Aether: Quiet Frontier

Devlog

• From Project Aether to Aether: Quiet Frontier
  August 21, 2026 by jpb18#development, #indie, #2d, #shmup, #shooter, #sci-fi, #branding, #game design, #godot

  At the end of the previous development log, I said that the next update would examine Mission 4 and other feedback I've gotten recently. That remains the next gameplay pass. Before continuing with tha... Continue reading

  
• Building a Visual Language That Supports the Challenge
  August 19, 2026 by jpb18#gamedev, #devlog, #indiegame, #shmup, #shootemup, #side-scroller, #godot, #gameart, #pixelart, #ccby, #accessibility, #leveldesign, #playtesting

  At the end of the previous development log, I said that the next update would look more closely at Project Aether's visuals: how I combine openly licensed material with original art, and how those sou... Continue reading

  
• Building a Campaign Layer Without Turning a Shmup Into a Grind
  August 12, 2026 by jpb18#shmup, #shoot-em-up, #game-development, #game-design, #indie-game, #godot, #progression, #level-design, #player-feedback

  In the previous development log, I said that the next update would move away from moment-to-moment combat and focus on what happens between operations. Project Aether already contained four playable m... Continue reading

  
• When working mechanics are not enough: Improving through player feedback in Project Aether
  August 05, 2026 by jpb18#game design, #shmup, #2d, #sci-fi, #player feedback, #ui, #sound design

  In the previous dev log , I described how Project Aether allows some encounters to be resolved without destroying every target. This approach creates an additional design responsibility. Players need... Continue reading

  
• Building a 2D Shooter Where Shooting Is Not Always the Best Solution
  July 30, 2026 by jpb18#game design, #devlog, #2d shooter, #shoot em up, #godot, #indie development

  Flash games were an important part of my early experience with online games. Among them, Drakojan Skies showed how a relatively simple 2D shooter could still create a sense of speed, scale and adventu... Continue reading