Tessera

The manual for our upcoming NES game Even Goblins Fall In Love will finally explain what all those icons in the status screen mean. Ah, the joys of physical media in 2026! #indienes #nesdev #indieretro

Page 11 titled "Character Stats". It features a screenshot of the game's status screen showing Lin's portrait, level, stats, and equipped items, alongside explanatory text: "Pressing Start in the field or a dungeon/town will open up the Status Screen...". Below are definitions for the first two stats: "HP – The amount of damage a character can take in combat before they are defeated" (next to a heart icon) and "Attack – The amount of damage that a character can inflict with their attacks" (next to a sword icon). The page number 11 appears at the bottom right.

Page 12 detailing remaining character stats with corresponding icons: "Defense – The amount incoming attack power is reduced when calculating damage" (shield icon), "Critical Hit Chance – The percentage chance that an attack will be a critical hit which inflict double damage" (sparkle/starburst icon), "Evasion Chance – The percentage chance that an incoming attack will miss the defender" (wavy lines icon), and "Star Power – The number of times Lin can use the Stardust Pendant's power before needing to rest at an inn" (star-person icon). Below this is a section titled "Experience Points and Levels" explaining how gaining XP increases Lin's level. The page number 12 is in the bottom right corner.

Okay, got an Excel sheet populated with bugs and tweaks from the latest Even Goblins Fall In Love playtest. Time to make the game better and better one tweak at a time! #gamedev #nesdev #indienes #indieretro

IGDA DC @igdadc.bsky.social · 2w ago

Lin is a little goblin in a big world. Best to take some overworld travel music, composed by @fortexp.itch.io, with you on your journey in Even Goblins Fall In Love, our indie NES JRPG. #nesdev #indieretro #indienes #chiptune #8bit

District Arcade is Sat., November 14! Come out and play a new JRPG for the old NES about a goblin in love with, Even Goblins Fall in Love by @skyboygames.com! 🕹️ Learn more and RSVP: www.meetup.com/igda-dc/even...

OK, last reminder, I swear. If you're in the area, come visit the Curitiba Art Cafe in Fredericksburg, VA on 10/28 from 5-7pm. Loads of indie games being shown in a super chill space. (And they mix a pretty good martini, too!)

A Halloween-themed promotional poster for the FXBG Indie Video Game Showcase. At the top, details state the event is on October 28th from 5-7PM at Curitiba Art Cafe, 919 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, alongside an orange "FREE ENTRY" banner. The central illustration features a shadowy, jack-o'-lantern-headed figure holding a game controller, with the word "SHOWCASE" in dripping white font layered over a green building. An orange "STARRING" box lists the games: Project Moonstone, Void Breakers, Dwarven Space Freighter, Sample Required, Schism, Art Attack, Even Goblins Fall In Love, Waltrude, Sitra Achra, & More. A collage of varied indie game characters stands to the right of the list. The bottom section displays sponsor logos including Mega Cat Studios, incube8 Games, Homebrew Factory, The Retro Room, Two Black Cats, Star Racer, Luna Wolf Studios, Sitra Achra, Annihilator, Neon Deity Games, and Matt Hughson, with the website FXBGGAMEDEV.COM positioned along the lower edge.

sebotron | working on an NES JRPG!@sebotron.bsky.social · 3w ago

It's so... drippy! (love it!)

For MONSTER MONDAY, the Dorlan Wildlife Bureau would like to introduce the King's loyal subjects to FUNGUY. You may think it looks delicious, but unfortunately, the feeling is mutual. #jrpg #nes #thebookofrynn #indiegames #retrogames

NES cartridges have limited space, so the manual becomes a great place to add a touch of lore and flavor to enemies. Not a lot mind you, just a bit of that Localization Intern Making Stuff Up For The Boss energy. #nesdev #indieretro

Page 27 titled "Monsters". The text states that during their journey, Lin will encounter a variety of monsters, and shows a sampling of creatures with pixel-art illustrations and descriptions: "Lilhani – A living mud creature" (next to a golden, muddy creature with wavy arms), "Eyefly – A creepy flying eyeball" (next to a pink eyeball with white wings), and "Haniwa – A fully developed form of a Lilhani" (next to a sturdier, golden humanoid figure with one arm raised).

Page 28 continuing the list of monsters with pixel art illustrations and descriptions: "Mimic – A predator that disguises itself as a treasure chest", "Lippy – A giant set of lips on powerful muscled legs", "Ishikoro – A stoic rock monster", "Eyeful – A horrid cluster of eyes and tentacles", and "Bastet – An elegant and powerful cat monster". The page number 28 appears in the bottom right corner.

When I take a break from #retrogame development to use modern #gamedev tools, it's like: PRO: I have so few limits! I can make anything I want! CON: I have so few limits! I can make anything I want!

If you're in the area, come visit the Curitiba Art Cafe in Fredericksburg, VA on 10/28 from 5-7pm. Even Goblins Fall In Love and a bunch of other indie games will be showing at the FXBG Indie Video Game Showcase. Add it to your calendar. Now!

Skyboy Games @skyboygames.com · 4w ago

On November 1st, Skyboy Games will be joining a load of vendors and performers to support T4T Fest up in Baltimore, MD at the Peabody Heights Brewery. Big shout-out to TRACMaryland (linktr.ee/TRACMaryland) for putting together what's looking to be an awesome event!

A bright light-blue poster featuring black hand-drawn, DIY punk-style illustrations and text. Top Header: "Benefit Show for Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition!" Large stylized, bubbly graffiti letters read "T4T FEST". Center Illustration: A character with a retro computer monitor for a head DJing at a set of turntables labeled "TRANS RIGHTS". The computer screen displays "Ready? GO!! to the arcade :3". Left Speech Bubble: "Art, Books, Clothing, Fidgets, Games, Jewelry, Plushies, Posters, Stickers, Tarot Readings, + MORE!" Bottom Right Event Details: "Nov 1st 12-8pm @ Peabody Heights Brewery!" Bottom Left Price: "$10 NOTAFIOF" (No One Turned Away For Lack Of Funds). Bottom Section ("Featuring:"): A detailed list of featured vendors and artists

One of my personal favorite monsters from Even Goblins Fall In Love, our upcoming indie NES JRPG, is Stabby. Almost everyone who's played the game let's out a chuckle the first time they run into this unhinged mimic with a knife. #nesdev #gamedev #indiedev #retro

Retro 8-bit RPG battle screen featuring a treasure chest enemy labeled "STABBY." In the center, a red monster with glowing eyes and a small dagger pops out of an open blue-and-gold treasure chest. On the left, a character stat box for "LIN" displays HP and stats, while a bottom dialogue box reads, "A fiendish creature draws near!"

Skyboy Games @skyboygames.com · 4w ago

While showing at MAGFest in January is a big deal, I'm also excited to be showing at some smaller local shows. Specifically FXBG Showcase in Fredericksburg, VA on 10/28 and IGDA's District Arcade in DC on 11/14. And, maybe something on November 1st, if logistics work out. #gamedev #indieretro #nes

Skyboy Games @skyboygames.com · 4w ago

Even Goblins Fall In Love now has box cover art courtesy of the talented @ursamajorgamma.bsky.social. Give them a follow and a shout-out and get hyped: Even Goblins is one big step closer to being released! #nes #gamedev #indieretro #jrpg

Anime-style video game box art for "Even Goblins Fall In Love." In the foreground, a green-skinned goblin character with spiky orange hair, goggles, and a flowing scarf strikes a dynamic pose with a sword. Behind them, a character with long dark hair and a fur collar casts a glowing blue star magical spell next to a young woman with braided red hair in a blue dress.

Here is a preview of another page from the Even Goblins Fall In Love (our indie NES JRPG) manual. I love how Phecda's (@ursamajorgamma.bsky.social) art transforms a collection of words and stats into actual outfits. #nes #gamedev #indieretro #jrpg

Page 23 from the Even Goblins Fall In Love manual.
It shows 4 pieces of body equipment the main character can equip in the game. The page texts reads as such:
"Body Gear
Homemade Clothes – A functional and comfortable outfit for Lin’s travels
Studded Leather – Reinforced leather that balances mobility with protection
Ninja Gear – An outfit that offers limited protection, but greatly increases Lin’s evasion
Heavy Mail – Chain armor that, while cumbersome, provides significant protection"

As a JRPG for the NES, you can expect to spend a fair bit of time in battles when playing Even Goblins Fall In Love. Luckily, you will have awesome chiptunes by @fortexp.itch.io at your side. #nesdev #gamedev #indiedev #retro #chiptune

As the Even Goblins project comes close to completion, I find myself pondering what I should do for my next project. At the moment, I kind of feel like I have at least one more games-worth of stuff I want to say about NES. Maybe something four-player versus with a hint of heavy metal aesthetics.

It's an honor to see our NES JRPG, Even Goblins Fall In Love, among a bunch of other great games on the @magfest.org itch page for SuperMAGFest January 2027. To say I'm jazzed out of my mind would be an incredible understatement! #gamedev #indieretro #nes #nesdev #magfest

A grid of featured indie game cards showcasing titles, artwork thumbnails, and developer names for Super MAGFest 2027.

A 4x4 grid displaying indie games featured at Super MAGFest 2027, each with art, title, and developer credits:
Bleu Bayou [DEMO] by bokoyoss
BRINE by Andy Aksu
coalescent || tidal rapture by hatimb00
Deluge by riggy2k3
Diggy Diggy Mole (Demo) by Geek_Joystick
Even Goblins Fall In Love by Skyboy Games
HIEROSAGA: TOMB ATTACK!! by K-HEI TECHNICAL
Ichorous by MattStov
King Scribble by Evan McRae
of the Devil by Nth Circle
Phantom Gear (Demo) by Bits Rule
Prototype N (DEMO) by Arrietty
qualia by allsee
Raw Metal by Team Crucible
Starbright Agency by ThoughtfulBread
Strato Freaks DX (Demo 4: Ludicrous New Levels) by Mr. Freaks

Even Goblins Fall In Love will be joining loads of other cool games at the FXBG Indie Video Game Showcase at the Curitiba Art Cafe in Fredricksburg, VA on October 28th. Come on down and play some awesome, awesome games!

More progress on the manual for Even Goblins Fall In Love, our upcoming NES JRPG. The player will travel the game world looking for these power MacGuffins, er, I mean artifacts. #gamedev #indieretro #nes #nesdev

Page from Even Goblins Fall In Love manual.
Page Text:
"Artifacts are rare items that Lin needs to complete their quest. Most of them can only be found in the clutches of the most powerful creatures in the land.
The Vorpal Sword – A blade from a family of weapons said to be able to cut anything. This one is forged into a sword that is long and unwieldy for a goblin.
The Crown of Disguise – A magical crown that allows its user to freely alter their appearance."

Page from Even Goblins Fall In Love manual.
Page Text:
"The Mantle of Bravery – An elegant and noble-looking cloak that imbues its wearer with a strong sense of courage.
The Stardust Pendant – A powerful artifact given to Lin by their mother, Misia. The pendant’s power allows its wearer to bend fate. Misia has also enchanted it to allow the wearer to see her home in the woods. Without it, one would only see an abandoned hut."

Decades ago, I asked my parents for a copy of Visual Basic for my birthday. Their willingness to get me that software they didn't understand gave me skills that would define my career. Last month, my kid asked for a perpetual Clip Studio license for his birthday. I was more than happy to oblige!