DarkTwinge
@darktwinge.bsky.social
Twitch Streamer of 10+ years, Board Game Designer, Voice Actor, FTL & Brotato Balance Mod Dev. (He/Him) Business contact: [email protected].
I always love how distinctive some creator styles are. Just from the screenshot before reading any context, I immediately thought "hmm that art style looks exactly like Cave Story".
November 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
I always love how distinctive some creator styles are. Just from the screenshot before reading any context, I immediately thought "hmm that art style looks exactly like Cave Story".
Interestingly I fall heavily into the other side for -lites: I hate metaprogression. I want progress in roguelike-style games to be entirely built on my growing knowledge & skill + I dislike how meta screws with balance. Being a shorter, repeated experience changes how it feels to me substantially.
November 29, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Interestingly I fall heavily into the other side for -lites: I hate metaprogression. I want progress in roguelike-style games to be entirely built on my growing knowledge & skill + I dislike how meta screws with balance. Being a shorter, repeated experience changes how it feels to me substantially.
While I dislike how this mechanic can deter exploration, I do think the tension of potential loss adds some value by making you experience the world in a more careful/fearful way (which can be interesting or even fun).
Usually a tradeoff I don't want these days, but there's still some benefit.
Usually a tradeoff I don't want these days, but there's still some benefit.
November 29, 2025 at 8:27 PM
While I dislike how this mechanic can deter exploration, I do think the tension of potential loss adds some value by making you experience the world in a more careful/fearful way (which can be interesting or even fun).
Usually a tradeoff I don't want these days, but there's still some benefit.
Usually a tradeoff I don't want these days, but there's still some benefit.
One random example is Brotato: It has accessibility settings for changing Enemy HP/Damage/Speed, but some good players enjoy cranking those settings way up and there's a subset of the community that runs high settings as a way to keep themselves challenged in a game they've played a ton of.
November 29, 2025 at 2:22 AM
One random example is Brotato: It has accessibility settings for changing Enemy HP/Damage/Speed, but some good players enjoy cranking those settings way up and there's a subset of the community that runs high settings as a way to keep themselves challenged in a game they've played a ton of.
Indeed. The stuff Dark Souls does well (unique multiplayer aspect, interconnected world, satisfying boss fights) shined brightly enough that I still really liked it despite those annoyances — but the sequels largely have the same faults and I enjoyed each one I've played less than the previous one.
November 29, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Indeed. The stuff Dark Souls does well (unique multiplayer aspect, interconnected world, satisfying boss fights) shined brightly enough that I still really liked it despite those annoyances — but the sequels largely have the same faults and I enjoyed each one I've played less than the previous one.
This was an interesting rabbit hole to poke into; PETA's advertising side is super weird/bad and offputting in a bizarre way, but _also_ there is direct anti-PETA astroturfing paid for by the meat industry, spreading lies about the organization.
p.s. Eversion was cool.
p.s. Eversion was cool.
November 28, 2025 at 11:46 PM
This was an interesting rabbit hole to poke into; PETA's advertising side is super weird/bad and offputting in a bizarre way, but _also_ there is direct anti-PETA astroturfing paid for by the meat industry, spreading lies about the organization.
p.s. Eversion was cool.
p.s. Eversion was cool.
One frustrating aspect is that an important part of the Dark Souls design actively works counter to this: dropping your money where you died strongly encourages you to return to where you died and try again, *not* to go explore other areas.
November 28, 2025 at 11:41 PM
One frustrating aspect is that an important part of the Dark Souls design actively works counter to this: dropping your money where you died strongly encourages you to return to where you died and try again, *not* to go explore other areas.
Moo Moo Farm is based on the real one
November 28, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Moo Moo Farm is based on the real one
I've got a few thousand of these, surely that's enough to build a Time Machine?
November 28, 2025 at 8:36 AM
I've got a few thousand of these, surely that's enough to build a Time Machine?
But think of the poor llamas, Keith.
November 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
But think of the poor llamas, Keith.
My understanding is that it was actually reasonable when Steam started, as a) they were providing more direct services to developers & b) the physical alternative had a relevantly *worse* cut.
Nowadays it's completely ridiculous tho. Epic has many faults but does get credit for having a fair cut.
Nowadays it's completely ridiculous tho. Epic has many faults but does get credit for having a fair cut.
November 25, 2025 at 10:19 PM
My understanding is that it was actually reasonable when Steam started, as a) they were providing more direct services to developers & b) the physical alternative had a relevantly *worse* cut.
Nowadays it's completely ridiculous tho. Epic has many faults but does get credit for having a fair cut.
Nowadays it's completely ridiculous tho. Epic has many faults but does get credit for having a fair cut.
Crushing it!
...Wait is that one of the FTL developers in first?? Quite the cameo for your personal boss battle!
...Wait is that one of the FTL developers in first?? Quite the cameo for your personal boss battle!
November 25, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Crushing it!
...Wait is that one of the FTL developers in first?? Quite the cameo for your personal boss battle!
...Wait is that one of the FTL developers in first?? Quite the cameo for your personal boss battle!
Moderately obscure + somewhat difficult to obtain + I also think is a good game: Vikings, PitchCar, Tikal II, Myrmes, Québec, Santiago, Goa, Container, The Bridges of Shangri-La, Tales of the Arabian Nights, Rococo
November 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Moderately obscure + somewhat difficult to obtain + I also think is a good game: Vikings, PitchCar, Tikal II, Myrmes, Québec, Santiago, Goa, Container, The Bridges of Shangri-La, Tales of the Arabian Nights, Rococo
I mean, not _too_ far off some of the work @raymona.bsky.social has done!
November 22, 2025 at 8:45 AM
I mean, not _too_ far off some of the work @raymona.bsky.social has done!
Every game release since 𝙎𝙐𝙋𝙀𝙍 𝙈𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝘽𝙊𝙔 blasted out our eardrums in 2010 opening with a full-volume intro is inexcusable.
November 22, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Every game release since 𝙎𝙐𝙋𝙀𝙍 𝙈𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝘽𝙊𝙔 blasted out our eardrums in 2010 opening with a full-volume intro is inexcusable.
It's definitely a dance, because there will *also* tend to be fewer viewers once something is no longer new and part of The Current Conversation. In my experience waiting for spoiler reasons tends to usually result in _worse_ viewership, tho long-form essay/analysis may behave differently.
November 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
It's definitely a dance, because there will *also* tend to be fewer viewers once something is no longer new and part of The Current Conversation. In my experience waiting for spoiler reasons tends to usually result in _worse_ viewership, tho long-form essay/analysis may behave differently.
Time's Up
Hanabi
Crokinole
The Resistance
Galaxy Trucker
Vegas Showdown
Liar's Dice
Ra
The Voyages of Marco Polo
Bohnanza
Honorable Mention: Loopin' Louie
Hanabi
Crokinole
The Resistance
Galaxy Trucker
Vegas Showdown
Liar's Dice
Ra
The Voyages of Marco Polo
Bohnanza
Honorable Mention: Loopin' Louie
November 15, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Time's Up
Hanabi
Crokinole
The Resistance
Galaxy Trucker
Vegas Showdown
Liar's Dice
Ra
The Voyages of Marco Polo
Bohnanza
Honorable Mention: Loopin' Louie
Hanabi
Crokinole
The Resistance
Galaxy Trucker
Vegas Showdown
Liar's Dice
Ra
The Voyages of Marco Polo
Bohnanza
Honorable Mention: Loopin' Louie
This made me count my sorted music folders: I estimate I have music from 155 games I've played and 141 games I've never played.
(Mind, I listen to more total songs from e.g. Undertale & Bastion than from Trip World or Transiruby, but it's definitely fun to have some random-ass pulls on hand.)
(Mind, I listen to more total songs from e.g. Undertale & Bastion than from Trip World or Transiruby, but it's definitely fun to have some random-ass pulls on hand.)
November 14, 2025 at 8:30 AM
This made me count my sorted music folders: I estimate I have music from 155 games I've played and 141 games I've never played.
(Mind, I listen to more total songs from e.g. Undertale & Bastion than from Trip World or Transiruby, but it's definitely fun to have some random-ass pulls on hand.)
(Mind, I listen to more total songs from e.g. Undertale & Bastion than from Trip World or Transiruby, but it's definitely fun to have some random-ass pulls on hand.)
It was fun kinda flipping this script with the design of Walk the Plank: it was more fun with more people playing, so rather than slog it out with two people left, the *standard* situation is that two players tie for the victory. (But the round still finishes, so it's _possible_ to have a solo win.)
November 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
It was fun kinda flipping this script with the design of Walk the Plank: it was more fun with more people playing, so rather than slog it out with two people left, the *standard* situation is that two players tie for the victory. (But the round still finishes, so it's _possible_ to have a solo win.)
Yeah anything in this realm always seems like this weird, completely unhelpful kind of petty. I've even had a streamer key fully revoked for a game I *had covered*; just breeds ill-will for no reason and ensures I won't ever stream their games again??
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Yeah anything in this realm always seems like this weird, completely unhelpful kind of petty. I've even had a streamer key fully revoked for a game I *had covered*; just breeds ill-will for no reason and ensures I won't ever stream their games again??
Y'all are really gonna twist my arm that hard into finally listening to the podcast accompaniment, I see.
November 7, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Y'all are really gonna twist my arm that hard into finally listening to the podcast accompaniment, I see.
Sometimes you might be able to find a _different_ manual — the manual for my clothes washer says that you should never use more than the detergent manufacturer recommends and for most loads you should only use about half as much!
November 6, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Sometimes you might be able to find a _different_ manual — the manual for my clothes washer says that you should never use more than the detergent manufacturer recommends and for most loads you should only use about half as much!