Paul Kilduff-Taylor
@mode7games.bsky.social
Indie games // Electronic music // Words
Mode 7 // nervous_testpilot + _ensnare_ // Mode Collapse
modecollapse.com - read my words about things
mode7.games - games
nervoustestpilot.com - music
Mode 7 // nervous_testpilot + _ensnare_ // Mode Collapse
modecollapse.com - read my words about things
mode7.games - games
nervoustestpilot.com - music
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
Re: Last Repost. I always pause a little before reposting things that universal, because I have wrote to support myself with no back-up my entire adult life. However, day-job was journalism/criticism, and fiction what I did in my spare time. That's still having a dayjob.
November 26, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Re: Last Repost. I always pause a little before reposting things that universal, because I have wrote to support myself with no back-up my entire adult life. However, day-job was journalism/criticism, and fiction what I did in my spare time. That's still having a dayjob.
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 11:24 PM
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
This was a great chat. I'm really calling for people working on games with more complex architectures (and also a greater technical understanding than me - not hard!) to be more transparent about any challenges around preservation.
Regulation looms over publishers ending support for games - but it might hit indies hardest.
@mode7games.bsky.social tells grokludo about the technical complexities that neither industry nor Stop Killing Games have planned for.
I also got him to read his absurd press releases out loud 😁
@mode7games.bsky.social tells grokludo about the technical complexities that neither industry nor Stop Killing Games have planned for.
I also got him to read his absurd press releases out loud 😁
November 24, 2025 at 11:49 AM
This was a great chat. I'm really calling for people working on games with more complex architectures (and also a greater technical understanding than me - not hard!) to be more transparent about any challenges around preservation.
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
Regulation looms over publishers ending support for games - but it might hit indies hardest.
@mode7games.bsky.social tells grokludo about the technical complexities that neither industry nor Stop Killing Games have planned for.
I also got him to read his absurd press releases out loud 😁
@mode7games.bsky.social tells grokludo about the technical complexities that neither industry nor Stop Killing Games have planned for.
I also got him to read his absurd press releases out loud 😁
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Regulation looms over publishers ending support for games - but it might hit indies hardest.
@mode7games.bsky.social tells grokludo about the technical complexities that neither industry nor Stop Killing Games have planned for.
I also got him to read his absurd press releases out loud 😁
@mode7games.bsky.social tells grokludo about the technical complexities that neither industry nor Stop Killing Games have planned for.
I also got him to read his absurd press releases out loud 😁
The greatest threat to productivity in our times
November 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The greatest threat to productivity in our times
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
REMINDER: 'Earth Must Die' desperately requires your WISHLISTS.
Please be amazing and pop over to Steam and drop us a wishlist, each and every one massively helps us out.
THANK YOU.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
Please be amazing and pop over to Steam and drop us a wishlist, each and every one massively helps us out.
THANK YOU.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
Earth Must Die on Steam
These moronic Terranoids think they can just roll in here and take over my beautiful Tyrythian kingdom? The kingdom that I built from the ground up with my bare hands, and only sort of inherited from ...
store.steampowered.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM
REMINDER: 'Earth Must Die' desperately requires your WISHLISTS.
Please be amazing and pop over to Steam and drop us a wishlist, each and every one massively helps us out.
THANK YOU.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
Please be amazing and pop over to Steam and drop us a wishlist, each and every one massively helps us out.
THANK YOU.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
Best Friend of Size Five Games from The Swindle dev team @lottemakesstuff.pink has a new game coming out in 3 hours and it looks AMAZING.
A little bit 'Fights in Tight Spaces', a little bit 'Into the Breach', a little bit 'Devil's Kiss' and visually gorgeous
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
A little bit 'Fights in Tight Spaces', a little bit 'Into the Breach', a little bit 'Devil's Kiss' and visually gorgeous
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
Demonschool on Steam
Demonschool is a new-style tactics RPG where motion equals action. Defeat big weirdos in between the human and demon worlds as Faye and her misfit companions, while navigating university life on a mys...
store.steampowered.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Best Friend of Size Five Games from The Swindle dev team @lottemakesstuff.pink has a new game coming out in 3 hours and it looks AMAZING.
A little bit 'Fights in Tight Spaces', a little bit 'Into the Breach', a little bit 'Devil's Kiss' and visually gorgeous
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
A little bit 'Fights in Tight Spaces', a little bit 'Into the Breach', a little bit 'Devil's Kiss' and visually gorgeous
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
I wrote about whether or not you should attend games industry events
modecollapse.substack.com/p/will-atten...
modecollapse.substack.com/p/will-atten...
Will Attending Events Help Me Sell More Games?
Definitely not. Also yes. Maybe.
modecollapse.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I wrote about whether or not you should attend games industry events
modecollapse.substack.com/p/will-atten...
modecollapse.substack.com/p/will-atten...
My brain is definitely reaching a bit with this but STILL
November 13, 2025 at 10:35 AM
My brain is definitely reaching a bit with this but STILL
Complaining about something in a restaurant but then not actually sending the food back is the most British bullshit imaginable and should be banned
November 12, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Complaining about something in a restaurant but then not actually sending the food back is the most British bullshit imaginable and should be banned
Is there a reason that UK MP's are taking consultation from American YouTubers but not, say, indie game developers who would be affected by changes in the law?
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
November 12, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Is there a reason that UK MP's are taking consultation from American YouTubers but not, say, indie game developers who would be affected by changes in the law?
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
I will be at To the Moon at Birmingham NEC talking about Stop Killing Games this afternoon so if you happen to be there then please say hello!
November 12, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I will be at To the Moon at Birmingham NEC talking about Stop Killing Games this afternoon so if you happen to be there then please say hello!
I wrote about the general conversation around AI and why I find it increasingly impossible to engage with
modecollapse.substack.com/p/we-need-to...
modecollapse.substack.com/p/we-need-to...
We Need to Stop Talking About AI
Time to close the context window
modecollapse.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I wrote about the general conversation around AI and why I find it increasingly impossible to engage with
modecollapse.substack.com/p/we-need-to...
modecollapse.substack.com/p/we-need-to...
Would someone kindly be willing to put me in touch with anybody at Cloud Imperium who might be interested in chatting about a games preservation/ history issue I've come across? Sorry for vagueness but will explain once in contact. Thank you!
October 26, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Would someone kindly be willing to put me in touch with anybody at Cloud Imperium who might be interested in chatting about a games preservation/ history issue I've come across? Sorry for vagueness but will explain once in contact. Thank you!
The AI bubble and hype-mongering has obscured much of the true value in the tech to the point that "maybe I should engage with this somewhat - no it just sucks" is a thought process that many people are going through. I genuinely find this frustrating and sad.
Sometimes, I wonder if I’m getting old/behind on embracing new technology.
Then I remember, no (at least not in this case): It’s just that AI sucks.
It’ll never be the money-maker execs want it to be, and in the process, it’s decimating industries (and the people within them) along with the planet
Then I remember, no (at least not in this case): It’s just that AI sucks.
It’ll never be the money-maker execs want it to be, and in the process, it’s decimating industries (and the people within them) along with the planet
October 26, 2025 at 8:48 AM
The AI bubble and hype-mongering has obscured much of the true value in the tech to the point that "maybe I should engage with this somewhat - no it just sucks" is a thought process that many people are going through. I genuinely find this frustrating and sad.
10.5 Game Development Lies the Industry Should Stop Telling
Liar's Poker
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
I did the thing! Most of today has been me making and editing and rendering and uploading this roughly 50 minute intro video to how I program a complex strategy game in C++! I know not everyone does it this way, but this is just 'how I do it'. youtu.be/FShH78J_zmY?... Plz share with likely viewers!
C++ Strategy Game Programming: Ridiculous Space Battles code video #1
YouTube video by Positech Games
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I did the thing! Most of today has been me making and editing and rendering and uploading this roughly 50 minute intro video to how I program a complex strategy game in C++! I know not everyone does it this way, but this is just 'how I do it'. youtu.be/FShH78J_zmY?... Plz share with likely viewers!
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
Sorry to keep banging on about this, but we are *so desperately close* to 50 reviews on the EMD Demo
It'd be HUGELY helpful to be at 50 ahead of Next Fest, for boring and complicated algorithm reasons, so if you haven't reviewed it yet PLEASE DO thank you x
store.steampowered.com/app/4057540/...
It'd be HUGELY helpful to be at 50 ahead of Next Fest, for boring and complicated algorithm reasons, so if you haven't reviewed it yet PLEASE DO thank you x
store.steampowered.com/app/4057540/...
Earth Must Die Demo on Steam
These moronic Terranoids think they can just roll in here and take over my beautiful Tyrythian kingdom? The kingdom that I built from the ground up with my bare hands, and only sort of inherited from ...
store.steampowered.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Sorry to keep banging on about this, but we are *so desperately close* to 50 reviews on the EMD Demo
It'd be HUGELY helpful to be at 50 ahead of Next Fest, for boring and complicated algorithm reasons, so if you haven't reviewed it yet PLEASE DO thank you x
store.steampowered.com/app/4057540/...
It'd be HUGELY helpful to be at 50 ahead of Next Fest, for boring and complicated algorithm reasons, so if you haven't reviewed it yet PLEASE DO thank you x
store.steampowered.com/app/4057540/...
Why do I have 30 notifications
October 11, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Why do I have 30 notifications
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
WAIT WHAT'S THIS?
💿There is a demo live for EARTH MUST DIE!
🕹️This gives you (most of) the tutorial section for the game! Have fun, and if you haven't wishlisted the full game yet DO THAT NOW PLEASE it really really helps us out.
Enjoy!
store.steampowered.com/app/4057540/...
💿There is a demo live for EARTH MUST DIE!
🕹️This gives you (most of) the tutorial section for the game! Have fun, and if you haven't wishlisted the full game yet DO THAT NOW PLEASE it really really helps us out.
Enjoy!
store.steampowered.com/app/4057540/...
Earth Must Die Demo on Steam
These moronic Terranoids think they can just roll in here and take over my beautiful Tyrythian kingdom? The kingdom that I built from the ground up with my bare hands, and only sort of inherited from ...
store.steampowered.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:09 PM
WAIT WHAT'S THIS?
💿There is a demo live for EARTH MUST DIE!
🕹️This gives you (most of) the tutorial section for the game! Have fun, and if you haven't wishlisted the full game yet DO THAT NOW PLEASE it really really helps us out.
Enjoy!
store.steampowered.com/app/4057540/...
💿There is a demo live for EARTH MUST DIE!
🕹️This gives you (most of) the tutorial section for the game! Have fun, and if you haven't wishlisted the full game yet DO THAT NOW PLEASE it really really helps us out.
Enjoy!
store.steampowered.com/app/4057540/...
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
I should probably promote my youtube videos a bit more. Who knows! Anyway this was the latest one about Ridiculous Space Battles and the UI and design challenges etc: youtu.be/I--P92pBA8U?...
Ridiculous Space Battles Developer Blog #6
YouTube video by Positech Games
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I should probably promote my youtube videos a bit more. Who knows! Anyway this was the latest one about Ridiculous Space Battles and the UI and design challenges etc: youtu.be/I--P92pBA8U?...
Stop Killing Games originated from a laudable place but risks becoming a huge disaster if the industry doesn't wake up and deliver some workable proposals.
I've written up my thoughts on this here - please take a look if you care about these issues:
open.substack.com/pub/modecoll...
I've written up my thoughts on this here - please take a look if you care about these issues:
open.substack.com/pub/modecoll...
Stop Killing Games will become an endless nightmare if we don't wake up
A contentious campaign and an industry asleep at the wheel
open.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Stop Killing Games originated from a laudable place but risks becoming a huge disaster if the industry doesn't wake up and deliver some workable proposals.
I've written up my thoughts on this here - please take a look if you care about these issues:
open.substack.com/pub/modecoll...
I've written up my thoughts on this here - please take a look if you care about these issues:
open.substack.com/pub/modecoll...
Reposted by Paul Kilduff-Taylor
We're giving you something you didn't know you wanted. Agent K has been fantastic to develop. He's a very good boy and can run wherever you need him to be at any time. Fill your deck with pets and treats - he deserves it!
Introducing Agent K9! Your new canine companion. 🐶 (and a good boy)
Our newest Fights in Tight Spaces DLC adds a versatile and highly agile canine companion, as well as new enemies, enhancements, and events.
Out on Steam on 24th September 🦴
Our newest Fights in Tight Spaces DLC adds a versatile and highly agile canine companion, as well as new enemies, enhancements, and events.
Out on Steam on 24th September 🦴
September 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
We're giving you something you didn't know you wanted. Agent K has been fantastic to develop. He's a very good boy and can run wherever you need him to be at any time. Fill your deck with pets and treats - he deserves it!