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Mike Dolan

@mikedolan.bsky.social

2.4K followers 2.9K following 880 posts

Making games using Unreal Engine. Working on gamedev is my primary focus, but I also work in Blender for 3D modeling and Aseprite for pixelart! Current projects: Retro FPS ImSim-lite sci-fi series, and an isometric samurai slasher.

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · Jul 6

Here is a clip from a demo I have been working on in #unrealengine - its a cyberpunk parkour shooter thing thats still very early prototyping phase even tho I have been trying to add style. style over substance is a cyberpunk law. #gamedev too late for #screenshotsaturday?

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 3h

i mean if your friends dare you - you gotta go - horror trope rules.

Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 3h

says it right there on the sign... #horrorgame #gamedev

a flash light illuminates a danger keepout sign of an abandon mine...

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 1d

mmm meat cube

homer simpson from the simpsons is sitting in a chair with his mouth open and his hands outstretched .

ALT: homer simpson from the simpsons is sitting in a chair with his mouth open and his hands outstretched .

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Mike Dolan

Robin | Pinnacle Point, Solo GameDev @ready2rungames.bsky.social · 1d

For this #screenshotsaturday I am showing off my prototype of the melee combat. I don't yet know if I will keep it or not - but the only way to know for sure is to build it and play it!
(try with sound on)
#indiegamedev #gamedev #survivalhorror

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 1d

games are all illusions #screenshotsaturday #horrorgame #gamedev

view of a game level from above with the wireframe one. its a forest and a cave - the cave looks like its just been cut out of the mountain - thats not how caves work!

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 1d

If only it was this easy to escape the caves... still kinda in that 'how is building this vertical slice gonna work phase' but i kinda like the caves I modeled this time. the actual plot doesnt really involve a happy reunion by the camp fire tho... #screenshotsaturday #psx #horror #gamedev

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Reposted by Mike Dolan

Clara Gale ✈️ NS 0.4.1 out now! @claradoth.bsky.social · 1d

So I made a promise to a couple of people in the Discord server for @yoyoyollie.bsky.social's #DeliveryMustComplete.

The promise was that this weekend, I'd put a hat on a plane (long story)

so here you go.
Plane in a hat.
#gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #NovaSquadron

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 1d

a cartoon of perry the platypus wearing a hat standing on top of a car

Alt: a cartoon of perry the platypus wearing a hat standing on top of a car

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Mike Dolan

José Pérez @jos3k4.itch.io · 3d

Most unfinished games don’t fail because of code — they fail because there’s no structure behind the ideas.

Before art, before code, comes documentation — the invisible bridge between creativity and completion.

My management skills at your service, for free. 👇

#gamedev #indiedev #methodology

Every Great Game Starts with Words, Not Code

Turning ideas into structure through documentation and pre-production, our secret handcrafted Game Dev Framework

open.substack.com

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 4d

Loved hiding behind my couch to pretend to dodge

Reposted by Mike Dolan

IGDA DC @igdadc.bsky.social · 5d

Descend 16 monster-filled levels to close the gate to the Underworld in this top-down tower defense dungeon crawler. Gather resources, discover blueprints, and build defensive towers to slice, dice, zap, and explode undead hordes.

Play @ District Arcade on Oct 25th

Wishlist: s.team/a/2627640/

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 5d

Nice progress on the map and planning today. Still need to do the elevation pass. Just small elevation changes I think. I suppose a room or two could have a terrace but its mine tunnels mostly. Using @maxpears.bsky.social level design kit to help plan this out :) #blocktober #unrealengine

a grey box map laying out a mine level I am work on. the map is decorated with key gameplay points and notes explaining what is going on in certain rooms.

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 6d

blocking out / outlining the level in cube grid in #UnrealEngine - I have a basic flow now but discovered some pacing where the beats I want the player to experience dont line up where I want them. also want to vary the elevation a bit #blocktober #gamedev

An overview of my mine blockout in greybox

An fps view of the block out which is just the floor layout no walls. Trying to pace out the basic layout of the map. Some place holder icons are in certain rooms to indicate locked doors and key locations and enemies.

a screenshot of the first prototype look dev level I did. the flow is not great in the is mockup but the basic ideas were in place.

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 8d

are there any london tube tunnel urban legends? like giant alligators in the New York sewers or mole people? asking for a friend...

Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 10d

Just become a youtuber yourself so that he begins to believe it is deeply uncool and he will rebel and start studying accounting or something.

Reposted by Mike Dolan

Max Pears @maxpears.bsky.social · 11d

Hey #leveldesign it is that special time of the year it is #Blocktober I will be updating my GodofWar level & can not wait to see others awesome work.

If you are looking to get the most out of your blockout check out the Level Design Kit: bit.ly/4gYaJ9d #UE5 #games

Level Design Kit

A quintessential starter pack for all those who want to start creating incredible and professional levels in Unreal. Pack is built to metrics that match many studios standards, that help build your be...

bit.ly

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Reposted by Mike Dolan

Bartomiej Guzek @lizardmaps.bsky.social · 11d

Since its #blocktober already here are some blockout screens from de_grail @blocktober.bsky.social

#leveldesign @counter-strike.net

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 10d

Will Chris Roberts buy back the Wing Commander IP in the future EA firesale?

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 13d

you can create a button on the steam page for that? that is cool. Also good luck with your playtests!!

Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 14d

Itd be cool if all these other engines would open up there licensing the way Epic did. Then we could really see some interesting things in the gamedev space. Kudos to epic for letting people use their engine.

Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 14d

I blame the engines rebuild lighting nag. Setting lights to moveable gets rid of it but then every light is dynamic haha. Starts with one light....

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 17d

new game idea - hunted by tofu... #gamedev too early for #blocktober ?

a top view of a greybox small maze, a green navmesh coats the floor - there is a white cube moving towards a player character

FPS view of a greybox small maze, there is a white cube moving towards a player character

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Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 17d

Ah makes sense

Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 18d

Why are some circles bigger than others?

Mike Dolan @mikedolan.bsky.social · 21d

Well

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