> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.toomuchtomato.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 🍅3 Big Announcements + Why my NPCs are going viral - URL: https://www.toomuchtomato.com/3-big-announcements-why-my-npcs-are/ - Published: 2026-03-01T19:04:18.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-25T09:59:19.000Z - Description: 3 big announcements in this issue! In February, I spent a lot of time working on a new island, with new NPCs, and then something cool happened. - Author: Michael Mato - Tags: game development, outer wilds, MAGfest, detective game, indie game, unity, video game, roguelike, Newsletter, #Migrated-1790330258249, #Import 2026-09-25 09:58 Hi friend! February was an awesome month of progress on FORKLIFT FLOWERPOT. I feel like I’ve finally hit a good development stride for the first time in a while! I’ve got 3 big announcements to make at the end of this post. [![](https://www.toomuchtomato.com/content/images/2026/09/f7b01da5-ef2d-4346-a31f-1879fc827a9a_800x450-4.png)](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2073330?ref=toomuchtomato.com) Check out [FORKLIFT FLOWERPOT](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2073330/FORKLIFT%5FFLOWERPOT%5FBotanical%5FInvestigator/?ref=toomuchtomato.com) and [TORSO TENNIS](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2824780/TORSO%5FTENNIS/?ref=toomuchtomato.com) on Steam! ![](https://www.toomuchtomato.com/content/images/2026/09/1e9d4cfd-4f28-40a8-a7f3-5653b2abaaf7_816x1056.png) ## Updates: A New Island February has brought a lot of new content to FORKLIFT FLOWERPOT. I’ve been focusing on level design for the **Accordion Isles**, a set of twin islands that expand and contract with the seasons. ![](https://www.toomuchtomato.com/content/images/2026/09/f26e240a-37f8-44f2-8e74-f70b8a2fbea3_1211x801.png) While this island is still firmly in “Alpha” state, with unfinished art, it feels great to see the level design flow coming together. Blocking out 3D levels is a tough, but rewarding part of game development. I see this as the embodiment of the artist’s struggle with the “blank page”, magnified in a third dimension. It’s hard to know where to start and how big the spaces should be. Once things are blocked in, refining the flow of the levels can be quite rewarding. Making little break moments to talk to NPCs or to highlight a hint with a custom camera zone are joyous moments to sprinkle throughout the level. So, despite saying I wasn’t going to do any art in this pass of the game, I ended up making some NPCs to test the level flow. ![](https://www.toomuchtomato.com/content/images/2026/09/0cb3125e-cb25-4daf-8e7d-146692baf6c4_673x272.png) There are two main species that live on the Accordion Isles. On Treble Side, the **Violhens** perch and keep lookout over their home. They are protective, watchful, and contemplative creatures. In contrast, the Bass Side inhabitants known as **Horngeese** are quite boisterous. I had a fun time concepting and modeling out the first versions of these creatures and I can’t wait to create more variants of String Instrument Chickens and Brass Instrument Geese. ![](https://www.toomuchtomato.com/content/images/2026/09/cc243841-f536-4a4a-9439-6c228047ac2a_1520x1061.png) ![](https://www.toomuchtomato.com/content/images/2026/09/c83c6a15-39fa-426f-9e7e-dfc92dd99e8a_620x772.png) This month's art reference boards ## New NPCs are going viral Since I modeled some new characters, I decided to make a few short videos with time-lapse modeling footage. Those sorts of things had done well in the past, so I figured I might as well post a video before I forget. I started doing a new style of video with a specific [7-step process](https://www.patreon.com/posts/why-all-should-151591958?ref=toomuchtomato.com) (more on this in the announcements) and the first video got over 100k views across all platforms. So I repeated this a few times, which led to a huge influx of eyeballs on FORKLIFT FLOWERPOT. In total, this series on the NPCs totaled nearly 300k views across social media. I know this isn’t the extreme virality some people experience, but it’s a big moment for me. ## Reflections on 5 years of Game Dev Organizing Some of you know that I run a Game Development community in North Carolina called [Triangle Interactive Arts Collective](https://www.triangleinteractivearts.org/?ref=toomuchtomato.com). From founding the group almost 5 years ago to building it up to where it is now, it has been an amazing journey. We went from having 1 or 2 people show up at our events (if any) to massive monthly playtest nights with 100+ attendees. ![](https://www.toomuchtomato.com/content/images/2026/09/ea1eaaf8-c59a-4f43-b4ee-69960860a3c5_4032x2268-jpeg.jpg) I never would have imagined 5 years ago that I would become the President of a nonprofit organization and run a coworking space dedicated to game development. It truly is a dream come true to see something I started become so successful. I honestly believe this might be my greatest contribution to humanity so far, and I’m being genuine when I say that! It has been a tremendous amount of work over the last 5 years. I’ve put a lot of volunteer effort into this group that I could have otherwise spent focusing on my business of making games. But, I truly believe in giving back when you can in life, and it felt like this sort of community is what I was desperately craving when setting out as a 1-person game studio. In time, TIAC became a living, breathing community of its own! So many people have jumped in to help out over the years. All sorts of community connections were happening because of individuals carrying on the spirit of the group, welcoming others, and running events without direct supervision from me. ![](https://www.toomuchtomato.com/content/images/2026/09/c78e9e84-34fc-4d90-9a9b-57fa04b674fc_2048x1536-jpeg.jpg) In particular, I have to thank Briles, who brought immense skills of event production to put on the Oak City Indie Games showcase for the last 3 years. Vince, whose meticulous approach helped us open and successfully break-even on our coworking space. Kirk, who really brought all these people together in the first place and inspired me to dream big with the group. Thanks to our long-term community organizers: Ro, Joshitha, Crystina, Armand, and many others. It makes me so proud to see the positive impact that this community has had on people over the years. Time well spent. ## 3 Big Announcement(s) 1. After close to 5 years, I’ve decided to pass on the reigns to a new generation to run TIAC. While I won’t be in charge anymore, I’ll still be around. If you’re in TIAC and you didn’t know this yet (I haven’t officially announced it), that’s the kind of inside scoop you get by being subscribed to the Tomato Club! 2. Also, I’m having a baby this summer! You heard it here first! That’s the kind of inside scoop you get by being subscribed to the Tomato Club. 3. ~~I soft-launched a Patreon!~~ (I’ve decided not to continue on Patreon. I may start it up again in the future, but for now I want to focus on family and finishing my projects rather than doing more writing & tutorials) ![](https://www.toomuchtomato.com/content/images/2026/09/4844f211-0942-4671-ae11-3d505cf73ec6_816x1056.png) Thank you so much for reading the newsletter and following the journey! Feel free to respond to this email if you’d like to get in touch, or leave a comment on the post. <3 Michael [FORKLIFT FLOWERPOT on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2073330?ref=toomuchtomato.com)