iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Flanagan hasn't missed for me yet. He understands horror is a theme and can be applied to many other genres. Actually, like sci-fi, it's best when it's NOT about whatever you tropes you think it should be.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Are you going all around the internet saying this? Or are you bot going around the internet saying this? Why am I seeing this EXACT SAME BS about "upset about pretty girls" in Carrie, when I haven't heard any of it over the past 50yrs!?!? 🤔

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Too much value put in "talk" these days.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Not a biography, literally just comments in this thread. 🤷‍♂️ Anyone saying simply, "AI disclosure" usually has a bag full of pitchforks & cancelling in their back-pocket. Again, not your enemy. This isn't TwiShitX, this is BlueSky & I'm a 40+ yr game dev vet, no need to fumble through "vibe coding".

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I literally wrote it twice, in 2 places, when I didn't have to. I'm not your enemy.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

First of all, if you read what I wrote, you'd see I literally said "made by human". Second, the absence of disclosure should be taken as "none", since it's "opt-in". But it feels like you've got an agenda, which is weird, because I'm 1000% hand-made.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

What "AI disclosure"?! WTF is that?! Why would I disclose something I didn't use buddy? I know it's impossible to believe that someone who's been making games for 40 yrs could actually code, design, art, music, etc. all on their lonesome... but that's what I foolishly do.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Yes, all AI-free, all bespoke, all made by me except where indicated, which would be my friend making 2D pix for my loading screens, because I was busy. On top of that, it's one of 4 games I was working at the same time. Be sure to check out VectaGuard, too. store.steampowered.com/app/2892200/...

store.steampowered.com

Save 20% on VectaGuard on Steam

Arcade-inspired shmup action where neon vector caverns explode with modern visuals, dynamic music, weapon upgrades and intense score chasing.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Demo has temporarily been taken down as it wasn't really representative of the final product. Stay tuned for a new demo, soon!

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Retune the ball? Nothing's changed in BPM's physics. They were finely tuned some time ago and changing them would kind of invalidate all previous times. I mention Super Monkey Ball, because tbh kiddies don't know/care wtf Marble Madness is.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

"Anybody but" huh? Anybody?!?! Are you sure about that?! 🤔

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

BPM Boy - physics-based platforming + funky 90's jazz/house music - homage to Marble Madness & Super Monkey Ball solo dev - human made for gamers! DEMO OUT NOW on Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/2130280/... #indiedev #indiegamedev #platformer #screenshotsaturday

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

VectaGuard - 2.5D neo-retro vector cave flying shmup with dynamic industrial/darkwave music. Solo dev - human made for arcade gamers! OUT NOW on Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/2892200/... #indiegame #indiegamedev #shmup #retrogaming #solodev

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Thanks! The people who have actually played it seem to like it. Just need more people stepping up with reviews and getting the word out.

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The-Retrogamer.com @retrogamer-cc.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Un très bel hommage à l'affichage vectoriel ! Découvrez le nouveau jeu d'action du studio fondé par Tony Barnes, qui redonne vie au graphisme vectoriel sur PC. #VectaGuard #Retrogaming #shooter #shmups #IndieGame #RetroNinja #TonyBarnes #Steam the-retrogamer.com/vectaguard-s...

the-retrogamer.com

VectaGuard sur PC : Le vectoriel ressuscité par Tony Barnes

Découvrez VectaGuard sur PC, le jeu d'action vectoriel conçu par Tony Barnes (Desert Strike) qui ravive avec brio le vectoriel !

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N5Dave @n5dave.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Return of an Arcade Legend: Tony Barnes Launches VectaGuard, His First Solo Game in Over 30 Years! techmash.co.uk/2026/07/28/r... @techmashcouk #VectaGuard #RetroNinjaGames #TonyBarnes #IndieGame #ArcadeShooter #Shmup #RetroGaming #SteamDeck #PCGaming #TechMash #VectorGraphics

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gamedevmap @gamedevmap.com · 19/08/2026

This week’s #WishlistWednesday is BPM Boy from RetroNinja Games! A physics-based platformer packed with hidden secrets, speed-running leaderboards and a funky original soundtrack. Check it out on Steam and give it a wishlist! 💙 store.steampowered.com/app/2130280/...

store.steampowered.com

BPM Boy on Steam

BPM Boy is a physics-based platformer, featuring hidden secrets, leaderboards for speed-runners and a funky original soundtrack.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

One of my favorite things in one of the best Castlevania games is the ability to hold the button and spin the staff for defense and damage. Great stuff.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

VectaGuard’s “Sustained Fire Update” rewards players for focusing their fire by increasing the damage output & reducing time to kill for skilled players. Give it a whirl VectaGuardians & if you haven't picked up VectaGuard yet, what are you waiting for? 🫡 store.steampowered.com/app/2892200/...

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Black game developers @blackgamedev.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Day 3 of Black Game Developers Month 2026: A little over a week ago on July 27th, RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social , founded by games industry legend Tony Barnes, released the shmup VectaGuard on Steam. #Blackgamedev store.steampowered.com/app/2892200/...

store.steampowered.com

VectaGuard on Steam

Arcade-inspired shmup action where neon vector caverns explode with modern visuals, dynamic music, weapon upgrades and intense score chasing.

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Reposted by Tony Barnes | RetroNinja

Scott Anderson @impossible.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

It’s unfortunate that the loudest voices thrive on the negativity. The other problem is the “they’re the minority/ ignore them “ people. You’re horrible because you allow these people to fester and take over (and they do when left unchecked).

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Gory Thing @korybing.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Me explaining to anyone who will listen how I just really like Keith David and everything he’s ever been in, even the bad stuff, because he just seems to always be having a good time and I’m glad he’s getting a star on the Walk of Fame because good for him.

Marge Simpson holding a potato saying “I just think they’re neat” but instead of a potato it’s a photo of Keith David

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Respect gamers had for the game developers. Now it’s just hostility and “us vs them” mobs running around gleefully attempting to destroy the thing they claim to love.

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CMZinac @zinac.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Just gonna reach out again to see if anyone needs an extra hand for Unreal support/Netcode/lobby/character action and controls/fighting games. My cost of living is pretty low and so my rates are reasonable.

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Shawn Alexander Allen @shawndoublea.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

This amazing bundle ends in 3 days! Help us hit $10K in proceeds! This will go directly toward supporting our community of Black indie devs who are <1% of the industry! To help, you can adjust the slidernto give more.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I honestly probably wouldn't get rid of things (I have a LOT of stuff from 80's on up), but it is kind of ridiculous, especially if I don't use/look at things and I'm not in them/made them. I'll have to figure out when I'm back up in The Bay, because it would cost a grip to ship.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I was up there for GDC last week... Hell, I think we were standing next to each other a few times during the week. 😅 We'll have to arrange something. My wife wants to donate a TON of mags that date back to 1980 (fr).

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I knew there was a Motley Crue pinball game. I worked on it!

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Yeah, was great working with Brian. No shade to Don Veca, but I would've loved to close out the Strike Trilogy with Brian's music on Urban... But he had to go and help create this little thing called DirectMusic, go figure... 😅

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

It started as "Twisted Flipper", but then we finally secured rights with Crue's people. That build is probably one where we had moved forward and were just waiting for paperwork to license the 3 tunes.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I bet we can get correct answers from the baby giraffe 😅

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

The problem is people are too narcissistic and lack empathy to actually realize that their weird obsession is just theirs or feel everyone else is attacking them by not liking what they like. Crazy times.

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Tony Barnes | RetroNinja @retroninja.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Thank you so much. No worries. I’ve dealt with worse.

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