David McDonough

Land of the giants

#solodev #indiedev #gamedev #unity3d #shapes

Now with actual motion, dern you Bluesky and your GIF settings✊🔥

#indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity3d #shapes #pylon

Being a solo dev means being a technical artist too, and it can be really satisfying 🎨 Making a lil' fx using logarithmic curves and perlin noise to create procedural incense smoke

#indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity3D #shapes

NOW we're cooking with vector art gas 🔥

#indiedev #solodev #gamedev #Unity3D #shapes

Wave Function-based background set is starting to really shape up now that I wrote a custom SVG importer and converter to 'Shapes' drawing data 🔥

#indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity

Next step for Realm building: merge patterns. Different realms have to built in certain spatial groups in order to merge into larger, more powerful versions of themselves. 'Shapes' gives me a nice little "constellation" style display for that in the Former UI.

#indiedev #gamedev #solodev #unity

Next step for the wave function background: some real architectural primitives. Much better foundation for building some good environment art.

#indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity

Having some fun with wave function collapse to generate procedural mountain polygons under the Realms

#indiedev #gamedev #solodev #unity #shapes

#TactiCon Panel 2025 - Sustaining creativity within a franchise: making a sequel as fresh as the first one

⭐️ @fireflynick.bsky.social
⭐️ @jamesgroundshatter.bsky.social
⭐️ Stephan Wirth
⭐️ @davidmcdonough.bsky.social

Watch live now: store.steampowered.com/sale/Tactico...

I’ll be in the Sustaining Creativity panel on Friday to talk about my time on Civ and XCOM!

#tacticon #gamedev #indiedev

Game design/dev bingo, made using buzzwordbingogame.com

The time is right for a new game design/dev bingo!

Have you crossed off any of the below?

#gamedev #indiedev 🎲✂️ #bingo #ttrpgdesign #ttrpgdev

This is hands-down one of the best books a game designer can read — for knowledge and insight, and for inspiration. With chapters including “Colonoscopies and Board Games” and “Quantum Tic-Tac-Toe,” you can’t go wrong. Time for a re-read!

#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign

First playtester approved! And he even found like a dozen bugs 😂

#indiedev #solodev #gamedev

One nail at a time ❤️A project can seem impossible when looking out across a huge space of to-do, but you get there. Every nail you drive is one closer to done.

#indiedev #solodev #gamedev

Sympathy for the Devil What looks like discipline is often just fear, dressed up in process.

WHOOOF READ THIS
#gamedev

Even for everyday programmers there’s sometimes no substitute for getting the problem space on paper 📝

#gamedev #indiedev #solodev

A week ago was my last day at Otherside Entertainment. We did a lot of great things there, we had lofty ambitions and ideals, but in the end it wasn’t to be. Time for a good rest and then the next chapter!

Thanks, will keep you in mind when the time comes!

YouTube video by Game of Inches How to Write a GDD Method 3: The Story

How to Write a GDD Method 3: The Story!

What does the game feel like? What's the player see, think, and imagine? The most potent way to illustrate the VISION of the game.

#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign

SAME

YouTube video by Game of Inches How to Write a GDD Method 2: The Flatpack

How to Write a GDD Method 2: The Flatpack!
What are all the pieces you need and what are the instructions to use them?
#gamedev #gamedesign #indiedev #solodev

Everyone hates on UI development but I find it quite satisfying. It’s like making a clock with all the little components coming together to make something smooth and beautiful ❤️
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev

YouTube video by Game of Inches How to Write a GDD Method 1: The Recipe

How to write a GDD, method 1: The Recipe
What are the ingredients, steps, and expected result when served? #gamedevelopment #gamedesign #gamedesigntips

Announcing my next game!🤘

"Deedlee Doo! Carkour!"🔥

-A game where you do parkour with a car using explosions
🚗💥
-Everything in the game is made out of clay in real life🎨
-The sound effects and music are all mouth sounds👄

Wishlist it now on Steam, out on May 12th, 2025!🎸

Intriguing!

YouTube video by Game of Inches Style Points

Be careful about telling players what to care about #gamedev #indiedev #gamedesigntips #gamedesign

YouTube video by Game of Inches Lying About Chance

Can you fudge the numbers? Should you? #gamedesign #gamedev

Of course! Technical comes later. Start with what’ll make the reader see the whole experience - see what /you/ see.

Write a narrative sample of play like it’s a children’s bedtime story. Tell me about an imaginary player, describe everything she thinks and clicks on and observes. Let me imagine the game in motion.