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thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Jordan Cassidy
@thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
380 followers 870 following 1.3K posts
On YouTube as The Crossover Appeal.

At thecrossoverappeal.com for pop culture recs.

Games writing, criticism. Formerly games studies.

Open for writing and editing opportunities.

Bylines: Exploits, Uppercut, Barely Textual, InMediaRes.

🏳️‍🌈🇲🇽
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thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Jordan Cassidy @thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social · Jul 16
Hey, I’m Jordan.

I’m a recovering academic (English, game studies, queer theory) who occasionally writes and makes videos about games, music, movies, and pop culture.

Stick around if you like takes on:
- indie games
- board games
- rpgs
- criticism
- new music
- org design
- writing

Welcome!
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Just noticed that Buzz’s room in Home Alone has both a Bulls and Pistons poster in the early nineties. What kind of psychopath was this guy?
November 28, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Reposted by Jordan Cassidy
nathangrayson.bsky.social
this week indie studio santa ragione announced that it's on the verge of closure after steam blocked the release of its upcoming provocative art game, horses. valve, despite all of its algorithms and purposefully vague policyspeak, is once again telling us exactly where it stands
Steam is a relentlessly well-oiled machine optimized for the purpose of pushing products – games that adhere to well-worn themes, structures, and strictures. It recommends games along genre lines; it tries to algorithmically match you with games similar to what you last played at every turn. It is deeply traditional – conservative, even – in its construction. Sometimes art that seeks to provoke or unsettle gets through, but this is closer to a happy accident than the purpose of Steam’s design. Valve has built a machine that cannot challenge the status quo, where rare human decisions must reinforce that ethos to avoid upsetting the immensely profitable apple cart. This should no longer surprise us; Valve drew its line in the sand years ago. But it’s important to remember where the company and the people running it stand – and to recognize that their decisions reverberate through the industry, deciding what does and does not constitute commercially viable art. Such a lofty position necessarily confers responsibility, but Valve refuses to accept it, and I do not imagine it will change its mind anytime soon. This is not to say the larger game development community should take pressure off Valve, but it’s also time to consider alternatives, to build spaces for and unabashedly by human beings. I know it’s far easier said than done, especially when you’ve still got to put food on the table, but what other choice is there?
November 26, 2025 at 11:49 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Unwinding from a week of Thanksgiving prep by painstakingly assembling a playlist that I care 9000% more about than anyone else.
November 27, 2025 at 2:15 AM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 7:18 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
This is niche, but every single year when a new season of GBBO comes out, some douche writes the same “GBBO IS GETTING STALE” take and I cannot express strongly enough how much I do not want anyone to change a goddamn thing about that show.
November 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Desperate for this kind of schadenfreude in our public life.
miamidsa.org Miami DSA @miamidsa.org · 1d
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
This goes for academia too.
thesamethyst.bsky.social Samantha Nye 🌿🪬 @thesamethyst.bsky.social · 2d
Working in games means your answer to the question "If you could do anything you wanted in life, what would it be?" isn't a different career, but the same career in a kinder version of the same industry.
November 26, 2025 at 1:27 AM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Finally catching up with Spider-man 2 on PS5 and in a lot of ways it feels like the antidote to the Sony Revenge Narrative discourse that was happening all year.
November 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Costco is a psy op.
November 25, 2025 at 3:46 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Can't decide if I'm going to really go all in this thanksgiving and try to make J Kenji's turkey porchetta alongside this fresh ham I got or if I'm just gonna spatchcock the thing and roast it the old fashioned way.
November 24, 2025 at 8:57 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
If you could only seeeeee the way
she loves me
maybe you would understand
adashtra.bsky.social Ash Parrish @adashtra.bsky.social · 5d
He drinks a whiskey drink
He drinks a vodka drink
He drinks a lager drink
He drinks a cider drink
He sings the songs that remind him of the good times
He sings the songs that remind him of the better times
November 23, 2025 at 5:20 AM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Outer Worlds 2 in the bag. Definitely preferred Avowed overall, though aspects of the flaws system and the moment-to-moment combat in OW2 were more satisfying. Unfortunately, Obsidian just didn't take the ideas in OW2 anywhere interesting, so it's mostly a comfort / junk food.
November 23, 2025 at 4:53 AM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
*Deep sigh*
wario64.bsky.social Wario64 @wario64.bsky.social · 6d
Xbox 360 is now 20 years old (November 22, 2005)
November 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Jordan Cassidy
ashlikeadragon.bsky.social
hey, i'm looking for work! full-time or freelance 💜

journalist, critic, author
proficient in features, criticism, reporting, reviews, previews, news, guides

words at lost in cult, RPS, VGC, unwinnable, gamesradar+, polygon, EDGE, PLAY

muckrack.com/ash-like-a-d...
[email protected]
'Few games capture the spirit of indie game development quite like VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action. What initially started out as a short game for a Cyberpunk Game Jam back in 2014, soon became a standout indie hit. VA-11 Hall-A delivers a heartfelt story of happiness in the depths of disaster, draped in a unique cyberpunk aesthetic and set to a distinctive synthwave soundtrack to match. It’s a truly remarkable visual novel, and the perfect choice for our Design Works range. Produced in collaboration with Sukeban Games and Ysbryd, VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works explores the corrupt metropolis of Glitch City, its culture, and the people who frequent the game’s beloved hole in the wall, VA-11 Hall-A. Written by talented journalist and author Ashley Schofield (Polygon, EDGE, Unwinnable and VGC), you’ll hear how this world came to be and the cyberpunk touchstones that inspired it — all the while lending insight into the history of Venezuela, where the team is located, and the unique challenges of developing a game there. VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works will be a celebration of this beautiful indie masterpiece, and the people that made it all possible. Alongside contemporary interviews with writer/programmer Fernando Damas and artist/designer Christopher Ortiz conducted exclusively for VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works, the book also features a collection of highlights from the ‘Daily VA-11 Hall-A’ blog posts directly from Sukeban.moe. You can also expect deep dives into the development of the game’s prototype and prologue; the bartending mechanics that put you in the shoes of disaster bisexual bartender Jill Stingray, and interviews exploring its iconic synthwave soundtrack/jukebox with composer Michael Kelly. VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works features detailed insight into the game’s early concepts and development, an exploration of Glitch City itself, and a deep dive into the programming, art and soundtrack — an unmissable read for any fan.' A magazine cover of Unwinnable Monthly #191, with the feature being my essay 'I Don't Want To Be This Kind of Animal Anymore' and art by Shafer Brown. An excerpt reads: In the dark times, should the stars also go out? 'Revachol is still. Silent. Decades of unrest, corruption and capital gain have reduced it to a shell of a city. And yet, under these sullen skies, a miracle is happening. The limbed and headed machine of pain and undignified suffering is firing up again.' My review of Hollow Knight: Silksong for Video Games Chronicle. 'Hollow Knight: Silksong review: A game that intends to make you suffer, even to its own detriment. Team Cherry’s sequel has a clear mission statement, but doesn’t seem to consider the consequences. 3/5 stars.' My review of Demonschool for Rock Paper Shotgun, included in RPS' Bestest Bests category. 'Demonschool review Saturday morning carcasses.'
November 22, 2025 at 11:52 AM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Every day I miss the feeling of having an episode of X-Men '97 to watch.
November 21, 2025 at 9:07 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Nothing has been more consistently frustrating and useless as a new parent than infant sleep advice online. Ain't nobody knows what they're talking about and everyone's 100% sure.
November 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Jordan Cassidy
ruemcclammyhand.bsky.social
waymo ceo: we plan for fatal crashes and society will learn to accept them

roblox ceo: kids must be preyed upon and victimized as a necessary consequence of scale

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HEADS ON PIKES
November 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Jordan Cassidy
aidanmoher.com
Hey, hey! I've made my @rpgsite.net (and game critic) debut with a deeeeeep dive look at a game I've been anticipating for years: @somethingclassic.bsky.social's Quartet.

How does it compare to recent retro revival RPGs like Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars, and Eiyuden Chronicle? Let's find out.
rpgsite.net RPG Site @rpgsite.net · 6d
Inspired by RPGs of the '90s, Quartet is Something Classic's proof that they've grown up and become more confident with age, and that there's room for continued growth to match their ambition. Our review: https://www.rpgsite.net/review/18986-quartet-review
November 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by Jordan Cassidy
bignerdgaming.bsky.social
CONTEST

-Must repost this tweet (you don't have to follow me)
-Pretend you have $50 in Nerd Bux
-Reply with 5 fake bets you'd place based off my odds listed on my site, min $5 bets
-Must wager all 50 NBs
-Most NBs wins

Winner: Gets up to a $60 game
2nd- up to a $40 game
3rd- up to a $20 game
November 21, 2025 at 4:11 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
Best album title of the year:

"All your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you really angry)"

- Gloin
November 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
I haven't seen One Battle After Another but I'm concerned that it's going to be PTA's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (derogatory).
November 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
We are in deep need of regulation around this kind of predatory monetization - especially in games that target minors.
patrickklepek.bsky.social Patrick Klepek @patrickklepek.bsky.social · 7d
I'm disappointed paid items and loot boxes are coming to Fortnite. It's clear they're spooked by Roblox and worried they're losing younger players, so they're incorporating the worst parts of Roblox. I wrote about what parents can do for @crossplayblog.bsky.social www.crossplay.news/p/fortnite-i...
What Parents Should Know About the Loot Box Changes Coming to Fortnite
For now, "Battle Royale" mode seems off limits. But within other "Island" experiences, you should be aware of what you can and cannot control for your children.
www.crossplay.news
November 21, 2025 at 1:59 AM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
You should definitely subscribe to Katya's newsletter, btw.
November 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Reposted by Jordan Cassidy
lukeplunkett.com
we are, very slowly, learning Real Business Shit
lexroman.com Lex Roman @lexroman.com · 7d
Worker-owned newsroom Aftermath just moved to Ghost last week. Why?

Upgrading their revenue tools with Outpost was a big motivator.

Read more in my latest for Project C

newsletter.projectc.biz/p/aftermath-... @aftermath.site
November 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM
thecrossoverappeal.bsky.social
With my kiddo moving more firmly into solids (today were his first Cheerios!!) I’m finding the act of prepping his food to be an intense joy. I know there’s novelty and eventually this might feel like a chore, but right now it’s this wild mixture of pride, discovery, and hope.
November 20, 2025 at 1:58 PM