Cornucopic Studios

So many game devs get stuck polishing features players may never even notice.

The real pros?
⭐They finish.
⭐They learn.
⭐They move forward.

#indiegamedesign #solodev
#gamedesign #indiegamedev
#gamedeveloper

If you’re making a game alone, #gameconventions can be your:

✅ Research Center
✅ Playtest Group
✅ Hype Team

and so much more all in one weekend. Don't sleep on #gamecons!

#indiegamedesign #solodev
#gamedesign #indiegamedev
#gamedeveloper

Why Solo Devs Should Attend Game Conventions (Even Without a Booth) Game cons might be the most important growth move you’re not making.

Myth: You need a booth to make a #gameconvention worth it ❌
Truth: Attending solo (with a plan) can be more valuable ✔

Learn how to make #gamecons work for you in this week's blog:

open.substack.com/pub/cornucop...

#gamedesigntips #indiegamedesign #solodev #gamedeveloper #indiegamedev

Loved seeing what the Canadian #indiegamedev community has been cooking up at #gameconcanada

Next year, we're hoping to have our own both there!

#gcc #canadiangamedev

🔥 Most common scope traps for #solodevs:

❌ Procedural generation
❌ 3D art + animation
❌ Complex RPG systems
❌ Cutscenes
❌ Inventory + crafting

#indiegamedev #gamedesign #sologamedev #indiegamedesign

Game dev is 50% design, 50% mechanics, and 100% player experience.

Learn how players think, not just how games are made.

#gamedev101 #gamedesigntips #indiegamedesign #solodev #gamedeveloper #indiegamedev

Solo Devs: Don’t get caught chasing console ports too early.

✅ Focus on a complete, stable build
✅ Nail gameplay first
✅ THEN consider if console launch fits your vision

You’re not limited by hardware—just by planning.

#indiegamedesign #solodev
#gamedesign #indiegamedev
#gamedeveloper

You don't need a AAA setup to make a console-worthy game.

Your PC is enough. Your idea is enough.

Start small. Dream big. And most of all... finish what you started.

#gamedevlife #indiegamedesign #solodev #gamedesign #indiegamedev #gamedeveloper

Videogame writers and credits Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Credit Where Credit’s Due

Dear videogames narrative community,

The WGGB’s Videogames Committee needs help! To move our campaign on videogames credits forward we need a critical mass of responses from videogames writers.

Help us, help you to get the right credit!
www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y97DHN3

Those types of constraints have led to some remarkable games over the past few decades.

Agreed.

Why are older games so timeless?
Because limitations breed innovation.
You had to think smart with memory, sprites, and mechanics.
Now? We have POWER... but also PRESSURE.

What do YOU prefer: hard constraints or creative freedom?

#indiegamedev #solodev #gamedesign #gamedev

A simple yet addictively repeatable game loop

Game Consoles: From Cartridges to Cloud How the Evolution of Game Consoles Changed Game Dev Forever

💡 Did You Know?
Nintendo used to force devs to rewrite parts of their engine.
Now we’ve got cross-platform tools and code-free engines for accessible gamedev!

This week's blog breaks down the gamedev eras by consoles and how far we've come since then.

open.substack.com/pub/cornucop...

Small wins lead to big growth!

You don’t need 100 features.
You need 1 mechanic that’s fun to do over and over.

Simple > Complex.

#gamedev101 #gamedesigntips #indiegamedesign #solodev #gamedeveloper #indiegamedev

🎯 What emotion do you want players to feel?

Then build a mechanic that creates it.
This is how “game feel” starts to, well, feel fun.

#gamedev101 #gamedesigntips #indiegamedesign #solodev #gamedeveloper #indiegamedev

11/10 when is the merch dropping?

🎮 Dev prompt:
Pick ONE core aesthetic for your current project.
Then ask:
👉 Are your mechanics helping or hurting that experience?
👉 Are players feeling what you want them to?

#indiegamedev #gamedesign #sologamedev #MDAframework

What’s your game’s core "verb"?
🌱 Grow
🧱 Build
🗡️ Fight
💡 Solve
Your entire design should support that one core action.

#gamedev101 #gamedesigntips #indiegamedesign #solodev #gamedeveloper #indiegamedev

Most beginner game devs make the same mistake:
They start building their dream game.
You need a starter game.
✅ 1 mechanic
✅ 1 level
✅ 1 week of work
Build to learn, not to impress.

#gamedev101 #gamedesigntips #indiegamedesign #solodev #gamedeveloper #indiegamedev

Madeira Games Summit 2025 Madeira Games Summit 2025 game industry conference event in Madeira, Portgual. Visit our calendar for more industry conferences and conventions.

✨ Madeira Games Summit 2025 ✨ added to the event calendar! 🎉

Type ⚙️: Onsite B2B Conference
Date 🗓️: NOV 3-4, 2025
Location 🏙️: Funchal, Portugal

View hundreds of other #GameIndustry events: www.eventsforgamers.com/event/madeir... @devgamm.bsky.social #GameDev #GamingConference

YouTube video by Fight in a Box Board Game Design 🎲 Tip for the Day: M-27, Quintessential Mechanism #boardgamedesign #gamedesign

Today's 15s Board Game Design 🎲 Tip for the Day is a reminder what game mechanisms are existentially: youtube.com/shorts/u6abG... #tabletopgames #gamedesign #lgbtq #gamepublisher #boardgame #boardgamedesign

🎨 Aesthetics are the emotional experience the player has when they play your game.

Game feel is more than visuals.
Choose 1–2 emotions and build everything around them to maximize their impact.

🔄 Dynamics are the behavior that emerges from how players interact with your game mechanics.

Ever had playtesters break your game in creative ways?
That’s not failure—it’s dynamics.
Let players show you the hidden behaviors your mechanics create.

⚙️ Mechanics are the rules and systems in your game.

You don't have to have a bunch of really complex mechanics. If you only get one mechanic right, your game can shine.

Look at Celeste: tight jumping & dashing powers the whole experience.
🎮 Build your game around 1 mechanic before expanding.

Why do some games just feel better than others—even simple ones?
Let’s talk about the MDA framework: the secret sauce behind engaging game design.
🧵 A thread for indie devs ↓

#gamedev101 #gamedesigntips #MDAframework
#indiegamedesign #gamedesigners
#solodev #gamedeveloper #indiegamedev

This new research explores how emotional engagement in games affects immersion and decision-making. How deeply do you feel your choices in games?
www.tandfonline.com/doi/ful...
#GameDesign

Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics: How Great Games Hook Us Ever wonder why some games just feel good to play—even if they’re simple?

Which aesthetic do YOU want players to feel in your next game? 🎮

Check out this week's blog to learn how Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics work together to make addicting games!

open.substack.com/pub/cornucop...

#gamedesign #indiegamedev #sologamedev

Every game starts with design.

Even if you can’t code yet, you can still:
✅ Define a core loop
✅ Plan levels
✅ Design systems
✅ Balance gameplay

You’re a #gamedesigner the moment you start doing these. 🎮
#indiegamedev #sologamedev