Dean Rands | Crowence
@crowence.com
“Game Designer and Developer” who is slowly imploding. Games are great.
Work and thoughts at crowence.com
(Sorry, but please don't ask me for money - I don't have any)
Work and thoughts at crowence.com
(Sorry, but please don't ask me for money - I don't have any)
Pinned
Dean Rands | Crowence
@crowence.com
· Jan 3
Crowence
Dean Rands | Game Designer & Developer
crowence.com
I finally updated my site (crowence.com) with newer work and descriptions. It still needs tweaks, especially to better support mobile, and I intend on redoing some of the visual identity soon
Also, I’ll be posting thoughts on games to crowence.com/game-thoughts/, which already has six posts :^)
Also, I’ll be posting thoughts on games to crowence.com/game-thoughts/, which already has six posts :^)
I've been playing some of the original R-Type (I'm still quite bad at it, but improving), and it's so cool that they were able to get such variety out of applying the Force mechanics to different scenarios.
Shmup/STG stage variety is often great, but they squeezed so much out of that Force in 1987.
Shmup/STG stage variety is often great, but they squeezed so much out of that Force in 1987.
November 30, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I've been playing some of the original R-Type (I'm still quite bad at it, but improving), and it's so cool that they were able to get such variety out of applying the Force mechanics to different scenarios.
Shmup/STG stage variety is often great, but they squeezed so much out of that Force in 1987.
Shmup/STG stage variety is often great, but they squeezed so much out of that Force in 1987.
It's crazy that the government is legitimising the rising xenophobic rhetoric by acting as though it's good to be a bit less bigoted than another party. It'd be great if the country could celebrate and strengthen its care, diversity and cultural density.
www.refugee-action.org.uk/government-m...
www.refugee-action.org.uk/government-m...
Government must end scapegoating of migrants, 103 charities warn - Refugee Action
Some of the UK’s biggest charities have written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to express deep concern at the government’s direction on immigration and urged...
www.refugee-action.org.uk
September 29, 2025 at 11:10 AM
It's crazy that the government is legitimising the rising xenophobic rhetoric by acting as though it's good to be a bit less bigoted than another party. It'd be great if the country could celebrate and strengthen its care, diversity and cultural density.
www.refugee-action.org.uk/government-m...
www.refugee-action.org.uk/government-m...
Topical:
Finally started reading my copy of Maus yesterday.
More than a bit worried that Maus isn't going to stop being topical...
Finally started reading my copy of Maus yesterday.
More than a bit worried that Maus isn't going to stop being topical...
September 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Topical:
Finally started reading my copy of Maus yesterday.
More than a bit worried that Maus isn't going to stop being topical...
Finally started reading my copy of Maus yesterday.
More than a bit worried that Maus isn't going to stop being topical...
Such a turnout for a fascist rally... I don't know what happened to caring about people. In a country with the means to love, so many seem to find national pride in their levels of hatred. I need to get out of here...
September 13, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Such a turnout for a fascist rally... I don't know what happened to caring about people. In a country with the means to love, so many seem to find national pride in their levels of hatred. I need to get out of here...
Ninja Gaiden II was a very cool game
Ow, my heart
Ow, my heart
September 6, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Ninja Gaiden II was a very cool game
Ow, my heart
Ow, my heart
I think people need to be careful about sharing the details for this ChatGPT case. It's abhorrent, and OpenAI deserve legal punishment, but a lot of the shared info is detailing suicide methods (repeating ChatGPT's words).
I can say that suicidal people really don't need to be seeing this stuff.
I can say that suicidal people really don't need to be seeing this stuff.
August 27, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I think people need to be careful about sharing the details for this ChatGPT case. It's abhorrent, and OpenAI deserve legal punishment, but a lot of the shared info is detailing suicide methods (repeating ChatGPT's words).
I can say that suicidal people really don't need to be seeing this stuff.
I can say that suicidal people really don't need to be seeing this stuff.
After stopping reading Eurogamer because of their AI puff piece, I started getting news from GamesIndustry·biz. It really didn't take long for their editors to persuade me to stop reading.
It'd be great if outlets for games journalism could respect the actual craft of making the things.
It'd be great if outlets for games journalism could respect the actual craft of making the things.
August 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
After stopping reading Eurogamer because of their AI puff piece, I started getting news from GamesIndustry·biz. It really didn't take long for their editors to persuade me to stop reading.
It'd be great if outlets for games journalism could respect the actual craft of making the things.
It'd be great if outlets for games journalism could respect the actual craft of making the things.
@gibiz.bsky.social
Sorry, but in the published article about the AI usage survey, it feels misleading to not point out the massive conflict of interest therein.
The article says that the research is presented by Google Cloud, who themselves offer ML services and have a reason to promote such usage.
Sorry, but in the published article about the AI usage survey, it feels misleading to not point out the massive conflict of interest therein.
The article says that the research is presented by Google Cloud, who themselves offer ML services and have a reason to promote such usage.
August 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
@gibiz.bsky.social
Sorry, but in the published article about the AI usage survey, it feels misleading to not point out the massive conflict of interest therein.
The article says that the research is presented by Google Cloud, who themselves offer ML services and have a reason to promote such usage.
Sorry, but in the published article about the AI usage survey, it feels misleading to not point out the massive conflict of interest therein.
The article says that the research is presented by Google Cloud, who themselves offer ML services and have a reason to promote such usage.
@mekaskull.bsky.social
I finally got around to playing through my copy of Cyber Shadow, and that game's just really good. Thanks a ton for making it.
I finally got around to playing through my copy of Cyber Shadow, and that game's just really good. Thanks a ton for making it.
August 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
@mekaskull.bsky.social
I finally got around to playing through my copy of Cyber Shadow, and that game's just really good. Thanks a ton for making it.
I finally got around to playing through my copy of Cyber Shadow, and that game's just really good. Thanks a ton for making it.
Ah, annoyingly another year of definitely not being able to finish a game jam project in time, but I'll see about getting it finished soon, regardless. Missed a day from illness, and couldn't make up for that well enough today... Hey ho, I guess.
August 1, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Ah, annoyingly another year of definitely not being able to finish a game jam project in time, but I'll see about getting it finished soon, regardless. Missed a day from illness, and couldn't make up for that well enough today... Hey ho, I guess.
Well, time to stop reading Eurogamer, I guess.
"But, like it or not, gen AI is becoming an invaluable tool for developers."
Nah. Giving any credibility to the lizardry in that article reflects a lack of respect for actual creativity and craft.
"But, like it or not, gen AI is becoming an invaluable tool for developers."
Nah. Giving any credibility to the lizardry in that article reflects a lack of respect for actual creativity and craft.
June 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Well, time to stop reading Eurogamer, I guess.
"But, like it or not, gen AI is becoming an invaluable tool for developers."
Nah. Giving any credibility to the lizardry in that article reflects a lack of respect for actual creativity and craft.
"But, like it or not, gen AI is becoming an invaluable tool for developers."
Nah. Giving any credibility to the lizardry in that article reflects a lack of respect for actual creativity and craft.
Thinking aloud, I suppose I'll just have to not post anything more on here unless I make anything of actual substance to share. Maybe my brain's incompatible with social media, because just putting thoughts and experiences out into the void ends up reinforcing the feeling that I don't matter.
June 23, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Thinking aloud, I suppose I'll just have to not post anything more on here unless I make anything of actual substance to share. Maybe my brain's incompatible with social media, because just putting thoughts and experiences out into the void ends up reinforcing the feeling that I don't matter.
So much of what’s happening right now is just so abhorrent. I’m thankful that people with audiences are speaking up against the injustices.
I’m also thankful that I still have countless treasures left to play, let alone discover. I just beat Game Boy Donkey Kong, and it’s just so great.
I’m also thankful that I still have countless treasures left to play, let alone discover. I just beat Game Boy Donkey Kong, and it’s just so great.
June 23, 2025 at 9:45 AM
So much of what’s happening right now is just so abhorrent. I’m thankful that people with audiences are speaking up against the injustices.
I’m also thankful that I still have countless treasures left to play, let alone discover. I just beat Game Boy Donkey Kong, and it’s just so great.
I’m also thankful that I still have countless treasures left to play, let alone discover. I just beat Game Boy Donkey Kong, and it’s just so great.
As well as being so clearly disgusting, I continue to find this rising xenophobic rhetoric in the country baffling. Our identity is the result of millennia of people deciding to sail over.
I also don't get demonising people who actively choose to live here rather than happening to spawn here...?
I also don't get demonising people who actively choose to live here rather than happening to spawn here...?
May 12, 2025 at 6:43 PM
As well as being so clearly disgusting, I continue to find this rising xenophobic rhetoric in the country baffling. Our identity is the result of millennia of people deciding to sail over.
I also don't get demonising people who actively choose to live here rather than happening to spawn here...?
I also don't get demonising people who actively choose to live here rather than happening to spawn here...?
@hunty.biz I’ve been playing some Zero Zero (having never played 電車でGO!), and while I need to practice so much more, the game just feels so high quality (like it was a ton of work)
Thanks a bunch for making it (and good job) – I’m not a train guy, but it’s super interesting :^)
Thanks a bunch for making it (and good job) – I’m not a train guy, but it’s super interesting :^)
April 3, 2025 at 9:41 AM
@hunty.biz I’ve been playing some Zero Zero (having never played 電車でGO!), and while I need to practice so much more, the game just feels so high quality (like it was a ton of work)
Thanks a bunch for making it (and good job) – I’m not a train guy, but it’s super interesting :^)
Thanks a bunch for making it (and good job) – I’m not a train guy, but it’s super interesting :^)
Thank you, Nintendo, for injecting me with some life force :^)
(Big grins watching that Direct – now, to seek money…)
(Big grins watching that Direct – now, to seek money…)
April 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Thank you, Nintendo, for injecting me with some life force :^)
(Big grins watching that Direct – now, to seek money…)
(Big grins watching that Direct – now, to seek money…)
Well, I’ve fixed some of the borked parts, but may have to spend the rest of the evening fixing more…
Menus are still inactive on mobile, which is very fun…
Menus are still inactive on mobile, which is very fun…
I finally updated my site (crowence.com) with newer work and descriptions. It still needs tweaks, especially to better support mobile, and I intend on redoing some of the visual identity soon
Also, I’ll be posting thoughts on games to crowence.com/game-thoughts/, which already has six posts :^)
Also, I’ll be posting thoughts on games to crowence.com/game-thoughts/, which already has six posts :^)
Crowence
Dean Rands | Game Designer & Developer
crowence.com
January 3, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Well, I’ve fixed some of the borked parts, but may have to spend the rest of the evening fixing more…
Menus are still inactive on mobile, which is very fun…
Menus are still inactive on mobile, which is very fun…
I finally updated my site (crowence.com) with newer work and descriptions. It still needs tweaks, especially to better support mobile, and I intend on redoing some of the visual identity soon
Also, I’ll be posting thoughts on games to crowence.com/game-thoughts/, which already has six posts :^)
Also, I’ll be posting thoughts on games to crowence.com/game-thoughts/, which already has six posts :^)
Crowence
Dean Rands | Game Designer & Developer
crowence.com
January 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I finally updated my site (crowence.com) with newer work and descriptions. It still needs tweaks, especially to better support mobile, and I intend on redoing some of the visual identity soon
Also, I’ll be posting thoughts on games to crowence.com/game-thoughts/, which already has six posts :^)
Also, I’ll be posting thoughts on games to crowence.com/game-thoughts/, which already has six posts :^)
How can there be hatred in the world when we have Kirby Super Star?
November 23, 2024 at 3:55 PM
How can there be hatred in the world when we have Kirby Super Star?
I don’t think I have the energy to post miscellaneous game over screens this morning. I know I’m just contributing to a storm of defeatism, but I’m so tired of people willingly choosing a world driven by hate, malice and division. I’m long fed-up of all of it.
November 6, 2024 at 10:15 AM
I don’t think I have the energy to post miscellaneous game over screens this morning. I know I’m just contributing to a storm of defeatism, but I’m so tired of people willingly choosing a world driven by hate, malice and division. I’m long fed-up of all of it.