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Ezra Szanton

@ezra-szanton.itch.io

Game dev, currently making Mr Magpie's Harmless Card Game

322 Posts1135 Follower1547 Folgt
Ezra Szanton@ezra-szanton.itch.io · 5d ago

Sometimes steam players get a bad rap for being toxic, but I've found most of the players in the Mr Magpie forums to be really lovely so far! Case in point: a discussion about how "random" the game is (a complicated and somewhat fraught topic)

First post asks if the game is just random or not. Second post says there are ways to mitigate the randomness. Third post dives deeper into it and explains the interplay between the hints and the push your luck aspects.
itch.io@itch.io · last wk.

🫢 Oh and one more thing today! Spoiler text and collapsible details are now available for editing within the text editor

itch.io@itch.io · 3w ago

We've rolled out a spam detector update that should be much better with detecting hacked accounts that post fake "game updates" in comments, among other things. We also did a pass on collection spammers Spam is a never ending battle, but hopefully this update should noticeably improve the situation

leaf corcoran@leafo.itch.io · 3w ago

* The spam situation is really bad, the game added to man spam collections, spam comments were posted. I'm sorry. I knew it's been an issue but seeing that stuff on a game I made feels different. I'm spending some extra time this week to re-evaluate how we handle spam.

Feather’s Edge by Clockwork Acorn@clockworkacorn.com · 2w ago

The demo for Feather’s Edge has officially left the nest! We’re excited to announce that it is available to play on Steam - happy dashing and slashing! Play the demo today: store.steampowered.com/app/5094710/Feathers_Edge_Demo/ #indiegames Please share and enjoy our demo!

Feather's Edge Demo on Steam

Dash and slash through an innovative kinetic metroidvania. The Tower of Time awaits – a rich, handcrafted world fractured by the collapse of time. Slice through foes in tough-as-talons bite-sized batt...

store.steampowered.com

Draknek & Friends@draknek.bsky.social · 10mo ago

So, “Order of the Sinking Star” by Thekla was just announced, which takes several small free games (two of which are mine) and gives them a major graphical upgrade and mashes up their rulesets. I haven’t been very involved but it’s a great concept and looks cool.

Dan Marshall@danthat.bsky.social · 4w ago

Are you a Unity whizz kid who understands SHADERGRAPHS and 2D TILEMAPS? I need to overlay a repeating texture on top of a tilemap, buuuut tilemap UVs are a fucking nightmare, so I don't really know how to handle it. Paid gig! Probably quite quick if you know what you're doing: dan@sizefivegames.com

Cara Ellison@caraellison.bsky.social · 4w ago

Sthng that maybe I could get better at is teaching folks new to game design that making detailed plans or game design docs at the beginning of the process, or really anything that is more than a page is really just a waste of time. Broad strokes are fine bc no one reads and early changes are fast

Tom Francis@pentadact.com · last mo.

If anyone else had a similarly love hate relationship with The Bazaar - or is curious about "fight other players builds" games - I like Sokpop's new game Grail! store.steampowered.com/app/3597200/... Seems like a much kinder take on it so far.

Save 20% on Grail on Steam

In this deckbuilder your deck plays automatically. Upgrade, enchant and stickerize your cards to create clever cascading effects that defeat monsters and other players. Can you reach the Grail?

store.steampowered.com

davemakes🔶@mixolumia.com · last mo.

I feel like the main struggle developers have when trying to write marketing copy is that they are describing the game they made instead of the player's experience of it

Joe Baxter-Webb@indiegameclinic.bsky.social · 2mo ago

A thing I’ve been noticing a lot recently - a design pattern I’ve seen and liked in a few games - is when a relatively abstract and gamey contrivance makes the game feel more thematic because of the behaviour it produces.

Crux Games - Combolands@cruxgames.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Our game COMBOLANDS is out NOW on Steam :) and Polygon called it ‘The coolest new roguelike in years’! - Mini citybuilding roguelike - Described as “Balatro x Cities Skylines” - Deep strategy in short bursts - Chain huge combos + break the game

Draknek & Friends@draknek.bsky.social · 2mo ago

We're excited to announce that applications are open for the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant 2026 🎉 The grant will award $15,000 to five thinky puzzle game developers from all over the world, and a year's mentorship with genre veterans. Deadline: September 27th More info 👇

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Ezra Szanton@ezra-szanton.itch.io · 2mo ago

NOT trying to dunk at all, as I mostly agree with everything said in these threads, but I figured it might be helpful to share an alternate perspective from someone who recently did decide to go the publisher route.

.chantal//RYAN@thoughtrise.bsky.social · 2mo ago

in prior era agreements where publishers were coming in pretty early on, you were in the risk and reward together. they were funding it, you were making it, they got well rewarded for successes but ate the risk now they want very little risk with the *same* reward. there's no value proposition