Brian Vaughn
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morningtoast.bsky.social
Brian Vaughn
@morningtoast.bsky.social
500 followers 210 following 450 posts
Hobby game dev making tiny games on PICO-8 for all to play. UX web guy by day. Pyr dad, all around nerd, retro cartoons & toys, pro wrestling lifer...amongst other things. https://www.morningtoast.com
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Look ma, I'm in a magazine! I'm proud and honored to be interviewed in Retro Gamer #268 about my #pico8 #gamedev. The issue just got onto shelves here in the US. THANK YOU to @merman1974.bsky.social and @retrogamermag.bsky.social for the opportunity to share a little bit of my story. More...
Agreed! One of the best games of that era and still plays great, imo. I still go back and play this one…and still get my ass kicked. Only go through it once and I think I did so thanks to a glitch on some late boss battle. Thanks for the reminder…may need to boot this up again.
Rock n roll has been difficult lately. Shout it out loud, folks, all nite and everyday. #rip #ace #kiss
Also the NIN soundtrack is one of the major stars of this movie as everyone has claimed. Even my kid, who has never really listened to NIN, commented on how cool it was. Needless say, after the film we busted out the NIN catalog for her. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sj-...
Nine Inch Nails - As Alive As You Need Me To Be (Official Lyric Video)
YouTube video by Nine Inch Nails
www.youtube.com
Tron: Ares was fine...far better than I think the box office and many reviews suggest. It looked like a Tron film but in many ways it didn't feel like a Tron film. Also...where the hell was Tron?! We get the ghost of Obi Wan Flynn but no hint of Tron. Miss. #tron #tronares #disney #wherestron
I'd bet Gruber is the most prolific #pico8 music man since he has graciously made his music available to everyone. I know I've used his music in just about every game I've made.
🎶 New Retro Titans episode!
Guest: Chris Donnelly (Gruber) — jazz pianist turned Pico-8 composer whose chiptunes bring pixel worlds to life.

We talk creativity, burnout, and how limitations can spark inspiration.

🎧 Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3TKO...

#pico8 #chiptune #retrogaming
I have no qualms with the picks here but the order could probably use a little adjustment. Also a reminder that 1988 was a banner year.
Neat. I feel less bad knowing it was a fair exclusive then, lol. There’s not enough SG figures in general. Would be nice if someone would pick up more of the HB action cartoons…SG, Herculoids, etc. Take my money.
What action figure line is that SG from?
Same game, same me. Originally the classic Ghostbusters was an unlock but I updated it later to default to them. But both teams are available. Hit Up at the title screen and you can switch between the boys and girls. Thanks for playing!
Got my tix for Saturday. Glad it sounds like it's not a complete steamer. My theatre had very limited showings all weekend so that had me worried. Oh and it's really hard to believe Legacy was already 16 years ago! Oy.
It seems a lot of my games feel appropriate for the Halloween & horror season. Because what's more Halloween-worthy than #Ghostbusters? Bustin' is my #pico8 arcade game tasking you with saving the city from Gozer and all the Slimers. Great for parties!

Play: morningtoast.itch.io/ghostbusters...
The sheer volume of games is a wonderful problem to have but just appending my next fav game to the top of the list is getting ridiculous. There’s too many good games and things I fav’ed just a week ago end up in the basement.
I know better than to hold my breath but the #pico8 Splore browser could really use some QoL updates for helping to organize favorited games. At this point I’d rather have some effort put there than more functions and commands for making games. www.timeextension.com/news/2025/10...
Playdate OS 3.0 Adds A Much-Requested Feature: Folders
"We never dreamt developers would create so many great Playdate games"
www.timeextension.com
His little flippers flipping you off is just what I needed this morning. Thank you.
There’s a new comic coming? Nice.
Reposted by Brian Vaughn
The holiday season is right around the corner and that means it’s almost time for another #pico8 Advent Calendar!

Submissions for the 2025 PICO-8 Advent Calendar are open starting today and we’ll be accepting entries until the end of November.

More information on Itch:
itch.io/jam/pico-8-a...
PICO-8 Advent Calendar 2025
A game jam from 2025-10-04 to 2025-12-01 hosted by Kevin & Jenny Schmidt (bikibird). Every year, the PICO-8 community comes together to make games that reflect the joys and anxieties of the winter hol...
itch.io
I've been thinking Don't Dig might be a good candidate to port over to #picotron so I can add more features, maps, etc. while also learning. But even 2 years later I still really enjoy this game as-is despite its many shortcomings. Thanks to all that have played over the years. Happy Halloween!
It's October and the perfect time for my most successful #pico8 game. Adventure, horror, shmup...like all those words? Then you'll probably dig it.

Don't Dig Up the Dead
morningtoast.itch.io/dont-dig-up-...

Deluxe version comes with special in-game item.
#october #halloween #horror #shmup
You’re exactly adorable years old. Is that a cake in the box?
Oooo...that sounds nifty. I could setup a warehouse of chests and just let them run around sorting, lol - Like Wilmot's Warehouse
I miss the days of awesome EQs and wicked visualizers with our music players. In the car, on the computer, everywhere! I would just keep a display going on an extra monitor just to create the "club vibe" in my room (back when I didn't have to worry about power bills).
Nobody asked for it. We did it anyway.

If you ever used Winamp during the later years, it had an awesome, awesome visualizer called Milkdrop. The Webamp people implemented a workalike called Butterchurn.

Internet Archive now supports Webamp and Butterchurn. Just click on the llama!
Thanks for showing...I'm way behind updates, glad to see there's some new things to try. Copper is finally useful! How's that little golem work?
Reposted by Brian Vaughn
Bouquets & Bunnies released for #pico8

www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=151...

Plant and collect followers to charm back your partner. Avoid the bunnies and grow that high score! A #UFO50 Magic Garden tribute.

Go native! Look for it in Splore. On Itch soon.

#gamedev #indiedev #arcade #retro
Bouquets & Bunnies released for #pico8

www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=151...

Plant and collect followers to charm back your partner. Avoid the bunnies and grow that high score! A #UFO50 Magic Garden tribute.

Go native! Look for it in Splore. On Itch soon.

#gamedev #indiedev #arcade #retro