Cat Bussell
@catbussell.bsky.social
Editor at Videogamer. TechRadar Gaming, Escapist, TheGamer, Wargamer, and Superjump alumna. She/Her. Queer. Leftie.
Had a lovely time at the Riot xmas party.
With that, the last of my winter events are finished and I'll be going into hibernation.
I've got some projects in the cooker for new years' though.
If you're a pixel artist, concept artist or a video editor and you're looking for work, drop me a line.
With that, the last of my winter events are finished and I'll be going into hibernation.
I've got some projects in the cooker for new years' though.
If you're a pixel artist, concept artist or a video editor and you're looking for work, drop me a line.
December 16, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Had a lovely time at the Riot xmas party.
With that, the last of my winter events are finished and I'll be going into hibernation.
I've got some projects in the cooker for new years' though.
If you're a pixel artist, concept artist or a video editor and you're looking for work, drop me a line.
With that, the last of my winter events are finished and I'll be going into hibernation.
I've got some projects in the cooker for new years' though.
If you're a pixel artist, concept artist or a video editor and you're looking for work, drop me a line.
Reposted by Cat Bussell
December 16, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I spoke with some of the lovely folks at @videogameworkers.bsky.social outside this year's Game Awards ceremony.
They had a lot to say.
I sincerely hope workers in the UK follow their fine example.
www.videogamer.com/features/fea...
They had a lot to say.
I sincerely hope workers in the UK follow their fine example.
www.videogamer.com/features/fea...
“They never talk about us,” say union protesters fighting back at The Game Awards
Outside The Game Awards in LA, we sat down with protest leaders fighting for a better future for the industry. They’re playing on hard mode, but they have a plan.
www.videogamer.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I spoke with some of the lovely folks at @videogameworkers.bsky.social outside this year's Game Awards ceremony.
They had a lot to say.
I sincerely hope workers in the UK follow their fine example.
www.videogamer.com/features/fea...
They had a lot to say.
I sincerely hope workers in the UK follow their fine example.
www.videogamer.com/features/fea...
Reposted by Cat Bussell
while industry figures, dressed to the nines, filtered into LA's peacock theater last week, protesters chanted "the industry is dead" outside of it. despite how often geoff keighley says the game awards exist to "celebrate" games and the people who make them, many feel ignored
!["We are the ones who poured our blood, sweat, tears, sanity, and health into these games,” shouted one who paid tribute to a friend who’d just passed, who he said loved video games and hated corporate exploitation. “The ones who made the games are outside. [Bosses and executives] are inside patting themselves on the back. ... And what was our reward? Many of us were cast aside as soon as the products were created because we weren't needed anymore. And those who were lucky enough to stay [now] find themselves debugging ChatGPT code."
Some present had direct personal experience with the video game industry’s current layoff-centric strategy. Earlier this year, Timothy Staton-Davis, who attended the protest dressed in a grim reaper cloak and holding a plastic scythe, was part of a small round of layoffs at Brass Lion Entertainment, which is currently working on Wu-Tang: Rise Of The Deceiver.
“There were a few of us they had to let go of because of monetary issues,” Staton-Davis told Aftermath. “It’s their first game. They’re trying to pull through. They’ve been negatively affected by the current industry situation in a lot of ways because of mismanagement of money. It’s not the studio’s fault, but from our partners and all that kind of stuff.”
“My first studio gig was at Monolith,” he continued. “Now they’re gone. Unfairly so. All these studios I’ve been connected to have been negatively affected in some way, shape, or form by people not doing the right things with their money and taking advantage of folks.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5gdejlhcswjbzraadoltdpps/bafkreifyv7erpamrntagfmpqwndofhftfpiszgguefbunyy6iyz6dhavxy@jpeg)
December 15, 2025 at 11:34 PM
while industry figures, dressed to the nines, filtered into LA's peacock theater last week, protesters chanted "the industry is dead" outside of it. despite how often geoff keighley says the game awards exist to "celebrate" games and the people who make them, many feel ignored
Reposted by Cat Bussell
I've been burdened with this bad joke in my head all day, so I had to make it.
December 12, 2025 at 7:17 PM
I've been burdened with this bad joke in my head all day, so I had to make it.
Reposted by Cat Bussell
Agree. To go a step further - an award like Best RPG isn't worth nearly as much unless voted on by a subset of critics/devs/etc who are /notably/ experts in the genre. Same for, say, fighting games - if a category like that sticks, the jury should include some pro players, tourney orgs, etc.
I think these awards felt especially boring because categories like Best RPG and Best Indie each honor overall quality among a subset rather than a specific craft. If a game is the best of the year, and it’s an RPG, obviously it is also the best RPG. Needs an overhaul to avoid pointless repetition
December 14, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Agree. To go a step further - an award like Best RPG isn't worth nearly as much unless voted on by a subset of critics/devs/etc who are /notably/ experts in the genre. Same for, say, fighting games - if a category like that sticks, the jury should include some pro players, tourney orgs, etc.
I strongly agree with Harper's argument, even if I think they underestimate Expedition 33's quality.
It feels like Geoff was trying to sell a version of the American Dream: the false notion that capitalism rewards hard work and, as such, "anyone can make it."
This has never been the case.
It feels like Geoff was trying to sell a version of the American Dream: the false notion that capitalism rewards hard work and, as such, "anyone can make it."
This has never been the case.
Took some time to unpack a few thoughts on Expedition 33.
Watching what I thought was a "pretty good" game get transformed into A Cultural Object has been disheartening.
So I have some thoughts on glitz, glamour, and respectability...
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8027631...
Watching what I thought was a "pretty good" game get transformed into A Cultural Object has been disheartening.
So I have some thoughts on glitz, glamour, and respectability...
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8027631...
The Attempt To Escape From Pain Creates More Pain
Lord forgive me, I'm blogging. I can't help it! Many years ago, I got some advice from a writer who I deeply respect, James Howell, and he told me that criticism needs to proceed confidently. Don't...
transgamerthoughts.com
December 15, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I strongly agree with Harper's argument, even if I think they underestimate Expedition 33's quality.
It feels like Geoff was trying to sell a version of the American Dream: the false notion that capitalism rewards hard work and, as such, "anyone can make it."
This has never been the case.
It feels like Geoff was trying to sell a version of the American Dream: the false notion that capitalism rewards hard work and, as such, "anyone can make it."
This has never been the case.
Reposted by Cat Bussell
We can’t afford a $1M trailer slot 😔
But reposts on Bluesky cost $0 - and they really help tiny teams like ours ❤️
If cozy medieval creativity is your thing, here’s our Scriptorium trailer!
But reposts on Bluesky cost $0 - and they really help tiny teams like ours ❤️
If cozy medieval creativity is your thing, here’s our Scriptorium trailer!
December 11, 2025 at 6:08 PM
We can’t afford a $1M trailer slot 😔
But reposts on Bluesky cost $0 - and they really help tiny teams like ours ❤️
If cozy medieval creativity is your thing, here’s our Scriptorium trailer!
But reposts on Bluesky cost $0 - and they really help tiny teams like ours ❤️
If cozy medieval creativity is your thing, here’s our Scriptorium trailer!
Reposted by Cat Bussell
Between this and the Rockstar snitch, my sad conclusion is you should never assume work has your back. I don't say this to victim blame, but from my experience, if you're trouble, even through no fault of your own,colleagues you thought were friends will nope out real fast
For @aftermath.site, I spoke to @imodrew.bsky.social, the Sucker Punch dev fired after making a Charlie Kirk joke.
She paints a picture of an industry that all too often ignores bad actors until those bad actors threaten them financially.
aftermath.site/sucker-punch...
She paints a picture of an industry that all too often ignores bad actors until those bad actors threaten them financially.
aftermath.site/sucker-punch...
Two Months After Firing Over Charlie Kirk Comments, Ghost Of Yotei Dev Blames Harassment Campaign, Not ‘Bad Joke’
"I really don’t want this to happen to anyone else, because I feel like with the state of everything, it will absolutely happen to other people," says Drew Harrison
aftermath.site
November 24, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Between this and the Rockstar snitch, my sad conclusion is you should never assume work has your back. I don't say this to victim blame, but from my experience, if you're trouble, even through no fault of your own,colleagues you thought were friends will nope out real fast