Nicola Cocchiaro
@wildbat.bsky.social
Software engineer/indie game dev. I started @synapticsugar.games and do programming, design, music.
Former gameplay and AI programmer on Red Dead Redemption 2, Front Mission Evolved, GI Joe: the Rise of Cobra; backend engineer on Sony PlayStation Now; etc
Former gameplay and AI programmer on Red Dead Redemption 2, Front Mission Evolved, GI Joe: the Rise of Cobra; backend engineer on Sony PlayStation Now; etc
Pinned
Nicola Cocchiaro
@wildbat.bsky.social
· Jan 6
Welcome to secret agency G.R.O.O.V.E., recruit!
Agents of Groove, our story-driven rhythm game for Playdate, releases TODAY on Catalog with a discount during launch week! Check it out now!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #AgentsOfGroove #playdate
Agents of Groove, our story-driven rhythm game for Playdate, releases TODAY on Catalog with a discount during launch week! Check it out now!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #AgentsOfGroove #playdate
Agents of Groove for Playdate
A story-driven rhythm action game. Join the undercover dancers of secret agency G.R.O.O.V.E. and help them master the power of the Rhyhtm, as they stumble upon a sinister plot by rival organization E....
play.date
Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Agents of Groove is out on Playdate Catalog today! 🎉🪩🕺
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
Happy Valentine’s Day @play.date players. Too many broken hearts is a free to play, puzzle bobble style game available now. damosgames.itch.io/broken-hearts @panic.com #playdate #ValentinesDay #gamedev #indiedev
Too many broken hearts by damos games
A romantic puzzle cupid shooter for valentines
damosgames.itch.io
February 13, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Happy Valentine’s Day @play.date players. Too many broken hearts is a free to play, puzzle bobble style game available now. damosgames.itch.io/broken-hearts @panic.com #playdate #ValentinesDay #gamedev #indiedev
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart"
Play Agents of Groove at launch in English, Italian, French, Spanish, or Japanese with localization by @thewarlocs.bsky.social! 🪩 🕺 💃
#playdate #ScreenshotSaturday
Play Agents of Groove at launch in English, Italian, French, Spanish, or Japanese with localization by @thewarlocs.bsky.social! 🪩 🕺 💃
#playdate #ScreenshotSaturday
November 23, 2025 at 3:18 AM
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart"
Play Agents of Groove at launch in English, Italian, French, Spanish, or Japanese with localization by @thewarlocs.bsky.social! 🪩 🕺 💃
#playdate #ScreenshotSaturday
Play Agents of Groove at launch in English, Italian, French, Spanish, or Japanese with localization by @thewarlocs.bsky.social! 🪩 🕺 💃
#playdate #ScreenshotSaturday
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
Suddenly a wild *Serenity Demo* appears! 🛸💨
Download now for MacOS and Windows.
Linux will also be supported in the final game.
store.steampowered.com/app/4309910/...
Download now for MacOS and Windows.
Linux will also be supported in the final game.
store.steampowered.com/app/4309910/...
Serenity Demo on Steam
A zen gliding and exploration game with procedurally generated music
store.steampowered.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Suddenly a wild *Serenity Demo* appears! 🛸💨
Download now for MacOS and Windows.
Linux will also be supported in the final game.
store.steampowered.com/app/4309910/...
Download now for MacOS and Windows.
Linux will also be supported in the final game.
store.steampowered.com/app/4309910/...
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
Its been a long journey for this small game, but I'm excited to say #SuborbitalSalvage is available meow on Steam 🚀🙀
store.steampowered.com/app/3687960/...
#gamedev #indiegames #love2d #endlessrunner #scifi #cats #pixelart
store.steampowered.com/app/3687960/...
#gamedev #indiegames #love2d #endlessrunner #scifi #cats #pixelart
Suborbital Salvage on Steam
Fly through a dangerous, hazard-filled orbit where every run is a lesson that sharpens your flight skills. Featuring procedurally generated runs built from hand-crafted segments that demand precision ...
store.steampowered.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Its been a long journey for this small game, but I'm excited to say #SuborbitalSalvage is available meow on Steam 🚀🙀
store.steampowered.com/app/3687960/...
#gamedev #indiegames #love2d #endlessrunner #scifi #cats #pixelart
store.steampowered.com/app/3687960/...
#gamedev #indiegames #love2d #endlessrunner #scifi #cats #pixelart
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
February 10, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
#AgentsOfGroove 1.1.2 is available on itch and Catalog with important bug fixes and changes 🧵
- a crash fix 😨
- scoreboard fixes (Catalog only) 📋
- several difficulty tweaks 🕺
- optimizations for traversal levels 📦
Details in the replies!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #playdate
- a crash fix 😨
- scoreboard fixes (Catalog only) 📋
- several difficulty tweaks 🕺
- optimizations for traversal levels 📦
Details in the replies!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #playdate
Agents of Groove for Playdate
A story-driven rhythm action game. Join the undercover dancers of secret agency G.R.O.O.V.E. and help them master the power of the Rhythm, as they stumble upon a sinister plot and attempt to stop it!
play.date
February 9, 2026 at 7:37 PM
#AgentsOfGroove 1.1.2 is available on itch and Catalog with important bug fixes and changes 🧵
- a crash fix 😨
- scoreboard fixes (Catalog only) 📋
- several difficulty tweaks 🕺
- optimizations for traversal levels 📦
Details in the replies!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #playdate
- a crash fix 😨
- scoreboard fixes (Catalog only) 📋
- several difficulty tweaks 🕺
- optimizations for traversal levels 📦
Details in the replies!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #playdate
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
No ICE in Minnesota bundle launches on itch.io
No ICE in Minnesota bundle launches on itch.io
The bundle currently features 1,439 items, including tabletop and video games, with proceeds to support Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
www.gamedeveloper.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:12 PM
No ICE in Minnesota bundle launches on itch.io
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
please give us more personal data please please please please c’mon you’re being so mean dude. we only got breached like three times. we’re NOT going to sell it man please please please plus its for like safety? so you’re the one who looks stupid right now come on pleaaaaaase just one data point bro
February 9, 2026 at 6:44 PM
please give us more personal data please please please please c’mon you’re being so mean dude. we only got breached like three times. we’re NOT going to sell it man please please please plus its for like safety? so you’re the one who looks stupid right now come on pleaaaaaase just one data point bro
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
Level songs in Agents of Groove are made of multiple stems that reveal and hide themselves based on whether the player plays successfully or makes mistakes. It may be tricky to hear a full tune clearly when there's a lot going on! The Jukebox can help.
January 24, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Level songs in Agents of Groove are made of multiple stems that reveal and hide themselves based on whether the player plays successfully or makes mistakes. It may be tricky to hear a full tune clearly when there's a lot going on! The Jukebox can help.
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
Welcome to secret agency G.R.O.O.V.E., recruit!
Agents of Groove, our story-driven rhythm game for Playdate, releases TODAY on Catalog with a discount during launch week! Check it out now!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #AgentsOfGroove #playdate
Agents of Groove, our story-driven rhythm game for Playdate, releases TODAY on Catalog with a discount during launch week! Check it out now!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #AgentsOfGroove #playdate
Agents of Groove for Playdate
A story-driven rhythm action game. Join the undercover dancers of secret agency G.R.O.O.V.E. and help them master the power of the Rhyhtm, as they stumble upon a sinister plot by rival organization E....
play.date
January 6, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Welcome to secret agency G.R.O.O.V.E., recruit!
Agents of Groove, our story-driven rhythm game for Playdate, releases TODAY on Catalog with a discount during launch week! Check it out now!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #AgentsOfGroove #playdate
Agents of Groove, our story-driven rhythm game for Playdate, releases TODAY on Catalog with a discount during launch week! Check it out now!
play.date/games/agents...
#gamedev #indiedev #AgentsOfGroove #playdate
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
It appears itch may have now fixed the animated GIF issue!
If animated GIFs you recently added to your pages on itch.io no longer animate, try converting them to APNG! A successful workaround for me for an issue that has been around for months now. I don't know user Noree but I have to thank them for pointing this out.
February 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM
It appears itch may have now fixed the animated GIF issue!
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
Hey @play.date community!
I’m making 20 of these hearts with a Cupid #Playdate. If you’d like one, reply below.
I’m making 20 of these hearts with a Cupid #Playdate. If you’d like one, reply below.
February 4, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Hey @play.date community!
I’m making 20 of these hearts with a Cupid #Playdate. If you’d like one, reply below.
I’m making 20 of these hearts with a Cupid #Playdate. If you’d like one, reply below.
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
February 3, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
You know what allows ICs to get more work done? Not wasting half their day in meetings.
February 2, 2026 at 5:04 AM
You know what allows ICs to get more work done? Not wasting half their day in meetings.
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
This is Jerry Lawson. He invented the video game cartridge for the Fairchild Channel F system. Because of his invention, many consoles had cartridges and CD formats and would become the norm.
The Atari 2600, NES, Genesis, and many consoles wouldn't exist without him.
Happy Black History Month.
The Atari 2600, NES, Genesis, and many consoles wouldn't exist without him.
Happy Black History Month.
February 1, 2025 at 11:04 PM
This is Jerry Lawson. He invented the video game cartridge for the Fairchild Channel F system. Because of his invention, many consoles had cartridges and CD formats and would become the norm.
The Atari 2600, NES, Genesis, and many consoles wouldn't exist without him.
Happy Black History Month.
The Atari 2600, NES, Genesis, and many consoles wouldn't exist without him.
Happy Black History Month.
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
It was a pleasure to work with @lollipoprobot.com for QA on Agents of Groove, the first Playdate game to join their impressive collection!
Updating our banner with one that showcases some of the games we've tested over the past years! It's amazing to look back at all these gems 💛
January 27, 2026 at 11:57 PM
It was a pleasure to work with @lollipoprobot.com for QA on Agents of Groove, the first Playdate game to join their impressive collection!
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
RE that RT.. it’s wild how steam reviews are still so damn important to getting visibility. If you play and like indie games, the most generous and helpful thing you can do is spend an hour popping positive reviews onto anything you like with <500 or so reviews.
January 31, 2026 at 10:11 AM
RE that RT.. it’s wild how steam reviews are still so damn important to getting visibility. If you play and like indie games, the most generous and helpful thing you can do is spend an hour popping positive reviews onto anything you like with <500 or so reviews.
Really enjoyed TR-49. A fascinating and skillfully woven story, enthralling deduction mechanics, perfect length and absolutely stellar voice acting. Well done Inkle
TR-49: OUT NOW
Narrative deduction / audio drama
"Outstanding" - PC Gamer
"Politically fierce" - Polygon
"One of the best" - Thinky Games
"I wanted to know everything" - RPS
"Impressive - very impressive indeed" - Eurogamer
$6.99 / ~6 hours
Steam: tinyurl.com/2jvt9ewk
iOS: tinyurl.com/4ucwx4s7
Narrative deduction / audio drama
"Outstanding" - PC Gamer
"Politically fierce" - Polygon
"One of the best" - Thinky Games
"I wanted to know everything" - RPS
"Impressive - very impressive indeed" - Eurogamer
$6.99 / ~6 hours
Steam: tinyurl.com/2jvt9ewk
iOS: tinyurl.com/4ucwx4s7
TR-49 - Official Trailer
YouTube video by inkleStudios
www.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Really enjoyed TR-49. A fascinating and skillfully woven story, enthralling deduction mechanics, perfect length and absolutely stellar voice acting. Well done Inkle
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
An unbelievable thing happened last night. 3,083 people from the @minnmax.com and @giantbomb.bsky.social community stepped up to protect the people in Minneapolis from ICE.
You can still donate to VEAP here - bit.ly/iceoutminneapolis
Here's the archive - youtube.com/live/SMcO71c...
You can still donate to VEAP here - bit.ly/iceoutminneapolis
Here's the archive - youtube.com/live/SMcO71c...
January 31, 2026 at 3:17 PM
An unbelievable thing happened last night. 3,083 people from the @minnmax.com and @giantbomb.bsky.social community stepped up to protect the people in Minneapolis from ICE.
You can still donate to VEAP here - bit.ly/iceoutminneapolis
Here's the archive - youtube.com/live/SMcO71c...
You can still donate to VEAP here - bit.ly/iceoutminneapolis
Here's the archive - youtube.com/live/SMcO71c...
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
Gaming stocks are dropping today after Google's rollout of Project Genie, an AI tool that lets users create and explore virtual worlds for 60 seconds. This is the result of a market that does not understand how video games are made. Allow me to suggest that the Street read Blood, Sweat, and Pixels
January 30, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Gaming stocks are dropping today after Google's rollout of Project Genie, an AI tool that lets users create and explore virtual worlds for 60 seconds. This is the result of a market that does not understand how video games are made. Allow me to suggest that the Street read Blood, Sweat, and Pixels
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
As a designer, you’re a philosopher, and what you make is an outcome of your philosophy. Development and production are the praxis to your ethos and telos. Thinking about this stuff matters because it gives you clarity on what YOU are doing with your time.
January 30, 2026 at 2:03 PM
As a designer, you’re a philosopher, and what you make is an outcome of your philosophy. Development and production are the praxis to your ethos and telos. Thinking about this stuff matters because it gives you clarity on what YOU are doing with your time.
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
Last days to order the 2026 Playdate Community calendar (30% off in cart), it looks great and includes art from Agents of Groove!
uncrankd.myshopify.com/products/202...
#playdate
uncrankd.myshopify.com/products/202...
#playdate
January 30, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Last days to order the 2026 Playdate Community calendar (30% off in cart), it looks great and includes art from Agents of Groove!
uncrankd.myshopify.com/products/202...
#playdate
uncrankd.myshopify.com/products/202...
#playdate
Reposted by Nicola Cocchiaro
