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Nick Quackenbush

@quackles.bsky.social

Associate Art Director @ System Era Softworks working on the next thing after Astroneer Father of 2 and Husband to 1 Aliens Fireteam Elite, Star Trek Online, Rise of the Triad; He/Him https://www.artstation.com/quack http://linkedin.com/in/nickquackenbush

3,665 Followers  |  3,337 Following  |  500 Posts  |  Joined: 24.07.2023  |  2.1841

Latest posts by quackles.bsky.social on Bluesky


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Tiles Hex Concave 001 - Download it from my blog. Free PBR textures with maps made in #substancedesigner . To use in #gamedev #indiedev #GodotEngine #b3d
Patrons will get SBS/SBSAR files + 4K #adobesubstance3d #adobesubstancedesigner

3dtextures.me

25.02.2026 16:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 12    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Exploring Substrate in UE5.7

Simple soap bubble using thin-film interference and a thickness mask from Substance Designer.
HDRI + Lumen lighting, everything else is coming from the material.

A fun test case for what Substrate can do.

25.02.2026 16:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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I know procedural is all the rage now. But after working in substance designer exclusively for a few weeks...
I just felt like making my tiling textures by hand.
.
Some old school sculpting in blender.

#b3d #gamedev #indiegame

25.02.2026 17:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 34    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Thank you to everyone who participated in our second playtest! We had a blast making new friends and running around the ESS Starseeker ๐Ÿš€

Didn't get a chance to join? Don't worry, we'll have more details on the public beta coming next month.

12.02.2026 19:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 23    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Last week was a dream.

After years of doodling and noodling, seeing people dive into these planetary expeditions as a space station crew was incredible.

Huge thanks to everyone who tested and shared feedback; we are already refining and improving.

I am so proud of System Era.

Onward! ๐Ÿš€

13.02.2026 22:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 19    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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SES VLOG 041 is live! In this final vlog we take a look back but also discuss the future, including:

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ ASTRONEER 2026 roadmap
โ˜„๏ธ @starseekergame.systemera.net beta plans
๐Ÿ“ฝ๏ธ New @systemera.net videos

full video link: youtu.be/HDPAcPM8g0k

09.02.2026 22:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 22    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
Sign Up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_4jo12W0-o&t=1s&pp=ygURc3RhcnNlZWtlciBkaXJlY3Q%3D

if you want to sign up for future tests: starseeker.firstlook.gg/signup/reveal

also also, maybe you should wishlist!! www.starseekergame.com/en

02.02.2026 21:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
An image displaying the interior of an advanced space station from the game STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions

An image displaying the interior of an advanced space station from the game STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions

Hey friends, it miiiight be a good idea to check your inbox!! We are still doing internal playtests but are selecting a few folks to join us ahead of beta later this year. ๐Ÿ“จ

If you don't see an email this time, don't worry, we promise you will get in when beta rolls out! ๐Ÿš€

02.02.2026 21:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 36    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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I just generated all images for Kenney Game Asset All-in-1's Steam release... using Kenney Game Assets All-in-1! Just press "generate" and drag the files onto Steam, it'll auto select which goes where!

kenney.itch.io/kenney-game-...

01.02.2026 07:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 170    ๐Ÿ” 16    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 8    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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after the white monster energy hits

(workin' on some ragdoll silliness)

30.01.2026 18:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 19    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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working on some cute UI elements โœจ๐ŸŒฏ

27.01.2026 20:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 18    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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how it started: how it's going:

Station work continues! Excited to invite some of you onto the ESS Starseeker for an internal playtest later this year ๐Ÿš€โฐ

21.01.2026 23:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 33    ๐Ÿ” 11    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Every. Single. Video. Game. Has columnar basalt as an oppressive thematic zone.

It's the default, "hey this is a weird rock formation". Since we have the luxury of being a space game about alien worlds we can come up with something similar but cooler than that to make sure we stand out.

15.01.2026 19:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I was very serious. Made an impassioned speech and everything.

14.01.2026 22:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If you vote for Columnar Basalt I know longer recognize your opinion...

14.01.2026 22:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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We had our first internal friends and family server playtest at the end of 2025!!! That means we will start running public betas soon. Make sure to sign up for access at starseekergame.com

09.01.2026 19:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 56    ๐Ÿ” 10    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
a chunky 3d sculpted polygonal hand within a window with a thin line of ui icons on the left. the fingers are all bent inward.

a chunky 3d sculpted polygonal hand within a window with a thin line of ui icons on the left. the fingers are all bent inward.

swivel 3d professional, magazine screenshot, macintosh (1993) archive.org/details/mico...

07.01.2026 06:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 191    ๐Ÿ” 36    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Next year we'll announce our new game 4 years in the making!

While you're waiting, here's a first little preview of what's to come ๐Ÿคœ๐Ÿ’ฅ

Get ready for a story-driven action-adventure game in an open-environment, with non-stop drama and goofiness. ๐ŸŽข

See you in 2026 with @arteinteractive.bsky.social !

18.12.2025 14:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 309    ๐Ÿ” 100    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7    ๐Ÿ“Œ 13
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OUT NOW: Dungeon Puzzle Sweeper!

The perfect game to play at the airport or under the dinner table this holiday season ๐ŸŽ„ It auto-saves, has online leaderboards, and it's optimized for mobile!

Free on itch! britown.itch.io/sweeper

Please repost and tell your friends!

#gamedev #indiegame #itch

17.12.2025 14:48 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 116    ๐Ÿ” 56    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 8    ๐Ÿ“Œ 9
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Features:
- 3 enemies (ghost = goes invincible, bouncing slime and flying bat)
- 2 sec timer
- coin multiplier gets destroyed if enemy is killed first
- online high score
- randomized lvls and spwn

09.12.2025 20:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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๐ŸŽจMaking icons my next game - a tiny RPG with lots of loot, short fights and short runs all set in a classic fantasy pixel style.

Going for a a dark fantasy style, using a color palette of 56 colors.
#gamedevart #pixelart #indiegamedev #gameart

18.12.2025 10:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Quarantine Zone | Official Gameplay Overview | Gates Open on January 12
YouTube video by DevolverDigital Quarantine Zone | Official Gameplay Overview | Gates Open on January 12

Quarantine Zone opens its security gates on January 12 with a massive number of new additions!

๐Ÿ” new tools for infection scanning
๐Ÿ—๏ธ deeper base building and upgrades
๐Ÿ”ซ more intense base defense sequences

Play the demo and wishlist now on Steam!

17.12.2025 15:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 22    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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It's so cute, with its wittle guns..

17.12.2025 14:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 44    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Drew a fucking massive transformer for the Battersea power station shop.

16.12.2025 23:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 585    ๐Ÿ” 106    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 20    ๐Ÿ“Œ 5

LIES DETECTED

13.12.2025 00:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A picture of a man with an 80s haircut wait headphones with ham sandwiches for the ear phones and the name of them in a slack channel showing off how cool they are by putting a 6 7 emoji into slack chat.

A picture of a man with an 80s haircut wait headphones with ham sandwiches for the ear phones and the name of them in a slack channel showing off how cool they are by putting a 6 7 emoji into slack chat.

Anyone else the coolest person at their job?

12.12.2025 23:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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#b3d

04.12.2025 22:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 92    ๐Ÿ” 19    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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made a fun little godot-blender viewport camera sync miniapp

no addons on either side, no build steps, just a single js module file that's loaded in tauri that has code in all 6 languages (html, css, js, python, gdscript, bash)

01.12.2025 03:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 257    ๐Ÿ” 22    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Pen drawing that fills a page with large, unearthly looking shapes that intertwine with each other into a dense scene with shell like structures, large hollows almost with an insectoid eye cluster type appearance with the most prominent features being a mostly hidden skull on the left and right of center is a more prominent and visible humanoid skull. This skull is implied to be massive based on the figures standing in the eye sockets and the appearance that it is at the end of a trail while the skull and walkway is rising above out of twisted root like structures, fleshy sacks and other features. Standing out of these is an almost carved theatre style mask set in a frieze with an arch of skulls over it and seemingly supporting the trail.

Pen drawing that fills a page with large, unearthly looking shapes that intertwine with each other into a dense scene with shell like structures, large hollows almost with an insectoid eye cluster type appearance with the most prominent features being a mostly hidden skull on the left and right of center is a more prominent and visible humanoid skull. This skull is implied to be massive based on the figures standing in the eye sockets and the appearance that it is at the end of a trail while the skull and walkway is rising above out of twisted root like structures, fleshy sacks and other features. Standing out of these is an almost carved theatre style mask set in a frieze with an arch of skulls over it and seemingly supporting the trail.

The last waystation before the Chaoslands
11x17 pen and paper
#surreal #macabre #PenAndPaper #TraditionalArt #DarkSurrealism #DarkArt #Art #InkSky #GrimDark

01.12.2025 02:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 165    ๐Ÿ” 46    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 11    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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This sketch became a mammoth of a thing

30.11.2025 02:58 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 664    ๐Ÿ” 109    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 10    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

@quackles is following 20 prominent accounts