Nathan Savant
@baldsavant.bsky.social
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
✍️ Systemic Narrative Designer
🧭 Quest designer and world builder
🧠 Psychology and Sociology in #GameDesign
🧙♂️ Wizard in need of a pointy hat
Currently @ Unemployed
He/Him
✍️ Systemic Narrative Designer
🧭 Quest designer and world builder
🧠 Psychology and Sociology in #GameDesign
🧙♂️ Wizard in need of a pointy hat
Currently @ Unemployed
He/Him
Pinned
Nathan Savant
@baldsavant.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Systemic Narrative: A How-To Guide
After my last blog post on Donkey Kong Bananza, I threatened to take what I’d learned and tell you how to do that for yourself. Well here I am, looming in the shadows with the knife of knowledge in my hand. Waiting just for you.Now you may look at this blog title and think to yourself “But Nathan, Bananza doesn’t really have a systems-driven narrative, why are you talking about that topic?!” and to you I would say “welcome to my unhinged corner of the internet, you must be new here!”. Donkey Kon
www.nathansavant.com
NEW BLOG POST!
This time I'm talking about systems-driven narrative design and how YOU can tell a story with your gameplay, whatever that gameplay happens to be. We start from Bananza and build into a systemic approach anyone can use.
www.nathansavant.com/post/systemi...
This time I'm talking about systems-driven narrative design and how YOU can tell a story with your gameplay, whatever that gameplay happens to be. We start from Bananza and build into a systemic approach anyone can use.
www.nathansavant.com/post/systemi...
Yeah. Y'all. Horses looks gross to me too, I want no part of it, but that is MY PERSONAL GODDAMN OPINION and should not in any way be enforceable by law.
Look at the game. It's doing nothing wrong. This cannot become acceptable.
We hold the fucking line, or we lose everything.
Look at the game. It's doing nothing wrong. This cannot become acceptable.
We hold the fucking line, or we lose everything.
seeing people being like "ehhh Idkkkkk horses DOES sound kinda icky, I get why it was banned" like barely 2 months after a bunch of people kicked up the wildest possible hostile campagn against _itch_ makes me feel like I'm losing my mind lol
November 26, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Yeah. Y'all. Horses looks gross to me too, I want no part of it, but that is MY PERSONAL GODDAMN OPINION and should not in any way be enforceable by law.
Look at the game. It's doing nothing wrong. This cannot become acceptable.
We hold the fucking line, or we lose everything.
Look at the game. It's doing nothing wrong. This cannot become acceptable.
We hold the fucking line, or we lose everything.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
"It is against the TOS to be talked into suicide by our LLM" is possibly the most evil tech bro thing I've ever read
Additionally, OpenAI argues its not liable because Raine, by using ChatGPT for self-harm, broke its terms of service
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 AM
"It is against the TOS to be talked into suicide by our LLM" is possibly the most evil tech bro thing I've ever read
Just opened youtube and the page automatically scrolls half way down the recommended list so that "YOUR HOME FOR HOLIDAY SALES!!" videos are sitting right in the middle of my screen.
November 25, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Just opened youtube and the page automatically scrolls half way down the recommended list so that "YOUR HOME FOR HOLIDAY SALES!!" videos are sitting right in the middle of my screen.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Back in July I hosted a commission stream called WILL IT CARCINIZE!? Because a) rent, and b) I think that anything can be crab. Even #Pokemon!
The kind folks who threw some dollars my way got their fav guys carcinized! First up is hermit crab Pikachu, for @maclanahan.bsky.social !
- - -
🦈✨
#crabs
The kind folks who threw some dollars my way got their fav guys carcinized! First up is hermit crab Pikachu, for @maclanahan.bsky.social !
- - -
🦈✨
#crabs
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Back in July I hosted a commission stream called WILL IT CARCINIZE!? Because a) rent, and b) I think that anything can be crab. Even #Pokemon!
The kind folks who threw some dollars my way got their fav guys carcinized! First up is hermit crab Pikachu, for @maclanahan.bsky.social !
- - -
🦈✨
#crabs
The kind folks who threw some dollars my way got their fav guys carcinized! First up is hermit crab Pikachu, for @maclanahan.bsky.social !
- - -
🦈✨
#crabs
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Our wildlife deserves better.
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Our wildlife deserves better.
If you're not spending your Monday evening watching the Were-Santa anime, what are you even doing with your life? Get on my level.
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 AM
If you're not spending your Monday evening watching the Were-Santa anime, what are you even doing with your life? Get on my level.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by Nathan Savant
After years of useless posture advice ("imagine a string pulling you up"???), the only technique that's ever worked for me is to imagine there are laser beams coming out of your nipples and aim for people's heads. It works, and people cannot tell you're doing it
November 25, 2025 at 12:11 AM
After years of useless posture advice ("imagine a string pulling you up"???), the only technique that's ever worked for me is to imagine there are laser beams coming out of your nipples and aim for people's heads. It works, and people cannot tell you're doing it
Introduce yourself with four spaceships
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Introduce yourself with four spaceships
This toast is cheering for you, you got this!!
November 25, 2025 at 1:11 AM
This toast is cheering for you, you got this!!
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Another example of indexical storytelling:
November 24, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Another example of indexical storytelling:
Reposted by Nathan Savant
maybe i am going insane
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
maybe i am going insane
Reposted by Nathan Savant
We openly blocked bigots, racists & homophobes on social channels for one project. The result? Huge social channel growth, record MAU, positive sentiment shift.
By avoiding challenging the tiny sliver of the toxic players, you're sacrificing the retention of your larger audience
By avoiding challenging the tiny sliver of the toxic players, you're sacrificing the retention of your larger audience
November 24, 2025 at 6:55 PM
We openly blocked bigots, racists & homophobes on social channels for one project. The result? Huge social channel growth, record MAU, positive sentiment shift.
By avoiding challenging the tiny sliver of the toxic players, you're sacrificing the retention of your larger audience
By avoiding challenging the tiny sliver of the toxic players, you're sacrificing the retention of your larger audience
YouTube algorithm sending me this great reminder of game dev fundamentals this morning!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItKn...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItKn...
Nintendo's Game Design Philosophy - NZGDC 2025
YouTube video by KIWI TALKZ
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
YouTube algorithm sending me this great reminder of game dev fundamentals this morning!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItKn...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItKn...
Reposted by Nathan Savant
This needs to be a thing everywhere.
Woah!
Ontario passed a law starting Jan 2026 that it is illegal for companies to ghost you.
If you have interviewed for a job they are legally required to inform you if they hire someone else or close the position.
The law also requires salary transparency on listings and disclosing use of AI
Ontario passed a law starting Jan 2026 that it is illegal for companies to ghost you.
If you have interviewed for a job they are legally required to inform you if they hire someone else or close the position.
The law also requires salary transparency on listings and disclosing use of AI
November 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM
This needs to be a thing everywhere.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
The Messages Rockstar Saw Before Firing 34 Union Members
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Did You Know: the keypads in Half-Life 1 don't have speakers? Barney just makes that boop noise with his mouth.
November 24, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Did You Know: the keypads in Half-Life 1 don't have speakers? Barney just makes that boop noise with his mouth.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
if you're still writing using the hero's journey, your mind is closed to all the possibilities
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 AM
if you're still writing using the hero's journey, your mind is closed to all the possibilities
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Terumaru, a bright young lightbulb and the mascot of the Tokyu Denki electric company, trapped in a door yesterday:
November 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Terumaru, a bright young lightbulb and the mascot of the Tokyu Denki electric company, trapped in a door yesterday:
Reposted by Nathan Savant
There is no way you can guess how the thread that ends in this instant classic begins.
The damned in hell are not more powerful for the fact that the fires do not consume them; it is part and parcel of their torment.
November 23, 2025 at 6:54 PM
There is no way you can guess how the thread that ends in this instant classic begins.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
“Writers are fifth dimensional beings who see everything at once — but readers aren’t” - Anthony Johnston
November 23, 2025 at 2:54 PM
“Writers are fifth dimensional beings who see everything at once — but readers aren’t” - Anthony Johnston