🎃 The Halloween Sale 2026 is live! Check out the Sale Explorer to find your next game or asset, with other 32,000 pages already on sale! itch.io/sales

Visited Whitby. Didn't get Dracula'd.

Here's a taste of what's to come with The Astra Protocol. If you want to join us on this journey, you can wish list the game here: store.steampowered.com/app/4845240/... #indiegame #scifi #spacesim #cassettefuturism

Following the pre launch earlier this year, I've done the full Steam launch of my game, The Astra Protocol. Still loads to do before it releases, but if you want to support the game, give it a wishlist!

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 3w ago

The Steam page for The Astra Protocol is now LIVE! Dust off your CRT monitor 📺, plug in your keyboard ⌨️, and set your sights to the stars 🚀 Wishlist now! store.steampowered.com/app/4845240/... #indiegame #spacesim #scifi

As I worked on some new features for The Astra Protocol, I started going down a little bit of a rabbit hole when researching Prestel (think Teletext / Ceefax on a computer). This resulted in me writing a Prestel client to access a server from the PC in C#. github.com/DanMallinson...

GitHub - DanMallinson/Prestel

Contribute to DanMallinson/Prestel development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

This morning I posted a teaser demo for The Astra Protocol. Think of it like a teaser trailer, but in playable form. I've made some bold changes (mainly the introduction of colours) so would be good to get some feedback (and bug testing). If you give it a go, let me know what you think!

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 2mo ago

We're proud to announce that the teaser demo for The Astra Protocol is now available! Want to see what's to come in the new game? Well why not get your hands on it and experience it for yourself - and let us know your thoughts! slicebar.itch.io/the-astra-pr... #indiegame #spacesim #gamedev

Pick up 127 items by 109 creators in support of game industry workers impacted by layoffs. Help us reach the new goal of $250,000! itch.io/b/3802/game-...

Enjoy 127 items by 109 creators and support game devs effected by recent layoffs: itch.io/b/3802/game-...

We passed the initial goal in 4 days! So we've upped it - let's push forward to $200k!! Thanks to everyone for buying the bundle and sharing wherever you can.

Brandon Sheffield@brandon.insertcredit.com · 3mo ago

In response to the unprecedented number of game developers laid off this year, we have created a bundle on itch to benefit a Game Industry Hardship Fund, managed by @videogameworkers.bsky.social. More than 100 games for 10+ bucks! Please share widely and donate generously! itch.io/b/3802/game-...

In response to the unprecedented number of game developers laid off this year, we have created a bundle on itch to benefit a Game Industry Hardship Fund, managed by @videogameworkers.bsky.social. More than 100 games for 10+ bucks! Please share widely and donate generously! itch.io/b/3802/game-...

I've officially soft-launched the newest game that I'm working on - The Astra Protocol. It's probably not out for at least a year, but now there's a common place to post devlogs and the like. If you like the other games I've released or want to be kept up to date with what's going on, check it out

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 4mo ago

We've just made our itch page for The Astra Protocol public! We're a way off from release but we'll post devlogs, early builds and work in progress screenshots. If you like space sims, cassette futurism, or vintage tech, check it out slicebar.itch.io/the-astra-pr... #indiegame #gamedev #scifi

The @itch.io summer sale is here. Grab Astra Protocol 2 at 75% off. Explore the vastness of space for less than $2. (And if you're quick, you can jump on our current 'multiplayer' beta). itch.io/s/188532/sum... #itchsummersale

I'm really pleased at how well this has come out. Considering that I'm not an artist or photographer (though I did receive constructive criticism from a professional).

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 5mo ago

We've been working on the capsule art for The Astra Protocol's Steam page Its taken many iterations, from rough placeholder images, to the final product, made from photos & photoshop Can anyone tell the items used for the 'final' image? #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #spacesim

Astra Protocol 2 has finally started to get some user reviews - and currently sat at universal acclaim. Not sure if this will affect it's visibility, but if you've got a spare few minutes, why not drop it a review or rating?

Six years of my indie game development. Here's a mega thread containing six different facts about the game and its development.

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Today marks six years since the launch of Astra Protocol. To celebrate, we’re sharing six facts about the game and the series’ history and development. #indiegame #spacesim #scifi

For anyone following for Astra Protocol content, I've finally finished inputting all the feature tickets (using Azure dev ops) for Astra Protocol 3. This non-exhaustive list of things to do sits at 735. Lets see what that number sits at closer to launch...

I swear that I am still working on Astra Protocol 3. It just seems that every time I think I've squeezed the last out of the Astra Protocol 2 engine, I find some new way to implement old tech...

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Ok captains. Multiplayer / terminal mode is now in Steam Beta. Grab a friend, start exploring, and let us know what you think: store.steampowered.com/news/app/202... #indiegame #space #scifi

I really wanted a web editor for Obsidian, but really didn't like what was out there. Directly inspired by the excellent github.com/Dullage/flat... project. I created github.com/foofly/slate. "A self-hosted Docker web interface for Obsidian vaults."

I've been trying to take a more structured approach to working on my next game, which involves a lot of documentation and so to try and combine that with my love of retro tech, I've been typing it all up on my old Amstrad CPC464. It's a very bare bones approach but good for distraction free writing.

Doing some 8-bit game dev

Today I visited Rudston Church with the Rudston Monolith in it's churchyard - the tallest standing stone in the UK

I try to limit my shilling on here, but my "breakthrough" game is only £1.29 on Steam at the moment. It recently got an update too

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Astra Protocol 2 is currently 75% off in the Steam Winter Sale. You can get the game, including the Three Year Anniversary Update, for only £1.29! Grab it here: store.steampowered.com/app/2026750/... #indiegame #scifi #spacesim

Three years ago I launched my first proper attempt at a solo video game I only expected a few people to play it for about twenty minutes but I was amazed by the response Over 2000 sales & 1000 players later, some clocking 20+ hours of gameplay, I've released an update as a way to say thank you

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 11mo ago

🎉 Astra Protocol 2 turns three years old today! To mark the occasion we’ve released the Anniversary Patch, with sharper visuals, smoother performance, refreshed manual and much more! Read more about the update here: store.steampowered.com/news/app/202... #indiegame #spacesim #scifi

No expenses spared as I take my marketing campaign to Manchester

Here's the latest on my latest game

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Astra Protocol Remake is now in beta. We've done the development, now we just need you to provide feedback. Grab the game, see the latest changes, and let us know your thoughts here: slicebar.itch.io/astra-protoc... youtu.be/9uOrxJiptec #indiegame #scifi #spacesim

The past few months I've been working on a remake of my first indie game, Astra Protocol. The original was quite small in scope and remaking it felt like a good way of getting started on a new engine for future games. We're close enough to release that it was time for a teaser trailer. Check it out

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · 12mo ago

New engine. New graphics. Old messages. #cassettefuturism #spacesim #scifi #retro www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtR-...

First time playing Call of Cthulhu as an Investigator (rather than a Keeper). Generated a decent character based off one I played on a Murder Mystery. Proceeded to fail every roll and even fumbled twice...

Writing the first draft of the next Astra Protocol game. Thought it might be worth writing it on period appropriate hardware

Went to Covesea lighthouse today It has some Eldrich vibes to it - caves underneath used to be inhabited until the 1920s by a group of people known as "The Joyful" who would go around town singing hymns. When we last visited, a dead whale had washed on the beach with an abnormal amount of seaweed

I've been working away on the next game in my Astra Protocol series for a while. Making games takes a while (especially when its a side job) so to show something in advance and hopefully build up a bit of hype, I've been working on remaking the first game

Slice Bar Games@slicebargames.bsky.social · last yr.

Space sim fans, indie game lovers & streamers — this one's for you! The Astra Protocol Remake is now live on itch A reimagining of the original, built in a new engine powering the future of the series Check out the WIP here: slicebar.itch.io/astra-protoc... #scifi #indiegame #spacesim