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Matt Stark

@mattstark256.bsky.social

3.8K followers 300 following 44 posts

the game designer behind Viewfinder. he/him 🏳️‍🌈

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · May 3

I've made a game about building medieval castles! 🏰 you can play it here: mattstark.itch.io/islandoodle-ii

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Sep 12

I'm also running it in chrome, my computers pretty powerful though. I'll maybe do a standalone build later cause that might run better. The game's also just not as optimized as it could be haha

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Sep 12

The "get better material" crow comic but instead of "caw" it's "townscaper"

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Sep 12

I've made a maze-building game where you can explore them in first person! It's got some puzzle-y mechanics and you can share your build for other players to solve. You can play it here: mattstark.itch.io/mazegarden #gamedev

A screenshot of a game showing roman-style buildings and a hedge maze, with level editing UI.

A screenshot of a game showing roman-style buildings, crates, gates and other objects in a hedge maze, with level editing UI.

A screenshot of a PS1-style game showing a mansion with columns, terracotta roofs, a pond, and trees.

A screenshot of a PS1-style game showing a courtyard surrounded by columns, with an urn on a pedestal at the centre.

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Reposted by Matt Stark

Matt Gardner @gametripperuk.bsky.social · Jul 22

Viewfinder is finally coming to Xbox and Switch, and you love to see it. If you've never had the opportunity to play it, now's your chance.

Sad Owl Studios deserved both BAFTAs, and meeting a couple of the team at Gamescom (including @serknowles.bsky.social) confirmed they're Good Eggs™

2023’s Most Brilliant Puzzle Game Finally Comes To Switch And Xbox

After years of being a PlayStation console exclusive, the most inventive game of 2023 is finally coming to Xbox and Switch.

www.forbes.com

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Reposted by Matt Stark

Gwen Foster @ifnotnowgwen.bsky.social · Jul 23

viewfinder is finally coming to xbox this august 12, one more platform to go!!! 🫡🫡🫡

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Reposted by Matt Stark

🐁 Luka The Mouse - SQUEAKROSS 🧩 @lukathemouse.bsky.social · May 16

📢 We only have 1 day left!!!

The current status is 961,203
/ 1,000,000 this is SO close we can do it!!

Please it just takes 1 minute!

🐁 Luka The Mouse - SQUEAKROSS 🧩 @lukathemouse.bsky.social · May 14

I know I'm spamming a lot with this EU initiative to BAN conversion practices but the signature collection stops on MAY 17!!!

⚠️ Not all countries in EU have laws to ban conversion therapy, so many LGBTQ+ people are still at risk.

You can vote as a EU citizen even if you don't live in EU anymore!!

European Citizens' Initiative

Give your support !

eci.ec.europa.eu

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · May 3

I've made a game about building medieval castles! 🏰 you can play it here: mattstark.itch.io/islandoodle-ii

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Mar 8

The style's loosely based off woodcut maps of Italy from the Nuremberg chronicle, old maps are so cool

Various sketches of buildings and a section of a 1493 map of Rome from the Nuremberg chronicle

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Mar 8

just uploaded another building game, this one's smaller and more basic than the others I've made but I thought I'd share it anyway 😊 mattstark.itch.io/basilica

basilica by mattstark

a minimalist cathedral builder

mattstark.itch.io

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Feb 15

I made this procedural puzzle game a while back but never finished or shared it, so I decided to amend that 😁 You can play it here: mattstark.itch.io/landflip

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Reposted by Matt Stark

Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex.bsky.social · Dec 17

Today, the UK government announced a proposal to change copyright law - for the benefit of AI companies - that would cause huge, irreversible harm to creators.

More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):

1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Dec 3

Thanks! I started it about 2 months ago and worked on it most weekends. I wasn't starting from scratch though, since I re-used various bits of code from my previous building games.

Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Dec 1

some more development pics

a sketch of a cross-section of underground streets, with tunnels and an elevator

a screenshot from the development of Vaulton, showing an early version of the game with concept sketches drawn over it

a screenshot of the part of development where I was writing the light source placement code. They're scattered around an untextured space

a screenshot of some tunnels just before I started adding house models

Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Dec 1

how to build elevators and bridges in Vaulton! u can play it here: mattstark.itch.io/vaulton #gamedev

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Reposted by Matt Stark

Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 30

My underground city builder is done! You can play it here:
mattstark.itch.io/vaulton

Vaulton by mattstark

a minimalist city builder

mattstark.itch.io

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 30

Yeah you're welcome to feature my games! 😁

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 30

It's mostly based on London, I love how clutter from different eras stacks up

Wall clutter inside a London Underground station (Elephant & Castle I think?)

A spiral staircase inside a London Underground station (Elephant & Castle I think?)

A heavily weathered wall with windows near Waterloo Station in London

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 30

Initial concept vs result! I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted with this one haha

A sketch of an underground street with adjoining tunnels

A game screenshot showing a similar underground street with adjoining tunnels

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 30

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 30

It's a bit different to the previous ones I've made because there's only one material, so all the features (tunnels, streets, bridges, stairs, elevators, trains) are produced by different patterns of cells

Screenshot of a building game showing underground Victorian-style streets, houses, tunnels, bridges and other features.

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 30

My underground city builder is done! You can play it here:
mattstark.itch.io/vaulton

Vaulton by mattstark

a minimalist city builder

mattstark.itch.io

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Reposted by Matt Stark

Soph @serknowles.bsky.social · Nov 28

We got Best Puzzle

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 18

Thanks! There's various systems at work. First it generates tunnels and elevators, then it generates the larger spaces, starting with streets then stairs, houses, balconies etc

Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 17

Even for organic stuff there's many approaches. For Islandoodle I just used conventional heightmaps for the terrain and rivers, while in the fish tank one I used billboarding meshes on the edges of rock to get the look I wanted

a screenshot of the meshes of a game where the mesh on the edge of a rock voxel is highlighted

a game screenshot showing rocks with seaweed and corals, fish, and a greenhouse

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Matt Stark @mattstark256.bsky.social · Nov 17

Kind of a variety - I start with an idea of how it should look then split it up where necessary. I've used the corner pieces approach in the past but I've not found myself needing it for these cause it's more useful for organic shapes like caves and islands

A screenshot showing the wireframe meshes of a building game, with a wall highlighted

A screenshot showing the wireframe meshes of a building game, with a bridge highlighted

A screenshot showing the wireframe meshes of a building game, with house details highlighted

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