Devon Smith
@devgamedev.bsky.social
Senior Systems & Gameplay Design Lead | (Contributed to Halo, Mass Effect, Dead Space... and far worse) He/Him 🏳️🌈 | Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/1hxNJ
Pinned
Devon Smith
@devgamedev.bsky.social
· Mar 31
All of this art will change one day to not be prefab kitbashes...
... but I'm slowly dialing in the vibe for my coop game about suburban latchkey landscapers scavenging themselves a new shelter.
All while tackling the elements, bullies, indigestion, and the mysteries beyond the void.
... but I'm slowly dialing in the vibe for my coop game about suburban latchkey landscapers scavenging themselves a new shelter.
All while tackling the elements, bullies, indigestion, and the mysteries beyond the void.
Bew now eats grass & leaves and uses the energy to fly.
November 7, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Bew now eats grass & leaves and uses the energy to fly.
What started as a Princess Peach style floating mechanic is evolving into filling the hole left in my inner-child’s heart by never getting a real E.T. game.
October 22, 2025 at 8:36 PM
What started as a Princess Peach style floating mechanic is evolving into filling the hole left in my inner-child’s heart by never getting a real E.T. game.
The Black Phone 2 is the best “Part 2” in modern horror (and then some).
@crobertcargill.bsky.social
The Grabber is rad… but I want the Blakes to become our new Warrens.
@crobertcargill.bsky.social
The Grabber is rad… but I want the Blakes to become our new Warrens.
October 22, 2025 at 4:57 AM
The Black Phone 2 is the best “Part 2” in modern horror (and then some).
@crobertcargill.bsky.social
The Grabber is rad… but I want the Blakes to become our new Warrens.
@crobertcargill.bsky.social
The Grabber is rad… but I want the Blakes to become our new Warrens.
After failing twice to do it on purpose… I’ve successfully/accidentally got drifting mechanics for my haunted shopping cart.
August 24, 2025 at 6:12 AM
After failing twice to do it on purpose… I’ve successfully/accidentally got drifting mechanics for my haunted shopping cart.
My “haunted shopping cart mowing lawns” simulator is inching along between the bugs.
August 7, 2025 at 7:25 AM
My “haunted shopping cart mowing lawns” simulator is inching along between the bugs.
Spent the apocalypse weekend teaching myself about lighting functions, texture-disabled emissives, and per-bone blending to dial in that classic dusty flashlight vibe.
July 6, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Spent the apocalypse weekend teaching myself about lighting functions, texture-disabled emissives, and per-bone blending to dial in that classic dusty flashlight vibe.
I’ve also been setting up hitbox reactions to specific body zones based on locomotion and physics velocity.
Like real kids, you’re gonna fall down a lot. Making that fun and part of the core loop is the key challenge.
Like real kids, you’re gonna fall down a lot. Making that fun and part of the core loop is the key challenge.
May 7, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I’ve also been setting up hitbox reactions to specific body zones based on locomotion and physics velocity.
Like real kids, you’re gonna fall down a lot. Making that fun and part of the core loop is the key challenge.
Like real kids, you’re gonna fall down a lot. Making that fun and part of the core loop is the key challenge.
Been inching through building the scaffolding of a bunch of different systems (like dynamically holding items).
But took a detour to learn how to turn heightmaps into landscapes.
Finally have my beloved Mt. Hood in the background.
But took a detour to learn how to turn heightmaps into landscapes.
Finally have my beloved Mt. Hood in the background.
May 7, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Been inching through building the scaffolding of a bunch of different systems (like dynamically holding items).
But took a detour to learn how to turn heightmaps into landscapes.
Finally have my beloved Mt. Hood in the background.
But took a detour to learn how to turn heightmaps into landscapes.
Finally have my beloved Mt. Hood in the background.
All of this art will change one day to not be prefab kitbashes...
... but I'm slowly dialing in the vibe for my coop game about suburban latchkey landscapers scavenging themselves a new shelter.
All while tackling the elements, bullies, indigestion, and the mysteries beyond the void.
... but I'm slowly dialing in the vibe for my coop game about suburban latchkey landscapers scavenging themselves a new shelter.
All while tackling the elements, bullies, indigestion, and the mysteries beyond the void.
March 31, 2025 at 5:54 AM
All of this art will change one day to not be prefab kitbashes...
... but I'm slowly dialing in the vibe for my coop game about suburban latchkey landscapers scavenging themselves a new shelter.
All while tackling the elements, bullies, indigestion, and the mysteries beyond the void.
... but I'm slowly dialing in the vibe for my coop game about suburban latchkey landscapers scavenging themselves a new shelter.
All while tackling the elements, bullies, indigestion, and the mysteries beyond the void.
Reposted by Devon Smith
constantly thinking about this ominous sticky note drawing i saw in a boba shop
March 28, 2025 at 5:26 AM
constantly thinking about this ominous sticky note drawing i saw in a boba shop
I don't know who needs to hear this, but it's completely okay to kitbash asset packs and all of those sweet, sweet UE5 plugins while to try to make the game in your head take playable shape.
Find the fun, then make it cohesive later.
Find the fun, then make it cohesive later.
March 14, 2025 at 7:21 AM
I don't know who needs to hear this, but it's completely okay to kitbash asset packs and all of those sweet, sweet UE5 plugins while to try to make the game in your head take playable shape.
Find the fun, then make it cohesive later.
Find the fun, then make it cohesive later.
Solo Gamedev with zero capital means making your own music.
It’s set Portland approximate, and I this idea awhile back to DIY refit a guitar that has guts made in the PNW.
It’s also turned into signature sounds coming from pedals built in my neighborhood.
It’s set Portland approximate, and I this idea awhile back to DIY refit a guitar that has guts made in the PNW.
It’s also turned into signature sounds coming from pedals built in my neighborhood.
March 4, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Solo Gamedev with zero capital means making your own music.
It’s set Portland approximate, and I this idea awhile back to DIY refit a guitar that has guts made in the PNW.
It’s also turned into signature sounds coming from pedals built in my neighborhood.
It’s set Portland approximate, and I this idea awhile back to DIY refit a guitar that has guts made in the PNW.
It’s also turned into signature sounds coming from pedals built in my neighborhood.
Portland having a rise in The Oregon Trail’s most humiliating killer.
Shit.
Shit.
March 3, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Portland having a rise in The Oregon Trail’s most humiliating killer.
Shit.
Shit.
Scream in 35mm tonight played to a packed house.
Still fun as ever, but I think the meta schtick of the sequels can leave us noseblind to just how smart the original is.
Between this and 'New Nightmare', Wes had
some congruent self-reflections to tease out through his work.
Still fun as ever, but I think the meta schtick of the sequels can leave us noseblind to just how smart the original is.
Between this and 'New Nightmare', Wes had
some congruent self-reflections to tease out through his work.
a man in a police hat is asking if he is not scared
ALT: a man in a police hat is asking if he is not scared
media.tenor.com
February 28, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Scream in 35mm tonight played to a packed house.
Still fun as ever, but I think the meta schtick of the sequels can leave us noseblind to just how smart the original is.
Between this and 'New Nightmare', Wes had
some congruent self-reflections to tease out through his work.
Still fun as ever, but I think the meta schtick of the sequels can leave us noseblind to just how smart the original is.
Between this and 'New Nightmare', Wes had
some congruent self-reflections to tease out through his work.
Managed to balance social life, family time, personal time, and a little solo project work all within the span of two whole ass days.
So obviously, I gotta jinx it.
So obviously, I gotta jinx it.
February 10, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Managed to balance social life, family time, personal time, and a little solo project work all within the span of two whole ass days.
So obviously, I gotta jinx it.
So obviously, I gotta jinx it.
My indie game for 15 seconds!
(16 days into solo development).
Nightcrawlers is a co-op survival platformer about latchkey kids in grunge-era PNW battling rain, bullies, and the supernatural (while falling off everything in sight).
(16 days into solo development).
Nightcrawlers is a co-op survival platformer about latchkey kids in grunge-era PNW battling rain, bullies, and the supernatural (while falling off everything in sight).
February 5, 2025 at 2:20 AM
My indie game for 15 seconds!
(16 days into solo development).
Nightcrawlers is a co-op survival platformer about latchkey kids in grunge-era PNW battling rain, bullies, and the supernatural (while falling off everything in sight).
(16 days into solo development).
Nightcrawlers is a co-op survival platformer about latchkey kids in grunge-era PNW battling rain, bullies, and the supernatural (while falling off everything in sight).
Had an impromptu first playtest for my solo game project last night with my target audience —
adults who only play games with their kids.
Even with placeholder art, and loose debug setup, my accessibility-forward locomotion had them exploring areas out of curiosity— just to see if they could.
adults who only play games with their kids.
Even with placeholder art, and loose debug setup, my accessibility-forward locomotion had them exploring areas out of curiosity— just to see if they could.
February 4, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Had an impromptu first playtest for my solo game project last night with my target audience —
adults who only play games with their kids.
Even with placeholder art, and loose debug setup, my accessibility-forward locomotion had them exploring areas out of curiosity— just to see if they could.
adults who only play games with their kids.
Even with placeholder art, and loose debug setup, my accessibility-forward locomotion had them exploring areas out of curiosity— just to see if they could.
Holy shit.
Violet Grohl fronting Nirvana and absolutely killing it was a mid-apocalyptic gift.
Violet Grohl fronting Nirvana and absolutely killing it was a mid-apocalyptic gift.
January 31, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Holy shit.
Violet Grohl fronting Nirvana and absolutely killing it was a mid-apocalyptic gift.
Violet Grohl fronting Nirvana and absolutely killing it was a mid-apocalyptic gift.
My small studio crushingly had to lay off half project’s team before the summer as the industry violently reconfigured against our will.
This last week, most of that team was recruited by huge AAA studios and publishers.
I’m so very VERY happy for all of them, and miss them greatly.
This last week, most of that team was recruited by huge AAA studios and publishers.
I’m so very VERY happy for all of them, and miss them greatly.
January 29, 2025 at 11:03 PM
My small studio crushingly had to lay off half project’s team before the summer as the industry violently reconfigured against our will.
This last week, most of that team was recruited by huge AAA studios and publishers.
I’m so very VERY happy for all of them, and miss them greatly.
This last week, most of that team was recruited by huge AAA studios and publishers.
I’m so very VERY happy for all of them, and miss them greatly.
Venturing into “solo” deving a game after 20 years in AAA humbles you hourly.
There’s stuff that’s invaluable working a team that you almost have to unlearn.
It’s also easy to rabbit-hole into new skillsets and operating at the par of seasoned peers that you just can’t rush.
There’s stuff that’s invaluable working a team that you almost have to unlearn.
It’s also easy to rabbit-hole into new skillsets and operating at the par of seasoned peers that you just can’t rush.
January 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Venturing into “solo” deving a game after 20 years in AAA humbles you hourly.
There’s stuff that’s invaluable working a team that you almost have to unlearn.
It’s also easy to rabbit-hole into new skillsets and operating at the par of seasoned peers that you just can’t rush.
There’s stuff that’s invaluable working a team that you almost have to unlearn.
It’s also easy to rabbit-hole into new skillsets and operating at the par of seasoned peers that you just can’t rush.
Reposted by Devon Smith
I respect any videogame that tells me the world is ending but lets me go fishing
January 24, 2025 at 2:22 AM
I respect any videogame that tells me the world is ending but lets me go fishing
Genuinely love the back half of Twin Peaks S2.
Stopping after Episode 7 this round to watch ‘Fire Walk With Me’ really maximizes the impact, and softens a lot of the big critiques — you really get to sit in the tragedy, and then take in all of your faves trying to move on together.
Stopping after Episode 7 this round to watch ‘Fire Walk With Me’ really maximizes the impact, and softens a lot of the big critiques — you really get to sit in the tragedy, and then take in all of your faves trying to move on together.
a man in a plaid shirt is talking to another man in a suit and tie
ALT: a man in a plaid shirt is talking to another man in a suit and tie
media.tenor.com
January 23, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Genuinely love the back half of Twin Peaks S2.
Stopping after Episode 7 this round to watch ‘Fire Walk With Me’ really maximizes the impact, and softens a lot of the big critiques — you really get to sit in the tragedy, and then take in all of your faves trying to move on together.
Stopping after Episode 7 this round to watch ‘Fire Walk With Me’ really maximizes the impact, and softens a lot of the big critiques — you really get to sit in the tragedy, and then take in all of your faves trying to move on together.
Never wanted a slice of pie and a cup of coffee more in my life.
January 17, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Never wanted a slice of pie and a cup of coffee more in my life.
Reposted by Devon Smith
Please be aware, RedNote is in Mandarin. All servers are in China. It's a female dominated social media platform, sort of a cross between Pinterest and TikTok, that's mostly used by Chinese folks to get restaurant recs and beauty tips.
January 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Please be aware, RedNote is in Mandarin. All servers are in China. It's a female dominated social media platform, sort of a cross between Pinterest and TikTok, that's mostly used by Chinese folks to get restaurant recs and beauty tips.
Reposted by Devon Smith
Josh Ruben is one of the best people on the planet. No one deserves to lose their dream home, but people as kind and genuine as Josh and Lauren especially don't deserve this.
Donating to a Josh Ruben GFM? NO PROBLEM.
www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-...
Donating to a Josh Ruben GFM? NO PROBLEM.
www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-...
Donate to Help Lauren and Josh Recover After Fire, organized by Amber Schaefer
Lauren and Josh just recently bought their dream home in Altadena this December… Amber Schaefer needs your support for Help Lauren and Josh Recover After Fire
www.gofundme.com
January 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Josh Ruben is one of the best people on the planet. No one deserves to lose their dream home, but people as kind and genuine as Josh and Lauren especially don't deserve this.
Donating to a Josh Ruben GFM? NO PROBLEM.
www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-...
Donating to a Josh Ruben GFM? NO PROBLEM.
www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-...