iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Now with actual motion, dern you Bluesky and your GIF settings✊🔥 #indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity3d #shapes #pylon

David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Being a solo dev means being a technical artist too, and it can be really satisfying 🎨 Making a lil' fx using logarithmic curves and perlin noise to create procedural incense smoke #indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity3D #shapes

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Wave Function-based background set is starting to really shape up now that I wrote a custom SVG importer and converter to 'Shapes' drawing data 🔥 #indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Next step for Realm building: merge patterns. Different realms have to built in certain spatial groups in order to merge into larger, more powerful versions of themselves. 'Shapes' gives me a nice little "constellation" style display for that in the Former UI. #indiedev #gamedev #solodev #unity

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Next step for the wave function background: some real architectural primitives. Much better foundation for building some good environment art. #indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Having some fun with wave function collapse to generate procedural mountain polygons under the Realms #indiedev #gamedev #solodev #unity #shapes

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Reposted by David McDonough

TactiCon @tacticon.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

#TactiCon Panel 2025 - Sustaining creativity within a franchise: making a sequel as fresh as the first one ⭐️ @fireflynick.bsky.social ⭐️ @jamesgroundshatter.bsky.social ⭐️ Stephan Wirth ⭐️ @davidmcdonough.bsky.social Watch live now: store.steampowered.com/sale/Tactico...

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

I’ll be in the Sustaining Creativity panel on Friday to talk about my time on Civ and XCOM! #tacticon #gamedev #indiedev

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Reposted by David McDonough

52 Pickup Studios 🎲🃏♟️ @52pickupstudios.com · 16/07/2025

The time is right for a new game design/dev bingo! Have you crossed off any of the below? #gamedev #indiedev 🎲✂️ #bingo #ttrpgdesign #ttrpgdev

Game design/dev bingo, made using buzzwordbingogame.com

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

This is hands-down one of the best books a game designer can read — for knowledge and insight, and for inspiration. With chapters including “Colonoscopies and Board Games” and “Quantum Tic-Tac-Toe,” you can’t go wrong. Time for a re-read! #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

First playtester approved! And he even found like a dozen bugs 😂 #indiedev #solodev #gamedev

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

One nail at a time ❤️A project can seem impossible when looking out across a huge space of to-do, but you get there. Every nail you drive is one closer to done. #indiedev #solodev #gamedev

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Even for everyday programmers there’s sometimes no substitute for getting the problem space on paper 📝 #gamedev #indiedev #solodev

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

A week ago was my last day at Otherside Entertainment. We did a lot of great things there, we had lofty ambitions and ideals, but in the end it wasn’t to be. Time for a good rest and then the next chapter!

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Thanks, will keep you in mind when the time comes!

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

How to Write a GDD Method 3: The Story! What does the game feel like? What's the player see, think, and imagine? The most potent way to illustrate the VISION of the game. #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign

youtube.com

How to Write a GDD Method 3: The Story

YouTube video by Game of Inches

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

How to Write a GDD Method 2: The Flatpack! What are all the pieces you need and what are the instructions to use them? #gamedev #gamedesign #indiedev #solodev

youtube.com

How to Write a GDD Method 2: The Flatpack

YouTube video by Game of Inches

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Everyone hates on UI development but I find it quite satisfying. It’s like making a clock with all the little components coming together to make something smooth and beautiful ❤️ #gamedev #indiedev #solodev

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Nate Purkeypile: Solo Indie Dev🤘🏹🔪 @npurkeypile.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Announcing my next game!🤘 "Deedlee Doo! Carkour!"🔥 -A game where you do parkour with a car using explosions 🚗💥 -Everything in the game is made out of clay in real life🎨 -The sound effects and music are all mouth sounds👄 Wishlist it now on Steam, out on May 12th, 2025!🎸

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Of course! Technical comes later. Start with what’ll make the reader see the whole experience - see what /you/ see.

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Write a narrative sample of play like it’s a children’s bedtime story. Tell me about an imaginary player, describe everything she thinks and clicks on and observes. Let me imagine the game in motion.

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Write a feature breakdown like a packing list for a camping trip. What systems, content, UI will the game need to function?

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Write a core loop as if it’s a recipe. What does the player have, what do they do, what does the game do in reply.

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David McDonough @davidmcdonough.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

"You Fell Off the Edge" would make a great theme for a game jam

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Reposted by David McDonough

RWTema @rwtema.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Looking through the source code of the Command & Conquer games that EA just released github.com/electronicarts. Some fun stuff in the comments.

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Reposted by David McDonough

Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou @kanaratron.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

I love creating games with a flat-shaded art style as it gives space for the player's brain to fill in the blanks.

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Reposted by David McDonough

Alice Ruppert 🐴🎮 @malicedafirenze.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Hey so cool news for the thousands of people who were hype for our Mongolian courier rider game a few months ago: we're doing a giveaway for 10 Early Access Steam Keys! To participate: 1. Follow our pre-page on kickstarter (click 'notify me on launch') 2. Like and Retweet this post

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Reposted by David McDonough

Ryan T. Brown 🎮🩷 @toadsanime.lostincult.co.uk · 19/02/2025

Monster Train 2 announced - a roguelike deckbuilder, coming to consoles + PC, with a Steam demo live today. (Support it by wishlisting on Steam)

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