James Youngman
@jyoungman.bsky.social
He/him Game Designer, composer, writer
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/ten-lessons-over-ten-years
http://jamesyoungman.bandcamp.com
https://jyoungman.itch.io
Senior Tech Designer at Elsewhere. All opinions my own.
#gamedev | #gamedesign
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/ten-lessons-over-ten-years
http://jamesyoungman.bandcamp.com
https://jyoungman.itch.io
Senior Tech Designer at Elsewhere. All opinions my own.
#gamedev | #gamedesign
Reposted by James Youngman
"Ah, I see you've made it to 45 years old, Snake"
*adds another incomprehensible meter to your hud*
February 16, 2026 at 6:52 AM
"Ah, I see you've made it to 45 years old, Snake"
Reposted by James Youngman
Every few days when someone gets a moment, we add a few new games to the Yarn Spinner showcase. We still have a huge list to get through, but it's such a fun little job and the page is looking so great already! yarnspinner.dev/showcase/
Yarn Spinner Showcase
Explore games built with Yarn Spinner—from indie darlings to major studio releases.
yarnspinner.dev
February 16, 2026 at 5:23 AM
Every few days when someone gets a moment, we add a few new games to the Yarn Spinner showcase. We still have a huge list to get through, but it's such a fun little job and the page is looking so great already! yarnspinner.dev/showcase/
Reposted by James Youngman
pretending there's a tiny levar burton inside saying I don't have to take his word for it on any of these books
February 15, 2026 at 11:37 PM
pretending there's a tiny levar burton inside saying I don't have to take his word for it on any of these books
Reposted by James Youngman
Yup.
Because having things other people don’t have is the whole point, and because people need to believe they *merit* having those things.
Because having things other people don’t have is the whole point, and because people need to believe they *merit* having those things.
I think this is why the term “privilege” causes people to melt down, because uneven access is supposed to be the *point*, so they wonder why is it framed as a bad thing (even when it’s not) 😤?
And why “hacks” and “secret menus” are popular. All feeds the same sense that you’re just that much better.
And why “hacks” and “secret menus” are popular. All feeds the same sense that you’re just that much better.
February 15, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Yup.
Because having things other people don’t have is the whole point, and because people need to believe they *merit* having those things.
Because having things other people don’t have is the whole point, and because people need to believe they *merit* having those things.
Reposted by James Youngman
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.
February 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.
Chapter 61: Stubb Kills a Leviathan
My entry for #39SSS , Sea!
Lagiacrus and characters from Monster Hunter Tri
Lagiacrus and characters from Monster Hunter Tri
February 15, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Chapter 61: Stubb Kills a Leviathan
Reposted by James Youngman
This was how we shot ourselves in the foot during the iPhone App Store era: jumping on 99 cents as THE discount price point. That ruined everything for everyone that followed.
The "safest" way to discount a $15/$20 game under $10 is as part of a bundle. As Eniko said, never directly go super low!
The "safest" way to discount a $15/$20 game under $10 is as part of a bundle. As Eniko said, never directly go super low!
the reason you don't, and won't, see my $15 or $20 games at $2.99 or $1.99 on sale is because the instant i do that those games are only ever worth 1 or 2 dollars to anyone and i will never, ever, not in any known universe or timeline, make up for that in bulk when my main hindrance is visibility
February 15, 2026 at 4:30 PM
This was how we shot ourselves in the foot during the iPhone App Store era: jumping on 99 cents as THE discount price point. That ruined everything for everyone that followed.
The "safest" way to discount a $15/$20 game under $10 is as part of a bundle. As Eniko said, never directly go super low!
The "safest" way to discount a $15/$20 game under $10 is as part of a bundle. As Eniko said, never directly go super low!
Reposted by James Youngman
if you asked me to diagnose the western game industry's current problem it would start with "landlords have absorbed basically all disposable income"
February 15, 2026 at 8:03 AM
if you asked me to diagnose the western game industry's current problem it would start with "landlords have absorbed basically all disposable income"
Reposted by James Youngman
Harsh punishment is only a fraction as effective a deterrent as INEVITABLE punishment.
Prosecuting the Epstein collaborators would do much more good, convincing predators that society will not tolerate them, than just ratcheting up a punishment they don’t believe you’ll use on them.
Prosecuting the Epstein collaborators would do much more good, convincing predators that society will not tolerate them, than just ratcheting up a punishment they don’t believe you’ll use on them.
As a child protection professional, I can tell you the death penalty is NOT an awesome solution to child sexual abuse. Most children are abused by family members; they will not report if their family members will die as a result.
February 15, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Harsh punishment is only a fraction as effective a deterrent as INEVITABLE punishment.
Prosecuting the Epstein collaborators would do much more good, convincing predators that society will not tolerate them, than just ratcheting up a punishment they don’t believe you’ll use on them.
Prosecuting the Epstein collaborators would do much more good, convincing predators that society will not tolerate them, than just ratcheting up a punishment they don’t believe you’ll use on them.
Reposted by James Youngman
AI can only ever be the first part and never the second.
A blog post.
www.lazycoward.guide/index.php/20...
A blog post.
www.lazycoward.guide/index.php/20...
February 15, 2026 at 7:07 AM
AI can only ever be the first part and never the second.
A blog post.
www.lazycoward.guide/index.php/20...
A blog post.
www.lazycoward.guide/index.php/20...
Game industry letdown lines
Are you the game the executives played last weekend? Because you don't make any sense for what's going on in my life
Are you the game the executives played last weekend? Because you don't make any sense for what's going on in my life
Game industry letdown lines
Are you out of scope? 'cause you look like a creep.
(I don't know how to do pickup lines. I'm fully spec'ed into rejection)
Are you out of scope? 'cause you look like a creep.
(I don't know how to do pickup lines. I'm fully spec'ed into rejection)
February 15, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Game industry letdown lines
Are you the game the executives played last weekend? Because you don't make any sense for what's going on in my life
Are you the game the executives played last weekend? Because you don't make any sense for what's going on in my life
Reposted by James Youngman
It is also not something we should be using on right wingers. Why?
Well, not because I am worried about their feelings. Because there’s tons of research showing that if you start using dehumanizing language even ironically, it becomes easier and easier to access.
Well, not because I am worried about their feelings. Because there’s tons of research showing that if you start using dehumanizing language even ironically, it becomes easier and easier to access.
February 15, 2026 at 12:05 AM
It is also not something we should be using on right wingers. Why?
Well, not because I am worried about their feelings. Because there’s tons of research showing that if you start using dehumanizing language even ironically, it becomes easier and easier to access.
Well, not because I am worried about their feelings. Because there’s tons of research showing that if you start using dehumanizing language even ironically, it becomes easier and easier to access.
Games industry pickup lines
Are you up to date documentation? Because I've never seen you before, but I want to spend every day with you
Are you up to date documentation? Because I've never seen you before, but I want to spend every day with you
Games industry pickup lines
Are you a job offer because I would do literally anything for you
Are you a job offer because I would do literally anything for you
February 15, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Games industry pickup lines
Are you up to date documentation? Because I've never seen you before, but I want to spend every day with you
Are you up to date documentation? Because I've never seen you before, but I want to spend every day with you
Reposted by James Youngman
if an adult plays the trombone in the peanuts universe it sounds like words
February 13, 2026 at 12:20 AM
if an adult plays the trombone in the peanuts universe it sounds like words
Reposted by James Youngman
This is why more people need to A: play more tiny indie games made by like 3 people and B: do a game jam, at least one.
It's way harder to chisel your expansive Resident evil Skyrim soulslike MMO idea down to something you can make in a weekend or two than you'd think, THATS game design
It's way harder to chisel your expansive Resident evil Skyrim soulslike MMO idea down to something you can make in a weekend or two than you'd think, THATS game design
i think what a lot of people never seem to realize is that a lot of people's vision of an "epic dream game" isn't actually very deep and comes down to scale and/or having a lot of features, whereas by embracing limitations you can be pushed in a far more radical direction.
rpgmaker definitely isn't the right tool for everyone, but I think using opinionated pre-baked tools to make some games would be very instructive to a lot of folks setting out to make their epic custom dream game. they're a much lower-stakes way to learn important lessons like "how to tell a story"
February 15, 2026 at 12:10 AM
This is why more people need to A: play more tiny indie games made by like 3 people and B: do a game jam, at least one.
It's way harder to chisel your expansive Resident evil Skyrim soulslike MMO idea down to something you can make in a weekend or two than you'd think, THATS game design
It's way harder to chisel your expansive Resident evil Skyrim soulslike MMO idea down to something you can make in a weekend or two than you'd think, THATS game design
It couldn't hurt
I'm crunching ice loud as hell and performatively reading Moby Dick in public
February 14, 2026 at 8:28 PM
It couldn't hurt
Reposted by James Youngman
I cancelled my Nitro, have you?
Discord advises UK users that they "may be part of an experiment" where instead of their age verification data never leaving their phone, it will now actually leave their phone
www.eurogamer.net/discord-advi...
www.eurogamer.net/discord-advi...
February 14, 2026 at 7:16 PM
I cancelled my Nitro, have you?
This is a great thread, with some spot on analysis!
This is going to happen... a lot. Not just because things like the Steam Deck encourage a minimum viable hardware spec, but because a growing portion of our players cannot and will not be able to access major leaps in hardware.
RAM and GPU prices are making the cutting-edge player more rare!
RAM and GPU prices are making the cutting-edge player more rare!
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight on PC - "we have revised our recommended hardware specifications from 32 GB RAM down to 16 GB RAM"
store.steampowered.com/news/app/221...
store.steampowered.com/news/app/221...
February 14, 2026 at 6:57 PM
This is a great thread, with some spot on analysis!
Reposted by James Youngman
How to end an interview:
In 1889, Frederick Douglass told a visitor to his DC home that any government that would "grant the right of suffrage and deny itself the power to protect that right is...a sham and a fraud."
Then he grabbed his violin and played the Star Spangled Banner.
In 1889, Frederick Douglass told a visitor to his DC home that any government that would "grant the right of suffrage and deny itself the power to protect that right is...a sham and a fraud."
Then he grabbed his violin and played the Star Spangled Banner.
February 14, 2026 at 4:01 PM
How to end an interview:
In 1889, Frederick Douglass told a visitor to his DC home that any government that would "grant the right of suffrage and deny itself the power to protect that right is...a sham and a fraud."
Then he grabbed his violin and played the Star Spangled Banner.
In 1889, Frederick Douglass told a visitor to his DC home that any government that would "grant the right of suffrage and deny itself the power to protect that right is...a sham and a fraud."
Then he grabbed his violin and played the Star Spangled Banner.
Reposted by James Youngman
I fielded questions from hundreds of thousands of new coders for my intro to game programming course. vast majority of errors were typos, they insisted their code was exactly the same as my file. they never had to look as closely before
now if there are typos in a prompt AI assumes and runs with it
now if there are typos in a prompt AI assumes and runs with it
For generations, when you learned to program you were constantly being forced to be better at paying attention to the words on the screen. Noticing you'd made a typo, noticing you'd used the wrong argument, noticing shit in general.
Over time, you got better at noticing the words on the screen.
Over time, you got better at noticing the words on the screen.
February 14, 2026 at 3:21 AM
I fielded questions from hundreds of thousands of new coders for my intro to game programming course. vast majority of errors were typos, they insisted their code was exactly the same as my file. they never had to look as closely before
now if there are typos in a prompt AI assumes and runs with it
now if there are typos in a prompt AI assumes and runs with it
I finished There is No Antimemetics Division last night. It was good, but having been a caretaker for a loved one with dementia definitely impacted how I responded to it.
February 14, 2026 at 4:58 PM
I finished There is No Antimemetics Division last night. It was good, but having been a caretaker for a loved one with dementia definitely impacted how I responded to it.
Reposted by James Youngman
Wyze isn't for me, but this is a GREAT trend to start. There's gonna be a huge market for disconnected tech.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROFb...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROFb...
Definitely Only for Dogs: Ring's Superbowl Commercial (Parody)
YouTube video by Wyze
www.youtube.com
February 14, 2026 at 6:28 AM
Wyze isn't for me, but this is a GREAT trend to start. There's gonna be a huge market for disconnected tech.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROFb...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROFb...
Reposted by James Youngman
Whenever a new AI company chooses a logo, I can't help but think of Community.
February 14, 2026 at 4:26 AM
Whenever a new AI company chooses a logo, I can't help but think of Community.
Reposted by James Youngman
More anti-fascist software:
ExifTool - an open source metadata editor for photos.
exiftool.org
EXIF data can expose where a photo was taken, on what software it was edited, camera info, and much more. Cleaning a file before posting it prevents bad actors (hey, bad actors!) from exploiting that.
ExifTool - an open source metadata editor for photos.
exiftool.org
EXIF data can expose where a photo was taken, on what software it was edited, camera info, and much more. Cleaning a file before posting it prevents bad actors (hey, bad actors!) from exploiting that.
ExifTool by Phil Harvey
A command-line application and Perl library for
reading and writing EXIF, GPS, IPTC, XMP, makernotes and other meta information
in image, audio and video files. For Windows, MacOS, and Unix syste...
exiftool.org
February 14, 2026 at 4:57 AM
More anti-fascist software:
ExifTool - an open source metadata editor for photos.
exiftool.org
EXIF data can expose where a photo was taken, on what software it was edited, camera info, and much more. Cleaning a file before posting it prevents bad actors (hey, bad actors!) from exploiting that.
ExifTool - an open source metadata editor for photos.
exiftool.org
EXIF data can expose where a photo was taken, on what software it was edited, camera info, and much more. Cleaning a file before posting it prevents bad actors (hey, bad actors!) from exploiting that.