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ben.slinger.com.au
Ben Slinger
@ben.slinger.com.au
1.3K followers 1.4K following 280 posts
He/him. Web programmer, game dev, working on The Grant Grover Anthology (http://s.team/a/4144960). Podcast at Bit Storm (http://bitstormcast.com). Dad of 4, leftist. Melbourne, AU
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ben.slinger.com.au
The Grant Grover Anthology is part of the Detective Fest, and we're currently showing up on the second page of the Popular Upcoming section which is super cool!

Hoping this sends a few wishlists our way 🤞

store.steampowered.com/category/det...
Detective
Steam Detective Fest 2026
store.steampowered.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:12 PM
ben.slinger.com.au
We've updated our demo with some additions to one of the endings and some fixes

Thanks to @ceebee514.bsky.social for streaming the demo and finding some of these issues!

store.steampowered.com/news/app/414...
The Grant Grover Anthology - Demo Update 1 - Steam News
Just in time for Detective Fest!
store.steampowered.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:38 AM
ben.slinger.com.au
I'm trying to decide if I should re-do our key art on Steam before the Detective Fest that starts in a couple of days. The original seemed a bit unfocused so trying for something more eye-catching.

I'd love some feedback!

Worth changing to the new one, or just keep the current?

#solodev #gamedev
Our current Steam capsule: a desk showing a bottle of whiskey, a cigarette in an ashtray, a VR headset and a classic noir detective's Trilby hat. It is entirely black and white except a small coloured glow from the headset and the cigarette. "The Grant Grover Anthology" is written above everything. Our potential new Steam capsule. A detective Trilby had and VR headset floating as if on an unseen person, looking at a computer screen that we see from behind. A keyboard and whiskey bottle are visible. Behind is a slightly foggy view of venetian blinds in a classic noir style. Everything is black and white except for some orange glow coming from the computer monitor. "The Grant Grover Anthology" is written to the left in the negative space left by the dark corner and monitor.
January 11, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Reposted by Ben Slinger
ceebee514.bsky.social
I've been a little remiss in posting, but I have been doing the demo dives! VOD for it all is on Twitch and YouTube, and the write-ups on Ko-Fi, including tonight's stream of The Grant Grover Anthology by Bitstorm Games! @trevhscott.bsky.social and @ben.slinger.com.au ko-fi.com/post/Demo-Di...
Demo Dive: THE GRANT GROVER ANTHOLOGY
CeeBee published a post on Ko-fi
ko-fi.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Ben Slinger
legenette.bsky.social
hello, please tell me which australian and new zealand-made games you are excited to see this year. i'm in listicle mode & would love to feature as many as possible. 🫶
January 7, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Reposted by Ben Slinger
davemilbo.bsky.social
PM Albanese is a stooge to the violent pedophilic fascists in the US and Israel.

Saying things like "we've always been concerned about human rights and democracy" as the Empire flattens both is gaslighting and propaganda.

Australia needs a strong, moral leader. We have a toad.
January 3, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Ben Slinger
ben.slinger.com.au
We hit the button and released our demo!

The demo contains the whole of The Echo Runs Deep, the first case of the anthology. We've polished it up from the game jam version, adding content and improving the visuals.

Try it out and wishlist now!

store.steampowered.com/app/4144960/...
The Grant Grover Anthology on Steam
In Neo Naarm in the 22nd century, augmentation technology has run amok. Combining deduction, visual novel and point and click gameplay, play as Grant Grover, private detective, one of the only remaini...
store.steampowered.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:40 PM
ben.slinger.com.au
We hit the button and released our demo!

The demo contains the whole of The Echo Runs Deep, the first case of the anthology. We've polished it up from the game jam version, adding content and improving the visuals.

Try it out and wishlist now!

store.steampowered.com/app/4144960/...
The Grant Grover Anthology on Steam
In Neo Naarm in the 22nd century, augmentation technology has run amok. Combining deduction, visual novel and point and click gameplay, play as Grant Grover, private detective, one of the only remaini...
store.steampowered.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:40 PM
ben.slinger.com.au
"what was your biggest impact on the Internet"

I made a Dopefish theme for Windows 95 and it's been on the official Dopefish website for more than 25 years 😂

dopefish.com
innkeep.bsky.social Daniel Burke - 🍺INNKEEP @innkeep.bsky.social · 12d
"what was your biggest impact on the Internet?"

I started an Ultima Dragons Usenet thread called the Never Ending Thread (NET) and it kept going for years.
danaenight.bsky.social Dana Nightingale 🏳️‍⚧️ @danaenight.bsky.social · 12d
"what was your biggest impact on the internet?"

I co-founded (and named) the internet's first (and for a time only) immersive sim fan community, Through the Looking Glass (TTLG). It's still going. Also helped coin the term "Fan Mission" or FM. (what we called Thief mods)
December 31, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by Ben Slinger
ben.slinger.com.au
We've launched a public playtest for the demo of The Grant Grover Anthology! The full demo should still be out by the end of the year, but if you're interested in giving some feedback, we'd love for you to try it out:

store.steampowered.com/app/4144960/...

#gamedev #indiedev #noir #cyberpunk
The Grant Grover Anthology on Steam
In Neo Naarm in the 22nd century, augmentation technology has run amok. Combining deduction, visual novel and point and click gameplay, play as Grant Grover, private detective, one of the only remaini...
store.steampowered.com
December 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM
ben.slinger.com.au
We've launched a public playtest for the demo of The Grant Grover Anthology! The full demo should still be out by the end of the year, but if you're interested in giving some feedback, we'd love for you to try it out:

store.steampowered.com/app/4144960/...

#gamedev #indiedev #noir #cyberpunk
The Grant Grover Anthology on Steam
In Neo Naarm in the 22nd century, augmentation technology has run amok. Combining deduction, visual novel and point and click gameplay, play as Grant Grover, private detective, one of the only remaini...
store.steampowered.com
December 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by Ben Slinger
ben.slinger.com.au
We're essentially releasing The Grant Grover Anthology on the shareware model: one full episode for free, two more if you buy.

Couldn't resist this little homage to DooM, though we probably won't use it as it doesn't really fit the tone of the game 🤓

#gamedev #indiedev
A screen from the demo of The Grant Grover Anthology, reading: The Echo Runs Deep: a cyberpunk adventure 3-D game by Bit Storm Games Sure, don't order The Grant Grover Anthology. Sit back with your whiskey and cigarettes and let Neo Naarm go to hell. Don't face the point and click gameplay that awaits you in Open And Shut. Avoid the brand new story written by Aubrey Jones that infests Man In Pursuit. Or act like a gumshoe! Slap a few shots in your belly and let's kick some mysterious butt. Order the entire Grant Grover Anthology now! After all, you'll probably end up in a dystopian cyberpunk future eventually. Shouldn't you know your way around before you make your extended visit? To order, call toll free 1-800-BIT-STORM. Beneath this are buttons for Bluesky, Steam and Itch.io.
December 9, 2025 at 9:43 AM
ben.slinger.com.au
We're essentially releasing The Grant Grover Anthology on the shareware model: one full episode for free, two more if you buy.

Couldn't resist this little homage to DooM, though we probably won't use it as it doesn't really fit the tone of the game 🤓

#gamedev #indiedev
A screen from the demo of The Grant Grover Anthology, reading: The Echo Runs Deep: a cyberpunk adventure 3-D game by Bit Storm Games Sure, don't order The Grant Grover Anthology. Sit back with your whiskey and cigarettes and let Neo Naarm go to hell. Don't face the point and click gameplay that awaits you in Open And Shut. Avoid the brand new story written by Aubrey Jones that infests Man In Pursuit. Or act like a gumshoe! Slap a few shots in your belly and let's kick some mysterious butt. Order the entire Grant Grover Anthology now! After all, you'll probably end up in a dystopian cyberpunk future eventually. Shouldn't you know your way around before you make your extended visit? To order, call toll free 1-800-BIT-STORM. Beneath this are buttons for Bluesky, Steam and Itch.io.
December 9, 2025 at 9:43 AM
ben.slinger.com.au
Where do you keep your spares of these little doohickeys?

Maybe I keep them in the same place and just forgot?
A close up of one of those little metal pegs to keep shelves up in IKEA furniture
December 6, 2025 at 4:56 AM
ben.slinger.com.au
Have I found it? Is making a settings menu the most tedious task in #gamedev? 😴🤯
December 5, 2025 at 9:37 AM
ben.slinger.com.au
I honestly don't remember wanting to do anything other than computing - my dad was in that field so we had computers around the house, and in the 80s that was semi-remarkable.

My path into actual jobs was not ideal, I often think I should've skipped uni since I was already self taught and inspired
recurse.com Recurse Center @recurse.com · Nov 11
What’s the lore behind choosing your career path ?
November 23, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by Ben Slinger
ben.slinger.com.au
It's still going to need some tweaking (lighting and texturing on the cinema in particular), but I'm enjoying building out this launcher for The Grant Grover Anthology.

#gamedev #indiedev #godot
November 18, 2025 at 3:17 AM
ben.slinger.com.au
It's still going to need some tweaking (lighting and texturing on the cinema in particular), but I'm enjoying building out this launcher for The Grant Grover Anthology.

#gamedev #indiedev #godot
November 18, 2025 at 3:17 AM
ben.slinger.com.au
Continuing with the lighting pass on all the scenes in The Echo Runs Deep.

This scene has a few different angles which added some additional challenges, but I think it's actually come out the best so far!

#gamedev #indiedev #godot

s.team/a/4144960
A screenshot of a scene in a small marketplace. There are two characters standing outside. A screenshot of a scene in a small marketplace. There are two characters standing outside. In comparison to the other screenshot, there is hazy lighting and a sign above the shop reading "Arlo's".
November 15, 2025 at 12:07 PM
ben.slinger.com.au
Working on the lighting and camera for the next scene. This one is a simpler scene, but was maybe harder to light in a way that fits the noir atmosphere.

#gamedev #indiedev #godot
Video game screenshot, black and white. A view through a window into an office, a private detective facing away from us at his desk. A bottle on the desk, and a door in the background. Simple lighting. Video game screenshot, black and white. A view through a window into an office, a private detective facing away from us at his desk. A bottle on the desk, and a door in the background. Harsher shadows, a glow from the computer screen creating a silhouette of the detective.
November 13, 2025 at 12:34 AM
ben.slinger.com.au
Starting a lighting pass on The Echo Runs Deep, which will be the case we include in our demo. I feel like I've made a good improvement to this scene? Always hard to tell when I've been looking at it for this long.

#gamedev #indiedev #godot
A private detective and a psychologist are sitting facing each other, with a harsh sun shadow coming in from the right. They are in her office, books in the background. This screenshot is from the jam version of the game, with lower quality lighting. A private detective and a psychologist are sitting facing each other, with a harsh sun shadow coming in from the right. They are in her office, books in the background. This screenshot is from the version I am polishing, and the lighting has been upgraded with better rim lighting, shadows and some volumetric fog.
November 12, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Reposted by Ben Slinger
ben.slinger.com.au
The Steam page for my first real game release is up!

This is hugely exciting for me, I'm working hard to get a demo out by the end of the year, really hoping to get into the Detective Fest in January 🕵️

#gamedev #indiedev #godot

store.steampowered.com/app/4144960/...
The Grant Grover Anthology on Steam
In Neo Naarm in the 22nd century, augmentation technology has run amuck. Play as Grant Grover, private detective, one of the only remaining citizens without augmentations, as he solves crimes across t...
store.steampowered.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:59 PM
ben.slinger.com.au
The Steam page for my first real game release is up!

This is hugely exciting for me, I'm working hard to get a demo out by the end of the year, really hoping to get into the Detective Fest in January 🕵️

#gamedev #indiedev #godot

store.steampowered.com/app/4144960/...
The Grant Grover Anthology on Steam
In Neo Naarm in the 22nd century, augmentation technology has run amuck. Play as Grant Grover, private detective, one of the only remaining citizens without augmentations, as he solves crimes across t...
store.steampowered.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:59 PM
ben.slinger.com.au
I think our jam game Lan Party '97 from last year's AdvXJam must have hit a popular page on Itch this week, we got a huge spike in plays and visits!
November 8, 2025 at 6:43 AM
ben.slinger.com.au
Frustrated with myself for hitting a problem I didn't have the brain space for and bouncing off it into uselessness, rather than pivoting to a different task.

I don't know how I used to motivate myself for days in end, my attention span is broken. 😫

#gamedev #indiedev
October 29, 2025 at 4:39 AM