RE: https://mstdn.games/@cautionaryfable/116546667733556899
Interesting results here. There were actually more people who follow developers than I expected, even though the vast majority of people didn't know it was a feature.
independent journalist focused on discussing representation in media
agender
| Pronouns | they/them |
| Gaming from the Mezzanine | https://gaming.themezzanine.sbs/ |
| The Mezzanine GameDB | https://gamedb.themezzanine.sbs/ |
| Gaming from the Mezzanine on Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@themezzgaming |
RE: https://mstdn.games/@cautionaryfable/116546667733556899
Interesting results here. There were actually more people who follow developers than I expected, even though the vast majority of people didn't know it was a feature.
@joandaro I wouldn't say the whole thing is "doomed" as much as I'd say that it's so entrenched in its tropes and norms that the style sends any of a number of messages that are understandably unappealing ("boobs" are honestly the least of those - there are a LOT more that are a LOT worse).
Media that is trying to get away from those tropes exists, but it definitely has to work like 5x as hard to not be seen as part of the problem. Like, for example, there's a reason that Ghibli is a household name, even for people who don't typically engage with anime, while most other anime isn't.
Random question: does anyone actually follow game developers (or even curators) on Steam? The feature is there, but I've literally never heard anyone mention it. I don't even see it mentioned in marketing emails from game developers/publishers.
I recently published an interview I did with the creator of a queer witch short, Coven of the Midnight Son. Set during the Salem Witch Trials, it follows a man who is pushing himself to his limit in an effort to hold on.
https://themezzanine.sbs/coven-of-the-midnight-son-asks-how-far-you-would-go-to-hold-on/
This is really cool. Would be cool to see this for other kinds of games (maybe turn-based games?), but it has some unique limitations.
It's a bit of a concerning sign for #gaming that more and more of Steam's "Popular New Releases" are getting less than 100 (often less than 50) reviews on day one. This seems to indicate that a lot of them aren't breaking 5000 sales before sales stagnate, despite homepage visibility.
This kind of goes in line with what a lot of devs have been saying. Even the CEO of Monument Valley developer Ustwo Games just referred to "having employees" and "long-term employment" as ideas that are "a little bit too romantic."
It feels like the consolidation of wealth is hitting gaming hard, but it remains to be seen.
Learned last night that even #Touhou is using #AI now, which is so incredibly frustrating. Zun is probably one of the most well-known solo devs and even he's turned to AI to generate backgrounds.
Not to mention that AI disclosures on Steam are becoming more and more common, no matter how small a role AI played. Nexon is viewing #ARCRaiders as a "Trojan horse" for getting AI into game development. More and more major companies are admitting to AI use...
...and now I've seen people say MiHoYo's #PetitPlanet is "cool" because of its AI conversations.
Getting concerned. AI is getting harder and harder to avoid in gaming.