I realized that it would probably make sense for me to talk about why I made t/suki in the first place, instead of having sporadic conversations about it off the forum.
Back when I was a university student, I used to attend this monthly indie games event called Juegos Rancheros in Austin, Texas. I didn’t really know anyone, but it was always a thrill. The event was pretty casual; basically, the way it worked was that you would show up at the venue and people would set up their games to show off and you could walk around, look at the games, and mingle with other people who were there. In the middle of the event, during peak attendance, they would get the people who were showing off their games to get on a stage and give a short spiel about their game and where it was. That was the most formal part of the event, and it rarely lasted more than ten minutes.
It was the casual interaction with other game devs and people who were interested in independent games and the celebration of the things people have made that always appealed to me. Having interesting conversations about the craft, giving good feedback, and getting to know what makes other people make games – these were all some of the things that I really missed.
Juegos Rancheros eventually died. Ownership of the event was transferred to the Museum of Human Achievement and rebranded as Games Y’all. Unfortunately, Games Y’all isn’t quite what I wish it were. I probably evaluate Games Y’all unfairly against an idealized version of Juegos Rancheros, as I was never particularly knowledgeable about how it worked. I’ve also learned a lot about why Juegos Rancheros ended. It’s likely that Juegos Rancheros was actually never any of the things I remember it being.
But it’s that idea of a space that is by and for independents, hobbyists, and people who see games as art and as a passion that appeals to me. I want to make a space that isn’t just another link dump like a self-promo Discord channel or the /r/indiedev subreddit. Spaces like Discord servers these days often feel like suburbia – everyone has their own, lone fiefdoms where they, and they alone, try to curry the favor of fans and patrons to fuel their creative career. On the internet, we can be exposed to so many different perspectives and ideas and I find it a pity that so many of us find ourselves in our own bubbles.
I think those of us who love the craft could have so much more. I want us to be genuinely interested in what other people are working on. I want us to get excited about others growing and improving. I want us to support each other. I want a community.
That’s why I made t/suki. I don’t know if this will work, if we’ll actually make this space into what I think it could be, or how long this community will last, but I want to do my best to make it happen. I hope you are interested in this journey too. 
