Joel
@jhaddock.bsky.social
Writer, Game Designer, Co-Founder of Porch Weather Games. Appreciator of pixels of all sizes. He/Him
Wishlist Camp Keepalive: Endless Summer - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3637630/Camp_Keepalive_Endless_Summer/
Wishlist Camp Keepalive: Endless Summer - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3637630/Camp_Keepalive_Endless_Summer/
11/15 - X-COM: UFO Defense
The game that got me hooked on squad-level tactics. It was brutal, often unfair, but damn was it fun. Nothing scarier than doing a terror mission at 2 in the morning and hearing the chitter of Chryssalids lurking in the dark. #365games
The game that got me hooked on squad-level tactics. It was brutal, often unfair, but damn was it fun. Nothing scarier than doing a terror mission at 2 in the morning and hearing the chitter of Chryssalids lurking in the dark. #365games
November 25, 2025 at 2:29 PM
11/15 - X-COM: UFO Defense
The game that got me hooked on squad-level tactics. It was brutal, often unfair, but damn was it fun. Nothing scarier than doing a terror mission at 2 in the morning and hearing the chitter of Chryssalids lurking in the dark. #365games
The game that got me hooked on squad-level tactics. It was brutal, often unfair, but damn was it fun. Nothing scarier than doing a terror mission at 2 in the morning and hearing the chitter of Chryssalids lurking in the dark. #365games
11/20 - Mega Man 3
I really liked MM2, but I *loved* MM3. Could I explain why? Not really! Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the weirder robot masters, maybe I really liked sliding, but I rented it over and over again until I'd beaten it, and then kept beating it again and again. #365games
I really liked MM2, but I *loved* MM3. Could I explain why? Not really! Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the weirder robot masters, maybe I really liked sliding, but I rented it over and over again until I'd beaten it, and then kept beating it again and again. #365games
November 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM
11/20 - Mega Man 3
I really liked MM2, but I *loved* MM3. Could I explain why? Not really! Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the weirder robot masters, maybe I really liked sliding, but I rented it over and over again until I'd beaten it, and then kept beating it again and again. #365games
I really liked MM2, but I *loved* MM3. Could I explain why? Not really! Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the weirder robot masters, maybe I really liked sliding, but I rented it over and over again until I'd beaten it, and then kept beating it again and again. #365games
I'm behind on devlogs, but I've got one coming later this week. In the meantime, I've decided to stop worrying about art style and get back to placeholder everything. I feel much better about this decision, and it's let me nail down quite a few problem interactions. More to come! #indiedev #gamedev
November 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Doing more placeholder units today and added this extremely accurate horse-peg to continue the motif.
November 18, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Doing more placeholder units today and added this extremely accurate horse-peg to continue the motif.
11/17 - Super Mario World
When I first played this at a SNES kiosk in the Macy's at the local mall, I was absolutely enthralled. The music, the art, the action - it was like the Mario games I'd pictured in my head in the NES days were coming to life. Still one of the best ever. #365games
When I first played this at a SNES kiosk in the Macy's at the local mall, I was absolutely enthralled. The music, the art, the action - it was like the Mario games I'd pictured in my head in the NES days were coming to life. Still one of the best ever. #365games
November 18, 2025 at 3:38 AM
11/17 - Super Mario World
When I first played this at a SNES kiosk in the Macy's at the local mall, I was absolutely enthralled. The music, the art, the action - it was like the Mario games I'd pictured in my head in the NES days were coming to life. Still one of the best ever. #365games
When I first played this at a SNES kiosk in the Macy's at the local mall, I was absolutely enthralled. The music, the art, the action - it was like the Mario games I'd pictured in my head in the NES days were coming to life. Still one of the best ever. #365games
It was pretty self-explanatory, Netflix. You really do assume nobody is actually paying attention, do you?
November 18, 2025 at 1:30 AM
It was pretty self-explanatory, Netflix. You really do assume nobody is actually paying attention, do you?
11/6 - Fantasy General
I had a passing interest in war games, though I was more interested in the strategy than differentiating 18 kinds of tanks from each other. Fantasy General solved all that by being, well, fantasy. Imaginative units and brutal difficulty meant hours of strategic fun. #365games
I had a passing interest in war games, though I was more interested in the strategy than differentiating 18 kinds of tanks from each other. Fantasy General solved all that by being, well, fantasy. Imaginative units and brutal difficulty meant hours of strategic fun. #365games
November 7, 2025 at 4:27 AM
11/6 - Fantasy General
I had a passing interest in war games, though I was more interested in the strategy than differentiating 18 kinds of tanks from each other. Fantasy General solved all that by being, well, fantasy. Imaginative units and brutal difficulty meant hours of strategic fun. #365games
I had a passing interest in war games, though I was more interested in the strategy than differentiating 18 kinds of tanks from each other. Fantasy General solved all that by being, well, fantasy. Imaginative units and brutal difficulty meant hours of strategic fun. #365games
11/4 - Virtual Reality Studio 1/2
Among the "toolkit" games that propelled down the path of wanting to make games myself, these two loomed large. Incredibly powerful if you put the work in, with these I felt like I really could make worlds. Would love to make a version for kids these days #365games
Among the "toolkit" games that propelled down the path of wanting to make games myself, these two loomed large. Incredibly powerful if you put the work in, with these I felt like I really could make worlds. Would love to make a version for kids these days #365games
November 5, 2025 at 12:50 AM
11/4 - Virtual Reality Studio 1/2
Among the "toolkit" games that propelled down the path of wanting to make games myself, these two loomed large. Incredibly powerful if you put the work in, with these I felt like I really could make worlds. Would love to make a version for kids these days #365games
Among the "toolkit" games that propelled down the path of wanting to make games myself, these two loomed large. Incredibly powerful if you put the work in, with these I felt like I really could make worlds. Would love to make a version for kids these days #365games
Did I sit down planning to build out a few more battle scenarios? Yes.
Did I instead spend most of the day reworking pathfinding to squash some bugs and weird edge cases? Definitely.
On the plus side, new version gives me some future-proofing (and doesn't break the game). #indiedev #gamedev
Did I instead spend most of the day reworking pathfinding to squash some bugs and weird edge cases? Definitely.
On the plus side, new version gives me some future-proofing (and doesn't break the game). #indiedev #gamedev
November 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
11/3 - Slay The Spire
Getting towards the end of the year, so I've got to get to most important stuff! Spire kicked off a deckbuilder explosion, but it also made me completely rethink the entire concept of the roguelite. It's been 8 years, and I'm still coming back to it regularly. #365games
Getting towards the end of the year, so I've got to get to most important stuff! Spire kicked off a deckbuilder explosion, but it also made me completely rethink the entire concept of the roguelite. It's been 8 years, and I'm still coming back to it regularly. #365games
November 3, 2025 at 7:22 PM
11/3 - Slay The Spire
Getting towards the end of the year, so I've got to get to most important stuff! Spire kicked off a deckbuilder explosion, but it also made me completely rethink the entire concept of the roguelite. It's been 8 years, and I'm still coming back to it regularly. #365games
Getting towards the end of the year, so I've got to get to most important stuff! Spire kicked off a deckbuilder explosion, but it also made me completely rethink the entire concept of the roguelite. It's been 8 years, and I'm still coming back to it regularly. #365games
Post a game you remember playing that nobody else remembers.
October 30, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Post a game you remember playing that nobody else remembers.
10/22 - DOOM
What really impacted me most about DOOM was the social aspect - we used to get together in the library after school and play networked games. Seeing games bring all sorts of folks together in one room (and not huddle around a console) for mayhem was an eye-opener. #365games
What really impacted me most about DOOM was the social aspect - we used to get together in the library after school and play networked games. Seeing games bring all sorts of folks together in one room (and not huddle around a console) for mayhem was an eye-opener. #365games
October 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
10/22 - DOOM
What really impacted me most about DOOM was the social aspect - we used to get together in the library after school and play networked games. Seeing games bring all sorts of folks together in one room (and not huddle around a console) for mayhem was an eye-opener. #365games
What really impacted me most about DOOM was the social aspect - we used to get together in the library after school and play networked games. Seeing games bring all sorts of folks together in one room (and not huddle around a console) for mayhem was an eye-opener. #365games
10/20 - Wolfenstein 3D
Got the shareware version of this from a friend, loaded it up, and thought we'd entered an entire new era of video games. It's hard to understand, but back then this felt like the future revealing itself before you. Bonus: you could make your own maps! #365games
Got the shareware version of this from a friend, loaded it up, and thought we'd entered an entire new era of video games. It's hard to understand, but back then this felt like the future revealing itself before you. Bonus: you could make your own maps! #365games
October 20, 2025 at 5:51 PM
10/20 - Wolfenstein 3D
Got the shareware version of this from a friend, loaded it up, and thought we'd entered an entire new era of video games. It's hard to understand, but back then this felt like the future revealing itself before you. Bonus: you could make your own maps! #365games
Got the shareware version of this from a friend, loaded it up, and thought we'd entered an entire new era of video games. It's hard to understand, but back then this felt like the future revealing itself before you. Bonus: you could make your own maps! #365games
And while I'm talking Stunt Island, let's talk about the menus in this game: not a single one to be seen! Everything is diegetic to the world of the film studio. Need to edit? Better head to Post-Production. Want to quit the game? No - you want to board the ferry to leave the island. #dosgame
October 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
And while I'm talking Stunt Island, let's talk about the menus in this game: not a single one to be seen! Everything is diegetic to the world of the film studio. Need to edit? Better head to Post-Production. Want to quit the game? No - you want to board the ferry to leave the island. #dosgame
10/13 - Stunt Island
Less a game than a movie-making tool, Stunt Island let you assemble vehicles and props, set up cameras, and even script out basic actions. Then you got to edit it all together with FX and music. A truly amazing little package for letting your creativity flow. #365games
Less a game than a movie-making tool, Stunt Island let you assemble vehicles and props, set up cameras, and even script out basic actions. Then you got to edit it all together with FX and music. A truly amazing little package for letting your creativity flow. #365games
October 13, 2025 at 4:15 PM
10/13 - Stunt Island
Less a game than a movie-making tool, Stunt Island let you assemble vehicles and props, set up cameras, and even script out basic actions. Then you got to edit it all together with FX and music. A truly amazing little package for letting your creativity flow. #365games
Less a game than a movie-making tool, Stunt Island let you assemble vehicles and props, set up cameras, and even script out basic actions. Then you got to edit it all together with FX and music. A truly amazing little package for letting your creativity flow. #365games
10/12 - Dungeons of Dredmor
I had never really gotten into roguelikes (*likes*, not *lites*), but something about Dredmor sunk its claws into me. Maybe it was the humor, maybe it was the skill trees, but it's a game I find myself going back to over and over again. #365games
I had never really gotten into roguelikes (*likes*, not *lites*), but something about Dredmor sunk its claws into me. Maybe it was the humor, maybe it was the skill trees, but it's a game I find myself going back to over and over again. #365games
October 12, 2025 at 10:06 PM
10/12 - Dungeons of Dredmor
I had never really gotten into roguelikes (*likes*, not *lites*), but something about Dredmor sunk its claws into me. Maybe it was the humor, maybe it was the skill trees, but it's a game I find myself going back to over and over again. #365games
I had never really gotten into roguelikes (*likes*, not *lites*), but something about Dredmor sunk its claws into me. Maybe it was the humor, maybe it was the skill trees, but it's a game I find myself going back to over and over again. #365games
Finally took the plunge and tried a rough puff pastry today. Decided to turn it into Palmiers. Lamination!
October 11, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Finally took the plunge and tried a rough puff pastry today. Decided to turn it into Palmiers. Lamination!
Suddenly remembered (for no reason) there was an episode of The Real Ghostbusters where they went to Paris and discovered the Eiffel Tower was actually an antiquated containment unit and it was spewing millions of French ghosts into the city. Now you can think about it, too!
October 8, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Suddenly remembered (for no reason) there was an episode of The Real Ghostbusters where they went to Paris and discovered the Eiffel Tower was actually an antiquated containment unit and it was spewing millions of French ghosts into the city. Now you can think about it, too!
Had a bizarre urge to load up Eye of the Beholder 2, and I had to let my gut guide me as I picked names based on these portraits. #dosgame
October 8, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Had a bizarre urge to load up Eye of the Beholder 2, and I had to let my gut guide me as I picked names based on these portraits. #dosgame
Ok, I have to admit that getting a unified (albeit still placeholder) UI in place really does help make the whole thing feel way better and immediately exposes other needs. #indiedev #indiegame #solodev
October 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Ok, I have to admit that getting a unified (albeit still placeholder) UI in place really does help make the whole thing feel way better and immediately exposes other needs. #indiedev #indiegame #solodev
The Most American Headline™️
October 4, 2025 at 11:50 PM
The Most American Headline™️
10/2 - Quest for Glory IV
All of the Quest for Glories were great (ok, maybe not V...), but IV struck such a different tone with its dark, eldritch horror vibes and general sense of gloom. You were still the Hero, but it felt like you were against the darkest forces you'd yet faced. #365games
All of the Quest for Glories were great (ok, maybe not V...), but IV struck such a different tone with its dark, eldritch horror vibes and general sense of gloom. You were still the Hero, but it felt like you were against the darkest forces you'd yet faced. #365games
October 3, 2025 at 12:15 AM
10/2 - Quest for Glory IV
All of the Quest for Glories were great (ok, maybe not V...), but IV struck such a different tone with its dark, eldritch horror vibes and general sense of gloom. You were still the Hero, but it felt like you were against the darkest forces you'd yet faced. #365games
All of the Quest for Glories were great (ok, maybe not V...), but IV struck such a different tone with its dark, eldritch horror vibes and general sense of gloom. You were still the Hero, but it felt like you were against the darkest forces you'd yet faced. #365games
9/30 - Final Fantasy Tactics
It wasn't the first tactical RPG, but it was the first one I played. The incredible depth of the job system, the sprawling story, and the lovely music and art pulled me in entirely. This was the kind of game I wanted to make myself someday. #365games
It wasn't the first tactical RPG, but it was the first one I played. The incredible depth of the job system, the sprawling story, and the lovely music and art pulled me in entirely. This was the kind of game I wanted to make myself someday. #365games
September 30, 2025 at 10:43 PM
9/30 - Final Fantasy Tactics
It wasn't the first tactical RPG, but it was the first one I played. The incredible depth of the job system, the sprawling story, and the lovely music and art pulled me in entirely. This was the kind of game I wanted to make myself someday. #365games
It wasn't the first tactical RPG, but it was the first one I played. The incredible depth of the job system, the sprawling story, and the lovely music and art pulled me in entirely. This was the kind of game I wanted to make myself someday. #365games