Pat Holleman
@patmakesrpgs.bsky.social
Freelance RPG director, writer, designer. (Quartet, My Familiar, Threads of Time, others.) Author of the Reverse Design series of books: http://thegamedesignforum.com/books/books.html
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Finished Quartet this morning! Another great indie RPG and a strong recommend from me! Very excited to look into the speedrun :)
November 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Finished Quartet this morning! Another great indie RPG and a strong recommend from me! Very excited to look into the speedrun :)
@hankgreen.bsky.social is it a coincidence that the duration of Earth's seasonal cycle is the same as the Earth's orbital period? Or does the orbit have a direct influence on axial tilt?
December 2, 2025 at 1:16 AM
@hankgreen.bsky.social is it a coincidence that the duration of Earth's seasonal cycle is the same as the Earth's orbital period? Or does the orbit have a direct influence on axial tilt?
Reposted by Pat Holleman
In case you missed it, I wrote a tl;dr for my series examining Suikoden 1's English localizations. The final word: the HD Remaster's translation is a definite improvement, but suffers from the same issues as the 1996 translation—namely, a lack of context and not enough editing passes/LQA.
My Suikoden Localization Let's Play has finally come to a complete end! This overview covers the main points of the series, like "don't take words or punctuation at face value" and "consider the larger context," then dives into reviews of both the PS1 and HD Remaster English translations.
Localization Let’s Play: Suikoden 1 – Overview - Elizabeth Bushouse
I have to say, I did not think this project would be nearly this long when I first started it, but...here we are. Since it turned into such a behemoth of a
lizbushouse.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:47 PM
In case you missed it, I wrote a tl;dr for my series examining Suikoden 1's English localizations. The final word: the HD Remaster's translation is a definite improvement, but suffers from the same issues as the 1996 translation—namely, a lack of context and not enough editing passes/LQA.
This is gonna be a bit of a deep cut, so feel free to check out if it's not your bag.
I thought that Murakami's The Wind Up Bird Chronicle was a version of Homer's Odyssey, just for the sake of doing that. But upon further reflection, I think it arrives at the Odyssey via Joyce.
I thought that Murakami's The Wind Up Bird Chronicle was a version of Homer's Odyssey, just for the sake of doing that. But upon further reflection, I think it arrives at the Odyssey via Joyce.
November 30, 2025 at 5:37 AM
This is gonna be a bit of a deep cut, so feel free to check out if it's not your bag.
I thought that Murakami's The Wind Up Bird Chronicle was a version of Homer's Odyssey, just for the sake of doing that. But upon further reflection, I think it arrives at the Odyssey via Joyce.
I thought that Murakami's The Wind Up Bird Chronicle was a version of Homer's Odyssey, just for the sake of doing that. But upon further reflection, I think it arrives at the Odyssey via Joyce.
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Juna fans are gonna be eating good when this update drops
November 30, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Juna fans are gonna be eating good when this update drops
Reposted by Pat Holleman
I don't know if it's just slow word of mouth, but our Quartet sales have been much stronger the last few weeks. Thanks for all your support!
We are still hard at work on the newest 1.3 content update and console ports.
We are still hard at work on the newest 1.3 content update and console ports.
November 29, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I don't know if it's just slow word of mouth, but our Quartet sales have been much stronger the last few weeks. Thanks for all your support!
We are still hard at work on the newest 1.3 content update and console ports.
We are still hard at work on the newest 1.3 content update and console ports.
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Getting stuck causes players to explore the world.
Dying causes players to think about what they're doing.
An "impossible" situation causes players to learn how the game works and eventually achieve the impossible.
We need to be able to design *some* games around these fundamental ideas.
Dying causes players to think about what they're doing.
An "impossible" situation causes players to learn how the game works and eventually achieve the impossible.
We need to be able to design *some* games around these fundamental ideas.
November 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Getting stuck causes players to explore the world.
Dying causes players to think about what they're doing.
An "impossible" situation causes players to learn how the game works and eventually achieve the impossible.
We need to be able to design *some* games around these fundamental ideas.
Dying causes players to think about what they're doing.
An "impossible" situation causes players to learn how the game works and eventually achieve the impossible.
We need to be able to design *some* games around these fundamental ideas.
Whew, this BoF4 intro is a bit of a snoozer.
November 29, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Whew, this BoF4 intro is a bit of a snoozer.
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Introducing: Little Frog's BIG BOX Adventure!
This is a little puzzle game I've chipped away at in some spare time this year. I plan to expand this into a full game at some point, but for now you can play a little demo version on my itch!
jamphibious.itch.io/lfbba-demo
This is a little puzzle game I've chipped away at in some spare time this year. I plan to expand this into a full game at some point, but for now you can play a little demo version on my itch!
jamphibious.itch.io/lfbba-demo
November 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Introducing: Little Frog's BIG BOX Adventure!
This is a little puzzle game I've chipped away at in some spare time this year. I plan to expand this into a full game at some point, but for now you can play a little demo version on my itch!
jamphibious.itch.io/lfbba-demo
This is a little puzzle game I've chipped away at in some spare time this year. I plan to expand this into a full game at some point, but for now you can play a little demo version on my itch!
jamphibious.itch.io/lfbba-demo
Mid-budget meaning $5-20 *million*, mind you.
Octopath Traveler's art style was really cool and well done... for the Octopath Traveler series. It's not good enough or interesting enough to make it the standard mid-budget art style for all JRPGs.
November 28, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Mid-budget meaning $5-20 *million*, mind you.
Reposted by Pat Holleman
It's been three months since release and we are super grateful to everyone who has played and enjoyed our game!
#QuartetRPG #indiedev
#QuartetRPG #indiedev
November 27, 2025 at 9:10 PM
It's been three months since release and we are super grateful to everyone who has played and enjoyed our game!
#QuartetRPG #indiedev
#QuartetRPG #indiedev
My wife just explained Pac-Man to out 4-year old son. "Uh... that's Kirby's grandpa." And he immediately accepted this as a sensible answer.
November 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
My wife just explained Pac-Man to out 4-year old son. "Uh... that's Kirby's grandpa." And he immediately accepted this as a sensible answer.
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Hello indies! It's almost Thanksgaming 2025!
If you have an unknown indie project in dev or just released, please could you email me at [email protected] with the subject "THANKSGAMING 2025", and a store page and YouTube link? I'll put as many as I can on Kotaku.
Rules next. Reposts appreciated!
If you have an unknown indie project in dev or just released, please could you email me at [email protected] with the subject "THANKSGAMING 2025", and a store page and YouTube link? I'll put as many as I can on Kotaku.
Rules next. Reposts appreciated!
November 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Hello indies! It's almost Thanksgaming 2025!
If you have an unknown indie project in dev or just released, please could you email me at [email protected] with the subject "THANKSGAMING 2025", and a store page and YouTube link? I'll put as many as I can on Kotaku.
Rules next. Reposts appreciated!
If you have an unknown indie project in dev or just released, please could you email me at [email protected] with the subject "THANKSGAMING 2025", and a store page and YouTube link? I'll put as many as I can on Kotaku.
Rules next. Reposts appreciated!
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Hey #screenshotsaturday!
Have you checked out "Quartet" - our newest turn based JRPG. Available now on all PC platforms!
#QuartetRPG #pixelart
Have you checked out "Quartet" - our newest turn based JRPG. Available now on all PC platforms!
#QuartetRPG #pixelart
November 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Hey #screenshotsaturday!
Have you checked out "Quartet" - our newest turn based JRPG. Available now on all PC platforms!
#QuartetRPG #pixelart
Have you checked out "Quartet" - our newest turn based JRPG. Available now on all PC platforms!
#QuartetRPG #pixelart
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
Reposted by Pat Holleman
This game has freaking Maimonides in it?!
September 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
This game has freaking Maimonides in it?!
Reposted by Pat Holleman
This Way Madness Lies is a great game and barely anybody bought it. It should be played by more people. If everybody here on @bsky.app banded together and bought a Steam copy and played it, well, that'd be a miracle and I would be forever grateful.
store.steampowered.com/app/1318970/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1318970/...
November 21, 2025 at 2:58 PM
This Way Madness Lies is a great game and barely anybody bought it. It should be played by more people. If everybody here on @bsky.app banded together and bought a Steam copy and played it, well, that'd be a miracle and I would be forever grateful.
store.steampowered.com/app/1318970/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1318970/...
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Thank you Dumplings for all the launch love!!
🚮Sanitation Department is standing by -
Currently working on:
-Fixing some triggers on Sidequests in Act IV
-Some boundary issues on edges of maps
-Audio crackling for some users
-Unstuck Button if you get snagged in the trash
🚮Sanitation Department is standing by -
Currently working on:
-Fixing some triggers on Sidequests in Act IV
-Some boundary issues on edges of maps
-Audio crackling for some users
-Unstuck Button if you get snagged in the trash
November 21, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Thank you Dumplings for all the launch love!!
🚮Sanitation Department is standing by -
Currently working on:
-Fixing some triggers on Sidequests in Act IV
-Some boundary issues on edges of maps
-Audio crackling for some users
-Unstuck Button if you get snagged in the trash
🚮Sanitation Department is standing by -
Currently working on:
-Fixing some triggers on Sidequests in Act IV
-Some boundary issues on edges of maps
-Audio crackling for some users
-Unstuck Button if you get snagged in the trash
You can take artistic risks in games. For about 20-30 minutes. Then you need 6 hours of cooldown time doing normie stuff.
For the most part, don't take artistic risks unless you're already famous.
For the most part, don't take artistic risks unless you're already famous.
November 21, 2025 at 5:52 AM
You can take artistic risks in games. For about 20-30 minutes. Then you need 6 hours of cooldown time doing normie stuff.
For the most part, don't take artistic risks unless you're already famous.
For the most part, don't take artistic risks unless you're already famous.
Reposted by Pat Holleman
The funny thing about this business is you can be just some guy with no game dev experience and no track record, but can be granted trust in your product because you had the money to hire great art.
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The funny thing about this business is you can be just some guy with no game dev experience and no track record, but can be granted trust in your product because you had the money to hire great art.
The last two episodes of Severance deal (really persuasively) with all EXACT things that Expedition 33 just hand-waved away.
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 AM
The last two episodes of Severance deal (really persuasively) with all EXACT things that Expedition 33 just hand-waved away.
Reposted by Pat Holleman
📣KINGDOMS OF THE DUMP AVAILABLE NOW ON STEAM!!!
19.99 + 10% discount
✨17.99✨
Come explore the magical Lands of the Fill!
#indiegame
RTs appreciated 💪🗑️
store.steampowered.com/app/2159270/...
19.99 + 10% discount
✨17.99✨
Come explore the magical Lands of the Fill!
#indiegame
RTs appreciated 💪🗑️
store.steampowered.com/app/2159270/...
Save 10% on Kingdoms of the Dump on Steam
A SNES styled JRPG set in a fantasy world of garbage, created by two janitors. Join Trash Can Knight, Dustin Binsley, as he fights his way through the Five and a Half Kingdoms of the Dump!
store.steampowered.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
📣KINGDOMS OF THE DUMP AVAILABLE NOW ON STEAM!!!
19.99 + 10% discount
✨17.99✨
Come explore the magical Lands of the Fill!
#indiegame
RTs appreciated 💪🗑️
store.steampowered.com/app/2159270/...
19.99 + 10% discount
✨17.99✨
Come explore the magical Lands of the Fill!
#indiegame
RTs appreciated 💪🗑️
store.steampowered.com/app/2159270/...
If you like Pluribus, you should read the book that (pretty clearly) inspired it: The Genius Plague, by David Walton. Different tone, but STRIKING similarities, throughout.
November 16, 2025 at 4:43 AM
If you like Pluribus, you should read the book that (pretty clearly) inspired it: The Genius Plague, by David Walton. Different tone, but STRIKING similarities, throughout.
Reposted by Pat Holleman
Oh THAT'S why it's called Quartet @somethingclassic.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Oh THAT'S why it's called Quartet @somethingclassic.bsky.social