Will Luton
@willluton.bsky.social
Game product/design person.
Ex Rovio & SEGA.
Founder @ Village Studio & Department of Play.
ADHD. Serial hobbyist.
Ex Rovio & SEGA.
Founder @ Village Studio & Department of Play.
ADHD. Serial hobbyist.
Someone is still fronting the domain costs to dunk on the N-Gage sidetalkin.com/original/
April 29, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Someone is still fronting the domain costs to dunk on the N-Gage sidetalkin.com/original/
Apologies. Just checked my collection!
January 5, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Apologies. Just checked my collection!
The aesthetics and themes in indie games are evidence that our artform is evolving artistically.
Yet, there is a lag in that translating to the wider cultural and consumer view.
Yet, there is a lag in that translating to the wider cultural and consumer view.
November 26, 2024 at 2:48 PM
The aesthetics and themes in indie games are evidence that our artform is evolving artistically.
Yet, there is a lag in that translating to the wider cultural and consumer view.
Yet, there is a lag in that translating to the wider cultural and consumer view.
After all Gucci had their own space in Roblox at this point www.gucci.com/uk/en_gb/st/...
There was a sense that the next generation of luxury brand consumer was today in Roblox.
There was a sense that the next generation of luxury brand consumer was today in Roblox.
November 26, 2024 at 2:48 PM
After all Gucci had their own space in Roblox at this point www.gucci.com/uk/en_gb/st/...
There was a sense that the next generation of luxury brand consumer was today in Roblox.
There was a sense that the next generation of luxury brand consumer was today in Roblox.
I have been in a few destination game stores, like Super Potato in Akihabara (my banner photo is from there).
This place is very cool and a spent a good couple of hours.
But it was still not a “nice” space. Very industrial and cluttered.
This place is very cool and a spent a good couple of hours.
But it was still not a “nice” space. Very industrial and cluttered.
November 26, 2024 at 2:48 PM
I have been in a few destination game stores, like Super Potato in Akihabara (my banner photo is from there).
This place is very cool and a spent a good couple of hours.
But it was still not a “nice” space. Very industrial and cluttered.
This place is very cool and a spent a good couple of hours.
But it was still not a “nice” space. Very industrial and cluttered.
Evidence A: Where you might buy a book vs where you can only buy a game.
November 26, 2024 at 2:48 PM
Evidence A: Where you might buy a book vs where you can only buy a game.
About a year ago picked up sewing as a hobby. Patterned and put together this raw edge hoodie this week.
November 22, 2024 at 10:36 AM
About a year ago picked up sewing as a hobby. Patterned and put together this raw edge hoodie this week.
New pickup on PS2.
Gonna McTwist in to a topside acid soul.
Gonna McTwist in to a topside acid soul.
November 21, 2024 at 2:12 PM
New pickup on PS2.
Gonna McTwist in to a topside acid soul.
Gonna McTwist in to a topside acid soul.
Hi, I’m Will.
Game designer/entrepreneur.
I ran product on Angry Birds 2 and wrote “the book on F2P”. Worked on everything from AAA to smartwatch games.
I chat mostly about game design and business. But ADHD, so good chance I’m off topic.
Currently founder of indie Village Games.
Game designer/entrepreneur.
I ran product on Angry Birds 2 and wrote “the book on F2P”. Worked on everything from AAA to smartwatch games.
I chat mostly about game design and business. But ADHD, so good chance I’m off topic.
Currently founder of indie Village Games.
November 20, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Hi, I’m Will.
Game designer/entrepreneur.
I ran product on Angry Birds 2 and wrote “the book on F2P”. Worked on everything from AAA to smartwatch games.
I chat mostly about game design and business. But ADHD, so good chance I’m off topic.
Currently founder of indie Village Games.
Game designer/entrepreneur.
I ran product on Angry Birds 2 and wrote “the book on F2P”. Worked on everything from AAA to smartwatch games.
I chat mostly about game design and business. But ADHD, so good chance I’m off topic.
Currently founder of indie Village Games.
One of my follies was to try to streamline Game of War to something more friendly. The result was Kingdoms of Heckfire.
Looks friendlier right? Well, the game was just as harsh. It attracted the wrong players who bounced off.
Looks friendlier right? Well, the game was just as harsh. It attracted the wrong players who bounced off.
November 20, 2024 at 5:37 PM
One of my follies was to try to streamline Game of War to something more friendly. The result was Kingdoms of Heckfire.
Looks friendlier right? Well, the game was just as harsh. It attracted the wrong players who bounced off.
Looks friendlier right? Well, the game was just as harsh. It attracted the wrong players who bounced off.
What?! Bad UX can help sell a game?
I’m sure the success of Game of War was in part that it looked like a shareware MMO from the 90s.
Photo from Business Inside who said: “Find the arrows confusing? That's how our eyes feel.”
For someone who’d sink 1,000 hours, that UX is catnip.
I’m sure the success of Game of War was in part that it looked like a shareware MMO from the 90s.
Photo from Business Inside who said: “Find the arrows confusing? That's how our eyes feel.”
For someone who’d sink 1,000 hours, that UX is catnip.
November 20, 2024 at 5:37 PM
What?! Bad UX can help sell a game?
I’m sure the success of Game of War was in part that it looked like a shareware MMO from the 90s.
Photo from Business Inside who said: “Find the arrows confusing? That's how our eyes feel.”
For someone who’d sink 1,000 hours, that UX is catnip.
I’m sure the success of Game of War was in part that it looked like a shareware MMO from the 90s.
Photo from Business Inside who said: “Find the arrows confusing? That's how our eyes feel.”
For someone who’d sink 1,000 hours, that UX is catnip.
Note on analytics: I like working on cars and you get these awesome tools that read fault codes (called OBDII scanners) and they tell you loads of detail about engine trim and timing and shit I don’t understand.
They don’t help when the wheel is hanging off.
They don’t help when the wheel is hanging off.
November 20, 2024 at 5:37 PM
Note on analytics: I like working on cars and you get these awesome tools that read fault codes (called OBDII scanners) and they tell you loads of detail about engine trim and timing and shit I don’t understand.
They don’t help when the wheel is hanging off.
They don’t help when the wheel is hanging off.
GOTY in any given year
November 12, 2024 at 12:51 PM
GOTY in any given year
Never forgive. Never forget.
October 23, 2024 at 1:36 PM
Never forgive. Never forget.
If you know, you know. This game was what set me on the path to becoming a designer.
October 23, 2024 at 9:15 AM
If you know, you know. This game was what set me on the path to becoming a designer.
Of course that GBP is IPS modded too.
October 23, 2024 at 9:14 AM
Of course that GBP is IPS modded too.
I went through a clear shell modding phase a little while back, before discovering that prisons often clear shell electronics to stop inmates hiding drugs and shanks.
October 23, 2024 at 9:09 AM
I went through a clear shell modding phase a little while back, before discovering that prisons often clear shell electronics to stop inmates hiding drugs and shanks.
I was lucky to meet both my design idols (Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Yu Suzuki) at Reboot Develop in 2019. Two of my favourite games.
October 23, 2024 at 9:05 AM
I was lucky to meet both my design idols (Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Yu Suzuki) at Reboot Develop in 2019. Two of my favourite games.
I understand there were only 3k copies of Samba de Amigo in Europe. Also the only game my grandmother played in her life (RIP, Nan). Took a lot to find a copy of this.
October 23, 2024 at 9:03 AM
I understand there were only 3k copies of Samba de Amigo in Europe. Also the only game my grandmother played in her life (RIP, Nan). Took a lot to find a copy of this.
This is the copy of Metal Slug 2 I bought at an arcade reseller in Tokyo, alongside my consolised MVS. I custom designed and built the PCB for this machine for clean RBG out over SCART.
October 23, 2024 at 9:01 AM
This is the copy of Metal Slug 2 I bought at an arcade reseller in Tokyo, alongside my consolised MVS. I custom designed and built the PCB for this machine for clean RBG out over SCART.
I slept pretty late on the Symphony of the Night, only playing it around 2019. What a beautiful game! It just oozes gothy atmosphere. JP release with the audio CD.
October 23, 2024 at 8:58 AM
I slept pretty late on the Symphony of the Night, only playing it around 2019. What a beautiful game! It just oozes gothy atmosphere. JP release with the audio CD.
Some gems from my games collection 🧵
October 23, 2024 at 8:56 AM
Some gems from my games collection 🧵