Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Every thinky discount in the Steam Summer Sale 2025 · Thinky Games

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · Jun 30

A list of amazing stuff.

And remember, if you buy a thinky game and you enjoy it, please leave a review and tell your thinky game-enjoying friends!

Thinky Games @thinkygames.com · Jun 30

We know what you're thinking: gee, I sure wish it were easier to find some great thinky games in the Steam #SummerSale!

Well, we've made this cool thing for you all 😊

thinkygames.com/stea...

Looking for some amazing thinky games in the Steam Summer Sale but just can't get on with Steam's search features? We've put together this full list of puzzle, strategy, and tactics in the Thinky Games DB that currently have discounts in the sale.

thinkygames.com

2 4

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · May 29

A year after launch, Hexahedra is back at the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase on Steam, and it's a third off, which is its biggest discount ever.

Grab a copy to build delightfully efficient factories, and help Dantar and Octavius work out why the factory bots keep sabotaging everything!

s.team/a/1248420

1 4 5

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · Apr 18

If you're at @enclavelan.bsky.social this weekend, my mini puzzle hunt has gone live!

A puzzle from the Enclave 1 puzzle hunt. An Arduino with a digital display and an RFID reader is at the top, and below are 18 different squares, each with an RFID card hidden inside. A poster with a QR code linking to the web-based part of the puzzle is on the left.

Hexahedra Puzzle Hunt at Enclave 1

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · Apr 1

Details of the Hexahedra puzzle hunt at @enclavelan.bsky.social over Easter are now up - there will be puzzles, prizes, and stickers of Octavius!

www.sidequestninja.com/blog/hexahed...

I'm going to be running a mini puzzle hunt, with prizes, at Enclave 1 over Easter.

www.sidequestninja.com

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Mike Dailly ™ @mdf200.bsky.social · Mar 10

"Ban artificial intelligence-produced imagery and art from being copyrighted"

Go on - sign this one. All AI generated items are based on copyrighted work. Nothing generated should be protected, it was never theirs.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

Petition: Ban artificial intelligence-produced imagery and art from being copyrighted

For many artists, graphic designers and animators out there, I feel the rise of artificial intelligence taking over their jobs has grown to be a major concern. I think the thought of copyrighting AI i...

petition.parliament.uk

1 35 48

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Enclave LAN @enclavelan.bsky.social · Mar 8

🚨Competition Alert! 🚨

It's time to try Hexahedra and potentially win some prizes while you are at it...

Check out the details including T&Cs over here:

www.sidequestninja.com/blog/hexahed...

There will also be some Hexahedra challenges to earn "LANnium" during the event! Give it a try!

Hexahedra is coming to Enclave 1, and I'll be giving stuff away

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · Mar 8

Hexahedra is coming to @enclavelan.bsky.social at Easter! I'll be there running a puzzle hunt with prizes, but in the run-up there's another contest for LAN attendees. Details:

www.sidequestninja.com/blog/hexahed...

In the run-up to Enclave 1 at Easter I'm running a contest for LAN attendees, for some Hexahedra merch.

www.sidequestninja.com

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · Feb 25

I spent lunchtime filling in the UK government's consultation on AI and copyright. It closes at midnight tonight, so if, like me, you're not wild about the government's current proposals, there's still time to fill it in:

www.gov.uk/government/c...

Copyright and Artificial Intelligence

This consultation seeks views on how the government can ensure the UK’s legal framework for AI and copyright supports the UK creative industries and AI sector together.

www.gov.uk

1 6 4

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · Dec 20

Hexahedra is 20% off during the Steam Winter Sale (19th December - 2nd January).

If you fancy some Christmas optimization between mince pies and endless turkey leftovers, now's your chance!

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · Dec 20

If, like me, you'll get three days into the holidays and start itching to do some programming, Hexahedra is 20% off in the Steam Winter Sale.

Convince your friends to get copies and you can while away the dark hours trying to one-up them on the leaderboards.

store.steampowered.com/app/1248420/...

Save 20% on Hexahedra on Steam

Hexahedra is an open-ended programming puzzle game. Design and optimize factories to build cubes, used galaxy-wide as crates, musical instruments, even chic coffins. Rewind and replay the action to hu...

store.steampowered.com

Save 20% on Hexahedra on Steam

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · Dec 20

Hexahedra is 20% off during the Steam Winter Sale (19th December - 2nd January).

If you fancy some Christmas optimization between mince pies and endless turkey leftovers, now's your chance!

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · Dec 20

If, like me, you'll get three days into the holidays and start itching to do some programming, Hexahedra is 20% off in the Steam Winter Sale.

Convince your friends to get copies and you can while away the dark hours trying to one-up them on the leaderboards.

store.steampowered.com/app/1248420/...

Hexahedra is an open-ended programming puzzle game. Design and optimize factories to build cubes, used galaxy-wide as crates, musical instruments, even chic coffins. Rewind and replay the action to hu...

store.steampowered.com

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · Oct 18

Hey @ozone.birb.house please could you label me as a Game Studio 👾

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · Oct 7

Hexahedra, my game of programming, cubes, and tiny octopuses, has gone on sale for the first time as part of the Ada Lovelace Day sale on Steam - it's currently 20% off! Grab a copy here 👇

store.steampowered.com/app/1248420/...

Promotional image for the Ada Lovelace Day Steam sale. 7th-14th October. "Awesome games about coding, automation & engineering".

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · Sep 10

For 1/35th of the price of a PS5 Pro you can get a copy of Hexahedra on Steam right now.

Hexahedra lets you use lasers to read the state of cubes in your factory, so unlike Sony I'm throwing in the optical drive for free.

store.steampowered.com/app/1248420/...

Hexahedra screenshot of the level Megalaser Mishap, showing the Megalaser in action.

Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Alan Hazelden / Draknek & Friends @draknek.bsky.social · Aug 6

We're excited to announce that applications are open for the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant 2024 🎉

The grant will award $15,000 to 6 thinky puzzle game developers from all over the world, and a year's mentorship with genre veterans.

Deadline: October 7th
More Info: grants.draknek.org

The Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant is a grant opportunity for game developers from traditionally underrepresented groups and backgrounds who are interested in designing and developing puzzle games.

grants.draknek.org

2 77 70

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · Jul 26

Woop, I'm going to be speaking at GDLX on 9th August as part of the programming fireside chat! There'll also be an expo full of indie games.

They've given me a discount code you can use for £15 off tickets: GDLX15

See you there!

www.eventbrite.com/e/gdl-indie-...

Image advertizing GDLX on 9th August at Canary Wharf. Also includes my face.

AI in gaming: Developers worried by generative tech

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · Jul 16

If you train a generative model on nothing but cave paintings, all it'll ever give you will be cave paintings.

It takes humans to get from there to the Sistene Chapel.

I spoke to the BBC about AI in games: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In a struggling games industry AI has been hailed as a possible saviour. But not everyone's convinced.

www.bbc.co.uk

1 2 2

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · Jul 4

Hexahedra is returning to Stratlan! I ran a beta here back before the Steam demo came out, and now I'm back with a contest and some merch to win.

If you're coming, you'll find a flyer with details on your desk.

Come and find me in seat A4 if you've got any questions!

Hexahedra flyer found on desks at Stratlan, with competition details.

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · May 30

Hexahedra's launch discount ends in six minutes (!), so if you haven't grabbed a copy yet, head to Steam right now!

s.team/a/1248420

Solving Steam Workshop puzzles on stream

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · May 28

I spoke to @lukeplunkett.com over at Aftermath about my time at Jagex and the huge number of different things that go into making an MMO work.

Yes, I slagged off JavaScript. Deal with it.

Aftermath @aftermath.site · May 28

Let's meet a Runescape developer who worked on everything from billing to engines to HTML5
aftermath.site/runescape-ja...

2 18

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · May 22

Hexahedra is part of this year's Cerebral Puzzle Showcase
@puzzleshowcase.bsky.social, which starts tomorrow - 23rd-30th May.

The launch discount will run throughout CPS, so get yourself to Steam, try the demo, ship some cubes, and see if you can find Octavius hiding about the place.

1 3

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · May 22

I played through the first two Hexahedra puzzles uploaded to the Steam Workshop by players, and I had a lot of fun with them. I still can't see how to solve the first one in only 14 commands...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_dL...

I played through the first two Steam Workshop puzzles uploaded by players, each of which has an interesting twist to it. 00:00 Supply Chain Issues 1:03:39 Courier

www.youtube.com

www.cerebralpuzzleshowcase.com

Reposted by Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam!

Cerebral Puzzle Showcase (2026 TBA) @puzzleshowcase.bsky.social · May 21

We're excited to announce that the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase will begin this Thursday on May 23-30!

Featuring discounts on a selection of excellent puzzle games, streams from our favorite streamers, demos for upcoming games & plenty more!

Links below 👇
www.cerebralpuzzleshowcase.com

Cerebral Puzzle Showcase

May 23-30 on Steam

15 13

Sidequest Ninja | Buy Hexahedra on Steam! @sidequestninja.com · May 21

Thank you to everyone who's streamed Hexahedra since it launched, it's been great to hang out and watch you play! ❤️

Screenshot of past stream videos for Hexahedra on Twitch.