iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Decided to send the very first prototype of a building system to the artist. This was the result. We have a LONG way to go. #gamdev #indiedev

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Check out the progress of our first 3 days of #jamsepticeye compared to the final version! Try Darkest Deal here! v v v onyxprism.itch.io/darkest-deal #indiedev #gamedev #gamejam

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Messing with prototyping ideas for our next game! Built this quick prototype and realized it likely wouldn't work for what we want even quicker. Using the Godot engine for prototyping as it's very easy to make something fast with it for those curious.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Today marks the first day on our new project! Mostly figuring out direction, and tomorrow we begin prototyping. Expect to see some gifs/short clips of our stuff in the future!

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Now that Top Gnome is wrapping up, we can finally move on to bigger and bolder projects. Very excited to show off future stuff, lots of ideas floating around in my brain chamber. I'll be sure to be more active here until it comes time to crunch again.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Top Gnome is now officially out of Early Access! Haven't been too active on here for (mostly) this reason. Took way longer than it had any right to, but that's just how it goes in gamedev I guess? Anyways, check out our game below! store.steampowered.com/app/2499080/...

store.steampowered.com

Top Gnome on Steam

A top down shooter where the only way to move and fight is with the recoil of your blunderbuss. Whirl through waves of garden-destroying pests to defend Bert's garden, strive to reach higher and highe...

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

A game more focused on a specific experience or narrative? The artist likely takes it. A game with deep mechanics that is finely tuned? Programmer likely takes that. Being in a duo team myself (I'm the programmer and my partner is the artist), it hinges on the kind of game you're making.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Devs might not like them, but big corporations LOVE chasing them. If one is successful, it becomes a money printer. They're all chasing the success of games like Fortnite. But in their pursuit to limitless fortune, they are destroying studios, cutting developers, and destroying player's trust.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

The Industry as a whole is rough for any kind of stability. It seems that finding a good studio to work at that is stable is increasingly difficult as we've seen layoffs from studios that produce amazing games or total flops. Not everyone can go indie either, it is a huge commitment.

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Reposted by Zector

Blue @bluestigma.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

bsky.app/profile/wari...

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

my first developer cast for 2025 is up with part 1 of our chat with @onyxprismstudio.bsky.social to discuss their first game and lessons learned about game dev and game design #indiegamedev youtu.be/WGXsvI2zro0

youtu.be

Talking Indie Dev with Top Gnome (Part 1) | Perceptive Podcast #indiegamedev #gamewisdom #indiegames

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Reposted by Zector

amberosesia🌹Hollow Knight Era @amberosesia.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Hi friends, More so game developer pals. I have a friend in my community who is very interested in getting into game development, but as this is their first lot of ideas/games, I was wondering if anyone is available to have a chat with them and point them in the right direction? #gamedevsky #gamedev

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Learning as I went helped as things I learned were reinforced with the project, and then I could mess around with code to see what other things I could do. Also breaking things down into small parts helps to make things easier. "How to shoot a bullet" turns into parts like "How to spawn something".

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

For me personally I started with dabbling in a specific game engine and then making a tiny version of a game I'd like to play. Keeps scope low while also providing motivation to keep working on it as it is a game I was genuinely interested in making.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

If it's getting harder that just means you're leveling up your skills. I'd have trouble doing anything other than game development long term, it's just too enjoyable.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

UI is misleadingly demanding, faced the same thing with our game.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Personally I'd have the Moon as a true gray whereas Caverns would be more blue or purple gray.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

This time next month I should be fully immersed into learning Unreal Engine, still deciding between Unreal 4 or 5. If anyone has any tips for learning Unreal that'd be much appreciated. #gamedev

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Started with Trello but slowly over time evolved into just simple google docs lol

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Every piece of #gamedev advice I hear nowadays goes through a filter in my mind as "This is actually heavily context dependent, it might work for one game but not another". Be mindful of your own projects when you hear advice and see if it makes sense for you. It might even birth a new game idea!

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

I've had times where I left and came back to the problem and solved it within 5 minutes, got up from my chair and walked around my room in complete disbelief. #gamedev is fun like that.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Finished up the last of the power-ups for Top Gnome this month, wish we could have got more done. Winding down with Top Gnome just gets me excited for our next project, I can't stop thinking about it. The #gamedev industry might be a mess but it won't stop me.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

I decided to go and buy Valheim. As a game designer I HAVE to know what everyone was raving about for myself.

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Reposted by Zector

Lizabet @lizabetcampbell.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Been playing around with making art in rust, its a fun challenge with the limitations. #darksouls3

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Maybe a flow state style system, where if you maintain a certain speed you get a special effect on your kangaroo (Maybe a ghosting effect)? Like maintaining a combo in other games for example.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Deciding when is the hardest part. I could delve into this topic for hours probably it is so addicting for me, so I have to restrain myself. But good luck with your game!

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

4F. Striking a balance between when the game is developed enough for a steam page launch and launching early enough to build momentum is still something we're trying to figure out ourselves, but I hope what I said helps!

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

3. This doesn't necessarily mean your game has to be 100% done or the trailer is final. But it means you should be going into the page launch with a decently polished game with a solid trailer and concrete art style, including solid capsule art that reflects your game.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

2. When you first launch your steam page to the public, you get a big boost in visibility. We came to the conclusion that you want to maximize the initial launch of your page with as high quality of a page as you can get, the better the page the more attractive it will be for people first seeing it.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

1. As a #gamedev in a two person team who recently went early access, I'd recommend to wait to launch your steam page until your game is decently polished, you have the art style down and a solid trailer and here is why. I won't be able to fit it in a single reply.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

If you ever want to know what it's like mentally to make a game without actually making one, playing Darkest Dungeon gets pretty close. Don't ask me how I know.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

You know you're a gamedev when you're buying loads of games during a Steam sale because you not only wanted to play them, but also to study them as a game designer. #gamedev

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

This method won't work for everyone. Everyone has their own preferred way to learn, it's up to you to figure out what is best for you. But a small personal project you have an interest in is one of the best ways to start. Don't go big on a dream idea, just stick to something small and attainable.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

I implore anyone interested in #gamedev to work on a tiny-scoped game you have interest in, learning & watching tutorials as you go, reinforcing what you learn along the way & modifying things to fit your needs. Doing it bit by bit will allow you to release, and it is one of the best ways to learn.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

No matter how much you study game design and game development, nothing makes for a better teacher than making and releasing your own game. Working on Top Gnome is teaching us so much about not only the process, but ourselves as individuals. Our next game will go much more smoothly hopefully!

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

I don't know many off the top outside of maybe some online AMA's they did. The one I do know was made by Game Maker's Toolkit covering the overall design of Hollow Knight's world. Someone clipped a bunch of quotes from the video that came from Team Cherry regarding their design when I looked it up.

youtube.com

Team Cherry explains designing Hollow Knight's world (GMTK 2019)

YouTube video by Hollow Knight Archive

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Talking about game design and all the things that revolve around making games is addicting. I should consider doing it more often. Anyone else find it addicting and/or fun?

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Especially true when the bug's solution is elegant and makes you question your skills briefly before going back to having the unstoppable urge to talk about it.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Top Gnome is officially out in Early Access! It's been a long road, still tons of work ahead of us but this is a huge milestone for us and our studio @onyxprismstudio.bsky.social ! Check out the game and try out the demo here! v v v store.steampowered.com/app/2499080/... #indiegame #gamedev

store.steampowered.com

Top Gnome on Steam

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Fun fact about Balatro! Everyone knows you can drag cards around, but did you ever notice that their shadow shifts around when holding one? It also has depth, cards in your hand or in shops have much smaller shadows than when you hold one. Completely unnecessary, but adds a lot to vibes. #gamedev

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Shameless self-promotion for the sake of reaching out to fellow game developers. Things I enjoy in no particular order: ⌨️ Programming ❓ Sanity Checks 🎮 Gaming 🍴 Eating chicken parm 🧩Solving problems 💬Having in-depth conversations 🎾Brain Tennis 🍃Nature 💤Sleeping and repeating the cycle #promosky

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Anyone ever experience an insane game breaking bug during development and then you're never able to recreate it again? Happened to us once. And right before we released our game's demo, too.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

If you are really tight on time, simply looking at the project and noting what needs work is great for keeping tabs and not losing where you were.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

For your first project, start small on a game you genuinely would be interested in making. Motivation might feed itself if you do a project on your own you have interest in. For time management, make sure the scope is tiny. On days you lack time or feel bad, chip away at a small bit here and there.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Also Godot's built in documentation is an awesome feature, even if it isn't as good as a good ol' Google search.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Haven't used Unreal enough to judge it yet. Godot is certainly easier than Unity but there are some weird quirks. Godot has a habit of removing features and adding them back between versions which can be frustrating. Godot is also not the best for teams, but it is currently my preferred engine.

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Zector @exttsectorz.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Start small, and then cut your expected scope in half , and then add +6 months of dev time to your expected timeline. After all that, then MAYBE you will release on time, maybe.

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