Alex Trowers
@bulkpaint.bsky.social
Industry veteran from the late 1900s. Solo Indie Dev. Design Consultant. Game Dev Dinosaur. Lord of Bullfrog anecdotes. Playability, pitching and prototypes a speciality.
Got a project that needs poking with a stick? Let me know.
Got a project that needs poking with a stick? Let me know.
Pinned
Alex Trowers
@bulkpaint.bsky.social
· Dec 14
This is my game. 2 Delve 2 Deep (not a sequel).
It's a small game about a little owl with a big dream - to one day become the King Of Explorers.
Or, in mechanical terms - it's a procedural dungeon crawler about exploration, greed and pushing your luck.
#indiedev #gamedev #screenshotsaturday
It's a small game about a little owl with a big dream - to one day become the King Of Explorers.
Or, in mechanical terms - it's a procedural dungeon crawler about exploration, greed and pushing your luck.
#indiedev #gamedev #screenshotsaturday
Here's an alternate look at generative #ai -
The way these things work is they amalgamate everything in their data set and kinda average it all out to produce the result.
So what you're getting is, at it's very best... average.
And that's acceptable to you?
The way these things work is they amalgamate everything in their data set and kinda average it all out to produce the result.
So what you're getting is, at it's very best... average.
And that's acceptable to you?
November 28, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Here's an alternate look at generative #ai -
The way these things work is they amalgamate everything in their data set and kinda average it all out to produce the result.
So what you're getting is, at it's very best... average.
And that's acceptable to you?
The way these things work is they amalgamate everything in their data set and kinda average it all out to produce the result.
So what you're getting is, at it's very best... average.
And that's acceptable to you?
"Permanently pause" isn't a pause at all. It's a Stop.
November 28, 2025 at 8:58 AM
"Permanently pause" isn't a pause at all. It's a Stop.
Hey #gamedev friends
What's your term for those little UI sprites that fly from a position in world to your resource display in the HUD whenever something is collected?
What's your term for those little UI sprites that fly from a position in world to your resource display in the HUD whenever something is collected?
November 27, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Hey #gamedev friends
What's your term for those little UI sprites that fly from a position in world to your resource display in the HUD whenever something is collected?
What's your term for those little UI sprites that fly from a position in world to your resource display in the HUD whenever something is collected?
Aliens: Dark Descent has joined Mass Effect 2 in the list of Games That Made Me Stand Up And Shout "Fuck Yeah!" Whilst Playing.
For ME2 it was the Archangel reveal.
For A:DD it was the vehicular upgrade.
For ME2 it was the Archangel reveal.
For A:DD it was the vehicular upgrade.
November 26, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Aliens: Dark Descent has joined Mass Effect 2 in the list of Games That Made Me Stand Up And Shout "Fuck Yeah!" Whilst Playing.
For ME2 it was the Archangel reveal.
For A:DD it was the vehicular upgrade.
For ME2 it was the Archangel reveal.
For A:DD it was the vehicular upgrade.
My favourite songs per Pop Will Eat Itself album - a list.
Let's Get Ugly
Can U Dig It
Dance Of The Mad Bastards
Get The Girl + Kill The Baddies
Everything's Cool
Old Skool Cool
Disco Misfits
Let's Get Ugly
Can U Dig It
Dance Of The Mad Bastards
Get The Girl + Kill The Baddies
Everything's Cool
Old Skool Cool
Disco Misfits
November 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
My favourite songs per Pop Will Eat Itself album - a list.
Let's Get Ugly
Can U Dig It
Dance Of The Mad Bastards
Get The Girl + Kill The Baddies
Everything's Cool
Old Skool Cool
Disco Misfits
Let's Get Ugly
Can U Dig It
Dance Of The Mad Bastards
Get The Girl + Kill The Baddies
Everything's Cool
Old Skool Cool
Disco Misfits
Aliens: Dark Descent has its xenomorphic claws into me right now. It's the Lt. Gorman simulator I'd always wanted to make. Decent AA quality. Plenty of mileage out of the levels - which hits all of the right notes from the Alien universe.
November 24, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Aliens: Dark Descent has its xenomorphic claws into me right now. It's the Lt. Gorman simulator I'd always wanted to make. Decent AA quality. Plenty of mileage out of the levels - which hits all of the right notes from the Alien universe.
Reposted by Alex Trowers
talkin' about the AI bubble
November 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
talkin' about the AI bubble
So it's going to be pointless trying to do anything in Scotland tomorrow then?
November 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM
So it's going to be pointless trying to do anything in Scotland tomorrow then?
Verlet integration for string simulation. That's my new thing. I think it's cool.
Do I understand it at all? Hell no.
Can I copy and paste someone else's version off the internet and tweak that? Absolutely.
#gamedev
Do I understand it at all? Hell no.
Can I copy and paste someone else's version off the internet and tweak that? Absolutely.
#gamedev
November 18, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Verlet integration for string simulation. That's my new thing. I think it's cool.
Do I understand it at all? Hell no.
Can I copy and paste someone else's version off the internet and tweak that? Absolutely.
#gamedev
Do I understand it at all? Hell no.
Can I copy and paste someone else's version off the internet and tweak that? Absolutely.
#gamedev
Absolutely worth a read. Taking a shot at defining what makes a game AAA or Indie (without calling it 'indie') by using actual data.
The install footprint + length of credits seems to be as good a metric as any.
Love me some graphs
#gamedev
hushcrasher.substack.com/p/taxonomy-o...
The install footprint + length of credits seems to be as good a metric as any.
Love me some graphs
#gamedev
hushcrasher.substack.com/p/taxonomy-o...
By the way, what’s a AA?
Instead of fuzzy labels like 'indie' and 'AA', we propose a new data-driven system to classify video games based on their actual production scope. This new framework reveals the real economic and crea...
hushcrasher.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Absolutely worth a read. Taking a shot at defining what makes a game AAA or Indie (without calling it 'indie') by using actual data.
The install footprint + length of credits seems to be as good a metric as any.
Love me some graphs
#gamedev
hushcrasher.substack.com/p/taxonomy-o...
The install footprint + length of credits seems to be as good a metric as any.
Love me some graphs
#gamedev
hushcrasher.substack.com/p/taxonomy-o...
I let our 11 y/o play with the prototype I'm making. It lets you chain together a maximum number of items.
She wanted to be able to chain together more.
So she clicked on the variable in the inspector and changed the value to be much bigger.
I don't think I've ever been more proud
#gamedev
She wanted to be able to chain together more.
So she clicked on the variable in the inspector and changed the value to be much bigger.
I don't think I've ever been more proud
#gamedev
November 18, 2025 at 10:18 AM
I let our 11 y/o play with the prototype I'm making. It lets you chain together a maximum number of items.
She wanted to be able to chain together more.
So she clicked on the variable in the inspector and changed the value to be much bigger.
I don't think I've ever been more proud
#gamedev
She wanted to be able to chain together more.
So she clicked on the variable in the inspector and changed the value to be much bigger.
I don't think I've ever been more proud
#gamedev
More games
Less industry
Less industry
The winner takes all-instant hit-meme-flywheel mentality that has completely overtaken the games industry and even #indiedev is poison.
It deteriorates the space for risk and sustainable growth, until all that's left is to to either make slot-machines or slop-machines.
It deteriorates the space for risk and sustainable growth, until all that's left is to to either make slot-machines or slop-machines.
November 14, 2025 at 10:28 AM
More games
Less industry
Less industry
I don't know what Owl House is.
All I know is that I'm disappointed it's not Pirate Owl House, which sounds way better.
All I know is that I'm disappointed it's not Pirate Owl House, which sounds way better.
‘The Owl House’ creator Dana Terrace responds to Disney+ funding AI-generated short form content in new tweet:
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
November 14, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I don't know what Owl House is.
All I know is that I'm disappointed it's not Pirate Owl House, which sounds way better.
All I know is that I'm disappointed it's not Pirate Owl House, which sounds way better.
It's funny how "powered by Steam" seems to have different connotations these days
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhTv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhTv...
Steam - Official Hardware Announcement Trailer
YouTube video by IGN
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:49 PM
It's funny how "powered by Steam" seems to have different connotations these days
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhTv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhTv...
A cat. This morning. Staring at us through the back door. Not our cat. We don’t have one.
Cute though.
Cute though.
November 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM
A cat. This morning. Staring at us through the back door. Not our cat. We don’t have one.
Cute though.
Cute though.
Reposted by Alex Trowers
Sat down for a lovely chat with @clert.bsky.social over @eurogamer.bsky.social To talk about my games and how I'd like to keep making and improving them sustainably. To step away from the launch, meme and hype driven madness that has taken root in games.
www.eurogamer.net/as-viral-hit...
www.eurogamer.net/as-viral-hit...
As viral hits like Escape from Duckov and Megabonk change the industry, Falconeer developer Tomas Sala has found another way to survive
What if you didn't have to spin the roulette wheel every time you released a new game, hoping for it to find an audience? What if there was a better way?
www.eurogamer.net
November 9, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Sat down for a lovely chat with @clert.bsky.social over @eurogamer.bsky.social To talk about my games and how I'd like to keep making and improving them sustainably. To step away from the launch, meme and hype driven madness that has taken root in games.
www.eurogamer.net/as-viral-hit...
www.eurogamer.net/as-viral-hit...
Reposted by Alex Trowers
PROCJAM - the Procedural Generation Jam - is back for another year! Join us on itch.io this November for another week of making something that makes something - a bskybot, a videogame, a digital artwork, a dice table or something else!
🗓️ Nov 21st - Dec 1st
🔮 itch.io/jam/procjam
🗓️ Nov 21st - Dec 1st
🔮 itch.io/jam/procjam
PROCJAM - The Procedural Generation Jam
A game jam from 2025-11-21 to 2025-12-01 hosted by PROCJAM. Let's Make Something! PROCJAM - the Procedural Generation Jam - is a creative coding jam about making things that make things. This normally...
itch.io
October 27, 2025 at 3:35 PM
PROCJAM - the Procedural Generation Jam - is back for another year! Join us on itch.io this November for another week of making something that makes something - a bskybot, a videogame, a digital artwork, a dice table or something else!
🗓️ Nov 21st - Dec 1st
🔮 itch.io/jam/procjam
🗓️ Nov 21st - Dec 1st
🔮 itch.io/jam/procjam
Far be it from me to share any AI content, but this shit is on the nose.
The only use of generative AI I’ll allow is this guy’s videos, where he’s having trouble directing “actors” to stop being weird. (They’re better on IG but that platform doesn’t want you sharing links outside of the app)
youtu.be/AEbqJj2hIjg
youtu.be/AEbqJj2hIjg
Director Auditions AI Actor
YouTube video by Cream Sketch Comedy
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Far be it from me to share any AI content, but this shit is on the nose.
First successful run on Hades II - night 45, 26 mins.
Now to... try and win the other route, I guess? Well, that and... literally all of the other things that are open.
Jeez.
I mean, the credits didn't even roll.
Now to... try and win the other route, I guess? Well, that and... literally all of the other things that are open.
Jeez.
I mean, the credits didn't even roll.
November 2, 2025 at 2:06 AM
First successful run on Hades II - night 45, 26 mins.
Now to... try and win the other route, I guess? Well, that and... literally all of the other things that are open.
Jeez.
I mean, the credits didn't even roll.
Now to... try and win the other route, I guess? Well, that and... literally all of the other things that are open.
Jeez.
I mean, the credits didn't even roll.
Peak continues to amuse. Tonight's discovery - if your hunger gets too high, your companions appear as roast chickens. It also gives you the option to eat them.
a painting of a chef holding a chicken with watchmojo.com on the bottom right
ALT: a painting of a chef holding a chicken with watchmojo.com on the bottom right
media.tenor.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Peak continues to amuse. Tonight's discovery - if your hunger gets too high, your companions appear as roast chickens. It also gives you the option to eat them.
Our raid on the Nintendo Pop Up Shop yesterday resulted in Pikmin hoodies for me and the kids.
It was a good day.
It was a good day.
October 27, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Our raid on the Nintendo Pop Up Shop yesterday resulted in Pikmin hoodies for me and the kids.
It was a good day.
It was a good day.
Did some damage in both the Nintendo and Lego shops today.
‘Twas a good day.
Now me and the kids are following @ikouyo.bsky.social around in our matching Pikmin hoodies.
‘Twas a good day.
Now me and the kids are following @ikouyo.bsky.social around in our matching Pikmin hoodies.
October 26, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Did some damage in both the Nintendo and Lego shops today.
‘Twas a good day.
Now me and the kids are following @ikouyo.bsky.social around in our matching Pikmin hoodies.
‘Twas a good day.
Now me and the kids are following @ikouyo.bsky.social around in our matching Pikmin hoodies.
How’s your Sunday?
October 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
How’s your Sunday?
Reposted by Alex Trowers
ICYMI: How to Write a Press Release for Your Indie Game — a must-read for #IndieGame creators and #GameDev beginners.
How to Write a Press Release for Your Indie Game
A press release is one of the most effective ways to get your game noticed by journalists, bloggers, and content creators. It gives them everything they need to share your news quickly, whether you’re…
f.mtr.cool
October 25, 2025 at 6:01 AM
ICYMI: How to Write a Press Release for Your Indie Game — a must-read for #IndieGame creators and #GameDev beginners.