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balbontino.com
julien b. ❤️‍🔥
@balbontino.com
920 followers 930 following 810 posts
(she/they)
sometimes i draw, design, and sometimes i don't | no genAI i actually try

art director & partner @wearecontinue.bsky.social
board member @thehandeyesociety.bsky.social
design lead @dames4games.org

profile art @julesdrawz.bsky.social
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balbontino.com
julien b. ❤️‍🔥 @balbontino.com · Oct 21
hiii i'm julien ❤️‍🔥
sometimes i draw & design, and sometimes i don't.

i'm an art director / designer / illustrator / digital creative in the marketing field for video games, film & entertainment.

i yap a lot about all sorts of things: art, video games, animation, music, the occult, and more~
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
jeeyon.bsky.social
One of the many sins of genAI is that the societal necessity of staying vigilant for it frequently turns into a policing strategy, often with punitive consequences for the handful of people who still write and make art with human integrity. I hope this student wins their suit.
hypervisible.blacksky.app Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 15h
“The suit says the accusations were based heavily on subjective judgments about her writing style and on self-confirming AI comparison ”
Student claims U-M wrongly accused her of using AI
The case highlights a growing problem for universities as they try to police the use of artificial intelligence.
www.freep.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
wearecontinue.bsky.social
It's OUT! store.steampowered.com/app/4378300/...
February 12, 2026 at 12:31 AM
balbontino.com
grab those keys so you can play the demo a day early! 🔥
cococucumber.bsky.social Cococucumber @cococucumber.bsky.social · 19h
To celebrate all the fantastic previews of the Echo Generation 2 demo, we're giving away exclusive demo keys on Discord 🗝️

Join the Echo Generation discord to grab it now:
discord.gg/NZCaCaX27b

#EchoGeneration2 #Demo #SteamNextFest
February 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
xoxogossipgita.bsky.social
i got so mad about this article that i blogged about it aftermath.site/ai-romance-n...
No, AI Written Romance Novels Are Not Inevitable
The New York Times interviewed two authors who claim AI is the future of romance novels, who coincidentally also sell courses about how to use AI to write romance novels.
aftermath.site
February 10, 2026 at 8:37 PM
balbontino.com
it's happening... 👁️
dames4games.org Dames 4 Games @dames4games.org · 1d
We've been a bit quiet on this side working on our upcoming showcase. But never fear! We're getting all dressed up and ready to celebrate Women's History Month in Style!

Stay tuned for more deets coming atcha soon!

@wingsfund.me @womenledgames.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:03 PM
balbontino.com
it's out!!!!!!!!!! time to snatch those art pieces
February 10, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
softrains.bsky.social
Our Soft Rains Book Club has re-launched over on our Discord, with a new format chosen by its members! ✨📚

Every month, our team will curate a new list of books we've been reading and want to recommend. If you join the club, you'll never miss a list and can chat about them with us. :)
An informational graphic that shares Soft Rain's curated book club list for February 2026, the books include: Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield, recommended by Sofy The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey, recommended by Jules Strange Houses by Uketsu, recommended by Joel The Vegetarian by Han Kang, recommended by Trang The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling, recommended by Kait Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree, recommended by Colin
February 10, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
wearecontinue.bsky.social
You've been BOUNCE 2'd 🔵

Pass it on: store.steampowered.com/app/3670570/...

#indiedev #gamedev #indiegame #SteamNextFest
bounce2game.bsky.social Bounce 2 @bounce2game.bsky.social · 1d
Pong meets Nidhogg in this sequel to a forgotten classic. Wishlist Bounce 2 today!
February 10, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
bounce2game.bsky.social
Pong meets Nidhogg in this sequel to a forgotten classic. Wishlist Bounce 2 today!
February 10, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
exeunt.press
Feels like a good day to remind everyone that there's tons of human-made public domain art available for free. Perfect for TTRPGs and board games!

Where can you find it?

Right here!

Part 1: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/public-dom...
Part 2: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/more-publi...

#ttrpg
Public domain art resources
Using public domain art in tabletop game design
www.skeletoncodemachine.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
cococucumber.bsky.social
Echo Generation 2 demo links: ✨

Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4378300/...
Xbox: www.microsoft.com/store/produc...
Echo Generation 2 Demo on Steam
Embark on a sci-fi tactical turn-based adventure. In this demo, step into a world of secrets, psychic power, and unknowable forces lurking just beyond reality. Collect cards, craft your character and ...
store.steampowered.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
cococucumber.bsky.social
📣 BIG NEWS 📣

Play the Echo Generation 2 demo on Steam & Xbox this week on Thurs 12 Feb 🗓️

Can Sister M escape the FST facility? 🤔🃏

#EchoGeneration2 #SteamNextFest #TurnBased #indiegame
February 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
jesthehuman.itch.io
The No ICE in Minnesota Charity Bundle has officially LAUNCHED!

There are 1,439 games to discover for a $10+ donation to Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota!

Purchase the bundle here: itch.io/b/3484/no-ic...
graphic that says no ice in Minnesota itch.io charity bundle
February 9, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
euphoriaap.bsky.social
We are seeking more PoC applicants for TTRPGirls!

*banging pots and pans*

If you are a woman or femme of colour, apply now for any of the 6 incredible games we're running live in March. We want YOU to be part of our event!

*scream from the rooftops*

tally.so/r/Pd9a4x
An 80s synthwave background with, neon purple, pink, and purple grid as far as the horizon and a blazing golden sunrise with hotpink stripes. Euphoria logo at bottom right, a round yellow frame with navy blue background, and a large shooting star made up of yellow d4s streaking from right to left, a yellow tail trailing behind. TTRPGirls logo at top, a neon blue striped triangle behind the words ttrp in blocky blue and pink font, and girls in white cursive. Header reads 'seeking players of colour' Subheader reads 'six live actual plays with all-women and femme tables, casting now'
February 10, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
cococucumber.bsky.social
One part dad 👨‍🍼 One part astronaut 🧑‍🚀 All Jack 🃏

Wishlist Echo Generation 2: store.steampowered.com/app/1115990/...

#WishlistWednesday #TrailerTuesday #indiedev #indiegame
February 4, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
kriswbennett.co.uk
NEW GAME REVEAL 👀

STICKER/BALL (@stickerball.bsky.social)

A chaotic combo driven roguelike, and a DEMO IS OUT NOW!!

- Fire balls
- Hit dice
- Earn points
- Add stickers
- Trigger crazy combos
- Points, points and mooooore points
- Revel in the chaos

Coming (very) soon to Steam!!!!
February 3, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
kim-hu.com
remember back when we all doodled the current thing for warmups? we could bring that back, maybe, that was fun
doodle of the rat purse eating a coin ___ #kimgakaku
February 3, 2026 at 7:52 AM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
dames4games.org
Happy Black History Month Dames!

Celebrating Black creators, characters, and stories that continue to shape games and culture. <3

Tell us about a game that you felt got representation right!
February 1, 2026 at 6:15 PM
balbontino.com
i thought hamnet was a shipping
February 1, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
cococucumber.bsky.social
Echo Generation 2? Or that weird '80s sci-fi movie you weren’t supposed to watch as a kid 📼😳

Wishlist NOW: store.steampowered.com/app/1115990/...

#80sSciFi #IndieGame #EchoGeneration2
January 28, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
cococucumber.bsky.social
The main inspirations of the game we're making 🚀

#EchoGeneration2 #IndieGame #indiedev
January 26, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
bvigaming.bsky.social
The BViG Black History Month Showcase is coming soon! We're putting out a call for game trailers, tag a game developer or studio you think would be a great fit for the show!!

Submit your trailers before January 29th!

tr.ee/UH3LmU

#gamedeveloper #gametrailer #BViG
January 23, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
thinkygames.com
Mark your calendars! The 3rd Annual Thinky Awards are on February 4th! 🎉

thinkygames.com/news/join-us...
Join us on February 4 for the 3rd annual Thinky Awards results! · Thinky Games
It’s that time of the year again! We’re ready to announce the winners of the latest Thinky Awards. Our 3rd edition of this amazing annual event celebrates the very best thinky games that were released...
thinkygames.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
theverge.com
We’ve decided to make this story free for all readers, forever. We hope you’ll support this reporting by sharing it.
theverge.com The Verge @theverge.com · 23d
As Homeland Security’s siege on Minneapolis enters its third week, locals are volunteering for patrol shifts, protesting in the streets, and keeping one another up to date in group texts.

Read more from @scottmeslow.bsky.social in Minneapolis:
It’s worse than it looks in Minneapolis
But locals are organizing to keep each other safe from ICE agents.
www.theverge.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by julien b. ❤️‍🔥
zoewithasword.bsky.social
WE ARE LIVE!!

Go back SINK YOUR TEETH IN #1! The 1st issue of a sapphic vampire noir miniseries from an increduble creative team. Follow disgraced PI Corsica Smith as she drags herself from rock bottom into a deadly conspiracy with her ex-love at the center

www.kickstarter.com/projects/dea...
The cover for SINK YOUR TEETH IN #1 by Lauren Knight
January 20, 2026 at 4:17 PM