Tom Betts
@tomnullpointer.bsky.social
UK Indie Game Dev - Just released "The Horror At Highrook"
A clockwork-card narrative-board game
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/The_Horror_at_Highrook/
Previously "Into The Pit", BigRobot, Phd in the digital sublime
A clockwork-card narrative-board game
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/The_Horror_at_Highrook/
Previously "Into The Pit", BigRobot, Phd in the digital sublime
Pinned
Tom Betts
@tomnullpointer.bsky.social
· May 1
🌜The House is finally open 🌛
The Horror at Highrook is an occult card-crafting RPG
🕯️Uncover the dark secrets of Highrook Manor
🌙Manage your team of investigators
🔥Summon Ancient Demons
www.youtube.com/watch?v=drjG...
store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/...
The Horror at Highrook is an occult card-crafting RPG
🕯️Uncover the dark secrets of Highrook Manor
🌙Manage your team of investigators
🔥Summon Ancient Demons
www.youtube.com/watch?v=drjG...
store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/...
The Horror At Highrook - Release Trailer
YouTube video by tomnullpointer
www.youtube.com
After about 2 years my strange
clockwork-cosmic-horror-narrative-card/boardgame
Is released! Proud of this one, hope it does well enough for me to keep exploring this unique and exciting avenue of game dev.
clockwork-cosmic-horror-narrative-card/boardgame
Is released! Proud of this one, hope it does well enough for me to keep exploring this unique and exciting avenue of game dev.
Reposted by Tom Betts
Announcing my pagan trading game Prophet Margin
Wishlist now on Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/3624110/...
Sharing appreciated!
Wishlist now on Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/3624110/...
Sharing appreciated!
Prophet Margin on Steam
The Gods hunger for tribute! Build settlements and weave trade routes, feed temples and earn divine boons in this Eurogame-inspired strategy game.
store.steampowered.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Announcing my pagan trading game Prophet Margin
Wishlist now on Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/3624110/...
Sharing appreciated!
Wishlist now on Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/3624110/...
Sharing appreciated!
Yeah, this is a point that is increasingly lost under the mire of sludge. I feel for all the OG proc gen folk and the OG game AI programmers who now have to explain "No, not that kind of AI" every time..
A big reason proc gen feels so different to AI in spite of superficial similarities is exactly this!!
Proc Gen systems reflect the interests and creative preferences of the tool makers, whereas AI is catch-all sludge that reflects no specific point of view. It’s not remotely the same!
Proc Gen systems reflect the interests and creative preferences of the tool makers, whereas AI is catch-all sludge that reflects no specific point of view. It’s not remotely the same!
In case anyone ever asks, I *have* written a material generator and a music generator for Eldritch 2, but that's not AI. That's me taking all the things I personally know about those things, and writing my own tools to make the process a little faster and easier for myself. It's still 100% me, baby.
November 12, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Yeah, this is a point that is increasingly lost under the mire of sludge. I feel for all the OG proc gen folk and the OG game AI programmers who now have to explain "No, not that kind of AI" every time..
"It is important to assume that CEOs have no real concept of how games are made but idolise AI tech bros who also value profitable slop over people and actual creativity."
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm - AUTOMATON WEST
In an interview following the launch of ARC Raiders, the CEO of Embark Studios' parent company Nexon shares his views on AI.
automaton-media.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:51 AM
"It is important to assume that CEOs have no real concept of how games are made but idolise AI tech bros who also value profitable slop over people and actual creativity."
One of the publishers I worked with submitted my game to igf without either asking me or telling me they had done it. I only found out when I saw it in the list when I logged in to judge. V embarrassing.
blog post boiling within me titled "indie publishers, you need to get your shit together" based on this year of indie pubs submitting games to IGF w/ a demo and then when asked for a dev build so anyone can actually judge it, either ghost or go "we will provide you with a build on the release date"
November 11, 2025 at 7:26 AM
One of the publishers I worked with submitted my game to igf without either asking me or telling me they had done it. I only found out when I saw it in the list when I logged in to judge. V embarrassing.
Reposted by Tom Betts
Ambrosia Sky: Act One is available now!
Your homecoming is not what you expected. An alien fungus has claimed your past and your present. Fight back with every tool at your disposal before it takes your future.
Maeve is waiting.
ambrosiasky.com
Your homecoming is not what you expected. An alien fungus has claimed your past and your present. Fight back with every tool at your disposal before it takes your future.
Maeve is waiting.
ambrosiasky.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Ambrosia Sky: Act One is available now!
Your homecoming is not what you expected. An alien fungus has claimed your past and your present. Fight back with every tool at your disposal before it takes your future.
Maeve is waiting.
ambrosiasky.com
Your homecoming is not what you expected. An alien fungus has claimed your past and your present. Fight back with every tool at your disposal before it takes your future.
Maeve is waiting.
ambrosiasky.com
Im sure some folk who follow me would be interested in this. I've only written for one game, 50k words, and it was harrrdd.. not sure im qualified to say much about the craft
okay, seriously: if we were to corral this, would anyone be interested in contributing? Here is the google form:
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Im sure some folk who follow me would be interested in this. I've only written for one game, 50k words, and it was harrrdd.. not sure im qualified to say much about the craft
Reposted by Tom Betts
Reposted by Tom Betts
RIP Baudrillard you would have loved this shit
New uncanny valley unlocked: inflatable corn maze for urban fall fests.
November 9, 2025 at 4:25 AM
RIP Baudrillard you would have loved this shit
Reposted by Tom Betts
Happy to say that next week I officially start the SGDA accelerator program for starting a new studio! So, you know, no announcements just yet.... But read between the lines and follow me here if you're a composer, 2D artist, voice actor or narrative-type person!
November 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Happy to say that next week I officially start the SGDA accelerator program for starting a new studio! So, you know, no announcements just yet.... But read between the lines and follow me here if you're a composer, 2D artist, voice actor or narrative-type person!
Reposted by Tom Betts
I still havent played GTAV..
November 7, 2025 at 10:51 AM
I still havent played GTAV..
Reposted by Tom Betts
Everything about making video games is harder than you think.
November 6, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Everything about making video games is harder than you think.
Reposted by Tom Betts
We're looking for a Campaign Manager to join our team!
What you need to know:
🟡 Four-day work week + hybrid
🟡 Salary range: £36,000-£42,000 + 13th salary in December
🟡 London-based applicants will be prioritised. We often work with physical product and events, and need someone local to assist us.
What you need to know:
🟡 Four-day work week + hybrid
🟡 Salary range: £36,000-£42,000 + 13th salary in December
🟡 London-based applicants will be prioritised. We often work with physical product and events, and need someone local to assist us.
November 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
We're looking for a Campaign Manager to join our team!
What you need to know:
🟡 Four-day work week + hybrid
🟡 Salary range: £36,000-£42,000 + 13th salary in December
🟡 London-based applicants will be prioritised. We often work with physical product and events, and need someone local to assist us.
What you need to know:
🟡 Four-day work week + hybrid
🟡 Salary range: £36,000-£42,000 + 13th salary in December
🟡 London-based applicants will be prioritised. We often work with physical product and events, and need someone local to assist us.
I played an early version of this, its bonkers :)
Q-UP is out NOW on Steam!
1. flip a coin on the internet
2. 50% heads, 50% tails
3. flip another coin
it's $8.99
... but more importantly it's $7.99 if you already own Unfair Flips
s.team/a/3730790
1. flip a coin on the internet
2. 50% heads, 50% tails
3. flip another coin
it's $8.99
... but more importantly it's $7.99 if you already own Unfair Flips
s.team/a/3730790
Save 10% on Q-UP on Steam
Sick of long queues, unfair matchups, and arbitrary reflex tests? Try Q-UP, the coin flipping eSport. It's one part clicker, one part multiplayer strategy game, one part demented capitalism simulator,...
s.team
November 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I played an early version of this, its bonkers :)
Reposted by Tom Betts
Alright folks this is coming tommorow!. I repeat tommorow the 5th. !!!!
November 4, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Alright folks this is coming tommorow!. I repeat tommorow the 5th. !!!!
Hmm the only jam I do occasionally contribute to. I wonder if i can think of a way to wangle some time for it this year..
PROCJAM - the Procedural Generation Jam - is back for another year! Join us on itch.io this November for another week of making something that makes something - a bskybot, a videogame, a digital artwork, a dice table or something else!
🗓️ Nov 21st - Dec 1st
🔮 itch.io/jam/procjam
🗓️ Nov 21st - Dec 1st
🔮 itch.io/jam/procjam
PROCJAM - The Procedural Generation Jam
A game jam from 2025-11-21 to 2025-12-01 hosted by PROCJAM. Let's Make Something! PROCJAM - the Procedural Generation Jam - is a creative coding jam about making things that make things. This normally...
itch.io
November 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Hmm the only jam I do occasionally contribute to. I wonder if i can think of a way to wangle some time for it this year..
Stuck in the mental loop of "is it financially viable to be making this sort of game? - and -Is it financially viable to be making any game?"
November 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Stuck in the mental loop of "is it financially viable to be making this sort of game? - and -Is it financially viable to be making any game?"
Reposted by Tom Betts
Thanks to everyones support, DreadXP and I were able to donate $12,500 CAD to the Red Door Family Shelter.
Thank you deeply for caring about my game and using it as a vehicle to do some good.
its still available for free - with the option to donate - on vileisbanned.com
Thank you deeply for caring about my game and using it as a vehicle to do some good.
its still available for free - with the option to donate - on vileisbanned.com
VILE: Exhumed may be banned for sale, but I refuse to let that stop people from playing the game.
It’s now available, for free, at WWW.VILEISBANNED.COM
Please share the site, share the game, and fuck anyone who tries to control storytelling and expression.
It’s now available, for free, at WWW.VILEISBANNED.COM
Please share the site, share the game, and fuck anyone who tries to control storytelling and expression.
November 4, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Thanks to everyones support, DreadXP and I were able to donate $12,500 CAD to the Red Door Family Shelter.
Thank you deeply for caring about my game and using it as a vehicle to do some good.
its still available for free - with the option to donate - on vileisbanned.com
Thank you deeply for caring about my game and using it as a vehicle to do some good.
its still available for free - with the option to donate - on vileisbanned.com
Reposted by Tom Betts
Irrigation map computed using C++/OpenMP. The lakes and rivers only take less than 5ms to compute, but the irrigation requires to be spread using some rules. Too reach stable state requires ~200ms with a core i5-13th gen :/ Next step, vegetation based on irrigation ... #indiegame #solodev #procgen
October 15, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Irrigation map computed using C++/OpenMP. The lakes and rivers only take less than 5ms to compute, but the irrigation requires to be spread using some rules. Too reach stable state requires ~200ms with a core i5-13th gen :/ Next step, vegetation based on irrigation ... #indiegame #solodev #procgen
Reposted by Tom Betts
terrifying deleted scene from skinamarink
November 2, 2025 at 2:21 AM
terrifying deleted scene from skinamarink
Reposted by Tom Betts
Come work with me!
We've opened the search for a full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Game Arts at Pratt Institute.
A good match would be an artist, game developer, or educator with an active creative practice in indie games, game studies and theory, playful coding, or art games.
We've opened the search for a full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Game Arts at Pratt Institute.
A good match would be an artist, game developer, or educator with an active creative practice in indie games, game studies and theory, playful coding, or art games.
Assistant Professor Digital Arts, Game Arts 2026 (71102)
The Department of Digital Arts at Pratt Institute invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in Game Arts at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning in Fall 2026. The successful ca...
www.schooljobs.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Come work with me!
We've opened the search for a full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Game Arts at Pratt Institute.
A good match would be an artist, game developer, or educator with an active creative practice in indie games, game studies and theory, playful coding, or art games.
We've opened the search for a full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Game Arts at Pratt Institute.
A good match would be an artist, game developer, or educator with an active creative practice in indie games, game studies and theory, playful coding, or art games.
These last posts brought to you courtesy of someone who wants to make super wierd shit but is also over 50 with a dodgy leg and a mortgage and plants that grow up through his floorboards.
November 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
These last posts brought to you courtesy of someone who wants to make super wierd shit but is also over 50 with a dodgy leg and a mortgage and plants that grow up through his floorboards.
Ok I feel like maybe I should quality some of the last post I made.. I think that for the consumer games have never been better. There is a wealth of wild cheap/free/amazing games for people to grab a hold of. Probably more than ever.
November 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Ok I feel like maybe I should quality some of the last post I made.. I think that for the consumer games have never been better. There is a wealth of wild cheap/free/amazing games for people to grab a hold of. Probably more than ever.
Ive always been a fan of Splattercat and his indie reviews, and his thoughts in the last few minutes of this recent video really chimed with a lot of recent feeling Ive been having about indie games youtu.be/sBcI5ze306s?...
A New Unhinged Take on Dark Fantasy Roguelikes! - Daimon Blades
YouTube video by Splattercatgaming
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Ive always been a fan of Splattercat and his indie reviews, and his thoughts in the last few minutes of this recent video really chimed with a lot of recent feeling Ive been having about indie games youtu.be/sBcI5ze306s?...
Reposted by Tom Betts
I am such a terrible marketer for my own games...sigh..
However I MUST TRY HARDER!!
if you were holding off on leaping into The Horror At Highrook for some reason... Its currently 30% off as part of the Steam Scream Spooky Festival!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/...
However I MUST TRY HARDER!!
if you were holding off on leaping into The Horror At Highrook for some reason... Its currently 30% off as part of the Steam Scream Spooky Festival!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/...
October 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I am such a terrible marketer for my own games...sigh..
However I MUST TRY HARDER!!
if you were holding off on leaping into The Horror At Highrook for some reason... Its currently 30% off as part of the Steam Scream Spooky Festival!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/...
However I MUST TRY HARDER!!
if you were holding off on leaping into The Horror At Highrook for some reason... Its currently 30% off as part of the Steam Scream Spooky Festival!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/...