David McDonough
@davidmcdonough.bsky.social
Game designer, programmer, and teacher over 16 years. Former lead designer at Firaxis with credits on Civilization and XCOM titles, formerly at Cloud Chamber and Otherside Entertainment. Board game designer of Dawn's Early Light.
Next step for Realm building: merge patterns. Different realms have to built in certain spatial groups in order to merge into larger, more powerful versions of themselves. 'Shapes' gives me a nice little "constellation" style display for that in the Former UI.
#indiedev #gamedev #solodev #unity
#indiedev #gamedev #solodev #unity
July 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by David McDonough
#TactiCon Panel 2025 - Sustaining creativity within a franchise: making a sequel as fresh as the first one
⭐️ @fireflynick.bsky.social
⭐️ @jamesgroundshatter.bsky.social
⭐️ Stephan Wirth
⭐️ @davidmcdonough.bsky.social
Watch live now: store.steampowered.com/sale/Tactico...
⭐️ @fireflynick.bsky.social
⭐️ @jamesgroundshatter.bsky.social
⭐️ Stephan Wirth
⭐️ @davidmcdonough.bsky.social
Watch live now: store.steampowered.com/sale/Tactico...
July 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
#TactiCon Panel 2025 - Sustaining creativity within a franchise: making a sequel as fresh as the first one
⭐️ @fireflynick.bsky.social
⭐️ @jamesgroundshatter.bsky.social
⭐️ Stephan Wirth
⭐️ @davidmcdonough.bsky.social
Watch live now: store.steampowered.com/sale/Tactico...
⭐️ @fireflynick.bsky.social
⭐️ @jamesgroundshatter.bsky.social
⭐️ Stephan Wirth
⭐️ @davidmcdonough.bsky.social
Watch live now: store.steampowered.com/sale/Tactico...
I’ll be in the Sustaining Creativity panel on Friday to talk about my time on Civ and XCOM!
#tacticon #gamedev #indiedev
#tacticon #gamedev #indiedev
The #TactiCon 2025 Showcase will air in 24h! ⭐
This year’s TactiCon kicks off with a showcase hosted by @reneesky.bsky.social with cool trailers, reveals, and announcements!
Watch here: youtu.be/Dc_fJ3urwAU
RT & Shares appreciated!
This year’s TactiCon kicks off with a showcase hosted by @reneesky.bsky.social with cool trailers, reveals, and announcements!
Watch here: youtu.be/Dc_fJ3urwAU
RT & Shares appreciated!
July 17, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Reposted by David McDonough
The time is right for a new game design/dev bingo!
Have you crossed off any of the below?
#gamedev #indiedev 🎲✂️ #bingo #ttrpgdesign #ttrpgdev
Have you crossed off any of the below?
#gamedev #indiedev 🎲✂️ #bingo #ttrpgdesign #ttrpgdev
July 16, 2025 at 10:58 AM
The time is right for a new game design/dev bingo!
Have you crossed off any of the below?
#gamedev #indiedev 🎲✂️ #bingo #ttrpgdesign #ttrpgdev
Have you crossed off any of the below?
#gamedev #indiedev 🎲✂️ #bingo #ttrpgdesign #ttrpgdev
This is hands-down one of the best books a game designer can read — for knowledge and insight, and for inspiration. With chapters including “Colonoscopies and Board Games” and “Quantum Tic-Tac-Toe,” you can’t go wrong. Time for a re-read!
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign
July 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM
This is hands-down one of the best books a game designer can read — for knowledge and insight, and for inspiration. With chapters including “Colonoscopies and Board Games” and “Quantum Tic-Tac-Toe,” you can’t go wrong. Time for a re-read!
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign
June 23, 2025 at 10:32 PM
WHOOOF READ THIS
#gamedev
#gamedev
Sympathy for the Devil
What looks like discipline is often just fear, dressed up in process.
www.owenmahoney.ai
May 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
WHOOOF READ THIS
#gamedev
#gamedev
A week ago was my last day at Otherside Entertainment. We did a lot of great things there, we had lofty ambitions and ideals, but in the end it wasn’t to be. Time for a good rest and then the next chapter!
May 8, 2025 at 12:37 AM
A week ago was my last day at Otherside Entertainment. We did a lot of great things there, we had lofty ambitions and ideals, but in the end it wasn’t to be. Time for a good rest and then the next chapter!
How to Write a GDD Method 3: The Story!
What does the game feel like? What's the player see, think, and imagine? The most potent way to illustrate the VISION of the game.
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign
What does the game feel like? What's the player see, think, and imagine? The most potent way to illustrate the VISION of the game.
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign
How to Write a GDD Method 3: The Story
YouTube video by Game of Inches
youtube.com
April 23, 2025 at 12:49 AM
How to Write a GDD Method 3: The Story!
What does the game feel like? What's the player see, think, and imagine? The most potent way to illustrate the VISION of the game.
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign
What does the game feel like? What's the player see, think, and imagine? The most potent way to illustrate the VISION of the game.
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gamedesign
How to Write a GDD Method 2: The Flatpack!
What are all the pieces you need and what are the instructions to use them?
#gamedev #gamedesign #indiedev #solodev
What are all the pieces you need and what are the instructions to use them?
#gamedev #gamedesign #indiedev #solodev
How to Write a GDD Method 2: The Flatpack
YouTube video by Game of Inches
youtube.com
April 20, 2025 at 11:33 AM
How to Write a GDD Method 2: The Flatpack!
What are all the pieces you need and what are the instructions to use them?
#gamedev #gamedesign #indiedev #solodev
What are all the pieces you need and what are the instructions to use them?
#gamedev #gamedesign #indiedev #solodev
How to write a GDD, method 1: The Recipe
What are the ingredients, steps, and expected result when served? #gamedevelopment #gamedesign #gamedesigntips
What are the ingredients, steps, and expected result when served? #gamedevelopment #gamedesign #gamedesigntips
How to Write a GDD Method 1: The Recipe
YouTube video by Game of Inches
youtube.com
April 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
How to write a GDD, method 1: The Recipe
What are the ingredients, steps, and expected result when served? #gamedevelopment #gamedesign #gamedesigntips
What are the ingredients, steps, and expected result when served? #gamedevelopment #gamedesign #gamedesigntips
Reposted by David McDonough
Announcing my next game!🤘
"Deedlee Doo! Carkour!"🔥
-A game where you do parkour with a car using explosions
🚗💥
-Everything in the game is made out of clay in real life🎨
-The sound effects and music are all mouth sounds👄
Wishlist it now on Steam, out on May 12th, 2025!🎸
"Deedlee Doo! Carkour!"🔥
-A game where you do parkour with a car using explosions
🚗💥
-Everything in the game is made out of clay in real life🎨
-The sound effects and music are all mouth sounds👄
Wishlist it now on Steam, out on May 12th, 2025!🎸
April 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Announcing my next game!🤘
"Deedlee Doo! Carkour!"🔥
-A game where you do parkour with a car using explosions
🚗💥
-Everything in the game is made out of clay in real life🎨
-The sound effects and music are all mouth sounds👄
Wishlist it now on Steam, out on May 12th, 2025!🎸
"Deedlee Doo! Carkour!"🔥
-A game where you do parkour with a car using explosions
🚗💥
-Everything in the game is made out of clay in real life🎨
-The sound effects and music are all mouth sounds👄
Wishlist it now on Steam, out on May 12th, 2025!🎸
Can you fudge the numbers? Should you? #gamedesign #gamedev
Lying About Chance
YouTube video by Game of Inches
youtube.com
April 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Can you fudge the numbers? Should you? #gamedesign #gamedev