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Mark Aherne

Mark Aherne

@wiredmark.bsky.social

140 followers 340 following 19 posts

Technical Director #NoesisGUI (https://noesisengine.com) Indie developer, creating Persevere, a narrative strategy game (https://perseveregame.com)

noesisengine.com)

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 1d

We're closing in on the completion of the Persevere #IndieDev prototype, 3 weeks remaining! I'll share info then, including how to playtest! In the meantime, here is the final master of the Persevere theme, by our brilliant composer John Vallely. #gamedev #gamemusic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7nW...

Persevere - Main Theme

YouTube video by Universe or Nothing

www.youtube.com

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 1d

Great to see The Necromancer's Tale on Mortismal Gaming's best indie titles of 2025 list! youtu.be/EKHh143e3JI?... @psychicsoftware.com

The Best Indie Games I've Played In 2025

YouTube video by Mortismal Gaming

Reposted by Mark Aherne

PAUL CONWAY - SOBM OUT NOW! @doomcube.bsky.social · 2d

Vote for Blake Manor 💀

The Séance of Blake Manor - OUT NOW!🔮 @blakemanorgame.bsky.social · 2d

The nominations for the SDG Gaming Awards 2025 are now open.

It is time to vote for your favourite Steam Deck games of 2025 in a variety of different categories.

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Steam Deck Gaming @steamdeckgaming.net · 2d

It's time to open the Nominations for the SDG Gaming Awards 2025! This time it is limited to 2025 releases!

Enter your nominations here: forms.gle/YgTGjKs1hDrh...

Reposted by Mark Aherne

PAUL CONWAY - SOBM OUT NOW! @doomcube.bsky.social · 8d

The Seance of Blake Manor is now live on Steam.
Check out our launch trailer!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF8s...

#indiegames

The Séance of Blake Manor | Release Trailer

YouTube video by Raw Fury

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Mark Aherne

PAUL CONWAY - SOBM OUT NOW! @doomcube.bsky.social · 10d

The Séance of Blake Manor is launching this Monday, October 27th!

Just in time for spooky season. #ScreenshotSaturday

Wishlist it now. store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/...

#indiegames #gamedev

A library with lots of books and a large fireplace

A large room with a balcony on the upper floor.

A misty graveyard. A gravestone with the name Mary is near the viewer. A church is in the background.

A dorm room with bare beds

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 18d

Thanks! There is still a big chunk of gameplay to add, and the visuals will take another step up as well. 😀

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 18d

We're half way through the 3 month production of the prototype for our #narrative #strategy #game Persevere (after 8 months or pre-production)! Still plenty to do, but the build is really coming together. youtu.be/Trp_1WUHL4w #gamedev #indiedev

Persevere - IndieDev Prototype Build 1

YouTube video by Universe or Nothing

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Sep 28

On September 1st we started production on the prototype of our narrative strategy game Persevere, with the goal of having the first playable build on November 19th. Alongside the prototype, we are building a studio. Today, the studio and game website went live. One step at a time.
perseveregame.com

Persevere is a narrative strategy game that fuses survival management with tower defense.

perseveregame.com

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Sep 6

My crew system was inspired by the Clan Ring in Dragon Pass and Six Ages. They are always on screen and they are your agents in the world, they will generate many of their own narrative events, but you will also be able to select them to engage in narrative events which originate elsewhere.

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Sep 6

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Sep 6

Of course, when I say I haven't found anything like it, I mean in it's combination. It does of course have elements from many games, including King of Dragon Pass and the Sunless series.

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Sep 6

You need to stop for fuel, and other resources, which your crew gather. During these stops waves of aliens will try to get to your train, there is a tower defense system. The tower defense is primarily designed to keep the player under pressure, you cannot win, you can only hold out.

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Sep 6

Yeah, not like Monster Train. I've not found anything like it. You're primarily managing your crew, who have traits, personalities, and motivations (back stories), which generate narrative events that are designed to be interesting choices.

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Sep 5

We've just started production of the Persevere prototype, after 8 months of (part-time) pre-production. Today we hit a milestone, testing a "full" train (your mobile base) in-game (using mostly placeholder assets). My one concern was if the scale and length would feel right, I call this a success!

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Sep 5

I was chatting with you on LinkedIn a few (maybe two?) years ago on LinkedIn about a strategy narrative game I was working on, Orphan Star. You very kindly game me some feedback. That project effectively morphed into Persevere, which we're now building a prototype for.

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Sep 5

Yeah, Ardán deleted the original tweet (are we still calling them tweets?) as they forgot to mention their government partners, and it seems you cannot edit posts on BSky. They posted a corrected version: bsky.app/profile/arda...

Ardán @ardan-ie.bsky.social · Jul 18

We’re excited to announce the 8 teams selected for IndieDev 2025 🎮✨💚

A variety of game prototypes will be explored & each team will be supported with funding of £15,000/€15,000 & a mentorship programme.

ardan.ie/games-2/indi...

Reposted by Mark Aherne

Ardán @ardan-ie.bsky.social · Jul 18

We’re excited to announce the 8 teams selected for IndieDev 2025 🎮✨💚

A variety of game prototypes will be explored & each team will be supported with funding of £15,000/€15,000 & a mentorship programme.

ardan.ie/games-2/indi...

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Jul 17

I just started playing The Necromancer's Tale, and I am a bit envious of how good the writing is!
Go buy it! It's an excellent game from a truly talented independent, and Irish, team.

Sam Redfern @psychicsoftware.com · Jul 17

The Necromancer's Tale released today! It's a story-rich RPG that I've been working on for over 5 years(!)

store.steampowered.com/app/1315320/...

The game is set in an alt-history 1733, with the player getting sucked into black magic and necromancy.

Save 10% on The Necromancer's Tale on Steam

A story-rich gothic RPG. Master the rituals of an ancient spellbook. Raise an undead army to march against your enemies. Commune with the realm of the dead & struggle with your descent into madnes...

store.steampowered.com

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Jul 17

So excited to be part of IndieDev 2025! Our prototype, which will comprise of a single complete level of Persevere, will let us prove out our gameplay, art, writing, and production pipelines. We are so grateful to @ardan-ie.bsky.social, @imirt.bsky.social, and Screen partners, for the opportunity!

Reposted by Mark Aherne

Denman Rooke @denmanrooke.com · Jul 3

Romero Games has announced the redundancies of a large amount of staff.

If you have been affected and need support, please reach out to me so our union @gwuireland.bsky.social can help support you.

Connect with me [email protected] or the union advice centre www.fsunion.org/membership/a...

Advice Centre | Financial Services Union

If you have a question or are unsure of your rights, if you need support or representation, freephone ROI 1800 81 91 91 NI 0800 358 0071 or email us at [email protected] If you are unable to call &#8...

www.fsunion.org

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · Jul 3

This is heartbreaking.

Romero Games @romerogames.bsky.social · Jul 3

🖤

Reposted by Mark Aherne

Sam Redfern @psychicsoftware.com · Jun 6

The Necromancer's Tale #PitchYaGame - HP Lovecraft meets Disco Elysium in this necromancer origin story. Deep narrative, politics, ghosts, and raising the dead.

Releasing July 2025
store.steampowered.com/app/1315320/...

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · May 30

My #gamedev team and I created a pitch deck for Persevere, our #roguelike #strategy #towerdefense #game, as part of an application to a local arts fund. I thought it'd be interesting to share some of the slides for #screenshotsaturday.
If there's interest, I'll share more slides later today.

Persevere is a roguelike strategy game that fuses survival management with tower defense. Stranded on a hostile alien tomb world and hunted by drones, you must salvage a locomotive, recruit a crew, and chart a path across a strange planet dotted with enigmatic alien complexes and failing human colonies.

Fend off waves of aliens, gather vital supplies, unearth lost technology, expand your train, uncover the secrets of this forgotten world, and keep your battered crew intact as you search for a means of escape.

Deep survival management mechanics: Recruit and manage a diverse crew to gather resources, and unlock new train cars, towers, and research. Each crew member has unique traits that influence how they interact with the world and respond to unfolding events.

Customizable tower defense: Hold the line with towers which are customised and enhanced through research. Adapt your strategy to withstand evolving threats—this enemy can't be defeated, only delayed.

A unique base-building system: Your train acts as both your crew's home and the foundation of your defense. The acquisition and choice of carriages determines available towers, capabilities, and progression.

A rich, story-driven campaign: Branching narrative and crew-driven storylines mean every decision can have lasting consequences. Your crew's backgrounds, relationships, and actions shape your journey.

Roguelike replayability: No two journeys are the same. Each run offers new crew, locations, resources, and train cars. Only the fight to survive remains constant.

Meaningful player choice: Rescue or retreat? Build or upgrade? Loyalty or logic? Every decision affects the path ahead, and who's still with you when it ends.

Universe or Nothing is a fledgling game studio made up of a group of friends based in Galway and Dublin.

Most of us have worked together before, whether in studios, on internships, or through the local dev community, and what's brought us together now is the opportunity to build something truly unique. This project is our way of putting a stamp on the gaming world, laying the groundwork for a future where we can keep creating together.

This is a tough time for the games industry, but it's a space we're each deeply committed to. Our goal is to build a studio that's not only creatively fulfilling but also stable and sustainable for every member of our team, a place where we can chase big ideas, support each other, and make games we're proud of.

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · May 19

Awful.

Game Maker's Toolkit @gamemakerstoolkit.com · May 19

Well, it finally happened. Someone trained an AI on my voice, and used it to generate narration for their YouTube video.

Feels pretty bad! Don't like it!

I've submitted a privacy complaint with YouTube - hopefully they'll take it down soon.

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · May 18

Persevere is an in #gamedev genre-blending #strategygame that fuses #survival #management with #towerdefense, creating an experience that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
Core to the game is crew management, and today, for the first time, you can manage crew in-game: youtu.be/OTdYDfgK_Is

Persevere - Crew Assignment

YouTube video by Universe or Nothing