iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 13/05/2026

A look into my level design process! I always do my interconnected level design with graphs, so I can see how the player will navigate and which items they need. This is extra important for an item randomizer like Arcanaclysm.

An obsidian canvas view of the Realmwilds region. Each area within is a page linked to adjacent areas, and the area document itself lists all the items it contains, all the paths to other areas, and the item requirements for both.

A hand drawn graph (nodes and edges) of the full chapter one regions. Edges are color coded for item requirements, and each area node is linked to the items they contain. The syntax is enigmatic because I made it up and I didn't label anything. But trust me I know what it means, most of the time.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 10/04/2026

Yeah it really is. I remember making this announcement when I finally got tile layers and entities and shadows sorted correctly.

Two screenshots with the note "Y'all we just had a major technological breakthrough. Compare: DoD vs Arc." The first image is my second game with the player shadow over the wall, the second image is my third game with the player shadow correctly behind the wall.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 05/04/2026

I haven't posted a proper game update in 8 months, because I was too busy uh... being trans. But, I am still working on Arcanaclysm, an epic fantasy adventure game where the items change every time you set out to explore. #gamedev #indiedev #pixelart #GameMaker #randomizer

Pixelart screenshot. A brown/orange field over a sea of stars. There is a hill with a stump and a woodcutting axe.

Pixelart screenshot. Three characters stand near a glowing campfire at night.

Pixelart screenshot. A narrow walkway extends over a sea of stars. The world is drained of color, except the player character and an item waiting at the end.

Pixelart screenshot. The player crosses a wide stone bridge extending over endless fog. The bridge is flanked with huge braziers glowing with teal fire.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 01/01/2026

2025 was CHALLENGING for me. The first thing I load shed is posting publicly about what little art I still managed to make. Here's some main characters for Arcanaclysm!

Four pixel art characters, Emery, Drifter, Edmond, and Kacie.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 12/10/2025

Many years ago I found this taped to a telephone pole and I still think about it like once a month.

A sheet of lined notebook paper taped to a pole, with rough handwritten text: "ROBIN SEHMEL (BIRD) / YOUR FAVORITE CONFDIENTIAL INFORMANT :D"

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 30/07/2025

(WIP) The Great Spellblade of Kaithenea, Battlemage Emperor Every key item is designed with a memorable location. Since Arcanaclysm is an item randomizer, the player needs to be able to remember where key items were in previous runs. #gamedev #pixelart #gamemaker #indiedev #fantasy

A huge sword (like big as a tree) embedded in the ground, etched with glowing magenta runes. There are several smaller swords in an arrangement around the Spellblade, and a bush with yellow berries at its base.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 18/03/2025

For no particular reason, I am making an epic fantasy game about holding self-proclaimed gods accountable for destroying the world. This art I made last night is one of the first scenes I imagined when I started writing Arcanaclysm. #gamedev #indiedev #fantasy #conceptart #art

Ink marker art of a shattering sky of green stained glass. There are dark trees in the foreground.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 12/03/2025

In a brilliant innovation, #Arcanaclysm now has FIVE (5) item hotkey slots for easy access to all your immediate item needs! This is a 500% increase compared to certain AAA competitors! #gamedev #indiedev #GameMaker #EchoesOfWisdom

A screenshot of a prototype inventory with five equipment slots. (They are bound to ZXCVB, 1-5, and/or L XYB and R). It's quite simple, really. *cough*

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 26/01/2025

I just woke up so I facepalmed on some of the programming ones I got wrong. 😭

Results: General 8/9, Programming 31/38, Lore 10/13

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 23/01/2025

BUT you can spawn an ungodly albeit finite number of bees and no compiler or god or otherwise can tell you no.

A game screenshot of a character surrounded by dozens of huge bee hives and several dozen giant bees.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 23/01/2025

Often, evil game design lures the human spirit into the depths of depravity. And then the compiler spoils the fun, saying "no, you CANNOT spawn *infinite* bees--knock it off!" 😔 #gamemaker #programming

A GameMaker error reporting a recursion depth failure/infinite loop, caused by a beehive spawning more beehives spawning more beehives...

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 01/12/2024

The biggest improvement I saw was every matchup *against* Terran which I actively practiced since it was so bad at the start. The spike in TvT was when I started opening 2-3 Barracks and building *way* more bio.

Graph of my percent winrate against Terran. Each matchup starting below 25% and improving to around 50%. Terran vs Terran has an especially large spike after 120 matches.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 01/12/2024

My winrates as each race improved as I practiced. Zerg is my main, and it shows. Protoss and Terran approached 50% once I adapted my playstyle. (Note: this is deceptive as win percent is cumulative).

Graph of percent winrate playing as each race. Gradual improvement in each matchup. Terran and Protoss start around 30% and reach 45%, and Zerg is much higher starting at 50% and reaching 65%.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 01/12/2024

I played a lot of ranked #StarCraft2 (as Random) the last two weeks, and decided to track my stats for fun. Hovered in Gold for a while until hitting my stride around 100 matches. I am currently on an epic win streak.

Graph of MMR vs Total Matches. Zigzags between 2600-2700 until 100 matches, then skyrockets near 2900 at 140 matches.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 01/12/2024

Art for Drifter, the main character of Arcanaclysm! Drifter was a scholar of magic who devoted his career to studying the nature of godhood. Now he is on the hunt--determined to hold the gods accountable for destroying the world. #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev

Various pixelart of Drifter. Drifter wears an angular green scholar cloak, with a polished emerald clasp. He wears a matching hat, with a brilliant emerald feather. He keeps his long blonde hair in a braid that falls over his left shoulder.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 09/11/2024

I was poking at a backburner QoL update for The Last Librarian and I sorta maybe accidentally got wrapped up in adding an item randomizer too. 😅 (Here's my map!) #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame #gamemaker #thelastlibrarian

The overworld map of The Last Librarian with a color coded graph drawn over it showing all the connections, item locations, and required items.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 25/10/2024

Added these crab things hiding under rocks! A perfect enemy for a character equipped with a hammer. Breaking its rock will stun it and make it run away. #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame #gamemaker #arcanaclysm

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 19/10/2024

I like to do design on paper with each draft increasing in detail. Sometimes I use pen so I don't get too perfectionistic. 😅 Here's some of my maps for the first area! 📝 #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame #gamemaker #arcanaclysm

A grid view of the area, and some letters indicating items.

A detailed grid view of the area showing the path the player takes through the level.

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Maya 🎀 @cloakedgames.itch.io · 18/10/2024

Some latest screenshots from the Realmwilds! The foliage is procedurally generated. #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame #gamemaker

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