Dr. José Zagal
@jzagal.bsky.social
Game scholar, academic, professor at University of Utah's Division of Games
Author: Seeing Red: Nintendo's Virtual Boy
https://mitpress.mit.edu/author/jose-p-zagal-23078/
https://www.pillowfort.social/jpzagal Comics
Author: Seeing Red: Nintendo's Virtual Boy
https://mitpress.mit.edu/author/jose-p-zagal-23078/
https://www.pillowfort.social/jpzagal Comics
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
"Gaming Like It's 1930" is coming this January: itch.io/jam/gaming-l...
Come join us for our annual public domain game jam, celebrating new works that are entering the commons
Come join us for our annual public domain game jam, celebrating new works that are entering the commons
Gaming Like It's 1930
A game jam from 2026-01-01 to 2026-02-01 hosted by Randy Lubin & Copia Gaming. A new year means new material entering the public domain! Starting January 1st 2026, works from 1930 are free to use and ...
itch.io
November 25, 2025 at 11:14 PM
"Gaming Like It's 1930" is coming this January: itch.io/jam/gaming-l...
Come join us for our annual public domain game jam, celebrating new works that are entering the commons
Come join us for our annual public domain game jam, celebrating new works that are entering the commons
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
@foddy.net @gcuzzillo.bsky.social @maxiboch.bsky.social on designing Baby Steps. “Making it interesting to get lost is a big creative challenge.”
#gamedev
#gamedesign
#gamedev
#gamedesign
The Baby Steps Interview: Does Bennett Foddy just want to make us mad?
YouTube video by GoGoGaming
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
@foddy.net @gcuzzillo.bsky.social @maxiboch.bsky.social on designing Baby Steps. “Making it interesting to get lost is a big creative challenge.”
#gamedev
#gamedesign
#gamedev
#gamedesign
Hi @costik.bsky.social, I've really enjoyed your book on uncertainty in games (mitpress.mit.edu/978026252753...). I was wondering how you think of the uncertainty introduced in games with a human referee? (refs make mistakes) Is this a "valid" form of uncertainty in your view?
Uncertainty in Games
In life, uncertainty surrounds us. Things that we thought were good for us turn out to be bad for us (and vice versa); people we thought we knew well behave ...
mitpress.mit.edu
November 19, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Hi @costik.bsky.social, I've really enjoyed your book on uncertainty in games (mitpress.mit.edu/978026252753...). I was wondering how you think of the uncertainty introduced in games with a human referee? (refs make mistakes) Is this a "valid" form of uncertainty in your view?
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Tomorrow night!
November 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Tomorrow night!
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Jill Lepore, www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
November 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Jill Lepore, www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Our brand-new and bilingual website for CGSA 2026 is now live (a whole day early, go us!): event.fourwaves.com/cgsa2026
We're officially ready receive your wonderful proposals (click the "Submissions" tab in the top-left).
As always, email us if you encounter any issues or have any questions. <3
We're officially ready receive your wonderful proposals (click the "Submissions" tab in the top-left).
As always, email us if you encounter any issues or have any questions. <3
CGSA/ACÉJ 2026
Fourwaves - CGSA/ACÉJ 2026
event.fourwaves.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Our brand-new and bilingual website for CGSA 2026 is now live (a whole day early, go us!): event.fourwaves.com/cgsa2026
We're officially ready receive your wonderful proposals (click the "Submissions" tab in the top-left).
As always, email us if you encounter any issues or have any questions. <3
We're officially ready receive your wonderful proposals (click the "Submissions" tab in the top-left).
As always, email us if you encounter any issues or have any questions. <3
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Screen Australia is doing a massive research project on the current state of the screen and games industries in Australia. Local devs, please consider taking the time to complete their survey survey.alchemer.com/s3/8573365/S...
Screen Currency 2025 — Screen and Games Industry Survey
survey.alchemer.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Screen Australia is doing a massive research project on the current state of the screen and games industries in Australia. Local devs, please consider taking the time to complete their survey survey.alchemer.com/s3/8573365/S...
With the #DiGRA26 deadline coming up I hope this meme isn't true for everyone! www.digraconference2026.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
With the #DiGRA26 deadline coming up I hope this meme isn't true for everyone! www.digraconference2026.com
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
ECONOMICS GAMES ARE NOT ABOUT MONEY AND I CAN PROVE IT BY SHOWING THIS ALIEN BABY ABSOLUTELY BEEFING IT AND LOSING ALL AUTONOMY AND LIVELIHOOD IN SPACE WARLORD BABY TRADING SIMULATOR.
I GROW MORE NORMAL BY THE DAY.
I GROW MORE NORMAL BY THE DAY.
November 6, 2025 at 10:55 PM
ECONOMICS GAMES ARE NOT ABOUT MONEY AND I CAN PROVE IT BY SHOWING THIS ALIEN BABY ABSOLUTELY BEEFING IT AND LOSING ALL AUTONOMY AND LIVELIHOOD IN SPACE WARLORD BABY TRADING SIMULATOR.
I GROW MORE NORMAL BY THE DAY.
I GROW MORE NORMAL BY THE DAY.
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
For our new followers: We run a free digital library for researching game history!
We have over 4000+ out-of-print game magazines and hundreds of development documents, press kits, event guides, and more
archive.gamehistory.org
We have over 4000+ out-of-print game magazines and hundreds of development documents, press kits, event guides, and more
archive.gamehistory.org
November 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
For our new followers: We run a free digital library for researching game history!
We have over 4000+ out-of-print game magazines and hundreds of development documents, press kits, event guides, and more
archive.gamehistory.org
We have over 4000+ out-of-print game magazines and hundreds of development documents, press kits, event guides, and more
archive.gamehistory.org
Thanks Sean Keanaaina for the amazing update on your achievements! Three-game combo deserves three exclamation marks!!! (thankfully Bluesky lets me put more than one pic) @utah.edu @capcomusa.com (is there a Japan Capcom on Bluesky?)
November 4, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Thanks Sean Keanaaina for the amazing update on your achievements! Three-game combo deserves three exclamation marks!!! (thankfully Bluesky lets me put more than one pic) @utah.edu @capcomusa.com (is there a Japan Capcom on Bluesky?)
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Y'all, I know two hours is a big time commitment, but this panel I arranged and hosted last month is one of the most important things I've ever done for video game history. The launch of the NES is a crazier story than most people realize, and my guests were extremely generous with their memories.
Hear about the NES US launch 40 years ago from the people that made it happen: Gail Tilden, Bruce Lowry and Lance Barr with @frankcifaldi.bsky.social from the @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social moderating! Panel recording at youtu.be/f2WDfsiLiRA
#prge #prge2025 #retrogaming #VGHF
#prge #prge2025 #retrogaming #VGHF
We Launched the NES 40 Years Ago Today - Gail Tilden, Lance Barr, Bruce Lowry - PRGE 2025 Portland
YouTube video by Portland Retro Gaming Expo
youtu.be
November 3, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Y'all, I know two hours is a big time commitment, but this panel I arranged and hosted last month is one of the most important things I've ever done for video game history. The launch of the NES is a crazier story than most people realize, and my guests were extremely generous with their memories.
I have @jaakkostenros.bsky.social to thank for getting this for me. It was a fun and interesting read - neither academic nor journalistic, so quite personal(?). With Sweden punching above their weight in terms of videogame industry impact, there's some obvious strong TRPG links and influences, no?
November 3, 2025 at 4:41 AM
I have @jaakkostenros.bsky.social to thank for getting this for me. It was a fun and interesting read - neither academic nor journalistic, so quite personal(?). With Sweden punching above their weight in terms of videogame industry impact, there's some obvious strong TRPG links and influences, no?
I read at least one of these books - it was good! So, probably a good idea to just get both while you're at it. :-)
Genre is inherently political. It captures the sensibilities of contemporary life and strategies for responding to the present that cultivate different futures
Updated/Final covers for a passion-project w/ @joshcall.bsky.social, @profmatthew.bsky.social, and @betsybrey.bsky.social
Out Jan 2026!
Updated/Final covers for a passion-project w/ @joshcall.bsky.social, @profmatthew.bsky.social, and @betsybrey.bsky.social
Out Jan 2026!
October 31, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I read at least one of these books - it was good! So, probably a good idea to just get both while you're at it. :-)
Should I ghost the students in my classes next week so I can sit down and play this? (#ProfessorJokes) Thanks and congrats to
L. Chan for, as always, helping knock out another (I'm sure) banger of a game! @utah.edu game alumni making us proud again!
L. Chan for, as always, helping knock out another (I'm sure) banger of a game! @utah.edu game alumni making us proud again!
October 27, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Should I ghost the students in my classes next week so I can sit down and play this? (#ProfessorJokes) Thanks and congrats to
L. Chan for, as always, helping knock out another (I'm sure) banger of a game! @utah.edu game alumni making us proud again!
L. Chan for, as always, helping knock out another (I'm sure) banger of a game! @utah.edu game alumni making us proud again!
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Call for papers: Mapping the Borders of Larp Research -The Academic seminar of the Nordic Larp Research Network.
Larp Research – Nordic Larp Research Seminar
www.larpresearch.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Call for papers: Mapping the Borders of Larp Research -The Academic seminar of the Nordic Larp Research Network.
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Llamasoft The Jeff Minter Collection (PS5) is $27.09 on Amazon buff.ly/EITdyzB
$13.49 GOG buff.ly/9EPGqbo #ad
$13.49 GOG buff.ly/9EPGqbo #ad
October 18, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Llamasoft The Jeff Minter Collection (PS5) is $27.09 on Amazon buff.ly/EITdyzB
$13.49 GOG buff.ly/9EPGqbo #ad
$13.49 GOG buff.ly/9EPGqbo #ad
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
The McDonald’s x Street Fighter collab in Japan is incredible. No notes. 🤌
October 16, 2025 at 1:40 AM
The McDonald’s x Street Fighter collab in Japan is incredible. No notes. 🤌
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
👀 We heard Nintendo is bringing the Virtual Boy back to gamers. While we can't get you the new add-on, the story behind this unique platform is completely free!
@jzagal.bsky.social & @benjedwards.com's "Seeing Red" is available #OpenAccess: mitpress.mit.edu/978026204506...
@jzagal.bsky.social & @benjedwards.com's "Seeing Red" is available #OpenAccess: mitpress.mit.edu/978026204506...
October 13, 2025 at 1:16 PM
👀 We heard Nintendo is bringing the Virtual Boy back to gamers. While we can't get you the new add-on, the story behind this unique platform is completely free!
@jzagal.bsky.social & @benjedwards.com's "Seeing Red" is available #OpenAccess: mitpress.mit.edu/978026204506...
@jzagal.bsky.social & @benjedwards.com's "Seeing Red" is available #OpenAccess: mitpress.mit.edu/978026204506...
Wait, what? The tail eats the dog?
I just learned about sports betting farms, where bored, underpaid workers play games day and night for the sole purpose of online betting.
They have to create sports-looking content to trigger the same dopamine hits of "real", culturally embedded competitions.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4f5...
They have to create sports-looking content to trigger the same dopamine hits of "real", culturally embedded competitions.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4f5...
Inside Russia's creepy sport farms
YouTube video by Search Party
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Wait, what? The tail eats the dog?
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Virtual Boy is aesthetically the coolest looking console
October 8, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Virtual Boy is aesthetically the coolest looking console
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Had to speed it up to post on BlueSky.
But here's what naneinf looks like.
But here's what naneinf looks like.
October 6, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Had to speed it up to post on BlueSky.
But here's what naneinf looks like.
But here's what naneinf looks like.
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
Australians, please raid your Uncle's old PC in his shed, and help me find a copy of this to archive.
#Australia #AFL #DOSGaming #Wolfenstein #RetroGaming #MSDOS #RetroComputing
#Australia #AFL #DOSGaming #Wolfenstein #RetroGaming #MSDOS #RetroComputing
October 4, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Australians, please raid your Uncle's old PC in his shed, and help me find a copy of this to archive.
#Australia #AFL #DOSGaming #Wolfenstein #RetroGaming #MSDOS #RetroComputing
#Australia #AFL #DOSGaming #Wolfenstein #RetroGaming #MSDOS #RetroComputing
Reposted by Dr. José Zagal
DiGRA 2026 (Ireland) CfP is now live
Full paper and abstracts deadline: 1 December 2025
Workshop proposals deadline: 15 February 2026
www.digraconference2026.com
#games #gamestudies
Full paper and abstracts deadline: 1 December 2025
Workshop proposals deadline: 15 February 2026
www.digraconference2026.com
#games #gamestudies
DiGRA 2026 Conference | Maynooth University
Join the DiGRA 2026 conference at Maynooth University, 14–18 June 2026. Theme “Intersectional Pleasures.” A global hybrid event for game research, culture, design, and industry.
www.digraconference2026.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
DiGRA 2026 (Ireland) CfP is now live
Full paper and abstracts deadline: 1 December 2025
Workshop proposals deadline: 15 February 2026
www.digraconference2026.com
#games #gamestudies
Full paper and abstracts deadline: 1 December 2025
Workshop proposals deadline: 15 February 2026
www.digraconference2026.com
#games #gamestudies