David Gaider
@davidgaider.bsky.social
Co-founder and Creative Director at summerfallstudios.com. Canadian game dev who escaped the winter and is now living in Melbourne, Australia! He/Him
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David Gaider
@davidgaider.bsky.social
· Oct 20
It seems we're doing intros again, and fair enough considering all the new arrivals! Okay, then: a thread of some things I've done in reverse chronological order.
Currently: Creative Director and Co-Founder at indie dev studio Summerfall Studios in Melbourne, Australia, since 2018. Love it here.
Currently: Creative Director and Co-Founder at indie dev studio Summerfall Studios in Melbourne, Australia, since 2018. Love it here.
"Bro, the games industry is cooked!" and it's always a video of some character running through an environment. Shooting enemies, maybe, or picking up hearts? Mostly running. Sure, the environment looks decent, from a distance... but this is, apparently, all they think is needed to show "potential".
February 14, 2026 at 2:09 AM
"Bro, the games industry is cooked!" and it's always a video of some character running through an environment. Shooting enemies, maybe, or picking up hearts? Mostly running. Sure, the environment looks decent, from a distance... but this is, apparently, all they think is needed to show "potential".
Come work with us! I'll regale you with stories of Ye Olde Dayes on the studio's hangout chat while you work. 😎
Hey gang! Are there any Melbourne/Victoria-based 3D modellers looking for short contract work right now? Summerfall is currently on the lookout for contractors to do hard-surface environment work for a new prototype, like furniture and all that. 🔨🪑
Send through portfolios! 🙂 Cheers!
Send through portfolios! 🙂 Cheers!
February 12, 2026 at 6:05 AM
Come work with us! I'll regale you with stories of Ye Olde Dayes on the studio's hangout chat while you work. 😎
Now, I love me some Dark Phoenix. It's literally one of the things I can give a talk on for 20 min at the drop of a hat.
I do, however, think it's given Marvel "Dark Phoenix Syndrome", however, where any given female character has a roughly 20% chance per month of obtaining ultimate power.
I do, however, think it's given Marvel "Dark Phoenix Syndrome", however, where any given female character has a roughly 20% chance per month of obtaining ultimate power.
February 10, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Now, I love me some Dark Phoenix. It's literally one of the things I can give a talk on for 20 min at the drop of a hat.
I do, however, think it's given Marvel "Dark Phoenix Syndrome", however, where any given female character has a roughly 20% chance per month of obtaining ultimate power.
I do, however, think it's given Marvel "Dark Phoenix Syndrome", however, where any given female character has a roughly 20% chance per month of obtaining ultimate power.
Our current cultural war leads to some weird twists, such as this recent desperate need by conservatives for the Melania documentary to be a blockbuster and for someone like Kid Rock to be relevant and popular... as if their entire self-validation is on the line. It's honestly fascinating to watch.
February 9, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Our current cultural war leads to some weird twists, such as this recent desperate need by conservatives for the Melania documentary to be a blockbuster and for someone like Kid Rock to be relevant and popular... as if their entire self-validation is on the line. It's honestly fascinating to watch.
Saw this on FB - I would say Canada probably belongs in the red, and it was absolutely the first real source of "culture shock" I experienced moving to Australia. No question.
February 5, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Saw this on FB - I would say Canada probably belongs in the red, and it was absolutely the first real source of "culture shock" I experienced moving to Australia. No question.
So you know that magical tabletop map projector you see advertised on Facebook constantly? I thought what the heck. I’ll try it.
Got it. Was trying to focus and the entire lens mechanism fell out in 6 pieces and I have no idea how to get them back in.
Sooo… yeah. About what I expected, honestly. 😑
Got it. Was trying to focus and the entire lens mechanism fell out in 6 pieces and I have no idea how to get them back in.
Sooo… yeah. About what I expected, honestly. 😑
February 2, 2026 at 12:39 PM
So you know that magical tabletop map projector you see advertised on Facebook constantly? I thought what the heck. I’ll try it.
Got it. Was trying to focus and the entire lens mechanism fell out in 6 pieces and I have no idea how to get them back in.
Sooo… yeah. About what I expected, honestly. 😑
Got it. Was trying to focus and the entire lens mechanism fell out in 6 pieces and I have no idea how to get them back in.
Sooo… yeah. About what I expected, honestly. 😑
Amazon Prime smirking as it says “oh here are a bunch of newer movies you can rent.” The smirk widens. “As well as a bunch of older shows which were free yesterday, but today?”
Then the wink. “They’re EXTRA.”
Then the wink. “They’re EXTRA.”
February 2, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Amazon Prime smirking as it says “oh here are a bunch of newer movies you can rent.” The smirk widens. “As well as a bunch of older shows which were free yesterday, but today?”
Then the wink. “They’re EXTRA.”
Then the wink. “They’re EXTRA.”
Finished Wonder Man. Decent writing, decent performances... yet I can't help but wonder who this was for. Charmless. No hint of superheroics until the very end. More drama... which can be fine, as exploring different genres inside a superhero show can work, but it has to at least be INTERESTING. 🤷♂️
February 1, 2026 at 5:52 AM
Finished Wonder Man. Decent writing, decent performances... yet I can't help but wonder who this was for. Charmless. No hint of superheroics until the very end. More drama... which can be fine, as exploring different genres inside a superhero show can work, but it has to at least be INTERESTING. 🤷♂️
I haven't even seen Heated Rivalry, but the whole thing with part of its fandom escaping containment and blasting the only (known) queer cast member of HR with hateful accusations of pedophilia and grooming... sounds just like when the VLD fandom did the same thing a years back. It's so tiresome.
January 16, 2026 at 2:58 AM
I haven't even seen Heated Rivalry, but the whole thing with part of its fandom escaping containment and blasting the only (known) queer cast member of HR with hateful accusations of pedophilia and grooming... sounds just like when the VLD fandom did the same thing a years back. It's so tiresome.
I watched “A Nice Indian Boy” on Amazon Prime, mostly because D&D got canceled today and I was bored… and, gosh, that was just what I needed. So sweet, so well done. When Naveen’s dad had that scene finally accepting Jay, I bawled. Such a good movie. ❤️
January 10, 2026 at 6:24 AM
I watched “A Nice Indian Boy” on Amazon Prime, mostly because D&D got canceled today and I was bored… and, gosh, that was just what I needed. So sweet, so well done. When Naveen’s dad had that scene finally accepting Jay, I bawled. Such a good movie. ❤️
Yes, after a bit of drunken flailing, I realized you could call the Uber driver through the app. No idea how I found the function, buried as it is, but I did and he wasn't too far away so he drove back for me.
He got a big tip.
He got a big tip.
Did you get inside?!?!
January 1, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Yes, after a bit of drunken flailing, I realized you could call the Uber driver through the app. No idea how I found the function, buried as it is, but I did and he wasn't too far away so he drove back for me.
He got a big tip.
He got a big tip.
Coming home from my NYE party, I did a dumb thing. I got out of my Uber and only after it left realized my keys had fallen out of my pocket into the back seat.
Boy did I NOT need that shot of adrenaline, drunk and alone on the roundabout outside my apartment building at 3am. 😳
Boy did I NOT need that shot of adrenaline, drunk and alone on the roundabout outside my apartment building at 3am. 😳
January 1, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Coming home from my NYE party, I did a dumb thing. I got out of my Uber and only after it left realized my keys had fallen out of my pocket into the back seat.
Boy did I NOT need that shot of adrenaline, drunk and alone on the roundabout outside my apartment building at 3am. 😳
Boy did I NOT need that shot of adrenaline, drunk and alone on the roundabout outside my apartment building at 3am. 😳
My brother and I were moaning about how it was so unseasonably grey and chilly during his visit to Melbourne. Then my Dad told us it's, like, -40C in Edmonton and we both decided to just be grateful instead. 😁
December 28, 2025 at 3:22 AM
My brother and I were moaning about how it was so unseasonably grey and chilly during his visit to Melbourne. Then my Dad told us it's, like, -40C in Edmonton and we both decided to just be grateful instead. 😁
My brother laughed at me for saying “no”, “oh”, “banana”, “tomato”, and “capsicum” (which I didn’t pronounce weird, it was more that I had to stop and think what he’d know it as), so I guess the Australian is finally seeping in. 😅
December 26, 2025 at 10:42 AM
My brother laughed at me for saying “no”, “oh”, “banana”, “tomato”, and “capsicum” (which I didn’t pronounce weird, it was more that I had to stop and think what he’d know it as), so I guess the Australian is finally seeping in. 😅
Merry Christmas, everyone! This is normally a pretty quiet time of year for me, off in Australia, but my brother and sister-in-law are visiting and so I've been running around like mad showing them the city -- and cooking! We had Christmas dinner at my place! Unprecedented. 😊
December 26, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Merry Christmas, everyone! This is normally a pretty quiet time of year for me, off in Australia, but my brother and sister-in-law are visiting and so I've been running around like mad showing them the city -- and cooking! We had Christmas dinner at my place! Unprecedented. 😊
I've always wanted to get a tattoo, but fretted at the idea of its permanency. I don't even like a song 30 days later, and I'm going to be happy with a tattoo design after 10 years? 20 years?? It'd have to be something with some real meaning, something that'd left its mark on me - in all senses.
December 4, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I've always wanted to get a tattoo, but fretted at the idea of its permanency. I don't even like a song 30 days later, and I'm going to be happy with a tattoo design after 10 years? 20 years?? It'd have to be something with some real meaning, something that'd left its mark on me - in all senses.
Whoever's in charge of Apple TV's series should really be put in charge of their movies as well... because, holy hannah, what a stark contrast between the two. 😐
November 28, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Whoever's in charge of Apple TV's series should really be put in charge of their movies as well... because, holy hannah, what a stark contrast between the two. 😐
Finished Dispatch, since the last two episodes were released today. Gosh, how fun was THAT? The actual dispatch sim gameplay was the best part, I think, and I want more. Reactivity, too, but... yeah, I can see how that could get really expensive *really* quickly. As it was: solid season.
November 13, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Finished Dispatch, since the last two episodes were released today. Gosh, how fun was THAT? The actual dispatch sim gameplay was the best part, I think, and I want more. Reactivity, too, but... yeah, I can see how that could get really expensive *really* quickly. As it was: solid season.
I’m rewatching Firefly, and there’s one part of the lore that makes me twitch: it’s all in *one solar system*. Sure, dozens of planets and hundreds of moons, but I don’t care HOW much you terraform them: if they’re not in a sun’s green zone, you won’t get Earth-like planets. 😡
Also: reaver zombies.
Also: reaver zombies.
November 12, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I’m rewatching Firefly, and there’s one part of the lore that makes me twitch: it’s all in *one solar system*. Sure, dozens of planets and hundreds of moons, but I don’t care HOW much you terraform them: if they’re not in a sun’s green zone, you won’t get Earth-like planets. 😡
Also: reaver zombies.
Also: reaver zombies.
Sure, every* game company** is using AI... but using it well? Is it actually helping with ANYthing? Or is it driven by a need to have AI deliver early on the promise of substituting for human labour because there's no other problem it solves?
* not every, not by a long shot
** as opposed to studio
* not every, not by a long shot
** as opposed to studio
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm - AUTOMATON WEST
In an interview following the launch of ARC Raiders, the CEO of Embark Studios' parent company Nexon shares his views on AI.
automaton-media.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Sure, every* game company** is using AI... but using it well? Is it actually helping with ANYthing? Or is it driven by a need to have AI deliver early on the promise of substituting for human labour because there's no other problem it solves?
* not every, not by a long shot
** as opposed to studio
* not every, not by a long shot
** as opposed to studio
I watched the latest season of the Witcher, and while there's been a lot of griping about recasting Geralt with the extra Hemsworth... I didn't mind it? He seemed awkward for about an episode and a half, and then either he relaxed a bit or I just got used to him. Either way, he was fine.
November 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I watched the latest season of the Witcher, and while there's been a lot of griping about recasting Geralt with the extra Hemsworth... I didn't mind it? He seemed awkward for about an episode and a half, and then either he relaxed a bit or I just got used to him. Either way, he was fine.
Reposted by David Gaider
Final Fantasy 7 was so good that it pushed Bioware to reimagine what Baldur's Gate 2 could be.
That & many other fascinating reveals are available in today's interview with @davidgaider.bsky.social, Trent Oster, & Ed Greenwood. Here's a clip regarding FF7 & the full link is below.
That & many other fascinating reveals are available in today's interview with @davidgaider.bsky.social, Trent Oster, & Ed Greenwood. Here's a clip regarding FF7 & the full link is below.
November 8, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Final Fantasy 7 was so good that it pushed Bioware to reimagine what Baldur's Gate 2 could be.
That & many other fascinating reveals are available in today's interview with @davidgaider.bsky.social, Trent Oster, & Ed Greenwood. Here's a clip regarding FF7 & the full link is below.
That & many other fascinating reveals are available in today's interview with @davidgaider.bsky.social, Trent Oster, & Ed Greenwood. Here's a clip regarding FF7 & the full link is below.
Reposted by David Gaider
The interview is a celebration of Baldur's Gate 2 with @davidgaider.bsky.social, Trent Oster, and Ed Greenwood. DM Wyvern hosted the interview with me. Make sure you subscribe and hit the bell so you will be notified once it goes up!
www.youtube.com/@SlanderedGa...
www.youtube.com/@SlanderedGa...
Slandered Gaming
Chill vibes and good times. Please be good to each other. Primarily focus on cRPG content but you never know what you'll see me streaming. :)
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The interview is a celebration of Baldur's Gate 2 with @davidgaider.bsky.social, Trent Oster, and Ed Greenwood. DM Wyvern hosted the interview with me. Make sure you subscribe and hit the bell so you will be notified once it goes up!
www.youtube.com/@SlanderedGa...
www.youtube.com/@SlanderedGa...
I did an hour-long lecture for another studio, which I’ve stressed about and fussed about for *months* …and it went great. Exactly on time, felt good, everyone seemed enthused and asked great questions!
Now I am going to collapse in a puddle and think of nothing whatsoever. 🫠
Now I am going to collapse in a puddle and think of nothing whatsoever. 🫠
November 7, 2025 at 8:57 AM
I did an hour-long lecture for another studio, which I’ve stressed about and fussed about for *months* …and it went great. Exactly on time, felt good, everyone seemed enthused and asked great questions!
Now I am going to collapse in a puddle and think of nothing whatsoever. 🫠
Now I am going to collapse in a puddle and think of nothing whatsoever. 🫠
I put some soy sauce in my bolognese, as opposed to Worcestershire sauce which I forgot to pick up, and… I’m a little surprised at how not terrible it turned out? 🤔
November 7, 2025 at 8:55 AM
I put some soy sauce in my bolognese, as opposed to Worcestershire sauce which I forgot to pick up, and… I’m a little surprised at how not terrible it turned out? 🤔