JSRVarma - Solo Dev
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dantecross.bsky.social
JSRVarma - Solo Dev
@dantecross.bsky.social
He/him. Indy Dev working on a cozy game ⭐ Indy sff Author ⭐ Indy TTRPG content ⭐ pixel art ⭐ Light Youtuber ⭐ cozy vibes ⭐ lots of nonsense ⭐ Former Lead Designer @Roll7 ⭐ Former all seniorities designer @Ubisoft

https://beacons.ai/jsrvarma
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🎙️Heyo Bsky!
You may know me from such things as Lead Designer on the Bafta nominated OlliOlli Worlds DLC🛹 and at some point the main designer on every mobile game in the biggest series you've never heard of, Hungry shark🦈
Follow me for dumb opinions, dumb fantasy writing and dumb indie dev nonsense😘
It’s time to go, the tomb dive is on. Will Cal and the gang get in and out unscathed? Let’s see how it’s going in the latest chapter of Blade Song on #royalroad

www.royalroad.com/fiction/1310...

#indieauthor #SwordAndSorcery #dnd #fantasy #webnovel #indienovel #weeklychapters
Chapter 32 - Passages and Doors - Blade Song
Night came both slower and more quickly than Cal had expected it to. As soon as they had come to terms with how long it was taking, how long the night made them wait, it seemed to speed up and it was ...
www.royalroad.com
February 18, 2026 at 8:35 PM
the real joy of indie game development is being able to create an npc to teach the player how to do a fishing minigame and name them after your friend who hates fishing minigames
February 18, 2026 at 4:24 PM
whether it's writing novels or building cozygames apparently, I cannot think small scale.
Me Dec 2025:
I'm gonna spend the first 6 months of 2026 just getting a cool, cute little bookshop sim out there that I can point at and say 'I made this, check it out'
Me Feb 2026:
Crap I've designed something genuinely cool that might take me years to complete.

I'm not good at thinking small...
February 18, 2026 at 3:34 PM
I have officially moved onto phase/version 2 of the urban fantasy bookshop game I'm making. the bookshop works at a basic level so it's time to expand to a high street.
After a year of not really getting anywhere with projects it's nice to be able to say I'm moving onto version 2.
#indiedev
February 16, 2026 at 4:07 PM
It's always fun to see which games take my super ultrawide monitor into account.
Potion Permit is not one of them, if this main menu is anything to go by 😂

totally get why and dont expect most games to, its just interesting. will be switching to window mode now :)
February 14, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Cyberpunk design in 3 mins or less
February 13, 2026 at 6:14 PM
It’s almost time for the tomb but in a fina private moment Cal learns that something isn’t quite what it seems…
Read chapter 31 now on #RoyalRoad

www.royalroad.com/fiction/1310...

#dnd #indieauthor #SwordAndSorcery #fantasy #weekly
Chapter 31 - Nervous Anticipation - Blade Song
By lunchtime Cal had done everything he felt he needed to do in order to prepare. He’d brought Melt back to the stables and got her and Root - who Meliana had just dumped in her stall - squared away. ...
www.royalroad.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Just finished Baldurs Gate 3 for the first time and it was great. I only had 1 complaint and it was super minor and that was that I kinda wish they'd recorded sounds for the player character. I get them not having dialogue but there's a lot of scenes where the character screams and its just silent
February 6, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by JSRVarma - Solo Dev
one part update video, two parts new project 'reveal'! check out this 6 month update!

youtu.be/WH0WbZFGn6k
#indiedev #pixelart #youtube #bookshop #cozygame
New Game Project! and a channel update
YouTube video by Other Pixel Games
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 3:47 PM
It’s the day before assaulting the tomb and times running out to change their minds. How will our adventurers spend their final hours before the go? New chapter live on #RoyalRoad

www.royalroad.com/fiction/1310...
#indieauthor #webnovel #lightnovel #SwordAndSorcery #fantasy #Dnd
Chapter 30 - Blade Song
Sleeping in such a nice bed was disorientating for Cal when he woke up. It wasn’t just that he wasn’t used to it, but he felt that somehow he didn’t deserve it. He slept well enough though, he barely ...
www.royalroad.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Was just writing a design doc for the npc ai in my game to get it clear in my head when I had to go back and change the game area heading from 'AI' to 'NPC AI' in case anyone saw my headings in notion and thought I was doing gen AI.
What a divisive world we live in that I felt that need.
February 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Going from thousands of views down to less than 50 when you stop paying for advertising is ROUGH! Even if the people viewing now are better quality

youtu.be/WwK-zlXKH5U
#gamedev #indiedev
3 Game Types You Didn't Realise Were Just Rock Paper Scissors!
YouTube video by Other Pixel Games
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by JSRVarma - Solo Dev
Well well well I haven’t don’t this in a while! Today’s 3:30 video went live at the wrong 3:30 so it’s up now! Check out this snippet from my #cultofthelamb medium dive over on #youtube #shorts

youtube.com/shorts/nyhRN...
#indiedev
You are in a Cult #gaming #gamedesign #cultofthelamb #skit #indiedev
YouTube video by Other Pixel Games
youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Finally safe in the town! Now to settle in and figure out next steps before we raid the tomb, in chapter 29 over on #RoyalRoad
www.royalroad.com/fiction/1310...
#indieauthor #SwordAndSorcery #fantasy #webnovel
Chapter 29 - The Day Before - Blade Song
Chapter 29 - The Day Before Present Day People were still gathering as Cal left the mayoral offices. Some to see what the commotion was, others to mourn their lost friends. Kaila and Veil stood apart ...
www.royalroad.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:40 PM
I get real weird about advertising my stuff regularly, like I don't want to annoy people, but also, go look at my pixels!
January 27, 2026 at 10:18 PM
It's also the only show I'll ever watch the opening credits for.
Series of Unfortunate Events is still my favourite Netflix show. Is it time to rewatch it again? I think it is.
I will admit that the first series is the best one though. The parents twist? Genius.
I love Patrick Warburton's depiction of Lemony Snicket.
Should I read the books?
January 24, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Series of Unfortunate Events is still my favourite Netflix show. Is it time to rewatch it again? I think it is.
I will admit that the first series is the best one though. The parents twist? Genius.
I love Patrick Warburton's depiction of Lemony Snicket.
Should I read the books?
January 23, 2026 at 10:04 PM
What do you mean my videos sound a little clickbaity?
January 23, 2026 at 4:14 PM
This anime seasons shows that were manga I read so I'm hoping they're good are:
jack of all trades, party of none
and Easygoing territory defense by the optimistic lord.

#crunchyroll
January 23, 2026 at 3:53 PM
We’re back in the past to see more of what happened in the tomb in the latest chapter of Blade Song! Read now on #RoyalRoad

www.royalroad.com/fiction/1310...
#indieauthor #webnovel #lightnovel #SwordAndSorcery #Fantasy
Chapter 28 - The Flame Guard - Blade Song
5 months two weeks and a day earlier Before Leni even spoke, Cal was charging into the room, ready to save her dumb ass from the dangers of her own making. Chell and Sidian followed behind him, ready ...
www.royalroad.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by JSRVarma - Solo Dev
New YouTube video type, youtube shorts 3 minute design reviews as I finish a game. First up is Hollow Knight!
youtube.com/shorts/8iC3j...
#youtube #shorts #hollowknight #gamedesign #gamedev #indiedev
Full Design of Hollow Knight #gaming #gamedesign #hollowknight #review
YouTube video by Other Pixel Games
youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Started working on a new cozy game dev project this week. it's only been 5 days but it's already taking shape. I have a game loop, though it's not the final loop by any means. it's supposed to be a cozy fantasy bookshop simulator but atm its more of a shelf stocking simulator.
#indiedev #cozygame
January 16, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Brand new chapter of BladeSong over on #RoyalRoad time to deliver the survivors of the goblin abduction back to their village!

www.royalroad.com/fiction/1310...

#SwordAndSorcery #indieauthor #fantasy #webnovel #lightnovel #talkingfox
Chapter 27 - The town of Silverdale - Blade Song
The group rolled into the village and Cal noticed the looks on peoples faces. Some shock and sorrow, some looks of disappointed resignation. They had known the people who had owned these caravans. Pro...
www.royalroad.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:34 AM
So I’m finally getting around to watching the rest of stranger things and I have a logistical question about the upside down.
January 11, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by JSRVarma - Solo Dev
This weeks video, over on youtube is a snippet from my 'what is a game designer' video, talking abotu what Level design means!
youtube.com/shorts/H-yZe...
#youtube #gamedev #indiedev #gamedesign #leveldesign
What is a Level Designer? #gamedev #gamedesigning #educational #leveldesign
YouTube video by Other Pixel Games
youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:33 PM