Dom Camus
@bateleur.bsky.social
Independent game designer, programmer and artist.
Moose herder without portfolio.
Moose herder without portfolio.
In case you weren't able to watch ThinkyCon 2025 live, the helpful folks at Thinky Games have now given my talk its own video. :-)
Dom Camus' talk on how space changes the design of grid-based puzzle games was originally going to be a Discord comment, but we have the character limit to thank for it turning into this fascinating talk!
A Journey Into Space - Dom Camus (ThinkyCon 2025)
Dom Camus joins us at ThinkyCon 2025 to present the talk: "A Journey Into Space"
Talk description: A short discussion of the issue of space in grid-based puzzle games, primarily from a game design perspective. Why might you care about space, in what ways does it change a design and how can understa
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
In case you weren't able to watch ThinkyCon 2025 live, the helpful folks at Thinky Games have now given my talk its own video. :-)
Today I updated by VS install from 2019 and now it has some kind of AI suggesting autocompletes for all my lines as I type them. It's like having a dim but very enthusiastic undergraduate finishing all my sentences for me.
This lasted less than a day before being switched off.
This lasted less than a day before being switched off.
November 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Today I updated by VS install from 2019 and now it has some kind of AI suggesting autocompletes for all my lines as I type them. It's like having a dim but very enthusiastic undergraduate finishing all my sentences for me.
This lasted less than a day before being switched off.
This lasted less than a day before being switched off.
Urgent help wanted, as mention by Tonda in this talk. One of the lead playtesters really urgently needs a living kidney donor. Read www.iggyland.org and then consider reposting, please.
November 7, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Urgent help wanted, as mention by Tonda in this talk. One of the lead playtesters really urgently needs a living kidney donor. Read www.iggyland.org and then consider reposting, please.
My talk is in one hour, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eb-...
November 6, 2025 at 9:23 PM
My talk is in one hour, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eb-...
The nice people at ThinkyCon made me a poster! Also, don't forget ThinkyCon starts on Wednesday 5th - I'm on day two.
November 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The nice people at ThinkyCon made me a poster! Also, don't forget ThinkyCon starts on Wednesday 5th - I'm on day two.
Reposted by Dom Camus
This is the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the UK games industry. Yesterday, @rockstargames.com unfairly fired over 30 employees for union activity.
We won't back down, and we're not scared - we will fight for every member to be reinstated.
We won't back down, and we're not scared - we will fight for every member to be reinstated.
BREAKING: Yesterday Grand Theft Auto VI maker Rockstar Games fired dozens of people, all of whom were involved in union efforts. A British union calls it "blatant and ruthless" union-busting. Take-Two Interactive says it was due to misconduct.
Here's the scoop: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here's the scoop: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
‘Grand Theft Auto’ Studio Accused of Union Busting After Firings
Union says 30 and 40 people were terminated. Rockstar Games’ parent company cites ‘gross misconduct’
www.bloomberg.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This is the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the UK games industry. Yesterday, @rockstargames.com unfairly fired over 30 employees for union activity.
We won't back down, and we're not scared - we will fight for every member to be reinstated.
We won't back down, and we're not scared - we will fight for every member to be reinstated.
ThinkyCon last year was pretty great, so mark your diary!
Also, I'm giving a talk again... actually live this time. :-)
Also, I'm giving a talk again... actually live this time. :-)
Announcing the line-up for ThinkyCon 2025! 🎉 Tune in for 3 days of amazing talks from the makers of your favorite puzzly games!
thinkygames.com/even...
thinkygames.com/even...
October 29, 2025 at 7:55 PM
ThinkyCon last year was pretty great, so mark your diary!
Also, I'm giving a talk again... actually live this time. :-)
Also, I'm giving a talk again... actually live this time. :-)
Don't tell the Git illuminatii I told you, but you can just type this into a shell:
git config --global alias.uncommit "reset --soft HEAD^"
...and then when you want to reverse your last commit before you've pushed it, it's just:
git uncommit
...which you might have a chance of remembering!
git config --global alias.uncommit "reset --soft HEAD^"
...and then when you want to reverse your last commit before you've pushed it, it's just:
git uncommit
...which you might have a chance of remembering!
October 26, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Don't tell the Git illuminatii I told you, but you can just type this into a shell:
git config --global alias.uncommit "reset --soft HEAD^"
...and then when you want to reverse your last commit before you've pushed it, it's just:
git uncommit
...which you might have a chance of remembering!
git config --global alias.uncommit "reset --soft HEAD^"
...and then when you want to reverse your last commit before you've pushed it, it's just:
git uncommit
...which you might have a chance of remembering!
This game is so well made. Just a pleasure to play.
Spooky Express is OUT NOW on PC and Mobile! 🚂🎃
All the passengers are dying to ride the Spooky Express! Don’t let them miss their stops: they may be monsters, but they still have places to be and people to eat – er, we mean meet!
spooky.express
All the passengers are dying to ride the Spooky Express! Don’t let them miss their stops: they may be monsters, but they still have places to be and people to eat – er, we mean meet!
spooky.express
October 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
This game is so well made. Just a pleasure to play.
"iPhone build only bug"
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 3:04 PM
"iPhone build only bug"
The demo for Pieced Together is out!
I've just been coding on this project, but @katekillick.bsky.social & @ellieeady.bsky.social at Glowfrog have done incredible work. Check it out, then give it a wishlist! (Reposts also welcomed. ❤️)
store.steampowered.com/app/4005690/...
I've just been coding on this project, but @katekillick.bsky.social & @ellieeady.bsky.social at Glowfrog have done incredible work. Check it out, then give it a wishlist! (Reposts also welcomed. ❤️)
store.steampowered.com/app/4005690/...
Pieced Together Demo on Steam
Pieced Together is a cozy scrapbooking game that takes you on a heartfelt journey about friendship, getting older and learning to let go. Sort items, solve gentle puzzles, and decorate the scrapbook a...
store.steampowered.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The demo for Pieced Together is out!
I've just been coding on this project, but @katekillick.bsky.social & @ellieeady.bsky.social at Glowfrog have done incredible work. Check it out, then give it a wishlist! (Reposts also welcomed. ❤️)
store.steampowered.com/app/4005690/...
I've just been coding on this project, but @katekillick.bsky.social & @ellieeady.bsky.social at Glowfrog have done incredible work. Check it out, then give it a wishlist! (Reposts also welcomed. ❤️)
store.steampowered.com/app/4005690/...
In Unity, a runtime script handling a prefab can add components to it. If it does, they stay there on exit. However, it cannot remove components "to avoid data loss". A classic example of seemingly reasonable design causing chaos... BRB, off to remove a few hundred duplicate components by hand. :-/
September 7, 2025 at 7:38 PM
In Unity, a runtime script handling a prefab can add components to it. If it does, they stay there on exit. However, it cannot remove components "to avoid data loss". A classic example of seemingly reasonable design causing chaos... BRB, off to remove a few hundred duplicate components by hand. :-/
Have been watching this one for a while. Excited to finally get to play!
GLOWKEEPER IS OUT EVERYONE!!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/3410660/...
#indiegame #puzzlegame #godot #godotengine #gamerelease
store.steampowered.com/app/3410660/...
#indiegame #puzzlegame #godot #godotengine #gamerelease
August 29, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Have been watching this one for a while. Excited to finally get to play!
Really good intro to puzzle design. Worth bookmarking to share the link with new devs.
I wrote an Intro to Puzzle Design article🧩
This covers the usual points I discuss with people who are working on their first puzzle game. Given how some concepts can be quite abstract, I think a written piece allows everyone to digest it at their own pace.
www.ludipe.com/2025/08/18/i...
This covers the usual points I discuss with people who are working on their first puzzle game. Given how some concepts can be quite abstract, I think a written piece allows everyone to digest it at their own pace.
www.ludipe.com/2025/08/18/i...
Intro to Puzzle Design – Ludipe
www.ludipe.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Really good intro to puzzle design. Worth bookmarking to share the link with new devs.
Reposted by Dom Camus
Trying to clean up some misinformation about what pages were affected by our NSFW content deindexing. If anyone has a contact with the author please send it my way.
bsky.app/profile/itch...
bsky.app/profile/itch...
This article has mistakes in it:
> These include Last Call, a game about surviving domestic violence by award-winning game designer Nina Freeman, and Consume Me
Last Call was not affected and has been indexed. Consume Me was never indexed
bsky.app/profile/leaf...
bsky.app/profile/nina...
> These include Last Call, a game about surviving domestic violence by award-winning game designer Nina Freeman, and Consume Me
Last Call was not affected and has been indexed. Consume Me was never indexed
bsky.app/profile/leaf...
bsky.app/profile/nina...
Update: I've learned from Itch directly that Last Call actually was NOT deindexed - it's ONLY missing if you're searching for it while LOGGED OUT. This is because it's tagged (by me) as having sensitive content. Games w/ this tag only appear in search if you've opted into seeing it in your account!!
July 30, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Trying to clean up some misinformation about what pages were affected by our NSFW content deindexing. If anyone has a contact with the author please send it my way.
bsky.app/profile/itch...
bsky.app/profile/itch...
Sunken Stones is out! Had a lot of fun testing this one. Has some really nice character design, too.
Proud to announce that Sunken Stones - my puzzle strategy grid-based game about deploying (and ditching) crew mates to stave off a salty demies - is ⭐OUT NOW⭐!
Features:
🏴☠️6 Pirate Captains
☠️48 Crewmates
🌊Risk vs. Reward Mechanics
Grab the Game Now (and leave a review)!
⚓ s.team/a/2601810
Features:
🏴☠️6 Pirate Captains
☠️48 Crewmates
🌊Risk vs. Reward Mechanics
Grab the Game Now (and leave a review)!
⚓ s.team/a/2601810
July 18, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Sunken Stones is out! Had a lot of fun testing this one. Has some really nice character design, too.
Glowfrog Games, who I'm doing dev work for right now, are hiring for a few roles for Pieced Together (music/voice/marketing/animation). They're good people to work for. Here's the link: www.notion.so/glowfrog-gdd...
July 14, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Glowfrog Games, who I'm doing dev work for right now, are hiring for a few roles for Pieced Together (music/voice/marketing/animation). They're good people to work for. Here's the link: www.notion.so/glowfrog-gdd...
I think everyone should fill out the Bank of England's consultation on new banknotes designs and put "Dinosaurs!". If everyone did, we could have dinosaur bank notes. Do it!
www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/he...
www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/he...
Help us design our next series of banknotes
Share your views by nominating a theme before 31 July – it takes less than two minutes.
www.bankofengland.co.uk
July 2, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I think everyone should fill out the Bank of England's consultation on new banknotes designs and put "Dinosaurs!". If everyone did, we could have dinosaur bank notes. Do it!
www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/he...
www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/he...
For #thinkypuzzlejam5 I decided to try making an escape room. This was a lot of fun, but I would not recommend making an escape room in 48 hours!
bateleur.itch.io/the-escape-s...
bateleur.itch.io/the-escape-s...
The Escape Show by Dom Camus
An escape room made for Thinky Puzzle Game Jam 5.
bateleur.itch.io
June 30, 2025 at 7:21 AM
For #thinkypuzzlejam5 I decided to try making an escape room. This was a lot of fun, but I would not recommend making an escape room in 48 hours!
bateleur.itch.io/the-escape-s...
bateleur.itch.io/the-escape-s...
Oooh, interesting! Have to say, I'd find this very hard to do. Projects are always code-first for me because I like to get to something playable as soon as possible.
There was one really smart idea from this I wanted to share: before you write a single line of code, first draw a bunch of sprites and make a little map. You end up with a screenshot of *something* before you've even really started, and it's so nice! Definitely gonna be trying this again in future.
June 15, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Oooh, interesting! Have to say, I'd find this very hard to do. Projects are always code-first for me because I like to get to something playable as soon as possible.
In less than ten days, I will be running Thinky Puzzle Game Jam 5. In previous years this has been a lot of fun and a source of many excellent games. It's not too late to sign up! :-)
itch.io/jam/thinky-p...
itch.io/jam/thinky-p...
Thinky Puzzle Game Jam 5
A game jam from 2025-06-20 to 2025-06-29 hosted by Dom Camus. Welcome to this year's Thinky Puzzle Game Jam! What is a thinky puzzle game? Nobody really knows. The devotees of such games have been kno...
itch.io
June 11, 2025 at 6:24 PM
In less than ten days, I will be running Thinky Puzzle Game Jam 5. In previous years this has been a lot of fun and a source of many excellent games. It's not too late to sign up! :-)
itch.io/jam/thinky-p...
itch.io/jam/thinky-p...
I don't consider Blue Prince to be a puzzle game. This meets with various responses, but one person recently said: "It absolutely is, it's just that the initial room 46 quest is really before the start". Well... no. If over half of players don't get that far, it isn't in any useful sense the start.
May 31, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I don't consider Blue Prince to be a puzzle game. This meets with various responses, but one person recently said: "It absolutely is, it's just that the initial room 46 quest is really before the start". Well... no. If over half of players don't get that far, it isn't in any useful sense the start.
Reposted by Dom Camus
👉🔴 Demo Announcement 🔴👈
I've released the Steam demo for The Button Effect!
A first-person #puzzlegame inspired by The Witness, The Talos Principle, THE CORRIDOR, Antichamber and the architecture of a modern arts museum I enjoyed.
Wishlist = ❤️
store.steampowered.com/app/3563110/
I've released the Steam demo for The Button Effect!
A first-person #puzzlegame inspired by The Witness, The Talos Principle, THE CORRIDOR, Antichamber and the architecture of a modern arts museum I enjoyed.
Wishlist = ❤️
store.steampowered.com/app/3563110/
May 29, 2025 at 5:07 PM
👉🔴 Demo Announcement 🔴👈
I've released the Steam demo for The Button Effect!
A first-person #puzzlegame inspired by The Witness, The Talos Principle, THE CORRIDOR, Antichamber and the architecture of a modern arts museum I enjoyed.
Wishlist = ❤️
store.steampowered.com/app/3563110/
I've released the Steam demo for The Button Effect!
A first-person #puzzlegame inspired by The Witness, The Talos Principle, THE CORRIDOR, Antichamber and the architecture of a modern arts museum I enjoyed.
Wishlist = ❤️
store.steampowered.com/app/3563110/
Reposted by Dom Camus
Exciting Spooky Express news - the demo is OUT NOW! 🎃
Plan the train route for the world's spookiest theme park. If you don't keep all the passengers on track, you'll have a grave problem...
store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/...
Check out the demo and wishlist on Steam!
Plan the train route for the world's spookiest theme park. If you don't keep all the passengers on track, you'll have a grave problem...
store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/...
Check out the demo and wishlist on Steam!
May 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Exciting Spooky Express news - the demo is OUT NOW! 🎃
Plan the train route for the world's spookiest theme park. If you don't keep all the passengers on track, you'll have a grave problem...
store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/...
Check out the demo and wishlist on Steam!
Plan the train route for the world's spookiest theme park. If you don't keep all the passengers on track, you'll have a grave problem...
store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/...
Check out the demo and wishlist on Steam!
Ah, Gentoo Rescue is out! I've been looking forward to this one but I won't have time to play until Monday... :-/
May 22, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Ah, Gentoo Rescue is out! I've been looking forward to this one but I won't have time to play until Monday... :-/