Shawn Alexander Allen
@shawndoublea.bsky.social
Director @nuchallenger.com
Fan of Hip Hop & sneakers
Writing, design, production, occasional art
Beatdown City Survivors, Treachery in Beatdown City + more
Ex-Rockstar/Ex-MLB
Organizing the future of games
#blackgamedev✊🏽 they/them
beatdowncity.com
Fan of Hip Hop & sneakers
Writing, design, production, occasional art
Beatdown City Survivors, Treachery in Beatdown City + more
Ex-Rockstar/Ex-MLB
Organizing the future of games
#blackgamedev✊🏽 they/them
beatdowncity.com
Pinned
🤜🧟Beatdown City Survivors🧟 🤛
A bullet (fist?) heaven
survivors roguelite
set in a gritty, beat-em-up *style* city is releasing Q1 '26!
🛠️lots of weapon crafting
👥fun unlockable characters
🏗️dynamic/destructible environments
Wishlist today! beatdown.city/bdcsrstm
#pitchyagame
A bullet (fist?) heaven
survivors roguelite
set in a gritty, beat-em-up *style* city is releasing Q1 '26!
🛠️lots of weapon crafting
👥fun unlockable characters
🏗️dynamic/destructible environments
Wishlist today! beatdown.city/bdcsrstm
#pitchyagame
This is an unsurprisingly shitty take coming from a corporation that can't figure out how to keep stores open and bought $500 million in crypto last year
January 18, 2026 at 5:48 PM
This is an unsurprisingly shitty take coming from a corporation that can't figure out how to keep stores open and bought $500 million in crypto last year
Something every parent needs to learn is that if your child keeps waking up strange places asking for Silent Hill, you absolutely do not need to take them there.
January 18, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Something every parent needs to learn is that if your child keeps waking up strange places asking for Silent Hill, you absolutely do not need to take them there.
January 17, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
People of San Francisco! I’m doing many shows this weekend as part of SF Sketchfest, including a Sup, Bro? with Alison Leiby on Saturday night at Cobb’s! Come enjoy jokes!!! (Photo by Sam Brooks!)
January 16, 2026 at 7:46 PM
People of San Francisco! I’m doing many shows this weekend as part of SF Sketchfest, including a Sup, Bro? with Alison Leiby on Saturday night at Cobb’s! Come enjoy jokes!!! (Photo by Sam Brooks!)
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
Whenever you're talking about Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, or Franco's Spain, you have to include the Jim Crow South.
Otherwise it's inadequate or intellectually dishonest
Otherwise it's inadequate or intellectually dishonest
January 17, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Whenever you're talking about Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, or Franco's Spain, you have to include the Jim Crow South.
Otherwise it's inadequate or intellectually dishonest
Otherwise it's inadequate or intellectually dishonest
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
Malcolm speaking on the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, who was murdered 65 years ago today.
And while America didn't physically pull the trigger, the CIA was holding the puppet strings on the person who did.
RIP Patrice Lumumba
And while America didn't physically pull the trigger, the CIA was holding the puppet strings on the person who did.
RIP Patrice Lumumba
January 17, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Malcolm speaking on the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, who was murdered 65 years ago today.
And while America didn't physically pull the trigger, the CIA was holding the puppet strings on the person who did.
RIP Patrice Lumumba
And while America didn't physically pull the trigger, the CIA was holding the puppet strings on the person who did.
RIP Patrice Lumumba
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
thanks for saying y'all like the interface. I *was* a UI artist at minecraft for a year and a half :)
I made a tool that makes retro anime sound effects. Meet AnimeVox!
I made it for a game, but it's free to use.
I'm using the forgotten (but popular in 80s japan) Schroeder reverb algo, and some wobble.
If you find it useful consider supporting me on itch :)
castpixel.itch.io/animevox
I made it for a game, but it's free to use.
I'm using the forgotten (but popular in 80s japan) Schroeder reverb algo, and some wobble.
If you find it useful consider supporting me on itch :)
castpixel.itch.io/animevox
January 16, 2026 at 7:15 PM
thanks for saying y'all like the interface. I *was* a UI artist at minecraft for a year and a half :)
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
Facts on facts. I had the same thought re: Slave Catchers.
But a lot of people won't make that connection certain people don't want to teach/learn about slavery and what really was going on in that time because they can't blame some other country.
Source:
www.instagram.com/reel/DTb2VBJ...
But a lot of people won't make that connection certain people don't want to teach/learn about slavery and what really was going on in that time because they can't blame some other country.
Source:
www.instagram.com/reel/DTb2VBJ...
January 13, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Facts on facts. I had the same thought re: Slave Catchers.
But a lot of people won't make that connection certain people don't want to teach/learn about slavery and what really was going on in that time because they can't blame some other country.
Source:
www.instagram.com/reel/DTb2VBJ...
But a lot of people won't make that connection certain people don't want to teach/learn about slavery and what really was going on in that time because they can't blame some other country.
Source:
www.instagram.com/reel/DTb2VBJ...
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
HORSES was nominated for the Grand Prize and Nuovo Award at the 2026 Independent Games Festival! What a great opportunity to give shoutouts to the incredible talent that made this production possible. Check out the following posts to find out who they are, and what else they worked on! Thread:
January 15, 2026 at 7:28 PM
HORSES was nominated for the Grand Prize and Nuovo Award at the 2026 Independent Games Festival! What a great opportunity to give shoutouts to the incredible talent that made this production possible. Check out the following posts to find out who they are, and what else they worked on! Thread:
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
January 15, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
It's not just a heist. It's a rescue mission.
On 10 February 2026, Relooted arrives at a museum (and store page, we guess) near you.
#indiegame
On 10 February 2026, Relooted arrives at a museum (and store page, we guess) near you.
#indiegame
January 15, 2026 at 3:01 PM
It's not just a heist. It's a rescue mission.
On 10 February 2026, Relooted arrives at a museum (and store page, we guess) near you.
#indiegame
On 10 February 2026, Relooted arrives at a museum (and store page, we guess) near you.
#indiegame
Thing is, I've done "sensitivity reads" for a few indie games, which notoriously typically have a designer who is forced to be a writer, but they all came with narrative design as a solution for what might have been a bad idea otherwise.
The narratives became more compelling. Avoid tropes. Etc.
The narratives became more compelling. Avoid tropes. Etc.
January 15, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Thing is, I've done "sensitivity reads" for a few indie games, which notoriously typically have a designer who is forced to be a writer, but they all came with narrative design as a solution for what might have been a bad idea otherwise.
The narratives became more compelling. Avoid tropes. Etc.
The narratives became more compelling. Avoid tropes. Etc.
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
The reason I say “Sweet Baby Inc is a team of Writers & Narrative Designers” so often, is because even people who support us are often under the impression that we are sensitivity consultants.
Sensitivity consultants are great, but again, Sweet Baby Inc is a team of Writers & Narrative Designers.
Sensitivity consultants are great, but again, Sweet Baby Inc is a team of Writers & Narrative Designers.
The top reason studios use consulting labour for narrative is that they all want to avoid having a greater quantity of writers and narrative designers on the full-time payroll. That's it. It's to get the stuff designed and written but also save money/commitment.
I think the thing that gets muddled about us over and over again is that we *do* write things! We *are* game devs! And so when people say we just give feedback or opinions it looks like we’re being caught in a lie.
We are being paid by the studio to write whatever it is they pay us to write.
We are being paid by the studio to write whatever it is they pay us to write.
January 15, 2026 at 1:17 PM
The reason I say “Sweet Baby Inc is a team of Writers & Narrative Designers” so often, is because even people who support us are often under the impression that we are sensitivity consultants.
Sensitivity consultants are great, but again, Sweet Baby Inc is a team of Writers & Narrative Designers.
Sensitivity consultants are great, but again, Sweet Baby Inc is a team of Writers & Narrative Designers.
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
For those who have never heard of the MOVE bombing
The largely forgotten history of Philadelphia’s police bombing of Black organization MOVE
This week marked the 40th anniversary of one of the worst tragedies in Philadelphia’s history. In May 1985, the city’s police department dropped an improvised bomb on a residential home that housed th...
www.pbs.org
January 15, 2026 at 11:10 AM
For those who have never heard of the MOVE bombing
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
They’re gassing the populace with toxins and apparently its spreading across the city, y’all. This is vile. Those who are there, please stay safe
I was supposed to be in bed an hour ago but sending links and videos to people so they know to avoid the green gas (zinc chloride).
Once a lab steward, always a lab steward.
Seriously, I was a chemist twenty years ago, you do NOT want heavy metal toxicity. It fucks you up in weird ways.
Once a lab steward, always a lab steward.
Seriously, I was a chemist twenty years ago, you do NOT want heavy metal toxicity. It fucks you up in weird ways.
January 15, 2026 at 11:03 AM
They’re gassing the populace with toxins and apparently its spreading across the city, y’all. This is vile. Those who are there, please stay safe
I forgot how much I enjoyed dotAGE, but geez, I also forgot how to advance the game, and was sitting, staring at the game confused how to progress.
Sometimes UI just needs to be a *bit more* obvious (even a context sensitive clue) I basically stumbled onto how, and it all made sense again.
Sometimes UI just needs to be a *bit more* obvious (even a context sensitive clue) I basically stumbled onto how, and it all made sense again.
January 15, 2026 at 8:09 AM
I forgot how much I enjoyed dotAGE, but geez, I also forgot how to advance the game, and was sitting, staring at the game confused how to progress.
Sometimes UI just needs to be a *bit more* obvious (even a context sensitive clue) I basically stumbled onto how, and it all made sense again.
Sometimes UI just needs to be a *bit more* obvious (even a context sensitive clue) I basically stumbled onto how, and it all made sense again.
January 15, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
What my game looks like before and after processing.
If you think it's cool wishlist Tossdown on Steam! :)
store.steampowered.com/app/3241560/...
#gamedev #indiedev
If you think it's cool wishlist Tossdown on Steam! :)
store.steampowered.com/app/3241560/...
#gamedev #indiedev
January 14, 2026 at 4:08 PM
What my game looks like before and after processing.
If you think it's cool wishlist Tossdown on Steam! :)
store.steampowered.com/app/3241560/...
#gamedev #indiedev
If you think it's cool wishlist Tossdown on Steam! :)
store.steampowered.com/app/3241560/...
#gamedev #indiedev
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
Hey uh, this is awkward, but I can't make rent. I'm desperate. Anything helps. Please pm if you can lend assistance. 9 months of no job, burned through my savings, I'm in a bad way right now.
January 14, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Hey uh, this is awkward, but I can't make rent. I'm desperate. Anything helps. Please pm if you can lend assistance. 9 months of no job, burned through my savings, I'm in a bad way right now.
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
Since my Metroid guide was new to a lot of people, I figure I'd reshare my old Hand-Drawn Zelda guide. It's a fully illustrated guide to the first Zelda, complete with dungeon maps, and tied together in a storybook presentation. It's also free!
January 14, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Since my Metroid guide was new to a lot of people, I figure I'd reshare my old Hand-Drawn Zelda guide. It's a fully illustrated guide to the first Zelda, complete with dungeon maps, and tied together in a storybook presentation. It's also free!
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
Bonus points for ones that have some sort of survival or crisis management element.
That isn't Sim City or Frostpunk.
That isn't Sim City or Frostpunk.
January 12, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Bonus points for ones that have some sort of survival or crisis management element.
That isn't Sim City or Frostpunk.
That isn't Sim City or Frostpunk.
Reposted by Shawn Alexander Allen
What are your favorite pixel art city builders?
January 12, 2026 at 8:42 PM
What are your favorite pixel art city builders?