Dave | Tales from the Backlog

Hey @valvesoftware.com, you know what would be really rad? If we could filter out games that used AI in pre or post production while we browse through Next Fest demos.

Might also give you some interesting data on how people feel about AI games. Could be fun, could be cool

It had me in full concentration, tongue out like Michael Jordan at the free throw line.

Title screen for Aerial_Knight's DropShot. Two characters are shown shooting at each other while skydiving. One character has a gun, one has their hand in the shape of a gun.

Screenshot from Aerial_Knight's DropShot. The main character is skydiving, and their pink arm and hand form a finger gun. They are dodging red lasers while diving after targets.

Screenshot from Aerial_Knight's DropShot. The character is skyciving, with their pink arm and hand forming a gun. They are falling toward some floating islands, and the text "Dragon Attack!" is shown in the air.

End of level score screen in Aerial_Knight's DropShot. The main character has white hair, sunglasses, a mustache and goatee, and is holding up a finger gun. Rank A, Score 1194, take downs 9 out of 11, bullets left 3 out of 18, time 0049.

Last one for tonight is @aerialknight.com's DropShot- arcadey (finger)gunfights while skydiving. It gets you right in the action, the music is great, and I had a good time replaying levels to get every target. Really loved the boss fight level too! This is a great time.

Main menu screen for Cairn. A hiking pack sits in the foreground of a mountain range in front of a blue sky. A huge peak is in the center of the screen. Menu options are: Story, settings, Cairn Steam page, Credits, Quit.

Screenshot from Cairn, showing the main character resting mid-climb as the sun sets in the background. Press X to climb, RT to hold rope.

Screenshot from Cairn, showing the main character in mid-climb, moving her left leg to a new position. The climbing bot can also be seen to the right of her.

Screenshot from Cairn. A giant peak looms in the distance below a starry sky. Aava says "Doesn't look so bad, does it?"

Next one is Cairn, and folks, this is *good shit*. Sometimes "good gameplay" is all about making a plan, executing it and making little micro decisions within that plan, and that's what this is all about. I can't wait to play the full release.

Menu screen for The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All time. Options are: Continue (99.53%), Options, Wishlist on Steam, Log Off, Shut Down. A castle is shown in a fiery background with demons flying around.

Screenshot from The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time. Three characters are shown walking along a tiled floor as castle walls go in different directions in the background.

Screenshot from The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time. One character wielding an axe stands in combat against three enemies, two flying and one that looks like a factory smokestack.

Screenshot from The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time. In the background, four characters walk through a castle corridor. In the foreground, a menu overlay shows a selectable video clip from a "making of" documentary about the game.

Next up is The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of all time. Clearly taking inspiration from old RPGs, Tunic and meta documentary stuff....will be interesting to see how complex it gets and how all of these things tie together.

Main menu screen for the Skate Story demo. What appears to be a city or series of crystals is in the background, colored by prismatic greens, reds and blues. A glowing crystal skateboard sits in the center of the screen.

Screenshot from Skate Story. An ethereal character stands looking at the moon, surrounded by jagged red crystals. Text says "this demon was going to eat the moon"

Screenshot from Skate Story. The skater is kicking a skateboard and moving toward a row of glowing red fire and a doorway behind it.

Thank you for playing the Skate Story demo. By Sam Eng. This demo was chapter 1 out of 9. I hope you enjoyed this early demo. Please sign up for the email list if you'd like to know when the game releases. You are a demon in the Underworld, made out of glass and pain. The Devil has given you a skateboard with a simple deal: Skate to the Moon and swallow it- and you shall be freed. Ollie, kickflip and grind your way through the ash and smoke of the Emptylands as you take on a seemingly impossible quest. Learn to master your weight and motion to conquer the weeping concrete. Savour the rituatlist beauty as you set your feet to pop a perfect kickflip. Skate fast to destroy vicious demons, help a forgetful frog, and save other tortured souls on your journey from fragile beginner to hardened skater. Push through hell and discover The Devil's greatest weakness: humility, perseverence and a disgustingly sweet backside tailslide.

Trying out some Next Fest demos, and the first one was Skate Story! This game jumps out in trailers due to the visuals, and I'm happy to say it's a blast to play. Zooming through the levels is a thrill, and even the most basic tricks feel impactful to land. Looking forward to the full release.

I played a bunch of Steam Next Fest demos and came up with a list of five you definitely want to check out. We've got some long-awaited Devolver releases, a PSX flavored real time/turn based hybrid that I haven't seen anyone talk about, and a game about a psychic baby. Something for everyone, etc.

Release date PATHOLOGIC 3 will launch January 9th, 2026. That date is nailed down, screwed in, wrapped in commitments and isn't moving. Pathologic 3 is a complex game. It blends many mechanics: sometimes non-obvious and not fitting neatly into a conventional genre, because we built them to best express the Bachelor's worldview and story. It's a game that's hard to explain with "keywords"; the truth is in the details. So instead of one trailer, we made several.

Pathologic 3 releasing January 9th, we have never been so back.

pilgrim guy finishes reading a big book, leans way back in his chair and loosens the belt on his hat

Japan would like a word!

You're never gonna believe this, but I'm talking about Rain World again. Big thanks to Jake for inviting me on again!

Rain World: Harder than any From Software game

Folks! The latest Indie Impressions episode is now public. @tftblpod.bsky.social Dave and I chat about a little survival game called Rain World, with all its frustrations, beauty, and unmatched game design.

Take a listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/2jhW...

My cover is blown!

I wrote about a game for this book! What game, you ask? It's a secret for now, but I WILL say they could never make this game today 👀

32 BIt Library Greatest Hits Volume 1 Chronologically rediscover 50 of the best-selling titles released on the original PlayStation. A 6" x 9" release.

New book alert! 32 Bit Library Greatest Hits!

Featuring contributions from @hg101.bsky.social, @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me, @elmore.zone, @drubie.bsky.social, @buttlordprimus.bsky.social, @tftblpod.bsky.social. Plus essays from @glitch.mov, @aguaspoints.bsky.social, @marcnormandin.bsky.social & more!

Working on a new baseball theory- tonight in the first inning, the Brewers hit a homer into their bullpen and the bullpen catcher caught it. In the second inning, the Cubs hit a homer into their bullpen, but the guys dropped it. The Brewers ended up winning, of course. Coincidence? Absolutely not!

Thank you, my blood pressure will return to normal someday.

Game completion: Percentage- 87% Time- 59h 52m 51s

Screenshot from Hollow Knight: Silksong. Hornet stands on a ledge surrounded by common enemies from that game seemingly bound and deceased in a dungeon room.

Screenshot from Hollow Knight: Silksong. Hornet stands in the foreground as a character in red is singing to an audience in the background.

Screenshot from Hollow Knight: Silksong. Hornet stands on an ornate metal bridge, as a similar bridge can be seen in the background.

True ending in Silksong is done. What an insanely good game. Well worth the wait.

A screenshot from Dark Souls 2, showing the NPCs Pate and Creighton fighting in a torchlit room.

well well well, if it isn't the blowjob brothers

A screenshot from Dark Souls 2, showing the NPCs Pate and Creighton fighting in a torchlit room.

well well well, if it isn't the blowjob brothers

I am a disc 2 defender- it's a distilled version of everything I love the most about the game.

Absolutely. I think it will hit home for a lot of people.

I'm putting up crosses and garlic around my house to keep BALLxPIT out until I have time for it

My top 4 games of 2025 (so far). Tough to narrow it down, it's been an insane year for games!

Living your best life

In Super Smash Bros., the skeletons visible when characters are hurt by electric attacks are not tied to specific animations, and instead are a form that can be toggled on and off at any time, including in cutscenes. Below are excerpts of the game's intro, with skeletons.

Screenshot from Dark Souls 2 showing the player character in a narrow hallway, with a vertical, open coffin at the end with a skeleton in it.

When I die, hang my coffin up vertically in a way that it will fall at some point, break the floor and have my feet dangle through the ceiling.

a 3d rendering of a robot with a light coming out of his eyes Alt: a 3d rendering of a robot with a light coming out of his eyes

Recorded a fun chat with @andresplays.bsky.social tonight about Sword of the Sea! I'm really far ahead on recordings right now, so look forward to this in January- more than enough time to play the game yourself!

Screenshot from Dark Souls 2. The player character is in a rocky tunnel and a skeleton is posed up against a wall on the left, appearing to hold its ear hole up to the wall as if listening to something on the other side.

Dark Souls 2 skeleton placement really is best in class. Chef kiss, no notes.