I blame Maxis... did you read the caption from the end of the SimAnt gif? Who wrote that lol!? Does anyone else remember that?

Full circle moment:
- Played SimAnt as a kid and got eaten by antlions.
- Was a demented child dropping real ants into real antlion pits (sorry nature).
- Now a fully grown adult making virtual antlions eat virtual ants.

Feels right somehow.

#IndieGameDev #PixelArt #SimAnt #GameDev #Roguelite

I spent way too long getting the player to sink properly into a sand whirlpool.

Isometric, ellipse is offset, gravity, rotation, and the math fought me every step of the way.

Barely affects gameplay... but at least I'll be able to sleep tonight.

#IndieGameDev #PixelArt #GameDev #Roguelite #RPG

Been working on NPC conversations that happen around you.

Two talk about you leaving the Nexus, wondering if you’ll make it through your first day.

Then a tutorial NPC with full portrait dialogue... a more grounded, story-driven exchange.

#IndieGameDev #PixelArt #RPG #Roguelite #GameDev

Been testing a new system for contextual speech, and it’s changing how the whole world feels.

NPCs comment on everything now... where they are, what time it is, when a storm hits, when friends die nearby, or if you turn hostile.

It’s a small thing, but suddenly the desert feels alive.

Working on how characters react to your actions... not just in dialogue trees, but moment to moment.

When you drop a part on the Idiquarian’s table or hand a tool to the Omnismith, they notice.

I love when story, systems, and character all overlap like this... the world feels connected.

Ignore the sand zombie hawking loogies at me...

Started building a proper sunset system.

The blended transitions between day and night change the mood way more than I expected... everything suddenly feels more alive.

Full 40s combat test with 3 weapons: EMF disc throws, charged blaster shots, melee swipes, and an overpowered shield that drains energy instead of HP.

Enemies: tentacle, eyebeam, and claw bots.

If you were dropped in here, which weapon would you grab first?

I like inventory Tetris.
I like inventory Tetris.
I like inventory Tetris.
I like inventory Tetris.
I like inventory Tetris.
I like inventory Tetris.

A splash of Fallout, a dash of Star Wars, a pinch of Mad Max... packed into #pixelart . That's Shifting Sands.

This is the Heavy Gunner of the Raider faction.

Today is a silly day...

Playtesting your indie game got you down #IndieGameDev ? Bug hunting grinding your gears?

It's Fun Friday... why not make it FUN!? Persistent hitsparks on resource piles a bug you say?

NO! More like DESERT DISCO LIGHTS!! Boom chick cat chick!

Finished the player run cycle for Shifting Sands (for now).

Desert wind at your back, scrap on your shoulders, nowhere to go but forward.

#IndieGameDev #PixelArt #RoguelikeDev #GameDev

Had to squeeze in a bit more combat juice with this xenoant's gun spinning off when it dies.

Enemy hit and death animations add a lot to the game feel!

Now just need more satisfying player attack anims and visual effects.

#indiedev #gamedev #indiegame

Turning in for the day, but got in hurt and death anims. Getting there...
✅ Knockback
✅ Hitstop
✅ Telegraphs
✅ SFX
❌ Good atk fx
✅Enemy hurt/death anims
❌ Good player atk anims
😱 More!

A small addition but feels better for sure.

#GameDev #IndieDev #PixelArt

Refining combat = tackling a long checklist and then iterating:
✅ Knockback
✅ Hitstop
✅ Telegraphs
✅ SFX
❌ Good atk fx
❌ Enemy hurt/death anims
❌ Good player atk anims
😱 More!

A lot of small things… but they add up to satisfying fights ⚔️
#GameDev #IndieDev #PixelArt

How I feel each morning respawning to tackle more #gamedevelopment

When you die in a roguelike, should respawn feel like punishment, part of the ritual... or do you just want to get back to it?

#IndieGameDev #RoguelikeDev #PixelArt

Her face when you haul back alien scrap from the desert. 👀

#IndieGameDev #PixelArt #RoguelikeDev