#ScreenshotSaturday #PixelArt
Workin' on a little 1-bit something something. This is just the WIP doc so I can test design ideas.
Do I have a game yet? No, no I do not. I have thoughts about a game. They don't connect properly. Yet.
Mandy J Watson
@mandyjwatson.bsky.social
859 followers 150 following 3.5K posts
Tech-culture journalist. Copy editor. Game dev. Hire me! World expert in South African comics (#sacomics) published after 2000. Words: brainwavez.org Tiny games: mandyjwatson.itch.io Masked up in Cape Town, South Africa.
![The Super Forest Arcade poster. It's lots of busy, colourful art, especially in the background, and there's a drawing of an arcade cabinet with a cat's face superimposed on the screen.
The text reads:
Super Friendship Arcade [logo]
Super Forest Arcade
Indie games!
Alt controllers!
High fives!
24 April 2026
Timour Hall Villa
22 Saint Jones Rd. Constantia [Plumstead, actually]
No under 18s.
Tickets [via] Quicket.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:txn2z6j5emtmboiodoqz47is/bafkreihjplgmzt76m33y6whfc3ewteocenqf3iolx7bngdblei7fesbh7y)
![A poster from Obz Books showing an illustration of four excited people drawing.
It says: Comic Jam Cape Town, only R50 per person, Sunday 3rd August, 10H00-12H00 @ Obs [sic] Books.
There's also a QR code but I don't know where it goes.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:txn2z6j5emtmboiodoqz47is/bafkreicuy3fhx3wyiramlo2svefe6mj7taucb3xgju4lv45k634us7rmtm)
![Pages 6 and 7 from the Lindelwa Cele's zine A Family Portrait.
Page 6: There is a drawing of the head and shoulders of a man, seen from behind. He is wearing a hat.
Text:
Kalezemity
TRANSLATION
When your parents or loved ones watch you intently as you disappear into the distance.
Gogo. ["grandmother": attribution of the family member who came up with the term]
Page 7: There is a drawing of a small bottle of alcohol.
Text:
Unca-hol
TRANSLATION
The beer, Uncle sneaks in during weddings - When he is supposed to be babysitting his nephew.
Khehla. [Attribution of the family member who came up with the term]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:txn2z6j5emtmboiodoqz47is/bafkreibiho37qi2bamfmdopnjn2omj4as7b5kc4mx7ny2vq2z6a6hze2yy)
![A photograph of a hand flipping through the zine to show its A7 size and some of the pages.
One that is partly visible says "Where are the geckos?" and it's an explanation of the term that means "gherkins" in Cele's family, with a picture of a gecko that's crossed out next to a picture of a gherkin jar.
Another that's partly visible says "I tell you, gogo" ["gogo" means grandmother], which means "This tea is very hot, listen very well"; in other words, "I've got some good gossip".
Photograph: Mandy J Watson](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:txn2z6j5emtmboiodoqz47is/bafkreifun545jykgwkwv7vznwoahsdjktriikl3lvmoby6xfruhyaahe7a)
![[I've split the page into two because the alt text didn't fit]
The first page of the 2023 version of Space Diner. The text is now predominantly all in blocks placed in suitable spaces in the art in the various panels, which makes it easier to read. The text itself, however, is smaller, which makes it harder to read.
Panel 1: A picture of a diner in space. Space, itself, is not visible, as it was in the 2015 version. Instead the background is a solid orange. The diner art has been updated and has more detail.
Text: Space Diner written by James Roblin Illustrated by El Chucho
Narration: I chased the Shifter from system to system.
Panel 2: The bounty hunter approaches the diner. The mascot on top has been redesigned and its most prominent feature is a grinning mouth. Instead of large, open eyes the eyes are closed slits.
Narration: Strange to think it should all end here.
Panel 3: The bounty hunter walks into the diner. There are more objects around the counter and there is more detail in the art.
Narration: The waitress had a SPARK about her... But...
Panel 4: The waitress approaches the bounty hunter. There is a thought balloon above him but you can't see what he's thinking as it's cut off by the panel border. In breaking with the narration-only style of the 2015 version, the waitress speaks in this version of the comic's only speech bubble. There is more detail in the alien at the counter trying to get the waitress's attention, as well as in the environmental art around and behind him.
Waitress: Hi What can I get you?
Narration: ...I'd been in this hunt long enough to know anyone is a suspect. I ordered eggs, NUKED!!! Some Space-BUM called her away and I...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:txn2z6j5emtmboiodoqz47is/bafkreifsfajupeznvjaxhlrlrizlzxihw7iopb7ofqysqd2fwo7bftzcvm)
![[I've split the page into two because the alt text didn't fit]
Panel 5: The closeup revealing the bounty hunter's face. In this version no shadow is cast across it and the shading is different, although the art is almost exactly the same. Instead he is coloured in the light orange while the background is yellow. In the 2015 version the colouring made him appear weary. In this version he seems a little more determined and menacing.
Narration: ...turned my eyes to the rest of the room. I was a bounty hunter and I knew my trade. I'd been in a few scrapes. I wasn't as pretty as I used to be. But in the end I always got my mark. SHAPESHIFTERS though... those... are the tough ones.
Panel 6: We see the bounty hunter's point of view looking deep into the diner again. There is more detail in the art and the environmental art. The windows aren't really apparent, except for the fact that you can still see a small (redesigned) spaceship floating outside, which indicates that the windows are there. The aliens at the back booth have been redesigned. The waitress, who is walking back behind the counter, is very subtly coloured light orange, while the rest of the panel is yellow, with some black shadows, and the narration box is orange.
Narration: THATS [sic] why they're worth the Big BUCKS!!! You have to hope they slip up, and you have to spot 'em when they do. The trouble was... this place was a CIRCUS.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:txn2z6j5emtmboiodoqz47is/bafkreie4n66fbpgnai7qz4semnhcojqesqw3s4pk2lpdlix5hay4excweq)
![[I've split the page into two because the alt text didn't fit]
The first page of the 2015 version of Space Diner. The text, in Tolosana's handwriting, runs in suitable spaces in the art of each panel.
Panel 1: A picture of a diner in space. Spaceships are parked (berthed?) around its perimeter. There is a large mascot of a burger with big eyes mounted on top of the diner, along with the words "Space Diner".
Text: Space Diner [with the Falcon Comics logo next to it] written by James Roblin illustrated by [an icon that is a stylised "L." (/"EL.") and is one of Luis Tolosana's old signatures]
Narration: I had chased the Shifter from system to system.
Panel 2: A closeup of the burger mascot on top of the diner and below it we see the person narrating, a bounty hunter, from behind as he approaches the diner. He has horns on the top of his head and an X, which might be a scar, in the hair at the back of his head. He is wearing a jacket with a popped collar.
Narration: Strange to think it should all end here.
Panel 3: The bounty hunter has entered the diner. There are arcade machines to one side. The waitress is behind the counter holding a tray of drinks and an alien creature is hunched at the counter eating.
Narration: The waitress had a spark about her.
Panel 4: The waitress comes up to the bounty hunter to greet him and take an order. The alien at the counter is in the background, trying to get her attention.
Narration: But I'd been in this hunt long enough to know that anyone is a suspect. I ordered eggs, NUKED. Some space-bum called her away.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:txn2z6j5emtmboiodoqz47is/bafkreigcuvpoyqibtur64vnfb6tnehbps42m7bk6ufu2b5pl37szgbxqau)
![[I've split the page into two because the alt text didn't fit]
Panel 5: We finally see the bounty hunter's face. Shadows fall across the top of it and we see a bunch of scars running across his nose and right cheek.
Narration: I turned my eyes to the rest of the room. I was a bounty hunter, and I knew my trade. I'd had some close shaves, wasn't as pretty as I used to be. But in the end I always got my mark. Shapeshifters though... those are the tough ones...
Panel 6: We see the bounty hunter's point of view as he looks along the depth of the diner to assess who is around. There are booths on the left in which aliens are gathered. Beyond them, space in full colour is visible through the windows. The counter is to the right and a doorway to the back presumably leads to a restroom. The waitress is walking back behind the counter.
Narration: Thats [sic] why they're worth the big bucks. You have to hope they slip up, and you have to spot 'em when they do. The trouble was... This Place was a circus.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:txn2z6j5emtmboiodoqz47is/bafkreiben6qyg3y2w4pguwi3ewfwxig7k37x6b52rtclwgepxrchk37tnm)
![Page 4 of the comic.
Panel 1 [Keneiloe Molopyane helps Thandi climb through a hole in the cave system):
Keneiloe: "So glad you're not hurt. I was worried. What did you say your names was?"
Thandi: "I'm Thandi. Thanks so much for saving me..."
Panel 2 [focus on Thandi]:
Thandi: "...but I've got questions for you. Who are you guys and what are you doing here?!?"
Panel 3 [a large panel that takes up most of the page and features Thandi talking to all the scientists, who are in casual and work gear and are all wearing helmets with lights on them]:
Keneiloe: "I'm Keneiloe. I'm an archaeologist."
Silindokuhle: "I'm Silindokuhle, a paleogeologist."
Aviwe: "Aviwe here. I'm a palaeobotanist."
Tebogo: "Hi I'm Tebogo. I'm a geologist."
Kimberleigh: "And I'm Kimberleigh. I'm a biological anthropologist."
Thandi: "What!? So you're really all scientists? That's awesome! I have so many questions..."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:txn2z6j5emtmboiodoqz47is/bafkreigl4mvnszcxxwttev5pfqxelwh52yamnme43mhiclnbgxmgwdisby)
