Adrian Sandoval
@adriansandoval.net
He/him. Game dev professor @ Drexel U/UArts, IGDA Philly Chair, Lead designer for Little Nemo & the Nightmare Fiends, Cake enthusiast. Opinions my own. http://www.adriansandoval.net
Pinned
Adrian Sandoval
@adriansandoval.net
· Oct 19
Hi! I'm Adrian Sandoval, a game designer currently working on Little Nemo & the Nightmare Fiends, a 2D action-adventure game based on the Little Nemo comic strip from the early 1900s. Consider wishlisting on Steam, please and thank you! store.steampowered.com/app/2229030/...
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
This rarest Japanese Eggerland/Adventures of Lolo game release has now been fully scanned and archived online:
archive.org/details/egge...
archive.org/details/egge...
December 7, 2025 at 5:34 AM
This rarest Japanese Eggerland/Adventures of Lolo game release has now been fully scanned and archived online:
archive.org/details/egge...
archive.org/details/egge...
I love showing this clip to my students. The aforementioned F-Zero segment is always a hit, and they're baffled by the concept of group therapy sessions for game addiction* which I remember being a hot button topic.
*Excuse me, 'Nintend-pendent'.
*Excuse me, 'Nintend-pendent'.
"have things gone a bit too far?"
it's worth watching just for the f-zero segment, trust me yall
it's worth watching just for the f-zero segment, trust me yall
December 4, 2025 at 1:19 AM
I love showing this clip to my students. The aforementioned F-Zero segment is always a hit, and they're baffled by the concept of group therapy sessions for game addiction* which I remember being a hot button topic.
*Excuse me, 'Nintend-pendent'.
*Excuse me, 'Nintend-pendent'.
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
Join us for our 3rd annual Holiday Potluck! 🎉
Bring a dish and hang out with game developers in the Philadelphia area! Students, Hobbyists, and Professionals, everyone is invited.
See you there!
Join our Discord for food signups and more details! Link in bio. 👾
#PhillyEvents #PhillyMakesGames
Bring a dish and hang out with game developers in the Philadelphia area! Students, Hobbyists, and Professionals, everyone is invited.
See you there!
Join our Discord for food signups and more details! Link in bio. 👾
#PhillyEvents #PhillyMakesGames
December 3, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Join us for our 3rd annual Holiday Potluck! 🎉
Bring a dish and hang out with game developers in the Philadelphia area! Students, Hobbyists, and Professionals, everyone is invited.
See you there!
Join our Discord for food signups and more details! Link in bio. 👾
#PhillyEvents #PhillyMakesGames
Bring a dish and hang out with game developers in the Philadelphia area! Students, Hobbyists, and Professionals, everyone is invited.
See you there!
Join our Discord for food signups and more details! Link in bio. 👾
#PhillyEvents #PhillyMakesGames
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
It's Giving Tuesday at the VGHF! We've had an incredible 2025, but we need your help to make sure we can continue doing our charitable work in 2026 and beyond. We just launched our annual Winter Fundraiser campaign, please give if you're able (and share this post!). http://gamehistory.org/donate
December 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
It's Giving Tuesday at the VGHF! We've had an incredible 2025, but we need your help to make sure we can continue doing our charitable work in 2026 and beyond. We just launched our annual Winter Fundraiser campaign, please give if you're able (and share this post!). http://gamehistory.org/donate
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
Certainly not a programmer myself, but I did find those 'Pixel Art Tips for Programmers' incredibly helpful; especially as I still hope to make that Game Boy game come to life.
Read the article here: jslegenddev.substack.com/p/5-pixel-ar...
Read the article here: jslegenddev.substack.com/p/5-pixel-ar...
November 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Certainly not a programmer myself, but I did find those 'Pixel Art Tips for Programmers' incredibly helpful; especially as I still hope to make that Game Boy game come to life.
Read the article here: jslegenddev.substack.com/p/5-pixel-ar...
Read the article here: jslegenddev.substack.com/p/5-pixel-ar...
Ok American followers, what's everyone making for dinner today? I just pulled out my hassleback potato gratin! (Recipe is Kenji-Lopez Alt)
November 27, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Ok American followers, what's everyone making for dinner today? I just pulled out my hassleback potato gratin! (Recipe is Kenji-Lopez Alt)
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
I think Demonschool is a good video game but I think Brandon’s approach to how staff worked together and were credited REALLY deserves a lot of attention. Video game crediting is a stupid black box and transparency will help average people understand these roles.
demonschool credits all 145 people who touched the game over the course of its multi-year dev cycle AND explains what exactly they contributed. the rest of the games industry, which commonly omits people from credits entirely, should be taking notes
November 25, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I think Demonschool is a good video game but I think Brandon’s approach to how staff worked together and were credited REALLY deserves a lot of attention. Video game crediting is a stupid black box and transparency will help average people understand these roles.
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
We did something different with the credits for Demonschool. We used this format: name, title, lengthy description of what they did. Often you see credits in games where you don't know what the credited developer was actually responsible for. We wanted to give people proper, actual credit.
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
We did something different with the credits for Demonschool. We used this format: name, title, lengthy description of what they did. Often you see credits in games where you don't know what the credited developer was actually responsible for. We wanted to give people proper, actual credit.
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
If you're enjoying Demonschool, please review it on your platform of choice! We would love to reach 500 reviews by the end of the month on Steam, especially. If we can achieve that goal we will put something very stupid into the game for you all as a reward......
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 PM
If you're enjoying Demonschool, please review it on your platform of choice! We would love to reach 500 reviews by the end of the month on Steam, especially. If we can achieve that goal we will put something very stupid into the game for you all as a reward......
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
This one's from me! I thought it'd be fun to poke and prod at the concepts of hard and hardcore games, and ultimately how unrelated the two terms are:
www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus...
www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus...
There's a difference between hard games and hardcore ones, and the distinction matters
True skill is about more than learning how to win, and true challenge is about more than an insurmountable obstacle.
www.pcgamer.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:51 AM
This one's from me! I thought it'd be fun to poke and prod at the concepts of hard and hardcore games, and ultimately how unrelated the two terms are:
www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus...
www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus...
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
The amount of people I know who have been laid off from games industry jobs and are deciding to leave games entirely as a result is not only extremely saddening (of course), but also genuinely scary. We have lost legitimately thousands of years of knowledge and experience in the last four years.
November 21, 2025 at 2:13 AM
The amount of people I know who have been laid off from games industry jobs and are deciding to leave games entirely as a result is not only extremely saddening (of course), but also genuinely scary. We have lost legitimately thousands of years of knowledge and experience in the last four years.
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
Demonschool is $22.49 on Steam (10% off launch discount) buff.ly/x2gL25B
US eShop buff.ly/TxU2MtV
US PS+ buff.ly/7A5p8WI
XBL buff.ly/VJK36TI
Deck verified
US eShop buff.ly/TxU2MtV
US PS+ buff.ly/7A5p8WI
XBL buff.ly/VJK36TI
Deck verified
November 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Demonschool is $22.49 on Steam (10% off launch discount) buff.ly/x2gL25B
US eShop buff.ly/TxU2MtV
US PS+ buff.ly/7A5p8WI
XBL buff.ly/VJK36TI
Deck verified
US eShop buff.ly/TxU2MtV
US PS+ buff.ly/7A5p8WI
XBL buff.ly/VJK36TI
Deck verified
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
On this particular day I want to say that a critic's job is to criticize art, and an artist's job is to make something that resonates with specific people, which necessarily means it won't resonate with others. If every critic liked a piece of art, one or the other of us would not be doing our jobs.
November 18, 2025 at 7:04 PM
On this particular day I want to say that a critic's job is to criticize art, and an artist's job is to make something that resonates with specific people, which necessarily means it won't resonate with others. If every critic liked a piece of art, one or the other of us would not be doing our jobs.
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
With the passing of Rebecca Heineman today, I wanted to share some images from her last, now forever unfinished project. She was working on amazing stuff right up until the end.
It was Dragon Wars remastered.
Jennell Jaquays was art directing.
It was Dragon Wars remastered.
Jennell Jaquays was art directing.
November 17, 2025 at 11:58 PM
With the passing of Rebecca Heineman today, I wanted to share some images from her last, now forever unfinished project. She was working on amazing stuff right up until the end.
It was Dragon Wars remastered.
Jennell Jaquays was art directing.
It was Dragon Wars remastered.
Jennell Jaquays was art directing.
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
Since I evidently still have the critical acclaim juice, if you know of anyone who needs a narrative/content/game designer with technical and management skills, 15 years of experience, acclaim in related fields, and has some other fancy awards like being a Forbes 30 under 30, I’m your guy!
November 17, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Since I evidently still have the critical acclaim juice, if you know of anyone who needs a narrative/content/game designer with technical and management skills, 15 years of experience, acclaim in related fields, and has some other fancy awards like being a Forbes 30 under 30, I’m your guy!
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
Rebecca Heineman is a legend. If you’re playing video games right now then the work she has done has impacted you.
Rebecca Heineman doesn't have much time left. If you can, please donate for her and her family to make end of life arrangements.
One last kindness we can offer for a legend of the games industry and loud and proud trans woman:
www.gofundme.com/f/help-rebec...
One last kindness we can offer for a legend of the games industry and loud and proud trans woman:
www.gofundme.com/f/help-rebec...
Donate to Help Rebecca Ann Heineman Fight Aggressive Cancer, organized by Rebecca Heineman
I’m Rebecca Ann Heineman. The very first video game champion, creat… Rebecca Heineman needs your support for Help Rebecca Ann Heineman Fight Aggressive Cancer
www.gofundme.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Rebecca Heineman is a legend. If you’re playing video games right now then the work she has done has impacted you.
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
November 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
WHAT. Give me that, you jerks!!!!!!
An e-ink display can be used as the front panel on a Steam Machine (used for testing by Valve, will not be for sale) youtu.be/bWUxObt1efQ?...
November 12, 2025 at 7:44 PM
WHAT. Give me that, you jerks!!!!!!
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
Fun to be able to refer to our video games as "artisanal" at least
Enjoy fine astisanal hand made video games, coming to you next Wednesday store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
Demonschool on Steam
Demonschool is a new-style tactics RPG where motion equals action. Defeat big weirdos in between the human and demon worlds as Faye and her misfit companions, while navigating university life on a mys...
store.steampowered.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Fun to be able to refer to our video games as "artisanal" at least
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
I wrote more words about how it feels to be a translator watching the games press report on AI and labor, coming from a field that's fought these battles for decades. It may look like I'm beating up on one outlet, but it's not about them; I've been trying to write this for me and my peers all year.
You Can't Report on Hunger While Taking Bread Off the Table
On the proliferation of machine translation in video game outlets covering the effects of AI on labor.
dateemups.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 AM
I wrote more words about how it feels to be a translator watching the games press report on AI and labor, coming from a field that's fought these battles for decades. It may look like I'm beating up on one outlet, but it's not about them; I've been trying to write this for me and my peers all year.
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
The power of mu! There's an obscure bit of Chrono Trigger lore involving Masa & Mune's big sister, Doreen, that actually helps make sense of a random hanging thread in Super Mario Bros. 2. This one got super weird!
www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com/blog/how-non...
www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com/blog/how-non...
How Nonexistence Connects Chrono Trigger to Super Mario Bros. 2 — Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games
Belthasar was off by one letter; all life actually begins with mu and and ends with mu!
www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The power of mu! There's an obscure bit of Chrono Trigger lore involving Masa & Mune's big sister, Doreen, that actually helps make sense of a random hanging thread in Super Mario Bros. 2. This one got super weird!
www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com/blog/how-non...
www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com/blog/how-non...
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
IT IS RESURRECTED!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BilL...
And then some, this is really more of an artistic tribute to the original Halikan industrial design with better materials and some fancy flair. Check it out, it's some of the best work by @polymatt.bsky.social yet!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BilL...
And then some, this is really more of an artistic tribute to the original Halikan industrial design with better materials and some fancy flair. Check it out, it's some of the best work by @polymatt.bsky.social yet!
Restoration or Resurrection? Re-creating a rare 80's laptop from the ground up
YouTube video by polymatt
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:11 PM
IT IS RESURRECTED!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BilL...
And then some, this is really more of an artistic tribute to the original Halikan industrial design with better materials and some fancy flair. Check it out, it's some of the best work by @polymatt.bsky.social yet!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BilL...
And then some, this is really more of an artistic tribute to the original Halikan industrial design with better materials and some fancy flair. Check it out, it's some of the best work by @polymatt.bsky.social yet!
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
Here's a fresh piece for everyone on the best licensed game ever made:
kimimithegameeatingshemonster.com/2025/11/07/g...
kimimithegameeatingshemonster.com/2025/11/07/g...
November 7, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Here's a fresh piece for everyone on the best licensed game ever made:
kimimithegameeatingshemonster.com/2025/11/07/g...
kimimithegameeatingshemonster.com/2025/11/07/g...
Reposted by Adrian Sandoval
Tell every podcaster you know who does any subject that they should have Brandon on over the next couple months, because his opinions on everything are Objectively Good (movies music film etc)
ATTENTION TO ALL MY PRESS AND STREAMING FRIENDS: As we lead in to the release of Demonschool, now is the time to get me on your podcast to talk about things, do interviews, etc. I can talk about things other than my game, but also hopefully my game. Hit me up if you want conversations like the below
Why delay a game that’s nothing like Silksong to avoid its surprise release? Because for indies, there’s just too much riding on each individual launch to chance it. Demonschool creative director @brandon.insertcredit.com explains:
November 6, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Tell every podcaster you know who does any subject that they should have Brandon on over the next couple months, because his opinions on everything are Objectively Good (movies music film etc)