts and minds of the upper echelon at the company and now runs their remake division like the navy

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Airframe Ultra @airframeultra.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

AIRFRAME ULTRA RELEASES NOVEMBER 5th! Weapons stashed. Fuel jacked. Police bribed. Are you ready?

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I’ve been absolutely locked the fuck in on dieting and fitness this month and what they don’t tell you is most of the work is planning when you can eat

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Watched one too many fitness and diet related tiktoks and now my FYP has one of the highest concentrations of Hitler particles anywhere in this hemisphere

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I'm Uni :3 @unicouniuni3.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Today is International Cat Day. May all cats be happy

A black-and-white cat sleeping with a small cat plush

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Herbert @xxgr1llmast3rxx.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

two years of progress on teaching myself digital illustration (abridged)

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pang @birthbydrip.neocities.org · 02/08/2026

any tgm you can play is the best game you'll ever play, and the second game, The Absolute, is perhaps their peak. check out my review in the link below

first paragraph: The first nuance of Tetris that a new player will comprehend is the role of each piece. The unique sides of each tetromino synergizes with particular holes in the stack and affects the future stack’s shape: some flatten, others create peaks, some bridge gaps, others divide. Few Tetris variants stretch what this entails quite as far as Tetris – The Absolute: The Grandmaster 2 (lovingly referred to just as The Absolute Plus, or TAP). A Swiss Army knife piece like the T, at the drop speeds TAP eventually induces, suddenly becomes a death trap if there’s a gap in the stack right below the drop point; likewise, I-pieces and their inflexible rotation quickly ends runs without stacking with it in mind. Tradeoffs form in this environment. Covering holes, while virtually never an issue in the later Tetris Guideline games thanks to held pieces and gentler speeds, has strategic merit here when compared to overextending vertical towers or removing flat landing spots from the stack. A willingness to stomach risk and non-optimal outcomes gives TAP a distinct character.

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I'm Uni :3 @unicouniuni3.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Uni and the chicken are best friends?

A black-and-white cat sitting with a chicken plush

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Herbert @xxgr1llmast3rxx.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

the opportunity cost of enjoying one hobby being that you can't spend that time on a different hobby is so fucked up, someone needs to fix that so I can have infinite hobby time.

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David Piskorowski @pd-cgt.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

LURRUNA is OUT NOW!!! ($9.99 USD) Play as Dafne in an explosive remix of arcade and Classicvania mechanics! Itch (includes Steam key) - pd-cgt.itch.io/lurruna Steam - store.steampowered.com/app/4315900/...

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pang @birthbydrip.neocities.org · 22/07/2026

finally I return to my long-form articles after half a year... backloggd legend drax asks: what exactly does "arcade-y" refer to? in response, I explain my reasoning for three major fundamentals of the arcade style, each of which drives the arcade mechanics we know and love. link below!

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Boghog @boghogstg.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

This kills the crab

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

It was so worth going back to get a third Hard 1CC after being unhappy with the mistakes I made in the prior two as this is easily the smoothest gameplay I have had in any of my clears so far! (5 deaths) youtu.be/k5DMCT4XM5A?...

youtu.be

Wild Guns Reloaded - Hard 1CC (Annie)

YouTube video by Celestio

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Just got back to back 1CC’s for Easy and Normal in Wild Guns Reloaded! (I’ll just upload the Hard clear cos the difference between these modes isn’t substantial)

‘All Clear’ screen after a 1CC of Wild Guns Reloaded.

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Another one for the books! This run was a fair bit messier than I’d have liked but sometimes those 1CC’s are the most satisfying to see out. After two days and around 8ish hours of practise I’ve got my clear for Eschatos [Normal, Original]. youtu.be/so0pu5QSGs0?...

youtu.be

Eschatos - Normal 1CC [Original Mode]

YouTube video by Celestio

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Took one credit to the final phase of the final boss in Eschatos already so I’ll be amazed if I somehow don’t get it today

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Madeline @scenicsystems.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I got the Blue Revolver Hyper 1cc!! honestly pretty forgiving with how many extends/bombs it gives you, but still the hardest 1cc I've done. very fun, and I feel encouraged to try out something more difficult!! here's the video if you'd like to watch! 😎 www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_9Q...

youtube.com

Blue Revolver Double Action Hyper 1CC (82,622,300 pts)

YouTube video by Mashu

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The Kimono Gallery @roger1952.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Matsumoto Castle is one of the oldest and most beautiful castles in Japan | tom__quan Location: Nagano Perfecture, Japan

This dramatic night photograph by photographer tom__quan captures Matsumoto Castle (Matsumoto-jō), located in Nagano Prefecture, standing illuminated against a deep, star-dusted night sky. The composition emphasizes the historic fortress's striking black-and-white architecture, commonly known as the "Crow Castle" (Karasu-jō) due to its dark wainscoting and imposing silhouette.

The multi-tiered main keep (tenshu) rises from a massive stone foundation, its intricate white plaster walls and dark roof gables crisply lit against the surrounding darkness. A full moon glows brightly in the upper right quadrant of the sky, casting a cool, celestial light over the scene.

The entire structure, along with the moon and starry sky, is mirrored with extraordinary symmetry in the calm, glass-like waters of the surrounding moat below. This inverted reflection doubles the grand scale of the keep, creating a mesmerizing, nearly surreal study in balance, contrast, and nocturnal stillness that honors one of Japan's premier historic National Treasures.

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Great news: my new desk and chair will be here next month so I can finally use my PC with a comfortable setup Bad news: my bank account is so rinsed I mentally can’t bring myself to open my Lloyds app again until I get paid lmao

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Just sunk in that Messi is gonna be 43 at the next World Cup so that was possibly the final time I see him play a big game

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Can’t lie it stings to not see Messi make it back to back World Cups but the vibes are so much better with Spain winning, that Argentina squad are insufferable

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I loveeee Eschatos but it is soooo dumb that it forces you to unlock segmented practise options by grinding for points

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Sunset with a light breeze is giving me endorphins like you wouldn’t believe

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Finally caught the 4K resto screening of Angel’s Egg in Manchester after missing the limited showings in my city and it was like seeing it for the first time again

‘Angel’s Egg’ screenshot (4K Restoration)

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Evil Lucario @evillucario.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Got a 1cc for Sin and Punishment with Turbo! Super pumped about that, building up my confidence for the eventual Hard 1cc + Turbo + Frame Skip on N64 (did this current run on Switch 2). This is going down sooner or later... www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNsZ...

youtube.com

[NSO] Sin and Punishment - Normal 1cc w/ Turbo

YouTube video by Good Lucario

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Dumple @dumple.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Something I don't think I've shared here - the arcade 1cc spreadsheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... This captures my arcade 1-credit clears, and I've also tried to capture info about the whole universe of potential arcade 1ccs, including links (mostly to YouTube or MARP) of reference runs.

docs.google.com

Dumplechan Arcade 1-Credit Clear (1CC) Roster

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pang @birthbydrip.neocities.org · 16/07/2026

capping off my trilogy of kururin reviews is squash, the rare gamecube exclusive that still has almost zero coverage. it's the best starter game in the series thanks to analog control and a gentler campaign, while also moving in some new directions for its set of objectives. link to my review below!

first paragraph from review: Where Kururin Paradise poured the scrappy look of the original Kuru Kuru Kururin into a sleeker, cheerier skin, Kururin Squash completely revamps the look and feel with lush 3D backgrounds and and a focus on gentler curves. The flat-shaded cartoon interludes of Paradise give way to a puppet show aesthetic, down to curtains that open on the title card and characters printed on cardboard with articulated, flapping arms. Their non-stop gesticulating combined with the movement of the backgrounds, replete with signs of organic life and community, infuses the atmosphere with an invitation for the player to live in its world. Kururin had never been a brooding or violent series, but the grinning brutality of the obstacle gauntlets finally melts away in Squash.

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Mason @finalmasonry.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

I cleared Eden's Eclipse Original mode on just one credit! Full run in the replies! It took me 21.3 hours. I think it was a great introduction to bullet hell. I was pulled in super hard! It was such a blast and I'm excited for Hell mode next! #Edens_Eclipse #Original #1CC

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ziad 🇱🇧 @ziaddd.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

surely my star fox tier list can view-mog this world cup semi-final. live now

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Celestio @celestiox.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

It’s too hot + I’ve got hay fever + My game order still isn’t here + Sam Neil passed away + My boss hasn’t paid me and won’t reply… just put me down man

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Boghog @boghogstg.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM0h... Jermanator made a guide + 1cc commentary on Captain Commando, check it out! I hopped on to talk about beat em ups more broadly & contrast it with Captain Commando (which I don't have as much experience with)

youtube.com

Beat Em Up Purity: Captain Commando

YouTube video by Jermanator

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