Wallace
@exalclaw.bsky.social
A writer & video creator with a weakness against soft cookies | Rambles without oversight at exalclaw.com | Words also at AV Club Games, Unwinnable, Stop Caring, etc.
📬: [email protected]
Latest: https://linktr.ee/Exalclaw
📬: [email protected]
Latest: https://linktr.ee/Exalclaw
Pinned
The Need To Be Uncomfortably Flexible - Unwinnable
For the sake of New Ballbylon and its residents, I must do the uncomfortable and be flexible.
unwinnable.com
My Ball x Pit base is an eye sore. Constructing it hasn't felt great either. But, I'd argue that the way Ball x Pit makes you build New Ballbylon is great for developing the flexible mindset that creates communities. Read about it in my latest @unwinnable.com:
unwinnable.com/2025/11/24/t...
unwinnable.com/2025/11/24/t...
Reposted by Wallace
In Morrow County, healthy adults were coming down with unexplained medical conditions, including diseases that usually afflicted the elderly.
In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported.
🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported.
🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
November 25, 2025 at 1:39 AM
In Morrow County, healthy adults were coming down with unexplained medical conditions, including diseases that usually afflicted the elderly.
In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported.
🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported.
🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
I mentioned them earlier this week so Imma repeat it since it’s fresh on my noggin:
@ashlikeadragon.bsky.social would make a great addition as a regular columnist anywhere, Aftermath is no exception
@ashlikeadragon.bsky.social would make a great addition as a regular columnist anywhere, Aftermath is no exception
Exciting news! Thanks to our sale, we've rocketed all the way up to over 4,900 paying subscribers. This means we can cross another goal, a regular columnist, off our list. We plan to sort out the exact specifics in our own time, but for now, who do you think would be a good fit?
November 25, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I mentioned them earlier this week so Imma repeat it since it’s fresh on my noggin:
@ashlikeadragon.bsky.social would make a great addition as a regular columnist anywhere, Aftermath is no exception
@ashlikeadragon.bsky.social would make a great addition as a regular columnist anywhere, Aftermath is no exception
Reposted by Wallace
I had the privilege of interviewing Shinichirō Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kids on the Slope, etc.) for The A.V. Club and asked him about what initially drew him to American pop culture, who he wants to work with next, and what defines enduring art.
Cowboy Bebop director Shinichirō Watanabe on what it takes for art to "survive beyond"
We interviewed Cowboy Bebop director Shinichirō Watanabe about his work, where his love of overseas culture came from, and what's next.
www.avclub.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I had the privilege of interviewing Shinichirō Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kids on the Slope, etc.) for The A.V. Club and asked him about what initially drew him to American pop culture, who he wants to work with next, and what defines enduring art.
Reposted by Wallace
ICYM this ICYMI: The unwieldy nature of building my Ball x Pit bass got me thinking about community building in general. Reeeeeead all about it!
ICYMI: "The subtle but incredible thing about this patchwork city is that it’s not about what I want – it’s about the needs of the community forming there."
@exalclaw.bsky.social learns a lot about community building when he creates his Ball x Pit base:
@exalclaw.bsky.social learns a lot about community building when he creates his Ball x Pit base:
The Need To Be Uncomfortably Flexible - Unwinnable
For the sake of New Ballbylon and its residents, I must do the uncomfortable and be flexible.
unwinnable.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
ICYM this ICYMI: The unwieldy nature of building my Ball x Pit bass got me thinking about community building in general. Reeeeeead all about it!
Reposted by Wallace
demonschool credits all 145 people who touched the game over the course of its multi-year dev cycle AND explains what exactly they contributed. the rest of the games industry, which commonly omits people from credits entirely, should be taking notes
![“We worked [on Hyper Gunsport] with a localization company that refused to give the names of the people that actually did the work; they just wanted to have their company name in there,” Sheffield said. “They say they do that because ‘It's the standard’ and ‘to avoid poaching’ or whatever, but I hate that and think it's total BS. … I've also seen a lot of folks complain about how they weren't credited on a game because they'd left the studio before the game they worked on was finished. And indeed, our lead 3D artist left two years ago. But he's still the first artist credited because he set the style and visual tone for a lot of the game. Not working on the game to the very end doesn't negate the work he did.”
The more Sheffield thought about how to meet the needs of so many different types of contributors – and discussed the matter on social media – the more a comprehensive, detail-oriented approach to crediting started to make sense.
“That had all been percolating in the back of my mind as we got close to finishing, and then it just sort of hit me as it came time for me to write the credits,” he said. “I discussed this approach with the team and everyone was fine with it, so we just went for it. We always want to credit everyone that touched the game, so even though the core team was 7 or 8 people at any given time, we credited around 145 people in Demonschool. Who cares if it's a lot of people? Who cares if it's long? They all did something and they deserve credit. And you basically can tell who the core team was by reading the descriptions. None of us are precious about that anyway.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5gdejlhcswjbzraadoltdpps/bafkreibksibak2xsgvbrid7evym3utz6yzfccilowfs7apv7b2sddssd3q@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
demonschool credits all 145 people who touched the game over the course of its multi-year dev cycle AND explains what exactly they contributed. the rest of the games industry, which commonly omits people from credits entirely, should be taking notes
Reposted by Wallace
I'm thrilled that @abletoplay.com has been nominated for Best Resource of 2025 at the Games Accessibility Conference Awards 🎉
Want to support our mission and work towards creating a more accessible games industry? Consider voting & reposting! ⭐️
Voting now open at gaconf.com/gaconf-awards-2025/
Want to support our mission and work towards creating a more accessible games industry? Consider voting & reposting! ⭐️
Voting now open at gaconf.com/gaconf-awards-2025/
November 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I'm thrilled that @abletoplay.com has been nominated for Best Resource of 2025 at the Games Accessibility Conference Awards 🎉
Want to support our mission and work towards creating a more accessible games industry? Consider voting & reposting! ⭐️
Voting now open at gaconf.com/gaconf-awards-2025/
Want to support our mission and work towards creating a more accessible games industry? Consider voting & reposting! ⭐️
Voting now open at gaconf.com/gaconf-awards-2025/
Reposted by Wallace
Our upcoming game HORSES was preemptively banned from Steam, with no path to appeal. The game will still launch next week on December 2nd and will be available on EGS, GOG, Humble, and Itch for $4.99. Here is a detailed FAQ covering what happened: horses.wtf/BannedFromSt...
November 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Our upcoming game HORSES was preemptively banned from Steam, with no path to appeal. The game will still launch next week on December 2nd and will be available on EGS, GOG, Humble, and Itch for $4.99. Here is a detailed FAQ covering what happened: horses.wtf/BannedFromSt...
ICYM this ICYMI: The unwieldy nature of building my Ball x Pit bass got me thinking about community building in general. Reeeeeead all about it!
ICYMI: "The subtle but incredible thing about this patchwork city is that it’s not about what I want – it’s about the needs of the community forming there."
@exalclaw.bsky.social learns a lot about community building when he creates his Ball x Pit base:
@exalclaw.bsky.social learns a lot about community building when he creates his Ball x Pit base:
The Need To Be Uncomfortably Flexible - Unwinnable
For the sake of New Ballbylon and its residents, I must do the uncomfortable and be flexible.
unwinnable.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
ICYM this ICYMI: The unwieldy nature of building my Ball x Pit bass got me thinking about community building in general. Reeeeeead all about it!
Reposted by Wallace
i played for judging this and liked it. super sad for Santa Ragione, and the general state of game censorship. re: Steam in particular, a landscape where everyone has to depend on a totally unaccountable monopoly to survive is not one that benefits artists in any way.
Our upcoming game HORSES was preemptively banned from Steam, with no path to appeal. The game will still launch next week on December 2nd and will be available on EGS, GOG, Humble, and Itch for $4.99. Here is a detailed FAQ covering what happened: horses.wtf/BannedFromSt...
November 25, 2025 at 5:45 PM
i played for judging this and liked it. super sad for Santa Ragione, and the general state of game censorship. re: Steam in particular, a landscape where everyone has to depend on a totally unaccountable monopoly to survive is not one that benefits artists in any way.
Reposted by Wallace
Going to be on Novara Live later this evening (I think about 6:45PM?) discussing the Rockstar firings and the union's efforts to get those employees reinstated
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hjc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hjc...
Carer’s Allowance Crisis Leaves Hundreds Of Thousands In Debt | #NovaraLIVE
YouTube video by Novara Media
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Going to be on Novara Live later this evening (I think about 6:45PM?) discussing the Rockstar firings and the union's efforts to get those employees reinstated
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hjc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hjc...
Reposted by Wallace
NEW: Indie studio Santa Ragione is facing closure after its surreal horror title, Horses, was barred from Steam ahead of its upcoming December release
The studio behind Saturnalia and Wheels of Aurelia said Valve has yet to adequately explain why an early version of Horses was blacklisted in 2023.
The studio behind Saturnalia and Wheels of Aurelia said Valve has yet to adequately explain why an early version of Horses was blacklisted in 2023.
Indie dev Santa Ragione facing closure after Steam ban
The Italian studio's upcoming horror title, Horses, has been barred from Steam ahead of its release in December.
www.gamedeveloper.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
NEW: Indie studio Santa Ragione is facing closure after its surreal horror title, Horses, was barred from Steam ahead of its upcoming December release
The studio behind Saturnalia and Wheels of Aurelia said Valve has yet to adequately explain why an early version of Horses was blacklisted in 2023.
The studio behind Saturnalia and Wheels of Aurelia said Valve has yet to adequately explain why an early version of Horses was blacklisted in 2023.
Reposted by Wallace
Oh hey look, it's my first piece for the AV Club!
The HD-2D remakes of Dragon Quest might modernize these ancient RPGs, but could anything recreate the experience of playing them on the NES? www.avclub.com/dragon-quest...
A quest for relevance: Dragon Quest’s remakes search for the impact it had in the ‘80s
The HD-2D remakes of Dragon Quest might modernize these ancient RPGs, but could anything recreate the experience of playing Dragon Warrior on the NES?
www.avclub.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Oh hey look, it's my first piece for the AV Club!
Reposted by Wallace
Starting to put out requests for rent help.
This month is almost certainly gonna be a REALLY bad one, I’m a bit terrified, and any early help would mean the absolute world to me, seriously.
Thank you, and lots of love and gratitude.
This month is almost certainly gonna be a REALLY bad one, I’m a bit terrified, and any early help would mean the absolute world to me, seriously.
Thank you, and lots of love and gratitude.
I make very little dollary doos and live in a very expensive city. If I’ve ever made you laugh or think and you can spare a few dollars, please consider tipping!
Paypal and Interac are both
sincerelynataliereed
at
gmail
❤️❤️❤️
Paypal and Interac are both
sincerelynataliereed
at
gmail
❤️❤️❤️
November 24, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Starting to put out requests for rent help.
This month is almost certainly gonna be a REALLY bad one, I’m a bit terrified, and any early help would mean the absolute world to me, seriously.
Thank you, and lots of love and gratitude.
This month is almost certainly gonna be a REALLY bad one, I’m a bit terrified, and any early help would mean the absolute world to me, seriously.
Thank you, and lots of love and gratitude.
Reposted by Wallace
"The subtle but incredible thing about this patchwork city is that it’s not about what I want – it’s about the needs of the community forming there."
@exalclaw.bsky.social learns a lot about community building when he creates his Ball x Pit base:
@exalclaw.bsky.social learns a lot about community building when he creates his Ball x Pit base:
The Need To Be Uncomfortably Flexible - Unwinnable
For the sake of New Ballbylon and its residents, I must do the uncomfortable and be flexible.
unwinnable.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"The subtle but incredible thing about this patchwork city is that it’s not about what I want – it’s about the needs of the community forming there."
@exalclaw.bsky.social learns a lot about community building when he creates his Ball x Pit base:
@exalclaw.bsky.social learns a lot about community building when he creates his Ball x Pit base:
Reposted by Wallace
The new Pew Pew Bang - The Sci-Fi Vs. Fantasy Episode is now live on every platform, and once again Haley is the odd one out with her themed costume. Watch here: youtu.be/93Deq2T2Qxs
November 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The new Pew Pew Bang - The Sci-Fi Vs. Fantasy Episode is now live on every platform, and once again Haley is the odd one out with her themed costume. Watch here: youtu.be/93Deq2T2Qxs
Reposted by Wallace
also, i finally had to take this story about rogue light deck builder off the carousel to make room for newer stuff but it's still one of my favorite things i've published on my blog so please check it out if you haven't thanks tellthemidied.blog/2025/03/21/t...
the treachery of words
everything is a roguelike deckbuilder except for rogue light deck builder
tellthemidied.blog
November 21, 2025 at 8:42 PM
also, i finally had to take this story about rogue light deck builder off the carousel to make room for newer stuff but it's still one of my favorite things i've published on my blog so please check it out if you haven't thanks tellthemidied.blog/2025/03/21/t...
Reposted by Wallace
We did something different with the credits for Demonschool. We used this format: name, title, lengthy description of what they did. Often you see credits in games where you don't know what the credited developer was actually responsible for. We wanted to give people proper, actual credit.
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
We did something different with the credits for Demonschool. We used this format: name, title, lengthy description of what they did. Often you see credits in games where you don't know what the credited developer was actually responsible for. We wanted to give people proper, actual credit.
Reposted by Wallace
Spoke to a number of devs about how, in the face of CEOs claiming gen-AI is the future, their declaration of being genAI free is making waves.
Indie game developers have a new sales pitch: being ‘AI free’
Indie game developers have a new sales pitch: being ‘AI free’
“We can produce results that meet our quality standards without its assistance.”
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Spoke to a number of devs about how, in the face of CEOs claiming gen-AI is the future, their declaration of being genAI free is making waves.
Reposted by Wallace
Honoured to be a part of this lovely Post Games episode! Thank you @plante.bsky.social for having me amongst such illustrious company ♥️
When it comes to video games, I'm as prone to doom scrolling as anybody else. But!!!
It's important to protect hope and happiness. I've collected 19 game devs, critics, comedians, a union leader, and a superhero to share what they're grateful for.
The Indoor Kids! Kinda Funny! Triple Click! More!
It's important to protect hope and happiness. I've collected 19 game devs, critics, comedians, a union leader, and a superhero to share what they're grateful for.
The Indoor Kids! Kinda Funny! Triple Click! More!
18 reasons to be thankful for video games
According to 19 guests, including members of The Indoor Kids, Kinda Funny, and Triple Click
postgame.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Honoured to be a part of this lovely Post Games episode! Thank you @plante.bsky.social for having me amongst such illustrious company ♥️
Reposted by Wallace
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
Reposted by Wallace
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old.
www.whatimreading.net
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Reposted by Wallace
I freaking love this take!!
What a great perspective on Ball x Pit and on community building. This is a must-read!
What a great perspective on Ball x Pit and on community building. This is a must-read!
My Ball x Pit base is an eye sore. Constructing it hasn't felt great either. But, I'd argue that the way Ball x Pit makes you build New Ballbylon is great for developing the flexible mindset that creates communities. Read about it in my latest @unwinnable.com:
unwinnable.com/2025/11/24/t...
unwinnable.com/2025/11/24/t...
The Need To Be Uncomfortably Flexible - Unwinnable
For the sake of New Ballbylon and its residents, I must do the uncomfortable and be flexible.
unwinnable.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I freaking love this take!!
What a great perspective on Ball x Pit and on community building. This is a must-read!
What a great perspective on Ball x Pit and on community building. This is a must-read!
Reposted by Wallace
This is what happened to me. Employers across the board need to be aware of how harassment campaigns work and do better to protect their employees from them. These people should not have a platform to profit off of harassment.
Two months after firing over Charlie Kirk comments, Ghost of Yotei dev blames harassment campaign, not 'bad joke'
aftermath.site/sucker-punch-c...
aftermath.site/sucker-punch-c...
November 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
This is what happened to me. Employers across the board need to be aware of how harassment campaigns work and do better to protect their employees from them. These people should not have a platform to profit off of harassment.
Reposted by Wallace
I'm deeply honored that I am once again nominated for the Best Journalism Award for GA Conf! Especially honored that the story chosen was my AbleGamers report, a difficult investigative piece. Feel free to vote below, as well as read the nominated story:
www.ign.com/articles/for...
www.ign.com/articles/for...
November 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I'm deeply honored that I am once again nominated for the Best Journalism Award for GA Conf! Especially honored that the story chosen was my AbleGamers report, a difficult investigative piece. Feel free to vote below, as well as read the nominated story:
www.ign.com/articles/for...
www.ign.com/articles/for...
Reposted by Wallace
My Ball x Pit base is an eye sore. Constructing it hasn't felt great either. But, I'd argue that the way Ball x Pit makes you build New Ballbylon is great for developing the flexible mindset that creates communities. Read about it in my latest @unwinnable.com:
unwinnable.com/2025/11/24/t...
unwinnable.com/2025/11/24/t...
The Need To Be Uncomfortably Flexible - Unwinnable
For the sake of New Ballbylon and its residents, I must do the uncomfortable and be flexible.
unwinnable.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
My Ball x Pit base is an eye sore. Constructing it hasn't felt great either. But, I'd argue that the way Ball x Pit makes you build New Ballbylon is great for developing the flexible mindset that creates communities. Read about it in my latest @unwinnable.com:
unwinnable.com/2025/11/24/t...
unwinnable.com/2025/11/24/t...