Jay Tholen
@jaytholen.net
https://jaytholen.net lead designer, writer, artist, & composer for Dropsy, 1999 web sim Hypnospace Outlaw, & Slayers X. Clickteam software oldhead. follower of Jesus. husband of Katie. dad. 70s prog/fusion/zeuhl guy. Braunschweig, DE / Florida
Pinned
Jay Tholen
@jaytholen.net
· Feb 5
Hi, I'm the lead dev of Dropsy and Hypnospace Outlaw. and I've been working on my website lately!
If you enjoy ruminations on indie game dev or digital prog rock/jazz fusion please sign up for the newsletter (scroll 👇 on the home page!) & follow my RSS feed!
/!\_,.-~> jaytholen.net <~-.,_/!\
If you enjoy ruminations on indie game dev or digital prog rock/jazz fusion please sign up for the newsletter (scroll 👇 on the home page!) & follow my RSS feed!
/!\_,.-~> jaytholen.net <~-.,_/!\
Reposted by Jay Tholen
In home alone, the same actor who plays one of the bad guys plays the cop at the beginning of the movie.
December 19, 2025 at 1:09 AM
In home alone, the same actor who plays one of the bad guys plays the cop at the beginning of the movie.
Reposted by Jay Tholen
A gentle reminder if you've received an invoice from a Freelancer/Self employed person which is due before Christmas.
Be a love, and pay it today.
Be a love, and pay it today.
December 19, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A gentle reminder if you've received an invoice from a Freelancer/Self employed person which is due before Christmas.
Be a love, and pay it today.
Be a love, and pay it today.
Reposted by Jay Tholen
ANNOUNCING:
Boot The Dispute, the app that solves ALL* your problems, available RIGHT NOW, free on Google Play and the App Store:
tetronimedia.net/boot-the-dis...
*some, probably
Boot The Dispute, the app that solves ALL* your problems, available RIGHT NOW, free on Google Play and the App Store:
tetronimedia.net/boot-the-dis...
*some, probably
December 19, 2025 at 1:29 AM
ANNOUNCING:
Boot The Dispute, the app that solves ALL* your problems, available RIGHT NOW, free on Google Play and the App Store:
tetronimedia.net/boot-the-dis...
*some, probably
Boot The Dispute, the app that solves ALL* your problems, available RIGHT NOW, free on Google Play and the App Store:
tetronimedia.net/boot-the-dis...
*some, probably
Reposted by Jay Tholen
yeah "right" good idea
(sarcastic)
(sarcastic)
this is a mild, unserious take but i think with few exceptions you shouldn't name your very first game in a series [Thing]: [Subtitle]. you should just have to name it [Thing] and then if it does well and you make a second one you can start adding subtitles.
December 18, 2025 at 9:36 PM
yeah "right" good idea
(sarcastic)
(sarcastic)
Reposted by Jay Tholen
Dropsy (2015)
December 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Dropsy (2015)
here's the less niche thing i'm making. started it yesterday. it'll be as small a scope as I can manage, so not THAT small but still pretty danged lean.
the bottom controls are from @nifflas.bsky.social's multimedia fusion sound engine because it rules
the bottom controls are from @nifflas.bsky.social's multimedia fusion sound engine because it rules
December 17, 2025 at 6:06 PM
here's the less niche thing i'm making. started it yesterday. it'll be as small a scope as I can manage, so not THAT small but still pretty danged lean.
the bottom controls are from @nifflas.bsky.social's multimedia fusion sound engine because it rules
the bottom controls are from @nifflas.bsky.social's multimedia fusion sound engine because it rules
New Active Object came out one year ago today! The game version is on indefinite hold because I need to focus on making something less niche lol.
Jay Tholen - New Active Object (2024) - Full Album with Lyrics // Digital Fusion, Prog, Jazz Fusion
YouTube video by Jay Tholen
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
New Active Object came out one year ago today! The game version is on indefinite hold because I need to focus on making something less niche lol.
Reposted by Jay Tholen
Eyvind Earle - Three Wise Men.
Gouache, 1966.
Gouache, 1966.
December 17, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Eyvind Earle - Three Wise Men.
Gouache, 1966.
Gouache, 1966.
if all of you gift your friends Hypnospace Outlaw on Steam I promise to someday make another videogame
December 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
if all of you gift your friends Hypnospace Outlaw on Steam I promise to someday make another videogame
i respect Larian and I'm sure Divinity will be amazing but it's thematically too dark for me to want to invest play hours into
December 17, 2025 at 8:43 AM
i respect Larian and I'm sure Divinity will be amazing but it's thematically too dark for me to want to invest play hours into
my 5-year-old has a linkin park song stuck in his head and is running around singing something approximating "i wanna heeeal, i wanna heeaaal, gibby garna sumthin reeeeal" only it changes every time he sings it
December 17, 2025 at 8:40 AM
my 5-year-old has a linkin park song stuck in his head and is running around singing something approximating "i wanna heeeal, i wanna heeaaal, gibby garna sumthin reeeeal" only it changes every time he sings it
google is now just a bluesky poster thanks so much AI. frick
December 16, 2025 at 9:29 PM
google is now just a bluesky poster thanks so much AI. frick
Confession: I used Gen AI in like 2021 to make a few Insane-Clown-Posse-esque album covers in Zane's room but they all required heavy editing and in the end it wasn't worth it to keep using the tech, because I was quicker at just photobashing/drawing/modeling everything.
that said...
that said...
December 16, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Confession: I used Gen AI in like 2021 to make a few Insane-Clown-Posse-esque album covers in Zane's room but they all required heavy editing and in the end it wasn't worth it to keep using the tech, because I was quicker at just photobashing/drawing/modeling everything.
that said...
that said...
UFO50 is the best Switch 2 game and I haven't even played it on Switch 2 yet
December 14, 2025 at 10:59 PM
UFO50 is the best Switch 2 game and I haven't even played it on Switch 2 yet
Reposted by Jay Tholen
Play more indie games!!
1) Dropsy
A weird and wonderful little point and click with lovely art. Came out in 2015 which was a big year for indies so it was overlooked. Made by A Jolly Corpse and Tendershoot, the latter of which worked on Hypnospace Outlaw.
store.steampowered.com/app/274350/D...
1) Dropsy
A weird and wonderful little point and click with lovely art. Came out in 2015 which was a big year for indies so it was overlooked. Made by A Jolly Corpse and Tendershoot, the latter of which worked on Hypnospace Outlaw.
store.steampowered.com/app/274350/D...
December 12, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Play more indie games!!
1) Dropsy
A weird and wonderful little point and click with lovely art. Came out in 2015 which was a big year for indies so it was overlooked. Made by A Jolly Corpse and Tendershoot, the latter of which worked on Hypnospace Outlaw.
store.steampowered.com/app/274350/D...
1) Dropsy
A weird and wonderful little point and click with lovely art. Came out in 2015 which was a big year for indies so it was overlooked. Made by A Jolly Corpse and Tendershoot, the latter of which worked on Hypnospace Outlaw.
store.steampowered.com/app/274350/D...
in 2004 i my asked my old childhood game dev haunt for donations because we were stressin over money during Hurricanes Charley and Francis. it was super kind of them to post about it on the front page. in retrospect the hurricanes weren't as much a problem as just being lower middle class.
December 14, 2025 at 10:32 PM
in 2004 i my asked my old childhood game dev haunt for donations because we were stressin over money during Hurricanes Charley and Francis. it was super kind of them to post about it on the front page. in retrospect the hurricanes weren't as much a problem as just being lower middle class.
Reposted by Jay Tholen
Looking to spread some yuletide cheer with my new song “Big Nick Christmas”
December 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Looking to spread some yuletide cheer with my new song “Big Nick Christmas”
Reposted by Jay Tholen
December 14, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Jay Tholen
Play my next game/experience before anyone else!!!
HELLO, do you have an Android or iOS device and want to see what I've been working on lately? Well now you can!! Just fill out this form and I'll add you to the list of testers - expect a response in a few days with instructions on how to download and test it :)
forms.gle/S4MgMHpQcmRb...
forms.gle/S4MgMHpQcmRb...
Test Mike's next thing!
Sign up for access to TetroniMedia's next project, coming VERY SOON - a teeny tiny mobile game you play with friends, in-person! Wow!
forms.gle
December 13, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Play my next game/experience before anyone else!!!
Reposted by Jay Tholen
i stand by this statement every year
December 12, 2025 at 1:27 AM
i stand by this statement every year
Reposted by Jay Tholen
Sneak peak at a Tom and Dad Games project- Tom's City! He loves drawing buildings and maps we're so trying to turn it into a semi-incremental game so you can draw one like he does!
December 11, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Sneak peak at a Tom and Dad Games project- Tom's City! He loves drawing buildings and maps we're so trying to turn it into a semi-incremental game so you can draw one like he does!
Reposted by Jay Tholen
@jaytholen.net it's not a complete match and a bit cheating since the song is about Christmas, but the latest song by Dutch artist Stippenlift made me think of Hypnospace Outlaw as it unintentionally sounds a lot like #Coolpunk youtu.be/NMdkyfvT1Nw?...
De Kerstautist (365 Kerstmis)
YouTube video by Stippenlift & Yelli - Topic
youtu.be
December 9, 2025 at 8:35 AM
@jaytholen.net it's not a complete match and a bit cheating since the song is about Christmas, but the latest song by Dutch artist Stippenlift made me think of Hypnospace Outlaw as it unintentionally sounds a lot like #Coolpunk youtu.be/NMdkyfvT1Nw?...
Reposted by Jay Tholen
🎙️Mike & Rami Are Still Here🎙️
The new podcast from me & @ramiismail.com
Listen to two old men from the video game industry ask the real questions, like "why am I so tired all of the time", and "who the heck are Ant and Dec?"
Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you want
mikeandrami.com
The new podcast from me & @ramiismail.com
Listen to two old men from the video game industry ask the real questions, like "why am I so tired all of the time", and "who the heck are Ant and Dec?"
Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you want
mikeandrami.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🎙️Mike & Rami Are Still Here🎙️
The new podcast from me & @ramiismail.com
Listen to two old men from the video game industry ask the real questions, like "why am I so tired all of the time", and "who the heck are Ant and Dec?"
Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you want
mikeandrami.com
The new podcast from me & @ramiismail.com
Listen to two old men from the video game industry ask the real questions, like "why am I so tired all of the time", and "who the heck are Ant and Dec?"
Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you want
mikeandrami.com
Reposted by Jay Tholen
So @mikerose.bsky.social & I decided to do a silly podcast comparing notes about indie games & their history & also about suddenly being middle-aged & tired
As anyone who knows both of us could have guessed, shenanigans ensued immediately
Introducing ⭐ Mike & Rami Are Still Here ⭐
mikeandrami.com
As anyone who knows both of us could have guessed, shenanigans ensued immediately
Introducing ⭐ Mike & Rami Are Still Here ⭐
mikeandrami.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
So @mikerose.bsky.social & I decided to do a silly podcast comparing notes about indie games & their history & also about suddenly being middle-aged & tired
As anyone who knows both of us could have guessed, shenanigans ensued immediately
Introducing ⭐ Mike & Rami Are Still Here ⭐
mikeandrami.com
As anyone who knows both of us could have guessed, shenanigans ensued immediately
Introducing ⭐ Mike & Rami Are Still Here ⭐
mikeandrami.com
Reposted by Jay Tholen
As promised I recorded the creation of a morph (from scratch) using the tech we developed for Keeper. In about an hour I show how we capture the “Essence” of meshes, blend between them, and spice things up with spatial warps.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9V_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9V_...
Making a morph from scratch using Keeper's Essence system
YouTube video by p1xelcoder - Oliver Franzke
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:18 PM
As promised I recorded the creation of a morph (from scratch) using the tech we developed for Keeper. In about an hour I show how we capture the “Essence” of meshes, blend between them, and spice things up with spatial warps.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9V_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9V_...