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Backyard Zoo

@backyardzoo.bsky.social

1.5K followers 1.3K following 130 posts

Solo indie game dev Currently working on my first game ‘Mayfly’, an atmospheric quiet horror game set entirely on a narrowboat Lancashire, UK

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Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 13

Mayfly is an upcoming quiet horror set on a narrowboat where peace and tranquility slowly descend into darkness

#screenshotsaturday
#madewithunity #unity3d #game #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #indiegame

Reposted by Backyard Zoo

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 13

Mayfly is an upcoming quiet horror set on a narrowboat where peace and tranquility slowly descend into darkness

#screenshotsaturday
#madewithunity #unity3d #game #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #indiegame

Reposted by Backyard Zoo

MustLoveDon @mustlovedon.bsky.social · 24d

🎉 Live now: 100 Follower Celebration! 🥳 Join me in Minecraft—challenge me with silly tasks or help fill the Pawsitivity Book with positive words. Chaos & fun guaranteed. Zombie slaps included. 🧟‍♂️⚔️ #BlindGamer

www.twitch.tv/mustlovedon

www.youtube.com/justconnectteam

Reposted by Backyard Zoo

Winter Cabin @wintercabin.bsky.social · 29d

Can't rest on our laurels with #Blanky releasing tomorrow.

Work on the next game has already begun. This morning I've been testing out some assets and colours for our next game.

Switching from side on to top down perspective is taking some getting used to

#VideoGames #GameDev #IndieDev

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 13

Thank you ☺️

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 13

Amazing to hear, thank you

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 13

Thank you for saying so.

I really hope it can win over non-horror fans like yourself + I’m trying to avoid jump scares and looking to evoke the horror through sound and atmosphere.

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 13

Mayfly is an upcoming quiet horror set on a narrowboat where peace and tranquility slowly descend into darkness

#screenshotsaturday
#madewithunity #unity3d #game #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #indiegame

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 11

Thank you for saying so. I agree.

In the first cinematic you exit the bed on that side too so it’s folded over that way.

I feel like you can almost smell the morning dew on that duvet cover. Maybe that’s just me though haha.

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 11

Thank you for commenting! ☺️

Bit of an education for me I’ve never heard of that game before.

Maybe this will be pocket-sized version (that doesn’t sink) - spoiler alert

Reposted by Backyard Zoo

MustLoveDon @mustlovedon.bsky.social · Sep 11

BackYard Zoo is working so hard on their first game #MayFly. Go give them a follow and keep up to date with the development progress. #Gamedev #ShareTheDonLove😍

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 11

Consistent feedback from the play tests:

- Event triggers not always clear
- Horror atmosphere could afford to be toned down even more
- Exiting the first puzzle is not as clear as could be

Over the moon with that. A massive thanks to 👉 @mustlovedon.bsky.social 👈 for being awesome too.

#gamedev

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 11

Consistent feedback from the play tests:

- Event triggers not always clear
- Horror atmosphere could afford to be toned down even more
- Exiting the first puzzle is not as clear as could be

Over the moon with that. A massive thanks to 👉 @mustlovedon.bsky.social 👈 for being awesome too.

#gamedev

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 11

It's finally starting to feel like 1999 on board the Mayfly.

God rays next...

#gamedev #madewithunity #horrorgame #indiedev #indiegame

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 10

Mayfly's build size halved - now 190MB. Max amount of tris down from 4.8m (lol) to 400k.

Now runs incredibly smoothly on a potato laptop. 😱

#gamedev #gameoptimisation #unity3d

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 9

But..but I want my flowers accurate down to the sub-atomic level.

1% of third party assets making up 99.9% of the polys

Moral of the story: if you want a job doing do it yourself. 💪🏻

#gamedev

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Sep 9

Play tests went so unbelievably well last week but…

“Why is Mayfly running like utter dog shit on this old MacBook?”

Humbling first time game dev experience remedied with the help of the awesome @comp3int.bsky.social

#gamedev #unity3d #indiegame #gameoptimisation

A startled dog looking at some shocking Unity statistics showing 3 million tris and 3.8 million verts rendered

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Aug 31

No need to worry. I was concerned maybe the email probably didn’t send as they never seem to send from Google drive for me - so thought I’d make sure you knew it was ready. Certainly no rush from me. 😇

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Aug 31

DMd + emailed you with access info 😇

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Aug 27

@canalcryptid.bsky.social @mustlovedon.bsky.social - if you’re still happy for me to - I will send over a demo to you both (hopefully on Friday but maybe early next week)? If so please can you DM an email address so I can grant access? 🙏😊

It’ll be a Windows build hopefully that’s OK?

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Aug 14

This really made me chuckle. This was before I knew what an audio mixer was and the volume was set to YES PLEASE.

Reposted by Backyard Zoo

Canal Cryptid 🦀 @canalcryptid.bsky.social · Aug 14

I love the boating life, suits me perfectly, but the horror story potential of both the boats themselves and of our way of living is really underexplored.
There's just so much there to work with.

Reposted by Backyard Zoo

Canal Cryptid 🦀 @canalcryptid.bsky.social · Aug 14

So many ways a generally cosy, chill life could be twisted into the darkest of nightmares.
One of the reasons I'm so eagerly awaiting @backyardzoo.bsky.social's game release.
I'm fascinated to see what they've come up with.

Reposted by Backyard Zoo

Winter Cabin @wintercabin.bsky.social · Jul 22

Here's the trailer for #Blanky

A young boy named Jacob journeys through a nightmarish world full of horrors.

With his trusty blanket "Blanky" by his side, Jacob must find a courage he never knew he had to face his biggest fear.

store.steampowered.com/app/3870300/...

#pixelart #indiegame

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Aug 14

Meta-horror. You’ll install it and wake up on a narrowboat 🤯

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Aug 14

Honestly I hope so.

But if not, your feedback will be taken on board. I won’t be offended, I like to think Mayfly is a little experimental and it’s a risk that certain things might fall flat/just not work. But everything can be fixed. 🛠️

I’ll reach out soon. Thank you again

Backyard Zoo @backyardzoo.bsky.social · Aug 14

Oh for sure. Thank you!

Even if you ended up not liking it that would be vital feedback. I hope that isn’t the case of course + it lives up to your expectations 😬

The game consists of 4 scenes, the first being the shortest (5-10 mins) - I’ll send over the first scene in a couple of weeks maybe?