Hale the Damo
@damiensturdy.bsky.social
Creating an Acorn-esque emulator and a real synthesizer. Sometimes makes games. Sturdy Games- Developer of way too many things at once, #8-Bit #Acorn #Kotlin, #CSharp, #Unity, #Java, #Javascript. #FLStudio http://sturdygames.co.uk
Making stuff is fun! Saying "Make stuff!" is not so fun.
I've even stepped out of a role that was asking me to ask others to make stuff because I like making stuff myself.
I got told off for being too involved ahaha.
I've even stepped out of a role that was asking me to ask others to make stuff because I like making stuff myself.
I got told off for being too involved ahaha.
We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
February 6, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Making stuff is fun! Saying "Make stuff!" is not so fun.
I've even stepped out of a role that was asking me to ask others to make stuff because I like making stuff myself.
I got told off for being too involved ahaha.
I've even stepped out of a role that was asking me to ask others to make stuff because I like making stuff myself.
I got told off for being too involved ahaha.
Since the kids decided on a name, I've rejigged it and we now have an intro!
Notice only Hugh is on the title screen- the other characters appear there once you've unlocked them.
Lenny (6) drew a coctail drink, a bunny figurine and a pet cat for Hugh's home.
#gamedev #indiedev #picotron
Notice only Hugh is on the title screen- the other characters appear there once you've unlocked them.
Lenny (6) drew a coctail drink, a bunny figurine and a pet cat for Hugh's home.
#gamedev #indiedev #picotron
February 1, 2026 at 6:38 PM
"We'll put this on steam!"
Yeah but is this a good idea when the game is made by a 6 and 9 year old- I can imagine reviews: "Game looks like it was made by kids."
Yup because it is ha.
Plenty of other places to plop a game thankfully.
Yeah but is this a good idea when the game is made by a 6 and 9 year old- I can imagine reviews: "Game looks like it was made by kids."
Yup because it is ha.
Plenty of other places to plop a game thankfully.
January 31, 2026 at 7:46 PM
"We'll put this on steam!"
Yeah but is this a good idea when the game is made by a 6 and 9 year old- I can imagine reviews: "Game looks like it was made by kids."
Yup because it is ha.
Plenty of other places to plop a game thankfully.
Yeah but is this a good idea when the game is made by a 6 and 9 year old- I can imagine reviews: "Game looks like it was made by kids."
Yup because it is ha.
Plenty of other places to plop a game thankfully.
The kiddos came up with a name!
(Before today it was called Untitled Sturdy Game)
#picotron #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCd...
(Before today it was called Untitled Sturdy Game)
#picotron #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCd...
January 31, 2026 at 1:54 PM
The kiddos came up with a name!
(Before today it was called Untitled Sturdy Game)
#picotron #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCd...
(Before today it was called Untitled Sturdy Game)
#picotron #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCd...
Using a Laptop with integrated graphics as a temp replacement for a steam deck is going surprisingly well. It even plays Potato Man's Sky at a not-totally-unplayable framerate. Says a lot about NMS!
January 30, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Using a Laptop with integrated graphics as a temp replacement for a steam deck is going surprisingly well. It even plays Potato Man's Sky at a not-totally-unplayable framerate. Says a lot about NMS!
My idle Debian system: "360mb memory usage"
*opens a webpage*
12046mb system memory usage.
Hey devs, what have we been doing.......
*opens a webpage*
12046mb system memory usage.
Hey devs, what have we been doing.......
January 29, 2026 at 6:51 PM
My idle Debian system: "360mb memory usage"
*opens a webpage*
12046mb system memory usage.
Hey devs, what have we been doing.......
*opens a webpage*
12046mb system memory usage.
Hey devs, what have we been doing.......
In what world is it OK for a mobile device to cost >£1k? No. Just no.
Not even £500. Still no.
Not even £500. Still no.
January 28, 2026 at 6:45 PM
In what world is it OK for a mobile device to cost >£1k? No. Just no.
Not even £500. Still no.
Not even £500. Still no.
Reposted by Hale the Damo
EARTH MUST DIE is OUT NOW.
Starring Joel Fry, Martha Howe-Douglas, @alexhorne.bsky.social @misterabk.bsky.social @benstarr.bsky.social @5teviem.bsky.social Tamsin Greig, Don Warrington and LOADS of other people.
It's cheap | good | funny, check it out.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
Starring Joel Fry, Martha Howe-Douglas, @alexhorne.bsky.social @misterabk.bsky.social @benstarr.bsky.social @5teviem.bsky.social Tamsin Greig, Don Warrington and LOADS of other people.
It's cheap | good | funny, check it out.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
Save 25% on Earth Must Die on Steam
These moronic Terranoids think they can just roll in here and take over my beautiful Tyrythian kingdom? The kingdom that I built from the ground up with my bare hands, and only sort of inherited from ...
store.steampowered.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:18 PM
EARTH MUST DIE is OUT NOW.
Starring Joel Fry, Martha Howe-Douglas, @alexhorne.bsky.social @misterabk.bsky.social @benstarr.bsky.social @5teviem.bsky.social Tamsin Greig, Don Warrington and LOADS of other people.
It's cheap | good | funny, check it out.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
Starring Joel Fry, Martha Howe-Douglas, @alexhorne.bsky.social @misterabk.bsky.social @benstarr.bsky.social @5teviem.bsky.social Tamsin Greig, Don Warrington and LOADS of other people.
It's cheap | good | funny, check it out.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
You're KIDDING.
*Steam Deck battery failed -> Can't play there
*PC -> Windows update boot loop
..... I'm pulling out my potato I guess!
*Steam Deck battery failed -> Can't play there
*PC -> Windows update boot loop
..... I'm pulling out my potato I guess!
January 27, 2026 at 6:16 PM
You're KIDDING.
*Steam Deck battery failed -> Can't play there
*PC -> Windows update boot loop
..... I'm pulling out my potato I guess!
*Steam Deck battery failed -> Can't play there
*PC -> Windows update boot loop
..... I'm pulling out my potato I guess!
WHERE IS IT WHERE IS IT WHERE IS IT
January 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM
WHERE IS IT WHERE IS IT WHERE IS IT
Reposted by Hale the Damo
Dive into a hand-animated metroidvania adventure with Little Nemo, where stunning dreamscapes and a captivating story redefine platformer excellence.
Sign up for the playtest: playtester.io/little-nemo-and-the-nightmare-fiends
#IndieGaming #GameDev #Gaming #IndieDev #IndieGame
Sign up for the playtest: playtester.io/little-nemo-and-the-nightmare-fiends
#IndieGaming #GameDev #Gaming #IndieDev #IndieGame
January 27, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Dive into a hand-animated metroidvania adventure with Little Nemo, where stunning dreamscapes and a captivating story redefine platformer excellence.
Sign up for the playtest: playtester.io/little-nemo-and-the-nightmare-fiends
#IndieGaming #GameDev #Gaming #IndieDev #IndieGame
Sign up for the playtest: playtester.io/little-nemo-and-the-nightmare-fiends
#IndieGaming #GameDev #Gaming #IndieDev #IndieGame
My kiddo performed at the NEC today as Part of the Young Voices Foundation (yvfoundation.org.uk)
I'm so so proud.
When was her age I performed at the NIA under Sir Simon Rattle (I messed it up but it was great fun anyway)
Sophie did not mess it up but she did shout 67 and asked "got any grapes?"
I'm so so proud.
When was her age I performed at the NIA under Sir Simon Rattle (I messed it up but it was great fun anyway)
Sophie did not mess it up but she did shout 67 and asked "got any grapes?"
Home - Young Voices Foundation
Every Child has the right to sing, but many don’t get the chance Schools nationwide are struggling to fund arts provision, so the Young Voice Foundation exists to help. We support schools and communit...
yvfoundation.org.uk
January 26, 2026 at 10:51 PM
My kiddo performed at the NEC today as Part of the Young Voices Foundation (yvfoundation.org.uk)
I'm so so proud.
When was her age I performed at the NIA under Sir Simon Rattle (I messed it up but it was great fun anyway)
Sophie did not mess it up but she did shout 67 and asked "got any grapes?"
I'm so so proud.
When was her age I performed at the NIA under Sir Simon Rattle (I messed it up but it was great fun anyway)
Sophie did not mess it up but she did shout 67 and asked "got any grapes?"
Listening to Green Day for the first time in a while. Since I randomly lost some hearing in December I can't hear the vocals anymore, they used to be extremely clear!
Now I'm sad.
Now I'm sad.
January 26, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Listening to Green Day for the first time in a while. Since I randomly lost some hearing in December I can't hear the vocals anymore, they used to be extremely clear!
Now I'm sad.
Now I'm sad.
DeliveryMustGoRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
(Seriously it does, watch it)
(Seriously it does, watch it)
If you fly hard enough you can outmaneuver a teleporting mech. Devlog in comments
(wishlist the game in pinned)
#gamedev #indiedev #DeliveryMustComplete
(wishlist the game in pinned)
#gamedev #indiedev #DeliveryMustComplete
January 25, 2026 at 8:14 PM
DeliveryMustGoRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
(Seriously it does, watch it)
(Seriously it does, watch it)
Watching America in horror. You'd think we would learn from our past- but nope, here we go all over again.
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
January 24, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Watching America in horror. You'd think we would learn from our past- but nope, here we go all over again.
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Reposted by Hale the Damo
For how many years have I been saying we need RISC OS to support on-screen keyboards properly? All of them?!
Turned out to be quite easy:
Turned out to be quite easy:
January 23, 2026 at 2:37 PM
For how many years have I been saying we need RISC OS to support on-screen keyboards properly? All of them?!
Turned out to be quite easy:
Turned out to be quite easy:
Reposted by Hale the Damo
This is a critical part of EMD's design, to keep things tight, fun and forward-focussed, rather than sprawling back-and-forth.
Led to its own design problems though, with testers confused why they can't leave an area, reporting it as a bug etc. Going against the grain has its costs.
Led to its own design problems though, with testers confused why they can't leave an area, reporting it as a bug etc. Going against the grain has its costs.
"Players are confined to limited spaces—often a single room—with a handful of interactive objects and characters."
This is music to my ears. I no longer have the patience for old-school P&C adventure gotchas of being stuck because I missed something in a completely different part of the game.
This is music to my ears. I no longer have the patience for old-school P&C adventure gotchas of being stuck because I missed something in a completely different part of the game.
January 23, 2026 at 8:26 AM
This is a critical part of EMD's design, to keep things tight, fun and forward-focussed, rather than sprawling back-and-forth.
Led to its own design problems though, with testers confused why they can't leave an area, reporting it as a bug etc. Going against the grain has its costs.
Led to its own design problems though, with testers confused why they can't leave an area, reporting it as a bug etc. Going against the grain has its costs.
Right, rant over. I'll agree to partial failure on my part there BUT now for the next important thing: I need a safe messaging platform to help autistic people communicate. No ability to add strangers, full control over contacts etc.
What's out there? Anyone using anything like this?
What's out there? Anyone using anything like this?
January 23, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Right, rant over. I'll agree to partial failure on my part there BUT now for the next important thing: I need a safe messaging platform to help autistic people communicate. No ability to add strangers, full control over contacts etc.
What's out there? Anyone using anything like this?
What's out there? Anyone using anything like this?
How are we in a situation where I can't disable or block AI on my home network?
It turns out MetaAI completely misunderstood one of my kids and responded with the most perverted thing I've heard said. I need to block this technology.
I have extensive network filtering and yet here we are....
It turns out MetaAI completely misunderstood one of my kids and responded with the most perverted thing I've heard said. I need to block this technology.
I have extensive network filtering and yet here we are....
January 23, 2026 at 5:43 PM
How are we in a situation where I can't disable or block AI on my home network?
It turns out MetaAI completely misunderstood one of my kids and responded with the most perverted thing I've heard said. I need to block this technology.
I have extensive network filtering and yet here we are....
It turns out MetaAI completely misunderstood one of my kids and responded with the most perverted thing I've heard said. I need to block this technology.
I have extensive network filtering and yet here we are....
Reposted by Hale the Damo
Anyone wondering why no indie has managed a Prince Of Persia, uh this is why, because it's a huge number even today 😭
Like we can tech art our way around some of it, but not all of it.
Pretty sure this is why you see so many first person mobility games instead: that cuts the animations way down.
Like we can tech art our way around some of it, but not all of it.
Pretty sure this is why you see so many first person mobility games instead: that cuts the animations way down.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003) had over 750 animations for the Prince alone (when accounting for transitions). That was a huge number for the time.
January 22, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Anyone wondering why no indie has managed a Prince Of Persia, uh this is why, because it's a huge number even today 😭
Like we can tech art our way around some of it, but not all of it.
Pretty sure this is why you see so many first person mobility games instead: that cuts the animations way down.
Like we can tech art our way around some of it, but not all of it.
Pretty sure this is why you see so many first person mobility games instead: that cuts the animations way down.
So yeah it turns out that certain code or graphics that the kids don't like can trigger autistic meltdowns. I'm not pushing against their ideas, the fact that I put a mountainscape behind the map really upset Sophie.
I'm really surprised at what this dev cycle is teaching me about kids and autism
I'm really surprised at what this dev cycle is teaching me about kids and autism
January 22, 2026 at 4:36 PM
So yeah it turns out that certain code or graphics that the kids don't like can trigger autistic meltdowns. I'm not pushing against their ideas, the fact that I put a mountainscape behind the map really upset Sophie.
I'm really surprised at what this dev cycle is teaching me about kids and autism
I'm really surprised at what this dev cycle is teaching me about kids and autism
So a couple of nights ago I added aome backgrounds and more detail to our sprites.
This is the kid's game though, so when my lovely pixelated mountain triggered an autistic meltdown? it got taken out. "too much detail"? git revert!
This game is going to go out exactly how the kids want it to :D
This is the kid's game though, so when my lovely pixelated mountain triggered an autistic meltdown? it got taken out. "too much detail"? git revert!
This game is going to go out exactly how the kids want it to :D
January 22, 2026 at 4:21 PM
So a couple of nights ago I added aome backgrounds and more detail to our sprites.
This is the kid's game though, so when my lovely pixelated mountain triggered an autistic meltdown? it got taken out. "too much detail"? git revert!
This game is going to go out exactly how the kids want it to :D
This is the kid's game though, so when my lovely pixelated mountain triggered an autistic meltdown? it got taken out. "too much detail"? git revert!
This game is going to go out exactly how the kids want it to :D
Reposted by Hale the Damo
EARTH MUST DIE inexorably approaches, like an alien tyrant grumpily walking down a corridor! Tuesday 27th January, only a week away! "Wishlist it," whispers the nursing bot of your mind. "Wishliiiiiist!"
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
January 20, 2026 at 12:29 PM
EARTH MUST DIE inexorably approaches, like an alien tyrant grumpily walking down a corridor! Tuesday 27th January, only a week away! "Wishlist it," whispers the nursing bot of your mind. "Wishliiiiiist!"
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
Sabrent now on my list of manufacturers who will sell you a turd and say it's a bar of gold.
I just want a damn USBC hub that bloody *works*!
I just want a damn USBC hub that bloody *works*!
January 19, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Sabrent now on my list of manufacturers who will sell you a turd and say it's a bar of gold.
I just want a damn USBC hub that bloody *works*!
I just want a damn USBC hub that bloody *works*!
There's AI in my game.
Characters move left and right. Sometimes, they jump!
Just like they did in my first game back in.... 1990, except back then they could only go right and only a little bit and it would take 500ms to see it move and you had to squint and focus to see it.
Characters move left and right. Sometimes, they jump!
Just like they did in my first game back in.... 1990, except back then they could only go right and only a little bit and it would take 500ms to see it move and you had to squint and focus to see it.
January 19, 2026 at 6:25 PM
There's AI in my game.
Characters move left and right. Sometimes, they jump!
Just like they did in my first game back in.... 1990, except back then they could only go right and only a little bit and it would take 500ms to see it move and you had to squint and focus to see it.
Characters move left and right. Sometimes, they jump!
Just like they did in my first game back in.... 1990, except back then they could only go right and only a little bit and it would take 500ms to see it move and you had to squint and focus to see it.