Aura/Moom
@moomanibe.bsky.social
She/her. Gamedev. Animation Lead at Ivy Road on Wanderstop.
Personal blog is here: https://auratriolo.com/blog/
Also find me on mastodon at https://mastodon.social/@MOOMANiBE
Personal blog is here: https://auratriolo.com/blog/
Also find me on mastodon at https://mastodon.social/@MOOMANiBE
Reposted by Aura/Moom
One of the publishers I worked with submitted my game to igf without either asking me or telling me they had done it. I only found out when I saw it in the list when I logged in to judge. V embarrassing.
blog post boiling within me titled "indie publishers, you need to get your shit together" based on this year of indie pubs submitting games to IGF w/ a demo and then when asked for a dev build so anyone can actually judge it, either ghost or go "we will provide you with a build on the release date"
November 11, 2025 at 7:26 AM
One of the publishers I worked with submitted my game to igf without either asking me or telling me they had done it. I only found out when I saw it in the list when I logged in to judge. V embarrassing.
things are In Progress
November 11, 2025 at 6:11 AM
things are In Progress
I just want to be 100% clear that I'm aware of at least one instance this year where the publisher submitted the game _without even telling the developer they had done so_
if your publisher has done this — and yeah, this happened — what use is your publisher?
personally speaking, most of the time I have reticence at putting just a demo forward for awards. it’s wild that people are out there kneecapping their dev’s chances for visibility.
personally speaking, most of the time I have reticence at putting just a demo forward for awards. it’s wild that people are out there kneecapping their dev’s chances for visibility.
blog post boiling within me titled "indie publishers, you need to get your shit together" based on this year of indie pubs submitting games to IGF w/ a demo and then when asked for a dev build so anyone can actually judge it, either ghost or go "we will provide you with a build on the release date"
November 11, 2025 at 6:02 AM
I just want to be 100% clear that I'm aware of at least one instance this year where the publisher submitted the game _without even telling the developer they had done so_
Reposted by Aura/Moom
oh yeah, I love first person "extraction" games too
November 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
oh yeah, I love first person "extraction" games too
blog post boiling within me titled "indie publishers, you need to get your shit together" based on this year of indie pubs submitting games to IGF w/ a demo and then when asked for a dev build so anyone can actually judge it, either ghost or go "we will provide you with a build on the release date"
November 11, 2025 at 5:22 AM
blog post boiling within me titled "indie publishers, you need to get your shit together" based on this year of indie pubs submitting games to IGF w/ a demo and then when asked for a dev build so anyone can actually judge it, either ghost or go "we will provide you with a build on the release date"
Reposted by Aura/Moom
credits that include the names of everyone who worked on the game at any point
November 11, 2025 at 4:32 AM
credits that include the names of everyone who worked on the game at any point
once IGF ends I like to make various charts around voting b/c I find it interesting
p sure I'm not allowed to post them but I will say it's p cool to me that IGF had 800 games submitted this year and of all those games, slightly more than 50% of them received at least one vote in an award category
p sure I'm not allowed to post them but I will say it's p cool to me that IGF had 800 games submitted this year and of all those games, slightly more than 50% of them received at least one vote in an award category
November 11, 2025 at 12:37 AM
once IGF ends I like to make various charts around voting b/c I find it interesting
p sure I'm not allowed to post them but I will say it's p cool to me that IGF had 800 games submitted this year and of all those games, slightly more than 50% of them received at least one vote in an award category
p sure I'm not allowed to post them but I will say it's p cool to me that IGF had 800 games submitted this year and of all those games, slightly more than 50% of them received at least one vote in an award category
Reposted by Aura/Moom
I had to set the graphics of FEAR Extraction Point to the absolute minimum to bypass a loading bug and it's honestly a vibe
November 10, 2025 at 4:25 AM
I had to set the graphics of FEAR Extraction Point to the absolute minimum to bypass a loading bug and it's honestly a vibe
i'm sorry to anyone who had a game coming out over the last month / next few weeks because between IGF and inazuma eleven I am buying very little lmao, even stuff I'd normally go out of my way to play is getting passed up til I have more free time
November 10, 2025 at 9:20 PM
i'm sorry to anyone who had a game coming out over the last month / next few weeks because between IGF and inazuma eleven I am buying very little lmao, even stuff I'd normally go out of my way to play is getting passed up til I have more free time
Reposted by Aura/Moom
There'll be a new pinned post this week, but for now: Ambrosia Sky: Act One is *out* now!
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3580160/...
EGS: store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ambr...
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3580160/...
EGS: store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ambr...
Save 15% on Ambrosia Sky on Steam
You left. Now they’re dead. Ambrosia Sky: Act One is an immersive sim about exploring an asteroid colony devastated by a mysterious contamination. Survive and harvest strains of aggressive alien fungi...
store.steampowered.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
There'll be a new pinned post this week, but for now: Ambrosia Sky: Act One is *out* now!
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3580160/...
EGS: store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ambr...
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3580160/...
EGS: store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ambr...
Reposted by Aura/Moom
I feel like I've lived a thousand years in the last week. It would be impossible to say there haven't been some really difficult feelings. But we've also had some truly wonderful interactions with people who have taken the leap on GenExile, and people who haven't yet but are looking with a keen eye.
November 10, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I feel like I've lived a thousand years in the last week. It would be impossible to say there haven't been some really difficult feelings. But we've also had some truly wonderful interactions with people who have taken the leap on GenExile, and people who haven't yet but are looking with a keen eye.
Reposted by Aura/Moom
We launched GenExile, our solarpunk city-builder, in Early Access last week. We had ~35k wishlists before launch (not a barnburner but not nothin').
And they said, "Well, there's no way you'll convert literally 0% of your wishlists to sales."
I looked them dead in the eyes and said, "Watch me."
And they said, "Well, there's no way you'll convert literally 0% of your wishlists to sales."
I looked them dead in the eyes and said, "Watch me."
November 10, 2025 at 7:36 PM
We launched GenExile, our solarpunk city-builder, in Early Access last week. We had ~35k wishlists before launch (not a barnburner but not nothin').
And they said, "Well, there's no way you'll convert literally 0% of your wishlists to sales."
I looked them dead in the eyes and said, "Watch me."
And they said, "Well, there's no way you'll convert literally 0% of your wishlists to sales."
I looked them dead in the eyes and said, "Watch me."
Reposted by Aura/Moom
sort of incredible to read a review that doesn't just made a vague nod at AI being bad, but actively reckons with the ways in which falling obsessively to AI usage actively obliterates the artistic intent and integrity of the work you've made.
November 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
sort of incredible to read a review that doesn't just made a vague nod at AI being bad, but actively reckons with the ways in which falling obsessively to AI usage actively obliterates the artistic intent and integrity of the work you've made.
discovered a new type of on-hold hell today:
* no music. noting but total silence
* voice message saying "your call is important to us" every 10 SECONDS
* no music. noting but total silence
* voice message saying "your call is important to us" every 10 SECONDS
November 10, 2025 at 7:06 PM
discovered a new type of on-hold hell today:
* no music. noting but total silence
* voice message saying "your call is important to us" every 10 SECONDS
* no music. noting but total silence
* voice message saying "your call is important to us" every 10 SECONDS
play thisssssssssssssssssss
👑The Below the Crown is now in Early Access on Steam ♟️
Our first launch in almost 10 years!
Our nerdy love letter to Roguelikes, Chess, and Dungeon Crawlers is here for everyone to try - please give us a review!
store.steampowered.com/app/1883920/...
Our first launch in almost 10 years!
Our nerdy love letter to Roguelikes, Chess, and Dungeon Crawlers is here for everyone to try - please give us a review!
store.steampowered.com/app/1883920/...
Save 35% on Below the Crown on Steam
Explore the dungeons Below the Crown, in this love letter to Roguelikes, Dungeon Crawlers, and Chess. Prepare for strategy, game-changing spells, psychological tests, and challenges from your fellow p...
store.steampowered.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:58 PM
play thisssssssssssssssssss
Reposted by Aura/Moom
👑The Below the Crown is now in Early Access on Steam ♟️
Our first launch in almost 10 years!
Our nerdy love letter to Roguelikes, Chess, and Dungeon Crawlers is here for everyone to try - please give us a review!
store.steampowered.com/app/1883920/...
Our first launch in almost 10 years!
Our nerdy love letter to Roguelikes, Chess, and Dungeon Crawlers is here for everyone to try - please give us a review!
store.steampowered.com/app/1883920/...
Save 35% on Below the Crown on Steam
Explore the dungeons Below the Crown, in this love letter to Roguelikes, Dungeon Crawlers, and Chess. Prepare for strategy, game-changing spells, psychological tests, and challenges from your fellow p...
store.steampowered.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
👑The Below the Crown is now in Early Access on Steam ♟️
Our first launch in almost 10 years!
Our nerdy love letter to Roguelikes, Chess, and Dungeon Crawlers is here for everyone to try - please give us a review!
store.steampowered.com/app/1883920/...
Our first launch in almost 10 years!
Our nerdy love letter to Roguelikes, Chess, and Dungeon Crawlers is here for everyone to try - please give us a review!
store.steampowered.com/app/1883920/...
sidenote that if I had played Öoo (store.steampowered.com/app/2721890/...) before I wrote my IGF thread it absolutely would have been on it. genuinely one of the best platformers I've played. 3 hours of all killer no filler and does more with two buttons than most games do with a full controller
Öoo on Steam
A Bomb Caterpillar's Big Adventure! "Öoo" is a charming yet mysterious exploration puzzle platformer where you discover creative ways to use bombs!
store.steampowered.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:38 PM
sidenote that if I had played Öoo (store.steampowered.com/app/2721890/...) before I wrote my IGF thread it absolutely would have been on it. genuinely one of the best platformers I've played. 3 hours of all killer no filler and does more with two buttons than most games do with a full controller
Reposted by Aura/Moom
An early prototype gif.
November 10, 2025 at 3:13 AM
An early prototype gif.
Reposted by Aura/Moom
gaming magazines used to be so true........
November 9, 2025 at 7:23 PM
gaming magazines used to be so true........
Reposted by Aura/Moom
29 long years have passed since I founded the emulation archive, Zophar's Domain, on 11.9.96. To this very day, the site still stands as a testament to an era that never actually disappeared but continues to live in the hearts of retrogamers all over the word. Emulation Forever!
November 9, 2025 at 2:44 PM
29 long years have passed since I founded the emulation archive, Zophar's Domain, on 11.9.96. To this very day, the site still stands as a testament to an era that never actually disappeared but continues to live in the hearts of retrogamers all over the word. Emulation Forever!
for me an exciting sense of exploration for me isn't a giant world map, it's being able to wonder if there's an entire world of things I haven't seen under any given bush, even that one I passed hours ago. a sense of inner life that defies "good game design"
November 9, 2025 at 7:53 AM
for me an exciting sense of exploration for me isn't a giant world map, it's being able to wonder if there's an entire world of things I haven't seen under any given bush, even that one I passed hours ago. a sense of inner life that defies "good game design"
I love a lot of things Angeline Era does, but IMO its smartest decision is understanding that Mystery and Full Knowledge Of A Game's Scope are enemies that cannot coexist and its refusal to even _imply_ what completionism looks enhances its sense of atmosphere a thousandfold
November 9, 2025 at 7:40 AM
I love a lot of things Angeline Era does, but IMO its smartest decision is understanding that Mystery and Full Knowledge Of A Game's Scope are enemies that cannot coexist and its refusal to even _imply_ what completionism looks enhances its sense of atmosphere a thousandfold
Reposted by Aura/Moom
also sorry I am never going to call deduction games “metroidbrainias”. sorry. I am open to other terms but not to that one
November 9, 2025 at 12:25 AM
also sorry I am never going to call deduction games “metroidbrainias”. sorry. I am open to other terms but not to that one
This game's aesthetic and battle system should have been the inspiration for an entire generation of rpgs
Finally tracked down where my SCART input adapter went during the move, which means Aura can resume her Panzer Dragoon Saga playthrough.
November 9, 2025 at 12:52 AM
This game's aesthetic and battle system should have been the inspiration for an entire generation of rpgs
Reposted by Aura/Moom
dragon quest 1 is in the air lately, so please enjoy this old blog exploring the development of one of my favorite relationships with a jrpg world map
tunditur-unda.neocities.org/posts/2020-0...
tunditur-unda.neocities.org/posts/2020-0...
November 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
dragon quest 1 is in the air lately, so please enjoy this old blog exploring the development of one of my favorite relationships with a jrpg world map
tunditur-unda.neocities.org/posts/2020-0...
tunditur-unda.neocities.org/posts/2020-0...