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Jake Kazdal

@jkooza.bsky.social

1.4K followers 450 following 280 posts

Long-time game developer and CEO/Creative-Director/Art Director @17_BIT. Living in a Ghibli film in deep Kyoto. I love photographing remaining nooks and crannies of old Japan. Creator and director of AWAYSIS. Spends a lot of time underwater.

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · Jun 8

It’s HERE!! The incredibly talented and passionate team here @17-bit.bsky.social have been working for years on the ultimate physics-based dungeon brawler, inspired by the aesthetics of Japanese action-RPG classics of yesteryear. An amazing partnership with CULT too!

CULT Games 🔜 Loop//Error @cultgames.bsky.social · Jun 8

Watch the trailer for our brand new action-RPG Awaysis!

💥 Master momentum to beat your foes as you jump, slide and collide around this ancient relic.

Adventure awaits those who seek it on Xbox Series X, PS5, and Steam.

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 21h

I just bought the Wilson version. Just about to finish SHOGŪN!

Shane Liesegang, SJ @sjml.bsky.social · 21h

Ok seems the recommendation these days is Emily Wilson, but I also discovered Caroline Alexander did a translation of The Iliad that seems to preserve more of the Greek syntax? I'm torn. (Love that this comparison site exists, too.) www.iliadtranslations.com/compare/alex...

Caroline Alexander vs Emily Wilson Iliad Translations Comparison

Comparing the Iliad translations of Caroline Alexander and Emily Wilson with a set of passages.

www.iliadtranslations.com

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

Joel Burgess @joelburgess.bsky.social · 1d

With our new demo running during Steam Next Fest, I'm seeing more players discover Ambrosia Sky's immersive sim sensibilities.

I thought it might be fun to share a pair of moment from the demo that illustrates this, through the lens of how I do my work as a level designer.

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 23h

Lee has been a monster of production design and art direction, and my hero for many years!

TimOfLegend @timoflegend.bsky.social · 1d

Get ready to fall in love...
...with ❤️Lee Petty!❤️

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J_3...

Lee Petty, Project Lead for "Keeper" · Career Retrospective

YouTube video by Double Fine

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Jake Kazdal

Animation Obsessive @ani-obsessive.bsky.social · 1d

Design sketches for Hilda from Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968), dir. Isao Takahata, Toei Doga

Art by Yoichi Kotabe

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

17-BIT @17-bit.bsky.social · 6d

Sometimes #AWAYSIS art reviews can get a little… weird 🤷

#gamedev #indiedev #gaming

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

17-BIT @17-bit.bsky.social · 2d

The folks over at @videogameschronicle.com dropped a huge interview with Hip Tanaka, going over some of his legendary music that helped shape the industry.

We cannot overstate what a honor it is to work with such a legend on #AWAYSIS. We can't wait for you to hear the soundtrack.

‘The original Game Boy sounds the best’: A very nerdy conversation with legendary Nintendo composer Hip Tanaka | VGC

The father of chiptune music discusses the past, and his long-awaited return to games…

www.videogameschronicle.com

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

VGDensetsu @vgdensetsu.bsky.social · 9d

I wrote a long article about Rieko Kodama, her career at Sega, the evolution of her company, the games she worked on (including some canceled games and/or games for which she is not credited), the status of women and working conditions in the video game industry, etc.
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodama/

Illustration: a portrait of Rieko Kodama with some of the games she has worked on. The dominant colors are yellow, purple and red. Counterclockwise from top left: Rieko Kodama, Alis and Lutz from Phantasy Star, Sonic in a maze, Alex Kidd and his motorbike next to Flicky on a waterfront pier, Joe Musashi and his dog near the Statue of Liberty facing a skyline, the three playable characters from Golden Axe seen from behind on the edge of a cliff, and one of the flying ships from Skies of Arcadia.

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

VGDensetsu @vgdensetsu.bsky.social · 2d

Did you know that Rieko Kodama worked on Girl's Garden? In this third chapter, we also talk about Flicky, Ninja Princess, and Quartet.
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodama3/
Aussi dispo en VF :
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodamav...

A mix of 3 SG-1000 covers: Flicky, Girl's Garden and Ninja Princess

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

Animation Obsessive @ani-obsessive.bsky.social · 3d

Mamoru Oshii planned it. A young Satoshi Kon took the lead on its layouts. The result: a stunning moment from Patlabor 2.

We're looking inside the film's martial law sequence, including storyboards and production art:
animationobsessive.substack.com/p/life-under...

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 4d

The iPhone in a plastic case is a terrible idea for photography but my Olympus underwater camera got “compromised” and it’s real expensive to fix it…

Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 4d

While diving today on the northern Kyoto coast I saw a giant fucking lionfish and it freaked me out. It didn’t help that my kids were cliff jumping 40 feet away from it.

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

Bria "tries to write a book" Horses @thevoidencore.bsky.social · 9d

The "cognitive decline and brain damage from repeat COVID infections" and "easy to use robot that makes slop and melts your critical thinking skills" is a hell of a combo in a post-fact media ecosystem

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 6d

I mean hey

Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 6d

I love this

Aidan Moher @aidanmoher.com · 7d

Make shorter games with worse graphics and fewer shareholders

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 6d

Looking forward to diving into this in PSVR2! Congrats @baiyon.bsky.social and @dylancuthbert.bsky.social and the whole team!!!

Dylan Makes Games @dylancuthbert.bsky.social · 6d

Our new Dreams of Another trailer just went live! youtu.be/zA1z-_pgZso?... it’s available today folks! Grab the bundle with the also just released PixelJunk Eden 2 and bask in two of Baiyon’s creations at once! 🫶

Dreams of Another - Launch Trailer | PS5 & PS VR2 Games

YouTube video by PlayStation

youtu.be

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

17-BIT @17-bit.bsky.social · 8d

Do we have any followers in #Melbourne? Head down to Big Games Night Out in Fed Square tomorrow night to check out #AWAYSIS for the first time in Australia, thanks to our pals over at Events Engine.

www.biggamesnightout.com

#indiedev #gaming #MIGW

Big Games Night Out | Free. Games. Fun.

Join us for Big Games Night Out at Fed Square featuring free-to-play games, cosplay, live performances, and family activities on October 9, 2025. Enjoy free fun for all ages!

www.biggamesnightout.com

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

17-BIT @17-bit.bsky.social · 9d

Sometimes we ask @jkooza.bsky.social & @allymobbs.bsky.social to do level testing. Somehow they always get stuck fighting ⚔️

#gaming #indiedev #gamedevlife #awaysis

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 8d

Taking a 15 minute nap recharges me faster than going to get a coffee.

Brandon Sheffield @brandon.insertcredit.com · 8d

Nobody talks about the real issue: the male sleepiness epidemic. I take a nap like every day now

Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 11d

The Emperor of Japan literally rolled right past us today, waving at us as he cruised by. #ThugLyfeJapan

Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 15d

Oh man I had this book and looked at it allll the time

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

keke_094 @porosneustein094.bsky.social · 15d

Odaiba Boy is a new book written by Yohsuke Tamori, the author of PopoloCrois series released in 2023.

Set around 1960, showa era. The main character, Isao, a boy who attends Daiba Elementary School and his parents own a watch store, explores the downtown area as his curiosity takes him.

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Reposted by Jake Kazdal

17-BIT @17-bit.bsky.social · 17d

Great mention from @pcgamer.com

"I was impressed when I saw Awaysis' physics-based slide jumps and enemy-propelling magic projectiles, but I was elated when I saw one player seemingly brush their co-op partner off a ledge and into an endless abyss by accident."

We call it co-opertition. #indiedev

I'm convinced dungeon crawlers have always needed skiing physics after Awaysis' newest trailer

Somewhere between classic Zelda and Human Fall Flat, you'll find self-billed "dungeon brawler" Awaysis.

www.pcgamer.com

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 18d

Ooo yeah their beef stew is amazing!! Been there quite a few times! This place is a simple looking curry shop that should honestly have a Michelin star. maps.app.goo.gl/vwWE1mpHA8bG...

maps.app.goo.gl

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 18d

I think I just had the best meal of my life. I don’t know what to do. I’m considering quitting my job to write haiku about this meal by the river to start. Inoue Shouten is the best restaurant in the city.

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Jake Kazdal @jkooza.bsky.social · 18d

We literally got our first family computer when I was 13

Jason Kirk @jasonkirk.fyi · Sep 12

Discovering computer as an adult makes you go crazy. Discovering computer as a baby makes you go crazy. In all of human history, there will only ever be one generation to discover computer at the correct age: 13

The Ass is the father of the legs @internethippo.bsky.social · Nov 10

The problem with every post-Millennial generation is they got to go straight to high speed internet. Of course you'll get computer madness that way. Make them start with those old screeching modems and work their way up

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