GameMakersToolkit posts
Posts: 869
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Please take the GMTK Patreon Survey!
Hey everyoneI always want to make the Patreon as excellent as possible for all of you who so generously support me to make my videos (and games!).I've put together a big survey over on Google Forms, here, where you can answer questions about the Patreon, the rewards you get on your tier, future rewards, and more. I'd really appreciate it if you could take the time to fill it out! The answers will help me shape the exclusive content I give you in 2022.Cheers!Mark
Playlist (November 2021)
Hello! It's time for the penultimate Playlist video for 2021. Next month, it's Game of the Year time. As ever, you can watch this as a video by clicking above, or read it as an article by scrolling down. Whatever you prefer.Before Your EyesHoo boy. Okay, Before Your Eyes is a beautiful, heartfelt story game. It's about a soul who is about to meet the gatekeeper to the afterlife, and so needs to fast-forward through his life to tell the story of his existence.I don't want to say anything more about the plot - you've got to se...
Reading List (November 2021)
Hello!The nights are getting in and the temperature’s dropping - it’s time to stay inside with a cup of cocoa and a list of great articles and videos. Unless you’re Australian, in which case you’re probably chucking snags on the barbie or something. Absolute bizarro world. Makes no sense.Anyway! Reading list!The Design of Games[Read] The Immersive Nature of Tedium - “I believe that monotony helps it all feel more grounded in reality, and if I want to play a sim, then the more grounded it feels the better.”[Read] Dishonored’s Chaos...
Developing - What genre should my game be?
Hey! This time on Developing, I try to turn my prototype into an actual game - but get hung up on indecision. How will I solve this problem?Hope you dig it!Just wanted to thank you for the feedback on the last Patreon post - your thoughts on why some of you don't watch OTL were valuable and will help me as I shape the future of that series.Mark
24 hour preview - Developing Part 3
Hey folks!So I just finished up my new instalment of Developing. This time, I try to turn my prototype into a proper game... only to get completely stumped by genres. Puzzle... or platformer? You can watch an early version here.Hope you dig it! Speak soonMark
The big GMTK update post
Hello everybody. Hope you’re doing well.So it’s been four months since I dropped this update video on y’all. In it, I talked about feeling burned out by GMTK, and my plans to fix that. Namely: continuing my interview series On the Level, documenting the process of making a game, and creating a podcast series for Design Icons.So, I wanted to check in, let you know what’s been happening, and tell you what’s next! This is a bit long, so I’ll chuck a TL;DR at the bottom.On the LevelFirst up, On the Level. This is a series where I play g...
Playlist (October 2021)
Hey everyone, welcome back to the playlist. Here’s three short reviews of games I’ve been checking out lately. You can watch it as a video, above. Or read it as an article, below.Metroid DreadMetroid Dread is, of course, the latest game in the Metroid franchise. This one is a side-scrolling 2D platformer, akin to games like Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. And it’s made by Mercury Steam, the developers behind Samus Returns on the 3DS and a bunch of Castlevania games.Which, yes, makes them the only true Metroidvania developer. Deal with i...
Reading List (October 2021)
Hey everyone! Here’s a chunky reading list, filled with fascinating things to watch and read. Have a fabulous weekend.The Design of Games[Read] Can Games Stop Using Insane As A Difficulty Description Already? - “If you take a look through the difficulty options in many games there’s a good chance you’ll see it somewhere. It’s so prevalent that it’s clear many people just don’t see the problem”.[Read] Object Oriented #04: Masks - “The mask disguises your identity, but it is not invisible. Everyone can see that you are concealin...
Boss Keys 21 - Metroid Dread
Hello!My new video is available now - it’s the new episode of Boss Keys, and a breakdown of Metroid Dread’s world design. Specifically, focusing on the tricks and techniques that the game uses to guide you through planet ZDR.Go watch it, and then come back to this post when you're done.I'll wait.Okay, thanks for checking it out. Hope you enjoyed it. Now, you may be disappointed to see that there’s no graphs in the video! Can it really be a Boss Keys video without graphs?Well, it’s your lucky day. Because I did, in fact, make a g...
24 hour preview - Boss Keys 21: Metroid Dread
Hello!My new video is out now for $5 Patrons. It's a Boss Keys breakdown of the latest Metroid game, Metroid Dread. You can watch it here.While the video doesn't contain any major spoilers for Dread, these Boss Keys videos are still intended to be watched after you finish the game. So if you haven't picked up the game yet... hold off on this one!Also, if you were anxiously awaiting the all important graph... it's not in the video, but I'll give it to all Patrons tomorrow when I release the video worldwide.Thanks! Speak soonM...
Notification Bug
Hi!There seems to be something iffy going on with Patreon at the moment - I've heard reports that emails are ending up in spam. And the most recent post doesn't seem to have been emailed at all.Will this post reach your inbox? I don't know!Either way, you may have missed that Episode 2 of Developing is now available to you, early, right here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/57404034I've reached out to Patreon to figure this out! I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Mark
24 hour preview - Developing Episode 2
Hello! I'm back with part two of my game development series, Developing. This time, I want to turn my game idea into reality - but where do I start? And what can I learn from past failures to make games?Hope you dig it - out for everyone tomorrow.Mark
Playlist (September 2021)
Hey, welcome back to the playlist. Here’s three short reviews of games I’ve been checking out lately! Starting with…MystOkay, so I had somehow never played Myst before. I myst it. Despite being obsessed with adventure games in the mid 90s - I never made the leap from Monkey Island to the island of Myst.So, if you don’t know - Myst was a mysterious first-person puzzle game where you move between pre-rendered images. A bit like Google Streetview, but with hardly any colours. In the many years since release it has been remastered and remad...
Reading List (August & September 2021)
Hello everyone! So, as I took August off work, you didn’t get a reading list. And I feel bad about that! So, to make up for it, here’s an absolutely bumper list of interesting stuff from both August and September 2021. Over 50 links in total!The Design of Games[Read] Insert Coin to Continue - “After all those years, is ‘Game Over’ still relevant? Is it really useful, or just a relic of the past?”[Read] Creating a traditional roguelike for a wider audience - “The main critique about the genre is that it has an intrinsic Burden of K...
Developing, Episode 1
Hello!A couple weeks ago, I announced a new avenue for this channel - a series in which I document my journey into the world of game development. Well, I'm excited to unveil the first episode.This one's all about how I picked my game engine and learned how to use it. I hope you enjoy it! It will be out for the rest of the world in a few hours.I also wanted to say: this is exactly what I was looking for. I feel refreshed, super excited, challenged, and creative. I can't wait to keep going.Cheers,Mark
24 hour preview - Developing, Episode 1
Hello!A couple weeks ago, I announced a new avenue for this channel - a series in which I document my journey into the world of game development. Well, I'm excited to unveil the first episode.This one's all about how I picked my game engine and learned how to use it. I hope you enjoy it!I might make a few tweaks before tomorrow, so let me know if you have any feedback I can incorporate.I also wanted to say: this is exactly what I was looking for. I feel refreshed, super excited, challenged, and creative. I can't wait to keep going.C...
Playing It Takes Two's Trippy Tree Level with its Designer
Hello!So before I dive head first into Developing full time, I wanted to do another episode of On the Level (my series where I interview a level designer while playing their stage).This time, it's the absurdly creative co-op romp It Takes Two - which means I got to literally play alongside Hazelight designer Oliver Granlund. We played through Chapter 2, The Tree, and chatted prototyping mechanics, balancing story and gameplay, the team sportiness of game dev, and loads more.As always, Patrons get access to the full interview if you so wish ...
24hr preview - On the Level Episode 3
Hello!For my new episode of On the Level, I chatted with Oliver Granlund of Hazelight - a designer on the absurdly creative It Takes Two. We chatted prototyping mechanics, balancing story and gameplay, the team sportiness of game dev, and loads more.The video spoils the events of Chapter 2, The Tree. But other than that, it's pretty spoiler free.Okay - this will be out for the world tomorrow (along with the full interview for all Patrons). And then it's on to episode one of Developing!Speak soon, love yaMark
Announcing my new thing!
Hello! I'm back after a nice big break. I got married, had a holiday, and played some video games. As promised, Patrons weren't charged for August - part of my guarantee that you'll only pay me when I release content.I also started production on my new GMTK series: Developing*. And this evening I'm releasing a quick update video to announce it to the world. You can check it out now.Basically, it's a series about me making my own game. Each episode will be one step in the journey - episode one will be about learning Unity, ep...
I was on a podcast! (Plus: August break)
Hello!Chris Bratt, who does the excellent People Make Games channel, has a spin-off podcast where he talks to people in the press. And I was very flattered to be his third guest - talking about making videos, what's next for GMTK, and the feelings surrounding reaching a million subs.You can listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or anywhere you can find podcasts. Hope you like it, and I didn't say anything awful or embarrassing!While I've got you here, in case you missed my last update video - I'm taking August off from work. I'...
Playlist (July 2021)
Hey everyone! It’s time for your playlist video for the month of July. Here’s what I’ve been playing recently. You can watch it as a video above, or read it as an article below.WildermythAs someone who is fascinated by the potential for procedurally-generated storytelling in games - Wildermyth has been on my radar for quite a while.So this is a fantasy RPG with addictive tactics-style battles and a clever board game-esque overworld. But the real draw is the game's storytelling system where your unique cast of characters will change, a...
Reading List (July 2021)
Hello everyone! On this month’s reading list we’ve got remakes, level design, speedrunning, TikTok, and Iguanodons. Hope you dig it!The Design of Games[Watch | CC | 50 mins] The Making of Spiritfarer - The Escapist talks to Thunder Lotus about its “cozy management game about dying”. Covers art, narrative, design, and more.[Watch | 13 mins] Umurangi Generation's Camera - Game director Tali Faulkner talks about designing the camera from the (IGF-winning!) photography gem Umurangi Generations.[Read] Impossible Steam Achievement Has A G...
Behind the Scenes - On the Level Episode 2
Hello!So, I just released the second episode of my interview series On the Level - the show where I play awesome video game levels, alongside the designers who made them. And because this one was such a mammoth undertaking, I wanted to share some behind the scenes info on how it came together.After the launch of the Ori episode, I started talking to a few developers about future videos. An obvious candidate for me was Dishonored - the series is famous for its level design and there are about 4 or 5 stages across the franchise that would make fo...
GMTK Update Video
Hello everyone!I'm coming to you from a very hot summer evening in the UK to share some thoughts on GMTK, and some plans for the future.I outline them in the video above - which, I should warn you, is... not great. My lav mic is popping constantly so the audio is bad. I keep going out of focus. You can see my fiance's dress hanging up behind me. A light stops working halfway though.You'll understand why the video is so bad when you watch it! I would re-record it but it's so hot under the studio lights and also - as embarrassing ...
Full Dishonored 2 interview
Hello!As promised, Patrons get to watch the full interview with Arkane's Dana Nightingale and David Di Giacomo. Part one, where we play through the level together, can be found here. And part two, where we look at behind the scenes content, can be found here.Just as a heads up: this is not like a normal episode of GMTK! It's long, only loosely edited, and probably not interesting to casual game fans! But if you're really interested in level design or the way games get made, it contains some invaluable insights.Cheers!Mark
New episode - Dishonored 2 Designers Break Down The Clockwork Mansion
Hello!My new video is a new episode of On the Level - the series where I play awesome video game levels alongside the designers who made them. This time, I’m sitting down with two designers from Arkane to talk about (one of) Dishonored 2’s most famous levels: the Clockwork Mansion. We chat about the level’s inception, get to see behind the scenes shots of prototypes and early animations, and hear about how the designers had to work around limitations and budget constraints.Unfortunately the full interview is taking a bit longer to produce...
Patreon preview - On the Level Episode 2
Hi everyone!I'm excited to share with you an early look at the next episode of On the Level. It goes out to the world tomorrow, but you get to watch it right now.If you forgot, On the Level is a series where I play excellent video game levels alongside the designers who made them. This time I'm exploring the Clockwork Mansion from Dishonored 2, alongside the level's designer and artist.It was a mammoth undertaking but I'm really pleased with the result. I'll share the full interview tomorrow, and a behind the scenes look at ...
Playlist (June 2021)
Hello! This month I played, roughly, 260 games. It was, of course, another Game Jam month which meant my life was pretty much consumed by the event for three weeks straight.But! I managed to sneak in some new indie games here and there. So without further ado, here's some mini reviews of three games I ended up checking out this month. Watch it as a video above, or read it as a blog below - up to you.Silicon DreamsWe see a lot of games that are inspired by movies. We see hints of Alien and Star Wars and The Matrix all over the place. But how...
Reading List (June 2021)
Hello everyone! Hope the world is treating you right. Here's a handful of articles and and videos to check out this weekend.Design Notes[Watch | CC | 24 mins] Loop Hero Developers Reveal the Design Origins of their Breakthrough Hit - Noclip talks to the designers of this new indie darling.[Read] It began as an AI-fueled dungeon game. Then it got much darker - Ars Technica looks at the unique history of AI Dungeon.[Watch | 8 mins] Easy Modes Aren't Easy - Designing Dynamic Difficulty - Nice to see Extra Credits hop on the "accessibil...
GMTK Game Jam 2021 Post Mortem
Hello everyone!So, this month I hosted the fifth annual GMTK Game Jam (an event where people try to make a game in just 48 hours). And I wanted to share some thoughts, some lessons, and some interesting stats with you all.Last year's jam was, quite frankly, enormous. 2020 received way more entrants and submissions than 2019 - more than double, in fact. It was a special year, though, with almost every country in some form of lockdown - meaning lots of bored people with nothing better to do.And so I was unsure if 2021 would surpass it. But…...
