Robert Vinluan
@robertvinluan.bsky.social
Lead Product Designer, New York Times Games ✰ Art, music, and code the rest of the time ✰ Karaoke Disney Prince✰ 🇵🇭
More puns: since it's set in an underwater homage to NYC, of course there's a SUBway. And here are a bunch of unused neighborhoods I didn't have a chance to get into the manual somewhere:
Puffer East Side
West Krillage
Shellsea
Ashoreia
Clown(fish) Heights
Eelmhurst
Red Hook (lol)
Puffer East Side
West Krillage
Shellsea
Ashoreia
Clown(fish) Heights
Eelmhurst
Red Hook (lol)
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
More puns: since it's set in an underwater homage to NYC, of course there's a SUBway. And here are a bunch of unused neighborhoods I didn't have a chance to get into the manual somewhere:
Puffer East Side
West Krillage
Shellsea
Ashoreia
Clown(fish) Heights
Eelmhurst
Red Hook (lol)
Puffer East Side
West Krillage
Shellsea
Ashoreia
Clown(fish) Heights
Eelmhurst
Red Hook (lol)
Also—the underwater setting is a rich vein of puns, the title included. These two didn't make it into the manual but I had to make these logos.
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Also—the underwater setting is a rich vein of puns, the title included. These two didn't make it into the manual but I had to make these logos.
Another big part is the fashion. Originally it wasn't the focus but I think since the game is so much about the intersection of NYC, hip-hop, and the 00s, I really couldn't avoid it. J is specifically wearing Timbs and I feel like that is a crucial part of their character design.
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Another big part is the fashion. Originally it wasn't the focus but I think since the game is so much about the intersection of NYC, hip-hop, and the 00s, I really couldn't avoid it. J is specifically wearing Timbs and I feel like that is a crucial part of their character design.
In Old School, Dr Shark is a character that represents the exploitation of the music industry and is actually the antagonist. He used to be a huge rapper and producer but now he's the CEO of a streaming company, Tsunami (That reference wrote itself).
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
In Old School, Dr Shark is a character that represents the exploitation of the music industry and is actually the antagonist. He used to be a huge rapper and producer but now he's the CEO of a streaming company, Tsunami (That reference wrote itself).
Narratively, I thought it'd be fun to tell a story that is the opposite of how games about musicians usually go. Instead of rising to stardom playing bigger and bigger venues, what if it was a game about realizing the value of your local community?
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Narratively, I thought it'd be fun to tell a story that is the opposite of how games about musicians usually go. Instead of rising to stardom playing bigger and bigger venues, what if it was a game about realizing the value of your local community?
The cast is my favorite part and was so much fun to design. Originally it was going to be more about one main character and maybe 2 best friends, but when I was designing all the characters I just got so attached to them that I just decided to make it about a whole crew.
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The cast is my favorite part and was so much fun to design. Originally it was going to be more about one main character and maybe 2 best friends, but when I was designing all the characters I just got so attached to them that I just decided to make it about a whole crew.
My video game holy grail is a rhythm game where you're actually making music. So a huge part of Old School is this interface where you take songs and sample them and chop them and make new beats. The game then generates a chart based off this that you can perform to, with rap/vocal accompaniment.
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
My video game holy grail is a rhythm game where you're actually making music. So a huge part of Old School is this interface where you take songs and sample them and chop them and make new beats. The game then generates a chart based off this that you can perform to, with rap/vocal accompaniment.
Old School is a PS1-era rhythm game about a crew of aspiring hip-hop musicians in the underwater town of New Shark City. Obviously Parappa The Rapper is its biggest inspiration but I also wanted specifically to reference some of my biggest loves: NYC, 00s fashion, and music production.
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Old School is a PS1-era rhythm game about a crew of aspiring hip-hop musicians in the underwater town of New Shark City. Obviously Parappa The Rapper is its biggest inspiration but I also wanted specifically to reference some of my biggest loves: NYC, 00s fashion, and music production.
This past weekend I participated in @boshis.place 's Game Manual Jam to make a manual for a speculative video game. I'm really pleased with how this came out so I want to talk about it—here's my submission: Old School! (thread!)
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
This past weekend I participated in @boshis.place 's Game Manual Jam to make a manual for a speculative video game. I'm really pleased with how this came out so I want to talk about it—here's my submission: Old School! (thread!)
One more Halloween costume. TROBBIO!!! 🌪️🌪️🌪️ #Hollowknight #silksong
November 2, 2025 at 11:53 PM
One more Halloween costume. TROBBIO!!! 🌪️🌪️🌪️ #Hollowknight #silksong
One thing about being in a boy band is that there was no world where this wasn't going to be my Halloween costume this year
October 31, 2025 at 10:31 PM
One thing about being in a boy band is that there was no world where this wasn't going to be my Halloween costume this year
Yoooooo this character in Silksong is Filipino
September 5, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Yoooooo this character in Silksong is Filipino
Here's an announcement trailer for my new game, Sticky Hands! Play it at the link below 👐🙂
June 29, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Here's an announcement trailer for my new game, Sticky Hands! Play it at the link below 👐🙂
More screenshots!
June 28, 2025 at 1:49 PM
More screenshots!
NEW GAME ANNOUNCEMENT!
There aren't enough 2-player-1-phone games so I made one. It's called Sticky Hands and it's about slapping cards faster than your friends.
Play it at this link! 👇👇
sticky-hands.com
There aren't enough 2-player-1-phone games so I made one. It's called Sticky Hands and it's about slapping cards faster than your friends.
Play it at this link! 👇👇
sticky-hands.com
June 28, 2025 at 1:49 PM
NEW GAME ANNOUNCEMENT!
There aren't enough 2-player-1-phone games so I made one. It's called Sticky Hands and it's about slapping cards faster than your friends.
Play it at this link! 👇👇
sticky-hands.com
There aren't enough 2-player-1-phone games so I made one. It's called Sticky Hands and it's about slapping cards faster than your friends.
Play it at this link! 👇👇
sticky-hands.com
Teasing something #2
June 6, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Teasing something #2
This is the best description I could come up with for how it feels to play Blue Prince
June 2, 2025 at 1:12 PM
This is the best description I could come up with for how it feels to play Blue Prince
I don't know when playing card layouts were standardized but I had a lot of fun making these which I find to be a lot more pleasing
May 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I don't know when playing card layouts were standardized but I had a lot of fun making these which I find to be a lot more pleasing
Teasing something 👀
May 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Teasing something 👀