Finally got around to playing Wednesdays, a game where the heaviness of it's subject matter is only matched by how deftly it handles it (huge recommend). Also sets the template for how to handle content warnings in videogames too, hoping other games will start to adopt similar mechanics.

Screen Australia is doing a massive research project on the current state of the screen and games industries in Australia. Local devs, please consider taking the time to complete their survey survey.alchemer.com/s3/8573365/S...

Has been an absolute joy to work on this, both as something very different to research but also for the opportunity to work more closely with the incredible @oddgoo.bsky.social.

Hey all, we are extending the deadline for our 2026 issue to December 10, 2025📅This is an excellent chance if you have a paper you're working on right now but need just a bit of extra time! We look forward to your submissions😉

Everyone still needs to play despelote btw. Special game.

This seems outrageously cruel. And just a handful of months before these folks would have been set to enjoy the release of one of the biggest games of their careers too. The imbalance of power in the games industry remains utterly fucked.

I almost don't want to put this out in the world in fear of manifesting it, but after Xbox utterly buried Keeper's release I fear for Double Fine.

Reminder to Australian devs that @sifterhq.bsky.social does the lord's work every year by compiling every single Australian-made videogame they can find. You can submit your 2025 releases here: www.sifter.com.au/add-my-game-...

I am facilitating a workshop trying to heal the disease of racism, using an anti-racism game 'Between the lines', at the Being Human Festival 2025. Come along for a mindful engagement & fight racism. #beinghumanfestival2025 #Gamesforchange events.unimelb.edu.au/arts/event/5....

Whether it's creators and designers or researchers and players, gaming communities show that the true value of games lies not just in the code - but in the collaborative worlds they build together 🎮 Tap through to read more → unimelb.me/46VD9wV

Parallels was great last night. Absolutely wild that Freeplay has been both the anchor and the beacon for experimental and independent game development in this country for 21 years now.

Day one of PAX and I've already hit the floor.

Reviewing this game was actually a joy, not because it's good but just because of how eclectically interesting it is. Simultaneously recommend and warn you.

Oh its me.

To coincide with Melbourne International Games Week, MAGPIE has put together a special report with @unimelb.bsky.social's Pursuit talking all about the effects gaming is having socially and culturally on the world around us. pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/special-repo...

The latest Video Game History Hour podcast talks to Dr. Stephanie Harkin, lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, about her research on video games in girls’ lifestyle magazines like Girl Gamer & Total Girl: gamehistory.org/episode-141-...

My book is out! 💗 Girlhood Games: Gender, Identity and Coming of Age in Videogames is a 6-year-long labour of love for young adult stories, teen heroines in videogames and unnoticed girly game histories. Thank you @livvy.itch.io for the beautiful cover! www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...

‼️Call for reviewers‼️ We're looking for three reviewers for an article concerning Pokémon and the deconstruction of the Hero's journey. Please check the attached image for the abstract. (1/2)

Got to watch and play a secret early version of this and absolutely loved it (also incredible trailer), everyone go wishlist immediately.

New article in @theconversation.com today reflecting on Australia’s 2024 loot box regulations and how, 1 year later, there remains widespread non-compliance - and generally really confusing age ratings for mobile games on the App Stores! theconversation.com/loot-boxes-a...

Happy Hades II day to all who celebrate (I will see everyone in a week's time).

‼️Call for reviewers‼️ We are looking for three peer reviewers familiar with textual analysis and/or media philosophy for a manuscript titled "The Look of Gaming's Cognitive Bond" 📷 Please check the attached image for the abstract. (1/2)

Played this at PAX in 2023 and had an absolute blast (and still got the pin!). Great Aussie get by Devolver.

Letters to Arralla is OUT NOW on Steam with a limited time 20% launch discount!! 🏝️💌 After 5 long years of development and lots of fruit & veggies eaten to power our developers, this cheeky game is finally ready to be delivered directly into your hands!! ☺️ Play now on Steam! youtu.be/7GbGTEpsoIM

I realise posting this on a Saturday is not ideal, but, hear me out. We are trying very hard to keep Frosty alive, and even grow it into something more helpful for ANZ based devs, long term 🍦

✨I’m recruiting for a research project on game monetisation!✨ I’m keen to chat to game devs about how monetisation shapes the dev process. Interviews will be 60mins via Zoom. To learn more, head to bit.ly/40mOB3f if you'd like to participate, shoot me a DM or email [email protected] 😊

@antipollution.bsky.social and I double-dipped this week and ALSO spoke at Media Traditions 2025 on our work thinking through itch.io as an incidental videogame archive. Full on week, but been very luck to see a lot of great research and meet a lot of lovely researchers.

Oh. Oh this one hurts.

BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT! @mahliann.bsky.social, @marcuscarter.com, and myself have combined our collective brains and written a wide-reaching introduction to the complex and interdisciplinary field of Game Studies in this forthcoming book for Polity. www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b...

Myself and @antipollution.bsky.social are at Replaying Japan 2025 this week and just presented our work on dark media archives and itch.io horror games Frontiers of the Mind and Basilisk 2000

Game is very good, should play.

📢Press Start is delighted to welcome our newest board members! We'll be introducing one member every day in this thread, so please give them all a warm welcome♥️

Still thinking about despelote from earlier this year, would absolutely recommend picking up if you haven't already.

Reviewed the new Prince of Persia. Great game. EXCELLENT music. Not being able to recommend its score to people while under embargo was very hard.

Parallels returns and early bird tickets are available now. Check out freeplay.net.au for tickets and info, with a full lineup and general release tickets coming in September

Open Call for Papers 2025🥰📢 Press Start is currently seeking full-length game studies papers from current grad students/recent grads. Submit by November 10, 2025, for a potential spot in our 2026 issue! More details below in this thread👇 #CallForPapers #GameStudies

Had a great time looking averagely fashionable at Freeplay Angles this week (incredible talks all around)

This was honestly one of the nicest and most impressive talks I have ever seen.

I'm writing an article about the impact of delisting games on queer creators. If anyone is willing to share a comment to be included in the piece, or maybe a screenshot of your delisted games, I'd appreciate it! (I think I have the data I need at the moment otherwise.) Feel free to share!

MAGPIE is going to have a small table all through Freeplay Angles showing off some of the amazing research of our members (and also our Bird RPG Discord game). Come say hi!

tomorrow! 📆

valve takes 30% of nearly every sale on steam

Historiographies of Game Studies is now published open access with @punctumbooks.bsky.social ! This massive collection examines why game studies is the way it is, and how it might change and grow in the future. Congrats to all contributors, and please share! punctumbooks.com/titles/histo...

Tomorrow from 2-4pm I am going to be on @checkpointau.bsky.social's weekly radio show on @joy949.bsky.social talking both the games news of the week and discussing my research into teaching with games!

New Press Start issue! This is a particularly special issue for me given it will be my last as co-vice editor (as I am firmly not a student anymore hah). Working at Press Start was incredibly formative, and I feel very lucky to have been able to help foster a place for emerging scholars.

Local legends Sabby Gallery are looking for supporters. "Co-ops show that our local industry is moving forward… This is what we need to secure the future; we need community, we need to invest in each other, and this is one extra drop in that bucket.” checkpointgaming.net/features/202...