The Aleks (they/them)
@thealeks.bsky.social
I make art, video games, tabletop roleplaying games, that kind of thing. Very cool. The Poochie of social media.
https://thealeks.itch.io
https://unverifiedpersonalgnosis.neocities.org
https://ko-fi.com/feedthealeks
https://patreon.com/atelier_aleks
https://thealeks.itch.io
https://unverifiedpersonalgnosis.neocities.org
https://ko-fi.com/feedthealeks
https://patreon.com/atelier_aleks
It's impossible for me to choose a specific one. They are all my children.
thealeks.itch.io
There are also a handful of video games on there.
thealeks.itch.io
There are also a handful of video games on there.
Aleks Samoylov
thealeks.itch.io
November 29, 2025 at 2:15 AM
It's impossible for me to choose a specific one. They are all my children.
thealeks.itch.io
There are also a handful of video games on there.
thealeks.itch.io
There are also a handful of video games on there.
This is an old one (I think I made it around 2019ish?) but I think it's okay, if one is into obscure, painfully obtuse "walking simulators" with some esoteric puzzle elements and fair a bit of "baby's first 3D game" jank.
thealeks.itch.io/pleroma
thealeks.itch.io/pleroma
Pleroma by Aleks Samoylov
Are you pulling my leg or are you genuinely having one of your … departures?
thealeks.itch.io
November 28, 2025 at 6:02 AM
This is an old one (I think I made it around 2019ish?) but I think it's okay, if one is into obscure, painfully obtuse "walking simulators" with some esoteric puzzle elements and fair a bit of "baby's first 3D game" jank.
thealeks.itch.io/pleroma
thealeks.itch.io/pleroma
Yeah, it's been around since, like, the 70s or something, so some iterations of the design are more ... upsetting than others. Apparently they tried to reboot it in CGI not that long ago (probably with significantly less communism than the original), and that particular version haunts my nightmares.
November 26, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Yeah, it's been around since, like, the 70s or something, so some iterations of the design are more ... upsetting than others. Apparently they tried to reboot it in CGI not that long ago (probably with significantly less communism than the original), and that particular version haunts my nightmares.
You should look into getting a Cheburashka doll instead. It's like a Labubu, but communist.
November 26, 2025 at 5:25 AM
You should look into getting a Cheburashka doll instead. It's like a Labubu, but communist.
I don't suppose it's possible to add folks to these things close to a year later? (I honestly have no idea how they actually work)
November 26, 2025 at 5:21 AM
I don't suppose it's possible to add folks to these things close to a year later? (I honestly have no idea how they actually work)
I don't know exactly how it is right now, in 2025, but the last time I checked in, many publishers were literally looking at a new author's twitter follower count as a priority metric for whether or not they would be viable. Like, having a large built in platform was a big selling point for them.
November 26, 2025 at 1:41 AM
I don't know exactly how it is right now, in 2025, but the last time I checked in, many publishers were literally looking at a new author's twitter follower count as a priority metric for whether or not they would be viable. Like, having a large built in platform was a big selling point for them.
But that "why don't you just do everything yourself" thing is kind of the big problem across the board. Traditional publishing is just so weird these days, that it sometimes makes no difference. They still expect many new authors to do their own publicity and lean on social media.
November 26, 2025 at 1:39 AM
But that "why don't you just do everything yourself" thing is kind of the big problem across the board. Traditional publishing is just so weird these days, that it sometimes makes no difference. They still expect many new authors to do their own publicity and lean on social media.
As for self publishing, that can really vary based on specific niche or industry. In tabletop rpg book publishing, it's a fairly accepted standard, since it's very, very niche and even the bigger publishers are often tiny in comparison. In fiction, it still carries a lot of stigma.
November 26, 2025 at 1:37 AM
As for self publishing, that can really vary based on specific niche or industry. In tabletop rpg book publishing, it's a fairly accepted standard, since it's very, very niche and even the bigger publishers are often tiny in comparison. In fiction, it still carries a lot of stigma.
If you're a new author, being promoted, even as a perceived "afterthought," alongside a big name is probably one of the best deals a publishing house can give you these days. But I think it depends on how marketable they think your work could turn out to be, and that's often a trends based thing.
November 26, 2025 at 1:35 AM
If you're a new author, being promoted, even as a perceived "afterthought," alongside a big name is probably one of the best deals a publishing house can give you these days. But I think it depends on how marketable they think your work could turn out to be, and that's often a trends based thing.
The piggybacking thing is a best case scenario in my understanding. The established authors are essentially the guaranteed cash cows for any established publishing company, so many of them apparently tend to play it safe and spend most of their marketing and advance budgets on known quantities.
November 26, 2025 at 1:33 AM
The piggybacking thing is a best case scenario in my understanding. The established authors are essentially the guaranteed cash cows for any established publishing company, so many of them apparently tend to play it safe and spend most of their marketing and advance budgets on known quantities.
I am very proud of that one.
Not all heroes wear capes.
Not all heroes wear capes.
November 26, 2025 at 1:10 AM
I am very proud of that one.
Not all heroes wear capes.
Not all heroes wear capes.
There are still things like readings or appearances that one can do, but yeah, at the end of the day, someone might be a very good poet, but doing a public reading might just be completely outside their skillset, and it's an unnecessary humiliation to expect them to also be performers.
November 26, 2025 at 1:01 AM
There are still things like readings or appearances that one can do, but yeah, at the end of the day, someone might be a very good poet, but doing a public reading might just be completely outside their skillset, and it's an unnecessary humiliation to expect them to also be performers.
That is, indeed, their job. I would love to have access to any of the above (assuming they were good at said job), honestly, and wouldn't begrudge them the commission. That's kind of my overall point. It's a good system for those it serves, but it never served very many people to begin with.
November 26, 2025 at 1:00 AM
That is, indeed, their job. I would love to have access to any of the above (assuming they were good at said job), honestly, and wouldn't begrudge them the commission. That's kind of my overall point. It's a good system for those it serves, but it never served very many people to begin with.
Sadly, that model was never accessible to most, and is now not only inaccessible but frankly less effective even if one does manage to "make it" - in the world of literary publishing, for example, publishers barely even offer advances anymore and expect new authors to more or less promote themselves
November 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Sadly, that model was never accessible to most, and is now not only inaccessible but frankly less effective even if one does manage to "make it" - in the world of literary publishing, for example, publishers barely even offer advances anymore and expect new authors to more or less promote themselves
Some artists (emphasis on some) under the "old fashioned" distribution and promotion models, were able to get away with the reclusive and mysterious vibe, but that's mostly because they have a whole team of people (publicists, managers, agents, gallerists, editors) doing all the "loud" stuff.
November 26, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Some artists (emphasis on some) under the "old fashioned" distribution and promotion models, were able to get away with the reclusive and mysterious vibe, but that's mostly because they have a whole team of people (publicists, managers, agents, gallerists, editors) doing all the "loud" stuff.
My problem here isn't to do with image or presentation but with "monetization" (shudder), or, as I like to call it, being able to keep eating food and breathing ...
At the end of the day, art can only "speak" if there's an audience to "hear" it. There are unseen masterpieces rotting in landfills.
At the end of the day, art can only "speak" if there's an audience to "hear" it. There are unseen masterpieces rotting in landfills.
November 26, 2025 at 12:48 AM
My problem here isn't to do with image or presentation but with "monetization" (shudder), or, as I like to call it, being able to keep eating food and breathing ...
At the end of the day, art can only "speak" if there's an audience to "hear" it. There are unseen masterpieces rotting in landfills.
At the end of the day, art can only "speak" if there's an audience to "hear" it. There are unseen masterpieces rotting in landfills.
This one girl was panicking cause she couldn't explain how the dog she was watching got out of her locked kennel, and there was a noise in the attic.
All I had to say was "Well, is she know to be an especially evil or spooky demon dog? Cause if not, at worst you've got a magic dog on your hands."
All I had to say was "Well, is she know to be an especially evil or spooky demon dog? Cause if not, at worst you've got a magic dog on your hands."
November 26, 2025 at 12:45 AM
This one girl was panicking cause she couldn't explain how the dog she was watching got out of her locked kennel, and there was a noise in the attic.
All I had to say was "Well, is she know to be an especially evil or spooky demon dog? Cause if not, at worst you've got a magic dog on your hands."
All I had to say was "Well, is she know to be an especially evil or spooky demon dog? Cause if not, at worst you've got a magic dog on your hands."
As goofy as it is, this is kind of true, actually ... and honestly, I have been able to make a number of people feel better, or at least stop freaking out.
November 26, 2025 at 12:42 AM
As goofy as it is, this is kind of true, actually ... and honestly, I have been able to make a number of people feel better, or at least stop freaking out.
The only platform I seem to be commonly appreciated on is reddit ... but reddit is ... reddit. My main niche on there is assuring randos, using my vast stores of occult knowledge that they aren't cursed and that life is just really unfair and painful for no apparent good reason sometimes / usually
November 26, 2025 at 12:40 AM
The only platform I seem to be commonly appreciated on is reddit ... but reddit is ... reddit. My main niche on there is assuring randos, using my vast stores of occult knowledge that they aren't cursed and that life is just really unfair and painful for no apparent good reason sometimes / usually