Dan Thomas

YouTube video by A Better Way Metal Roof Going On | Tool Barn Progress on Our Off-Grid Build in Wales

Finishing our tool barn roof. And more significantly, my wife doing a flawless impression of me saying "I love potatoes" 👀

youtu.be/jR_GBplEmec

The ebs and flows of AAA and the wider economy have very little impact on the plight of an indie dev (it's *always* hard).

Don't let headlines or global industry analyses impact your vision. As Mike says, these are a distraction and the world loves a good indie game, whatever else is going on

I can't even. What in the ever-loving techbro is going on in the boardrooms of the businesses that decide this kind of behaviour is a good idea.

This is just, absolutely beyond what my dystopian view of this shitty timeline had imagined. I'm so sorry you (and anyone) has to deal with this utter BS and thank you for sharing.

I'm not at Guildford Games fest today, I'm *checks notes* meeting with groundworkers to discuss moving dirt and digging foundations.

It's so interesting switching between such different contexts.

Missing hanging out with games nerds today though 😅

One of the first video games I loved.

You play as a bin man.

We got a bit more ambitious with our gaming fantasies since then eh?

It blows my mind how far games have come and what a privilege it's been to see almost the entire evolution of an industry.

The past few weeks of online events at IMPRESS have been top tier.

This evening, Ash is flying solo and sharing his MANY years experience building marketing tools for indie devs and how to get the most out of them for NextFest.

DISCORD IN FIVE MINUTES!!!
discord.gg/MrGXnY3X?eve...

I feel like this was just the right amount of excessive effort for a lil joke. Congrats!

Steam Next Fest Checklist - are you ready? | IMPRESS Use this checklist and complementary toolkit to make sure you're ready for Steam Next Fest!

✨ Helpful reminder! ✨

Use this interactive checklist to make sure your indie game & marketing activities are ready for Steam Next Fest!

✅👇

YouTube video by IMPRESS // Ash Gwinnell Steam Next Fest Marketing – Indie PR with Robby Bisschop (Pirate PR)

Panicking out a press release today because the Steam Next Fest press preview going live?

Or just want to know best practices on indie pr?

You need this Q&A with the legendary @piratepr.com!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIUI...

#gamedev #indiedev

YouTube video by A Better Way Wrapping the Tool Barn | OSB and Breather Membrane Time

Remember summer? When is was Sunny sometimes and the days are longer than 5 minutes?

I built a roof then. Good times
youtu.be/LV8uw45OpYw

Totally missed this! Hope all is okay and welcome to the post-agency, midlife liberation club! Can't wait to see your next shenanigans 🙌

HMU if you'd like a catch up ♥️

30 minutes folks!

@piratepr.com are one of the absolute best in the biz when it comes to indie game PR. Bobby has supported SO many indies and really knows his stuff. Go level up 👇

If you're based in the UK and just starting to dip your toe in the Games Industry, whether you're an indie dev, working in AAA, a freelancer, a performer or doing something industry adjacent:

Here are some communities and organisations I think you should be aware of!

Local Facebook group like:

"Town meeting tonight, come contribute to our campaign to be the UK town of culture 2028"

"Parking warden in town lads"

"Who's front door is this? You got my package"

Culture 👊

+1 to this. Also not denying ADHD (both can be true) but as someone who was medically diagnosed with depression in the past. This is all very familiar. The lack of joy/hope is a big indicator. Happy to DM if more info helps 🫶

Every week there are indie games doing pretty great that you probably never heard of:

Game | Est revenue | Release date
YAPYAP | $2.5m | 3rd Feb
Jackal | $98k | 5th Feb
Dawncaster | $61k | 6th Feb
Rogue Factory | $33k | 3rd Feb

Small teams, all self published
(Estimated rev from GameDiscoverCo)

* This is only if you want commercial viability. If you just want to see your art come to life, do it however brings you the most joy.

Unpopular opinion:

😱 Indie Devs shouldn't be focused on vertical slices or even prototypes.
👀 Instead, focus on the dream Steam page + trailer for your idea.
😅 Do just enough art & dev to make those a reality and get it out there.
🔥 If that lands, move onto demo + marketing.

✨ Insert nuance here✨

YouTube video by A Better Way Off-Grid Tool Barn Rafters | Birdsmouth Cuts & Our First Scarf Joint

Building a pitched roof on our tool barn... with no idea what we're doing!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoSr...

Since starting to build my own house, I've started following lots of tradies and craftspeople on social.

The lack of GenAI talk in that sphere is so refreshing.

BIG things happening with the @apparance.bsky.social crew at this year's Everything Procedural Conference.

Come learn runtime procedural generation with us.

7th-10th April, Breda, Netherlands

Bitterballen, Stroopwafel and #ProcGen
What's not to like?!

Let's Gooooo!!! 🙌

Kicking off now!

Today at 6pm. Not to be missed!

Reform UK's Welsh leader Dan Thomas announced by Nigel Farage at rally in Newport Dan Thomas will lead the party at the Senedd election in May, with polling showing Reform performing strongly.

For the avoidance of doubt, that aint me...

Also, booooo!👎

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c9...

Totally normal thing to have to do in your software. A real intelligent default thing to want on, "nag mode" 🤦

Quite a few folks feeling the strain of things lately.

If that's you too remember, you're knocked back, not out. The lows give us perspective to appreciate the highs.

Better days to come 💪

Such a shame we can't have half-usable things without corrupt, multi-billion dollar enterprises behind them :(

I've dabbled with Linux several times and have really enjoyed some of the UI innovations it pushes but every time I've turned my back for 5 minutes and subsequently drown in package hell

Okay, that's just about enough winter now. Can we take a vote or something to just skip to Spring?

YouTube video by A Better Way Building and Raising the Walls of Our Biggest Off-Grid Build | Tool Barn

It's Sunday, chill out and watch us build a big shed.

More importantly, there's a bunch of baby weasels that moved into our fence post pile and they are ADORABLE (weasels at 13:23)

youtu.be/9ExoJWTol8Y?...