jwest
@follysoft.bsky.social
Dad, photographer, gamemaker
follysoft.github.io
jwest.itch.io
follysoft.github.io
jwest.itch.io
Pinned
jwest
@follysoft.bsky.social
· Oct 19
Alright I’ll try to put a bit more effort into an intro 🥴
I’m jwest, recently going by FollySoft in the gamedev sphere. I’m a dad who takes pictures and spends his lunch breaks making goofy little games.
You can find out more about me and the stuff I make at my website: follysoft.github.io
I’m jwest, recently going by FollySoft in the gamedev sphere. I’m a dad who takes pictures and spends his lunch breaks making goofy little games.
You can find out more about me and the stuff I make at my website: follysoft.github.io
Doing a bit of a hard reset and just muting everyone for a bit. I love you all but I have a bad habit of opening this app multiple times a day and ending up like 🥴
December 30, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Doing a bit of a hard reset and just muting everyone for a bit. I love you all but I have a bad habit of opening this app multiple times a day and ending up like 🥴
Reposted by jwest
I'm a fan of game designers leaning into their personal taste. One way to do that is to write a Taste Manifesto. I wrote about mine here, and why you should write yours!
open.substack.com/pub/ezraszan...
open.substack.com/pub/ezraszan...
You Should Write Your Taste Manifesto!
Do it.
open.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I'm a fan of game designers leaning into their personal taste. One way to do that is to write a Taste Manifesto. I wrote about mine here, and why you should write yours!
open.substack.com/pub/ezraszan...
open.substack.com/pub/ezraszan...
Reposted by jwest
paradise-collab.itch.io/paradise-dig...
new paradise zine!
I contributed some travel writing and painting from my China trip. Not very game design related but oh well! Enjoy!
new paradise zine!
I contributed some travel writing and painting from my China trip. Not very game design related but oh well! Enjoy!
Paradise Digest: Winter 2025 by Paradise
Play in your browser
paradise-collab.itch.io
December 21, 2025 at 11:01 PM
paradise-collab.itch.io/paradise-dig...
new paradise zine!
I contributed some travel writing and painting from my China trip. Not very game design related but oh well! Enjoy!
new paradise zine!
I contributed some travel writing and painting from my China trip. Not very game design related but oh well! Enjoy!
Im so excited for this 💖
sometimes we just wanna climb up things to see if we can do it, maybe to get a nice view, or to learn a new hiding spot. it's frustrating if every nook has "rewards"
in discone, most paths are uncharted, and you will climb and parkour them with your friends
#gamedev #indiegame #screenshotsaturday
in discone, most paths are uncharted, and you will climb and parkour them with your friends
#gamedev #indiegame #screenshotsaturday
December 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Im so excited for this 💖
Reposted by jwest
check out my cool talk at @technicallygames.bsky.social about the making of BLUEJEWELED
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPqU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPqU...
BLUEJEWELED - modding more blue into bejeweled - Brandon Hare
YouTube video by Technically Games
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:03 AM
check out my cool talk at @technicallygames.bsky.social about the making of BLUEJEWELED
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPqU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPqU...
Reposted by jwest
The Polaris List is out! Top 100 most personally influential games as listed by senior game designers.
Fascinating trove that is at the root of most modern game designs. What inspires us and why? Spoiler: It ain't all Call of Duty
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
Fascinating trove that is at the root of most modern game designs. What inspires us and why? Spoiler: It ain't all Call of Duty
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
The Polaris List
Polaris is a non-profit committed to improving and refining the art and craft of game design. In order to get a snapshot of current game design thinking and reference points, we wondered — what do wor...
polarisgamedesign.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:15 AM
The Polaris List is out! Top 100 most personally influential games as listed by senior game designers.
Fascinating trove that is at the root of most modern game designs. What inspires us and why? Spoiler: It ain't all Call of Duty
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
Fascinating trove that is at the root of most modern game designs. What inspires us and why? Spoiler: It ain't all Call of Duty
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
Reposted by jwest
If you're looking for new games for the #SteamWinterSale, all of my games are currently 67% off so now's a great time to pick them up!
(links below)
(links below)
December 19, 2025 at 9:14 PM
If you're looking for new games for the #SteamWinterSale, all of my games are currently 67% off so now's a great time to pick them up!
(links below)
(links below)
Reposted by jwest
Don't put off making what you want to make because you're "not ready yet"
Not knowing how to do something and then doing it anyway is how we learn
It's how we surprise ourselves. It's how we discover what no-one would have encountered by doing it "the right way"
Not knowing how to do something and then doing it anyway is how we learn
It's how we surprise ourselves. It's how we discover what no-one would have encountered by doing it "the right way"
December 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Don't put off making what you want to make because you're "not ready yet"
Not knowing how to do something and then doing it anyway is how we learn
It's how we surprise ourselves. It's how we discover what no-one would have encountered by doing it "the right way"
Not knowing how to do something and then doing it anyway is how we learn
It's how we surprise ourselves. It's how we discover what no-one would have encountered by doing it "the right way"
Every time a discourse makes its way into my feed I realize how uneducated I am in games
December 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Every time a discourse makes its way into my feed I realize how uneducated I am in games
Reposted by jwest
The Center for Digital Play (digitalplay.itu.dk) has a YouTube channel, and we've just published a ton of content!
Seth Giddings (@sethgiddings.bsky.social) on Postdigital Playthings: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAjE...
Seth Giddings (@sethgiddings.bsky.social) on Postdigital Playthings: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAjE...
December 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
The Center for Digital Play (digitalplay.itu.dk) has a YouTube channel, and we've just published a ton of content!
Seth Giddings (@sethgiddings.bsky.social) on Postdigital Playthings: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAjE...
Seth Giddings (@sethgiddings.bsky.social) on Postdigital Playthings: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAjE...
Reposted by jwest
💼 I’m looking for work as a board game designer.
🌎 I’m open to in-person, hybrid or remote work.
⭐ I’ve previously worked at the Uzzle and made Abandon All Artichokes, Starry Night Sky, and other board games.
🌎 I’m open to in-person, hybrid or remote work.
⭐ I’ve previously worked at the Uzzle and made Abandon All Artichokes, Starry Night Sky, and other board games.
December 17, 2025 at 11:27 PM
💼 I’m looking for work as a board game designer.
🌎 I’m open to in-person, hybrid or remote work.
⭐ I’ve previously worked at the Uzzle and made Abandon All Artichokes, Starry Night Sky, and other board games.
🌎 I’m open to in-person, hybrid or remote work.
⭐ I’ve previously worked at the Uzzle and made Abandon All Artichokes, Starry Night Sky, and other board games.
I was hoping to have this update for 2PPPP4P out by the end of the year, but with a new job starting up and all of the good stuff that goes on around Christmas, it's just not happening yet.
But here's a little clip from the trailer. Can you tell I've been on a huge American Football kick lately?
But here's a little clip from the trailer. Can you tell I've been on a huge American Football kick lately?
December 17, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I was hoping to have this update for 2PPPP4P out by the end of the year, but with a new job starting up and all of the good stuff that goes on around Christmas, it's just not happening yet.
But here's a little clip from the trailer. Can you tell I've been on a huge American Football kick lately?
But here's a little clip from the trailer. Can you tell I've been on a huge American Football kick lately?
Reposted by jwest
IT'S A WRAP! ✨ @chadtoprak.bsky.social & I have de-installed Traces of Play at Footscray Community Arts. With over 40 game contributions, we want to thank everyone who played/contributed a game, our workshop participants, the exhibition curators, producers, artists & FCA staff. 💛
📸 Yi Li & Thuy Vy
📸 Yi Li & Thuy Vy
December 17, 2025 at 6:24 AM
IT'S A WRAP! ✨ @chadtoprak.bsky.social & I have de-installed Traces of Play at Footscray Community Arts. With over 40 game contributions, we want to thank everyone who played/contributed a game, our workshop participants, the exhibition curators, producers, artists & FCA staff. 💛
📸 Yi Li & Thuy Vy
📸 Yi Li & Thuy Vy
I played this while I had the American Football LP1 Covers album playing in the background, highly recommend
how to walk out the door (Anton Pätsi, Lucy Woodall, Benjamin Pilbrow)
"instructions: walk out the door"
Free - Browser: warpdoor.com/2025/12/17/h...
"instructions: walk out the door"
Free - Browser: warpdoor.com/2025/12/17/h...
December 17, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I played this while I had the American Football LP1 Covers album playing in the background, highly recommend
Golden Retriever Gamer
December 16, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Golden Retriever Gamer
Reposted by jwest
Showing off some of the improved enemy behavior!
December 16, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Showing off some of the improved enemy behavior!
"It is what it is." - Everyone, 2025
December 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"It is what it is." - Everyone, 2025
Reposted by jwest
Machine-learned AI is terrible for idea generation.
The algorithm is designed to *produce the most predictable next token*
Even as you try to push it to originality, it fights you and tries to pull it back to the most average tropes.
Its a PREDICTABILITY MACHINE.
The algorithm is designed to *produce the most predictable next token*
Even as you try to push it to originality, it fights you and tries to pull it back to the most average tropes.
Its a PREDICTABILITY MACHINE.
America, you have spoken loud and clear: You do not like AI. But what if AI is the way to restart the world’s idea machine?
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
www.vox.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Machine-learned AI is terrible for idea generation.
The algorithm is designed to *produce the most predictable next token*
Even as you try to push it to originality, it fights you and tries to pull it back to the most average tropes.
Its a PREDICTABILITY MACHINE.
The algorithm is designed to *produce the most predictable next token*
Even as you try to push it to originality, it fights you and tries to pull it back to the most average tropes.
Its a PREDICTABILITY MACHINE.
Reposted by jwest
December 15, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Reposted by jwest
Gosh - just realised it's five years since New Rules came out. It was a project I put together in the second half of 2020 to publish little essays and articles and poems about different experiences of play and games during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic newrules.website
December 15, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Gosh - just realised it's five years since New Rules came out. It was a project I put together in the second half of 2020 to publish little essays and articles and poems about different experiences of play and games during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic newrules.website
Reposted by jwest
today we're recommending one of our favorite games ever zk maps for stranger, by Marek Kapolka, you will understand why we believe that the best platforming levels are "undesigned" ones.
#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #gamedev
#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #gamedev
December 13, 2025 at 1:52 PM
today we're recommending one of our favorite games ever zk maps for stranger, by Marek Kapolka, you will understand why we believe that the best platforming levels are "undesigned" ones.
#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #gamedev
#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #gamedev
Reposted by jwest
Official 2002 European Super Mario Sunshine screensaver that features Mario sliding across the screen and periodically turning into his famous "aggressive" render from that game.
December 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Official 2002 European Super Mario Sunshine screensaver that features Mario sliding across the screen and periodically turning into his famous "aggressive" render from that game.
Reposted by jwest
I've been working on puzzle design on Order of the Sinking Star at Thekla for the past 2 and a half years, and I'm excited the game has just been announced!!
It's a special game, made by a lot of talented people, and I hope everyone enjoys it when it comes out!
It's a special game, made by a lot of talented people, and I hope everyone enjoys it when it comes out!
The creator of Braid and The Witness reveals his most ambitious puzzle game yet: Order of the Sinking Star.
Read our preview here: gameinformer.com/preview/2025...
Read our preview here: gameinformer.com/preview/2025...
December 12, 2025 at 2:08 AM
I've been working on puzzle design on Order of the Sinking Star at Thekla for the past 2 and a half years, and I'm excited the game has just been announced!!
It's a special game, made by a lot of talented people, and I hope everyone enjoys it when it comes out!
It's a special game, made by a lot of talented people, and I hope everyone enjoys it when it comes out!
Reposted by jwest
we haven't been very good about asking for money, but we are a space that is mostly funded by the people who run it (on top of the labor required to keep things running)! if you like what we do, it would mean a lot to us if you helped keep us afloat through a donation :)
Boshi’s, NYC nonprofit games space, is hosting an end of year fundraiser!! Your generous support is greatly appreciated. For more about how, what, when, where, and why, see the link in our bio. We love you!
#game #nyc #donate #videogames #boardgames #giveback
#game #nyc #donate #videogames #boardgames #giveback
December 11, 2025 at 9:38 PM
we haven't been very good about asking for money, but we are a space that is mostly funded by the people who run it (on top of the labor required to keep things running)! if you like what we do, it would mean a lot to us if you helped keep us afloat through a donation :)
Reposted by jwest
Boshi’s, NYC nonprofit games space, is hosting an end of year fundraiser!! Your generous support is greatly appreciated. For more about how, what, when, where, and why, see the link in our bio. We love you!
#game #nyc #donate #videogames #boardgames #giveback
#game #nyc #donate #videogames #boardgames #giveback
December 11, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Boshi’s, NYC nonprofit games space, is hosting an end of year fundraiser!! Your generous support is greatly appreciated. For more about how, what, when, where, and why, see the link in our bio. We love you!
#game #nyc #donate #videogames #boardgames #giveback
#game #nyc #donate #videogames #boardgames #giveback