iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Ooh I learned something. Funny how game design is sometimes just little isolated case studies in human psychology. Thank you!

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Would love to hear learnings you found interesting or surprising if anyone has any to share!

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

A design learning I found fascinating: When players love an activity (ex: taming wild horses) and you add a task/reward for doing it (ex: tame 3 wild horses) many stop doing the thing they loved after the task (even though they happily did it for no reward before) #gamedesign

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

One of my favorites: Asheron’s Call Lesson: that there is a particularly magical feeling when the player feels like they found something that other players have never seen before

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I had exactly the same reaction. Quiet and isolating. So little of that pressure and motivation that comes from being in something together. I also deeply missed the creative back and forth. That bit drove me to small team instead of solo in the end. I don’t miss zoom meetings at all =)

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Feneq | Rogue Command @roguecommand.net · 19/11/2024

Goooood morning Bluesky! Did you know we released a game yesterday? So far we have 37 reviews and they are *all* positive! So it seems to be pretty fun? You should probably buy it! And leave a review if you have played it. #indiegame #gamedev store.steampowered.com/app/1461910/...

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Serena Malyon 🌞🌛 @serenamalyon.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

She dances across the horizon, her cloak of daylight breaking the quiet of night. ✨

A personification of the Dawn rises over the horizon, dragging her cloak of clouds behind her.

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ExEz IndieDev 🇧🇷 | 🇸🇪 @exezart.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Sometimes a family can be just you and a bunch of animals you've rescued. #characterdesign #illustration #drawing #indiedev #gamedev #animals #brazilianartist #cozy

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David Amador @djlink.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Here are over 150GB of free sound effects, royalty-free and commercially usable on your #gamedev projects sonniss.com/gameaudiogdc

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Can I ask where you’re planning to publish/share the paper? I like subject.

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

My favorite talk on game cameras. From John Nesky back in his time on Journey. I came back to this for a new project and walked away with new learnings again. youtu.be/C7307qRmlMI?...

youtu.be

50 Game Camera Mistakes

YouTube video by GDC 2025

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Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou @kanaratron.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

For all the new folks arriving, both #indiegame developers and players alike, I've got some starter packs below you might find useful 👍 🔸 Indie Game Studios - go.bsky.app/EbnyA2d 🔸 Solo Indie Devs - go.bsky.app/46HSs4C 🔸 Indie Game Publishers - go.bsky.app/DAoKtHj

The cover image for an "Indie Game Studios" Starter Pack

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

I also take as much as I can and move it took a “future ideas” tracking area. Knowing that I may build a game around it or pull it out again later makes it easier to let go for now.

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

I ask myself “what’s carrying the weight”. Essentially what is the core of the fun or the emotion. I focus iteration and effort on that. I force myself to stay lightweight and minimal with the rest. As things progress, I ask myself if they still feel worth it in minimal form, and cut when I can.

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Liking the shape design and color a lot!

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

An intro! I’m Craig. I’ve been making games for 20 years. Lead Quest Designer on WoW, then pitched, built and led Blizz’s survival game team (until it was squished by the acquisition) Now I’ve founded OTG to make games about creativity and bonding through play. I believe games can help people grow.

Key Art for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

Key Art for Blizzard's Unannounced Survival Game

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

7085 and 9433. Intuitive and fun! Nice work!

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Think The Toad @thinkthetoad.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I'm Think, an artist based in Spain. I program, draw and design my own video games (Kauldron, NoumenoN); I devblog on Twitch, mixing philosophy, art and jokes. I'm part of the Toad Sect. Oh Great Horned Toad King, give me strength to finish my projects! Kauldron: portfoliothink.com/portfolio/ka...

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Ryan Locko | 3D Character Artist @itslocko.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

⭐ Just a reminder to all of the new faces here, starter packs are a great way to find cool artists and sharing them helps everyone grow! ⭐ Check out this one I've made for some cool 3D Character Artists, and don't forget to boost with a repost! go.bsky.app/D5ibi1

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Hi Nick. Thanks for organizing all of these! Raising hand for next pack if there’s room =)

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Thomas Feichtmeir @cyangmou.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Are details good? Are details bad? It really depends! I promised you yesterday on stream, that I would turn this into a chart, so here it is.

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Daniel Cook @danctheduck.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Lessons from today's prototyping meetup #gamedesign 1. Build the middle of your game first. Can you play your own game for 40-60 minutes? Then figure out how to teach that. Tutorials reveal the known fun, they don't find the fun.

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Really, there’s a third place confident choices can come from: 3) Ego enough to think you’re right in the absence of experience or logic. …but don’t be that person.

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Towards this end, when diving into something new and hard, I find it essential to pepper in time with friends and any community I can find. Open and supportive people especially, but also people I respect who will challenge me. This helps me refine and strengthen my stances rapidly.

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

I find confident decisions comes from one of two places: 1) Prior experience and mistakes 2) Reflecting your thoughts off of others If you don’t have the former, seek the latter. (cont.) #gamedev #gamedesign

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Love this! You’re capturing that atmospheric awe and terror of deep water encounters so vividly.

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Huge milestone! Congratulations on getting so far.

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Leaving AAA for tiny-scale indie forced me to realize how adapted I was to being constantly pressured from many directions. It was stressful, but also motivating. It’s paralyzingly quiet when you’re just working for yourself. Having a teammate again has been intensely energizing.

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Craig @ Off Trail Games @offtrailgames.bsky.social · 09/11/2024

Describe your #indiegamedev project in a haiku When earth falls apart Find yourself a spaceship crew With friends and laughter

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