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Sean

@spiralatlas.itch.io

2K followers 20 following 210 posts

A small Australian creator of visual novels, visual novel tools, and other things. They/them. https://spiralatlas.itch.io/

spiralatlas.itch.io

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Oct 18

Hello I am Sean, and this is Spiral Atlas Games, an Australian hobbyist game dev making queer visual novels & puzzle games. Also tutorials and free resources for 3d backgrounds, sprites, and accessibility.
Games: spiralatlas.itch.io
Blog/tutorials: spiralatlas.github.io

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 10h

Tree Cutouts and Tutorial: A collection of tree images and the Clip Studio Paint tools I used to create them. spiralatlas.itch.io/tree-cutouts...

Tree Cutouts and Tutorial by Spiral Atlas

Painted trees in png and csp format, as well as a tutorial for making more in Clip Studio Paint.

spiralatlas.itch.io

Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

That said, I have not done anywhere near the research you have, and it's not a HUGE issue to me. Just something that niggled until I could figure out what was bugging me.

Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

I wish it was more possible to do that and respect that you're doing your part!

Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

Yeah, an essay I mostly agree with with some minor quibbles is 100% a step up from 99% of the discussions I encounter /o\ And like... that's the only way forward, to have conversations with a respectful back and forth of perspectives rather than thought terminating cliches and accusations.

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

...the implication that it's *all* the result of manipulation by a specific outside group makes it harder to address the underlying problems effectively.

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

Yeah, I get that a single essay can only cover so much, and historical overviews require a certain amount of simplification. But I guess I feel like... as someone who has seen how nasty things have *always* been, if not in the same way as now...

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

Also this isn't really a criticism of the essay just a Thought, but I do sympathise in principle with queer people who get frustrated by feeling alienated by so much of the media about us. I just wish that frustration didn't so often get expressed in unfortunate ways.

Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

...it still happened, and I think you can't properly analyse modern day attitudes without looking at what they're built on a bit more.

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

This was before TERFs were as organised, because being transphobic and grossed out by gay content was just the norm. And these circles barely acknowledged Japanese media existed. The form taken by criticisms that certain m/m content was all made by fetishising straight women was *different* but...

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

On further thought I think my problem is it simplifying down the reasons behind anti-BL rhetoric, specifically the idea that it's "fetishising". I remember seeing that sentiment expressed frequently in discussions of slash fandoms for US TV shows in the mid 2000s.

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

And my own games are so far fluffy and low on sexual content! But once people start talking about how huge swathes of queer art is degenerate and fetishising and only perverted straight cis ~uncivilised people could like it, I feel nervous, even if they're not talking about my art. Yet.

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

I have some hard to articulate quibbles with some of this but it captures some of the reasons why I am so troubled by the simplistic and dogmatic anti-BL, anti-kink etc attitudes I see so commonly in queer game dev circles.

Rainy Studios (٭°̧̧̧ω°̧̧̧٭) – Art🎨, BL🌈 & 📝Queer Studies @samaburime.bsky.social · 13d

🌈My peer-reviewed articles on anti-fans & anti-BL attitudes are available to read publicly for free at independent.academia.edu/SamanthaAbur...

(below screenshots are a sample from 'The influence of transphobia, homonationalism & anti-Asian prejudice: Anti-BL attitudes in English-speaking fandoms')

screenshot from 'The influence of transphobia, homonationalism and anti-Asian prejudice: Anti-BL attitudes in English-speaking fandoms' discussing homonationalism

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · 13d

Mine worked normally except for taking a bit longer than usual to be reviewed. But it all went through fine in the end.

Reposted by Sean

🔞Good Girl Elliotte🔞 @elliotte-draws.bsky.social · Sep 20

You might see several artists mad about the bluesky policy update banning non-con, even artists who do not make that kind of material, and wonder why it's such a problem. If that's you, here is a quick breakdown:

🧵

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Sep 20

1900s English #VisualNovel Street Backgrounds, including a tutorial spiralatlas.itch.io/19th-century...

1900s English Street Backgrounds by Spiral Atlas

Three painted-style Visual Novel backgrounds set on a 19th Century English Street.

spiralatlas.itch.io

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Sep 19

Low Res Lounge: Image, Blender, glTF. 3D render, models, and tutorial. spiralatlas.itch.io/low-res-loun...

Low Res Lounge: Image, Blender, glTF by Spiral Atlas

A creative commons lounge environment and render. Blender, png, and glTF.

spiralatlas.itch.io

Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Sep 13

Hopefully it won't be another half decade until the new version comes out haha /o\ But it is motivating to think there'll be people still playing when it's finally done :)

Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Sep 13

Also shout out to the fine lace brush artists of the Clip Studio asset store :) I still draw my own lines to keep everything consistent but it helps immeasurably with the shapes.

Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Sep 13

I've been slowly improving the Northanger Sprites in advance of an eventual Steam release, this is probably the one I was least happy with and it's definitely improved! Never think it's too late to improve your art, I was in my late 30s when I drew the first lot and am still learning in my 40s.

Amateurish anime style art of sprites with various expressions of a middle aged woman in an 18th century purple dress holding a fan in front of her face.

The same character drawn in a more detailed and competent style.

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Reposted by Sean

Game Devs of Color Expo @gdocexpo.com · Aug 20

It’s live!

The Game Devs of Color Support Bundle is here!💚🩵

🎮 100+ items from 70+ creators
💰 Just $10 (worth ~$409)
🫶🏾 Save 97% + support GDoC programs

Every purchase helps fund events, grants, scholarships & more that uplift #gamedev of color!

👉 Grab the bundle now: itch.io/b/3171/game-...

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Aug 11

Oh, nice, that works really well!

Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Aug 11

hee excellent glad to hear they're getting used :)

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Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Aug 10

Also forgot to post the Art Deco Visual Novel GUI Template I made for o2a2 spiralatlas.itch.io/art-deco-vis...

Art Deco Visual Novel GUI Template by Spiral Atlas

A purple and gold art deco style GUI template for Renpy visual novels, including acessibility features.

spiralatlas.itch.io

Sean @spiralatlas.itch.io · Aug 10

I made some Diner VN Backgrounds! spiralatlas.itch.io/diner-backgr...

Diner Backgrounds by Spiral Atlas

Seven visual novel backgrounds set in a diner

spiralatlas.itch.io

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Reposted by Sean

xiri @akaxiri.bsky.social · Aug 6

In the face of the mass censoring of adult content happening around gaming storefronts, the community run bundle @queergamesbundle.bsky.social is a reminder of how to take some of that lost autonomy back.

Here’s a trailer I made for this year's edition. Support it here: itch.io/b/3062/queer...

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