What started out as a daily experiment and to decalre independence agains the arbitrariness of modern social media (with persons like Elon Musk) - now came to a new point to declare independence. You will find the newsletter now here: https://nodeponds-nerdletter.de/

I setup my own server. I am using the open-source-tool Ghost and I host an own server. The server is actually hosted in the deepest Germany (in Falkenstein). So the complete newsletter is now self-hosted, which is also good for you: less eyeballs on the usage-stats (it least I have activated stats, so open- and click-rates are still getting measured).

On top I do now also 100% feature syndication into the fediverse. Every post will also get posted to Mastodon. So if you don’t want to subscribe via email you can do now just at Mastodon: https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@nodeponds_nerdletter

And the best: not only great tool - it just feels good to have complete control and independence over the complete infrastructure.

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The Teenage Engineering OP-XY is a new - high tier priced - synth from Teenange Engineering. It caused some kind of controversial debate, if this synth is worth its price.

No matter what opinion you might have on this. Just check out this in-depth video with one of the synth-creators. Because one thing is for sure: They put lots of efforts into details. And this is just fun watching!

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Today I was just remembering good demos I’ve seen the last months. And then I came on this one. As you might know, I love everything from the demogroup Haujobb.

The demo Mainframe was made completely by Visualice. Expect a hypnotic, flowing trip!

Please watch this on the biggest screen you have available! And best: in complete darkness with a good sound-system or massive headphones!

PS: Does anyone know good demos in VR? I would love to feature some! Just answer this email (or on Mastodon).

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This might be one of the craziest things I’ve seen in this year so far. People using oscillators for drawing graphics is something, that meanwhile many people did before. But to apply audio-effects on it really blasted my brain!

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Another new thing: I setup a Mastodon-Account, where every single issue of this newsletter will get posted. Feel free to follow there (and tell all your friends about it!) to stay connected! → https://mastodon.social/@nodeponds_nerdletter

Nodepond's Nerdletter (@nodeponds_nerdletter@mastodon.gamedev.place)

1 Post, 0 Following, 7 Followers · This is the mastodon-feed of Nodepond's Nerdletter. I write an (almost daily) newsletter about games, creative code, game-dev and the demoscene. You can support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nodepond

mastodon.gamedev.place/@nodeponds_nerdletter

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Hey! Did you know that you can support my newsletter by buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi or by becoming a supporter on Patreon?

Oof. We had a week with Pushcat and Pushover. There was a 3rd game popping in my mind. Not really oldschool. It is The Punchuin from some of my best homies from Munich!

This game is perfectly crafted, so just go for it!

The Punchuin

thepunchuin.shinen.com

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After the post of the game Pushcat yesterday, I was thinking of another great classic with push in its name: Pushover.

You play a cute cartoony ant, that needs to solve puzzles with domino bricks. This game is - unbelieveable - from 1992 but still plays very good!

Read here about the different versions, or directly try the MS-DOS version in the browser.

Pushover (Amiga) Game Download

Download the original Pushover for Amiga, a retro game ready to play, packed for Windows and Mac with the proper emulator. Only on GamesNostalgia.

gamesnostalgia.com/game/pushover

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I was just remembering this game I played a lot. It is Pushcat - it’s a perfectly well made game, where everything fits perfectly together. The pixelart is btw. made by Army of Trolls.

PS: If you Steam link does not work, try the release on itch.io.

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It is a pleasure for me to share this video with you. It is a deeper dive in to graphical trick developer did at some classic games.

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Zynthian is an open-source synth project with has a lot’s of features and amazing sound abilities. And since it’s open nature, it can also run i.e. on a Raspberry Pi 5!

See it in action:

See lot’s of more example here: https://zynthian.org/#build-your-zynthian

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Hey! Did you know that you can support my newsletter by buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi or by becoming a supporter on Patreon?

Chiptune inspired tracks by Tobiah. Believe or not: they are 20 - 21 years old now. But still kick the butt very much. Especially the synthetic vocals are still so cool. “I don’t really exist” from a computer-voice. Still an interesting connotation in the dawn of the AI-age.

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I found this link via the amazing crew of TSA (The Solaris Agency).

This video tries to research, what would be the most rare videogame ever. It is not about high prices, that crazy collerctors are willing to pay for excellent condition carts. It is more about, which carts were just limited by numbers. Mostly because to only a few were manufactured.

Obscurity ahead!!

The video is in German, so feel free to use the caption - auto-translate feature of YouTube!

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An amazing TIC-80 demo, that does not feel like TIC-80. A phantastic storytelling, especially at the end of this demo.

Go check out Demonique.

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I assume, most reader here are familiar with the Game Maker’s Toolkit (GMTK) channel on YouTube. Mark Brown makes exzellent tutorials and insight about game-design related things.

He started a new series, that circles around the “indie game production pipeline”.

The first issue is about finding a game-idea. And it’s so much fun to watch!

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Bauhaus Bonk is a hyper-casual game, made by a still fresh indie games studio Spoonful Games from my hometown Cologne. Super nice people - I was able to meet them at Gamescom 2024.

Go check out this game. It looks so unique and it is fun to play with this simple, but effective game mechanic.

Bauhaus Bonk

Bauhaus Bonk In this single-player one-button dexterity game, movement is not straightforward. Alternate between pivots to spin through 54 Bauhaus-inspired arcade levels. Avoid obstacles, clear levels, and beat the global high score! Play now on Steam!

spoonful.games/bauhaus-bonk

Bauhaus Bonk on Steam

In this single-player one-button dexterity game, movement is not straightforward. Alternate between pivots to spin through 54 Bauhaus-inspired arcade levels. Avoid obstacles, clear levels, and beat the global high score!

store.steampowered.com/app/2948330/Bauhaus_Bonk

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Check out this book from Vlambeer, that is released at Cook and Becker. It is about game-art and the development from Vlambeer games. They did some really “indie classics” like Nuclear Throne or Super Crate Box.

At the time of writing, there is a discount on the book. So eventually you need to be quick, until it’s sold out… ;)

Book 120 Years of Vlambeer & Friends. Bringing back arcade games since 1896 | Nuclear Throne

Read the definitive story of the rise of Dutch indie games studio Vlambeer, who established itself as a leading name in arcade-style action video games

www.cookandbecker.com/en/artwork/1996/120-years-of-vlambeer-and-friends-bringing-back-arcade-games-since-1896-nuclear-throne-vlambeer.html

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Found something really cool. It’s a modded version of Sonic 2 - where you can’t only see a small fraction of the level, but almost the complete map while playing. This is so amazing to look at!

Made by Video Game Reverse Engineer / Researcher CodenameGamma (Insta).

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Not sure if you already know this tutorial. It is from 3d-artist veryveig, exploring interesting and sometimes styles.

Found this tutorial, how to use Blender, to make 90ies styles anime-movies. I was really surprised about the creation process.

Go check it out!

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The most important demoscene event of the year!

Revision will be during the easter days. The ticket sale has opened.

• If you are a scener: you will come!

• If you are interested in demscene: you must come!

• If you like extravaganza digital art events: you must come!

• If you like to meet lovely people: you must come!

The theme this year is: Grow beyond!

Watch the invitation:

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Since the arrival of the Meta Quest 3 and the decline of the Stream VR universe, it was in the last month a little bit hard to keep a good overview of VR-titles.

VRDB might resolve this problem. It is a database of VR-games. From their website the say about the project:

VRDB - Browse Meta Quest VR Games, Apps, Deals and More

Explore the ultimate VR game database at VRDB. View rankings, prices, game deals, curated categories and find the best deals on Meta Quest games, apps, and more.

vrdb.app

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