Matt Leone
@mattleone.bsky.social
Writing stories about the games industry. Formerly at 1UP and Polygon. Now working on @designroom.bsky.social.
Reposted by Matt Leone
New episode! How do you create an oral history feature about a game like Final Fantasy VII or Street Fighter 2? Former Polygon editor @mattleone.bsky.social joins us to discuss this, and his new site, @designroom.bsky.social.
Listen wherever you get podcasts: open.spotify.com/episode/0dAo...
Listen wherever you get podcasts: open.spotify.com/episode/0dAo...
The Oral Histories of Video Games (with Matt Leone)
open.spotify.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:54 PM
New episode! How do you create an oral history feature about a game like Final Fantasy VII or Street Fighter 2? Former Polygon editor @mattleone.bsky.social joins us to discuss this, and his new site, @designroom.bsky.social.
Listen wherever you get podcasts: open.spotify.com/episode/0dAo...
Listen wherever you get podcasts: open.spotify.com/episode/0dAo...
Reposted by Matt Leone
Next up in our music game series: a big profile of Sound Fantasy and Electroplankton creator Toshio Iwai, based on a three-hour call with @radishgames.com.
Toshio Iwai's journey from Sound Fantasy to Electroplankton
We profile the artist behind two of Nintendo's attempts at making experimental music games in the '90s and early 2000s -- one a canceled Super Famicom game based on musical insects, and the other a Ni...
www.designroom.site
November 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Next up in our music game series: a big profile of Sound Fantasy and Electroplankton creator Toshio Iwai, based on a three-hour call with @radishgames.com.
Reposted by Matt Leone
A game starring a flying "sound warrior" that started life as a video game stage show with three people playing simultaneously, all synced to the same soundtrack? It could only be Otocky. www.designroom.site/toshio-iwai-...
November 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
A game starring a flying "sound warrior" that started life as a video game stage show with three people playing simultaneously, all synced to the same soundtrack? It could only be Otocky. www.designroom.site/toshio-iwai-...
Reposted by Matt Leone
Fun fact: This story came about because I noticed Iwai had done an art installation 30 years ago for the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco. The museum's staff was able to connect us, and this is the result.
Next up in our music game series: a big profile of Sound Fantasy and Electroplankton creator Toshio Iwai, based on a three-hour call with @radishgames.com.
Toshio Iwai's journey from Sound Fantasy to Electroplankton
We profile the artist behind two of Nintendo's attempts at making experimental music games in the '90s and early 2000s -- one a canceled Super Famicom game based on musical insects, and the other a Ni...
www.designroom.site
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Fun fact: This story came about because I noticed Iwai had done an art installation 30 years ago for the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco. The museum's staff was able to connect us, and this is the result.
Fun fact: This story came about because I noticed Iwai had done an art installation 30 years ago for the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco. The museum's staff was able to connect us, and this is the result.
Next up in our music game series: a big profile of Sound Fantasy and Electroplankton creator Toshio Iwai, based on a three-hour call with @radishgames.com.
Toshio Iwai's journey from Sound Fantasy to Electroplankton
We profile the artist behind two of Nintendo's attempts at making experimental music games in the '90s and early 2000s -- one a canceled Super Famicom game based on musical insects, and the other a Ni...
www.designroom.site
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Fun fact: This story came about because I noticed Iwai had done an art installation 30 years ago for the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco. The museum's staff was able to connect us, and this is the result.
Reposted by Matt Leone
Issue 5 is out now! 🦄 🎉
Featuring our incredible collaboration with Vanillaware for our Unicorn Overlord cover, interviews with some of the medium's most iconic creatives, and beautiful essays with original art from cover to cover.
Let's walk through the latest issue: 👇🧵
Featuring our incredible collaboration with Vanillaware for our Unicorn Overlord cover, interviews with some of the medium's most iconic creatives, and beautiful essays with original art from cover to cover.
Let's walk through the latest issue: 👇🧵
November 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Issue 5 is out now! 🦄 🎉
Featuring our incredible collaboration with Vanillaware for our Unicorn Overlord cover, interviews with some of the medium's most iconic creatives, and beautiful essays with original art from cover to cover.
Let's walk through the latest issue: 👇🧵
Featuring our incredible collaboration with Vanillaware for our Unicorn Overlord cover, interviews with some of the medium's most iconic creatives, and beautiful essays with original art from cover to cover.
Let's walk through the latest issue: 👇🧵
Happy Lumines day!
We're kicking off a series of music game oral histories with a look back at Rez Infinite -- and why it's been nine years without a follow-up.
After nine years, Rez Infinite remains gaming’s greatest tease
“If we're using the word ‘prologue,’ obviously something has to come after...”
www.designroom.site
November 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Happy Lumines day!
Reposted by Matt Leone
Despite the ravages of age and an internet steeped in misinformation, your eyes – in this one case – do not deceive you: Website different. It’s taken an immense amount of time and effort, but welcome to Aftermath version 2.0:
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Despite the ravages of age and an internet steeped in misinformation, your eyes – in this one case – do not deceive you: Website different. It’s taken an immense amount of time and effort, but welcome to Aftermath version 2.0:
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
Reposted by Matt Leone
$1 gets you...
•25 incredible interviews with the most fascinating people in video games
•5 deep dives on storytelling, reviews, and media
•1 oral history of Street Fighter: The Movie
•Video episodes
•Weekly bonus segments
•And a community of over 1,000 passionate gamers
www.patreon.com/c/PostGames
•25 incredible interviews with the most fascinating people in video games
•5 deep dives on storytelling, reviews, and media
•1 oral history of Street Fighter: The Movie
•Video episodes
•Weekly bonus segments
•And a community of over 1,000 passionate gamers
www.patreon.com/c/PostGames
November 7, 2025 at 8:13 PM
$1 gets you...
•25 incredible interviews with the most fascinating people in video games
•5 deep dives on storytelling, reviews, and media
•1 oral history of Street Fighter: The Movie
•Video episodes
•Weekly bonus segments
•And a community of over 1,000 passionate gamers
www.patreon.com/c/PostGames
•25 incredible interviews with the most fascinating people in video games
•5 deep dives on storytelling, reviews, and media
•1 oral history of Street Fighter: The Movie
•Video episodes
•Weekly bonus segments
•And a community of over 1,000 passionate gamers
www.patreon.com/c/PostGames
Reposted by Matt Leone
We're kicking off a series of music game oral histories with a look back at Rez Infinite -- and why it's been nine years without a follow-up.
After nine years, Rez Infinite remains gaming’s greatest tease
“If we're using the word ‘prologue,’ obviously something has to come after...”
www.designroom.site
November 3, 2025 at 8:12 PM
We're kicking off a series of music game oral histories with a look back at Rez Infinite -- and why it's been nine years without a follow-up.
New @apwot.bsky.social is live!
A Profound Waste of Time: Issue 6
The beloved gaming mag returns, with Astro Bot's Nicolas Doucet, Danganronpa's Kazutaka Kodaka, Team Ninja's Fumihiko Yasuda and more!
www.kickstarter.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
New @apwot.bsky.social is live!
Reposted by Matt Leone
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 5:24 PM
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
Fun fact: I originally wanted to run this story the day @designroom.bsky.social launched because I thought it was going to be Rez Infinite's 10th anniversary. Turned out I was a year off, but then I figured, might as well do it anyway.
We're kicking off a series of music game oral histories with a look back at Rez Infinite -- and why it's been nine years without a follow-up.
After nine years, Rez Infinite remains gaming’s greatest tease
“If we're using the word ‘prologue,’ obviously something has to come after...”
www.designroom.site
November 3, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Fun fact: I originally wanted to run this story the day @designroom.bsky.social launched because I thought it was going to be Rez Infinite's 10th anniversary. Turned out I was a year off, but then I figured, might as well do it anyway.
Reposted by Matt Leone
With Shadow of the Colossus behind us, our next project kicks off Monday: a music game series running throughout November.
October 31, 2025 at 4:58 PM
With Shadow of the Colossus behind us, our next project kicks off Monday: a music game series running throughout November.
Reposted by Matt Leone
i just signed up as a subscriber for @mattleone.bsky.social and co's new hotness! The FF7 and Street Fighter Oral Histories were critical pitstops on my journey to get into game dev, and I am excited to support an independent outlet helping chart the history of our artform from the words of artists!
This is a little peek at what paid subscribers have been reading. See the full thing for more.
Shawn Layden and others on The Last Guardian's 10+-year dev cycle
We talk to six former Sony employees about the long development cycle, the technical challenges, and the move from PlayStation 3 to PlayStation 4.
www.designroom.site
October 29, 2025 at 10:32 PM
i just signed up as a subscriber for @mattleone.bsky.social and co's new hotness! The FF7 and Street Fighter Oral Histories were critical pitstops on my journey to get into game dev, and I am excited to support an independent outlet helping chart the history of our artform from the words of artists!
Reposted by Matt Leone
The Last Guardian executive producer Yasuhide Kobayashi didn't want to move the game from PS3 to PS4.
October 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The Last Guardian executive producer Yasuhide Kobayashi didn't want to move the game from PS3 to PS4.
Reposted by Matt Leone
Delighted to announce Heartbeats, Dreams and Laser Eyes: 15 Years of Simogo, and equally thrilled to be working with @hollynielsen.bsky.social, @nadiaoxford.bsky.social, @illogicaljoker.bsky.social and Christian Donlan, who will be contributing essays to the book. Preorder at the link below!
Heartbeats, Dreams and Laser Eyes: 15 Years of @Simogo.com 💗
Look sharp!🤵We've partnered with Simogo on a book that reveals the heartbeats of the Malmö based studio fuelled by curiosity – and nuclear-strength coffee! ☕
Pre-Order by Jan 2nd: lostincult.co.uk/simogo
Look sharp!🤵We've partnered with Simogo on a book that reveals the heartbeats of the Malmö based studio fuelled by curiosity – and nuclear-strength coffee! ☕
Pre-Order by Jan 2nd: lostincult.co.uk/simogo
October 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Delighted to announce Heartbeats, Dreams and Laser Eyes: 15 Years of Simogo, and equally thrilled to be working with @hollynielsen.bsky.social, @nadiaoxford.bsky.social, @illogicaljoker.bsky.social and Christian Donlan, who will be contributing essays to the book. Preorder at the link below!
Reposted by Matt Leone
Over at The Ringer, I went long on the history of PlayStation online, from SOCOM and Uncharted 2 to its current live-service woes.
Notable hearing Shawn Layden on GaaS: “A live-service game to me isn’t really a game. It’s a repetitive action engagement device.”
www.theringer.com/2025/10/24/v...
Notable hearing Shawn Layden on GaaS: “A live-service game to me isn’t really a game. It’s a repetitive action engagement device.”
www.theringer.com/2025/10/24/v...
Why Can’t Sony Make More Multiplayer Hits?
How the PlayStation maker lost—but still survived—gaming’s live-service struggle
www.theringer.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Over at The Ringer, I went long on the history of PlayStation online, from SOCOM and Uncharted 2 to its current live-service woes.
Notable hearing Shawn Layden on GaaS: “A live-service game to me isn’t really a game. It’s a repetitive action engagement device.”
www.theringer.com/2025/10/24/v...
Notable hearing Shawn Layden on GaaS: “A live-service game to me isn’t really a game. It’s a repetitive action engagement device.”
www.theringer.com/2025/10/24/v...
Reposted by Matt Leone
Honored to contribute something to @mattleone.bsky.social's wonderful new jam! I really enjoyed reading back on these, still amazed that I got to talk to so many incredible devs about my favorite thing.
Another 10,000 words on Shadow of the Colossus?! Today, we're posting two never-before-seen interviews @nsuttner.bsky.social did for his @bossfightbooks.com book on Shadow that came out back in 2015. For the first, he talks to @thatgamecompany.com's Jenova Chen.
Jenova Chen on how Shadow of the Colossus inspired Journey
We dig up a time capsule in the form of a never-before-seen interview conducted a decade ago.
www.designroom.site
October 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Honored to contribute something to @mattleone.bsky.social's wonderful new jam! I really enjoyed reading back on these, still amazed that I got to talk to so many incredible devs about my favorite thing.
Reposted by Matt Leone
For the second of these, @nsuttner.bsky.social talks with Josef Fares about Ico, wordless storytelling, and why developers shouldn't listen too closely to players.
Josef Fares on how Ico inspired Brothers
We dig up a lost interview to learn more about Ico's influence on the 2013 co-op hit.
www.designroom.site
October 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
For the second of these, @nsuttner.bsky.social talks with Josef Fares about Ico, wordless storytelling, and why developers shouldn't listen too closely to players.
Reposted by Matt Leone
Another 10,000 words on Shadow of the Colossus?! Today, we're posting two never-before-seen interviews @nsuttner.bsky.social did for his @bossfightbooks.com book on Shadow that came out back in 2015. For the first, he talks to @thatgamecompany.com's Jenova Chen.
Jenova Chen on how Shadow of the Colossus inspired Journey
We dig up a time capsule in the form of a never-before-seen interview conducted a decade ago.
www.designroom.site
October 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Another 10,000 words on Shadow of the Colossus?! Today, we're posting two never-before-seen interviews @nsuttner.bsky.social did for his @bossfightbooks.com book on Shadow that came out back in 2015. For the first, he talks to @thatgamecompany.com's Jenova Chen.
Was fun!
Our newest bonus epsiode is LIVE! We were thrilled to get to talk to @mattleone.bsky.social about games media, journalism, and the launch of his amazing new site, Design Room: www.designroom.site
October 22, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Was fun!
Reposted by Matt Leone
Takeshi Oga, the former Gravity Rush concept artist who did our Shadow of the Colossus cover, has just joined Bluesky. @ogatakeshi.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Takeshi Oga, the former Gravity Rush concept artist who did our Shadow of the Colossus cover, has just joined Bluesky. @ogatakeshi.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Leone
It’s FunFactor… Fonday?
Today we’ve got an à la carte bonus episode of @funfactorpod.com with @mattleone.bsky.social to chat about games history and preservation, how we tell stories, and his new oral histories project: @designroom.bsky.social.
Extended preview in the free feed!
Today we’ve got an à la carte bonus episode of @funfactorpod.com with @mattleone.bsky.social to chat about games history and preservation, how we tell stories, and his new oral histories project: @designroom.bsky.social.
Extended preview in the free feed!
ULTRA Review Crew TEASER - Matt Leone's Design Room [S1B6]
Podcast Episode · FunFactor · S1, E6 Bonus · 9m
podcasts.apple.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
It’s FunFactor… Fonday?
Today we’ve got an à la carte bonus episode of @funfactorpod.com with @mattleone.bsky.social to chat about games history and preservation, how we tell stories, and his new oral histories project: @designroom.bsky.social.
Extended preview in the free feed!
Today we’ve got an à la carte bonus episode of @funfactorpod.com with @mattleone.bsky.social to chat about games history and preservation, how we tell stories, and his new oral histories project: @designroom.bsky.social.
Extended preview in the free feed!
Reposted by Matt Leone
For the Shadow of the Colossus story, we interviewed 14 people including project leads Fumito Ueda and Kenji Kaido, hired Gravity Rush concept artist Takeshi Oga to illustrate the cover, and put together a 10,000-word story with help from @milkman.bsky.social @shmuplations.bsky.social and others.
Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Team Ico’s masterpiece by looking back with 11 people who worked on it (and three who didn’t).
www.designroom.site
October 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM
For the Shadow of the Colossus story, we interviewed 14 people including project leads Fumito Ueda and Kenji Kaido, hired Gravity Rush concept artist Takeshi Oga to illustrate the cover, and put together a 10,000-word story with help from @milkman.bsky.social @shmuplations.bsky.social and others.