Bolerosoft
LightNews LightNews
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft
@bolerosoft.bsky.social
92 followers 270 following 230 posts
Solo game dev since Jan 2025 in Godot. Current proj: "Mysteries of Old Tokyo". Wishlist on Steam now! https://store.steampowered.com/app/3784300/Mysteries_of_Old_Tokyo/
store.steampowered.com
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 19d
The demo is OUT! Research the past and unlock mysteries as a spirit detective in a meticulously detailed historical recreation of Tokyo.

You can play it right now! (Or some time this weekend, that's fine.) s.team/a/3784300
#indiegames #steam #demos
Mysteries of Old Tokyo on Steam
Step into the Imperial Capital, where knowledge is your weapon. Research and explore 40+ real-life Tokyo locations, past and present. Encounter a cast of wandering spirits, interrogate their stories, ...
s.team
1 3 7
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 1d
In the middle of a massive refactor as I switch up the gameplay loop. I used Mermaid Chart to plot out all the scenes and I think I see a nice, elegant way forward, rather than the spaghetti that got me here... #gamedev
2 10
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 3d
Final planned feature update for the demo... for now, anyway. Some small bug fixes, and you now have to identify the correct category for a location when selecting the inconsistency. #gamedev #indiegames
store.steampowered.com/news/app/378...
Mysteries of Old Tokyo - Demo v1.2.3 - Steam News
Final planned demo update (for now)
store.steampowered.com
5 11
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 5d
This was a slog! But it's finally out. Hopefully I caught all the bugs. New "New" icon, better train map, and Free Roam mode. #gamedev #indiegames
store.steampowered.com/news/app/378...
Mysteries of Old Tokyo - Demo v1.2.2 - Steam News
Free Roam, "new" flag, better train map
store.steampowered.com
4 11
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 5d
- prototyping/testing a unified "prep"/"explore" system ("Prexplore™"), where collecting evidence, solving the postcard puzzles and encountering the spirits happens simultaneously
- for realism, add random 5-10 second freezes accompanied by loud whirrs and clicks from the CD drive
1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 5d
- a more scalable, satisfying "wrong action" system (e.g. "You can't have [watched a movie] at [Sensō-ji] because [Sensō-ji] is a [temple]")
- adding the remaining game content (characters, puzzles)
1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 5d
Wrapping up work on demo v1.2.2 and I noticed there are a lot more features than bug fixes. This is a good sign (I think). From now on I'm going to step back from demo updates and marketing, and focus on some of the more major changes I want to make: #gamedev
1 1 5
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 7d
I have YouTube on my to-do list 😅 I think that would definitely be a good idea! I'd like to upload some gameplay footage as well because I think the gameplay is a bit hard to show in just a trailer.
1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 7d
Well, at least it's a useful data point 😁
1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 9d
For example, even with five subway lines serving the area, the easiest way to get from Eitaibashi to Ryogokubashi is probably still a 30-35 minute walk, same as it was 140 years ago. #japan #tokyo #publictransport
2
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 9d
Something I find weirdly interesting about Tokyo is that, for a city with such intensely developed infrastructure, there are still these "dead zones" where transport has barely improved in centuries.
1 1 3
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 10d
and after 30 minutes I'm like "Well obviously Luram swapped the fipbip on the jibjab mechanism, causing Oriel to fall into the canal." Excellent puzzle design. #indiegames #goldenidol
4
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 10d
I love the puzzles in "Rise of the Golden Idol". I love how I start every puzzle thinking "what in god's name is happening here, I'm never going to figure this out"
1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 10d
Demo minor update v1.2.1: Adds 6 new achievements and fixes a weird bug when using OBS. Probably a good time to stream it, if any streamers see this and like Tokyo-themed deduction adventure games? #demos #indiegames
Mysteries of Old Tokyo - Demo v1.2.1 - Steam News
6 new achievements and bug fixes
store.steampowered.com
1 3 13
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 10d
Hey! Just so you know, I found the problem :) It's fixed in the latest release (v1.2.1) so OBS should display properly.
1 1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 11d
A sneak peak of some of the new postcards:
1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 11d
A horrible slog today as I realised the entire spaghetti-signal route-picker logic just had to go.

However, in a more positive note, I have imported 38 of the planned 44 postcard landmarks (shown as red stars on the map)!

In the finished game, you'll be able to visit all of them. #gamedev
1 1 9
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 11d
Thank you so much! I’m really happy with the new menu 😁
Yeah I noticed that too with OBS… I think it happened when I moved to Godot 4.5 so I’ve been meaning to look into it. Hopefully be able to fix it this week if I get a chance ☺️
1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 11d
Oh and I somehow missed Trucker 2056 from @trucker2056.bsky.social which has such a great look to it
store.steampowered.com/app/3482200/...
Trucker 2056 on Steam
Trucker 2056 is a narrative trading RPG featuring a point-and-click driven plot and card-based combat. Heavily inspired by late 80s and early 90s classics by Origin and MicroProse.
store.steampowered.com
2
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 11d
As far as I know, my game is the only late 90s multimedia CD-ROM-aesthetic detective game on Steam :D
store.steampowered.com/app/3784300/...
Mysteries of Old Tokyo on Steam
Step into the Imperial Capital, where knowledge is your weapon. Research and explore 40+ real-life Tokyo locations, past and present. Encounter a cast of wandering spirits, interrogate their stories, ...
store.steampowered.com
1 1 3
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 11d
Some of the games that caught my eye in Finnish Games Week:
- Brainshell @brainshell.bsky.social
- KAUNA @anttironkka.bsky.social
- Frostrail
- Brass Rain
- and Sulo the Sidekick! @rubyursus.bsky.social

Upcoming awesomeness from Finland:
store.steampowered.com/sale/Finnish... #fgw25 #indiegames
Finnish Games Week 2025
Celebrating Game Development Excellence from Finland
store.steampowered.com
1 4 12
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 12d
I was browsing city builders/colony sims on Steam to see if anything could scratch that Dwarf Fortress itch, and then I realised I should just play Dwarf Fortress again. Strike the earth!

(Side note: I really want to try making a city builder.) #indiegames #dwarffortress
1 5
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 12d
My immediate reason for the demo was marketing - since it's in a festival now and might get some visibility in Next Fest next week - but after that it will primarily be useful for gathering feedback in the months leading up to release, I think.
1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 12d
And indeed, no feedback is feedback too! I can see my median playtime is 30 minutes, so I just assume most players are enjoying themselves and don't see any need to send feedback.
1 1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 12d
It's kind of hard to say. I think it's all been useful... if someone says it's fun, but doesn't provide any detail, I take that as a data point to keep doing what I'm doing!

Most feedback is just bug reports, and those are mostly neutral. Nothing overly negative or toxic.
1 1
bolerosoft.bsky.social
Bolerosoft @bolerosoft.bsky.social · 12d
I have found an interesting metric emerging for my demo stats on Steam:

Out of every 1000 views...
-> 100 people add the demo to their library
-> 10 play the demo
-> 1 leaves feedback.

It's been remarkably consistent across the first week. #gamedev
1 3 11