danien
@danien.bsky.social
Exploring assistive learning, thinking, & creative tools and experiences with what I learned from making games. Formerly Black Isle & Pandemic Studios.
Reposted by danien
Reposted by danien
“new api!! old one dead!”
“new metadata required! reupload a binary!!”
the amount of maintenance game devs have to do because mobile platforms decided to relentlessly update yearly, often deprecating perfectly functioning systems with no backward compatibility, is costly and infuriating 😡 #gamedev
“new metadata required! reupload a binary!!”
the amount of maintenance game devs have to do because mobile platforms decided to relentlessly update yearly, often deprecating perfectly functioning systems with no backward compatibility, is costly and infuriating 😡 #gamedev
January 23, 2026 at 7:10 AM
“new api!! old one dead!”
“new metadata required! reupload a binary!!”
the amount of maintenance game devs have to do because mobile platforms decided to relentlessly update yearly, often deprecating perfectly functioning systems with no backward compatibility, is costly and infuriating 😡 #gamedev
“new metadata required! reupload a binary!!”
the amount of maintenance game devs have to do because mobile platforms decided to relentlessly update yearly, often deprecating perfectly functioning systems with no backward compatibility, is costly and infuriating 😡 #gamedev
Reposted by danien
Still thinking about worker vs boss mentality about AI.
Little Bosses Everywhere
grant.leaflet.pub
January 19, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Still thinking about worker vs boss mentality about AI.
Reposted by danien
We released DuneCrawl! store.steampowered.com/app/1833200/...
Save 15% on DuneCrawl on Steam
DuneCrawl is an open world action-adventure game, where you take to the sandy seas atop a gigantic crustacean festooned with black powder cannons. Play as a solo Crab Keeper, or with a crew of up to t...
store.steampowered.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:48 PM
We released DuneCrawl! store.steampowered.com/app/1833200/...
Tried to explain this once to a programming interviewer. When I was thinking and went silent for a while, they seemed frustrated and kept asking me to "think out loud". Eventually, I told them this was a waste of time for both of us.
My brain does not actually *think* while I'm speaking. I just pray that there's enough stored content in my brain to surface. Sometimes the pool runs dry before the conversation ends and I revert to nodding.
I only think rational thoughts offline. Staring out a window. With pen & paper, with text.
I only think rational thoughts offline. Staring out a window. With pen & paper, with text.
January 4, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Tried to explain this once to a programming interviewer. When I was thinking and went silent for a while, they seemed frustrated and kept asking me to "think out loud". Eventually, I told them this was a waste of time for both of us.
Reposted by danien
Alientrap artist Ariane wrote a dev log on how the environment art for DuneCrawl was made: store.steampowered.com/news/app/183...
December 20, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Alientrap artist Ariane wrote a dev log on how the environment art for DuneCrawl was made: store.steampowered.com/news/app/183...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu5r... by @switchangel.bsky.social
"In the beginning..."
Now this is live vibe coding.
"In the beginning..."
Now this is live vibe coding.
December 4, 2025 at 2:29 PM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu5r... by @switchangel.bsky.social
"In the beginning..."
Now this is live vibe coding.
"In the beginning..."
Now this is live vibe coding.
Reposted by danien
For one week only, Koi lanterns are 25% OFF on my Etsy! This is the cheapest they'll be all year so grab them before Dec 2nd Etsy.com/shop/YuumeiArts
In other news, I'm still working on the star projector and stars lanterns, but you can see some in the first 2 koi photos :D
In other news, I'm still working on the star projector and stars lanterns, but you can see some in the first 2 koi photos :D
November 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
For one week only, Koi lanterns are 25% OFF on my Etsy! This is the cheapest they'll be all year so grab them before Dec 2nd Etsy.com/shop/YuumeiArts
In other news, I'm still working on the star projector and stars lanterns, but you can see some in the first 2 koi photos :D
In other news, I'm still working on the star projector and stars lanterns, but you can see some in the first 2 koi photos :D
Reposted by danien
RIP to a games industry pioneer and legend, Rebecca Heineman (@burgerbecky.bsky.social) If your unfamiliar, look her up. Her career is like the story of videogames itself.
November 18, 2025 at 3:01 AM
RIP to a games industry pioneer and legend, Rebecca Heineman (@burgerbecky.bsky.social) If your unfamiliar, look her up. Her career is like the story of videogames itself.
Reposted by danien
🎮 Like CRDTs and videogames? @inkandswitch.com is ✨hiring✨ for a project that combines @automerge.org with @godotengine.org to make the next generation of collaboration tools for game development!
More detail here: inkandswitch.com/jobs/godot-i...
(Fully remote 🌍🌎🌏 contract, late Nov to April)
More detail here: inkandswitch.com/jobs/godot-i...
(Fully remote 🌍🌎🌏 contract, late Nov to April)
Godot IDE Engineer
Help build native, visual version control for collaborative game development in Godot
inkandswitch.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:41 AM
🎮 Like CRDTs and videogames? @inkandswitch.com is ✨hiring✨ for a project that combines @automerge.org with @godotengine.org to make the next generation of collaboration tools for game development!
More detail here: inkandswitch.com/jobs/godot-i...
(Fully remote 🌍🌎🌏 contract, late Nov to April)
More detail here: inkandswitch.com/jobs/godot-i...
(Fully remote 🌍🌎🌏 contract, late Nov to April)
Reposted by danien
Reposted by danien
I'm giving it a 50/50 on this being Affinity going AI because what the fuck does this even mean. Might as well start looking around for a replacement.
October 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I'm giving it a 50/50 on this being Affinity going AI because what the fuck does this even mean. Might as well start looking around for a replacement.
Reposted by danien
You can now grab Tiny Glade × MakeRoom in a bundle! ✨ Both games let you relax and get creative. Unwind after work or design both indoor and outdoor spaces!
store.steampowered.com/bundle/59147...
store.steampowered.com/bundle/59147...
September 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
You can now grab Tiny Glade × MakeRoom in a bundle! ✨ Both games let you relax and get creative. Unwind after work or design both indoor and outdoor spaces!
store.steampowered.com/bundle/59147...
store.steampowered.com/bundle/59147...
Reposted by danien
Uni’s tenets for the year - I don’t know, I don’t see learning, curiosity, or anything that feels human in there… “applied artificial intelligence, careers, the curriculum of the future, and above all, student success”. Ugh
August 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Uni’s tenets for the year - I don’t know, I don’t see learning, curiosity, or anything that feels human in there… “applied artificial intelligence, careers, the curriculum of the future, and above all, student success”. Ugh
Reposted by danien
Reposted by danien
Sometimes I think back on all of the amazing things people wrote about our li'l game, and it's real nice.
And hey it's on sale for a few more days.
kotaku.com/arranger-rol...
And hey it's on sale for a few more days.
kotaku.com/arranger-rol...
August 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Sometimes I think back on all of the amazing things people wrote about our li'l game, and it's real nice.
And hey it's on sale for a few more days.
kotaku.com/arranger-rol...
And hey it's on sale for a few more days.
kotaku.com/arranger-rol...
Reposted by danien
Which likely requires you to update Xcode/Android Studio + macOS/iOS/Android OS + all the tools, s/w libraries, SDKs, APIs that your old apps used, IF they are still supported or even available. And ofc, updating your OS these days won't mess up any older apps you depend on, right? Right?
so, having a back catalogue of games that still sell is incredible.
but. now, apple has decided it is going to update all its age ratings, requiring updates for each game to publish these.
google play is updating the minimum required target api, requiring updates for each game.
but. now, apple has decided it is going to update all its age ratings, requiring updates for each game to publish these.
google play is updating the minimum required target api, requiring updates for each game.
August 21, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Which likely requires you to update Xcode/Android Studio + macOS/iOS/Android OS + all the tools, s/w libraries, SDKs, APIs that your old apps used, IF they are still supported or even available. And ofc, updating your OS these days won't mess up any older apps you depend on, right? Right?
Reposted by danien
oh shit, this is clever UX! as an ex-sailor i learned a lot of knots, would have really enjoyed a game to learn ‘m :)
August 17, 2025 at 7:12 AM
oh shit, this is clever UX! as an ex-sailor i learned a lot of knots, would have really enjoyed a game to learn ‘m :)
Really need to start moving away from @notion.com. The web app has been losing pages the past couple of days. Forced web-app updates keeps breaking stuff. Faux desktop app is just a disguise. Mobile app UX is terrible, esp for block operations. Incredibly frustrating.
August 16, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Really need to start moving away from @notion.com. The web app has been losing pages the past couple of days. Forced web-app updates keeps breaking stuff. Faux desktop app is just a disguise. Mobile app UX is terrible, esp for block operations. Incredibly frustrating.
August 3, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Love the art style!
You can now play a demo of "Wheel World" on steam! store.steampowered.com/app/3483160/... #SteamNextFest
Wheel World Demo on Steam
Tune your bike, outpace your rivals, and fulfill your destiny
store.steampowered.com
July 23, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Love the art style!
Reposted by danien
There's now 200 (!) asset packs on my website, they're ALL completely free and public domain so ready to be used in any sort of project 🎉
gameassets.com
gameassets.com
July 21, 2025 at 10:38 PM
There's now 200 (!) asset packs on my website, they're ALL completely free and public domain so ready to be used in any sort of project 🎉
gameassets.com
gameassets.com
Reposted by danien
Hi #PortfolioDay
I'm Simon, and I'm homesick for a world that never existed. Take a look if you want to daydream for a short time.
So I draw my own world called "Argenta" and write lore about it on Patreon. I also sell prints if you'd like to have one.
Have a nice day! 🌿
I'm Simon, and I'm homesick for a world that never existed. Take a look if you want to daydream for a short time.
So I draw my own world called "Argenta" and write lore about it on Patreon. I also sell prints if you'd like to have one.
Have a nice day! 🌿
July 9, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Hi #PortfolioDay
I'm Simon, and I'm homesick for a world that never existed. Take a look if you want to daydream for a short time.
So I draw my own world called "Argenta" and write lore about it on Patreon. I also sell prints if you'd like to have one.
Have a nice day! 🌿
I'm Simon, and I'm homesick for a world that never existed. Take a look if you want to daydream for a short time.
So I draw my own world called "Argenta" and write lore about it on Patreon. I also sell prints if you'd like to have one.
Have a nice day! 🌿
Reposted by danien
Hello friends! I am co-organizing a workshop at VL/HCC 2025 (in Raleigh, NC, this October) on human-AI sensemaking, with an emphasis on embodied/visual languages to build common ground between human and AI systems.
Beyond Chat: Visual Languages for Embodied Human-LLM Interaction in Sensemaking
An IEEE VL/HCC 2025 workshop
human-ai-sensemaking.github.io
July 8, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Hello friends! I am co-organizing a workshop at VL/HCC 2025 (in Raleigh, NC, this October) on human-AI sensemaking, with an emphasis on embodied/visual languages to build common ground between human and AI systems.