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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 1d

This is an incredible effort, I'm sure I speak for other dev's at the show when I say thank you both (and all the other journalists who covered the show) so much for your hard work and dedication to covering the local indie scene!

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 1d

The regular attendees don't know how good they've got it 😄

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 1d

As exhausting as it is I get a lot of enjoyment out of exhibiting at PAX!

Taking a break next year though, I'm going to enjoy the show as a regular attendee for a change and actually play some other people's games 😄

Memory's Reach @100stones.bsky.social · 1d

That's the fourth (and likely final) PAX for Memory's Reach. It's been a wild ride and a lot of fun!
#paxaus #paxaus2025

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 3d

It's definitely the kind of thing that would have been discovered with more play testing, but unfortunately I didn't get as many sessions in prior to PAX as would have liked.

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 4d

It also allowed me to drop the time limit to a more reasonable 15 minutes (down from 20, which I was never comfortable with), and players have still made the same amount of progress by the time it times out.

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 4d

The demo changes worked out really well. I was able to fix a few sticking points and allow people to get through the tutorial section and into the meat of the demo quicker, while requiring less intervention from me.

Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 5d

It has been a long time since I felt compelled to make changes to my demo mid-show but here I am at 7am doing just that.

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Reposted by Ben Droste

Memory's Reach @100stones.bsky.social · 4d

Unexpected outdoor time 😆

I welcome the short break and chance for a bit of sunlight, maybe we should do this every year 😜

#paxaus #paxaus2025

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 4d

Convention centre evacuation is a new experience at PAX

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 5d

It has been a long time since I felt compelled to make changes to my demo mid-show but here I am at 7am doing just that.

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

It's 9:25am, the floor has been open to media for 25 minutes, and there are some indies still not here.

a bald man in a plaid shirt and vest

ALT: a bald man in a plaid shirt and vest

media.tenor.com

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

Some of these are really on point!

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

I am VERY impressed with the effort indies have gone to this year decorating their booths!
It's so much fun walking around and seeing them all.

Here's just a small selection.

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Reposted by Ben Droste

Memory's Reach @100stones.bsky.social · 6d

This was super fun to be a part of! Have a listen to us talk about gaming news, what we've been playing, and of course our games we're showing at PAX this weekend!

Checkpoint Gaming @checkpointau.bsky.social · 6d

A new Podcast!

PAX Australia is on our doorstep, so Luke & Elliot recorded with three of the developers bringing their games to the expo - Ben, Nick & Brett!

@100stones.bsky.social @nonsensemachine.bsky.social @fluentpixel.bsky.social @paxaus.bsky.social

Listen Here:
joy.org.au/checkpoint/2...

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

The booth is actually in a really good spot pointing at the main entrance. I don't think I'll have any trouble attracting attention, I'm actually more concerned I might be too busy at times as the demo is a big longer than normal, but I'll have my Steam Deck as a backup third playable station.

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

In retrospect I should have designed that background art to not obscure the titie so terribly... Though I didn't think I would be fitting three TVs on there at the time.

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

Where I will be frantically trying to redirect the attention of people headed towards the Nintendo booth this weekend.

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

Note to self: you have a booth of your own to run and the game comes out in December anyway.

...But I wanna play it! 😭

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

"This is still an Xbox" is not as reassuring as you think it is.

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

bart simpson and lisa simpson are standing next to each other with the words wow look at all the colors man written below them

ALT: bart simpson and lisa simpson are standing next to each other with the words wow look at all the colors man written below them

media.tenor.com

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 6d

Trecking back into the convention centre carrying a pair of small metal side tables and a foldout mini picnic table for game dev reasons that I assure you make total and complete sense.

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Reposted by Ben Droste

Elissa @elissablack.com · 7d

The Oatmeal did a comic on “AI art”. It’s good.

A cartoonist's review of AI art - The Oatmeal

This is a comic about AI art.

theoatmeal.com

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 8d

Some really great advice I once read (I don't remember where, it might have even been on Derek's blog) was "sell the fantasy, not the feature list".

As a dev I often get caught up talking about the mechanics and design of my games, it took some time to learn that isn't what sell games to players.

Derek Lieu - Game Trailer Editor @derek-lieu.com · 8d

Great video on how most games don’t need a gameplay hook, they need to create an experience people want to play.

It’s like how lots of game trailers have title cards like: “harvest, prep, cook, plate, serve!” without ever stating a goal of say:

“Make your dream Taiwanese food restaurant!"

What Sells on Steam: You Don't Need a Hook

YouTube video by Jonas Tyroller

www.youtube.com

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 9d

Day 1 of No-CAP spent sleeping in after the opening night party, a half day of work, then meandering over to Boatbuilders in time for everyone to begin making their way out of GCAP.

I could get used to this kind of gamesweek.

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Reposted by Ben Droste

Guy 'Yug' Blomberg @yug.bsky.social · 10d

JUST LAUNCHED!

TheGameClub.com - like a book club but for games!

Join or host group gatherings all over the world to discuss our your shared experience. The game is just the icebreaker, the goal is to forge friendships.

Use promo code HEYLOOKLISTEN for 50% off today!

Welcome to The Game Club

It's like a book club, but for games.

TheGameClub.com

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Ben Droste @bendroste.bsky.social · 10d

I am a professional game developer

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