John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
@spacegoblingames.com
Indie text game developer, creator of Seedship and Beyond the Chiron Gate. Now working on a pulp sci-fi adventure narrated by the villain!
Website: https://www.spacegoblingames.com/
Blog: https://write.as/johnayliff/
Header and avatar by Tom Morley
Website: https://www.spacegoblingames.com/
Blog: https://write.as/johnayliff/
Header and avatar by Tom Morley
Pinned
Space Goblin Diaries
John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games) is a creator of text-based games and interactive fiction
write.as
Coming soon* from Space Goblin Games:
(* when it's done)
"Foolish Earth Creatures: You Cannot Defeat ME!"
An interactive pulp sci-fi adventure narrated by the villain!
Follow the developer diaries here: write.as/johnayliff/
(* when it's done)
"Foolish Earth Creatures: You Cannot Defeat ME!"
An interactive pulp sci-fi adventure narrated by the villain!
Follow the developer diaries here: write.as/johnayliff/
Just watched "Predator: Killer of Killers" and "The Predator" back to back and wow that's an example about how a tight 20 minutes can make me care about a character and how a sprawling two hours can fail to.
November 27, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Just watched "Predator: Killer of Killers" and "The Predator" back to back and wow that's an example about how a tight 20 minutes can make me care about a character and how a sprawling two hours can fail to.
New dev diary in which I show off how I'm using the narrator/villain's facial expressions to help tell the story: write.as/johnayliff/f...
Foolish Earth Creatures: November 2025
Behold the face of Vorak! This month I've finally got round to replacing my hand-drawn placeholder image with a set of placeholder imag...
write.as
November 26, 2025 at 10:28 PM
New dev diary in which I show off how I'm using the narrator/villain's facial expressions to help tell the story: write.as/johnayliff/f...
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
The xenomorph from the Alien franchise has a remarkable ability to detect whether someone is a main character. Minor characters it kills instantly but with major characters it spends up to a minute hissing and drooling first.
November 25, 2025 at 5:21 AM
The xenomorph from the Alien franchise has a remarkable ability to detect whether someone is a main character. Minor characters it kills instantly but with major characters it spends up to a minute hissing and drooling first.
The best Star Wars movie is Return of the Jedi because it was the first one I saw, when I was about 6. Also because there's one bit where there's a space battle and a ground battle and a lightsaber duel *at the same time*.
November 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The best Star Wars movie is Return of the Jedi because it was the first one I saw, when I was about 6. Also because there's one bit where there's a space battle and a ground battle and a lightsaber duel *at the same time*.
...You've gotta ask yourself a question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do ya, Charlie Brown?
We just want you to be happy, Charlie Brown
I find your lack of faith disturbing, Charlie Brown.
November 24, 2025 at 3:22 AM
...You've gotta ask yourself a question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do ya, Charlie Brown?
Space hero research notes: I found a site with scans of a lot of 1929 Buck Rogers daily strips, but I am sad to say that a) the art has not aged as well as Flash Gordon and b) they're pretty racist
rolandanderson.se/comics/buckr...
rolandanderson.se/comics/buckr...
Buck Rogers Comic Strips
rolandanderson.se
November 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Space hero research notes: I found a site with scans of a lot of 1929 Buck Rogers daily strips, but I am sad to say that a) the art has not aged as well as Flash Gordon and b) they're pretty racist
rolandanderson.se/comics/buckr...
rolandanderson.se/comics/buckr...
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
he sees all
November 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM
he sees all
Should I add a crab-like alien enemy to my space hero game specifically so I can have an achievement called "Bust a Crab"?
November 21, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Should I add a crab-like alien enemy to my space hero game specifically so I can have an achievement called "Bust a Crab"?
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
The GAMES FROM VANCOUVER Steam sale is LIVE now until Nov 30!
🍁 Over 100 games on display
🏒 Over 50 games on sale up to 90%
🍺 Upcoming titles to watch
🍩 Hidden gems
Somewhere in this collection is a game made in Greater Vancouver you'll cherish.
store.steampowered.com/sale/GamesFr...
🍁 Over 100 games on display
🏒 Over 50 games on sale up to 90%
🍺 Upcoming titles to watch
🍩 Hidden gems
Somewhere in this collection is a game made in Greater Vancouver you'll cherish.
store.steampowered.com/sale/GamesFr...
November 21, 2025 at 6:08 PM
The GAMES FROM VANCOUVER Steam sale is LIVE now until Nov 30!
🍁 Over 100 games on display
🏒 Over 50 games on sale up to 90%
🍺 Upcoming titles to watch
🍩 Hidden gems
Somewhere in this collection is a game made in Greater Vancouver you'll cherish.
store.steampowered.com/sale/GamesFr...
🍁 Over 100 games on display
🏒 Over 50 games on sale up to 90%
🍺 Upcoming titles to watch
🍩 Hidden gems
Somewhere in this collection is a game made in Greater Vancouver you'll cherish.
store.steampowered.com/sale/GamesFr...
Not beating the allegations that I'm reverting to my childhood.
November 20, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Not beating the allegations that I'm reverting to my childhood.
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
The roughs for the print we made to promote the Dan Dare GN series at Thought Bubble.
Dare is back in the first of a series of oversized graphic novels by @alexdecampi.bsky.social myself and @b7media.bsky.social. The Kickstarter launches in February 2026 - go here www.kickstarter.com/projects/798...
Dare is back in the first of a series of oversized graphic novels by @alexdecampi.bsky.social myself and @b7media.bsky.social. The Kickstarter launches in February 2026 - go here www.kickstarter.com/projects/798...
November 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The roughs for the print we made to promote the Dan Dare GN series at Thought Bubble.
Dare is back in the first of a series of oversized graphic novels by @alexdecampi.bsky.social myself and @b7media.bsky.social. The Kickstarter launches in February 2026 - go here www.kickstarter.com/projects/798...
Dare is back in the first of a series of oversized graphic novels by @alexdecampi.bsky.social myself and @b7media.bsky.social. The Kickstarter launches in February 2026 - go here www.kickstarter.com/projects/798...
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
Today is the day to repost this meme about International Men's Day, one of the most unironically wholesome memes that has ever been made.
Shoutout to all my fellow champs, chiefs, and kings. ✊
Shoutout to all my fellow champs, chiefs, and kings. ✊
November 19, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Today is the day to repost this meme about International Men's Day, one of the most unironically wholesome memes that has ever been made.
Shoutout to all my fellow champs, chiefs, and kings. ✊
Shoutout to all my fellow champs, chiefs, and kings. ✊
I spent ages trying to find/draw good enough placeholder images for my villain's different facial expressions, and somehow it only occurred to me today that I could just use emojis
November 18, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I spent ages trying to find/draw good enough placeholder images for my villain's different facial expressions, and somehow it only occurred to me today that I could just use emojis
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
I have no strong feelings about a single Zelda movie, but if there ends up being a Zelda movie *series*, they had better all be set thousands of years apart and connected only in loose and confusing ways.
First photos of Link and Zelda in The Legend of Zelda live-action movie released www.vooks.net/first-photos...
November 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
I have no strong feelings about a single Zelda movie, but if there ends up being a Zelda movie *series*, they had better all be set thousands of years apart and connected only in loose and confusing ways.
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
This is bullshit.
"absolutely no genAI in games" is the middle ground.
"how many years in jail should Sam Altman get for knowingly stealing all data ever" is the somewhat more extreme stance I personally adopt.
"absolutely no genAI in games" is the middle ground.
"how many years in jail should Sam Altman get for knowingly stealing all data ever" is the somewhat more extreme stance I personally adopt.
"Surely there's a middle ground here?" The CEO of Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead says people "jump to extreme takes" when debating generative AI, and that there needs to be more nuance in the discussion.
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/surely-...
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/surely-...
‘Surely there’s a middle ground here?’ Helldivers studio CEO says people ‘jump to extreme takes’ when debating GenAI | VGC
“This is such a trigger point for big parts of the games industry today”…
www.videogameschronicle.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:49 PM
This is bullshit.
"absolutely no genAI in games" is the middle ground.
"how many years in jail should Sam Altman get for knowingly stealing all data ever" is the somewhat more extreme stance I personally adopt.
"absolutely no genAI in games" is the middle ground.
"how many years in jail should Sam Altman get for knowingly stealing all data ever" is the somewhat more extreme stance I personally adopt.
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
I was a bit worried about the clickbaity headline but this is actually a very good and knowledgeable look at Dan Dare and his legacy—and goes into some of the reasons I was so interested in working on this book
Dan Dare is back - but is he relevant in 2026? Read more in the ComicScene Culture Review open.substack.com/pub/comicsce...
November 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I was a bit worried about the clickbaity headline but this is actually a very good and knowledgeable look at Dan Dare and his legacy—and goes into some of the reasons I was so interested in working on this book
New Dan Dare! I am VERY excited for this.
This is what I worked on all summer: an 80-page Dan Dare graphic novella (the first of three), in collab with the incomparable @marclaming.bsky.social, @b7media.bsky.social, and The Dan Dare Corp.
If you’re at @thoughtbubbleuk.bsky.social, free prints at B7’s booth! And go say hi to Marc, too
If you’re at @thoughtbubbleuk.bsky.social, free prints at B7’s booth! And go say hi to Marc, too
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
New Dan Dare! I am VERY excited for this.
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
business person: there should be a game where you can shoot zombies with shotgun people might buy that
*experienced specialist team makes a hundred thousand decisions expertly about how to develop something compelling that fits those 2 criteria*
business person: I did it everyone look what I made
*experienced specialist team makes a hundred thousand decisions expertly about how to develop something compelling that fits those 2 criteria*
business person: I did it everyone look what I made
something I'm surprised gen AI discourse didn't hit yet is the attitude "I asked for it to be done, so I made it" has always been how rich people view using workers who have trained skills and do the technical side. they see themselves as creators for having an idea, we were just a means to that end
November 11, 2025 at 8:43 PM
business person: there should be a game where you can shoot zombies with shotgun people might buy that
*experienced specialist team makes a hundred thousand decisions expertly about how to develop something compelling that fits those 2 criteria*
business person: I did it everyone look what I made
*experienced specialist team makes a hundred thousand decisions expertly about how to develop something compelling that fits those 2 criteria*
business person: I did it everyone look what I made
Space Goblin Games is just me but I would never use genAI or work with anyone who uses it.
And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way so I'm not going to assume any games studios use it unless I have reason to think they do.
And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way so I'm not going to assume any games studios use it unless I have reason to think they do.
We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
November 12, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Space Goblin Games is just me but I would never use genAI or work with anyone who uses it.
And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way so I'm not going to assume any games studios use it unless I have reason to think they do.
And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way so I'm not going to assume any games studios use it unless I have reason to think they do.
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
"babies are born worshipping unknown gods" is one of the most incredible dwarf fortress bugs i have heard of. its poetry.
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
"babies are born worshipping unknown gods" is one of the most incredible dwarf fortress bugs i have heard of. its poetry.
Reposted by John Ayliff (Space Goblin Games)
I've just signed this petition to save modern languages at the University of Nottingham: c.org/WjsgXNLstG
We Can Make an Impact.
Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!
c.org
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 AM
I've just signed this petition to save modern languages at the University of Nottingham: c.org/WjsgXNLstG