iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 40m

If you're going to GDEX (near Columbus , OH) next week, say hi! I'll be at the Indy Indies Game Dev Alliance booth most of the time showing off some games and hanging out.

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Michael @michaelklamerus.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My favorite Halloween game is up again! The Annual Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival by @adamgryu.bsky.social is a cute online game I love playing with my kids where you explore a small town, carve pumpkins, and do other Halloween stuff! It's free but you can pay $2 to unlock the ability to wear hats

adamgryu.itch.io

The Annual Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival by adamgryu

carve a lil pumpkin and share it with the world

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Most of those shows did end for periods of time. I think... I bet that makes it all feel fuzzier.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Half a decade into life with functional seizures, they've been happening less often lately which is really nice. Last year was 100+, and I'm only at about 40 so far for this year. I've been rearranging a bunch of things over the years so thank goodness it all appears to be helping.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I really enjoyed Soul Injector Commando, especially the bonus content. Recommended! (Imagine dying in a car while Electric Light Orchestra's "Don't Bring Me Down" is playing on the radio.)

Screenshot from Soul Injector Commando. You can see a highway sign in a bustling metropolis. The sign says: Imagine dying in a car while Electric Light Orchestra's "Don't Bring Me Down" is playing on the radio.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

And I also love the Zium as a project. It's a dream come true to be included, especially being a person so fresh to video game design (less than a year!) Complicated feelings, for sure. Seems like an okay time to share that my eventual honorarium will be donated.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

As one of the artists in it, I'll say that I was also disappointed when we were told before release. I assumed that such a cool project wouldn't involve it, but it's a big lesson learned for me to discuss potential AI usage upfront for collabs from here on out.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Yeah, for sure. I think people are maybe hungry for it, but all the supports and ecosystems need help being built. It's been a trip re engaging with creative stuff lately and seeing where the obstacles and opportunities show up.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I think it's a great time to make and share experimental and/or diy art.

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Jacob Potterfield @jpotterfield.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

The Zium Railway is out today! Available as a free download on itch. If you're interested in exploring the video game medium as a immense canvas for art experimentation. theziumsociety.itch.io/the-zium-rai...

theziumsociety.itch.io

The Zium Railway by The Zium Society

a new exhibition from The Zium Society

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

johnflannelly.itch.io/pillars-of-t... Pillars of the Community is now available, as is the Zium Railway!

johnflannelly.itch.io

Pillars of the Community by John.Flannelly

A collaborative and contemplative monument.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

A new one from this morning, and a thread of many from earlier this year:

Colorful abstract art created in Become a Great Artist in Just 10 Seconds. Lots of bands of color, kind of like they're woven into each other. 8 horizontal and tons of vertical ones, varying in thickness.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

This is one of my favorite "fall asleep while playing" games, which makes it extra dreamy.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Hi! I've been doing some experimental interdisciplinary stuff, mostly video games lately. Nice to meet you!

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Fun coincidence: This group art show opened on the day that I did the photos and words and everything for my virtual calendar Day Dreamer. This show closes on September 13th, the day that the Zium Railway (and a free, standalone version of my exhibit Pillars of the Community) will be released!

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Last week involved participating in some awesome local group art shows! Transcendental Devastation is a collaborative abstract painting I made with Neil Cain for the BFF Show at Storage Space. Houseworming is a video game I made for the Silly Show at Patina Gallery.

An abstract painting is on display on the wall

A person plays the video game Houseworming on a laptop connected to a larger screen. Behind the screen, a large window with glass blocks is seen. To the side, you can begin to see some of the other artworks.

An entry to the BFF Show at Storage Space provides information about the artists. The artists are listed in pairings - each piece was made collaboratively with a close friend.

We see a crowded room, just the heads, in Patina Gallery where the Silly Show happened. In the air, we see a big paper sign that says Silly Show, but we're looking at it from behind so it says something closer to yllis wohs.

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merr-itt came from outer space @merrittk.com · 17/08/2026

more places should have artists-in-residence. like there should be a residency where you live on a particular train for a month. there should be an oil rig residency, an arctic research station residency. maybe a residency at a zoo

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Wildstyle @mrwildstyle.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

The Indianapolis Foundation is collecting flood relief funds Post any mutual aid links too please 🙏🏿 indianapolisfoundation.org/flood/

indianapolisfoundation.org

Flood Relief – The Indianapolis Foundation

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Hmmm, I don't think I've come across anything exactly like it, but I'd recommend owch's other stuff, plus Raindrop Sprinters, Zexion, and Warm Monkey for other recent unique experiences that I connect to 10S Forever in my head for some reason.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

10S Forever was my favorite game last year. I've been getting back into it again lately, and there have been some cool updates since it first came out!

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

🪱 HOUSEWORMING 🪱 is coming to itch.io on Tuesday, August 18th!

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The exhibit also features an environment collaged from photographs of local DIY/arts organizations that inspired me this past winter as I re-emerged from my cocoon. And ~15 minutes of music affected by your movement. I think it makes for a pretty surreal and contemplative experience!

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Pillars of the Community features contributions made in Become a Great Artist in Just 10 Seconds (by @smestorp.bsky.social and @dryad.technology ) from members of the @secretlivesofgames.bsky.social discord and @insertcredit.com forums. I can't wait for you to see it!

Poster for Pillars of the Community by John Flannelly & Virtual Neighbors. On display in The Zium Railway

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The Zium Railway (Available September 13th) @theziumsociety.itch.io · 12/08/2026

In the Valley of the Underground Mountain... Announcing... 🛤️🏛️🎨The Zium Railway🎨🏛️🛤️ an open world galley, and a new exhibition from The Zium Society will be released on September 13th 2026 Here's a trailer: youtu.be/9yf-lTRRRjc

youtu.be

The Zium Railway - Announcement Trailer

YouTube video by The Zium Gallery

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Reading the book Zen and Slow Games at the Indianapolis Speedrome.

A quote from the book... Humanities scholar Timothy J Welsh says, in part, "I think the quality we are after in 'Journey' and similar games is not zen or relaxation or even peacefulness really, but something like interactive contemplation, or contemplative gaming..."

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

This event was awesome! Thanks to the folks who came and participated. Goofy and fun expression. And then I busked improvised piano at the corner of the convention center for over an hour, which was also awesome!

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Recap of Gen Con day 1: I just realized that I had my shirt on backwards all day.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

www.gencon.com/events/313440 Gen Con folks - I'm hosting an event for my game Piano People: An Interactive Performance and Game. It's a party game and interactive live music experience. Rotate between the roles of the collaborative performer, chaotic conductor, and curious audience. Sunday!

gencon.com

Gen Con | Gen Con Indy 2026

The Best Four Days in Gaming

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Realized that everything I'll need for this week can fit in this bag:

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

If Gen Con was just for fun and games, I wouldn't bother. But I'll absolutely make a point to be there for some deep immersive learning experiences about game design.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I'm going to be car-less for Gen Con, so I'm going to try the local bike share, bus system or maybe even walk. I was thinking about cancelling my event on Sunday, but instead, I'm modifying it so I can carry around my keyboard on foot and also be a weirdo busker on the way if I feel like it.

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Nathalie Lawhead @alienmelon.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

glitch art as a symbol of liberation because the machine must break 💭 🤔

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Hey Rob! There were a bunch of shots in a row overnight, and the crime scene looked like it was about a block and a half today. It can't drive in the short-term, a tire and two windows are what I saw so far but haven't had a chance to look super close yet with the kids here.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I got three bullet holes in my parked car this morning (not covered by my insurance), so it seems like an okay time to self-promote and say that it's totally reasonable to pay for video games that are pay-what-you-can. johnflannelly.itch.io Also, half of individual purchases go to non-profits.

johnflannelly.itch.io

John.Flannelly

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The Zium Railway (Available September 13th) @theziumsociety.itch.io · 01/07/2026

Hello. We're currently working on the next entry in The Zium series, and it's going very well. Perhaps we will start showing some work-in-progress glimpses occasionally. Here is one from our new gallery overworld, designed and art directed by the wickedly talented @jpotterfield.bsky.social

A work-in-progress screenshot from a video game, the next in The Zium series, of a mountainous expanse with various structures from stone houses inlaid into the cliffs to modern structs and strata of bridges and other installations.

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john.flannelly @gemstonez.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Going to Gen Con? Check out my event on Sunday afternoon! Tix still available. www.gencon.com/events/313440

A screenshot of the description for the Gen Con event Piano People. It's a multiplayer improvisational piano performance game. The description is also available by clicking the link!

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Michelle Kelly @michellicopter.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Did you know this years ENNIEs judges were 100% white and 80% male? Anyway unrelatedly here's the application to judge next year ennie-awards.com/judge-applic...

ennie-awards.com

2027 Judge Application – ENNIE Awards

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