Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
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Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
@ebornian.bsky.social
920 followers 49 following 2.6K posts
Indie dev, writer, and visual artist. ~ 🎮 http://thaumaturge-art.itch.io ~ 📺 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTcOFMvYj12hiWoTLkRhseA
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ebornian.bsky.social
Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮] @ebornian.bsky.social · Oct 21
To serve as my pinned:

Greetings! I'm Ian, and (amongst other things), I'm working on a metroidvania!

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows a view from within the Ossuary Moon. Here all is made of bones--even the moon itself. Bone walls surround statues composed of bones, and the way is shut by a door of great long-bones and skulls. A few fixtures of brass and crystal add variety, as well as lighting the exhibits in this specific area, which serves as an art-gallery. A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows the exterior of the Serpent Moon--that being a huge, coiled snake. The player hovers right before that serpent's jaws, which are open wide to admit entry... A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows a view within "space", with bright stars against a purple backdrop, and floating nearby, a moon made of bones. A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows a codex-entry--in this case, that of an artefact. (Artefacts being the magical "weapons" of the game.) On the left is an image of the artefact, being a necklace with a pendant in the form of a fox's head. On the right is a brief description of the artefact. Above is the artefact's name. And below is a "close" button.
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
zbexx.art
UNPOPULAR OPINION: Spending hours gaming is better for your mental health than hours of doom scrolling through social media. Games give you critical thinking, strategy, stories, goals and actual dopamine, as opposed to anxiety.
November 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
ebornian.bsky.social
Work on a new area in "Moons in Crystal"!

Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
A screenshot (cropped) of the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows the player floating amidst huge, woody plant-limbs, forming twisting passages against a backdrop of tangled stems. Here in particular, the "passage" splits into two; one of these is blocked by narrower, thorny stems, while the other is open, but has outgrowths of those thorny stems on its sides.
November 22, 2025 at 1:05 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Work on a new area in "Moons in Crystal"!

Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
A screenshot (cropped) of the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows the player floating amidst huge, woody plant-limbs, forming twisting passages against a backdrop of tangled stems. Here in particular, the "passage" splits into two; one of these is blocked by narrower, thorny stems, while the other is open, but has outgrowths of those thorny stems on its sides.
November 22, 2025 at 1:05 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
One of the problems with implementing a maze into your game is that, at some point, you're going to have to traverse the entirety of it. Possibly more than once.
November 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
shadetooth.bsky.social
Audio (sound effects, music, and dialogue) has a weird relationship with temp assets, mostly because of issues revolving around human psychology.

Problem #1: How do you communicate that something you're hearing is temp?
ramiismail.com Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.com · 7d
The annoying thing about the "oh we left a placeholder" generative AI slop excuse is that that is EXACTLY NOT how you should be using placeholders. Anything "not obviously terrible with a panicked hurried half-awake glance" is getting shipped.
rajio.bsky.social Raj Patel @rajio.bsky.social · 7d
In gamedev, if you're using a placeholder asset, best practices involve marking it as placeholder so garishly and offensively clearly PLACEHOLDER that you can't possibly miss it. Also flagging that asset in the dev process so it can be identified quickly before the final build.
November 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
blender.org
Did Blender help you this year? Help back! 🧡

If every active user contributed $5 this month, Blender would be funded for the entire year 2026. Professional 3D software. No subscriptions. No limits. Just your support.

Do your part. Donate today.
www.blender.org/news/give-ba...

#b3d
Oti the penguin showing a good example of "giving back".
November 13, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
mollycrabapple.bsky.social
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.

Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
djinnandtonic.bsky.social
Smallest dinosaur known to science
A hummingbird being held gemtle with an Italian gesture 🤌
November 17, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
jametc.bsky.social
steam is apparently allowing "this game had AI in it that it didn't disclose" as a valid return statement, so if you or anyone you know actually paid $70 for slop, get that money back
November 15, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
sitaart.bsky.social
Help me get verified on Vgen, if you like!
Going to give that a try ^-^ so far I have 3 comm types listed.

vgen.co/Sitaart
November 14, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
ebornian.bsky.social
🌖I'm working on an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania called "Moons in Crystal"!🔮

Playing as a spirit embodied in a small, brass-and-crystal spacecraft, you explore moons, fight, and gain magical powers.

All searching for a way to stop an entity that threatens to devour your solar-system...
A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows the player within a small room of sorts, its "floor" being woody plant-limbs and its "walls" covered in leaves. Spaced about are similarly-foliated "columns", these additionally studded with small pink flowers. Behind the player is a large, dark hole, where the plant-limbs travel downwards to some unseen place. And ahead of the player is a small table-like structure, likewise formed of plant-limbs. Lying upon this structure is a black whip, studded with pale thorns. A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows a view within "space", with bright stars against a purple backdrop, and floating nearby, a moon made of bones. At the lower edge of the moon is a circular icon, above which is a label that reads: "The Bone Galleries" A screenshot of the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows the map screen, here displaying a solar system with planet at centre, three moons orbiting about, and a sun near the outer edge. Nearby one of the moons is a marker indicating the player's position. To the sides are various buttons, allowing the player to select the current level (there is only one within a solar system), to move to the map-layer "above", to return to the player's position, and to place or remove markers. A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows a view from within the Serpent Moon. The environ is a biological one: the player is within the reddish interior of a huge serpent. Along this tube-like space march ribbed structures, and just ahead a spurt of green liquid makes for a hazard. Behind, a smaller snake has spat a glob of green venom, and the patterned blue tail-tip of a massive snake just enters the light. All is in darkness, save for what the player casts.
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
ebornian.bsky.social
Take a step into the aethereal... See echoes of what was, and pass through what is.

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
argentaevum.bsky.social
Opening up TWO slots for art commissions!
Finished full-body: $35 CAD
Finished half-body: $25 CAD
Sketch: $15 CAD

Only pencils/graphite for now; I hope to open inked and painted comms once I’ve got more of a cushion (and a new light box.)

Start your request HERE: forms.gle/mjGTnX5mya39...
November 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
ebornian.bsky.social
Take a step into the aethereal... See echoes of what was, and pass through what is.

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
authorizedmusings.bsky.social
The African Translation Project has less than $3000 to go to meet their goal! 🎉

Especially in the face of Amazon rolling out their AI translations for selfpub, can we help support human translations of books?

Donate, share, share!

ko-fi.com/africantrans...
Support African Translation Project
African Translation Project, Funding needed to complete two translations: Bengithi Lizokuna and Zvinobvinza, still needed: $2970, 70%, ko-fi: African Translation Project
ko-fi.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
emmeline.bsky.social
as a computer scientist, i am BEGGING people to realize that there is no cognition inside of an LLM

no reasoning, no thought process, no self-awareness

I read a lot of arguments (for AND against) LLMs, and both sides seem to think there’s a consciousness or intentionality or even a moral alignment
November 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
lunargamesuruk.bsky.social
ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 📢

MY FATHER LIED IS NOW OUT ON STEAM🎮

Step into the haunting world of My Father Lied, a Mesopotamian mystery about memory, madness, and truth.

Check out the Launch Trailer👇

store.steampowered.com/app/2488850/...
#MyFatherLied #IndieGame #Steam #MysteryGame #IraqiGameDev
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
felipepepe.bsky.social
UPDATE: Got many great pitches already, most from Latin America & Eastern Europe (which makes sense given my history & previous work lol)

I really want more stories from north of Africa, Middle-East & SEA. I'm reaching out to researchers & journos there, any suggestions & connections are welcome 🙏
felipepepe.bsky.social Felipe Pepe @felipepepe.bsky.social · 24d
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...

It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.

Please share :)
The Video Game History Expansion Pack – Pitch your story
Today I’m putting my money where my mouth is and launching a new project — a book focused on game history outside of the usual North American perspectives.
crpgbook.wordpress.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
thelatestkate.bsky.social
A drawing of colorful bats hanging in a glowing cave. The caption reads, "Today's a good day to really look after yourself."
November 4, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
jorgpierre.bsky.social
Once again:
Microsoft is a corporation that turns 30% of it's new code is written by AI into (basic stuff breaking)
November 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
abletoplay.com
We have an exciting update!

We have just launched the Creator Discovery feature!

On AbleToPlay, you could already find games that match your accessibility needs — now you can take it one step further and discover inclusive, accessibility-focused creators who do the same!
October 31, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
mllepilgrim.bsky.social
I've reposted many posts made by folks who were recently laid off from Heart Machine, but here is a thread that highlights them all.

I am also including folks who were previously laid off & are still looking for work. I will be linking their Bsky posts, as well as LinkedIn.

Please, share this. 🖤
October 15, 2025 at 5:57 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Now's the one night of the year... >;D

🧛‍♀️🧙‍♀️🧜‍♀️🧟‍♀️🐺

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eslc...
【Halloween Original Song】 Monsters
YouTube video by OR3O
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
superaenbow.bsky.social
I know a lot of folks are struggling to purchase food and will be unable to get any holiday gifts this year. if you or someone you know is in that boat, please fill out this form to get one of my old sticker designs sent to you this holiday season! 🌲💗

forms.gle/K3iyAMQLMTd3...
October 29, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
thelatestkate.bsky.social
A drawing of a sitting kitsune with many tails. The caption reads, "You are worth the effort. Your future is worth experiencing."
October 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM