Getting stuck causes players to explore the world.

Dying causes players to think about what they're doing.

An "impossible" situation causes players to learn how the game works and eventually achieve the impossible.

We need to be able to design *some* games around these fundamental ideas.

to make a video game is to constantly be thinking about what elements you need to put into place to trick people into thinking this emotionally troubled computer program you built is a real video game

I'm already planning on buying one. I hate setting up my laptop to play Steam games on the TV.

I agree! Thanks for playing it!

A lot of pixel art was myself, but as a whole, the art was a combination of work from half a dozen different artists. The key is to work with people who fill in gaps in your own skillset. :)

I wonder what's at the bottom of that pond. Couldn't hurt to throw another in...

On the plus side, every time this happens I get to learn new British insults.

I have heard once that making games is hard.

<3

The grass is actually using a dual grid system, based on the helpful information that @oskarstalberg.bsky.social shared on his twitter. :)

Little Rocket Lab uses Unity's rule tiles *everywhere*.

The factory must grow! But like, in a friendly way.

So glad you like it!

Nothing is a sure-fire way to get a hit. There's a lot that went in our favor (and a lot that didn't). But we can at least try to stack the odds a bit, and hope for a little luck along the way.

6. Playtest playtest playtest

You simply have no way of knowing if what you're building is any good until you give it to someone else to play.

You can't big brain your way out of this. Do a playtest, get the uncomfortable feedback, fix it, and then playtest again.

5. Set deadlines!

If you want to do this for a living, then run it like a business. Set a deadline, and hit it.

Don't tell yourself "It just needs this one last feature." That's your way of procrastinating. You'd be surprised how much stuff you think you need that can really be cut.

4. Be weird!

You're indie! Why did you get into this field if you didn't want to do your own thing? Novelty is the superpower of indies. We get to do all the weird stuff that AAA won't touch, and there's no one to tell us no.

Being weird gives games character.