Adam McDonald
@adammcdlt.bsky.social
Game dev from the Vancouver area. Senior Game Designer at Studio MDHR. Views are my own.
Making Chronoblazer, a 2D shmup with progression and light exploration, in my spare time.
https://adammcdonald.itch.io/
https://adammcd.com
Making Chronoblazer, a 2D shmup with progression and light exploration, in my spare time.
https://adammcdonald.itch.io/
https://adammcd.com
Pinned
Adam McDonald
@adammcdlt.bsky.social
· Oct 21
Here’s my BlueSky intro thread!
I’m mostly here for game dev related stuff. As of this past September, I work full time as a designer at Studio MDHR on an unannounced project. Before that I was with The Initiative/Microsoft working as a level designer on Perfect Dark.
I’m mostly here for game dev related stuff. As of this past September, I work full time as a designer at Studio MDHR on an unannounced project. Before that I was with The Initiative/Microsoft working as a level designer on Perfect Dark.
Very WIP but I feel like I'm getting somewhere with this...
I had a mini breakthrough when sketching potential cut scenes (still image kind) for my game, realizing it's not actually hard and overwhelming to attempt to draw in perspective. Got me excited about doing them, so I started on one.
I had a mini breakthrough when sketching potential cut scenes (still image kind) for my game, realizing it's not actually hard and overwhelming to attempt to draw in perspective. Got me excited about doing them, so I started on one.
November 17, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Very WIP but I feel like I'm getting somewhere with this...
I had a mini breakthrough when sketching potential cut scenes (still image kind) for my game, realizing it's not actually hard and overwhelming to attempt to draw in perspective. Got me excited about doing them, so I started on one.
I had a mini breakthrough when sketching potential cut scenes (still image kind) for my game, realizing it's not actually hard and overwhelming to attempt to draw in perspective. Got me excited about doing them, so I started on one.
New Metroid Prime 4 trailer looks cool as hell and gave me some hype back after the mixed previews. "THE ABILITY TO JUMP" made me laugh though.
November 14, 2025 at 5:47 PM
New Metroid Prime 4 trailer looks cool as hell and gave me some hype back after the mixed previews. "THE ABILITY TO JUMP" made me laugh though.
Hand placing tiles on the environments of my game… I like seeing the result, but damn is it tedious work. It’s my own fault for wanting certain tile sets to be complicated for some reason.
November 13, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Hand placing tiles on the environments of my game… I like seeing the result, but damn is it tedious work. It’s my own fault for wanting certain tile sets to be complicated for some reason.
Reposted by Adam McDonald
My takeaway from every new Epstein revelation is that some powerful people victimized many powerless young women, many more knew, some actively enabled it--and we're still being told that MeToo and accountability for sexual violence have gone too far
November 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
My takeaway from every new Epstein revelation is that some powerful people victimized many powerless young women, many more knew, some actively enabled it--and we're still being told that MeToo and accountability for sexual violence have gone too far
I finished the newest season of Foundation last night. I want to like this show, and it throws me crumbs from time to time, but I am sorry to say it's kinda dumb and I laughed at some of the big dramatic moments.
November 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I finished the newest season of Foundation last night. I want to like this show, and it throws me crumbs from time to time, but I am sorry to say it's kinda dumb and I laughed at some of the big dramatic moments.
Reposted by Adam McDonald
"Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I would paint a picture of hot Bowser for official material, announced by Miyamoto himself. 😭 I laughed so hard in disbelief while painting, you have no idea lol"
November 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
"Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I would paint a picture of hot Bowser for official material, announced by Miyamoto himself. 😭 I laughed so hard in disbelief while painting, you have no idea lol"
A common post genre in Facebook group game dev groups is “I followed tutorials and bought assets and made a game… but it’s not fun? Any tutorials I can follow to make it fun?”
I feel for these people, but tbh I mostly appreciate the reminder that game design is hard.
I feel for these people, but tbh I mostly appreciate the reminder that game design is hard.
November 4, 2025 at 5:09 AM
A common post genre in Facebook group game dev groups is “I followed tutorials and bought assets and made a game… but it’s not fun? Any tutorials I can follow to make it fun?”
I feel for these people, but tbh I mostly appreciate the reminder that game design is hard.
I feel for these people, but tbh I mostly appreciate the reminder that game design is hard.
Feeling pretty good about my latest iterations on the layout in this part of the game, including some new enemy types, new enemy behaviours, some art updates, and a completely redone proximity door.
#chronoblazer #shmup #screenshotsaturday
#chronoblazer #shmup #screenshotsaturday
October 26, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Feeling pretty good about my latest iterations on the layout in this part of the game, including some new enemy types, new enemy behaviours, some art updates, and a completely redone proximity door.
#chronoblazer #shmup #screenshotsaturday
#chronoblazer #shmup #screenshotsaturday
Still thinking about this. In the first level, a naked koopa troopa dive-bombs you. The first boss is a physics puzzle. There are like 10 enemy types introduced before the first castle, including some you never see again. You climb on a fence and punch koopa troopas on the other side.
My kids are currently obsessed with Mario and all the characters from the games. I was showing them Super Mario World, which was my first Mario game. It struck me while explaining the characters, the rules (i.e. how Yoshi interacts with the different shells) that this is actually quite a wild game.
October 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Still thinking about this. In the first level, a naked koopa troopa dive-bombs you. The first boss is a physics puzzle. There are like 10 enemy types introduced before the first castle, including some you never see again. You climb on a fence and punch koopa troopas on the other side.
My kids are currently obsessed with Mario and all the characters from the games. I was showing them Super Mario World, which was my first Mario game. It struck me while explaining the characters, the rules (i.e. how Yoshi interacts with the different shells) that this is actually quite a wild game.
October 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
My kids are currently obsessed with Mario and all the characters from the games. I was showing them Super Mario World, which was my first Mario game. It struck me while explaining the characters, the rules (i.e. how Yoshi interacts with the different shells) that this is actually quite a wild game.
Reposted by Adam McDonald
I’m a level designer and I’m here to debunk this.
These screens have the same gameplay metrics, but the left side is much more legible. The player doesn’t need to infer the spacing - it’s spelled out clearly.
These screens have the same gameplay metrics, but the left side is much more legible. The player doesn’t need to infer the spacing - it’s spelled out clearly.
October 18, 2025 at 10:47 PM
I’m a level designer and I’m here to debunk this.
These screens have the same gameplay metrics, but the left side is much more legible. The player doesn’t need to infer the spacing - it’s spelled out clearly.
These screens have the same gameplay metrics, but the left side is much more legible. The player doesn’t need to infer the spacing - it’s spelled out clearly.
I have a personal email address that makes people sometimes say "how did you get THAT?" It's just a short version of my name, but in a way that seems like someone else would have done it first.
Anyway, I get a lot of email not meant for me.
Anyway, I get a lot of email not meant for me.
October 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I have a personal email address that makes people sometimes say "how did you get THAT?" It's just a short version of my name, but in a way that seems like someone else would have done it first.
Anyway, I get a lot of email not meant for me.
Anyway, I get a lot of email not meant for me.
Vertical slice, gameplay undetermined.
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
October 13, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Vertical slice, gameplay undetermined.
Reposted by Adam McDonald
I don’t watch baseball, but Toronto/Seattle is going to be a big matchup for the two types of baseball fans in Vancouver: Mariners fans (nearest team) and Blue Jays fans (only Canadian team).
October 11, 2025 at 5:13 AM
I don’t watch baseball, but Toronto/Seattle is going to be a big matchup for the two types of baseball fans in Vancouver: Mariners fans (nearest team) and Blue Jays fans (only Canadian team).
Just tried out ElecHead... now that's a video game.
October 8, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Just tried out ElecHead... now that's a video game.
New walking path between two parallel streets was added in my neighbourhood and I feel like a Sim City person walking on it. Like it spawned into the world and I decided to turn that way now.
October 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
New walking path between two parallel streets was added in my neighbourhood and I feel like a Sim City person walking on it. Like it spawned into the world and I decided to turn that way now.
Reposted by Adam McDonald
Folks on here probably already know this but Asmongold is a part owner of Mad Mushroom games and OTK (who occasionally runs “direct” style showcases) - he’s no friend to the industry and his labels really ought to be fully shunned
October 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Folks on here probably already know this but Asmongold is a part owner of Mad Mushroom games and OTK (who occasionally runs “direct” style showcases) - he’s no friend to the industry and his labels really ought to be fully shunned
I am obsessed with this song lately (“Afureru” by tricot). The annoying thing is that I don’t really expect anyone that listens to it once to fully soak it in… I came across it when I was first getting into this band and it didn’t do much for me.
youtu.be/k2T8jcSOOm4?...
youtu.be/k2T8jcSOOm4?...
tricot「あふれる」Music Video
YouTube video by tricot Official Channel
youtu.be
October 6, 2025 at 4:04 AM
I am obsessed with this song lately (“Afureru” by tricot). The annoying thing is that I don’t really expect anyone that listens to it once to fully soak it in… I came across it when I was first getting into this band and it didn’t do much for me.
youtu.be/k2T8jcSOOm4?...
youtu.be/k2T8jcSOOm4?...
By contrast, one game I worked on had a strategy guide deadline that we (the level designers) heard about at the last minute and we had to quickly export 2D maps from whatever was currently in our WIP levels. The actual guide has things in it that are wrong because we continued making changes.
The Japanese Mario 64 official strategy guide is an incredible thing. "Can we make little hand-made dioramas of all the levels?" "Sure, why the hell not."
October 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
By contrast, one game I worked on had a strategy guide deadline that we (the level designers) heard about at the last minute and we had to quickly export 2D maps from whatever was currently in our WIP levels. The actual guide has things in it that are wrong because we continued making changes.
Is there a free screenshot software that's as simple as the Windows Snipping Tool? There was a recent update to it that makes it auto-detect shapes you draw, which I don't want. I want to draw freehand. I just want to draw a little box on my screen, then get given a screenshot that I can draw on.
October 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Is there a free screenshot software that's as simple as the Windows Snipping Tool? There was a recent update to it that makes it auto-detect shapes you draw, which I don't want. I want to draw freehand. I just want to draw a little box on my screen, then get given a screenshot that I can draw on.
“Garbage in garbage can”
what's the stupidest/randomest Simpsons quote that lives in your head rent free? Mine is the urge to say "you said go to bread" every time I am about to head to bed.
October 2, 2025 at 4:02 AM
“Garbage in garbage can”
Reposted by Adam McDonald
Carpoon is only $5 in #SteamAutumnSale and yes, I spent too long on this!
store.steampowered.com/app/1068840/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1068840/...
October 1, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Carpoon is only $5 in #SteamAutumnSale and yes, I spent too long on this!
store.steampowered.com/app/1068840/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1068840/...
I’ll be there tomorrow! Not showing anything, just checking it out.
Vancouver Game Garden 2025 is… starting RIGHT NOW?? 🎮🌻
Join us today & tomorrow from 11AM-5PM at the Roundhouse Community Centre for this free, all-ages event full of indie game demos, a video-game-artist alley, educational talks, and cool prizes like a limited edition t-shirt and stickers! ✨
Join us today & tomorrow from 11AM-5PM at the Roundhouse Community Centre for this free, all-ages event full of indie game demos, a video-game-artist alley, educational talks, and cool prizes like a limited edition t-shirt and stickers! ✨
September 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I’ll be there tomorrow! Not showing anything, just checking it out.