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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦

@benjaminrivers.bsky.social

5.4K followers 780 following 1.8K posts

🎮 Game developer + co-founder of Toronto #indiegame studio BancyCo. 👉 BancyCo Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bancyco.bsky.social 🚑 #NeoHarborRescueSquad OUT NOW for PS5, PS4, Steam 🔀 https://linktr.ee/BenjaminRivers

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · Aug 20

Hot #Gamescom news: our paramedic action game Neo Harbor Rescue Squad is racing to the scene on #NintendoSwitch early next year!

Inspired by minigame-filled titles from the Wii and DS era, it'll give your Joy-Con controllers a good workout.

Play a demo at the @indiearenabooth.de in Hall 10.2!

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 2h

Toronto game devs hitting up IGN Fan Fest today.

#gamedev #gaming

Ambrosia Sky 🪐 - Wishlist on Steam! @softrains.bsky.social · 19h

As a reminder: watch the #IGNFanFest stream tomorrow! We'll see you there...

Ambrosia Sky 🪐 - Wishlist on Steam! @softrains.bsky.social · 13d

✨ Ambrosia Sky is part of #IGNFanFest! ✨

Tune in on October 15th to learn more about your upcoming trip to The Cluster, and discover what awaits you when you arrive...

Learn more here: www.ign.com/articles/ign...

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 2h

Bump from yesterday. I see now my initial read on the game was wrong! I keep reading about incredible details (and finding some myself) throughout the game.

Happy to be proven wrong. Let's fuck 'em up, Hinako-channnn

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 17h

OK, I'm several hours into my first NG+ of Silent Hill f. Pleased to see that it's much more interesting this time around. Much more lore to find and a stronger narrative; much scarier too!

Also eff this noise! 😱

#horror

A screenshot from the PlayStation five horror game silent Hill F. The main character looks out a chain-link fence gate from within a shed. A creepy, misshapen mannequin enemy stands on the other side of the gate.

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 17h

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 1d

I will DM you and we can hang out soon!

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 1d

This is so on brand for you LOL

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks for this!!! Gonna pull some more omamori and see what happens.

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 2d

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada. 🍁 I hope you're able to find some lazy time with the people you love.

Two cats laze on top of a grey cat tower. The black cat has her paws out, Sphinx-style, and looks content. Cuddled up to her is the black-and-white cat, who is curled into a ball and looks like she might fall of the edge at any moment.

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 2d

Ohhh! I haven't done anything in it yet, because I don't want to get distracted. I hear good things though...!

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 3d

Somehow totally missed that our sci-fi romance game Alone With You is included in PlayStation's LGBTQIA+ category on the PS Store. 🌈 This makes me happy.

#indiegame #gamedev

The PlayStation Store running on a PS5 console, showing a grid of game icons, including Alone With You.

The PlayStation Store running on a PS5 console, showing the LGBTQIA+ category, and a grid of game icons.

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 4d

I'd just like to say that as a #horror game developer, I find the @horrorgameawards.bsky.social Halloween Showcase on Steam to be like bloody Christmas.

The amount if incredible and innovative stuff people are making. Hot DAMN.

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 4d

I appreciate the craft and skill that goes into making these. Just not for me as a player.

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 4d

I gave a very mainstream AAA open world game the ol' college try, but I just can't get into these anymore.

They all feel the same to me, and I find I spend 20% of my time in the core gameplay loop, 30% of my time in menus, and 50% of my time figuring out where to go.

More linear action, please!

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 4d

As the weather gets cooler, the cuddling intensifies!

#cats #catsofbluesky #caturday

A black-and-white cat and a black cat huddle closely on top of a grey cat tower.

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 5d

Cheerful morning music to help me make this new #horror game I'm plugging away on!

#gamedev #indiegame

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 5d

Remember, my fellow Canucks: it's not "Canadian Thanksgiving." It's just "Thanksgiving." 🦃

#elbowsup

a man with a beard and a crown is standing in front of a crowd and saying `` you bow to no one '' .

ALT: a man with a beard and a crown is standing in front of a crowd and saying `` you bow to no one '' .

media.tenor.com

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 5d

Hittin' it up this weekend! Been listening to the soundtrack non-stop.

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 5d

Can you get Salonpas products there? Japanese pain relief stuff (patches, etc.). I swear by them; super helpful.

I've used Voltarol before but find Kalaya creams much more effective (I think they're all natural?) if you that doesn't do the trick.

Signed,
A 46-year-old developer

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 5d

It really is transformative! I find it incredible how you can restore a film like this.

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 5d

Watched Tron: Legacy last week. Now on to the new 4K release of the original. Love seeing the 80s office scenes on film in such high quality.

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 5d

Oh no! I'll do some research then; thanks!

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 5d

Video!

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 6d

Oh man, that is tempting!!!! Probably the last actual Xbox at this point LOL

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Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 6d

I think so, yeah. We're 13+ years in the biz, four games under our belt, deals with platforms, etc. etc. and we used to be able to get press steadily. Even if not all the big sites, a good chunk of them, and most mid-to-small outlets.

Now? Mostly crickets!

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 6d

The cat side-eye is wonderful.

Benjamin Rivers 🇨🇦 @benjaminrivers.bsky.social · 6d

The #retrogaming corner needs some decoration still, but boy is it nice to finally have this, after years of dreaming.

Pictured: getting ready for @digitaleclipse.bsky.social's Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection. 🔥💀

A silver CRT television sits on a pair of IKEA Kallax shelves, which are tucked into a corner. Inside the shelves are various retro game consoles, as well as baskets. The television displays the game Mortal Kombat on Sega CD. a Sega Genesis controller cable can be seen snaking out of the frame toward the photographer. The entire scene has a warm tint from the overhead lights, and is hinted blue from some hinted accent lighting, giving it the soft impression of an arcade.