Michael Gruar
@mgruar.bsky.social
He/him (or they)
Independent Game Developer, Software Engineer, Littleton MA Bike/Ped Advisory Committee, Father of 3, American and British (sorry), among other things.
https://linktr.ee/lunarchippygames
#gamedev #indiedev
Independent Game Developer, Software Engineer, Littleton MA Bike/Ped Advisory Committee, Father of 3, American and British (sorry), among other things.
https://linktr.ee/lunarchippygames
#gamedev #indiedev
Pinned
Michael Gruar
@mgruar.bsky.social
· Oct 20
Iron Village on Steam
With the help of your railway, build houses, farms, warehouses, and more to create your village. Trade what your people make for other resources and gold to grow your village into a prospering town, a...
store.steampowered.com
Pinned Post: Hi all, I'm Michael, and I'm working on Iron Village, a cozy pixel town builder game - with trains! store.steampowered.com/app/3011060/...
(Also a heads up, this is a personal Bluesky account. Just be warned following me will include much more mundane posts as well!)
(Also a heads up, this is a personal Bluesky account. Just be warned following me will include much more mundane posts as well!)
Part of what was going to make the whole "do game dev full time" thing (potentially) work was, you know, those ACA subsidies kicking in down the road.
Fury doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling right now.
Fury doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling right now.
November 10, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Part of what was going to make the whole "do game dev full time" thing (potentially) work was, you know, those ACA subsidies kicking in down the road.
Fury doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling right now.
Fury doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling right now.
Reposted by Michael Gruar
We're looking for event volunteers for this year's BostonFIG! Connect with game industry professionals, game design students, and fellow game fans while helping out. We have a variety of roles available, including Floor Monitor, Info Booth, Merch, and more. Sign up here:
airtable.com/apptz2hWDcp7...
airtable.com/apptz2hWDcp7...
November 9, 2025 at 3:24 PM
We're looking for event volunteers for this year's BostonFIG! Connect with game industry professionals, game design students, and fellow game fans while helping out. We have a variety of roles available, including Floor Monitor, Info Booth, Merch, and more. Sign up here:
airtable.com/apptz2hWDcp7...
airtable.com/apptz2hWDcp7...
Reposted by Michael Gruar
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
That's a thing that I really worry about - if we win in 2028, and just do another Biden, we are even more fucked. (Ideally we'd overthrow them beforehand, but apparently that's asking too much.) The state of this country was way more depressing around 2021-2 than during Trump I, imo, because of that
so, yes, at a basic level I think Tuesday showed that we can vote our way out of this
and so we have to be clearer than ever about making sure the people we vote in are willing to do what's necessary to rebuild - packing the court, adding states, etc.
or we'll find ourselves right back here
and so we have to be clearer than ever about making sure the people we vote in are willing to do what's necessary to rebuild - packing the court, adding states, etc.
or we'll find ourselves right back here
November 8, 2025 at 1:09 PM
That's a thing that I really worry about - if we win in 2028, and just do another Biden, we are even more fucked. (Ideally we'd overthrow them beforehand, but apparently that's asking too much.) The state of this country was way more depressing around 2021-2 than during Trump I, imo, because of that
Reposted by Michael Gruar
New York millionaires: threatening to flee the city since 2009
November 7, 2025 at 9:36 PM
New York millionaires: threatening to flee the city since 2009
I finally got over my self doubt and did it - Lunar Chippy Games has a Patreon! patreon.com/LunarChippy?...
If you feel like throwing extra money over, you'll get access to pics of the game in development, in addition to our deep gratitude!
#gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev #patreon
If you feel like throwing extra money over, you'll get access to pics of the game in development, in addition to our deep gratitude!
#gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev #patreon
Lunar Chippy Games | Patreon
Creative Indie Games
patreon.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I finally got over my self doubt and did it - Lunar Chippy Games has a Patreon! patreon.com/LunarChippy?...
If you feel like throwing extra money over, you'll get access to pics of the game in development, in addition to our deep gratitude!
#gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev #patreon
If you feel like throwing extra money over, you'll get access to pics of the game in development, in addition to our deep gratitude!
#gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev #patreon
Reposted by Michael Gruar
NEWS — The Oregon Department of Human Services has issued 100% of November SNAP benefits, per an alert on their website. I've received reports that the funds have already hit recipients' EBT accounts.
www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pa...
www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pa...
November 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
NEWS — The Oregon Department of Human Services has issued 100% of November SNAP benefits, per an alert on their website. I've received reports that the funds have already hit recipients' EBT accounts.
www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pa...
www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pa...
Reposted by Michael Gruar
"McKinsey, the world's largest exporter of business villains." LOL www.instagram.com/reel/DQu0nIX...
Login • Instagram
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www.instagram.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:16 PM
"McKinsey, the world's largest exporter of business villains." LOL www.instagram.com/reel/DQu0nIX...
If (when) they delay again, I'm really tempted to put my next game's release on the same day.
Grand Theft Auto VI delayed to Nov 19, 2026 www.rockstargames.com/newswire/art...
November 6, 2025 at 11:45 PM
If (when) they delay again, I'm really tempted to put my next game's release on the same day.
Reposted by Michael Gruar
In Mexico, I asked Lewis Hamilton about what pet ownership taught him about himself. A simple question... but one with a LOT of baggage in the #F1 paddock.
This is your sign to ask your questions, no matter what others think.
open.substack.com/pub/deadlypa...
This is your sign to ask your questions, no matter what others think.
open.substack.com/pub/deadlypa...
November 6, 2025 at 2:37 PM
In Mexico, I asked Lewis Hamilton about what pet ownership taught him about himself. A simple question... but one with a LOT of baggage in the #F1 paddock.
This is your sign to ask your questions, no matter what others think.
open.substack.com/pub/deadlypa...
This is your sign to ask your questions, no matter what others think.
open.substack.com/pub/deadlypa...
It turns out FIFA is actually a global corruption innovation lab, they just run soccer/football on the side.
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
the first what now
November 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
It turns out FIFA is actually a global corruption innovation lab, they just run soccer/football on the side.
Reposted by Michael Gruar
Reposted by Michael Gruar
Reposted by Michael Gruar
Can we at least give Canada a break on the tariffs now?
November 2, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Can we at least give Canada a break on the tariffs now?
Bluesky has very clearly decided to go on the tech bro side of the tech bro/tech nerd divide
November 1, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Bluesky has very clearly decided to go on the tech bro side of the tech bro/tech nerd divide
Reposted by Michael Gruar
All the people with taste are broke, all the people who lack taste have the money, and making anything requires bridging the two in the dumbest ways possible.
October 29, 2025 at 6:06 PM
All the people with taste are broke, all the people who lack taste have the money, and making anything requires bridging the two in the dumbest ways possible.
Reposted by Michael Gruar
Reposted by Michael Gruar
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"
October 28, 2025 at 10:46 AM
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"
A new dev diary, this time about a concept I made up (that probably already exists): Semi-Automation!
lunarchippy.games/2025/10/27/d...
Also, the biggest teaser of project OY yet!
#IronVillage #ProjectOY #devdiary #gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev #townbuilder #citybuilder
lunarchippy.games/2025/10/27/d...
Also, the biggest teaser of project OY yet!
#IronVillage #ProjectOY #devdiary #gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev #townbuilder #citybuilder
October 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A new dev diary, this time about a concept I made up (that probably already exists): Semi-Automation!
lunarchippy.games/2025/10/27/d...
Also, the biggest teaser of project OY yet!
#IronVillage #ProjectOY #devdiary #gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev #townbuilder #citybuilder
lunarchippy.games/2025/10/27/d...
Also, the biggest teaser of project OY yet!
#IronVillage #ProjectOY #devdiary #gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev #townbuilder #citybuilder
Reposted by Michael Gruar
the week starts now where your usual time offset between US* and other countries that do DST will be off by an hour, because countries that participate don't even change on the same dates
*except most of Arizona, Hawaii, US territories but for half the year they'll be shifted if your place does DST
*except most of Arizona, Hawaii, US territories but for half the year they'll be shifted if your place does DST
look I know it'd be easy to just let it go now that we're on the other side of it but guess what that's exactly how this charade has gone on for so long we simply cannot let them continue getting away with this
October 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
the week starts now where your usual time offset between US* and other countries that do DST will be off by an hour, because countries that participate don't even change on the same dates
*except most of Arizona, Hawaii, US territories but for half the year they'll be shifted if your place does DST
*except most of Arizona, Hawaii, US territories but for half the year they'll be shifted if your place does DST
Reposted by Michael Gruar
"I asked ChatGPT" "I asked Grok" ok well I asked Gandalf and he said he has not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm
June 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
"I asked ChatGPT" "I asked Grok" ok well I asked Gandalf and he said he has not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm
Reposted by Michael Gruar
Things in Massachusetts are not as bad as they are in Chicago, but ICE is in our communities. The stories you see on the news don't accurately reflect the daily terror ICE is inflicting on immigrants. Please consider donating to or volunteering with LUCE.
Also, save their number: 617-370-5023
Also, save their number: 617-370-5023
LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA
www.lucemass.org
October 25, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Things in Massachusetts are not as bad as they are in Chicago, but ICE is in our communities. The stories you see on the news don't accurately reflect the daily terror ICE is inflicting on immigrants. Please consider donating to or volunteering with LUCE.
Also, save their number: 617-370-5023
Also, save their number: 617-370-5023
Reposted by Michael Gruar
Ooof, too real. I probably would've talked myself into selling Iron Village for $5 if it weren't for my partner talking me out of it. $8 was more or less a compromise.
Solo devs and very small teams often have this inherent cringe about the idea of making people pay $20 or $10 or even $5 for their little game and I can't emphasize enough how much you have to grab that cringing impulse within yourself and strangle it to death
October 24, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Ooof, too real. I probably would've talked myself into selling Iron Village for $5 if it weren't for my partner talking me out of it. $8 was more or less a compromise.
Reposted by Michael Gruar
Solo devs and very small teams often have this inherent cringe about the idea of making people pay $20 or $10 or even $5 for their little game and I can't emphasize enough how much you have to grab that cringing impulse within yourself and strangle it to death
October 24, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Solo devs and very small teams often have this inherent cringe about the idea of making people pay $20 or $10 or even $5 for their little game and I can't emphasize enough how much you have to grab that cringing impulse within yourself and strangle it to death