Nicole Carpenter
@nicolecarpenter.bsky.social
reporter, former polygon
text me on signal @ nicolecarpenter.87
text me on signal @ nicolecarpenter.87
Pinned
The untold history of Barbie Fashion Designer, the first mass-market ‘game for girls’
How Digital Domain and Mattel Media built Barbie’s wardrobe
www.polygon.com
I'm getting more sad about getting laid off. My work means so much to me. I'm a really good reporter. I've been getting scoops every single week lately, while also doing in-depth, award-winning reporting. I have good ideas!
New email: [email protected]
www.polygon.com/23776996/bar...
New email: [email protected]
www.polygon.com/23776996/bar...
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
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 9:11 PM
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?
i love hockey
November 25, 2025 at 7:10 PM
i love hockey
my quest to make after aftermath a hockey website continues! i spoke to columbus blue jackets goalie elvis merzlikins and the artist who created this sonic the hedgehog mask:
Sonic the Hedgehog makes his NHL debut--on Columbus Blue Jackets goalie's hockey mask
aftermath.site/sonic-goalie-m...
aftermath.site/sonic-goalie-m...
November 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
my quest to make after aftermath a hockey website continues! i spoke to columbus blue jackets goalie elvis merzlikins and the artist who created this sonic the hedgehog mask:
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
that’s right for 24 hours I am the Game File Street Team, very shrewd of Stephen. Subscribe! Give me cash! Fund more freelancers on Game File!
Want to enable more freelance reporting and reviews on Game File?
Now's a great time to support Game File and Joshua--and to help fund future guest contributions
Guest writers receive a flat rate plus a 25% cut of any annual subscriptions purchased in the 24 hours after their articles run
Now's a great time to support Game File and Joshua--and to help fund future guest contributions
Guest writers receive a flat rate plus a 25% cut of any annual subscriptions purchased in the 24 hours after their articles run
November 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
that’s right for 24 hours I am the Game File Street Team, very shrewd of Stephen. Subscribe! Give me cash! Fund more freelancers on Game File!
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
For @aftermath.site, I spoke to @imodrew.bsky.social, the Sucker Punch dev fired after making a Charlie Kirk joke.
She paints a picture of an industry that all too often ignores bad actors until those bad actors threaten them financially.
aftermath.site/sucker-punch...
She paints a picture of an industry that all too often ignores bad actors until those bad actors threaten them financially.
aftermath.site/sucker-punch...
Two Months After Firing Over Charlie Kirk Comments, Ghost Of Yotei Dev Blames Harassment Campaign, Not ‘Bad Joke’
"I really don’t want this to happen to anyone else, because I feel like with the state of everything, it will absolutely happen to other people," says Drew Harrison
aftermath.site
November 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM
For @aftermath.site, I spoke to @imodrew.bsky.social, the Sucker Punch dev fired after making a Charlie Kirk joke.
She paints a picture of an industry that all too often ignores bad actors until those bad actors threaten them financially.
aftermath.site/sucker-punch...
She paints a picture of an industry that all too often ignores bad actors until those bad actors threaten them financially.
aftermath.site/sucker-punch...
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
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 6:35 PM
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...
do you ever just get so sad??
November 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
do you ever just get so sad??
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
hey look I’m in @stephentotilo.bsky.social’s Game File with a review of Blippo+, one of my favorite games of the year that’s not really a game, more like channel surfing TV from another planet. It rules
www.gamefile.news/p/blippo-plu...
www.gamefile.news/p/blippo-plu...
A new video game that's all fake TV shows
A review of Blippo+, one of 2025's stranger new games for Switch and PC (previously on Playdate!)
www.gamefile.news
November 24, 2025 at 5:03 PM
hey look I’m in @stephentotilo.bsky.social’s Game File with a review of Blippo+, one of my favorite games of the year that’s not really a game, more like channel surfing TV from another planet. It rules
www.gamefile.news/p/blippo-plu...
www.gamefile.news/p/blippo-plu...
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old with intellectual disabilities, wandered away from his mom’s fruit stand in October.
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
A Disabled Child’s Mom Reported Him Missing. He Was Locked Away by Federal Immigration Authorities for 48 Days.
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old who has an intellectual disability, walked away from his mom’s fruit stand in October. Houston Police called ICE.
thebarbedwire.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old with intellectual disabilities, wandered away from his mom’s fruit stand in October.
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
The Messages Rockstar Saw Before Firing 34 Union Members
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
I spoke with people role-playing ICE raids in video games to help educate people on their rights and what to do in real-life situations. Tonight, they're holding an event in Fortnite www.wired.com/story/activi...
November 21, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I spoke with people role-playing ICE raids in video games to help educate people on their rights and what to do in real-life situations. Tonight, they're holding an event in Fortnite www.wired.com/story/activi...
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
A hockey team recreated the Evangelion intro for a stadium full of fans
aftermath.site/neon-gensis-ev...
aftermath.site/neon-gensis-ev...
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
A hockey team recreated the Evangelion intro for a stadium full of fans
aftermath.site/neon-gensis-ev...
aftermath.site/neon-gensis-ev...
turning aftermath into a hockey website (i spoke to the skilled lehigh valley phantoms creative staff who put together this incredible evangelion intro!!)
aftermath.site/neon-gensis-...
aftermath.site/neon-gensis-...
A Hockey Team Recreated The Evangelion Intro For A Stadium Full Of Fans
Here's how an American Hockey League team embraced anime—then went viral.
aftermath.site
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
turning aftermath into a hockey website (i spoke to the skilled lehigh valley phantoms creative staff who put together this incredible evangelion intro!!)
aftermath.site/neon-gensis-...
aftermath.site/neon-gensis-...
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
What are your favorite written game reviews of 2025?
a girl with glasses is sitting in front of a computer monitor
ALT: a girl with glasses is sitting in front of a computer monitor
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:48 PM
What are your favorite written game reviews of 2025?
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
freelancing in 2025 feels so different than even a few years ago. healthcare premiums are so expensive, being disabled is so expensive. money worries grind down the ability to think creatively or engage deeply with the world outside day to day survival
November 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
freelancing in 2025 feels so different than even a few years ago. healthcare premiums are so expensive, being disabled is so expensive. money worries grind down the ability to think creatively or engage deeply with the world outside day to day survival
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
when i started writing this i was absolutely convinced it was going to be a joke on the level of the silksong chocolate cake debacle but after researching it they've made a believer out of me i'm sorry to say
www.ign.com/articles/why...
www.ign.com/articles/why...
Why Is Everyone Posting About a Half-Life 3 Announcement Soon? - IGN
Haha. Yeah, I know. "Half-Life 3". The long-fabled, often-rumored, still non-existent third numbered entry in the Half-Life series that fans have craved but never gotten a credible whisper of. It's be...
www.ign.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:38 PM
when i started writing this i was absolutely convinced it was going to be a joke on the level of the silksong chocolate cake debacle but after researching it they've made a believer out of me i'm sorry to say
www.ign.com/articles/why...
www.ign.com/articles/why...
brie is working because we have bills to pay
November 19, 2025 at 12:59 AM
brie is working because we have bills to pay
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
NEW: US airlines (Delta, United, American, etc) will shut down a program in which it sold hundreds of millions of your flight records to government agencies, including ICE, FBI, ATF, more. Comes after intense lawmaker-pressure and 404 Media's months-long reporting
www.404media.co/airlines-wil...
www.404media.co/airlines-wil...
Airlines Will Shut Down Program That Sold Your Flights Records to Government
The move comes after intense pressure from lawmakers and 404 Media’s months-long reporting about the airline industry's data selling practices.
www.404media.co
November 18, 2025 at 6:45 PM
NEW: US airlines (Delta, United, American, etc) will shut down a program in which it sold hundreds of millions of your flight records to government agencies, including ICE, FBI, ATF, more. Comes after intense lawmaker-pressure and 404 Media's months-long reporting
www.404media.co/airlines-wil...
www.404media.co/airlines-wil...
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue were really fortunate to complete our fundraising goal — the laid-off staffers at VIBE deserve the same support, as Black media outlets and journalists continue to be targeted and discriminated against in “austerity” measures
It was announced on October 16, 2025 that VIBE was "joining forces" with Rolling Stone. As a result, the majority of VIBE employees were laid off. If you have the means to give, this team could use the support! www.gofundme.com/f/support-vi...
Donate to Support VIBE Staff After Sudden Layoffs, organized by Mya Abraham
It was announced on October 16, 2025 that VIBE was "joining forces" with Rolling S… Mya Abraham needs your support for Support VIBE Staff After Sudden Layoffs
www.gofundme.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue were really fortunate to complete our fundraising goal — the laid-off staffers at VIBE deserve the same support, as Black media outlets and journalists continue to be targeted and discriminated against in “austerity” measures
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
Rebecca was one of the founders of Interplay and programmed & designed for some of the most influential games of my youth, notably Bard's Tale I & III and Wasteland. She will be missed.
My trailblazing game industry bad-ass friend Rebecca Heineman has passed away.
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Rebecca Heineman - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Rebecca was one of the founders of Interplay and programmed & designed for some of the most influential games of my youth, notably Bard's Tale I & III and Wasteland. She will be missed.
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
Red and Blue Composition, by Ad Reinhardt, 1941 (flipped), 📸 by Andrew Mordzynski
November 17, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Red and Blue Composition, by Ad Reinhardt, 1941 (flipped), 📸 by Andrew Mordzynski
i spoke to the folks behind the project to bring concord back to life about why they're doing it
!["I think a big part of [reverse engineering] is just being curious and motivated," Real said. "I'm very interested in 'lost media' and the like so I initially gravitated towards Concord because of the very large wave it made online as well as its incredibly short lifespan. Over the course of the project I began to respect a lot of the design choices I initially questioned and I think that also motivated me to keep working on it. I think part of it is wanting other people to see what I saw."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ngixp5ab4bvfayehc23q2mja/bafkreiemmmsshjdkovqagje5j7ftmr2sjdzxidxrbazepzkilpi6vxsrpu@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 10:08 PM
i spoke to the folks behind the project to bring concord back to life about why they're doing it
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
absolutely heartbroken to announce that i was part of the crystal layoffs today 💔
if y’all spot any openings for a soft, dedicated, smiley games writer — please send them my way 💫
i was on the most perfect narrative team on an exciting, ambitious project. i will cherish it all forever. 💖
if y’all spot any openings for a soft, dedicated, smiley games writer — please send them my way 💫
i was on the most perfect narrative team on an exciting, ambitious project. i will cherish it all forever. 💖
November 13, 2025 at 11:39 PM
absolutely heartbroken to announce that i was part of the crystal layoffs today 💔
if y’all spot any openings for a soft, dedicated, smiley games writer — please send them my way 💫
i was on the most perfect narrative team on an exciting, ambitious project. i will cherish it all forever. 💖
if y’all spot any openings for a soft, dedicated, smiley games writer — please send them my way 💫
i was on the most perfect narrative team on an exciting, ambitious project. i will cherish it all forever. 💖
Reposted by Nicole Carpenter
a single buck! we don't even get to do the boring "it's as much as a cup of coffee" comparison thing, because it's just a buck!
read all the blogs, comment all you want, it's a good website!
read all the blogs, comment all you want, it's a good website!
We're having a sale! Get your first month of Aftermath for just $1.
aftermath.site/aftermath-vide...
aftermath.site/aftermath-vide...
November 13, 2025 at 9:49 PM
a single buck! we don't even get to do the boring "it's as much as a cup of coffee" comparison thing, because it's just a buck!
read all the blogs, comment all you want, it's a good website!
read all the blogs, comment all you want, it's a good website!
do games go to heaven when they die? i talked to @morgansung.bsky.social on close all tabs about dead and dying games
www.kqed.org/news/1206377...
www.kqed.org/news/1206377...
Where Do Games Go When They Die? | KQED
When Ubisoft, publisher of the sprawling open-world racing game The Crew shut down the game’s servers, cutting off access to even its single-player mode, fans were outraged. The moment tapped into the...
www.kqed.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:30 AM
do games go to heaven when they die? i talked to @morgansung.bsky.social on close all tabs about dead and dying games
www.kqed.org/news/1206377...
www.kqed.org/news/1206377...