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Simon Smith

@sitorimon.bsky.social
304 followers 946 following 1.3K posts

Creator behind Higher Plain Music, Higher Plain Games, I Love Disaster Movies and various other indie creative projects. Content and service designer by day. Indie games / music for the soul.

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Reposted by Simon Smith
Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.com · 07/10/2026
"Direct your dream game" says Unity Y'all game direction is many things but I can guarantee you that "genre + setting" is not game direction for anyone who has been a game director even just for 5 minutes Which should tell you enough about who made this, and whether you should trust them with this
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Superb game and highly recommended for all you arena arcade score attack monsters out there.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I tag my game reviews with the number of local players the game can support, not the number of online players the game can serve. This means I tag a game with online multiplayer and one player if it can handle a lobby of 32 people, but each person joins alone. Does that make sense? I'm overthinking!
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Slipstream – Review An arcade racer about blowing your bubble around the bath....
higherplaingames.com
Slipstream – Review
An arcade racer about blowing your bubble around the bath.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Bubbleware – Review A free Warioware-inspired microgame collection....
higherplaingames.com
Bubbleware – Review
A free Warioware-inspired microgame collection.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Live Vault – Florence + The Machine Her Reading headline performance is available for all....
higherplainmusic.com
Live Vault – Florence + The Machine
Her Reading headline performance is available for all.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Sharkeologist’s Nirvana cover comes with a Nerdvana music video quiz The music video visits key locations to Cobain and Nirvana's legacy....
higherplainmusic.com
Sharkeologist’s Nirvana cover comes with a Nerdvana music video quiz
The music video visits key locations to Cobain and Nirvana's legacy.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
To soft-launch the Higher Plain Racing YouTube channel, because I'm not in a place to run the motorsport content I'd planned, I have an iRacing Arcade Formula 80s championship starting tomorrow for 18 rounds every other day. Expect puns and poor driving www.youtube.com/channel/UCxE...
youtube.com
Higher Plain Racing
Higher Plain Racing is an indie motorsport channel covering a variety of series to provide a unique insight into motorsport. Higher Plain Racing is part of the Higher Plain Network, a collection of p...
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Introducing… Mass Minor Depeche Mode meets Sacred Skin...
higherplainmusic.com
Introducing… Mass Minor
Depeche Mode meets Sacred Skin
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
As Seas Exhale – ‘Boreal’ Review The warmest Arctic ambient classical hug...
higherplainmusic.com
As Seas Exhale – ‘Boreal’ Review
The warmest Arctic ambient classical hug
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Djunah returns with a noise-rock opera about complex trauma, inspired by Italian horror films Your Hallowed eve album of 2026 is here....
higherplainmusic.com
Djunah returns with a noise-rock opera about complex trauma, inspired by Italian horror films
Your Hallowed eve album of 2026 is here.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Biomigrant – ‘Cetáceo’ Review Merging the humpback whale song into fresh Afro-Latin electronica....
higherplainmusic.com
Biomigrant – ‘Cetáceo’ Review
Merging the humpback whale song into fresh Afro-Latin electronica.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Introducing… Essence Martins Confessional rock with soft punches to the gut....
higherplainmusic.com
Introducing… Essence Martins
Confessional rock with soft punches to the gut.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Growing My Manhole – Review Hole.IO as an incremental......
higherplaingames.com
Growing My Manhole – Review
Hole.IO as an incremental...
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Under Canopies could be the wildlife photography and farming game I’ve been looking for Cosy survival by befriending the forest animals....
higherplaingames.com
Under Canopies could be the wildlife photography and farming game I’ve been looking for
Cosy survival by befriending the forest animals.
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Reposted by Simon Smith
LukHash @lukhash.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
What was your setup in Y2K? 📺💿🎮 Track 5 on the new album. Order here: lukhash.bandcamp.com/album/neon-a...
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
They'll do anything but take any responsibility for anything ever. Vile parasites.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A little blog for my Patreon supporters. www.patreon.com/higherplainn...
patreon.com
Network Update: Sept 2026 | Simon Smith (Higher Plain Network)
Hello lovely Patreons, I hope things are going well. September has been an incredibly busy month, both personally and with the Higher Plain
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Reposted by Simon Smith
TOEM @swmgames.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
TOEM 2 is OUT NOW on Steam, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, and PlayStation 5! Ready your cameras and get ready to run, jump, and climb your way through cozy environments, uncover hidden paths, check out scenic viewpoints, and help out new friends. store.steampowered.com/app/2900640/...
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I plan to cover as many of those 51 titles as I possibly can!
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I'll hop on the #my9games trend which charts my big introductions to (sim)racing, rhythm, party, arcade, and story adventures. Cosmic Wartoad might be the deepest cut. No idea if that game was on anyone elses 80s ZX Spectrum 3 radar but it was our household classic.
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Reposted by Simon Smith
Rotub @rotub.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Thank you so much for reviewing Doggy Don't Care, @sitorimon.bsky.social! You can watch the review on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0fs... #doggydontcare #indiegames
youtube.com
Doggy Don't Care - Review | Chaos Sandbox ala Untitled Goose Game
YouTube video by Higher Plain Games
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Postmodern Machine – ‘The End is a Beginning’ Review Piano-inspired, machine-driven... or machine-inspired, piano-driven?...
higherplainmusic.com
Postmodern Machine – ‘The End is a Beginning’ Review
Piano-inspired, machine-driven... or machine-inspired, piano-driven?
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Marley Carroll – ‘Southern Research Station’ Review Intrspective focus through organic melodies and confident grooves...
higherplainmusic.com
Marley Carroll – ‘Southern Research Station’ Review
Intrspective focus through organic melodies and confident grooves
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
It’s Fine – Review Game development as an idle incremental....
higherplaingames.com
It’s Fine – Review
Game development as an idle incremental.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Higher Plain Music Radio: Synth Battle Euphoria (Ep.12) Inspired by the Final Fantasy XIII-2 soundtrack....
higherplainmusic.com
Higher Plain Music Radio: Synth Battle Euphoria (Ep.12)
Inspired by the Final Fantasy XIII-2 soundtrack.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Super Takoyaki Battle – Review Serving up a grilling in this quick, tidy party score chaser....
higherplaingames.com
Super Takoyaki Battle – Review
Serving up a grilling in this quick, tidy party score chaser.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Alongside this, I am soft launching my own consultancy, supporting user experience, content design, service design, and user research projects and people. I have had to do it all with zero budget, whilst delivering hundreds of change requests at once. I think I have value to offer. More news soon.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Last day leading a team of 60 to tackle decades of problem content and service design (or lack of). 4 years of blood, sweat, and tears and I have learnt lots. I am slightly conflicted moving on before my roadmap was fully delivered. New challenge from Monday as Lead Content Designer. Excited.
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Reposted by Simon Smith
Dominic Tarason @dominictarason.com · 23/09/2026
Further reinforcing my belief that Microsoft are axing consistently profitable studios, simply because they're not making as much money as their internal projections say the same amount of money invested could *theoretically* make invested in AI. Not that AI has made anything yet, but...
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Thank you ❤️
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Poll: Would you like a forum to discuss music? Vote in the poll!...
higherplainmusic.com
Poll: Would you like a forum to discuss music?
Vote in the poll!
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Reposted by Simon Smith
Draknek & Friends @draknek.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
A reminder that the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant is still open to applicants! The deadline is Sunday 27th September 2026! You can read more about the grant here: grants.draknek.org
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Reposted by Simon Smith
Dan Whitehead @danwhitehead.net · 22/09/2026
Nothing will ever be enough for these people.
Microsoft gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2026 was $60.482B, a 15.36% increase year-over-year.
Microsoft gross profit for the twelve months ending June 30, 2026 was $225.465B, a 16.28% increase year-over-year.
Microsoft annual gross profit for 2026 was $225.465B, a 16.28% increase from 2025.
Microsoft annual gross profit for 2025 was $193.893B, a 13.38% increase from 2024.
Microsoft annual gross profit for 2024 was $171.008B, a 17.09% increase from 2023.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Forgive the sporadic content since the weekend. I've been quite unwell, so I've been exhausted after work.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Shnik – Review Rush Hour as an abstract block slinger....
higherplaingames.com
Shnik – Review
Rush Hour as an abstract block slinger.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Backpack Boy – Review My favourite 2D puzzle platformer of 2026....
higherplaingames.com
Backpack Boy – Review
My favourite 2D puzzle platformer of 2026.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Locktale – Review Cryptography mental gymnastics told through fables and fun....
higherplaingames.com
Locktale – Review
Cryptography mental gymnastics told through fables and fun.
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Reposted by Simon Smith
Joshua Foust 🪖🎮 @joshuafoust.com · 21/09/2026
“Everything is 40% more expensive because of AI” is a great line for an opposition party trying to unseat the AI-supported incumbents, if any Democratic consultants wanted to take a short break from dehumanizing trans kids to actually try winning a contested election.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I've been sent press for a stickman game that uses GenAI artwork... for the stickmen. Absolutely no excuse for that level of disgrace.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Yes! Mutilate my fingers for Solitaire!
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I miss the artform of FMV game intros dearly.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Astrosaurox – Review A late 70s / early 80s-inspired coin-op blaster that's just as brutal as the old days you remember....
higherplaingames.com
Astrosaurox – Review
A late 70s / early 80s-inspired coin-op blaster that's just as brutal as the old days you remember.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Sento Survivor – Review Bathhouse battles for 1-4 players like its 2002 again....
higherplaingames.com
Sento Survivor – Review
Bathhouse battles for 1-4 players like its 2002 again.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Aythis – ‘The Black Beyond’ Review Darkwave artist turns to dark ambient for a tonal experimental....
higherplainmusic.com
Aythis – ‘The Black Beyond’ Review
Darkwave artist turns to dark ambient for a tonal experimental.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Introducing… Dana Margolin Tender indie folk reflections about life on the way down....
higherplainmusic.com
Introducing… Dana Margolin
Tender indie folk reflections about life on the way down.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
At age 42, I still don't think I've abused anything more in my life than the Kempston Joystick I have for the ZX Spectrum +3. The amount of Olympics and athletics games I had that involved waggling that thing... how it still works is anyone's guess.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Populus Run – Review Another Apple Arcade title with a banging soundtrack makes its way to PC....
higherplaingames.com
Populus Run – Review
Another Apple Arcade title with a banging soundtrack makes its way to PC.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Misha – Review Five minutes of cat trauma....
higherplaingames.com
Misha – Review
Five minutes of cat trauma.
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Simon Smith @sitorimon.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Live Vault – Natalie Nicoles An understated, beautiful back-garden performance....
higherplainmusic.com
Live Vault – Natalie Nicoles
An understated, beautiful back-garden performance.
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