Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games

@shallowthinking

Solo indie dev, former Rockstar and Argonaut. Tiny plastic guys enthusiast. Purveyor of retro textures. Currently building a small narrative-focused first person exploration game.

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Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· 18d

Getting this weird Krita save error again, on a file created a couple of weeks back in the version. I've add new layers today but not touched these existing layers at all. Of course I forgot to make a copy of the busted file 🙃

Screenshot of an error dialogue saying that the file could not be saved due to instances of "The metadata backend failed to save the metadata for..." on multiple layers in the document.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· 23d

I should wrap this lot up and get them out. Does need another floor/ground or two for utility. #indiedev #gamedev #madeinkrita #textures #noai

Screenshot of a video game textures folder showing a selection of slightly grimy looking urban textures.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· 23d

Snapped this for street furniture reference and no other reason.

Photo of a typical UK dark green fibre internet routing cabinet at the side of a street. Various stickers and posters have been fixed to it and torn off again at different times. A trans pride flag sticker is still nearly intact and someone has written "🤍 Local Puppy girls" in white paint just below that.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· 25d

I snapped this throwaway shot with some sort of idea about it being symbolic of the decline of the Post Office, but now I'm looking at it all I see is those paving slabs. It just make me want to pop back here on a nicely overcast day and pace out a grid of photos to make a big ol' texture out of.

A slightly dismal looking plaza with rough concrete paving slabs in front of a convenience store in Sheffield. There is a line of three different dropbox lockers for parcel deliveries at the edge of the plaza. Part of Sheffield Hallam University is visible in the distance.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jul 7

Yeah I usually watermark anything bigger than a thumbnail. Or slap it on some planes and render it which is like rotating it but 3D 😆

Demo render of some delightfully 2D textures on dashingly 3D planes.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jul 7

A wise man once said, "The hard part about promoting your textures is that you can't just post the textures because then people have the textures already." Dunno who it was, but it is a deep and fundamental truth. Behold, a folder! #indiedev #indiegame #pixelart #gamedev #customlevel #madeinkrita

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jul 6

If you wanted any of my texture packs while they are in the @itch.io summer sale, you have only got TWO HOURS LEFT! shallowthinking.itch.io Downtown Dystopia - 20% off! Rivets n Rust - 25% off! Doomed Dimension - 13% off! #indiedev #gamedev #textures #lowpoly #pixelart

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jun 27

Showing off the pleasingly rusty orange version of some of this texture pack for #screenshotSaturday and noting that there's a sale discount right now that gives you just over a buck off an already low price. shallowthinking.itch.io/doomed-dimen... #gamedev #indiedev #summersale #pixelart #quake

A gothic fantasy game environment with greenish stones and orangey brown rusted bracing. Additional context: This was made using netRadiant and screenshot in Quake 3 because that's actually a pretty quick way of doing this kind of demo environment.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jun 27

Some dumbass Warhammer thing that looks like a Jules Verne portaloo helicopter.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jun 25

What sort of dork would put their newest texture pack in itch's summer sale? It's -13% which is pretty cursed, but more than one whole $ off. And you can still pay more than that if you're smart and handsome. shallowthinking.itch.io/doomed-dimen... #lowpoly #gameart #indiedev #retrogame #pixelart

It says "-13%" in big letters. Well big numbers technically I guess.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jun 20

This month's fancy new texture set, Doomed Dimension, can be grabbed from my itch page. Can be used for fantasy both high and low, and equally good for disturbing technogothic settings. shallowthinking.itch.io/doomed-dimen... #ScreenshotSaturday #fantasyart #indiedev #gamedev #dungeons

Screenshot of a test environment demoing a new game texture pack with a dark fantasy vibe.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jun 8

Tomorrow is texture day. #indiedev #gamedev #texturepack #gameart #assetpack #madeinkrita

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jun 6

Building a test level for screens, and finding possible areas where I can add to my imminent texture set release. I went for a Quake vibe but there's not any specific icons or symbols. It'll be good for all sorts of dungeons and castles and the like. #ScreenshotSaturday #indiedev #gamedev #lowpoly

Test environment for a forthcoming texture set. Some might say it's dark, I'd say moodily lightmapped.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jun 5

Got about 140 files in the exports folder right now and started doing the preview sheets, although there are still a few colour-ways to finalise and save out. Aiming for Tuesday, as is tradition. #indiedev #gamedev #gameart #textureart #quake #noai

Collage sheet of a selection of game textures in various green, grey, and rusty hues.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Jun 3

Back on the texture set grind. #indiedev #gamedev #textures #madeinkrita #pixelart #quake

Screengrab of a file browser window showing thumbnails of a WIP texture set. Green blocks/bricks and orange rusty trim features are prominent.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· May 27

I would accuse you of following me around but this isn't the same sign, although it might be at the same pond 😆

A sign saying "FISHING IS NOT ALLOWED AFTER DUSK" standing in a wooded environment. At some point the "NOT" was painted over, but it has been mostly cleaned off again.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· May 19

Hit a minor sales milestone on itch. I'm celebrating with a little update to the free Brutal Base texture pack which will be uploaded later. You can follow for updates in the meantime: shallowthinking.itch.io/brutalbasepack #TextureTuesday #pixelart #lowpoly #gameassets #gamedev #indiedev

Preview of the new textures being added to the Brutal Base texture pack.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· May 18

Got up to a third iteration of logo design yesterday and I don't hate it, but I'm wondering if I should simplify even further.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· May 14

Get an authentic retro feeling in your environments with Rivets n Rust. 300+ gritty textures including a commercial use license. shallowthinking.itch.io/rivets-n-rus... #gamedev #indiedev #assetpack #quake3 #lightmaps

Screenshot of a retro-style base FPS level with chunky architecture and textures. Alarmingly green slime is visible through and around a floor grating.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· May 13

HMRC has decided that they messed up and overpaid on a refund they gave for the tax 24/25 year so it's a great time to remind remind everyone that I have some texture packs for sale! shallowthinking.itch.io #gameart #pixelart #gamedev #indiedevelopers #gamedev

Promotional render for Downtown Dystopia Texture Pack showing a slightly grimy urban loading bay environment.

Promotional render for the Rivets n Rust Texture Pack showing a rugged Quake-style base environment.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· May 9

My account is mostly about making video games so I want to move off the photo of a kitbashed ork battlewagon PFP. But. I do kinda like it 😉 Mucked about with some quick geometry and I think from here I'll render it then see how much simpler I can make it in vectors. #screenshotsaturday #blender

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· May 7

The Rivets n Rust textures are now available to download for casual or commercial use. 300+ tileable textures for rugged retro installations presented in a might 24 bits (or 32 with alphas) shallowthinking.itch.io/rivets-n-rus... #indiedev #gamedev #gamedevelopment #textures #homebrew #gameart

A screenshot of a rugged grey base map environment.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· May 4

Another upcycled texture release is imminent! Heavily inspired by the base maps of yore, Rivets n Rust releases tomorrow! If you're enthusiastic about impatiently refreshing pages or reading this in a far future time: shallowthinking.itch.io #indiedev #gamedev #gamedevelopment #textures #retrofps

Screenshot of a retrogame style future base with a new texture set.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· May 1

I've dug through the archives once again and have been tidying up and expanding another set of authentic oldschool textures for release. This set includes at least two distinct shades of brown! #indiedev #quake #gamedev #texturepack (Editors note: It's not all brown.)

Screenshot of an in-game future base environment with overwhelmingly brown textures.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Apr 24

I love making oldschool textures and I have a couple of packs out now: Downtown Dystopia is 100+ assets for low-def urban levels. Concrete/brick/floors/doors and more. And Brutal Base is FREE for all your grimly concreted needs! shallowthinking.itch.io #indiedev #gamedev #lowpoly #gameassets

Layout image showing many of the images contained in the Downtown Dystopia texture asset pack. Suited for building contemporary structures that you see in the horrors of day to day city life.

Promo image of a dimly lit concrete environment with the legend BRUTAL BASE TEXTURE PACK

Layout image showing all the textures contained in the Brutal Base texture asset pack. 80 authentically 90s/00s diffuse textures plus extra FX stuff great for retro stylings.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Apr 23

Presenting a baffling carousel. (Love to make a joke that doesn't work on an out of date app, nor on desktop where for once I'm glad we don't have feature parity.)

Stupid closeup of a a retro style game texture with pleasing pixelly graininess.

Another stupid closeup of a a retro style game texture with pleasing pixelly graininess.

A third stupid closeup of a a retro style game texture with pleasing pixelly graininess.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Apr 22

Little things you see on a walk. #stonewall #whimsy #lilguys #walking

Photo of a hole in a wall where a sign used to be, which has been turned into a tiny magical cave populated with a couple of dozen tiny cone-shaped painted figures, made from something like clothespegs or shuttlecocks.

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Apr 19

The "fish react" meme: An image of an alarmingly muscular CG Popeye the sailor, bearing the patchworked legend "This man above me - Fish react him"

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Apr 19

On Sundays we muck about with DOOM levels. #screenshot #doom #doom2hellonearth #retroshooter #leveldesign #custommap

Tom Waters - Shallow Thinking Games@shallowthinking· Apr 13

Tuesday will be textures day as I'll be putting these up on my Itch storefront! 100+ images for dressing your levels as horrid modern urban environments. #indiegames #indiedev #assetpack #textures #gamedev #gameart #MarketingMonday