David Thatcher
LightNews LightNews
banner
giraffecat.bsky.social
David Thatcher
@giraffecat.bsky.social
190 followers 370 following 180 posts
I make video games, as Giraffe Cat! I made The Sirena Expedition, which is out on Steam and Nintendo Switch:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1957300/?snr=1_5_9__205
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/the-sirena-expedition-switch/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
giraffecat.bsky.social
David Thatcher @giraffecat.bsky.social · Oct 9
The Sirena Expedition is going to be on sale over the Halloween period! But when, and how much?! I got a little help from a certain someone to explain the details.

youtu.be/BpSZwrx_rlA
The Sirena Expedition - Halloween 2024
YouTube video by Giraffe Cat Games
youtu.be
Reposted by David Thatcher
danthat.bsky.social
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/...
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
Reposted by David Thatcher
robdubbin.bsky.social
💀💀💀 new game out today! 💀💀💀

A JACKPOT OF SKULLS is a free slot-machine reignslike for the pico-8. you (the sunderer) have once again sundered your realm, and your rivals won't let you hear the end of it.

play it here, even on your phone brainfruit.studio/games/jackpot
A JACKPOT OF SKULLS
A real dial-turner. Made in PICO-8 for _update jam.
brainfruit.studio
January 26, 2026 at 3:16 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
This week's #RandomGameSaturday is arguably the best racing game on the PS1: Ridge Racer Type 4! I spent the entire summer before starting university in 1999 completing Grand Prix mode the 100+ times required to unlock the Pac-Man car. Pictured here with Andy Kelly's R4 fanzine, One More Win.
The PAL release of Ridge Racer Type 4 for the PlayStation, sitting on a desk next to a copy of Andy Kelly's fanzine, One More Win. The back cover of Ridge Racer Type 4 for the PS1. There are two columns of screenshots down the left side showcasing the game's muted in-game colour palette, in contrast with the orange and black colour scheme of its menus. Reiko Nagase features. The inside of Ridge Racer Type 4 for the PS1, showing the game disc and the Ridge Racer Hi-Spec Demo disc that came with it, along with the manual. The One More Win fanzine is open to two pages showing dramatic high-resolution screenshots from the game. A two-page spread from the One More Win fanzine, showing a close-up of one of the game's cars in the Pac Racing Club's red and yellow livery. Underneath the game case is open, showing the manual and the Hi-Spec Demo disc again.
January 24, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by David Thatcher
lithiumproject.bsky.social
You will like our indie game if you played these games:
🐧 Kaze No Notam
🐧 Lil Gator Game
🐧 Pilotwings
🐧Alba A Wildlife Adventure
January 15, 2026 at 4:04 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
#RandomGameSaturday is three games: Bubsy & Bubsy II for the Mega Drive, and Bubsy 3D for the PS1! I finally picked up a copy of the Mega Drive sequel today, completing the set.
Two Mega Drive games, Bubsy and Bubsy II, and underneath them Bubsy 3D for the PlayStation. The front cover of Bubsy for the Mega Drive, with the cartridge and manual laid out next to it. There's some pretty whacky foreshortening going on on Bubsy's right hand. The front cover of Bubsy II for the Mega Drive, with the cartridge and manual laid out next to it Bubsy looks happy, but also a bit stoned. A weirdly pristine copy of Bubsy 3D for the PlayStation. The manual is shiny and untouched, and a cursed 3D render of Bubsy features on both it and the front cover.
January 17, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by David Thatcher
danthat.bsky.social
HEY HEY it's NEWS 'O CLOCK.

'EARTH MUST DIE' is coming out on the 27th of Jan, which is alarmingly soon!

Please pop over here and wishlist it, and do share if you're able. Thank you.

store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
January 14, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by David Thatcher
mikerose.bsky.social
Earth Must Die🌍💀launches January 27 on Steam!

- Brand new game from THE @danthat.bsky.social
- 8+ hour adventure, designed to feel like a playable cartoon
- Fully voiced, with cast including Alex Horne, Joel Fry, Martha Howe-Douglas, Ben Starr, Sally Beaumont

store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
January 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
So I'm most of the way through Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, and I have a lot of thoughts! The first thing that strikes me is how personal the manuals for his games were. They're not just a description of how to play, they're Jeff talking to you about how he made the games, and why.
January 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
Because I'm in Ireland, #RandomGameSaturday is just something I picked up at CeX: 1080° Snowboarding for the N64!
The front cover of 1080° Snowboarding for the N64, showing a snowboarder doing a sweet grab. The box is in good condition. The back cover of 1080° Snowboarding for the N64. "Take home all the speed and excitement of real snowboarding action!" The game clearly aims to be a realistic depiction of the sport, in contrast to what SSX would do a few years later. The cartridge for 1080° Snowboarding for the N64.
January 10, 2026 at 5:04 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
It's the last 7ish hours of the Steam Winter Sale, so why not add The Sirena Expedition to your cart? It's £1.49, and it contains:

- A mysterious facility under the sea.
- Eyes.
- Lots of low-res rusty textures.
- Eyes.
- A big secret.
- Nice music!
- Eyes?

store.steampowered.com/app/1957300/...
January 5, 2026 at 10:42 AM
giraffecat.bsky.social
A slightly newer one for #RandomGameSaturday. Except that it's a collection of old ones! Looking forward to digging into this collection of Jeff Minter's early work next week.
The front cover of Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story for the Nintendo Switch. It is suitably psychedelic. The back cover of Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story for the Nintendo Switch. It's still pretty psychedelic. The cart for Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story. For something so small, it's pretty psychedelic.
January 3, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Reposted by David Thatcher
sammgreer.bsky.social
Twenty years on and I still think this is the most breathtaking sequence ever put in a videogame. Testament to the fact that scale and awe are not virtues of graphical horsepower alone
December 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
This week's #RandomGameSaturday is R-Type Tactics for the PSP. This is the Special Edition, but I believe two of the art cards are missing from it. Not bad for £12 from CeX though!
The front cover of R-Type Tactics for the PSP. It is the Special Edition, with 'Exclusive Art Cards Inside!' The back cover of R-Type Tactics for the PSP. The blurb at the top proclaims 'R-Type is Reborn', and underneath there are 4 screenshots. An arrangement of 7 art cards from the Special Edition of R-Type Tactics for the PSP, showing various cool space ships and aliens. In the bottom right is the game's manual.
December 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
Love to go to Caffé Nero, where I can I can eat a toastie that's toasted so hard it's several microns thick and hotter than the sun.
December 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
giraffecat.bsky.social
This week's #RandomGameSaturday is Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil for the PS2!
The front cover of Klonoa 2 for the PS2, featuring Klonoa looking all cool, taking after his appearance on the US cover for the first game, as opposed to the PAL cover where he looks more cute. The back cover of Klonoa 2 for the PS2. The blurb at the top reads, "Welcome to a world you have only dreamed of!", and there's a 3 by 3 grid of screenshots from the game The inside of the case of Klonoa 2 for the PS2, showing the manual on the left and the disc on the right
December 13, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by David Thatcher
katieandcatburger.bsky.social
HORSES!! I loved this extremely dark and controversial game, and I made a whole dang video on why:

youtu.be/0uu4v7vI638
This banned steam game is a Masterpiece
YouTube video by Katie and Catburger
youtu.be
December 11, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Reposted by David Thatcher
jonkk.bsky.social
showing a trailer at the Game Awards costs anywhere from $450,000 to a cool $1 million.. here's my old-ass Tiny Tires trailer for free ❤️ #indiegames
December 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
Your favourite rapper's favourite dinner
A photo of a supermarket checkout showing two items: Brie & Cranberry S - £1.89. MF Cordon Bleu - £1.99.
December 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
Borurururu! #RandomGameSaturday is Mr. Heli no Daibouken for the PC Engine. This has long been one of my favourite arcade shooters, and the PCE port is nearly arcade-perfect.
The front cover of Mr. Heli no Daibouken for the PC Engine, held in front of a Christmas tree. It is pink and blue, and features a cute orange helicopter. The HUcard for Mr. Heli no Daibouken for the PC Engine; it is about the size of a credit card, much smaller than other cartridge media in the 1980s. Two pages from the manual for Mr. Heli no Daibouken for the PC Engine. They feature 6 numbered screenshots from the game with example of what you'll encounter, and some line drawings of Mr. Heli himself. Two more pages from the manual for Mr. Heli no Daibouken for the PC Engine, one with a stat sheet for Mr. Heli himself, and another with care guidelines for HUcards.
December 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by David Thatcher
duha-the-best.bsky.social
I'm incredibly excited to launch Effulgence RPG into Early Access. For the launch I also made a "almost official" trailer with my & my wife.
Steam page: store.steampowered.com/app/3302080/...
#pcgaming #rpg #turnbased #indiedev #indiegamedev #ascii
December 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by David Thatcher
santaragione.com
Yesterday, the Epic Games Store decided at the last minute not to distribute the game, after having previously approved a release build. HORSES is otherwise now available on GOG, Itch, and Humble for $4.99. www.horses.wtf
December 2, 2025 at 5:10 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
This week's #RandomGameSaturday is Zool for the Mega Drive! This port of the ST/Amiga game features a short comic in its manual.
The front cover of Zool for the Sega Mega Drive. Zool is breaking through the box with a kick, and the sole of his shoe bears his name. The back cover of Zool for the Sega Mega Drive. There are four screenshots on the left side, and on the right is a blurb for the game in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. The inside of the box for Zool for the Mega Drive, showing the cartridge and two pages of the manual with panels from a comic introducing the game. Two more pages of the manual for Zool for the Mega Drive, concluding the comic.
November 29, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Reposted by David Thatcher
smestorp.bsky.social
gathered together some of my old games that had fallen off the internet
smestorp.itch.io/lots-of-mich...
lots of michael brough games by Michael Brough
collection
smestorp.itch.io
November 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
giraffecat.bsky.social
In a number of Heavenly Sword's cutscenes, Kai seems to be staring at something that isn't there. Originally she had a small blue 'sprite' that would fly around during her gameplay segments. It was even in some early versions of the cutscenes, before being removed entirely.

youtu.be/XVlaIoYSerc?...
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM
giraffecat.bsky.social
A couple of games for #RandomGameSaturday! NHK Tensai Bit-kun Gramon Battle and Graffiti Kingdom. The latter is the sequel to Magic Pengel: The Quest for Colour (which wasn't released in Europe), the former is based on the Japanese TV show Tensai Bit-Kun, and uses the same character-creation tech.
The front covers for NHK Tensai Bit-Kun Gramon Battle and Graffiti Kingdom for the PS2, both developed by Taito. The back covers of NHK Tensai Bit-Kun Gramon Battle and Graffiti Kingdom for the PS2. The manual and disc for NHK Tensai Bit-Kun Gramon Battle for the PS2. The disc and manual for the European release of Graffiti Kingdom for the PS2.
November 22, 2025 at 6:24 PM