Simon Oliver
@simonoliver.com
Game Director @HandCircus.com . SimonOliver.com - Block Rancher, Rolando, Okabu, Seabeard. Prev Toy Invention Director @LEGO.
Any folks using Obsidian and looking for a new theme and wanna get away from minimalism - highly recommend Retroma - github.com/emarpiee/Ret... - fun, nostalgic and super usable
January 24, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Any folks using Obsidian and looking for a new theme and wanna get away from minimalism - highly recommend Retroma - github.com/emarpiee/Ret... - fun, nostalgic and super usable
*Love* these soundscapes created to harmonise with animal/nature scenes. Makes my brain go weird
January 23, 2026 at 9:15 AM
*Love* these soundscapes created to harmonise with animal/nature scenes. Makes my brain go weird
Reposted by Simon Oliver
Announcement: STEAM DEMO OUT NOW!
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
January 16, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Announcement: STEAM DEMO OUT NOW!
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
Reposted by Simon Oliver
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/...
'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
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/...
'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/...
Reposted by Simon Oliver
friends! acquaintances! help!
i'm looking to hire a game designer (living in the Netherlands) to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
know someone who's a good fit? pls forward this, ty!
hiddenfolks.com/job-opening/...
i'm looking to hire a game designer (living in the Netherlands) to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
know someone who's a good fit? pls forward this, ty!
hiddenfolks.com/job-opening/...
Job opening: game designer @ Hidden Folks
We're looking for a game designer in the Netherlands to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
hiddenfolks.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:58 PM
friends! acquaintances! help!
i'm looking to hire a game designer (living in the Netherlands) to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
know someone who's a good fit? pls forward this, ty!
hiddenfolks.com/job-opening/...
i'm looking to hire a game designer (living in the Netherlands) to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
know someone who's a good fit? pls forward this, ty!
hiddenfolks.com/job-opening/...
Reposted by Simon Oliver
One of my favorite side projects this year was my story for @technologyreview.com about the history of the Armatron robotic toy. I had one as a kid, and it is a miracle of mechanical engineering. I got to interview its inventor, retired toy designer Hiroyuki Watanabe.
ter.li/JKeegan (gift link)
ter.li/JKeegan (gift link)
How a 1980s toy robot arm inspired modern robotics
The tasks taken on by the Armatron aren’t so different from the ones AI is tackling today.
ter.li
December 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM
One of my favorite side projects this year was my story for @technologyreview.com about the history of the Armatron robotic toy. I had one as a kid, and it is a miracle of mechanical engineering. I got to interview its inventor, retired toy designer Hiroyuki Watanabe.
ter.li/JKeegan (gift link)
ter.li/JKeegan (gift link)
Reposted by Simon Oliver
Hello everyone! Just want to remind you that the deadline for BitSummit submissions is December 31st (submission fee: ¥2750). Late entries are open until January 16, 2026 (¥5500). Looking forward to seeing your games! For more information visit bitsummit.org.
December 17, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Hello everyone! Just want to remind you that the deadline for BitSummit submissions is December 31st (submission fee: ¥2750). Late entries are open until January 16, 2026 (¥5500). Looking forward to seeing your games! For more information visit bitsummit.org.
Reposted by Simon Oliver
Okay this is some strong as hell maths.
Can't tell you how much buying the Size Five games helps me out.
If you follow me but don't own these yet, please grab them now. It's the *actual best Christmas present* to help keep my weird little company afloat. Thank you.
Can't tell you how much buying the Size Five games helps me out.
If you follow me but don't own these yet, please grab them now. It's the *actual best Christmas present* to help keep my weird little company afloat. Thank you.
Okay, it's that time again: you can currently buy all available Size Five games on Steam at 75% off. That's six brillo games for less than a tenner! What a festive treat!
December 22, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Okay this is some strong as hell maths.
Can't tell you how much buying the Size Five games helps me out.
If you follow me but don't own these yet, please grab them now. It's the *actual best Christmas present* to help keep my weird little company afloat. Thank you.
Can't tell you how much buying the Size Five games helps me out.
If you follow me but don't own these yet, please grab them now. It's the *actual best Christmas present* to help keep my weird little company afloat. Thank you.
Reposted by Simon Oliver
Ludocene v1.2 is out in time to find your perfect Christmas gift.
🧭 Improved flow
🕹️Game pages
🔤Hot-keys
💌Monthly Recommendations
BUT! To survive, we need buzz. Now is the time to try it, share it, and maybe even subscribe. Let's not be the best-kept secret.
www.ludocene.com
🧭 Improved flow
🕹️Game pages
🔤Hot-keys
💌Monthly Recommendations
BUT! To survive, we need buzz. Now is the time to try it, share it, and maybe even subscribe. Let's not be the best-kept secret.
www.ludocene.com
Home - Ludocene Game Discovery
Game discovery from people you trust. Ludocene is a free game finder that uses human-researched data to match you with games you'll love.
www.ludocene.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Ludocene v1.2 is out in time to find your perfect Christmas gift.
🧭 Improved flow
🕹️Game pages
🔤Hot-keys
💌Monthly Recommendations
BUT! To survive, we need buzz. Now is the time to try it, share it, and maybe even subscribe. Let's not be the best-kept secret.
www.ludocene.com
🧭 Improved flow
🕹️Game pages
🔤Hot-keys
💌Monthly Recommendations
BUT! To survive, we need buzz. Now is the time to try it, share it, and maybe even subscribe. Let's not be the best-kept secret.
www.ludocene.com
Reposted by Simon Oliver
🚨 The UK government just published a breakdown of the responses to its consultation on AI & copyright:
- 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is)
🧵 1/2
- 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is)
🧵 1/2
December 15, 2025 at 11:22 AM
🚨 The UK government just published a breakdown of the responses to its consultation on AI & copyright:
- 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is)
🧵 1/2
- 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is)
🧵 1/2
Reposted by Simon Oliver
Mid-90s Sony ES gear was straight-up gorgeous
December 11, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Mid-90s Sony ES gear was straight-up gorgeous
Reposted by Simon Oliver
Remember the response to anyone who went to the Riyahd Comedy Festival?
Yeah uh I wouldn't recommend touching this with a 10 foot pole, regardless of what they offer
Yeah uh I wouldn't recommend touching this with a 10 foot pole, regardless of what they offer
Saudi Arabia's latest overture to the games industry is a new conference, produced by GDC parent Informa, taking place in December 2026
www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia...
www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia...
Saudi Arabia to host Kingdom of Gaming conference in 2026
Organisers hope for 20,000 attendees, 500 studios and 200 investors to be in attendance next December
www.gamesindustry.biz
December 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Remember the response to anyone who went to the Riyahd Comedy Festival?
Yeah uh I wouldn't recommend touching this with a 10 foot pole, regardless of what they offer
Yeah uh I wouldn't recommend touching this with a 10 foot pole, regardless of what they offer
Reposted by Simon Oliver
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbTL...
Petting dogs as an indication of autotelic, curiosity-driven behaviour.
All her videos are great
Petting dogs as an indication of autotelic, curiosity-driven behaviour.
All her videos are great
The "Science" of Petting Dogs In Video Games
YouTube video by Juniper Dev
www.youtube.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:05 AM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbTL...
Petting dogs as an indication of autotelic, curiosity-driven behaviour.
All her videos are great
Petting dogs as an indication of autotelic, curiosity-driven behaviour.
All her videos are great
Reposted by Simon Oliver
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
Reposted by Simon Oliver
Ok, Nearly the end of the year, and 6 months since Highrook was released! I wrote a little postmortem, covering some nerdy production info and my thoughts on what it was like to be an indie in the last few years.
www.nullpointer.co.uk/game-post-mo...
www.nullpointer.co.uk/game-post-mo...
Indie Game Post-mortem - Highrook
A rocky road to Highrook So 'The Horror At Highrook' has been…
www.nullpointer.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Ok, Nearly the end of the year, and 6 months since Highrook was released! I wrote a little postmortem, covering some nerdy production info and my thoughts on what it was like to be an indie in the last few years.
www.nullpointer.co.uk/game-post-mo...
www.nullpointer.co.uk/game-post-mo...
Reposted by Simon Oliver
Hey everyone, I am opening a handful of commission slots to cover my rent this month. really struggling with mental health issues and unexpected expenses this month. Get a cute custom model from me for 100$ USD! DM me if you are interested!
(please share!)
#b3d #Blender3d #gamedev
(please share!)
#b3d #Blender3d #gamedev
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Hey everyone, I am opening a handful of commission slots to cover my rent this month. really struggling with mental health issues and unexpected expenses this month. Get a cute custom model from me for 100$ USD! DM me if you are interested!
(please share!)
#b3d #Blender3d #gamedev
(please share!)
#b3d #Blender3d #gamedev
Reposted by Simon Oliver
making local files easy to adopt is filled with agony, luckily I like pain
You can now convert your Notion pages and databases to durable, private, local files.
Your data, offline, forever, for free.
Your data, offline, forever, for free.
November 22, 2025 at 9:33 PM
making local files easy to adopt is filled with agony, luckily I like pain
Reposted by Simon Oliver
C++ is for little worms
November 18, 2025 at 1:04 PM
C++ is for little worms
Reposted by Simon Oliver
🚨 NEW MYTHMATCH DEMO 🚨
🏹 2 hours
🏹 Progress will carry to the full game!
🏹 New Olympian + Minigame
store.steampowered.com/app/2490290/...
#cozyquest2025
🏹 2 hours
🏹 Progress will carry to the full game!
🏹 New Olympian + Minigame
store.steampowered.com/app/2490290/...
#cozyquest2025
Mythmatch Demo on Steam
A Greek mythology anti-capitalist merge game about the power of community over authority. Challenge the Gods. Inspire the Mortals. Rebuild Ithaca.
store.steampowered.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:40 PM
🚨 NEW MYTHMATCH DEMO 🚨
🏹 2 hours
🏹 Progress will carry to the full game!
🏹 New Olympian + Minigame
store.steampowered.com/app/2490290/...
#cozyquest2025
🏹 2 hours
🏹 Progress will carry to the full game!
🏹 New Olympian + Minigame
store.steampowered.com/app/2490290/...
#cozyquest2025
Reposted by Simon Oliver
Senior illustrator, with 20 years of experience and a specialty in game art.
I haven't been able to find a paying project for months. Can you help? Every share is appreciated.
I haven't been able to find a paying project for months. Can you help? Every share is appreciated.
November 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Senior illustrator, with 20 years of experience and a specialty in game art.
I haven't been able to find a paying project for months. Can you help? Every share is appreciated.
I haven't been able to find a paying project for months. Can you help? Every share is appreciated.
I just backed @apwot.bsky.social A Profound Waste of Time: Issue 6 and you should too!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/caz...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/caz...
A Profound Waste of Time: Issue 6
The beloved gaming mag returns, with Astro Bot's Nicolas Doucet, Danganronpa's Kazutaka Kodaka, Team Ninja's Fumihiko Yasuda and more!
www.kickstarter.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I just backed @apwot.bsky.social A Profound Waste of Time: Issue 6 and you should too!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/caz...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/caz...
Reposted by Simon Oliver
hey im doin a game design talk !!
I KNOW ITS BEEN A WHILE
ive been collecting my thoughts on the last year of making little games again, what i've learned, what's been fun, how to do a lot with a little and so on
thinkygames.com/events/think...
I KNOW ITS BEEN A WHILE
ive been collecting my thoughts on the last year of making little games again, what i've learned, what's been fun, how to do a lot with a little and so on
thinkygames.com/events/think...
Day 1 of ThinkyCon 2025 · Thinky Games
Puzzle design, art, development, production — learn about every aspect of crafting thinky games.
thinkygames.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:59 PM
hey im doin a game design talk !!
I KNOW ITS BEEN A WHILE
ive been collecting my thoughts on the last year of making little games again, what i've learned, what's been fun, how to do a lot with a little and so on
thinkygames.com/events/think...
I KNOW ITS BEEN A WHILE
ive been collecting my thoughts on the last year of making little games again, what i've learned, what's been fun, how to do a lot with a little and so on
thinkygames.com/events/think...
Reposted by Simon Oliver
wow look at this modular music sandbox made in #godot www.reddit.com/r/godot/comm...
October 31, 2025 at 7:32 AM
wow look at this modular music sandbox made in #godot www.reddit.com/r/godot/comm...
Reposted by Simon Oliver
BitSummit PUNCH is coming!
📅May 22 (Friday) to 24 (Sunday), 2026
📍Miyako Messe, Kyoto
The theme is "High Impact"💥
🎮 Exhibitor registration is open now: https://bs-entry-system.com/en/
https://bitsummit.org/en/submission-faq-eng/
📅May 22 (Friday) to 24 (Sunday), 2026
📍Miyako Messe, Kyoto
The theme is "High Impact"💥
🎮 Exhibitor registration is open now: https://bs-entry-system.com/en/
https://bitsummit.org/en/submission-faq-eng/
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM
BitSummit PUNCH is coming!
📅May 22 (Friday) to 24 (Sunday), 2026
📍Miyako Messe, Kyoto
The theme is "High Impact"💥
🎮 Exhibitor registration is open now: https://bs-entry-system.com/en/
https://bitsummit.org/en/submission-faq-eng/
📅May 22 (Friday) to 24 (Sunday), 2026
📍Miyako Messe, Kyoto
The theme is "High Impact"💥
🎮 Exhibitor registration is open now: https://bs-entry-system.com/en/
https://bitsummit.org/en/submission-faq-eng/