Ben Droste
@bendroste.bsky.social
Game Designer, 3D Artist, and Jugger. Creative Director at my indie studio 100 Stones Interactive. Working on Memory's Reach.
Look at what we have lost
December 31, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Look at what we have lost
Clocking out the end of 2025 by rolling credits on Metroid Prime 4. Beautiful music and art design, but ultimately disappointing in just about every other respect. So long in development yet it's hard to understand where all the time went.
December 31, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Clocking out the end of 2025 by rolling credits on Metroid Prime 4. Beautiful music and art design, but ultimately disappointing in just about every other respect. So long in development yet it's hard to understand where all the time went.
Should I:
A) cut this knot and risk losing my grip on the teabags and dropping them in the cup, or
B) accept my fate and make one really strong pot of tea.
A) cut this knot and risk losing my grip on the teabags and dropping them in the cup, or
B) accept my fate and make one really strong pot of tea.
December 15, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Should I:
A) cut this knot and risk losing my grip on the teabags and dropping them in the cup, or
B) accept my fate and make one really strong pot of tea.
A) cut this knot and risk losing my grip on the teabags and dropping them in the cup, or
B) accept my fate and make one really strong pot of tea.
Reposted by Ben Droste
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
December 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Big fan of the Prime games, keen to finally jump into a new entry in the series 😄
December 7, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Big fan of the Prime games, keen to finally jump into a new entry in the series 😄
Finished with Hades II last night. 100% completed and really enjoyed it. While it is essentially the same game as the original, it improves and expands on the gameplay in many fundamental ways while offering more variety with the addition of a whole second route.
December 6, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Finished with Hades II last night. 100% completed and really enjoyed it. While it is essentially the same game as the original, it improves and expands on the gameplay in many fundamental ways while offering more variety with the addition of a whole second route.
Reposted by Ben Droste
Big new demo update! Check out a preview of Sector 03, featuring new puzzles and mechanics - but only for a limited time!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c9F...
#metroidvania #indiegames #puzzlegame #scifi
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c9F...
#metroidvania #indiegames #puzzlegame #scifi
New puzzles and mechanics added in new demo update!
YouTube video by 100 Stones Interactive
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Big new demo update! Check out a preview of Sector 03, featuring new puzzles and mechanics - but only for a limited time!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c9F...
#metroidvania #indiegames #puzzlegame #scifi
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c9F...
#metroidvania #indiegames #puzzlegame #scifi
Duolingo has begun showing me some extremely suspect ads. Between these and the ad based micro games with fake skip buttons that load into the game rather than closing it, is some real hellish dark pattern BS and I'm questioning why I still continue to use this app.
November 17, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Duolingo has begun showing me some extremely suspect ads. Between these and the ad based micro games with fake skip buttons that load into the game rather than closing it, is some real hellish dark pattern BS and I'm questioning why I still continue to use this app.
Reposted by Ben Droste
Gamers appalled to learn that the launch title for Steam's new console, the "Gabe Cube", will not be half life 3, and instead will be a spinoff title "Barney's Mansion"
November 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Gamers appalled to learn that the launch title for Steam's new console, the "Gabe Cube", will not be half life 3, and instead will be a spinoff title "Barney's Mansion"
Reposted by Ben Droste
Back in my day, AI used to stand for Adobe Illustrator! And we hated that, too!
October 29, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Back in my day, AI used to stand for Adobe Illustrator! And we hated that, too!
Reposted by Ben Droste
Memory's Reach is part of the Metroidvania Fusion Festival - check it out (and heaps of other cool games) on Steam
store.steampowered.com/app/2126810/...
#MetroidvaniaFusion #metroidvania #indiegames
store.steampowered.com/app/2126810/...
#MetroidvaniaFusion #metroidvania #indiegames
Memory's Reach on Steam
Memory’s Reach is a first person puzzle-adventure metroidvania. Explore labyrinthian megastructures, solve mind-bending puzzles, and wield fantastic alien technology in a quest to reveal the legacy of...
store.steampowered.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Memory's Reach is part of the Metroidvania Fusion Festival - check it out (and heaps of other cool games) on Steam
store.steampowered.com/app/2126810/...
#MetroidvaniaFusion #metroidvania #indiegames
store.steampowered.com/app/2126810/...
#MetroidvaniaFusion #metroidvania #indiegames
Reposted by Ben Droste
Games media is in a state of disarray - we've seen too many brilliant outlets close their doors or succumb to the filth that is AI.
These are the people keeping Australian games journalism alive. Do whatever you can to support them - click a link, share an article, and subscribe whenever you can.
These are the people keeping Australian games journalism alive. Do whatever you can to support them - click a link, share an article, and subscribe whenever you can.
October 22, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Games media is in a state of disarray - we've seen too many brilliant outlets close their doors or succumb to the filth that is AI.
These are the people keeping Australian games journalism alive. Do whatever you can to support them - click a link, share an article, and subscribe whenever you can.
These are the people keeping Australian games journalism alive. Do whatever you can to support them - click a link, share an article, and subscribe whenever you can.
As exhausting as it is I get a lot of enjoyment out of exhibiting at PAX!
Taking a break next year though, I'm going to enjoy the show as a regular attendee for a change and actually play some other people's games 😄
Taking a break next year though, I'm going to enjoy the show as a regular attendee for a change and actually play some other people's games 😄
That's the fourth (and likely final) PAX for Memory's Reach. It's been a wild ride and a lot of fun!
#paxaus #paxaus2025
#paxaus #paxaus2025
October 14, 2025 at 12:46 AM
As exhausting as it is I get a lot of enjoyment out of exhibiting at PAX!
Taking a break next year though, I'm going to enjoy the show as a regular attendee for a change and actually play some other people's games 😄
Taking a break next year though, I'm going to enjoy the show as a regular attendee for a change and actually play some other people's games 😄
The demo changes worked out really well. I was able to fix a few sticking points and allow people to get through the tutorial section and into the meat of the demo quicker, while requiring less intervention from me.
It has been a long time since I felt compelled to make changes to my demo mid-show but here I am at 7am doing just that.
October 11, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The demo changes worked out really well. I was able to fix a few sticking points and allow people to get through the tutorial section and into the meat of the demo quicker, while requiring less intervention from me.
Reposted by Ben Droste
Unexpected outdoor time 😆
I welcome the short break and chance for a bit of sunlight, maybe we should do this every year 😜
#paxaus #paxaus2025
I welcome the short break and chance for a bit of sunlight, maybe we should do this every year 😜
#paxaus #paxaus2025
October 11, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Unexpected outdoor time 😆
I welcome the short break and chance for a bit of sunlight, maybe we should do this every year 😜
#paxaus #paxaus2025
I welcome the short break and chance for a bit of sunlight, maybe we should do this every year 😜
#paxaus #paxaus2025
Convention centre evacuation is a new experience at PAX
October 11, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Convention centre evacuation is a new experience at PAX
It has been a long time since I felt compelled to make changes to my demo mid-show but here I am at 7am doing just that.
October 10, 2025 at 8:51 PM
It has been a long time since I felt compelled to make changes to my demo mid-show but here I am at 7am doing just that.
It's 9:25am, the floor has been open to media for 25 minutes, and there are some indies still not here.
a bald man in a plaid shirt and vest
ALT: a bald man in a plaid shirt and vest
media.tenor.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM
It's 9:25am, the floor has been open to media for 25 minutes, and there are some indies still not here.
I am VERY impressed with the effort indies have gone to this year decorating their booths!
It's so much fun walking around and seeing them all.
Here's just a small selection.
It's so much fun walking around and seeing them all.
Here's just a small selection.
October 9, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I am VERY impressed with the effort indies have gone to this year decorating their booths!
It's so much fun walking around and seeing them all.
Here's just a small selection.
It's so much fun walking around and seeing them all.
Here's just a small selection.
Reposted by Ben Droste
This was super fun to be a part of! Have a listen to us talk about gaming news, what we've been playing, and of course our games we're showing at PAX this weekend!
A new Podcast!
PAX Australia is on our doorstep, so Luke & Elliot recorded with three of the developers bringing their games to the expo - Ben, Nick & Brett!
@100stones.bsky.social @nonsensemachine.bsky.social @fluentpixel.bsky.social @paxaus.bsky.social
Listen Here:
joy.org.au/checkpoint/2...
PAX Australia is on our doorstep, so Luke & Elliot recorded with three of the developers bringing their games to the expo - Ben, Nick & Brett!
@100stones.bsky.social @nonsensemachine.bsky.social @fluentpixel.bsky.social @paxaus.bsky.social
Listen Here:
joy.org.au/checkpoint/2...
October 9, 2025 at 2:25 AM
This was super fun to be a part of! Have a listen to us talk about gaming news, what we've been playing, and of course our games we're showing at PAX this weekend!
Where I will be frantically trying to redirect the attention of people headed towards the Nintendo booth this weekend.
October 9, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Where I will be frantically trying to redirect the attention of people headed towards the Nintendo booth this weekend.
Note to self: you have a booth of your own to run and the game comes out in December anyway.
...But I wanna play it! 😭
...But I wanna play it! 😭
October 9, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Note to self: you have a booth of your own to run and the game comes out in December anyway.
...But I wanna play it! 😭
...But I wanna play it! 😭
"This is still an Xbox" is not as reassuring as you think it is.
October 9, 2025 at 6:03 AM
"This is still an Xbox" is not as reassuring as you think it is.
Trecking back into the convention centre carrying a pair of small metal side tables and a foldout mini picnic table for game dev reasons that I assure you make total and complete sense.
October 9, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Trecking back into the convention centre carrying a pair of small metal side tables and a foldout mini picnic table for game dev reasons that I assure you make total and complete sense.
Reposted by Ben Droste
The Oatmeal did a comic on “AI art”. It’s good.
A cartoonist's review of AI art - The Oatmeal
This is a comic about AI art.
theoatmeal.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:39 AM
The Oatmeal did a comic on “AI art”. It’s good.