Phoenix
@phoenixsimms.bsky.social
Atlantic Canadian game critic and demiwoman cryptid. (She/They)
Words at Unwinnable, Endless Mode (previously Paste Games), and more
Co-Editor of @tier-review.com
https://muckrack.com/phoenix-simms
[email protected]
Avi by realrollsweat
Words at Unwinnable, Endless Mode (previously Paste Games), and more
Co-Editor of @tier-review.com
https://muckrack.com/phoenix-simms
[email protected]
Avi by realrollsweat
Pinned
@phoenixsimms.bsky.social reflects on why there was an increasing emphasis in the 2010s on IF storytelling via interfaces like desktops and apps.
IF's Retrofuturist Roots
Amping up retro technological friction encourages the player to decipher an IF game's interface as if it is an alien device with its own "emotional language".
www.tier-review.com
Whenever I think about IF in the 2010s, I always notice that game designers were interested in retrofuturist takes on computer desktops. The first one I encountered, Digital: A Love Story, was even designed by someone who didn't grow up with the interfaces central to the game, namely the BBS.
Reposted by Phoenix
hell yeah
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM
hell yeah
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November 25, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Reposted by Phoenix
this is insane both on its face and with several more insane details once you read the full thing
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 5:53 PM
this is insane both on its face and with several more insane details once you read the full thing
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Hi all, Salem and I could really use some help with groceries and meds for the rest of the week. $250 would mean a lot to us. Any boosting would be extremely appreciated! #MutualAid #MutualAidBoost
November 21, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Hi all, Salem and I could really use some help with groceries and meds for the rest of the week. $250 would mean a lot to us. Any boosting would be extremely appreciated! #MutualAid #MutualAidBoost
If you are a #TTRPG creator/designer/publisher with interest in working with or contributing to libraries, the Games & Gaming Round Table of the American Library Association would love to hear from you!
If you are a games publisher, developer or designer, please fill out this survey. We’d like to know more about what you are looking for in a partnership. bit.ly/GameRT2025Pu...
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 AM
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Reposted by Phoenix
re: roblox dude's interview crashout. the thing he wants to say but can't is "at scale, kids are gonna get hurt. that is the price for scale." the thing nobody wants to say out loud is "maybe scaling to a level where harm isn't manageable is bad, and scale should be contained"
November 21, 2025 at 6:35 PM
re: roblox dude's interview crashout. the thing he wants to say but can't is "at scale, kids are gonna get hurt. that is the price for scale." the thing nobody wants to say out loud is "maybe scaling to a level where harm isn't manageable is bad, and scale should be contained"
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The river is a god & they killed her. It’s time for ordinary people to hold them to account.
Excited to share the first trailer for our new game about dead gods & taking billionaires to court — All Will Rise 🌏⚖️✨
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXQa...
Excited to share the first trailer for our new game about dead gods & taking billionaires to court — All Will Rise 🌏⚖️✨
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXQa...
June 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The river is a god & they killed her. It’s time for ordinary people to hold them to account.
Excited to share the first trailer for our new game about dead gods & taking billionaires to court — All Will Rise 🌏⚖️✨
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXQa...
Excited to share the first trailer for our new game about dead gods & taking billionaires to court — All Will Rise 🌏⚖️✨
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXQa...
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this is such a depressing read. studios are happy to exploit the labour and creativity of women & queer people & poc but then turn around and sacrifice them to a baying mob of bad actors who they believe are their core audience. did we learn no lessons from gamergate?
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 7:24 PM
this is such a depressing read. studios are happy to exploit the labour and creativity of women & queer people & poc but then turn around and sacrifice them to a baying mob of bad actors who they believe are their core audience. did we learn no lessons from gamergate?
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I know this makes me like a terminal bummer or whatever but there is still an Xbox boycott under BDS. The Gaza genocide might not be as in your face as it was a year or even six months ago but shit ain’t over. Israel/the US just put forward an ethnic cleansing proposal masquerading as a peace plan.
November 21, 2025 at 10:08 AM
I know this makes me like a terminal bummer or whatever but there is still an Xbox boycott under BDS. The Gaza genocide might not be as in your face as it was a year or even six months ago but shit ain’t over. Israel/the US just put forward an ethnic cleansing proposal masquerading as a peace plan.
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ICYMI LOOK AT MY VIDEO GAME I ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!
HEY I'M ANNOUNCING MY COOL NEW INDIE GAME
Kick back, relax, and get cleaning solo or with friends! The multiverse is a messy place, and when things get dirty the S.K.R.U.B. Squad is there!
Please wishlist and share, it really helps a whole lot! 👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3900170/...
Kick back, relax, and get cleaning solo or with friends! The multiverse is a messy place, and when things get dirty the S.K.R.U.B. Squad is there!
Please wishlist and share, it really helps a whole lot! 👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3900170/...
November 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
ICYMI LOOK AT MY VIDEO GAME I ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!
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Excuse me where's my gate that I'm keeping? We're not even allowed to ask our union for advice on pricing. We're contractors, you silly people
It’s a bit funny to me when folks accuse anti-AI artists of “gatekeeping.” My dude, Midjourney charges you $60 a month for images, while real artists remind you that you can make it for free and experience the joy of the process. So who’s really gatekeeping?
November 21, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Excuse me where's my gate that I'm keeping? We're not even allowed to ask our union for advice on pricing. We're contractors, you silly people
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This is your periodic reminder that BipolarSky exists, and that it's awesome, and that the feed and resources are here!
There are tons of shouts into the void every day from people with ten followers and nobody listening. Help me share resources, and then let's help em get heard
ty carry on 🙌
There are tons of shouts into the void every day from people with ten followers and nobody listening. Help me share resources, and then let's help em get heard
ty carry on 🙌
BipolarSky Resources
Educational resources, infographics, and community support for understanding and living with bipolar disorder.
dr.eamer.dev
November 19, 2025 at 4:48 AM
This is your periodic reminder that BipolarSky exists, and that it's awesome, and that the feed and resources are here!
There are tons of shouts into the void every day from people with ten followers and nobody listening. Help me share resources, and then let's help em get heard
ty carry on 🙌
There are tons of shouts into the void every day from people with ten followers and nobody listening. Help me share resources, and then let's help em get heard
ty carry on 🙌
Reposted by Phoenix
Reposted by Phoenix
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days
Solange Opens Free Digital Library Of Rare Black Books
Solange has launched a digital library archive of Black and brown authors where readers can borrow books at no cost.
peopleofcolorintech.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days
Reposted by Phoenix
I’m still stuck at $95 / I spent $55 of that to get photos taken of my art but I CANNOT afford prints right now.
I am so beyond upset and almost feeling defeated that you REALLY NEED MONEY IN ORDER TO MAKE MONEY.
Please share and donate if you can!!!
I am so beyond upset and almost feeling defeated that you REALLY NEED MONEY IN ORDER TO MAKE MONEY.
Please share and donate if you can!!!
Hii I am at $95/$400 for my goal to get PRINTS of my ART! I need to LEAVE this toxic place and *heal*! I currently live with people who have abused me. I need to leave for my health and sanity.
Please donate!!
Venmo: @zzz22
CA: $ziizzzii
Please share! Please donate! ANYTHING HELPS!! Even $5! 💜
Please donate!!
Venmo: @zzz22
CA: $ziizzzii
Please share! Please donate! ANYTHING HELPS!! Even $5! 💜
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I’m still stuck at $95 / I spent $55 of that to get photos taken of my art but I CANNOT afford prints right now.
I am so beyond upset and almost feeling defeated that you REALLY NEED MONEY IN ORDER TO MAKE MONEY.
Please share and donate if you can!!!
I am so beyond upset and almost feeling defeated that you REALLY NEED MONEY IN ORDER TO MAKE MONEY.
Please share and donate if you can!!!
Reposted by Phoenix
a new card deck designed for the people glitchout.blog/2025/11/19/r...
redesigning pack of cards. 30 card pack of the people.
it’s 16.4c° in this room, the humidity is 62 percent. on the keyboard on my phone are these symbols ♤♡◇♧ that’s enough for me to write out a deck. i could do that with words too. the le…
glitchout.blog
November 19, 2025 at 10:52 AM
a new card deck designed for the people glitchout.blog/2025/11/19/r...
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I was doing a rough tally. About 25 people already confirmed on BSKY that they want to attend. 5-10 have mentioned to me offline that they're down too.
March 7, time TBD, venue TBD (Toronto), cover maybe like $5.
Anybody else want to attend? LMK so we can firm up numbers and plan!
PASS IT ON
March 7, time TBD, venue TBD (Toronto), cover maybe like $5.
Anybody else want to attend? LMK so we can firm up numbers and plan!
PASS IT ON
You know for the price of sending one person to GDC you could probably sponsor the entire @gdcheese.bsky.social event.
A GDC pass, flight, hotel, meals, all gets expensive real fast.
A GDC pass, flight, hotel, meals, all gets expensive real fast.
November 17, 2025 at 4:09 AM
I was doing a rough tally. About 25 people already confirmed on BSKY that they want to attend. 5-10 have mentioned to me offline that they're down too.
March 7, time TBD, venue TBD (Toronto), cover maybe like $5.
Anybody else want to attend? LMK so we can firm up numbers and plan!
PASS IT ON
March 7, time TBD, venue TBD (Toronto), cover maybe like $5.
Anybody else want to attend? LMK so we can firm up numbers and plan!
PASS IT ON
Reposted by Phoenix
I’m sharing a Palestinian account every day and today is Ranin. Ranin was a teacher before this. Ranin had two children Misk, 2 and Sanad, 1 but she lost sweet little Misk. Ranin is also pregnant and her tent was flooded this week. She has a new fundraiser and could really use help.
November 19, 2025 at 10:39 AM
I’m sharing a Palestinian account every day and today is Ranin. Ranin was a teacher before this. Ranin had two children Misk, 2 and Sanad, 1 but she lost sweet little Misk. Ranin is also pregnant and her tent was flooded this week. She has a new fundraiser and could really use help.
Reposted by Phoenix
Rebecca Heineman, a legendary game designer and 1980 national Space Invaders champion, has died. www.avclub.com/rebecca-hein...
R.I.P. Rebecca Heineman, legendary game designer and trailblazer
Rebecca Heineman, a legendary game designer and 1980 national Space Invaders champion, has died after a short battle with cancer.
www.avclub.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Rebecca Heineman, a legendary game designer and 1980 national Space Invaders champion, has died. www.avclub.com/rebecca-hein...
Reposted by Phoenix
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
November 17, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind