Ben Hickling // MNKY
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benhickling.bsky.social
Ben Hickling // MNKY
@benhickling.bsky.social
Artist / Game Dev / Current project: Ex-Zodiac (out in early access now!) - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1249480/ExZodiac/
Reposted by Ben Hickling // MNKY
HEY! LISTEN!! 🧚

Did y'all know there's a "Tree" style comment thread option on Bluesky?

I've been using it for a month and it makes the overall threads of comments and replies MUCH cleaner and more organized!

It's something I haven't mentioned yet, but I just wanted to spread the word! ✌️
January 21, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Reposted by Ben Hickling // MNKY
Here's the first of five yet to come, setting the standard. It's Kyuu from Ex Zodiac, as suggested by @mardymuntjak.bsky.social!

I wasn't sure what her bottom half looked like, so I made something up to fit with her jumpsuit. She's very fun to draw, and I like her ship too!
January 14, 2026 at 5:54 AM
Reposted by Ben Hickling // MNKY
@rittzler.bsky.social (creator of Pseudoregalia), has had their Discord and email hacked and is linking to a virus in disguise. If you see anything linking to a game called "Furfall", DO NOT engage with it. It's not made by Rittz and isn't a real game (it's a Remote Access Trojan) DO NOT CLICK IT.
December 28, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Finally got an ADHD assessment this Saturday, will be interesting to see how that goes
December 23, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The stages of Ex-Zodiac levels so far
December 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Ben Hickling // MNKY
New stage, new themes!

Aethereal
soundcloud.com/plrusek-chan...

(and the boss theme, Glyphbreaker: soundcloud.com/plrusek-chan...)
December 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
There were far more delays than I would have liked, but the latest level Ethuna is finally playable in the latest update to #exzodiac!

The game is also currently 60% off in the Steam Winter sale - store.steampowered.com/app/1249480/...
December 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I might moan about Godot from time to time, but what we have now is infinitely better than what I first tried using back in 2014 😂
New vid on how to install and use Godot 1.0! Thanks to @akien.bsky.social for making it possible to use the first version of the #GodotEngine again, and to my girlfriend for making the video's thumbnail :) youtu.be/HsVLwCKGoWs?... #Godot #gamedev #indiedev
Is Game Development too Easy?! Install Godot 1.0!!
YouTube video by Maxfield
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 10:20 AM
I dream of the day when Godot's bezier animation editor is functional
November 23, 2025 at 11:28 PM
At least Bluesky is still working lol
November 18, 2025 at 2:12 PM
This is how the 15fps mode works in Ex-Zodiac
November 10, 2025 at 12:36 PM
My favourite thing about game development is getting part way through developing a boss, deciding it's shite, and then starting a new one. Then doing that multiple times
November 2, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Reposted by Ben Hickling // MNKY
CANDY RANGERS IS OUT EVERYWHERE
youtu.be/xDVBrPUXr78
Candy Rangers Launch Trailer
YouTube video by Mechano
youtu.be
October 2, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Sorry for the lack of updates, I'm still chipping away at the latest level for Ex-Zodiac. I've been caught up with other life stuff like looking for a new job after my previous position came to an end. Anyhoo, I should have something to show soon, hopefully!
July 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The issue with the mac build was due to the custom build I was using. The only reason I was using a custom build was because the devs removed the rotation_degrees property and all of my animations used it, so I had to create a custom build where that property was still available
May 8, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Good news, she fixed the MacOS build, so now all 2.3% of you can finally enjoy the latest stage update! 🐒

store.steampowered.com/app/1249480/...
May 7, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by Ben Hickling // MNKY
the new stage's theme:
Steam Stampede

Boss track also available on SoundCloud (and Steam OST release)
April 25, 2025 at 4:43 PM
It's that time again, and Kyuu's found herself back on the bike chasing a runaway armoured train in the latest stage - Mirage!

Now is a great time to grab the game, as it's currently on sale at it's lowest discount yet (55%!)

store.steampowered.com/app/1249480/...

(MacOS version soon, hopefully)
April 25, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My favourite thing about doing an update for Ex-Zodiac is finding out the mac build doesn't work and having no idea why. I completely understand why other games don't bother 😬
April 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Almost there...
Ex-Zodiac has been on a long colorful journey for years, and it wont stop until it's the foxiest modern rail shooter you've ever played :)

Next major update is coming right up - keep an eye out: store.steampowered.com/app/1249480/...

Thanks to @benhickling.bsky.social for his dedication!
April 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
It's getting harder and harder to come up with interesting & fun bosses for my game. It's like I've exhausted the possibilities, which I obviously haven't, but it often feels like it. Also a lot of times an idea seems great in my head, but just doesn't work out in reality. That always sucks.
April 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I'm pretty sure I have ADHD. This graph represents my productivity as I approach a deadline. I've tried and tried again, but no matter what I cannot seem to shake the way I work
March 20, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Brain: you should add a Panzer Dragoon style level

Me:
a woman 's face is visible in a tik tok video
ALT: a woman 's face is visible in a tik tok video
media.tenor.com
March 8, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Releasing a demo will not hurt your game's sales, maybe a bad demo, but that's a different story
February 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM