Jeannie Novak
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indiejeannie.com
Jeannie Novak
@indiejeannie.com
singer-songwriter/musician/composer, creative writer, game series author/publisher, podcaster, photographer – and horror/sci-fi fan!
Seeing BMP take the reins as sole curator of Prototype 2026 is a massive moment for the industry. Morrison's push for technical innovation is exactly what opera needs to stay relevant in the 21st century. As an indie composer myself, I feel that this level of support is a breath of fresh air.
January 17, 2026 at 12:23 AM
By spinning GOG off into an independent entity, Kiciński seems to be positioning the platform as the “ethical alternative” to other storefronts—incorporating both game preservation and a DRM-free “buy-to-own” model that allows players to truly own the games they purchase.
Michał Kiciński has acquired GOG to return it to its orig DRM-free philosophy & focus on game preservation. GOG will be an independent company with no changes to user libraries or commitment to platform-agnostic gaming.
@gamedeveloper.bsky.social @danielleri.bsky.social
#gamenews #gameindustry
GOG co-founder Michal Kicinski acquires the platform
Michal Kicinski, a co-founder of CD Projekt and of GOG, has acquired the platform back from CD Projekt.
www.gamedeveloper.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:57 PM
“I get up in the morning, 7 days a week, I write for about 3 hours, and I’m done” – @joerlansdale.bsky.social

Lansdale's advice on being “everybody in the story” is the best tip I’ve heard in a while. @atmanrising.bsky.social and I are writing more this year. This is inspirational stuff!
January 15, 2026 at 6:14 PM
For years, quantum tech has been trapped in massive, million-dollar refrigerators at -459°F. Prof. Jennifer Dionne’s team just proved we can entangle light & electrons at room temperature—on a nanoscale silicon chip. This is the kind of breakthrough that turns science fiction into standard hardware.
@stanford.edu researchers led by Jennifer Dionne developed a nanoscale optical device that achieves #quantum entanglement between light & electrons at room temperature – eliminating the cost & scale of traditional absolute-zero cooling systems.

#technology #science #womeninscience #womenintech
Scientists achieve breakthrough on quantum signaling
A tiny device that entangles light and electrons without super-cooling could revolutionize quantum tech in cryptography, computing, and AI.
news.stanford.edu
January 14, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Novy knows RPGs. And a bunch of other genres, too. These are just a few of the incredible titles we've worked on since 2011 🎮

#indiegames #games #gameplay #indie #rpg #rpggames #indiegamedevelopers #indiedevs #gamedev #indiedev #videogames #videogame #gamedesign #indiegamedevs #indiegamedevelopment
Novy Unlimited | RPG Compilation 🎮
YouTube video by Novy Unlimited
youtu.be
January 13, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
If at first you don't succeed ... try, try again.

#happynewyear #newyearsday #newyear2026 #newyear #happynewyear2026 #newyearvibes
January 1, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Let’s tell stories that resonate and make communities that last – ensuring that 2026 is one for the history books. Happy New Year!

#happynewyear #newyearsday #newyear2026 #newyear #happynewyear2026 #newyearvibes
January 1, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
A new year ... and a million new ways to disrupt the status quo. We believe the future belongs to those who dare to color outside the lines. In 2026, let’s build the world we actually want to live in. Happy New Year!

#newyearsday #newyear2026 #happynewyear2026 #newyearvibes #newyear #happynewyear
January 1, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Our final episode of the year features Exhuma (2024) – Jang Jae-hyun's supernatural #horror film 👻

Hosted by @indiejeannie.com and @atmanrising.bsky.social, the #podcast is on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Audible and more!

#horrormovie #film #supernatural
Exhuma (S2 E3) *SPOILERS* #supernatural #horror #moviereview #podcast
YouTube video by Evil*Asterisk Podcast
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 9:48 PM
"Seeing Is Believing": New year ... new challenges and opportunities. It’s on us to hope for a better future – and fight for it 🎇

Original piano/vocal song written and performed by Jeannie Novak – released by Novy Music (a division of
@novyunlimited.com) 🎹

#motivation #musicvideo #piano #newyear
"Seeing Is Believing" | New music video for the new year 🎇
New year ... new challenges and opportunities. It's on us to hope for a better future – and fight for it. //Seeing is believing Truth hasn’t lost its meaning It’s possible to build something new There’s really no deception It’s a matter of perception If we believe, we can make it through// Piano/vocal recording from SHELTER ℗ 2021 Jeannie Novak Music & Lyrics © 2020 Jeannie Novak Engineered by Sejo Navajas (4th Street Recording Studio, Santa Monica, CA) Mixing by Bobby Vickery & Matt Bishop #newyearseve #newyearsday #newyear #piano #musicvideo // SEEING IS BELIEVING © 2020 Jeannie Novak Just this past New Year's Eve We were so eager and naive Excited for the year ahead A brand-new era, so it seemed We began to scheme and dream But a line was crossed instead The new year isn't over yet We've grown weary and filled with regret It feels like a lifetime has passed us by But even though we're bruised and battered We haven't forgotten what has mattered There's still a glimmer of hope in our eyes We've been through the wringer But our faith isn't lost We believe in the future Even if peace came at a cost Seeing is believing Truth hasn't lost its meaning It's possible to build something new There's really no deception It's a matter of perception If we believe, we can make it through Believe your eyes It's not a surprise The world is about to change Someday we'll look back It was a lot to unpack This trip was long and strange Oh, watch us now Oh, watch us now Oh, open your eyes Cause seeing is believing
bit.ly
December 31, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Here’s to a truly terrifying holiday season 🩸

Watch out for the next EVIL*ASTERISK episode … coming soon!

#horror #christmashorror #holidayhorror #creepychristmas #merrychristmas #happyholidays
December 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered—1st performed on Dec 25, 1940 during Rodgers & Hart's musical, Pal Joey. Since then, it’s been covered countless times—by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra & even a Rod Stewart + Cher duet! 🎹
#song #jazz #piano #acoustic #cover

Music Visualizer:
bit.ly/bewitched-song
December 25, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Wishing our friends in the indie community a cozy, inspired, and well-deserved holiday break. Happy Holidays!

#happyholidays #merrychristmas #holidayseason #holidays #holidaycheer #happychristmas
December 24, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Behind every great game is a creator who dared to do something different. This holiday season, we’re celebrating the passion projects that move this industry forward. Wishing all our friends a well-deserved holiday break!

#happyholidays #merrychristmas #holidayseason #holidays #holidaycheer
December 24, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Maria Plyta, Greece’s first female director, helmed 17 successful films (1950-1970) yet remains excluded from the Greek cinematic canon and historical scholarly discourse as a direct result of patriarchal bias in film. – @sensesofcinema.bsky.social

#greekcinema #film #filmmaker #womeninfilm
History’s Gender Bias: The Case of Maria Plyta, the First Greek Female Director – Senses of Cinema
www.sensesofcinema.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Karly Hartzman talks with Venus Radio (CKUT 90.3 FM Montreal) about evolving from a lo-fi solo artist into the frontwoman for the band Wednesday; how she makes mundane memories into poignant lyrics; and her desire to explore a hardcore sound in future projects.

#music #musician #indie
Wednesday on a Friday: An Interview with Karly Hartzman
CKUT is a non-profit, campus-community radio station based in Montreal
ckut.ca
December 19, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Whether you’re spending the day diving into your backlog of retro titles or trying something new, Happy Games Day to you!

#gamesday #games #happygamesday #videogames
December 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Dust Bunny has 2 Spirit Award noms, so it’s on my voting list. I don't research these films in advance, so I’m not privy to the justification for an R rating—but in the '70s/'80s, Gen Xers faced "danger" in PG-13 films. Not only has the culture changed, but indie films are scrutinized more heavily.
@bryanfuller.bsky.social talks w/ @avclub.com's @jacoboller.bsky.social about Dust Bunny—a gateway #horror fable about a girl who hires a hitman to kill the monster under her bed—describing it (despite an R-rating) as a Looney Tunes take on violence intended to empower children. #horrormovies #indie
Bryan Fuller on his film debut Dust Bunny: "We've lost our appetite for bite"
Longtime TV auteur Bryan Fuller tells us all about reuniting with Mads Mikkelsen for his first movie, Dust Bunny.
www.avclub.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:46 AM
This is a signal that the era of unilateral studio closures is grinding to a halt. With the majority of industry news focusing on mass layoffs and pivots, this move is a play for long-term stability and creative preservation. By organizing everyone company-wide, id has created maximum leverage.
December 19, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Dr. Prado & Dr. Rhee just might solve the climate crisis through plant biology. Most plants effectively “stop” working when it gets too hot because their enzymes break down – but the Arizona honeysweet shrub in Death Valley is like a car engine that gets more efficient the faster you drive it.
Led by Karine Prado and Seung Rhee, a @michiganstateu.bsky.social team found that the Arizona honeysweet shrub thrives in extreme #DeathValley heat by rearranging its cellular structure – "shapeshifting" that could be a blueprint for #bioengineering future-proof crops.

@livescience.com #science
Death Valley shrub rearranges its insides to thrive in one of the hottest places on Earth
Heat-loving plants that thrive in California's Death Valley could hold the key to growing crops in a changing climate.
www.livescience.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Remember when you could just turn on a game and play? No 20-min cutscenes. No 40GB day one patches. There was a certain "mechanical honesty" in the ’80s: If the code wasn't tight, the game wouldn’t run. It’s refreshing to see an industry pioneer validate why we still love these games decades later.
Tim Cain (Fallout) argues that today’s #developers can achieve better-executed #games by moving away from “design by committee” and returning to the focused storytelling and simple goals of the #retro era.

– Joe Foley on Creative Bloq

#gameplay #gamedev #gamedesign
What today's devs can learn from 1980s games
Fallout designer Timothy Cain reveals the "forgotten wisdom" of retro games.
www.creativebloq.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:27 PM
@atmanrising.bsky.social (Luis) and I have an inside joke about actors who show up in other movies who were in The Mummy. Luis will call out, “He was in The Mummy!” Brendan Fraser just might just be one of his favorite actors—and we were both super excited to learn that The Mummy 4 is in the works.
December 17, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Frida Kahlo’s deeply personal self-portrait merges surrealism, pain, and the brutal reality of life itself. Whether or not you agree with the mechanics of the global art market, the record-breaking sale of El sueño (La cama) cements the cultural and historical significance of Kahlo’s work.
Frida Kahlo’s El sueño (La cama) sold at Sotheby's for $54.7M—setting a new record for a work of #art by a female #artist sold at auction. The #painting shows Kahlo in bed surrounded by vines and a skeleton—reflecting her struggle with chronic pain.

– Lianne Kolirin on @cnn.com #womeninhistory
Frida Kahlo self-portrait sells for $54.7 million, setting new record for female artists | CNN
“El sueño (La cama)” by the Mexican artist has become the most valuable work by a female artist sold at auction.
www.cnn.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Oleta Adams’ cover of Brenda Russell's “Get Here” debuted on Billboard Dec 15, 1990 – becoming an anthem for troops during the Gulf War. #Acoustic #cover recorded live at The Village Studios. On Spotify, YT, Apple, Google, etc 🎹

Music Visualizer:
bit.ly/get-here-song

#song #music #pop #piano
December 15, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Amplitude had the courage to initiate an exit when the studio’s creative vision no longer matched publisher strategy. A return to indie status has allowed them to regain ctrl over IP and streamline development. It was a tough decision – but one that puts Amplitude’s long-term health and focus first!
In an interview with @gibiz.bsky.social's @lewispackwood.bsky.social, Romain de Waubert de Genlis discusses @amplitudestudios.bsky.social's exit after 8 yrs under Sega. Its #indiedev status has sped up #gamedev – eliminating slow corp approval, increasing motivation & solidifying project ownership.
Why Amplitude Studios had to leave Sega
Co-founder Romain de Waubert de Genlis reflects on a deal that was over a year in the making – and the advantages of being a nimble independent
www.gamesindustry.biz
December 13, 2025 at 12:41 AM