iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

It is my first, and I really shouldn't have skipped it -- I guess I thought it was more Gran Turismo level of detail instead of what it actually is. AC 7 is well regarded (and gosh have I heard the music enough, lol), then 5, then 0... is this like how people order the Fast and Furious series?

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

hahah yeah it's a little on the nose, but it makes me smile.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

It is another bizarre Metal Gear-esque Japanese take on Western military -- on the other end of the spectrum from Call of Duty's droll modern tacticool grimdark. The perfect military game? Bad Company 2, of course.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

But dang does it deliver. Because there *are* moments where I do their high-g turn to whip around and get the ground target lined up for missiles, light it up, and only then do I allow myself to roll 180 degrees and be right side up again. And it all feels great!

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

It's not like I'm John Videogames anyways, but I've always been scrubby with navigating open space with six degrees, and more than once I've taken it in the short pants from an objective I can't nail down. Shoot enemy plane? Can do! Shoot tiny ground thing on the other side of a mountain, uh

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Been enjoying Ace Combat 8! I really did sleep on this series -- for all my love of After Burner-y things, I never felt like I could enjoy realistic dogfighting. AC8 is much more arcadey than I thought, and what a good time. But also: I'm not great at it! And that's kinda fun.

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Tanya X. Short @tanyaxshort.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

with some alpha testers, you have to gently encourage them to think about interacting with objects, like bricks. then you have alpha testers like @blindirl.bsky.social who is out here innovating on entirely new, unanticipated uses of bricks, unasked. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LAa...

youtube.com

I Robbed a Market Using ONLY Bricks in Streets of Fortuna.

YouTube video by Kitfox Games

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Jack King-Spooner @king-spooner.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Incredible deal on the Jack and Talha Bundle! 58% off! store.steampowered.com/bundle/49099...

store.steampowered.com

Save 59% on Jack and Talha on Steam

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George Broussard @georgebsocial.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Favor? Friend of mine is working on a game. He's looking for any feedback on the Steam store page and the demo. If you can, grab the demo, play it a bit and report back here and I'll pass this thread to him. Appreciate your time. store.steampowered.com/app/4351280/...

store.steampowered.com

Super Robot Survivors on Steam

A Roguelite Bullet-Heaven where you rescue astronauts, repair reactors, and hack terminals while blasting hordes of robots in high-stakes, 10-minute showdowns. From the Creative Director of Destroy Al...

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Eye of the Commando is 33% off for the Steam autumn sale! It's how Early Access is supposed to work, with lots of new content and player feedback guiding the way. Hell, this trailer is basically ancient now. store.steampowered.com/app/3016480/... #indiedev #gamedev #dungeoncrawler #steam

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Skies of Fight is free during the Steam Autumn Sale because it is always free and also not on Steam. It's a joyful and musical celebration of sky fighting arcade history, starring @thetiberiansons.bsky.social, and takes all of five minutes to enjoy. www.skiesoffight.com #gamedev #indiedev #steam

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SEGA City @segacity.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Shots From Behind 'Panzer Dragoon Zwei' SEGA Saturn

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The Tiberian Sons @thetiberiansons.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Happy #AceCombat8 day to those of you who celebrate (we sure as heck do!)! We're still hard at work on "Aces Without Borders", our second #AceCombat album, but in the meantime, if you need a refresher on its track list, watch Three Aces Live again 🤘 www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8da...

youtube.com

Ace Combat: Three Aces (Live @ MAGFest 2026 OFFICIAL Concert Video)

YouTube video by The Tiberian Sons

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Hey look! I'm giving a talk this year! It's about Reactivity in Roguelikes, building characters that can feel alive and responsive to player action. You should come see it!

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Mustin @mustin.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Definitive version of "Dancing Mad?" I mean, I dunno, it was 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 idea.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Have you unlocked a source of unlimited power, like when you put buttered toast on the top side of a cat and then drop it? It just spins forever!

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The Tiberian Sons @thetiberiansons.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

It's not every day someone writes us a love letter. Gamepad + headphones on. www.skiesoffight.com (Tagging this as #acecombat even though, _technically_, more like #afterburner, but... Well, you'll see.)

skiesoffight.com

Skies of Fight

A musical celebration of sky-fighting arcade action!

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

This absolutely tracks with my IRL experience. One unfortunate point brought to bear is "Claude treats women like people", which is not always true of all the men around them.

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Chris Weisiger @byobattleship.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My games are on sale for the Steam Autumn Sale! Kick CEOs out of windows and kickflip over torpedoes*! * not the same game store.steampowered.com/app/3238420/... store.steampowered.com/app/1482750/...

Torment Hexus is $7.99, Waves of Steel is $13.39

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I mean building a natural disaster into your branding hardly seems... *blinks in Miami Hurricanes* You know what: on second thought? S-tier.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Every future Shadow Broker has to start somewhere.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Hey, thank you! Glad you liked it.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Wait where did this rule come from? I think maybe "slider" gets a pass as a regionally distinct food.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It can. It can and it does. Just needs to start outpacing the rate at which young people realize the power of being an anonymous asshole.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Once again, getter7seven with the eyebrow raising deep cuts. This game looks interesting! The art on the logo doesn't match the video on the page, which was immediately more interesting.

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Lum @brokentoys.social · 24/09/2026

this is so, so good. an absolute masterpiece. they should have sent a poet. just play it. TAKE ME IN YOUR MIGHTY WINGS OF FIGHT

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Exactly this, every word of it.

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Nate Purkeypile: Solo Indie Dev🤘🏹🔪 @npurkeypile.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

In my indie game you become the horror villain in the 1980s. You can use anything as a weapon, steal disguises and even play with your friends if you want. You'll level up, unlock powers and slowly build up your lair. Wishlist Gone Feral on Steam and sign up for the playtest!

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

This rules. I guess "if you're into that sort of thing" but no, it's just great overall shut up. I am delighted.

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D.W.A.P. (Ben) @andwap.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

When your gamedev friend shows you progress on their new engine.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Sweet, thank you. I've heard similar things and I'm so glad it landed for you. "I shouted 'what the fuck' with great joy" is something else I've heard too. Interesting to me: of all the stuff I've ever shipped, this game has gathered more ALL CAPS feedback than any other. Fun to read!

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It does not work on mobile just yet, but I can get it there. Something something best on an IMAX screen, where even heartbreak feels good, but yeah, mobile.

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Jack-In-The-Dark @jackinthedark.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

THIS PUT THE BIGGEST DUMBEST SMILE ON MY FACE THE WHOLE TIME I WAS PLAYING IT. Absolute blast xD

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Skeith - Platinum Princess @skeiththeterror.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Actually multiple stats other than strength got improved as well, man

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Chris Weisiger @byobattleship.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I have been testing Steam achievement support. This has involved a lot of, well:

Steam client showing that I have gotten the "Die" achievement five times. Its description is "It was inevitable."

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

So happy with how this came out. Been in my head for about a decade. Five minutes, free, in-browser, requires audio you can hear. It's a bit of what you expect, and so much of what you absolutely do not. skiesoffight.com Don't spoil it, just play! #indiedev #gamedev #retrogaming

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Does this mean six more weeks of [bad thing]?

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I was hella mad at this until I went back and saw the (1/?) part :D hahah like goddamn draw the rest of the owl why don't we?

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Yeah he's like the text form of that Nathan Fillion Castle gif

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

It's not super pretty, but making super pretty isn't a strength of mine. It's the work; the effort means something to your players, they know when you spent more than five minutes on putting a thing together. Not that 5-min adventures are bad, but sometimes you want to plate your food fancy.

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Jim Shepard @madjackmcmad.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Paint dot net remains undefeated in my personal arsenal of "make nice TTRPG thing out of other things tools", this was printed for a live table but I picked up the habit during the bad old days of being forced to play online. The party has a flying character so an aerial view is a must have.

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