iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

♫ This is the way we test the sprites ♫ Test the sprites ♫ Test the sprites 1/3 gravity walk cycles because they're on Mars in the distant future, the setting of the #storygame I'm making, ◀Future Ghost▶ The enemies will have their own crunchy footfall sfx in the end, too. #indiedev #indiegame

0162

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Youngest daughter drew her version of the player character in my WIP #indiegame and his mysterious offsider on my birthday card earlier this year. My versions of them shown for reference ➡️

0141

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Sub boss walk cycle for my WIP narrative adventure game 'Future Ghost'... • 20 frames, 4 angles, 1/3 gravity • Now with two nasty-looking batons! This and the enemy shown previously are now ready to be put into their respective sprite sheets. #indiegame #indiedev #animation #comicart

0181

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Enemy walk cycle for my WIP narrative adventure game 'Future Ghost'... • 20 frames, 4 angles, 1/3 gravity • Now with added sidearms and utility pockets! #indiegame #indiedev #animation #comicart

0164

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

A backstory vignette comic introducing the relationship of a couple of key characters in the narrative adventure game I'm aching to keep building... Future Ghost The in-game art style is just like this as well.

031

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Today I am become as a god among men 🔥 🙌 🙄 📷 before - during - after

malfunctioning Switch Lite screen with vertical lines across the length of the display

Switch Lite with new, fully functional LCD display installed

130

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

And... it's built. Nice look overall with some cool details like the airflow grill at the back but it also feels like there were a few missed opportunities in the design of this build. Plastic doesn't feel as nice as Lego of course but everything fits and holds together well, with no missing pieces.

020

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Australian Kmart had a Famicom *not* Lego set for $6. It would have been illegal not to have bought one.

160

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

This is now what greets the player when they first run the story game I'm making, ◀Future Ghost▶ #indiegamedev #ui #uidesign #accessibility

1121

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

New in-game language option UI element, who's this? (the monitor photo at a weird angle is a deliberate choice) #indiegamedev #ui #uidesign #accessibility

Vector graphic with comic print textures, showing a Union Jack overlayed with cartoonish icons representing a computer monitor showing text and a speech bubble containing a speaker

061

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Thaaat's better...! Now the player character's low-gravity walk cycle displays just fine on Android in the narrative adventure game I'm making, ◀Future Ghost▶ Which hopefully means it will also display just fine on consoles like the Switch... 🤔 #indiedev #indiegamedev #comics #indiegame #android

073

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

The Game Expo here in Naarm / Melbourne today released their official photos from the event in March this year. This was my booth. This was my impassioned-looking way of talking to someone about my game or something. #indiegamedev

0131

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

It's Wei Song, the player character from the narrative adventure game I'm making, ◀Future Ghost▶ A rare direct-to-digital drawing. Most start off as pencil on paper. How would you caption this? What is Song reacting to? #indiegamedev #indiegame #illustration #comics

1123

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Do you like it when a game lets you do things like this? Because ◀Future Ghost▶ - the narrative adventure game I'm making - has a few interactions like this one! #indiegamedev #indiegame #comics 日本語版⇩

3161

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Discovered a new (to me) #retrogaming and JP pop culture store in a shopping centre I don't visit often. Decent selection. I snagged 'Parodius da!' (GB) for AU$15. Dude said he had no idea about the JP games, so I told him what this one was (a parody of Gradius) but he just looked at me blank. 😅

161

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

I wonder if sighted players will choose 'Screenreader mode' just for the additional #comic style text boxes and cute robot bat sidekick? Narrative adventure #indiegame ◀Future Ghost▶ will have a bunch of #accessibility features, including this special mode for players with impaired (or no) vision.

1164

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Been doing #gamedev stuff that isn't so easily shared, of late. Like 🧠-driven EN→JP #translation for the in-game timeline, not 🤖-driven (pictured). Improving the screen reader compatibility for greater pronunciation accuracy has been another, for #accessibility and pedantry purposes.

0131

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Here's a better look at my "Keep playing!" gamer girl Eloiz, who shows up when a locked timeline entry is selected...

050

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Dynamic timeline for #comic styled #indiegame Future Ghost now 95% functional! Video shows... • player character on a mountain + idle animation • menu opening & Timeline selected • Timeline opening, most entries locked, accessed using keyboard, then mouse • start of a cutscene, played from Timeline

1100

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Simple stuff never is. This WIP in-game dynamic timeline took a weekend. Building for multiple input methods has been the real kicker. Choose from perfect mouse input with "laggy" keyboard/gamepad (press twice to move b/w active entries) or broken mouse input! Cutscene playback *basically* works.

060

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Inspired by these sorts of subscription advertisements in old comic books...

010

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Mockup of the timeline UI for my wip narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ It will fill in as the player character experiences or learns about the events included in the timeline. Most will have cutscenes, but not all. #indiegamedev #ui #retro #comics #storygame

1164

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Is 31 key plot points over a span of 1500+ years too many for one narrative game? If so, too bad!! ✌️😄

Laptop computer showing spreadsheet detailing the 31 plot points mentioned in this post, deliberately out of focus because spoilers!

090

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Been implementing and improving on QoL features for my wip narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ Here's a look at how the environmental hint system works, on a basic level. No pixel hunting in the #pointandclick adventure side of this #indiegame! #storygame #comics #indiegamedev

0197

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Got some nice playtest feedback from my daughter's boyfriend today, amounting to basically: "I really enjoyed the puzzle, even though I sucked at it. Will there be more like it?" 😁 #indiegamedev

0202

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

I remembered some players at the expo in March trying to see what happens when you walk into an "invisible wall" on the edge of the stage in the opening of my wip narrative adventure #indiegame ◀Future Ghost▶... Decided to do something about it...

0145

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

An exterior hand drawn settings for my wip narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ Some of these kiosk shops have been open for over a century, passed down from generation to generation. What might be of interest here? #indiegame #indiegamedev #comicart #comics #pointandclick #jrpg

1163

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

One of the hand drawn settings for a bit further into my wip narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ Sometimes big things happen in small places. What draws your eye in this room? #indiegamedev #indiegame #comics #comicart #adventuregame #jrpg

"Server room, somewhere in Dome City"

A small server room with four stacks of servers connected by looping network cables. There is a cardboard box on the floor to the left and a low folding chair and metal lunch box and flask on the floor to the right.

1204

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Soon you'll be able to enjoy a cup of tea in a cave dwelling on Mars in the demo of my narrative adventure game 'Future Ghost'. #indiegame #comicart #comics #indiegamedev

1173

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Another hand drawn setting for my wip narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ One of the settings in the upcoming demo What would you interact with in this room? #indiegame #indiegamedev #comicart #retrocomics #adventuregame #jrpg #turnbased

"Armn Kuei's study, Earth"

Cartoonish illustration of a seemingly circular room strewn with loose stacks of papers and furnished with bookshelves and a computer desk with a large monitor. Some key decorations include a large map of the world, featuring reduced land masses, a hifi, framed photograph, globe of the Earth as it is now, and a statuette of a superhero.

1123

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Thank you for hosting! Here's a sample of the first turn-based battle in the retro comic-themed narrative adventure I'm making, 'Future Ghost', which is wishlistable here... s.team/a/793100

1110

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Another hand drawn setting for my wip narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ An elderly supporting character's room What would you interact with here? #indiegamedev #comicart #comics #adventuregame #jrpg #indiegame

"Resident's Room, Elders' Quarters, Arsia Settlement"

A cartoonish, retro comic style illustration of a small room with bed, armchair and shelves, with a feature wall showing an image of a vista of mountains and sky

1175

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

One of the 60-ish hand drawn settings for my wip narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ The player character's home What would you interact with first? #indiegamedev #comics #comicart #indiegame #indiedev #adventuregames #jrpg

Interior of a compact living space with kitchenette, desk and bed all in the one room, illustrated and coloured in a cartoonish retro comic book style

2204

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

Updating a player sprite... That wrist unit wasn't there before! #indiegamedev #animation

0162

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

The character upgrade screen for my narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ with full screen reader compatibility! This degree of compatibility is unusual and takes some work to implement. My aim is to make it possible for even fully blind players to enjoy the game. #indiedev #accessibility #ui

194

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

The level up screen with bonus stat upgrade for my narrative adventure #indiegame ◀Future Ghost▶ Now fully functional, with random allocation of bonus points (shown) & sound fx. Just needs mouse input for stat selection and some additional screen reader compatibility bits added. #ui #uidesign

2206

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Still a wip, but getting pretty close to having the level-up screen with custom stat bonus point assignment working for my narrative adventure #indiegame (with #RPG elements, obvs.) ◀Future Ghost▶ Styled after old school #comic book fitness program adverts

1235

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

WIP stat upgrade UI for my narrative adventure #indiegame ◀Future Ghost▶ Adding a second language as I go to set up for additional localisations later. Japanese titles for each stat with English flavour text to make key information clear while keeping a vintage American #comic book feel. #indiedev

Photo of the monitor showing wip in-game visual of the stat upgrade screen mentioned in this post

0163

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Mock-up of the planned character upgrade UI for my wip narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ Inspired by vintage comic book advertisements #indiegame #indiegamedev #ui #comics #comicart #gamedesign #uidesign

1347

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

What character stat would this one represent? 🤔 (alternate design for one of the six shown in the quoted OP below) #indiegamedev #gamedesign #ui #comicart #popart #illustration

A man with a Buddhist monk-like appearance holds his left hand up in front of his face, with a shield shape, seemingly made of light, emanating from his forehead and palm, illustrated and coloured in a style reminiscent of vintage comic book print

181

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Character stat upgrade options, illustrated and coloured vintage comic book style for use in my narrative RPG/adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ There will be headings and flavour text, but can you tell at a glance what stat each image represents? #indiegamedev #ui #comicart #indiegame #gamedesign

Two panels, showing 1) a hand breaking a wooden board in a chopping motion and 2) a man's bear chest with a spear held to his lower neck, between his collar bones

Two panels, showing 1) the palms of two hands in different poses, appearing to generate energy and 2) a man's bald head looking downwards, projecting a shield shape from his forehead

Two panels, showing 1) a bald person in an orange tunic side-stepping with movement lines and 2) a pair of fluffy dice

1206

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

Went and did some screen printing with the family today. Of course mine had to be somehow related to my indie game project. New potential merch idea? Pictured: Calico tote bag with a simplified version of the title text of wip indie game 'Future Ghost' printed on it in black ink

080

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

In the game I'm making, Vai Kuei, adoptive mother to the player character, is canonically bisexual. #PrideMonth

050

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Hello #PitchYaGame. I am (slowly/sporadically) making narrative adventure game ◀Future Ghost▶ • retro comic book-styled 2D visuals • p&c with varied gameplay • upgrades & turn-based combat • accessibility! • metaphysical sci-fi story Wishlistable on Steam; demo in a month or so: s.team/a/793100/

0100

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Wei Song, the player character in my WIP narrative adventure game 'Future Ghost', is canonically pansexual. #PrideMonth

Illustration of Wei Song, a middle-aged man of Asian descent with two-tone black and white hair, wearing a red jumper and a turned-down silver-blue coverall

070

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Blink and miss it stuff, but I solved the amateur-looking default engine behaviour of visibly loading all the resources for any given stage upon loading a save game. "Before" = mess of props & characters briefly shown with double fade-in "After" = smooth & clean with single fade-in 😎 #indiegamedev

1101

Kenn @ Pinebox Games @pineboxgames.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Okay so, wrong answers only, what are we saying happened here? (from my WIP narrative adventure #indiegame 'Future Ghost')

Partial in-game screenshot showing two characters collapsed on the floor. An empty mug is also in view, on the corner of a table top at shot left, and a closed oven door with stove top at shot right.

5113