iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I added one thing to the game today which broke basic movement and interaction and then spent the rest of the day fixing it so everything works well together (so far). So, a lot happened... and yet not that much. LOL In terms of features: one thing added. *sigh* Such is life.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Happy" by Pharrell Williams was released in 2013. The reality in which that song was released feels absolutely foreign to modern day 2026. How did things get so bad? Many reasons- but mostly the selfishness of people, misinformation and the refusal to form culture/community apart from social media.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I look forward to exploring new areas and finding new items and abilities. I *tolerate* boss fights to get back to the fun stuff. If I put boss fights in my game, they will NOT be the focus or super-hard. There are already tons of games that do that and I am tired of that. Just saying.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The older I get, the less I like Boss Fights. It's like the whole game stops and is like, "Okay, ya see all that fun stuff? Yeah... all that fun stuff is done for a while. Ya gotta get past me to keep having fun. So, get good." There's gotta be a better way to have a satisfying climax to an area.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

MUCH respect. Just... much respect, mate. 🙏

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Well Dweller is fantastic. I don't know how Kyle Thompson does it. He puts out a game every 2 years like clockwork -- and they're all good! Sheepo (2020), Islets (2022), Crypt Custodian (2024) and Well Dweller (2026). Good grief! This man (and Eric Thompson, his brother who does music) are insane!

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I'm not saying put something out that you're not proud of. Not at all. What I *am* saying is that it is necessary to balance that desire to learn/revise/do-over whatever is necessary for it to be good -- with the fact that you want to finish this some day.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

One of the skills you have to learn as a game dev is "Don't sweat the small stuff." Because, to you, it's ALL small stuff. It's your baby. If you don't do it, it won't get done. If you don't want a "Thief and the Cobbler" situation, though - learning what to spend your time on is a vital skill.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

People are different, y'all. And people play games for different reasons. That one interaction showed me in a moment how different people are and that you can't please everybody. Make the game you love. Story, gameplay, whatever. If it's sincere and made with excellence -- it will find its people.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I asked someone recently "What's the most important part of a game?" "The story," they said bluntly. "If the story isn't good, what's the point of playing the game? What is it for you?" "The gameplay." I replied. And then we looked at each other as if the other person grew a second head.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

You know things are bad at work when you fix things and TELL NO ONE. Because if management found out, you're sure they would UNDO your progress. So, you just fix stuff, stay quiet and keep going. *sigh* >_< #life #venting

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Another day trying to get TNT to work. Progress was slow and frustrating -- so much so that I realized the architecture is TOO COMPLICATED. That there has to be an easier way to do this. Exploring that now. >_< #odin #programming

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I was trying to add TNT to my game today, but for TNT to work I had to get New_Block to work and for that to work I had to get conveyor belts working. And New_Block has a bug that I'm *still* trying to fix. So long story short, I did a lot of work today and feel like I got nothing done. Hurray! >_<

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Wolverine plays like one of its Game Pillars is: "Has to be able to be completed by distracted players as a second-screen experience." It is the Netflix-storyfication of gameplay.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Wolverine is so hand-holding that it makes me wonder if someone powerful, who doesn't play games, was the final line in playtesting. And if they got lost, even for a moment, it was a change that *had* to be made.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

In my engine "2.0" in Odin and Raylib, I've adopted Tiger Style as the default way forward and it's been really good. So, I'm thrilled to see Tiger Style on the most recent episode of Wookash Podcast! So cool! #odin #programming www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjiI...

youtube.com

Joran on TigerBeetle, TigerStyle & Software Design

YouTube video by Wookash Podcast

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

You're fed a daily diet of contempt and compassion. Be aware of this. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that what you see daily is the truth. It's not. It's a collection of content with conviction with the ultimate goal of keeping you on the platform as long as possible.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I did a 15 by 15 nonogram last night (after I said I was done with them). It took me 65 minutes. >_< I am... ashamed. LOL

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

If I sent you shady stuff on Discord I'm sorry! Jut let me know so that I can delete the messages or whatever. >_<

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I woke up to see that someone had hacked my Discord. I changed my password. I'm timed-out for the next week for sending spam and have ignored my top 14 accounts. When I try to "unignore" them, it says "Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later." *sigh* So, that's my life right now...

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Just... wow. I think we all hope to be given as much grace.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

All those games were immediate, visceral and obvious. Again, I am amazed at the grace Zelda is given as a franchise. Can any other game be released and the gaming community be open to being *convinced* that their initial reaction was perhaps, a bit hasty? Maybe there's more here to examine, ya know?

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I think that's where I am with the style: respectful for its intent and fascinated at the design choices. I do not - instinctively - *like* how it looks. I did not have to be convinced to like the artwork of Blade Chimera, Guacamelee, Downwell, Inside and countless other games whose art I love.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I'm not as negative on the new Zelda style as I used to be, but having the style explained as "maximalist" and "deliberately puppet-like" as justification for the look is akin to explaining a joke, is it not? A joke can be explained... but if it didn't make you laugh, did it work?

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Liking art throughout the years has been weird...

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Like, I *super* connect with some metroidvanias and drop others barely an hour in. Why? Why do some connect and others don't? What design magic is happening in games that I really like, and how can I learn from them to implement that stuff into my own game? That's the challenge! Let's go!! ^_^

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

For example, my metroidvania (the next project I'm working on) won't be nearly as large or as boss-heavy as Silksong. I think games can be *too large* and *take too long to complete.* No hate against Silksong - it's just not how *I* would do it. It's exciting to see how *I* would build one. :)

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Metroidvanias are a fascinating sub-genre of video game. It's so common to play one and be like, "Well, if *I* were making this I wouldn't do that." And the crazy thing about life is that - you can just make a game and see if your ideas work! That's so cool! I think that's why so many MVs exist. :)

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

OHHHH!!! They're puppets! Suddenly everything makes a lot more sense. I don't know if that aesthetic quite works in this context, but it's good to see how Zelda keeps trying new things. >_<

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Reposted by Michael Crichlow

TBSkyen Shorts @shorts.tbskyen.com · 11/09/2026

... oh, they're LITERALLY supposed to be puppets! | #legendofzelda #tbshorts

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Was level designing today and then realized (at the end!) that I didn't account for the UI. >_< *sigh* So, gotta make some adjustments. LOL Thankfully, most levels still work. 👍 #gamedev

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Reworked engine feels good. Lots of quality-of-ife improvements have been added. Now laying out some level design to make sure it feels good to play before final art is put in. #art #ドット絵 #イラスト #ピクセルアート #gamedev #indiedev #pixelart #platformer #mockup #wip #odin #raylib #gameart

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

New Metroid! Let's goooooo!!!!!!!! :)

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

He does make good points, though. :) #zelda

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I wonder if Zelda is the only game that is given this much grace? What other game has people like, "No, wait. Maybe *I* am wrong. Let me look at it again." Nintendo is in a class by themselves with this stuff -- because people fell in love with the game when they were 8. Hard to top that.

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Reposted by Michael Crichlow

TBSkyen Shorts @shorts.tbskyen.com · 08/09/2026

Why does the Zelda remake look like that? | #legendofzelda #tbshorts

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

That and the fact I need to design, play-test, do the artwork for, iterate until it's good and then finalize polish for ALL OF THEM.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

`Kiki: The Coin Collecting Cat` has 81 rooms/levels. The next project started as 126 rooms (which is bigger, but not too much so). It now has 208 rooms. That *should* be enough space to do what I want. I hope the game doesn't get any bigger than this. LOL 😆 Gotta be careful with feature creep.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

There is such a thing as *too much* texture.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Does the new `Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time` look weird to anyone else or just me. Like... it looks too detailed for how cartoony the designs are. I guess I prefer a more clean, cel-shaded look. I guess, like everything with Zelda - it's a choice.

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Mockup of the Pause Menu for my game. FEEDBACK WELCOME! Now's the time seeing that it's just a png at this point. LOL #art #ドット絵 #イラスト #ピクセルアート #gamedev #indiedev #pixelart #platformer #mockup #wip #odin #raylib #gameart

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

...Annnnnnd I think I'm done with nonograms. Or rather, done with the game I was playing. They've graduated to 15 by 15 puzzles and I'm not here for it. They're just bigger, longer, harder versions of what I'm already doing. I'll stick with my 5 by 5 and 10 by 10 thank you very much. :)

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

It's wild how it feels like the whole world is like, "Any day now. Annnnnnnnnnnny day now..."

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I've fallen into a nonogram hole and have done like 30 in the past few days. But they're getting hard now and take 20 to 30 minutes when they used to take like, 3. So, I think I won't be in this hole long. LOL

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Did the shootout scenes in the GTA VI trailer seem kind of... slow... to anyone else? Like.... really slow. Just slowly walking around from person to person shooting. Hmm. #thoughts

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I'm gonna be rocking these pixel platformers all day. LOL 😁

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Michael Crichlow @mikecrichlow.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

While I respect the tech of GTA, I have no desire to play it. I've actually never played any GTA or Read Dead game. They hold no interest for me. That said, I hope those who *do* like these games have a great time when the GTA VI comes out. :) 👍

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