Alex Johansson
@alexvscoding.bsky.social
Award winning experimental designer, educator and maker from Yorkshire. Advocate for approachable design, makes playful experiences for those marginalised by tech, most recently people with dementia. https://presskit.itch.io/alex-johansson-presskit
My 2026 prediction is that as devs lean harder into the harmful aesthetics and mechanisms of an explicitly addictive industry, the escalating arms race of indie gambling "simulators" will quietly rot games from the inside out.
It's wild how the scourge of Loot Boxes faded from memory so quickly.
It's wild how the scourge of Loot Boxes faded from memory so quickly.
Talked a bit about this for my submission to the culture journalist podcast’s 2026 predictions but the new cool is in offline objects and spaces you can post online evidence of participating in.
theculturejournalist.substack.com/p/2026-cultu...
theculturejournalist.substack.com/p/2026-cultu...
February 19, 2026 at 2:26 PM
My 2026 prediction is that as devs lean harder into the harmful aesthetics and mechanisms of an explicitly addictive industry, the escalating arms race of indie gambling "simulators" will quietly rot games from the inside out.
It's wild how the scourge of Loot Boxes faded from memory so quickly.
It's wild how the scourge of Loot Boxes faded from memory so quickly.
Unironically getting to build outdoor games tailored for nuns would be such an interesting design brief
There truly are other (podcast) worlds out there.
February 19, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Unironically getting to build outdoor games tailored for nuns would be such an interesting design brief
I worked on my final indie game, MORSE on and off for ten years, it's been moderately successful (to a point I could feasibly make something else) but I'm at peace with never making a game that big ever again.
Looking forward to making much, much smaller experiences for audiences outside of games.
Looking forward to making much, much smaller experiences for audiences outside of games.
any time a successful indie game is made by someone with a totally unhealthy relationship to work and no work/life balance it just creates that expectation for everyone else. you can't make an art scene off of people who are isolating and torturing themselves with work
After working 80 hour weeks for eight years, Blue Prince creator says next game probably won't be quite as ambitious
aftermath.site/blue-prince-fi...
aftermath.site/blue-prince-fi...
February 19, 2026 at 12:44 AM
I worked on my final indie game, MORSE on and off for ten years, it's been moderately successful (to a point I could feasibly make something else) but I'm at peace with never making a game that big ever again.
Looking forward to making much, much smaller experiences for audiences outside of games.
Looking forward to making much, much smaller experiences for audiences outside of games.
Absolutely wonderful construction from Adam for MORSE! It's such a delight seeing these electronics projects come into form and the methodical documentation that comes with it.
Check it out! I made a fully 3d printable iambic paddle for MORSE by @alexvscoding.bsky.social.
tl;dr: print the case parts, paddles, and get 3 low-profile keyboard switches and an Arduino Pro Micro for running QMK. I would love feedback, and it's fully open-source: github.com/jiannazzone/...
tl;dr: print the case parts, paddles, and get 3 low-profile keyboard switches and an Arduino Pro Micro for running QMK. I would love feedback, and it's fully open-source: github.com/jiannazzone/...
February 2, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Absolutely wonderful construction from Adam for MORSE! It's such a delight seeing these electronics projects come into form and the methodical documentation that comes with it.
Feels good to finally get back to making weird stuff
January 27, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Feels good to finally get back to making weird stuff
Love me some jank
A new website about PC games, from me, @brendyc.bsky.social and @jonhicks.com.
Reader-supported, which means no ads, no guff, and lots of games blogging about delightful things to play. If you liked our work on RPS, we think you'll like @jank.cool.
Reader-supported, which means no ads, no guff, and lots of games blogging about delightful things to play. If you liked our work on RPS, we think you'll like @jank.cool.
Welcome to Jank! www.jank.cool/welcome-to-j...
January 27, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Love me some jank
Since launch, MORSE has inspired a variety of weird and wonderful homebrew telegraph controllers, so I’ve put together an article highlighting community projects.
Look here at what folks are making! 🛠️📻👀
store.steampowered.com/news/app/197...
#hamradio #morse #homebrew #gamedev #indiedev
Look here at what folks are making! 🛠️📻👀
store.steampowered.com/news/app/197...
#hamradio #morse #homebrew #gamedev #indiedev
January 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Absolutely delighted that Riley had opportunity to give MORSE a look and write such lovely things about the project!
"The whole game requires a kind of intentionality and level-headedness to succeed at that, when I pull it off, really makes me feel like I’m mastering a skill."
"The whole game requires a kind of intentionality and level-headedness to succeed at that, when I pull it off, really makes me feel like I’m mastering a skill."
Beyond a couple jokes in The Simpsons I have never thought much about Morse code, and I love that a game has got me thinking about it!
Morse makes learning an obscure skill fun
aftermath.site/morse-review-i...
aftermath.site/morse-review-i...
January 5, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Absolutely delighted that Riley had opportunity to give MORSE a look and write such lovely things about the project!
"The whole game requires a kind of intentionality and level-headedness to succeed at that, when I pull it off, really makes me feel like I’m mastering a skill."
"The whole game requires a kind of intentionality and level-headedness to succeed at that, when I pull it off, really makes me feel like I’m mastering a skill."
As an early Christmas present to the ham radio community and MORSE players...🎄
Introducing the Teaspoon Telegraph, a beautifully crafted, open-source games controller and telegraph key designed by @nachimir.bsky.social!
Learn more here: ympt.co.uk/teaspoontx.h...
#hamradio #MORSE #indiedev #maker
Introducing the Teaspoon Telegraph, a beautifully crafted, open-source games controller and telegraph key designed by @nachimir.bsky.social!
Learn more here: ympt.co.uk/teaspoontx.h...
#hamradio #MORSE #indiedev #maker
December 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM
As an early Christmas present to the ham radio community and MORSE players...🎄
Introducing the Teaspoon Telegraph, a beautifully crafted, open-source games controller and telegraph key designed by @nachimir.bsky.social!
Learn more here: ympt.co.uk/teaspoontx.h...
#hamradio #MORSE #indiedev #maker
Introducing the Teaspoon Telegraph, a beautifully crafted, open-source games controller and telegraph key designed by @nachimir.bsky.social!
Learn more here: ympt.co.uk/teaspoontx.h...
#hamradio #MORSE #indiedev #maker
Playing my Morse Code game but with a pair of DK Bongos
🥁🥁🦍 --- --- .... .... / --- --- .... .... / .- ....
#hamradio #donkeykong #morse #gamedev #screenshotsaturday #indie #altctrl #indiedev
🥁🥁🦍 --- --- .... .... / --- --- .... .... / .- ....
#hamradio #donkeykong #morse #gamedev #screenshotsaturday #indie #altctrl #indiedev
December 5, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Playing my Morse Code game but with a pair of DK Bongos
🥁🥁🦍 --- --- .... .... / --- --- .... .... / .- ....
#hamradio #donkeykong #morse #gamedev #screenshotsaturday #indie #altctrl #indiedev
🥁🥁🦍 --- --- .... .... / --- --- .... .... / .- ....
#hamradio #donkeykong #morse #gamedev #screenshotsaturday #indie #altctrl #indiedev
It was such a pleasure chatting with Ross at EGX about the game and how Morse Code connected to his Grandfather, I am truly humbled by his writeup here and the palpable excitement in his voice on the Finger Guns podcast. Definitely give it a listen.
#hamradio #gamedev #amateurradio #morse
#hamradio #gamedev #amateurradio #morse
[FEATURE] MCM COMIC CON / EGX BIRMINGHAM 2025 GAME HIGHLIGHTS - PART 3!
More game highlights from MCM / EGX?! We do spoil you.
SHMUPS! RALLY RACING! SCARY PHOTOS! MORSE CODE BATTLESHIP!
fingerguns.net/features/202...
@alexvscoding.bsky.social @hueygames.bsky.social @frostwood.bsky.social
More game highlights from MCM / EGX?! We do spoil you.
SHMUPS! RALLY RACING! SCARY PHOTOS! MORSE CODE BATTLESHIP!
fingerguns.net/features/202...
@alexvscoding.bsky.social @hueygames.bsky.social @frostwood.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 4:43 PM
It was such a pleasure chatting with Ross at EGX about the game and how Morse Code connected to his Grandfather, I am truly humbled by his writeup here and the palpable excitement in his voice on the Finger Guns podcast. Definitely give it a listen.
#hamradio #gamedev #amateurradio #morse
#hamradio #gamedev #amateurradio #morse
MORSE will be exhibiting at EGX Birmingham this weekend, come along and try the game out with a glowing telegraph, bring your telegraph too if you fancy playing with your own key! www.egx.net/global/en-gb... @egxofficial.bsky.social
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode #morse #egx #mcm
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode #morse #egx #mcm
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
MORSE will be exhibiting at EGX Birmingham this weekend, come along and try the game out with a glowing telegraph, bring your telegraph too if you fancy playing with your own key! www.egx.net/global/en-gb... @egxofficial.bsky.social
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode #morse #egx #mcm
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode #morse #egx #mcm
Hello MORSE community
tonight’s stream is unfortunately cancelled,
I, through a faulty usb have put my laptop into a shutdown state, I need to reset and fix it, my apologies for this mishap, I will reschedule this soon.
73, Alex
tonight’s stream is unfortunately cancelled,
I, through a faulty usb have put my laptop into a shutdown state, I need to reset and fix it, my apologies for this mishap, I will reschedule this soon.
73, Alex
November 23, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Hello MORSE community
tonight’s stream is unfortunately cancelled,
I, through a faulty usb have put my laptop into a shutdown state, I need to reset and fix it, my apologies for this mishap, I will reschedule this soon.
73, Alex
tonight’s stream is unfortunately cancelled,
I, through a faulty usb have put my laptop into a shutdown state, I need to reset and fix it, my apologies for this mishap, I will reschedule this soon.
73, Alex
Going to be streaming my Morse Code game on Steam in just under an hour, I'll be using my glowing telegraph and assortment of different Morse keys! See you soon: store.steampowered.com/app/1976860/...
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode #morse
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode #morse
November 23, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Going to be streaming my Morse Code game on Steam in just under an hour, I'll be using my glowing telegraph and assortment of different Morse keys! See you soon: store.steampowered.com/app/1976860/...
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode #morse
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode #morse
Had the pleasure of being interviewed by Bob McCreadie from the TX Factor at National Hamfest in September to chat about MORSE, a game to encourage people to engage with amateur radio. I had to share the video introduction as it put a huge smile on my face when I watched for the first time
November 22, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Had the pleasure of being interviewed by Bob McCreadie from the TX Factor at National Hamfest in September to chat about MORSE, a game to encourage people to engage with amateur radio. I had to share the video introduction as it put a huge smile on my face when I watched for the first time
These are my kind of people. It's so satisfying to see that with even a small amount of encouragement, folks will venture far outside the box of how we conventionally control games, and how abundant and varied that expression becomes!
#hamradio #morsecode #gamedev #altctrl #morse
#hamradio #morsecode #gamedev #altctrl #morse
November 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
These are my kind of people. It's so satisfying to see that with even a small amount of encouragement, folks will venture far outside the box of how we conventionally control games, and how abundant and varied that expression becomes!
#hamradio #morsecode #gamedev #altctrl #morse
#hamradio #morsecode #gamedev #altctrl #morse
YESSSSS MORE CRYPTOGRAPHY THEMED GAMES PLEEEEASE -... .-.. . - -.-. .... .-.. .. -.- . ...
We don't know. What we do know is the wiring diagram works. We built it, virtually, in @godotengine.org. We fed it scans of the books we found.
And the books are very, very strange. The "game" that resulted is also strange.
We're hoping people can make sense of it for us.
And the books are very, very strange. The "game" that resulted is also strange.
We're hoping people can make sense of it for us.
TR-49 on Steam
Narrative deduction meets audio drama, from the creators of Heaven’s Vault, Overboard! and A Highland Song.
store.steampowered.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:03 PM
YESSSSS MORE CRYPTOGRAPHY THEMED GAMES PLEEEEASE -... .-.. . - -.-. .... .-.. .. -.- . ...
Reposted by Alex Johansson
noclip_2 covers areas of games development that traditional media often can't afford to. it's hard work discovering, researching and playing all these games, and we're a shoestring budget, but we're excited to do more in 2026 - so if you can support us please do.
patreon.com/noclip2
patreon.com/noclip2
November 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM
noclip_2 covers areas of games development that traditional media often can't afford to. it's hard work discovering, researching and playing all these games, and we're a shoestring budget, but we're excited to do more in 2026 - so if you can support us please do.
patreon.com/noclip2
patreon.com/noclip2
MORSE's launch discount of 20% off ends in less than an hour! Grab it whilst you can! store.steampowered.com/app/1976860/...
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode
November 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
MORSE's launch discount of 20% off ends in less than an hour! Grab it whilst you can! store.steampowered.com/app/1976860/...
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode
#hamradio #gamedev #morsecode
Thanks to all for the wonderful response to MORSE! One of the highlights of the games' development I'd like to shine a light on was showing it at UK National Hamfest in September, as guests of the Radio Society of Great Britain! (- .... .-. . .- -..)
#hamradio #hamfest #indiegame #gamedev
#hamradio #hamfest #indiegame #gamedev
November 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Thanks to all for the wonderful response to MORSE! One of the highlights of the games' development I'd like to shine a light on was showing it at UK National Hamfest in September, as guests of the Radio Society of Great Britain! (- .... .-. . .- -..)
#hamradio #hamfest #indiegame #gamedev
#hamradio #hamfest #indiegame #gamedev
Reposted by Alex Johansson
This is just such a lovely, kinetic and characterful UI.
My strategy game, MORSE released this week!
MORSE teaches you Morse Code through timing, tactics and telegraphy. Learn a secret language, build your own telegraph and jump head first down the rabbit hole of ham radio. 🔥⚓️⚫️➖
#hamradio #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #morsecode
MORSE teaches you Morse Code through timing, tactics and telegraphy. Learn a secret language, build your own telegraph and jump head first down the rabbit hole of ham radio. 🔥⚓️⚫️➖
#hamradio #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #morsecode
November 15, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This is just such a lovely, kinetic and characterful UI.