Catbird Soft
@catbirdsoft.net
Three-person indie team, currently developing STEEL CARNELIAN, a retro-anime 3D run & gun.
Join our discord: https://discord.gg/qHwEzrygmd
Join our discord: https://discord.gg/qHwEzrygmd
actually here have a second one. this one was meant to show the wallbounce's second effect: it makes the bounced enemy bowl over other enemies and smash destructible objects.
December 29, 2025 at 10:08 PM
actually here have a second one. this one was meant to show the wallbounce's second effect: it makes the bounced enemy bowl over other enemies and smash destructible objects.
oh hey. i missed our usual saturday post because i was traveling to visit family. i'm busy cutting an actual trailer rn so i don't have much to make up for it, but here's a clip i sent to our discord last month of a sick combo using some new moves and a new wallbounce mechanic
December 29, 2025 at 10:07 PM
oh hey. i missed our usual saturday post because i was traveling to visit family. i'm busy cutting an actual trailer rn so i don't have much to make up for it, but here's a clip i sent to our discord last month of a sick combo using some new moves and a new wallbounce mechanic
Splatter came out three years ago today. I don't have much clever to say - it was a big project, it changed our lives, I'm constantly grateful for the people who have played it and appreciated it. Here are the concept sketches I did back in 2020 that turned into a whole fucked-up game.
December 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Splatter came out three years ago today. I don't have much clever to say - it was a big project, it changed our lives, I'm constantly grateful for the people who have played it and appreciated it. Here are the concept sketches I did back in 2020 that turned into a whole fucked-up game.
Late #screenshotsaturday (had a really funny build-only bug to resolve) but we got there. Here's a pack of miniature bomb drones. These guys do a lot of damage (and they're fast too), but they've got very little health. Shoot quickly and keep your aim steady if you don't want to get blown to pieces.
December 14, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Late #screenshotsaturday (had a really funny build-only bug to resolve) but we got there. Here's a pack of miniature bomb drones. These guys do a lot of damage (and they're fast too), but they've got very little health. Shoot quickly and keep your aim steady if you don't want to get blown to pieces.
#screenshotsaturday
We're not just focusing on combat with this game - Jenny also will deal with traversal challenges. This room uses timed switches to test her shooting and platforming abilities.
We're not just focusing on combat with this game - Jenny also will deal with traversal challenges. This room uses timed switches to test her shooting and platforming abilities.
November 29, 2025 at 11:22 PM
#screenshotsaturday
We're not just focusing on combat with this game - Jenny also will deal with traversal challenges. This room uses timed switches to test her shooting and platforming abilities.
We're not just focusing on combat with this game - Jenny also will deal with traversal challenges. This room uses timed switches to test her shooting and platforming abilities.
I recorded this little montage of different weapons towards the end of our dev cycle. It doesn't have the HUD visible because I had seen some advice about how promo clips look cleaner without the HUD, but after trying this once we all agreed that Splatter's UI was a key part of our appeal.
November 29, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I recorded this little montage of different weapons towards the end of our dev cycle. It doesn't have the HUD visible because I had seen some advice about how promo clips look cleaner without the HUD, but after trying this once we all agreed that Splatter's UI was a key part of our appeal.
Back with more old Splatter dev posts. Many of the clips in my folder are showing off weapons, like this one showcasing FUCK. We had a pretty large weapon roster on Splatter: the weapons were just finger guns, so animating new ones was very quick and let us slip in a bunch of weird designs.
November 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Back with more old Splatter dev posts. Many of the clips in my folder are showing off weapons, like this one showcasing FUCK. We had a pretty large weapon roster on Splatter: the weapons were just finger guns, so animating new ones was very quick and let us slip in a bunch of weird designs.
One last one for tonight. In Splatter, we really wanted to poke at the line between the player and player character, so making sure you could express yourself with your character's look was important to us. Plus, who doesn't love a little bedazzling?
November 29, 2025 at 12:31 AM
One last one for tonight. In Splatter, we really wanted to poke at the line between the player and player character, so making sure you could express yourself with your character's look was important to us. Plus, who doesn't love a little bedazzling?
This was posted <1 month before the game's release. We wanted to show off the new screen gore VFX, so I hopped in session 13 and mulched a few enemies with the rocket launcher.
November 28, 2025 at 9:08 PM
This was posted <1 month before the game's release. We wanted to show off the new screen gore VFX, so I hopped in session 13 and mulched a few enemies with the rocket launcher.
here's a fun one. the fog in that bottomless pit is a shader i got from a tutorial in 2018ish. it's been in every game rat king / catbird has released, because it turns out being able to fade-to-black bits of a level we don't want you to see is really useful!
November 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
here's a fun one. the fog in that bottomless pit is a shader i got from a tutorial in 2018ish. it's been in every game rat king / catbird has released, because it turns out being able to fade-to-black bits of a level we don't want you to see is really useful!
Here's the oldest clip I have of Splatter proper. This is Session 1 before we had figured anything out about our environments, lighting, UI, etc. We did have the core elements locked in very early, though - IIRC our boys were bleeding rainbows within 2 weeks of the project starting.
November 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Here's the oldest clip I have of Splatter proper. This is Session 1 before we had figured anything out about our environments, lighting, UI, etc. We did have the core elements locked in very early, though - IIRC our boys were bleeding rainbows within 2 weeks of the project starting.
It's Black Friday and Itch Creator Day. Splatter is 50% off on Itch for the next 5 days (buy it here: catbirdsoft.itch.io/splatter). Over the next day or two, I'm gonna post some of our old dev clips of the game from Twitter. Here's one from February 2022.
November 28, 2025 at 3:13 PM
It's Black Friday and Itch Creator Day. Splatter is 50% off on Itch for the next 5 days (buy it here: catbirdsoft.itch.io/splatter). Over the next day or two, I'm gonna post some of our old dev clips of the game from Twitter. Here's one from February 2022.
Hey. #screenshotsaturday. Check out our new enemy. This heavy-duty drone deploys barrages of bullets from a distance, and pressures the player with its extendable arms at closer ranges.
November 15, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Hey. #screenshotsaturday. Check out our new enemy. This heavy-duty drone deploys barrages of bullets from a distance, and pressures the player with its extendable arms at closer ranges.
#screenshotsaturday time. This week we're looking at Jenny's missile system. This weapon is low-damage, but has high stunlock potential and can be used during any of Jenny's actions. Use it for crowd control, starting combos, or during juggles to set up massive finishers.
November 1, 2025 at 9:20 PM
#screenshotsaturday time. This week we're looking at Jenny's missile system. This weapon is low-damage, but has high stunlock potential and can be used during any of Jenny's actions. Use it for crowd control, starting combos, or during juggles to set up massive finishers.
Itch sent us a notification that their halloween sale is on, and we haven't put Splatter on sale on Itch in a while, so hey. 50% off. check out this trailer I cut nearly three years ago.
October 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Itch sent us a notification that their halloween sale is on, and we haven't put Splatter on sale on Itch in a while, so hey. 50% off. check out this trailer I cut nearly three years ago.
#screenshotsaturday
Been working on a more advanced enemy. This guy plays footsies with the player - closing the gap if they get too far, and backstepping if the player pushes into their space.
Been working on a more advanced enemy. This guy plays footsies with the player - closing the gap if they get too far, and backstepping if the player pushes into their space.
October 19, 2025 at 12:42 AM
#screenshotsaturday
Been working on a more advanced enemy. This guy plays footsies with the player - closing the gap if they get too far, and backstepping if the player pushes into their space.
Been working on a more advanced enemy. This guy plays footsies with the player - closing the gap if they get too far, and backstepping if the player pushes into their space.
trying out some new combos with our new super moves #screenshotsaturday
October 5, 2025 at 1:03 AM
trying out some new combos with our new super moves #screenshotsaturday
oh shit it's the steam autumn sale. guess what: splatter is on sale.
September 29, 2025 at 6:27 PM
oh shit it's the steam autumn sale. guess what: splatter is on sale.
we've been doing some work with reactive vfx / sfx & destructible objects to make fights feel messier and more chaotic.
September 28, 2025 at 7:15 PM
we've been doing some work with reactive vfx / sfx & destructible objects to make fights feel messier and more chaotic.
Melee chain > dash cancel > launcher > finisher
#screenshotsaturday
#screenshotsaturday
September 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Melee chain > dash cancel > launcher > finisher
#screenshotsaturday
#screenshotsaturday
Here's a quick look at the next thing we're working on. If you played the Steel Carnelian pilot, you might recognize the protagonist. #screenshotsaturday
September 7, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Here's a quick look at the next thing we're working on. If you played the Steel Carnelian pilot, you might recognize the protagonist. #screenshotsaturday
![A green-and-pink interface on a black background. The text on the interface reads:
CYKLON ADMIN PANEL
loaded user profile XxPsychoJennyxX
Model: A301
Warranty: INACTIVE
Operational Status: Nominal
Component Status
Hull [A301] MODIFICATION DETECTED
L. Weapons [A305 FORCE PROJECTOR] Operational
R. Weapons [Platinum PPD] MODIFICATION DETECTED
B. Weapons [A307 CROWD CONTROL] Operational
Unauthorized modifications may cause injury or death. Please consult a repair technician at your earliest convenience.
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Great news! Your bid was accepted.
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What's next: Report to the contract location within 12 hours in order to claim your initial payment.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lnytj7eg63gntv7q2hermjup/bafkreies3b2u6xawy4ylotsbz7t56td2s2ddhbfot6v3tobanrn2p7jbo4@jpeg)
Here's something we've been sitting on for a minute: the Steel Carnelian Pilot OST is coming to streaming on 8/15! This album contains all in-game tracks by @heronoodle.bsky.social and Wuxsoplunty, plus an original remix featuring contributions by both artists. Cover art by @lllinkle.bsky.social.
July 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Here's something we've been sitting on for a minute: the Steel Carnelian Pilot OST is coming to streaming on 8/15! This album contains all in-game tracks by @heronoodle.bsky.social and Wuxsoplunty, plus an original remix featuring contributions by both artists. Cover art by @lllinkle.bsky.social.
doing some jenny death style tests this week.
June 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
doing some jenny death style tests this week.