Jacob Vela
@jacobvela.bsky.social
Solo lawyer working with game devs and other creatives at argolawyer.com.
Game developer working on Star Rift Saga at studiovelagames.com or at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/Star_Rift_Saga/.
Game developer working on Star Rift Saga at studiovelagames.com or at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/Star_Rift_Saga/.
This is from a Sonic game, allegedly.
What excites me the most about these crossovers in games is the business deals that have to go on between companies to make them happen, and that says something about me.
What excites me the most about these crossovers in games is the business deals that have to go on between companies to make them happen, and that says something about me.
November 22, 2025 at 2:54 AM
This is from a Sonic game, allegedly.
What excites me the most about these crossovers in games is the business deals that have to go on between companies to make them happen, and that says something about me.
What excites me the most about these crossovers in games is the business deals that have to go on between companies to make them happen, and that says something about me.
(Epilepsy warning, probably.)
I think I won Maze Mice.
I think I won Maze Mice.
October 2, 2025 at 3:09 AM
(Epilepsy warning, probably.)
I think I won Maze Mice.
I think I won Maze Mice.
Mike made a pretty bold assumption here about my brain not exploding, but I do appreciate being called an indie dev daredevil.
I was on Mike's podcast where I talked about the basics of what indie devs should know about the law. Give it a listen so I can do it again and talk about other topics.
I was on Mike's podcast where I talked about the basics of what indie devs should know about the law. Give it a listen so I can do it again and talk about other topics.
September 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Mike made a pretty bold assumption here about my brain not exploding, but I do appreciate being called an indie dev daredevil.
I was on Mike's podcast where I talked about the basics of what indie devs should know about the law. Give it a listen so I can do it again and talk about other topics.
I was on Mike's podcast where I talked about the basics of what indie devs should know about the law. Give it a listen so I can do it again and talk about other topics.
Okay yeah, Kirby Air Riders seems like it's building on that prototype. It sure is Air Ride, but again. And more. Which is what fans have wanted. I have my reservations, but game looks solid.
Love how many of the visual effects were seemingly pulled straight from Smash. Efficient.
Love how many of the visual effects were seemingly pulled straight from Smash. Efficient.
August 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Okay yeah, Kirby Air Riders seems like it's building on that prototype. It sure is Air Ride, but again. And more. Which is what fans have wanted. I have my reservations, but game looks solid.
Love how many of the visual effects were seemingly pulled straight from Smash. Efficient.
Love how many of the visual effects were seemingly pulled straight from Smash. Efficient.
Steam gives a huge visibility boost when a game hits 10 player reviews from actual buyers, so clicking the thumbs up on a game you like and saying something nice is the best thing you can do to support indie developers.
I hope you enjoy Star Rift Saga!
store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/...
I hope you enjoy Star Rift Saga!
store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/...
July 14, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Steam gives a huge visibility boost when a game hits 10 player reviews from actual buyers, so clicking the thumbs up on a game you like and saying something nice is the best thing you can do to support indie developers.
I hope you enjoy Star Rift Saga!
store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/...
I hope you enjoy Star Rift Saga!
store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/...
Of course, the biggest addition Mario Kart World needs would be more outfits. They are delightful. And it's a crime that Donkey Kong only gets one.
July 12, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Of course, the biggest addition Mario Kart World needs would be more outfits. They are delightful. And it's a crime that Donkey Kong only gets one.
After all, Mario Kart has let you make the choice to have a "worse" or unintended experience in the name of silly fun before through updates, so I don't think it's unreasonable to see happen.
It also would add more trophies to collect, which is a good thing to have as content outside of online play.
It also would add more trophies to collect, which is a good thing to have as content outside of online play.
July 12, 2025 at 9:18 PM
After all, Mario Kart has let you make the choice to have a "worse" or unintended experience in the name of silly fun before through updates, so I don't think it's unreasonable to see happen.
It also would add more trophies to collect, which is a good thing to have as content outside of online play.
It also would add more trophies to collect, which is a good thing to have as content outside of online play.
After some time with Mario Kart World, I think that it's a lot of fun, but flawed. However, I think that updates could be done that would make it much more fun without being huge to develop or changing the core vision for the game.
Note that these changes are purely focused on offline modes.🧵
Note that these changes are purely focused on offline modes.🧵
July 12, 2025 at 9:18 PM
After some time with Mario Kart World, I think that it's a lot of fun, but flawed. However, I think that updates could be done that would make it much more fun without being huge to develop or changing the core vision for the game.
Note that these changes are purely focused on offline modes.🧵
Note that these changes are purely focused on offline modes.🧵
Star Rift Saga releases in just two weeks. I'm both excited, and terrified.
store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/...
July 1, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Star Rift Saga releases in just two weeks. I'm both excited, and terrified.
store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/...
It turns out that billionaires do fund media passion projects, they just end up taking some degree of creative control when they do.
(Pictured: Cristiano Ronaldo in SNK's COTW. SNK is majority owned by the Saudi crown prince. CR played for Al-Nassr at the time, the Saudi football club.)
(Pictured: Cristiano Ronaldo in SNK's COTW. SNK is majority owned by the Saudi crown prince. CR played for Al-Nassr at the time, the Saudi football club.)
June 12, 2025 at 1:16 AM
It turns out that billionaires do fund media passion projects, they just end up taking some degree of creative control when they do.
(Pictured: Cristiano Ronaldo in SNK's COTW. SNK is majority owned by the Saudi crown prince. CR played for Al-Nassr at the time, the Saudi football club.)
(Pictured: Cristiano Ronaldo in SNK's COTW. SNK is majority owned by the Saudi crown prince. CR played for Al-Nassr at the time, the Saudi football club.)
Star Rift Saga is part of Steam Next Fest, and the demo is playable now! I've been working on this for a long time, so it's something of a relief to be so close to the finish line. Go check it out now!
June 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Star Rift Saga is part of Steam Next Fest, and the demo is playable now! I've been working on this for a long time, so it's something of a relief to be so close to the finish line. Go check it out now!
Fun fact- Steam emails you if your game has issues to be addressed, but doesn't notify you if your game has been approved. They just drop a green button on your dashboard.
May 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Fun fact- Steam emails you if your game has issues to be addressed, but doesn't notify you if your game has been approved. They just drop a green button on your dashboard.
I know everyone is excited at the prospect of Sakurai directing a new Kirby Air Ride, but hear me out- after that he should get to do a new Meteos on Switch 2 with mouse control. Meteos rules, and the potential here might be more exciting for me than even Air Ride.
May 27, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I know everyone is excited at the prospect of Sakurai directing a new Kirby Air Ride, but hear me out- after that he should get to do a new Meteos on Switch 2 with mouse control. Meteos rules, and the potential here might be more exciting for me than even Air Ride.
Nintendo's continued insistence on not letting you map buttons in the N64 NSO app continues to baffle me, especially as it absolutely mangles games like yesterday's Killer Instinct Gold release. This is a bad layout. Some games have a custom layout that's different from the default, not this one. 🧵
May 17, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Nintendo's continued insistence on not letting you map buttons in the N64 NSO app continues to baffle me, especially as it absolutely mangles games like yesterday's Killer Instinct Gold release. This is a bad layout. Some games have a custom layout that's different from the default, not this one. 🧵
Here's what the other side looks like on a finished medal.
April 8, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Here's what the other side looks like on a finished medal.
I'm 3D printing medals for @salemfighters.bsky.social's upcoming anniversary event. Problem is, Nintendo won't let community tournaments use their logos.
Don't worry though, I've come up with a completely lawyer-safe design for the Smash Bros brackets.
Don't worry though, I've come up with a completely lawyer-safe design for the Smash Bros brackets.
April 8, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I'm 3D printing medals for @salemfighters.bsky.social's upcoming anniversary event. Problem is, Nintendo won't let community tournaments use their logos.
Don't worry though, I've come up with a completely lawyer-safe design for the Smash Bros brackets.
Don't worry though, I've come up with a completely lawyer-safe design for the Smash Bros brackets.
Talented pixel artists have honed a unique skill that's not just traditional 2D art and they should get work whenever it is available.
Meanwhile, McDonald's, one of the largest fast food chains in the world, collaborating with Minecraft Movie: "Mixels? Good enough."
Meanwhile, McDonald's, one of the largest fast food chains in the world, collaborating with Minecraft Movie: "Mixels? Good enough."
March 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Talented pixel artists have honed a unique skill that's not just traditional 2D art and they should get work whenever it is available.
Meanwhile, McDonald's, one of the largest fast food chains in the world, collaborating with Minecraft Movie: "Mixels? Good enough."
Meanwhile, McDonald's, one of the largest fast food chains in the world, collaborating with Minecraft Movie: "Mixels? Good enough."
Monster Hunter Wilds looks great, but it's a shame Capcom settled for non-perfection by seemingly not including the most majestic beast they've ever created, Pukei-Pukei.
I can only assume they're saving it for an update where it will become a late game/elder monster called Pukei-Pukei-Pukei.
I can only assume they're saving it for an update where it will become a late game/elder monster called Pukei-Pukei-Pukei.
February 26, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Monster Hunter Wilds looks great, but it's a shame Capcom settled for non-perfection by seemingly not including the most majestic beast they've ever created, Pukei-Pukei.
I can only assume they're saving it for an update where it will become a late game/elder monster called Pukei-Pukei-Pukei.
I can only assume they're saving it for an update where it will become a late game/elder monster called Pukei-Pukei-Pukei.
Remember when the internet collectively bullied a movie studio into changing Sonic's design for the movie?
Can we do that again please?
Can we do that again please?
February 14, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Remember when the internet collectively bullied a movie studio into changing Sonic's design for the movie?
Can we do that again please?
Can we do that again please?
Large corporations continue to try to justify their investments in AI by trying to find some use for it. We are told that it is great at summarizing large amounts of information, like a comments section.
As Facebook shows us here, it really isn't good at that either. (Comments were not emjois.)
As Facebook shows us here, it really isn't good at that either. (Comments were not emjois.)
January 30, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Large corporations continue to try to justify their investments in AI by trying to find some use for it. We are told that it is great at summarizing large amounts of information, like a comments section.
As Facebook shows us here, it really isn't good at that either. (Comments were not emjois.)
As Facebook shows us here, it really isn't good at that either. (Comments were not emjois.)
Alright, ahead of Sonic Movie 3, here's my tier list for all the stages in Sonic Adventure 2.
I 100%'d Sonic Adventure 2 this year, so that's what this list is based on, the process of getting A rank on all the emblems on a stage. Tiers are roughly ordered.
There are some hot takes in there.
I 100%'d Sonic Adventure 2 this year, so that's what this list is based on, the process of getting A rank on all the emblems on a stage. Tiers are roughly ordered.
There are some hot takes in there.
December 20, 2024 at 3:15 AM
Alright, ahead of Sonic Movie 3, here's my tier list for all the stages in Sonic Adventure 2.
I 100%'d Sonic Adventure 2 this year, so that's what this list is based on, the process of getting A rank on all the emblems on a stage. Tiers are roughly ordered.
There are some hot takes in there.
I 100%'d Sonic Adventure 2 this year, so that's what this list is based on, the process of getting A rank on all the emblems on a stage. Tiers are roughly ordered.
There are some hot takes in there.
The pain is so real for game devs.
December 16, 2024 at 2:53 AM
The pain is so real for game devs.
The unique challenge for digital trading card games based on a physical one is the inability to change cards after they're out there. For digital-only games like LOR and Snap, problematic cards can be changed. But MTG Arena can't do that to prevent this infinite, they match physical cards.
December 2, 2024 at 8:31 PM
The unique challenge for digital trading card games based on a physical one is the inability to change cards after they're out there. For digital-only games like LOR and Snap, problematic cards can be changed. But MTG Arena can't do that to prevent this infinite, they match physical cards.
The How to Train Your Dragon live-action movie is an obvious choice- it's a dormant franchise whose story is finished that did reasonably well- but an odd one in terms of adaptation. (I know that shots that are 1:1 should be in the trailer, so that biases things a bit before we see the full movie.)
November 20, 2024 at 5:15 AM
The How to Train Your Dragon live-action movie is an obvious choice- it's a dormant franchise whose story is finished that did reasonably well- but an odd one in terms of adaptation. (I know that shots that are 1:1 should be in the trailer, so that biases things a bit before we see the full movie.)