Simon
@slepkin.bsky.social
Chicago-based #gamedev. I like swarms and robots and co-op and hero-building.
Gamejam stuff: knaughts.itch.io/
Big project: @swarmforge.bsky.social
Gamejam stuff: knaughts.itch.io/
Big project: @swarmforge.bsky.social
I have no idea why scifi shields look like fantasy shields. Maybe it's like 💾, a symbol that massively outlived its provenance?
OK no more graphs/spreadsheets, time for more #pixelart. I need a simple icon that can appear inline text, to represent Barrier, a status effect that reduces damage taken. It should probably look a like a shield, right? Two candidates:
#roguelike #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #autobattle
#roguelike #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #autobattle
November 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I have no idea why scifi shields look like fantasy shields. Maybe it's like 💾, a symbol that massively outlived its provenance?
I spent an embarrassing amount of time coming up with a damage formula that ensured diminishing returns on any one investment.
More #gamedesign this week! I think I want a LOT of these because scrolling through long lists looking for synergy is joy.
#roguelike #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #autobattle
#roguelike #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #autobattle
November 1, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I spent an embarrassing amount of time coming up with a damage formula that ensured diminishing returns on any one investment.
Reposted by Simon
Such a cool article, thanks for stopping by!
If you're a gamer in Chicago you're lucky to be here, cuz the games scene is fire. We attended @indiecitygames.org 's CIGS a few weeks back and saw a bunch of great things. Good news, you can follow along with #Chicaghoul no matter where you live!
www.culturecombine.com/post/indie-c...
www.culturecombine.com/post/indie-c...
Indie City's Chicago Indie Game Showcase Shines with Great Games and an Immaculate Vibe
We’ve been surfing the scene since the very first BitBash. We were there for the Logan Playtest parties, VGA Gallery openings, collabs at MSI and the Art Institute, and the opening of Chi Gamespace.
...
www.culturecombine.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Such a cool article, thanks for stopping by!
This is a screenshot of a game design doc so I think it still counts for #ScreenshotSaturday?
FYI if you want a good and free way to make graphs/diagrams like this, app.diagrams.net is great.
FYI if you want a good and free way to make graphs/diagrams like this, app.diagrams.net is great.
October 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
This is a screenshot of a game design doc so I think it still counts for #ScreenshotSaturday?
FYI if you want a good and free way to make graphs/diagrams like this, app.diagrams.net is great.
FYI if you want a good and free way to make graphs/diagrams like this, app.diagrams.net is great.
It turns out modular autobattlers need a LOT of icons. Who knew!
Happy #ScreenshotSaturday! You guys liked the last round of "Guess what this icon means", even though no one won, so let's do it again. The hypothetical winner gets a very cool sticker (next time you go to an event I print stickers for that is).
#roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev
#roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev
October 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
It turns out modular autobattlers need a LOT of icons. Who knew!
Of course, this made me realize that all my early-implemented Upgrades need to be rejiggered to even work with the filters.
If you like poring through a bunch of different abilities to find explosive synergies, you probably like ✨filters✨. Me too!
#roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
#roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
October 11, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Of course, this made me realize that all my early-implemented Upgrades need to be rejiggered to even work with the filters.
An unforgiving world still need a FEW cute things, as a treat. Like, look at this adorable little servo skull from Warhammer 40k!
October 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
An unforgiving world still need a FEW cute things, as a treat. Like, look at this adorable little servo skull from Warhammer 40k!
Zoomed-in 16x16 icons are kinda hard to read unless you roll your chair way away from your desk
oops here's the less distorted version
October 5, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Zoomed-in 16x16 icons are kinda hard to read unless you roll your chair way away from your desk
(Thanks to Ian at www.instagram.com/bigsirgames for playtesting, and making the looping gif, and pointing out Yet Another Design Problem)
I'm playing around with an #autobattle version of SOLARFLARE, and I guess this is why Backpack Battles has Fatigue.
#roguelike #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
#roguelike #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
September 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
(Thanks to Ian at www.instagram.com/bigsirgames for playtesting, and making the looping gif, and pointing out Yet Another Design Problem)
Seriously the number of great suggestions I heard was overwhelming. I'm tempted to just roll a die every morning to decide what to work on, instead of trying to sift through all this.
Thanks (again) to @indiecitygames.org for organizing!
Thanks (again) to @indiecitygames.org for organizing!
September 14, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Seriously the number of great suggestions I heard was overwhelming. I'm tempted to just roll a die every morning to decide what to work on, instead of trying to sift through all this.
Thanks (again) to @indiecitygames.org for organizing!
Thanks (again) to @indiecitygames.org for organizing!
Reposted by Simon
Over the weekend, I went to the Chicago Indie Game Showcase and played a fine collection of upcoming games developed in Chicago, Illinois!
My Time at Chicago Indie Games Showcase 2025 - MastaFran Comics
Over the weekend, I went to the Chicago Indie Game Showcase and played a fine collection of upcoming games developed in Chicago, Illinois!
www.mastafran.com
September 8, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Over the weekend, I went to the Chicago Indie Game Showcase and played a fine collection of upcoming games developed in Chicago, Illinois!
I already snagged one to put on my sticker board, so there are only 49 left, sorry. Find me at CIGS, and ask me why roguelikes are the perfect form-factor for online co-op!
Bubblegum generously volunteered to be featured on a sticker. Drop by our booth at #CIGS2025 tomorrow, play one run, and take them home with you!
Oh, but Bubblegum says not buy more than 2 ranks of Sniper, that's a rookie mistake.
#axolotl #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev
Oh, but Bubblegum says not buy more than 2 ranks of Sniper, that's a rookie mistake.
#axolotl #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev
September 5, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I already snagged one to put on my sticker board, so there are only 49 left, sorry. Find me at CIGS, and ask me why roguelikes are the perfect form-factor for online co-op!
The surgeon general cautions against dreaming about Escape From Slumberland, unless you have a LOT of spare moonbeams.
August 17, 2025 at 10:16 PM
The surgeon general cautions against dreaming about Escape From Slumberland, unless you have a LOT of spare moonbeams.
I made a sign for the table and everything! Well, Liz made a sign, and I nitpicked about it.
If you're wondering why I'm editing a trailer, it's because SOLARFLARE will have a booth at Chicago Indie Game Showcase (CIGS), hosted by @indiecitygames.org, on 9/6!
Stop by, fight robots with a friend, and tell me which character is your favorite (it's Bubblegum) and why (they're an #axolotl).
Stop by, fight robots with a friend, and tell me which character is your favorite (it's Bubblegum) and why (they're an #axolotl).
August 17, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I made a sign for the table and everything! Well, Liz made a sign, and I nitpicked about it.
Incidentally, Fox was the first character we added to the game! Wait, no, there was also a human, but who wants to play a HUMAN, I do that in real life.
This is Fox (no relation). He made equipment for the big armory corp, until SOLARFLARE raided it and he left with them. He likes talking about philosophy, even though his team stopped listening about an hour ago.
#foxes #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
#foxes #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
August 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Incidentally, Fox was the first character we added to the game! Wait, no, there was also a human, but who wants to play a HUMAN, I do that in real life.
I'm not sure if she looks more like a golem or a lobster.
This is . She was a subject of the big bioengineering corp, until SOLARFLARE shut the lab down. She is very shy, but knows a lot of jokes.
#golem #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
#golem #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
August 2, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I'm not sure if she looks more like a golem or a lobster.
Excited to see this again at CIGS!
Ported a bunch of mech parts to the new customization system.
#screenshotsaturday #driftshell #mecha #psx #lowpoly #gamedev #indiegame
#screenshotsaturday #driftshell #mecha #psx #lowpoly #gamedev #indiegame
August 2, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Excited to see this again at CIGS!
It found the scarf in a box, but it made the gloves itself!
This is Ed. It was created by the big #robot corp, but they left a security vulnerability in its code that it exploited (oops!), so it left. It sometimes stares at people for a long time, with its massive unblinking iris.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
July 26, 2025 at 10:26 PM
It found the scarf in a box, but it made the gloves itself!
If you DON'T like detailed statblocks, what are you doing playing this genre?!
It's time for SOLARFLARE's July update! I hope you enjoy characters, lore, and detailed statblocks.
Details here: swarmforge.itch.io/solarflare-p...
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
Details here: swarmforge.itch.io/solarflare-p...
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
July 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM
If you DON'T like detailed statblocks, what are you doing playing this genre?!
Reposted by Simon
HAVE YOU 🫵 PLAYED OUR DEMO YET?
If you like
🌌space opera
🤖mecha
📺retro anime vibes
🫂warm found family narratives
🃏deckbuilding elements
our hybrid visual novel-deckbuilder is available on Steam for a limited time! play NOW! store.steampowered.com/app/3408070/...
If you like
🌌space opera
🤖mecha
📺retro anime vibes
🫂warm found family narratives
🃏deckbuilding elements
our hybrid visual novel-deckbuilder is available on Steam for a limited time! play NOW! store.steampowered.com/app/3408070/...
Battle Suit Aces Demo on Steam
Battle Suit Aces is a charming card-battling RPG. You'll recruit, befriend, and upgrade your mech pilots on a heartfelt hunt for fabled alien superweapons: the Relic Suits. Command them across monster-infested galactic wilds through danger, tragedy, and comedic sci-fi shenanigans.
store.steampowered.com
July 17, 2025 at 9:17 PM
HAVE YOU 🫵 PLAYED OUR DEMO YET?
If you like
🌌space opera
🤖mecha
📺retro anime vibes
🫂warm found family narratives
🃏deckbuilding elements
our hybrid visual novel-deckbuilder is available on Steam for a limited time! play NOW! store.steampowered.com/app/3408070/...
If you like
🌌space opera
🤖mecha
📺retro anime vibes
🫂warm found family narratives
🃏deckbuilding elements
our hybrid visual novel-deckbuilder is available on Steam for a limited time! play NOW! store.steampowered.com/app/3408070/...
Or maybe we should just set his noggin on fire?
Goggles make it tough to convey expression! We were aiming for 😱 on the Tech-Fox but this (pic #1) looks a bit like 😀. Do sweat-drops (#2) or dizzy-eyes (#3) help?
#conceptart by www.instagram.com/maeribee/
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
#conceptart by www.instagram.com/maeribee/
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
July 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Or maybe we should just set his noggin on fire?
Reposted by Simon
Working on UI clarity this week! I needed a white outline to indicate whose turn it is, which surprisingly required #shaders, so... I kinda learned HLSL.
There's an unannounced art asset that snuck in, oh well, don't tell anyone.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
There's an unannounced art asset that snuck in, oh well, don't tell anyone.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
July 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Working on UI clarity this week! I needed a white outline to indicate whose turn it is, which surprisingly required #shaders, so... I kinda learned HLSL.
There's an unannounced art asset that snuck in, oh well, don't tell anyone.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
There's an unannounced art asset that snuck in, oh well, don't tell anyone.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
Reposted by Simon
OK, I guess you guys really liked this little guy's #conceptart, so here they are in RESPLENDENT COLOR #pixelart, courtesy of @wurmfud.itch.io.
Any suggestions for their name? Currently thinking Bubblegum, for um obvious reasons.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #axolotl #gamedev #screenshotsaturday
Any suggestions for their name? Currently thinking Bubblegum, for um obvious reasons.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #axolotl #gamedev #screenshotsaturday
June 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
OK, I guess you guys really liked this little guy's #conceptart, so here they are in RESPLENDENT COLOR #pixelart, courtesy of @wurmfud.itch.io.
Any suggestions for their name? Currently thinking Bubblegum, for um obvious reasons.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #axolotl #gamedev #screenshotsaturday
Any suggestions for their name? Currently thinking Bubblegum, for um obvious reasons.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #axolotl #gamedev #screenshotsaturday
Someone PLEASE HELP ME NAME HIM, he can't be The Rock Guy forever.
A teeny-tiny fragment of www.instagram.com/maeribee 's #concept-art for SolarFlare's key art. Here, we witness an annoyed lithoid demonstrating the business end of their plasma sword to a very mean #robot.
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday
June 23, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Someone PLEASE HELP ME NAME HIM, he can't be The Rock Guy forever.
I feel like there's a grisly story about the drill at the end of his arm, and I'm not sure I want to hear it.
This cutie didn't make it in as one of the starter characters... but they'll be unlockable.
#axolotl #conceptart by www.instagram.com/maeribee
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #OrIsItSunday?
#axolotl #conceptart by www.instagram.com/maeribee
#roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #OrIsItSunday?
June 15, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I feel like there's a grisly story about the drill at the end of his arm, and I'm not sure I want to hear it.