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Dr. Miko Charbonneau

@drmikachu.bsky.social

1.3K followers 310 following 380 posts

Studio Lead of @prettysmart.bsky.social, Dr. of Dance Games, writer, podcast host. Currently making THE SPIRIT LIFT, a deckbuilding hotel-crawler https://prettysmartgames.com/ https://www.twitch.tv/drmikachu https://www.hotbaddies.club

prettysmartgames.com

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · Dec 14

My look from The Game Awards! We represented @prettysmart.bsky.social with our matching ties and met so many fun people!

And I was so warm and comfy with my blazer and five pockets. Suits rule!

#gamedev #tga #gameawards

Collage of photos of an outfit from the game awards. Top left is a close up of metallic gold shoes, top right is a woman with colored hair in a suit with a bright blue tie and gold shoes. Bottom Left is the same woman with a man, both smiling in matching blue ties with eyeglasses tie bars. Bottom right is a closeup of the glasses tie bar.

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 20h

I didn't expect to miss streaming so much. If you are missing my streams too, just know the feeling is mutual!

It's super important that we finish the final touches of this game, but then I will be back. Seriously I need social time!!!

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 2d

I don't know how y'all manage to keep up with social media, I'm full up every day between finishing this game, eating, watching horror movies and learning every possible thing there is to know about Obsidian

#gamedev #writing

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 8d

That's right! Our final demo is out the door today, the first of many exciting news updates about THE SPIRIT LIFT!

prettysmart games @prettysmart.bsky.social · 8d

THE SPIRIT LIFT FINAL DEMO IS HERE! 👻 🏨 Welcome to your free stay at the Vexington Hotel. Play the new demo and earn a bonus in the final game when it launches!

Discover more battles, cards, creature, gear, and gold because we’ve upgraded you to a luxury suite! ✨

A screenshot of the Spotacula boss battle gameplay for prettysmart games THE SPIRIT LIFT

A screenshot of gameplay from prettysmart games’ THE SPIRIT LIFT ghostpunk rogue-like deckbuilder haunted hotel crawler. The screenshot shows the game’s character dashboard with only Sako, Tobias, Briar, Quintin, and Maria available to choose from in the demo. The character featured to the right of the dashboard shows Briar, a young brown-skinned girl with braids in a half updo with two buns wearing purple fishnets on their arms and legs with a purple and black collared dress with an apron with pockets full of art-related options and black boots. Briar is a Spiritual character class dubbed “The Artist” with item cards of the palette knife, oil paints, sketchbook, and an item equipped is a brush belt.

A screenshot of gameplay of an event in THE SPIRIT LIFT from prettysmart games

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 11d

I want the backstory behind this trio!

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 11d

That is such a great comparison! The few times I've sanded something, I used the coarser paper to start and went more fine over time... and fixing game issues is DEFINITELY like that!

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 11d

The hardest part of the game dev cycle for me:
The POLISH phase!

I want to share THE SPIRIT LIFT so badly! We've worked so hard and if what it takes now is the tedious tweaks to make the game shine, I'll power through.

I miss streaming and writing but this is worth it.

#gamedev

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 18d

yeah I'm hooked! It's soooo unique and yet has elements of many things I live for

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 18d

Some cards in our deckbuilder have enough lore to fatten a wikipedia page and others are like "lol give them a brick"

And then a playtester will have an anecdote about how much bricks mean to them that changes everything, you know who you are

#gamedev

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Reposted by Dr. Miko Charbonneau

Mathew Buck @filmbrainbmb.bsky.social · 22d

I think it's becoming clear that if you like indie creators, you're going to need to support them any way you can. And that doesn't mean money, just spreading worth of mouth can be powerful as well.

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 20d

I saw a promo for this! I hope haunted hotels are IN now!

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 22d

So happy with how well the @gdocexpo.com direct showcase went and our trailer for THE SPIRIT LIFT!

I wonder if anyone noticed anything... puzzling about it...
👀👻🏨

#gamedev #indiedev #horrorgame #puzzles

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 23d

One of my favorite artists, please check out her work!

Legume @ Suffering @casuallegume.bsky.social · Jul 28

I finally have a job lined up, though just through november. I won't get my first pay til the end of august and I'm a bit anxious about my finances, so I just wanted to drop my ko-fi commission link again! Its always open! Why must living be so expensive...
ko-fi.com/legume/commi...

Legume's Commissions

Commissions Open! Click to see Legume's commission menu.

ko-fi.com

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 23d

Thank you! I'm so glad to hear it resonated with people! We gotta do what we gotta do!

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 24d

Watching my talk with the @gdocexpo.com chat was so delightful, truly the most supportive chat group there is

#gamedev

Game Devs of Color Expo @gdocexpo.com · 24d

Trust and honesty are key to being able to better understand your team's needs!

Having an automated questionnaire like this can help the conversation be open with your team.
Wise words from @drmikachu.bsky.social from - @prettysmart.bsky.social!

#GDoCExpo2025

Miko Charbonneau
Text on screen:
What did you do this week?
Do you need anything?
What will you do next week?

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 24d

Thank you! Haha I tried to cram as much info as I could into those 15 mins

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 24d

Thanks everyone who loved the new trailer for THE SPIRIT LIFT during the @gdocexpo.com showcase!

I'll see you tomorrow for my talk, it has a catchy title and everything!

bsky.app/profile/gdoc...

#gamedev #indiedev

Game Devs of Color Expo @gdocexpo.com · Sep 10

📢SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT

@prettysmart.bsky.social - Creative Director, Miko Charbonneau

Running a Remote Studio When Everything's On Fire

Tune into this talk for an honest and uplifting discussion of how you can make it on your own despite the many challenges.

#gamedev

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 24d

Thank you so much! Nice to meet you!

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 26d

When I'm tired and worried, I try to remind myself:

The game is already good, we're making it better
All you can do is the next more important task
The world outside is beautiful
I am so lucky to be making my game real

#gamedev #indiedev #indiegames

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · Sep 10

Silksong is going great, I've mastered the technique of rapidly opening several menus during boss fights

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · Sep 9

we were only there for a bit, but I bought some great art and dice so I had a good time!

Reposted by Dr. Miko Charbonneau

Game Devs of Color Expo @gdocexpo.com · Sep 9

Get ready for a fantastic showcase of games!

Our annual #GDoCExpo Direct debuts next week, Sept 16 at 1PM PT/4PM ET, so don't forget to hit "Notify Me" on the stream's page! 🙌🏾

With announcements, exclusives, & amazing indies galore, you won't want to miss this💚🩵

gdoc.events/Direct2025

#gamedev

2025 Game Devs of Color Expo Direct
Sep 16 1pm PT / 4pm ET

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · Sep 4

I also loved the Flip. I heard they got bought by another company which discontinued them!

Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · Sep 4

I'm cleaning out the attic for secret reasons and I just found a hidden trove of nostalgia: monster rancher cards, a flip camera, HOMEMADE POGS, Snoopy's Silly Sports Spectacular for NES?!

#retrogames #nes

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · Sep 4

I hope you had a wonderful time!

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · Sep 4

Shhh don't tell anyone (yet)