Tessera

We’re happy to announce our selection for this years Te Ara Pakihi Māori business accelerator. Learn more here: www.tuatea.nz/incubator #newzealand #maori #gamedev #indiedev #videogames #indigenous #representationmatters #startuplife

Te Ara Pakihi - Tū Ātea

tuatea.nz

Edward Stanaway@edwardstanaway.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Sometimes work deserves a pause.

Happy to announce the birth of my son Baby Rain. He was born on #starwars day. Pretty fitting for an emerging game dev dad. Studio has been trucking along without me just fine. Will resume work shortly. #newborn

Edward Stanaway@edwardstanaway.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Lots to process here. Lots to think about. If you’re serious about AI, regardless of what side of the debate you’re on, this has something to offer. #ai #technology #imdiedev #videogames #indigenous #equality #gatekeeping #culture #creative

Ever wonder if AI has any practical use? What if it does? In this paper I make the case for why AI can be an equalizer for indigenous creatives. www.researchgate.net/publication/... #ai #representationmatters #indigenous #maori #newzealand #gamedev #startuplife

Edward Stanaway @edwardstanaway.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I saw this somewhere else and thought it was worth resharing. AI has been around for a long time. We just called it different things. Smart. Procedural. Dynamic. Agents change the pipeline, but don’t replace it. Studios replace it. Put the anger where it belongs. #ai #gamedev #indiedev #games

If this is how our team feels about AI, why are we using it? Because retreating from a space and ignoring it doesn't make a problem go away. Once Pandora's box is opened, its up to us to decide how its used. We're not checking out of this process. Doing so let's someone else tell our stories.

Tumeke Studio @tumekestudio.bsky.social · 5mo ago

The Ubisoft story is not about AI, but about mismanagement, hype addiction, and shortcuts. So why is this video about “AI slop” when there’s less than 15 seconds on the subject at the end? Simple: Hype gets clicks. The AI NPCs may be Ubisoft’s saving grace. youtu.be/TRafYHb0JxY #ai #gamedev

Ubisoft Bet On AI Slop. Now They Are RUINED

YouTube video by The Infographics Show

youtu.be

We’ve been quiet while building the foundations. Now it’s time to start showing it. The first in-game footage from Errata is live. Systems are up, the world is now being populated. Watch here: youtu.be/maRv4vWExJw?... #gamedev #indiedev #mmorpg #unrealengine #gaming #indiegame #openworld

Errata Intro

YouTube video by Tumeke Studio

youtu.be

Tumeke Studio @tumekestudio.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Atawhai Interactive have released a cool Māori developed game. Take a few minutes this friday and check out Toroa: Skycall over at Steam! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2003490/Toroa_Skycall/ #indiedev #gamedev #indigenous #maori #newrelease

Tumeke Studio @tumekestudio.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Please excuse any reports of handle issues over the next couple of days. We're upgrading our hosting services.

Tumeke Studio @tumekestudio.bsky.social · 9mo ago

We're putting a little something together to show our end of year appreciation to folks. Stay tuned. #mmorpg #scifi #storytelling #indiedev #gamedev

Edward Stanaway @edwardstanaway.bsky.social · 10mo ago

I launched @tumekestudio.com in May thinking, “Let’s see if this world has legs.” Until then it only existed in home-run tabletop RPGs at my dining room. Since then I’ve: 📣 Presented it dozens of times 🤝 Been approached by young people 😮 Watched them light up over it How cool is that? #indiedev

a brown bear is standing on its hind legs in a field and says `` thank you beary much '' .

ALT: a brown bear is standing on its hind legs in a field and says `` thank you beary much '' .

media.tenor.com

Six million players. At a $39 box value that’s $240m. Investment in this space has a huge upside. So why are investors pulling back? What are your thoughts here? #mmorpg #sandbox #survival #indiedev #gamedev

Vampire-themed survivalbox V Rising has counted a grand total of six million players

Eldramoor - Haven in The Mist@eldramoor.bsky.social · 10mo ago

At Tumeke Studios we love supporting other indie developers. We believe we're all a community here, and our waka is never too small to include others. This Follow Friday, check out the work being done on Eldramoor. #followfriday #mmorpg #indiedev #gamedev

A sneak peek into the Feralin and Zerpyra player avatars! They're showing off some of the new armor. This footage is pre-alpha and will change (don't mind our tails) but we love showcasing the development journey with you! #eldramoor #mmorpg #vrmmorpg #mmo #videogames #indiegame

Indigenous game developers: Do you have a title you’d like us to share on our page? Part of our mission is raising visibility for other indigenous game devs. Let us know in the comments! #mmorpg #gamedev #indiedev #indigenous #maori

Seeing a solo developer make news like this is a good thing. There’s a good deal of pushback against small teams doing big projects. But there are a few groups out there doing exactly this.

Erenshor’s solo dev discusses early access timetable, co-op, and multi-platform release

This is exactly the kind of news the MMO genre needs. AAA studios have been turning out the same games for years, and turning tail when the model looks fragile. Putting games back in the hands of indie developers will over time show quality and differentiate gameplay in titles. #mmorpg #gamedev

The Hytale MMO has been reacquired by its founders, destined for early access soon

gameshōgun ゲーム将軍@gameshogun.is.youronly.one · 10mo ago

The Ultima Franchise is often credited with being the foundation of the popular MMO genre as well. Yes, Meridian 59 existed but it wasn’t a breakthrough. Yes, EverQuest and WoW get all the glory. But without Lord British, the MMO genre may never have happened. #mmorpg #rpg #ultima #lordbritish

The #Ultima series by the father of video RPG, @richardgarriott.bsky.social , is one of many classic games that is often revived in various modern engines. It shows there is a strong cult following for the franchise. I mean, if you played it, you'll be an #Avatar in no time. ☥

Culture is a. Important ingredient in games. So how should we address cultural concerns of appropriation? We have our thoughts but we’d like to hear yours. #representationmatters #maori #indigenous #gamedev #videogames www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/11/12/m...

Māori imagery in online game raises questions over appropriation

PoE2’s Māori-inspired expansion draws praise for representation but criticism over lack of Māori consultation, cultural safety, and IP concerns, urging pathways for Māori in gaming.

teaonews.co.nz

Name an MMO other than UO, Eve, or Asheron’s Call that does not use World of Warcraft gameplay mechanics, that has been released. Is that game still online today? How many unique games do folks think we will get? After 23 years, what might this suggest? #mmorpg #gamedev #videogsmes

We’d like to take a minute to introduce you to Of Lioness. They’re a musical group from Aberdeen, Washington who will be collaborating with Māori artists in Aotearoa to make our game soundtrack. Good vibe? #indiedev #mmorpg #gamedev #music youtu.be/54NzGa-t39Y

Of Lioness - The Process Of Sleep Full Album (2018)

YouTube video by Of Lioness

youtu.be

We tried uploading one of our concept images into Grok. This was a funny result. The AI did not get the Terror Bird right at all. The birds are land bound. They can’t fly. Nice try, though. #mmorpg #ai #conceptart #indiedev #gamedev

What do you think the impact of AI has been on the MMO industry? Some people are blaming it for recent studio closures. Do you agree or disagree? Why? #mmorpg #indiedev #ai #employment www.gamesradar.com/games/mass-l...

Mass layoffs hit Square Enix hours after it shares plans to have AI handle "70%" of its quality assurance and debugging soon

Square Enix also revealed plans to shift development to Japan

gamesradar.com

Fantastic Pixel Castle @fpcstudio.bsky.social · 10mo ago

If you’re making games (and funding them) in 2025 like we are, this is worth listening to.

Please join us for our 20th and final - at least for now - episode of Word on the Street! Greg and Scott will be joined by Jon and Kristina to talk about funding games in 2025 and our studio's efforts to find a path forward for Ghost. 11/10/2025, 11:00 AM PT. 👉 https://youtube.com/live/5EzaqTf2gg0

Cover art for the Word on the Street game development podcast, by Fantastic Pixel Castle and Scott Johnson. It features the title (Word on the Street) and a determined cartoon crab holding a sword in one claw.

Insider Gaming@insider-gaming.com · 10mo ago

This has huge implications for what we’re doing. Games are more than just idle clicking in an afternoon. The industry has expanded out to movies, TV, and other media. We’re working with Māori leaders in NZ to make sure we get it right and build a franchise worth investing in.

The Legend of Zelda Movie Has Seemingly Started Filming insider-gaming.com/the-legend-o...

Our final dev blog on the 4 ages of Errata is live. In the Barren Age, players must choose between survival inside corrupt cities, or striking their own path in the deep desert. Which route will you choose? tumekestudio.com/the-barren-a... #gamedev #scifi #maori #worldbuilding #indiedev #mmorpg

Are MMOs in trouble, or is it just that we’re producing the same game over and over again, but with updated graphics? Another studio shuts its doors. Why? Hint: it’s not about money. #mmorpg #gamedev #videogames www.rockpapershotgun.com/former-world...

Former World of Warcraft designer Greg Street's MMO Ghost is no more, as NetEase shuts down yet another studio

Fantastic Pixel Castle will be shutting their doors later this month, as NetEase shuts down another of their Western studios.

rockpapershotgun.com

Bad idea. You don’t monetize game mechanics, putting them behind a paywall. Everyone should experience the content. If you must monetize something, monetize customization and flair. This way you don’t alienate players.