InsideXO

Author: SkullFireXO

  • Turning Art into Chaos: An Interview with the Creator of Sloppy Forgeries

    Turning Art into Chaos: An Interview with the Creator of Sloppy Forgeries

    I was lucky enough to ask a few questions towards the mind behind Sloppy Forgeries, an Upcoming Indie art-chaos game, Here’s what they had to say!

    Read The Review!

    What inspired you to make Sloppy Forgeries?

    It was a combination of things. I’ve always loved drawing and painting—as a kid and then as an art major in college. When I became a professor, I thought about games I enjoy and like to study, which resulted in drawing games.

    I was also making small games on the side and had just created Word After Word, a competitive local multiplayer word game using multiple keyboards. After getting the multiple keyboards thing to work, I knew I could do the same for mice and started brainstorming games that would use two mice simultaneously.

    The research and brainstorming naturally led to thinking about multi-mice drawing games. I had also done some image processing work in grad school, so knew how to compare images. The last question was what to copy? Famous paintings and the name quickly followed.

    If time and budget weren’t an issue, what’s the wildest mode or feature you’d add to Sloppy Forgeries?

    If budget weren’t an issue, I’d love for Sloppy Forgeries to be twitter for drawing/painting (before it became X and was ruined by a certain someone). What I mean by that, is a thoughtful drawing tool with a time limit where that limitation makes the prospect of art-making less daunting and more fun. All work on the platform would be made in three-minutes or less. Mobile-first.

    This idea partially came from a critique of a painting I was doing as a senior in college. I was starting a landscape painting and had just finished the underpainting and a quick glaze of color over it. My professor walked by, looked over my shoulder and said, “You’re done.” My brain kind of exploded. I stopped painting. I’m glad I did. The painting has this wonderful energy that would have been lost if I had kept working.

    Do you get more joy out of seeing players compete seriously, or just absolutely butcher the paintings for laughs?

    Great question. One of my favorite parts of Sloppy Forgeries is that it can be played in these two completely different ways. Initially, this made development challenging. I felt like I had to choose a path. Then I realized that it can be both: I’ll embrace serious play in single player and for-laughs in multiplayer. And of course the reality is people can play it however they want. That’s the beauty of games.

    TBH, I get more joy out of people laughing at what they’ve made afterwards. However, as an experience myself, I play it seriously. I think that might be the pattern for a lot of folks. You start for the laugh and then continue playing seriously after a certain point.

    What experience do you have in game development? Is this your first game?

    I’m a game design professor, so it’s not my first rodeo. A few I’ve worked on include:

    [Ayiti: The Cost of Life](www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWxG…)

    [Pangolin](www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDO7…)

    [Word After Word] (playfulsystems.com/word-after-w…)

    It’ll be the first game I’ve released in a few years, however. The development journey has been quite a ride. I made my first prototype about 7 years ago. It was received well and shown widely, but then came COVID, small children, job obligations, life, etc… I had the opportunity to continue working on it just over a year ago. Since then, it’s been a blast. I’ve learned a lot. And it’s been really nice to see it starting to find a community as well.

    And finally… Be honest, how good are you at your own game?

    Pretty good. I’ve been playing for 7 years, so there’s that. Surprisingly, I still enjoy it. I always feel like I can squeeze another half a point or two. I bet once I release it, I won’t be able to make the leaderboards, but that’s part of the fun. There might be artists out there who aren’t great at traditional video games who will REALLY excel at this. That’ll be exciting. Now, just to find them… 🙂

    Thank you so much for your time, and we here at InsideXO wish you huge luck with the release, We’ll be sure to share your progress as we hear from you, Our community cant wait to jump in and see what horrors we can create!

    Wishlist The Game Here!

    Want to chat? Come join the XO Discord, and share your thoughts on the game!

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    How did i even mess up some squares!

    One response to “Turning Art into Chaos: An Interview with the Creator of Sloppy Forgeries”

    1. Painting Under Pressure: Sloppy Forgeries Is Indie Chaos at Its Best – InsideXO avatar
      Painting Under Pressure: Sloppy Forgeries Is Indie Chaos at Its Best – InsideXO

      […] Full Interview Here! […]

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  • Day one in the Grass – Grounded Launch Day Impressions

    Day one in the Grass – Grounded Launch Day Impressions

    It’s launch day, and I’ve just wrapped up my first few hours in Grounded 2. I’m sunburned, bug-bitten, and completely hooked.

    Obsidian has come back swinging with a sequel that feels warmly familiar, but deeper, denser, and just that little bit deadlier. From the moment I awoke, tiny and clueless, the world felt bigger. Not just physically,  though the map is expanded for sure, but in its systems, its surprises, and its sense of danger, and Overall risk to reward.

    What Stood Out?

    Straight away, the game felt as though I was more equipped, with an excellent early-game loop, more tools, more variety in base building, and a heavy push towards exploration, sending me down ant nests, and stumbling into spider territory much quicker than I must say I wanted! But it all felt amazing; it was a guided journey filled with fear, fascination, and a whole load of fun

    And the new areas I managed to see? Gorgeous, the game looks brilliant, and despite some issues I was experiencing with framerate drops, it did feel well polished for such a new game. The lighting across the map is stunning, and it feels as though there’s more verticality to the game now, with a strong push towards underground exploration as well.

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    Smarter Than Ever…

    Combat feels much tighter, the AI behaviour seems to be massively improved, bugs seemingly working together, hunting me down several times, when I thought I’d gotten away, and that feeling of pure panic being chased by a spider, straight into a web… Never again!


    Weirder Than Ever, And We Love It!

    The tone of Grounded 2 is that perfect mix of childhood wonder and survival anxiety; it’s horrifying in the most addictive way, and amazing how unusual some situations need to feel, especially with the NPCs that I won’t spoil, because you just need to experience it for yourself to understand!

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    First-Day Verdict

    Obsidian gets what made Grounded special, and what their audience loves. This isn’t a simple sequel; it’s the backyard reborn. I’m already thinking about how I’ll rebuild my dream base, bigger and better than ever, and what the deeper systems might unlock for me in the coming weeks. For any fans of the first game, or anyone just curious about it, I cannot recommend it more highly.

    Myself & Moddedv10 outside our First litte Abode

    Do you have any thoughts you’d love to share on the game? leave them below in the comments, or join our Official Discord and come chat!

    Thanks for Reading!

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    One response to “Day one in the Grass – Grounded Launch Day Impressions”

    1. ModdedXO avatar
      ModdedXO

      I did not enjoy the spiders, they were big and scary

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  • Need a Chill Weekend? Play These 5 Amazing Indie Games

    Need a Chill Weekend? Play These 5 Amazing Indie Games

    Looking for the perfect weekend game? Whether you’re after something relaxing, creative, or just a short escape, we’ve hand-picked five indie gems that are perfect for a short weekend play session. From charming management sims to quirky art experiments, there’s something here for everyone.

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    5 – Medieval Frontiers (Playtest)

    Price: Free (Playtest)

    Platform: Steam

    Developer: Active Fungus Studios

    So This is a fairly New find on our table, but this first-person village builder has caught our attention, if you’ve enjoyed games like Medieval Dynasty, this follows in similar footsteps, the building looks like a lot more dynamic, and the graphics are gorgeous, even though its just a playtest, we think this would be an excellent addition to your weekend plans!

    4 – A Little to the Left

    Price: £12.99 (PC)

    Platform: Steam, PS, Xbox, Switch, Android

    Developer: Max Inferno

    Now, hear us out, yes it’s a been out a while now, and it’s not exactly a ‘hidden gem’, however we can’t deny that this game is a genre masterpiece, providing hours of endless fun, and a daily quest to keep you coming back, the perfect puzzle game to keep your mind sharp, while enjoying some downtime this weekend!

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    3 – Hotel Galactic

    Price: £29.50

    Platform: Steam

    Developer: Ancient Forge

    If you’ve had a long week, and you want a magical escape from reality, why not check in and take control over your very own whimsical, Ghibli-inspired hotel retreat! Take care of your guests, and spend time unwinding in the gorgeous landscape and world of Hotel Galactic, just one day into its release, and the game provides a beautiful experience, and has lots of character and charm just waiting to jump out at you! Just stay aware that it is a brand new release, so as always,  it’s possible to expect bugs and issues waiting to be patched.

    2 – Dead Metro (Free Demo)

    Price: Free (Only Demo Available)

    Platform: Steam

    Developer: Trust me bro Studio

    Recently Featured in an article here, the Demo for Dead Metro feels great, for a demo it feels surprisingly well polished, and its a solid experience for Survival adventure fans, lose yourself in its expansive world, and try your best to survive as you sit on the edge of your sit, captivated by its amazing graphics, and terrifying experiences within, perfect for those wanting a more thrilling down-time this weekend!

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    1- Ground of Aces

    Price: £19.99

    Platform: Steam

    Developer: Blindflug Studios AG

    This game has been featured a few times now, however with great reason, And with it just recently being released into Early Access, now is the perfect time to hop on, and experience the wonder of creating your very own, WWII Airbase, where you can manage your crew’s happiness, build defences, and send your realistic WWII Aircraft into missions, to unlock better and bigger Planes, this is the perfect game for anyone wanting to unwind and sink yourself into your own little unique world!


    Whether you’ve got a full weekend to binge or just a few spare hours, these games are the perfect way to unwind. Have a favourite indie we missed? Tell us in the comments or drop your recommendations in the XO Discord!

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  • Battlefield 6 Reveal Trailer Delivers Spectacle – But Where’s The Gameplay?

    Battlefield 6 Reveal Trailer Delivers Spectacle – But Where’s The Gameplay?

    Earlier today, EA and Battlefield Studios dropped the long-awaited cinematic trailer for Battlefield 6 – and fans are buzzing. You can expect crumbling skyscrapers, intense ground-to-air combat, and a plot that hinges on a militarised private army known as Pax Armata. But even amid all the fireworks, action, and a lot of helicopter crashes, no actual gameplay made its debut. Here’s what you need to know.

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    Back to Basics

    Battlefield seems to have gone back to what it does best, action, in a way that we just dont get with the new Call of Duty games, and admittedly, some of the recent Battlefields, we see a presidential Address. attacks on landmarks and NATO involvement, international politics seem to play a big role in this game, something not unique to Battlefield, but definitely something we know they can do very well.

    Campaign’s Bold Return

    After skipping single-player in 2042, Battlefield 6 thankfully goes back in. We get a sneaky glimpse of a narrative revolving around Pax Armata’s global threat and NATO’s response, Something which we think will be very well received by fans of the Franchise who expressed strong feelings of being unfulfilled with 2042.

    Spectacle Over Substance – for Now

    Lets be Honest, its a good, fast paced, action full trailer, which is brilliant, its captured the attention of shooter fans all around, but there is one thing missing, a glimpse at the actual gameplay, we see nothing of what the game is actually to bring to the table in terms of mechanics, so hopefully we will find out more over the coming days/weeks, but hey, all that action may just suffice for now!

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    What’s Next? Multiplayer Reveal on July 31

    The trailer does push the hype, action factor to the max, but you’ll have to tune in on July 31 at 11:30 AM PDT / 2:30 PM ET, when the studios behind the franchise (DICE, Criterion, Motive, Ripple Effect) will officially showcase the multiplayer, and we hope maybe even a beta announcement!

    Final Thoughts

    The trailer was amazing, and as a long-term fan of the franchise who’s felt disappointed in recent years over missing parts of games, I hope they can pull this together to bring back that old school Battlefield 4 feeling, that we all love and miss, it is a big shame they’ve chosen to leave out gameplay footage, but I guess it just leaves more to the imagination for now, and if they can live up to the hype they’re creating, we could be seeing a special release, and maybe the next big game to tie everyone over until May 2026 with GTA VI!

    If you have any thoughts you’d love to share with us, please leave a comment, or join our discord to keep on top of all News, and join the XO Community!

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    One response to “Battlefield 6 Reveal Trailer Delivers Spectacle – But Where’s The Gameplay?”

    1. Logan avatar
      Logan

      Great Read

      Liked by 1 person

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  • Building the Dream: Talking Hotel Galactic with Ancient Forge

    Building the Dream: Talking Hotel Galactic with Ancient Forge

    Release Date: July 24th 2025

    Genre: Casual, Simulation, Early access

    Developers: Ancient Forge

    Download Here

    Cosy gamers, it’s time to take Note. Hotel Galactic very well could just be the next big thing in relaxing, creative simulation games. Developed by the talented team at Ancient Forge, this upcoming title combines charming Studio Ghibli-inspired visuals, hotel management gameplay, and a truly whimsical world that feels alive with personality.

    I’ve been keeping a close eye on this one for a while. And I’m convinced it could be something genuinely special. The blend of creativity, relaxing simulation mechanics, and imaginative world-building is exactly what the cosy indie scene thrives on.

    I had the chance to talk with the developers themselves about the game, their inspirations, and what players can expect when they finally check into their very own interstellar getaway. Here’s how it went!

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    The Interview!

    Hotel Galactic feels like this perfect mix of cosy management and whimsical, almost storybook charm. What was the original spark that started the whole idea?

    We just love Studio Ghibli and this aesthetic. And because we are known from our other well-received management game The Tenants, we feel that doing what we can best, with what we love the most, is what we should do 🙂

    The art style is so distinctive, it feels painterly and alive. What made you choose this specific look?

    As I mentioned – we love classic anime pictures. Our artists did an amazing job, and combined the rules redefining anime drawing style with their own detail-oriented, yet cute artstyle.

    If you had to describe Hotel Galactic in only three words, without using “hotel,” “management,” or “cosy”, what would you pick?

    “Spirited Away Game” speaking to anime fans, or “Run Your Inn” for tavern simulator lovers 🙂

    What’s been the biggest “pivot” or surprise during development?

    First game public showcase definitely! When we saw for the first time how people on gamescom are playing the game, we were in some kind of a shock. Based on the feedback and observing how people played, we reworked many mechanics to adjust them to the people’s playstyle.

    Has anything turned out completely different from what you first planned?

    Maybe not completely different, but for example we changed the laundry system. At the beginning, our testers had to click on laundry and drying machines every time they had a dirty sheet, now based on the feedback we added more automation to this process.

    What’s one small detail in the game that players might overlook, but you’re personally really proud of?

    We have plenty. First of all, all the artistic and animation details. You can spend literally hours just looking for some cute details. Same for the music and audio implementation.

    And the frogs, frogs are everything.

    Which hotel worker would each of your team members be? Any reason for the choice? I think I would be Sparn!

    Our team is quite diverse, but for sure we have some grumpy Maklo’s in here – me myself! 😀

    The game already has a lot of buzz. How much has community feedback shaped development so far?

    A lot! We announced the game in June next year, and since August we have already started playtesting with people. Without their feedback, our demo will never hit over 2k reviews with over 96% positives!

    If time and budget were unlimited, what’s a dream feature or expansion you’d love to add to the hotel in the future?

    We are releasing a game in the Early Access model. Everything we have planned for the full release will be available to watch on our release roadmap. 🙂 And we will continue to implement players feedback to every game aspect. This is how we worked over The Tenants, and what works for our game the best.

    But if the time and resources are unlimited? We always dreamed about the HG inspired anime. Netflix! If you are interested, we are too! 🙂

    What indie games are YOU excited about this year? We love seeing Devs show love for other indies!

    For sure Tale of the Shire and Grounded 2, big releases for our type of games. But also we are waiting for our friends from Tiny Bookshop and Voyagers of Nera.

    Questions from the InsideXO Community: Every dev has a great bug story. What’s the funniest or weirdest thing you’ve seen happen in Hotel Galactic during testing?

    Character animations issues are the cutest ones! We always have a lot of fun with them. And for some reason, our guests sometimes decide to levitate next to the dining table!

    A lot of comparisons are made to Spirited Away, and studio Ghibli, but is there anywhere else you got inspiration from that the media may have overlooked so far?

    The Spirited Away vibe is of course visible in the game, but we also used inspiration from our game The Tenants, and other great classics like Spiritfarer, RimWorld, Oxygen not Included etc.

    Thanks so much for taking the time to answer! Our community is going to love reading this, and we can’t wait to check in at the hotel ourselves. Is there anything you’d like to say directly to future players before we wrap up?

    We just hope you will be proud of us and find great joy while playing this game we made with such passion. We will be hearing you all the time, and if you want to share anything with us, feel free to let us know! You can find us on our Discord, SM channels and Steam forum. This journey is just starting for all of us. 🙂

    Frogs, laundry automation, and levitating guests? We’re in!

    With this exciting release date just a couple of days away, make sure you’re ready to check in.

    it’s clear Ancient Forge has something special here. There’s an attention to detail that makes the hotel feel like a living, breathing world rather than just a series of menus. The hand-painted art, the promise of player creativity in customizing your hotel, and that chill-but-engaging gameplay loop all scream cozy gaming perfection.

    If you loved games like Spiritfarer or Stardew Valley, keep Hotel Galactic on your radar – it might just scratch that same itch while offering something fresh.

    When Can You Play It?

    July 24th is when the game Drops, so add it to your wishlist, and count down the hours until it releases!

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/2183670/Hotel_Galactic/

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    Let us know any thoughts you have on the game in the comments, or by joining the XO Community discord!

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