Adam McDonald
@adammcdlt.bsky.social
Game dev from the Vancouver area. Senior Game Designer at Studio MDHR. Views are my own.
Making Chronoblazer, a 2D shmup with progression and light exploration, in my spare time.
https://adammcdonald.itch.io/
https://adammcd.com
Making Chronoblazer, a 2D shmup with progression and light exploration, in my spare time.
https://adammcdonald.itch.io/
https://adammcd.com
Very WIP but I feel like I'm getting somewhere with this...
I had a mini breakthrough when sketching potential cut scenes (still image kind) for my game, realizing it's not actually hard and overwhelming to attempt to draw in perspective. Got me excited about doing them, so I started on one.
I had a mini breakthrough when sketching potential cut scenes (still image kind) for my game, realizing it's not actually hard and overwhelming to attempt to draw in perspective. Got me excited about doing them, so I started on one.
November 17, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Very WIP but I feel like I'm getting somewhere with this...
I had a mini breakthrough when sketching potential cut scenes (still image kind) for my game, realizing it's not actually hard and overwhelming to attempt to draw in perspective. Got me excited about doing them, so I started on one.
I had a mini breakthrough when sketching potential cut scenes (still image kind) for my game, realizing it's not actually hard and overwhelming to attempt to draw in perspective. Got me excited about doing them, so I started on one.
Here's the same area after a few upgrades to the ship.
October 26, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Here's the same area after a few upgrades to the ship.
Feeling pretty good about my latest iterations on the layout in this part of the game, including some new enemy types, new enemy behaviours, some art updates, and a completely redone proximity door.
#chronoblazer #shmup #screenshotsaturday
#chronoblazer #shmup #screenshotsaturday
October 26, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Feeling pretty good about my latest iterations on the layout in this part of the game, including some new enemy types, new enemy behaviours, some art updates, and a completely redone proximity door.
#chronoblazer #shmup #screenshotsaturday
#chronoblazer #shmup #screenshotsaturday
I’m a level designer and I’m here to debunk this.
These screens have the same gameplay metrics, but the left side is much more legible. The player doesn’t need to infer the spacing - it’s spelled out clearly.
These screens have the same gameplay metrics, but the left side is much more legible. The player doesn’t need to infer the spacing - it’s spelled out clearly.
October 18, 2025 at 10:47 PM
I’m a level designer and I’m here to debunk this.
These screens have the same gameplay metrics, but the left side is much more legible. The player doesn’t need to infer the spacing - it’s spelled out clearly.
These screens have the same gameplay metrics, but the left side is much more legible. The player doesn’t need to infer the spacing - it’s spelled out clearly.
Nose is ears or ears are nose?
August 22, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Nose is ears or ears are nose?
12 hours of Twilight Imperium yesterday. I won with these guys. I used their once-a-game “hero” ability to rove around the game board and scored 3 points to come from behind in the final round. What I love about this game is nobody even knew I had the points to win until the round ended.
August 17, 2025 at 4:52 PM
12 hours of Twilight Imperium yesterday. I won with these guys. I used their once-a-game “hero” ability to rove around the game board and scored 3 points to come from behind in the final round. What I love about this game is nobody even knew I had the points to win until the round ended.
My first 5 Steam games. I can barely remember Eets or Bullet Candy. They were probably on deep sale and looked decent.
August 15, 2025 at 7:50 PM
My first 5 Steam games. I can barely remember Eets or Bullet Candy. They were probably on deep sale and looked decent.
Nope, 29 million was out of reach. I don’t think I had enough enhanced cards. But on the flip side, I got a lot of planet cards and that’s part of what got me this far.
August 9, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Nope, 29 million was out of reach. I don’t think I had enough enhanced cards. But on the flip side, I got a lot of planet cards and that’s part of what got me this far.
As expected. I wonder if I’ll finally make it past ante 11 in endless mode.
August 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
As expected. I wonder if I’ll finally make it past ante 11 in endless mode.
Blessed Balatro run.
August 9, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Blessed Balatro run.
Speaking of Mario Paint, my music loving 5-year-old son (almost 6!) put this together while also learning how a mouse works in the process.
July 29, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Speaking of Mario Paint, my music loving 5-year-old son (almost 6!) put this together while also learning how a mouse works in the process.
Looked up a PDF of the Mario Paint instruction manual. You can only save one “collage” (set of images, one animation and one song). But…
July 29, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Looked up a PDF of the Mario Paint instruction manual. You can only save one “collage” (set of images, one animation and one song). But…
I think I had this, but I was certain it was made by Ascii. The shape and placement of the buttons looks right, though>
July 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I think I had this, but I was certain it was made by Ascii. The shape and placement of the buttons looks right, though>
Now is the time to confess that I stole this mug from the TI office in Santa Monica.
July 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Now is the time to confess that I stole this mug from the TI office in Santa Monica.
The Initiative looks like it has been closed by Microsoft today, and Perfect Dark cancelled. I was on that team for about 3.5 years.
My fondest memories were the times the (mostly remote) team got together. It was really a special group of people. Here's a large portion of TI circa fall 2023.
My fondest memories were the times the (mostly remote) team got together. It was really a special group of people. Here's a large portion of TI circa fall 2023.
July 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The Initiative looks like it has been closed by Microsoft today, and Perfect Dark cancelled. I was on that team for about 3.5 years.
My fondest memories were the times the (mostly remote) team got together. It was really a special group of people. Here's a large portion of TI circa fall 2023.
My fondest memories were the times the (mostly remote) team got together. It was really a special group of people. Here's a large portion of TI circa fall 2023.
I pretty much just had to play whatever hand let me use up my red cards.
June 23, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I pretty much just had to play whatever hand let me use up my red cards.
Yeah, this is still fun as hell. I’m a pro-breaking weapons guy.
June 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Yeah, this is still fun as hell. I’m a pro-breaking weapons guy.
I almost bought Capcom Fighting Collection 2 for PS4 or PC instead of Switch, but I’ve been loving it in handheld mode. I didn’t even see the pattern until I fired up Street Fighter Alpha 3. You know, the handheld Street Fighter game.
May 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I almost bought Capcom Fighting Collection 2 for PS4 or PC instead of Switch, but I’ve been loving it in handheld mode. I didn’t even see the pattern until I fired up Street Fighter Alpha 3. You know, the handheld Street Fighter game.
Not trying to style too much on my American friends, but right now Canada has Easter egg nog. We have enough eggs to use for nog at a time when nobody wants or expects nog.
April 16, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Not trying to style too much on my American friends, but right now Canada has Easter egg nog. We have enough eggs to use for nog at a time when nobody wants or expects nog.
I only had enough change to get one Nintendo controller gacha thing. The store was super crowded and my kids were tired the first time, so I had to come back… 5 minutes before closing on my last day.
March 28, 2025 at 9:46 PM
I only had enough change to get one Nintendo controller gacha thing. The store was super crowded and my kids were tired the first time, so I had to come back… 5 minutes before closing on my last day.
My one (1) game purchase. Aleste Collection for Switch. I got it from a store called “Famicom Shop Mario” inside a mall near my hotel. None of the Akihabara game stores I went to had it, but BEEP did have a poster of it (which made it easy to ask them if they had the game).
March 28, 2025 at 9:44 PM
My one (1) game purchase. Aleste Collection for Switch. I got it from a store called “Famicom Shop Mario” inside a mall near my hotel. None of the Akihabara game stores I went to had it, but BEEP did have a poster of it (which made it easy to ask them if they had the game).
Nintendo Tokyo store (and the Capcom store right beside it)
March 28, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Nintendo Tokyo store (and the Capcom store right beside it)
Hirose Entertainment Yard in Akihabara.
March 28, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Hirose Entertainment Yard in Akihabara.