Bryan Alvarado
@foobraco.bsky.social
Technical Director at 502 Studios, having fun working on our own games and working with others to make theirs! (he/him)
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
I’m so grateful for all the love and encouragement the past months
That said, support for diverse creators can’t just be words — it makes a real difference when it’s backed by action.
If you believe in what we’re building and want to help us keep creating unique, check out our PATREON
That said, support for diverse creators can’t just be words — it makes a real difference when it’s backed by action.
If you believe in what we’re building and want to help us keep creating unique, check out our PATREON
April 10, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I’m so grateful for all the love and encouragement the past months
That said, support for diverse creators can’t just be words — it makes a real difference when it’s backed by action.
If you believe in what we’re building and want to help us keep creating unique, check out our PATREON
That said, support for diverse creators can’t just be words — it makes a real difference when it’s backed by action.
If you believe in what we’re building and want to help us keep creating unique, check out our PATREON
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
Let’s talk playtesting, shall we?
After playtesting dozens of games for tabletop, PC/console, and installations, I've learned a thing or two about how to test well. So I figured it's a good time to remind folks about playtesting best practices while we're all hyped up with inspiration from GDC. 🧵
After playtesting dozens of games for tabletop, PC/console, and installations, I've learned a thing or two about how to test well. So I figured it's a good time to remind folks about playtesting best practices while we're all hyped up with inspiration from GDC. 🧵
March 26, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Let’s talk playtesting, shall we?
After playtesting dozens of games for tabletop, PC/console, and installations, I've learned a thing or two about how to test well. So I figured it's a good time to remind folks about playtesting best practices while we're all hyped up with inspiration from GDC. 🧵
After playtesting dozens of games for tabletop, PC/console, and installations, I've learned a thing or two about how to test well. So I figured it's a good time to remind folks about playtesting best practices while we're all hyped up with inspiration from GDC. 🧵
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
Ascent is out and free on Steam!
A #metroidvania packed into tiny 64x64 #pixelart screens. I really hope you'll like it!
✨ s.team/a/3384890
A #metroidvania packed into tiny 64x64 #pixelart screens. I really hope you'll like it!
✨ s.team/a/3384890
March 26, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Ascent is out and free on Steam!
A #metroidvania packed into tiny 64x64 #pixelart screens. I really hope you'll like it!
✨ s.team/a/3384890
A #metroidvania packed into tiny 64x64 #pixelart screens. I really hope you'll like it!
✨ s.team/a/3384890
Finally back home from GDC!
I got so sick these past couple of days, but it was totally worth it, the actual conference was slightly different from previous years, but it was lovely to catch up with so many friends, and made a lot of new ones <3
I got so sick these past couple of days, but it was totally worth it, the actual conference was slightly different from previous years, but it was lovely to catch up with so many friends, and made a lot of new ones <3
March 25, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Finally back home from GDC!
I got so sick these past couple of days, but it was totally worth it, the actual conference was slightly different from previous years, but it was lovely to catch up with so many friends, and made a lot of new ones <3
I got so sick these past couple of days, but it was totally worth it, the actual conference was slightly different from previous years, but it was lovely to catch up with so many friends, and made a lot of new ones <3
@mossmouth.bsky.social it was great to meet you last week! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us for a bit! It meant a lot!
March 25, 2025 at 2:53 AM
@mossmouth.bsky.social it was great to meet you last week! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us for a bit! It meant a lot!
Hey! I've been a little bit offline from social media, but if you're going to be at GDC let me know!
It's always great to catch up with people that I haven't seen in years but also to meet new friends from all over!
It's always great to catch up with people that I haven't seen in years but also to meet new friends from all over!
502 Studios team is going to #GDC 2025! @officialgdc.bsky.social 🥳 We're looking forward to sharing our projects, catching up and meeting new people.
👋 Say hi to @foobraco.bsky.social, @spacekittyjam.bsky.social and Rik; they'll be around all week #GDC2025
👋 Say hi to @foobraco.bsky.social, @spacekittyjam.bsky.social and Rik; they'll be around all week #GDC2025
March 7, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Hey! I've been a little bit offline from social media, but if you're going to be at GDC let me know!
It's always great to catch up with people that I haven't seen in years but also to meet new friends from all over!
It's always great to catch up with people that I haven't seen in years but also to meet new friends from all over!
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
prediction: Balatro shows Normal Gamers can enjoy nerdy synergy-building gameplay in the right context & aesthetic. cheap to reverse-engineer, good long tail.
of the many fast follows, some will be good and different enough to have similar success. but then... (thread)
of the many fast follows, some will be good and different enough to have similar success. but then... (thread)
January 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
prediction: Balatro shows Normal Gamers can enjoy nerdy synergy-building gameplay in the right context & aesthetic. cheap to reverse-engineer, good long tail.
of the many fast follows, some will be good and different enough to have similar success. but then... (thread)
of the many fast follows, some will be good and different enough to have similar success. but then... (thread)
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
Fun game for games sphere folks: any time you see awful behavior, instead of sharing it, go scan the Indie Game feed or Game Development feed for something that looks cool but isn't getting much traction, and share that instead
I promise it'll make ya feel better, ditto for your followers
I promise it'll make ya feel better, ditto for your followers
January 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Fun game for games sphere folks: any time you see awful behavior, instead of sharing it, go scan the Indie Game feed or Game Development feed for something that looks cool but isn't getting much traction, and share that instead
I promise it'll make ya feel better, ditto for your followers
I promise it'll make ya feel better, ditto for your followers
After more than a year I finally found the time to assemble the Gundam from the Yokohama Factory that Rik got me from his trip to Japan, and it looks so cool!
Maybe I’ll get some Gunpla during the year, this was really fun even though it was a very simple one.
Maybe I’ll get some Gunpla during the year, this was really fun even though it was a very simple one.
January 3, 2025 at 3:52 AM
After more than a year I finally found the time to assemble the Gundam from the Yokohama Factory that Rik got me from his trip to Japan, and it looks so cool!
Maybe I’ll get some Gunpla during the year, this was really fun even though it was a very simple one.
Maybe I’ll get some Gunpla during the year, this was really fun even though it was a very simple one.
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
With almost the entire Western system of suppression against Palestinian stories working against him, Rasheed has still managed to bring Dreams on a Pillow to 75% of the campaign goal with two weeks left. Please don't let this dream fail in the last stretch.
www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/...
www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/...
Dreams on a Pillow - a videogame experience about the 1948 Nakba, based on a true story | LaunchGood
A pseudo-3D stealth adventure game about a land full of people being made into a people without land
www.launchgood.com
January 1, 2025 at 8:37 PM
With almost the entire Western system of suppression against Palestinian stories working against him, Rasheed has still managed to bring Dreams on a Pillow to 75% of the campaign goal with two weeks left. Please don't let this dream fail in the last stretch.
www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/...
www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/...
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
seems like there's some confusion about how game design works, luckily I sometimes do game design so I can explain
here's our scenario - in our game we have a room and the only thing we've made interactable is this piece of paper on a desk
here's our scenario - in our game we have a room and the only thing we've made interactable is this piece of paper on a desk
December 30, 2024 at 2:18 PM
seems like there's some confusion about how game design works, luckily I sometimes do game design so I can explain
here's our scenario - in our game we have a room and the only thing we've made interactable is this piece of paper on a desk
here's our scenario - in our game we have a room and the only thing we've made interactable is this piece of paper on a desk
This was an amazing year for us!
We released our first Steam and console game. A game we collaborated on got a "Best Mobile Port of the Year" nomination at the Pocket Gamer awards, had the chance to collaborate on other amazing projects as well.
Looking forward to have a great 2025 as well!
We released our first Steam and console game. A game we collaborated on got a "Best Mobile Port of the Year" nomination at the Pocket Gamer awards, had the chance to collaborate on other amazing projects as well.
Looking forward to have a great 2025 as well!
2024 was a really exciting year for us, from releasing 502's Arcade to collaborating with other studios on amazing games. ☺️
Read more about all of it here ! 👇
502studios.substack.com/p/2024-in-re...
📨And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter to get all our news and updates too!
Read more about all of it here ! 👇
502studios.substack.com/p/2024-in-re...
📨And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter to get all our news and updates too!
December 26, 2024 at 8:38 PM
This was an amazing year for us!
We released our first Steam and console game. A game we collaborated on got a "Best Mobile Port of the Year" nomination at the Pocket Gamer awards, had the chance to collaborate on other amazing projects as well.
Looking forward to have a great 2025 as well!
We released our first Steam and console game. A game we collaborated on got a "Best Mobile Port of the Year" nomination at the Pocket Gamer awards, had the chance to collaborate on other amazing projects as well.
Looking forward to have a great 2025 as well!
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
We created an interactive guide to the Steam Winter Sale: wintersaleexplorer.com
Winter Sale Explorer
wintersaleexplorer.com
December 20, 2024 at 1:02 PM
We created an interactive guide to the Steam Winter Sale: wintersaleexplorer.com
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
Our game SantaCraft is on sale for the holidays! If you're looking for a cozy & silly Christmas game about building Santa's village, rescuing reindeer from abominable snowmen, and saving Christmas, have I got the game for you. 🎅 store.steampowered.com/app/1486840/...
Save 50% on SantaCraft on Steam
Dig your way through snow, cut down gingerbread trees, and mine candy canes as you try to rescue your missing reindeer, rebuild Santa's Village, and save Christmas! In the latest FREE update: trains y...
store.steampowered.com
December 20, 2024 at 1:48 PM
Our game SantaCraft is on sale for the holidays! If you're looking for a cozy & silly Christmas game about building Santa's village, rescuing reindeer from abominable snowmen, and saving Christmas, have I got the game for you. 🎅 store.steampowered.com/app/1486840/...
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
if you learned to code (HTML, backend or otherwise) because of neopets, please hit me up in the comments
think i'm gonna write an article about this
if your #GameDev
journey was at all shaped by neopets, please also sing out
appreciate RTs for visibility <3
think i'm gonna write an article about this
if your #GameDev
journey was at all shaped by neopets, please also sing out
appreciate RTs for visibility <3
December 16, 2024 at 4:47 AM
if you learned to code (HTML, backend or otherwise) because of neopets, please hit me up in the comments
think i'm gonna write an article about this
if your #GameDev
journey was at all shaped by neopets, please also sing out
appreciate RTs for visibility <3
think i'm gonna write an article about this
if your #GameDev
journey was at all shaped by neopets, please also sing out
appreciate RTs for visibility <3
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
📢Last day to get 50% Off on #Nintendo Cyber Deals Sale! 👉Ends 12/2 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Welcome Christmas with 502's Arcade on your #NintendoSwitch !
Link below 👇🎁🎄
Welcome Christmas with 502's Arcade on your #NintendoSwitch !
Link below 👇🎁🎄
December 2, 2024 at 5:12 PM
📢Last day to get 50% Off on #Nintendo Cyber Deals Sale! 👉Ends 12/2 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Welcome Christmas with 502's Arcade on your #NintendoSwitch !
Link below 👇🎁🎄
Welcome Christmas with 502's Arcade on your #NintendoSwitch !
Link below 👇🎁🎄
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
I need to speak to cozy content creators!!!
We've got so many cozy games coming up @futurefriendsgames.com on both the client side, as well as upcoming published games.
Please share and tag folks I should be talking to 🙏
We've got so many cozy games coming up @futurefriendsgames.com on both the client side, as well as upcoming published games.
Please share and tag folks I should be talking to 🙏
a cartoon of a cat sleeping next to a box of cheez bits and a box of mini donuts
ALT: a cartoon of a cat sleeping next to a box of cheez bits and a box of mini donuts
media.tenor.com
December 2, 2024 at 5:22 PM
I need to speak to cozy content creators!!!
We've got so many cozy games coming up @futurefriendsgames.com on both the client side, as well as upcoming published games.
Please share and tag folks I should be talking to 🙏
We've got so many cozy games coming up @futurefriendsgames.com on both the client side, as well as upcoming published games.
Please share and tag folks I should be talking to 🙏
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
Please support this financially if you can, and by spreading the word if you can't. We need you to amplify our voices.
Thank you ♥♥♥
Thank you ♥♥♥
After years away from game dev, I couldn’t stay silent about my people’s dehumanization. I made Dreams on a Pillow 🍉a game inspired by a famous Palestinian folktale about the 1948 Nakba.
I’m crowdfunding it now—please back & share!
🔗 launchgood.com/1948
I’m crowdfunding it now—please back & share!
🔗 launchgood.com/1948
Dreams on a Pillow - a videogame experience about the 1948 Nakba, based on a true story | LaunchGood
A pseudo-3D stealth adventure game about a land full of people being made into a people without land
www.launchgood.com
November 28, 2024 at 3:31 PM
Please support this financially if you can, and by spreading the word if you can't. We need you to amplify our voices.
Thank you ♥♥♥
Thank you ♥♥♥
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
I don't know who out there needs to hear this. But if you're a #gamedev mom (inc mom-to-be, ttc) and feeling like you have no community and could really use support? DM me, I'm in a wonderfully supportive gamedev mom community and we'd love to have you
*All moms are welcome, including trans moms
*All moms are welcome, including trans moms
November 27, 2024 at 7:04 PM
I don't know who out there needs to hear this. But if you're a #gamedev mom (inc mom-to-be, ttc) and feeling like you have no community and could really use support? DM me, I'm in a wonderfully supportive gamedev mom community and we'd love to have you
*All moms are welcome, including trans moms
*All moms are welcome, including trans moms
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
A better version
1. Have a mental image of the experience you want.
2. Build a system.
3. Roughly tune it to show hints of the experience you desire.
4. Playtest it yourself.
5. Can *you* spot opportunities that support the experience?
6. Reveal the experience via feedback, culling, amplifying
1. Have a mental image of the experience you want.
2. Build a system.
3. Roughly tune it to show hints of the experience you desire.
4. Playtest it yourself.
5. Can *you* spot opportunities that support the experience?
6. Reveal the experience via feedback, culling, amplifying
November 27, 2024 at 7:18 PM
A better version
1. Have a mental image of the experience you want.
2. Build a system.
3. Roughly tune it to show hints of the experience you desire.
4. Playtest it yourself.
5. Can *you* spot opportunities that support the experience?
6. Reveal the experience via feedback, culling, amplifying
1. Have a mental image of the experience you want.
2. Build a system.
3. Roughly tune it to show hints of the experience you desire.
4. Playtest it yourself.
5. Can *you* spot opportunities that support the experience?
6. Reveal the experience via feedback, culling, amplifying
We have a new account over here and we also have 502's Arcade on the deepest discount yet to close off the year!
Steam Autumn Sale is here!
Get ready to reach the top of the leaderboards on 502's Arcade.
Get 50% OFF. 👇
store.steampowered.com/app/1781730?...
#Steam #SteamAutumnSale #Sale
Get ready to reach the top of the leaderboards on 502's Arcade.
Get 50% OFF. 👇
store.steampowered.com/app/1781730?...
#Steam #SteamAutumnSale #Sale
November 28, 2024 at 1:00 AM
We have a new account over here and we also have 502's Arcade on the deepest discount yet to close off the year!
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
really good thread, resonates closely with my feelings on "find the fun"
Why does 'finding the fun' fail so often as a design strategy?
#gamedesign
New designers are told to prototype and 'find the fun'. But the naive version of this is a garbage tactic that mostly results in poorly thought out prototypes that are never going to converge on gameplay.
#gamedesign
New designers are told to prototype and 'find the fun'. But the naive version of this is a garbage tactic that mostly results in poorly thought out prototypes that are never going to converge on gameplay.
November 27, 2024 at 11:09 PM
really good thread, resonates closely with my feelings on "find the fun"
Reposted by Bryan Alvarado
IT'S TIME⏰
Tickets for #GDoCExpo 2024 are now available!
Our annual expo will feature discussions, panels, interviews, and game announcements from creators of color across the games industry!
🗓️Sept. 18-21
🔗 ti.to/GDoCExpo/2024
Tickets for #GDoCExpo 2024 are now available!
Our annual expo will feature discussions, panels, interviews, and game announcements from creators of color across the games industry!
🗓️Sept. 18-21
🔗 ti.to/GDoCExpo/2024
May 30, 2024 at 2:09 PM
IT'S TIME⏰
Tickets for #GDoCExpo 2024 are now available!
Our annual expo will feature discussions, panels, interviews, and game announcements from creators of color across the games industry!
🗓️Sept. 18-21
🔗 ti.to/GDoCExpo/2024
Tickets for #GDoCExpo 2024 are now available!
Our annual expo will feature discussions, panels, interviews, and game announcements from creators of color across the games industry!
🗓️Sept. 18-21
🔗 ti.to/GDoCExpo/2024