Posts by David McDonough
Now with actual motion, dern you Bluesky and your GIF settings✊🔥
#indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity3d #shapes #pylon
Being a solo dev means being a technical artist too, and it can be really satisfying 🎨 Making a lil' fx using logarithmic curves and perlin noise to create procedural incense smoke
#indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity3D #shapes
Wave Function-based background set is starting to really shape up now that I wrote a custom SVG importer and converter to 'Shapes' drawing data 🔥
#indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity
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
Next step for the wave function background: some real architectural primitives. Much better foundation for building some good environment art.
#indiedev #solodev #gamedev #unity
Having some fun with wave function collapse to generate procedural mountain polygons under the Realms
#indiedev #gamedev #solodev #unity #shapes
#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...
I’ll be in the Sustaining Creativity panel on Friday to talk about my time on Civ and XCOM!
#tacticon #gamedev #indiedev
Game design/dev bingo, made using buzzwordbingogame.com
The time is right for a new game design/dev bingo!
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
One nail at a time ❤️A project can seem impossible when looking out across a huge space of to-do, but you get there. Every nail you drive is one closer to done.
#indiedev #solodev #gamedev
WHOOOF READ THIS
#gamedev
Even for everyday programmers there’s sometimes no substitute for getting the problem space on paper 📝
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev
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!
Thanks, will keep you in mind when the time comes!
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
SAME
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
Everyone hates on UI development but I find it quite satisfying. It’s like making a clock with all the little components coming together to make something smooth and beautiful ❤️
#gamedev #indiedev #solodev
How to write a GDD, method 1: The Recipe
What are the ingredients, steps, and expected result when served? #gamedevelopment #gamedesign #gamedesigntips
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!🎸
Intriguing!
Be careful about telling players what to care about #gamedev #indiedev #gamedesigntips #gamedesign
Can you fudge the numbers? Should you? #gamedesign #gamedev
Of course! Technical comes later. Start with what’ll make the reader see the whole experience - see what /you/ see.
Write a narrative sample of play like it’s a children’s bedtime story. Tell me about an imaginary player, describe everything she thinks and clicks on and observes. Let me imagine the game in motion.