Devlog 10: I’m done with Ingram.
Learn from my mistakes, fellow indies. (Originally published to Kickstarter.)
Plane is a solo-journaling RPG where you assume the role of an Interdimensional Teleporter Operator, a scientist-scribe who assists quirky travelers. You’ll also spend time with your diverse and eccentric coworkers at AstroFusion Express, home to several Interdimensional Mysteries, and one of the most bizarre workplaces in the multiverse.
Inspired by games like Fox Curio’s Floating Bookshop (Ella Lim), Honeybuns (Cindi Malek), Coffee Talk (Toge Productions), and Spiritfarer (Lotus Games), Plane invites players to learn more about themselves and the strange world they live in through their experiences assisting other characters.
The buttons below will bring you to my publishing company, The Dread Machine.
Each day, travelers will arrive at and depart from your interdimensional teleporter. Your job is to coordinate and oversee these departures and arrivals, recording travelers’ stories for AstroFusion’s official records. Your reports do more than just log in-game events; they serve as the canvas for your creative expression, capturing your adventures, the hurdles you overcome, and the epiphanies you encounter along the way.
…but this job isn’t all fun and games, ITO. Teleporter Malfunctions and periodic Crises are an ever-present threat, and—like all conscious entities—every ITO has a Background, with Weaknesses and Trauma to contend with.
To play, you’ll need:
Alin Walker (known in the realms of law and order as Tina Alberino) is a speculative fiction editor and game designer whose editorial talents have shaped the eerie and existential world of The Dread Machine for four years. Under her stewardship, The Dread Machine has grown into a haven for dark speculative fiction aficionados. Now, Alin is channeling her solo-gaming prowess and passion for interactive storytelling into the realm of game design with Plane: Teleporter Operator Simulator.
Kanishk Tantia, a seasoned weaver of speculative tales, has an all-consuming love for storytelling and interactive adventures. His work has been published by Apex Magazine, Dark Matter, Flametree Press, and more. He’s currently aiming to combine intricate narratives and engaging gameplay with Plane: Teleporter Operator Simulator, inviting you to become not just a spectator but a creator of your own epic saga.
The Dread Machine, an indie publishing house, has been exploring the shadowy nexus of technology and the human psyche since 2020. Known for its quarterly dark speculative litmag, and anthologies such as Mixtape 1986 and Darkness Blooms, The Dread Machine has carved a niche for their unique brand of offbeat speculative fiction with narratives that explore themes of existential dread, human and non-human experiences, societal critiques, and the ever-thinning line between reality and the surreal. In 2024, The Dread Machine embarked on an exciting new journey, bringing its unique brand of storytelling to immersive gameplay experiences.
Learn from my mistakes, fellow indies. (Originally published to Kickstarter.)
As the campaign winds down, I’m already thinking about the next one.
I don’t know shit about marketing, so generating hype is…uh…hard.
I spent the last month catching up on home renovation projects, trying to keep my kids entertained, finalizing the last issue of The Dread Machine, and failing at making dice.
Card design is nearly done. Next step: custom dice!