Trent Kusters
@trentkusters.bsky.social
studio director League of Geeks • co-host AIAS #GameMakersNotebook • GDC board • co-creator Armello + Solium Infernum + Jumplight Odyssey
Reposted by Trent Kusters
This is "The Sauce". This is what the centrists don't have.
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
February 6, 2026 at 5:05 AM
This is "The Sauce". This is what the centrists don't have.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Stacking's 15 anniversary sharing continues! Today I'm sharing the Game Design Document I wrote for that game, all those years ago, which was part of our pre-production deliverables. You can download the PDF here: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8jk0e...
February 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Stacking's 15 anniversary sharing continues! Today I'm sharing the Game Design Document I wrote for that game, all those years ago, which was part of our pre-production deliverables. You can download the PDF here: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8jk0e...
Reposted by Trent Kusters
"Our standing rule is: If one of us brings up using GenAI in any of our work, then it's safe to assume we've been assimilated by The Thing and should be burned alive by Kurt Russell," said a game design consultant in the US.
Over 50% of game developers now think generative AI is bad for the industry, a dramatic increase from just 2 years ago: 'I'd rather quit the industry than use generative AI'
The latest GDC survey also found that managers are more likely to use generative AI than their employees.
www.pcgamer.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:45 PM
"Our standing rule is: If one of us brings up using GenAI in any of our work, then it's safe to assume we've been assimilated by The Thing and should be burned alive by Kurt Russell," said a game design consultant in the US.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Absolute dogshit. Incredible how determined the powers at be are to jam this slop down our throats, and years on it’s still devoid of any heart and soul.
Pi was one of the films that opened my eye to cinema. What an insane fall from grace for Aranofsky. Scab.
Pi was one of the films that opened my eye to cinema. What an insane fall from grace for Aranofsky. Scab.
First trailer for Darren Aranofsky's new AI animated series 'On This Day... 1776'
• Tells short narrative stories about the Revolutionary War
• Uses Gen AI tools, including tech made by Google DeepMind
• Has SAG voice actors
• Tells short narrative stories about the Revolutionary War
• Uses Gen AI tools, including tech made by Google DeepMind
• Has SAG voice actors
January 29, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Absolute dogshit. Incredible how determined the powers at be are to jam this slop down our throats, and years on it’s still devoid of any heart and soul.
Pi was one of the films that opened my eye to cinema. What an insane fall from grace for Aranofsky. Scab.
Pi was one of the films that opened my eye to cinema. What an insane fall from grace for Aranofsky. Scab.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
taleb also wrote ‘antifragile’ and he himself sees that book as a more complete perspective on the same idea. i tend to agree, but black swan was a bit more specific and applicable for me somehow
December 18, 2025 at 4:16 AM
taleb also wrote ‘antifragile’ and he himself sees that book as a more complete perspective on the same idea. i tend to agree, but black swan was a bit more specific and applicable for me somehow
Reposted by Trent Kusters
i still think about the ideas in that book every few weeks 20 years later. even though it’s not about game development specifically, it speaks to attributes of things with luck and chance that is applicable to game dev. like why to prototype & iterate, or what ideas to pick up, how markets work, etc
December 18, 2025 at 4:16 AM
i still think about the ideas in that book every few weeks 20 years later. even though it’s not about game development specifically, it speaks to attributes of things with luck and chance that is applicable to game dev. like why to prototype & iterate, or what ideas to pick up, how markets work, etc
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Organizational Culture & Leadership, 5th Edition, it's a textbook sorry
it's not specific to game direction because I don't think the industry-specific skills are nearly as difficult a challenge as the whole "how to navigate and lead and effect change in an organization full of people" problem
it's not specific to game direction because I don't think the industry-specific skills are nearly as difficult a challenge as the whole "how to navigate and lead and effect change in an organization full of people" problem
December 18, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Organizational Culture & Leadership, 5th Edition, it's a textbook sorry
it's not specific to game direction because I don't think the industry-specific skills are nearly as difficult a challenge as the whole "how to navigate and lead and effect change in an organization full of people" problem
it's not specific to game direction because I don't think the industry-specific skills are nearly as difficult a challenge as the whole "how to navigate and lead and effect change in an organization full of people" problem
Reposted by Trent Kusters
We're only just now starting to get decent contextual accounts of games as a medium, and I find that it's much easier to internalize lessons from related but external media. Someday Valve and Steam may be the subjects of similar documents, but we're still too much in the current moment to understand
December 18, 2025 at 7:41 AM
We're only just now starting to get decent contextual accounts of games as a medium, and I find that it's much easier to internalize lessons from related but external media. Someday Valve and Steam may be the subjects of similar documents, but we're still too much in the current moment to understand
Reposted by Trent Kusters
"I Want My MTV" by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks. It's a tremendous highs and lows accounting of how a dominant cultural movement began and how it shaped the art and world around it, in a way that can only be properly be understood after the fact.
December 18, 2025 at 7:38 AM
"I Want My MTV" by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks. It's a tremendous highs and lows accounting of how a dominant cultural movement began and how it shaped the art and world around it, in a way that can only be properly be understood after the fact.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
That said--as someone literally handing over the reins right now--I made it clear when recommending reading that almost every business book I've ever read was 80% filler around fairly simple (even if novel) concepts. Just read a couple summaries & watch the TED talk.
December 18, 2025 at 6:47 AM
That said--as someone literally handing over the reins right now--I made it clear when recommending reading that almost every business book I've ever read was 80% filler around fairly simple (even if novel) concepts. Just read a couple summaries & watch the TED talk.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
David Graeber - Bullshit Jobs
December 18, 2025 at 6:37 AM
David Graeber - Bullshit Jobs
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Horrific, unspeakably violent greed.
"Zaslav will receive $30 million in "Golden Parachute' compensation along with $537 million in equity for a total of $567 million in a transaction-associated pay."
half a billion dollars for being terrible at your job
half a billion dollars for being terrible at your job
Warner Bros. Golden Parachutes Revealed: What David Zaslav and C-Suite Will Get In a Deal
The CEO stands to gain $567 million if a deal is sealed to sell the WB empire while longtime lieutenant Gunnar Wiedenfels will see $144 million in cash and stock considerations if a transaction close...
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Horrific, unspeakably violent greed.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Keep thinking about this term "pre-digested" that Kojima used to describe art that's instantly gratifying. And how it's better when people grow to love something instead.
I've gravitated, as player and designer, toward the latter, but that term "pre-digested" is new and feels very strong.
I've gravitated, as player and designer, toward the latter, but that term "pre-digested" is new and feels very strong.
December 17, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Keep thinking about this term "pre-digested" that Kojima used to describe art that's instantly gratifying. And how it's better when people grow to love something instead.
I've gravitated, as player and designer, toward the latter, but that term "pre-digested" is new and feels very strong.
I've gravitated, as player and designer, toward the latter, but that term "pre-digested" is new and feels very strong.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
I know everyone talks about this book, but I quite honestly always revere it as the most helpful book I've ever read in my professional life
Radical Candour. How to be a kick ass boss without losing your humanity
www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach
Radical Candour. How to be a kick ass boss without losing your humanity
www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach
Our Approach: Kim Scott's Feedback Framework
Telling people what to do doesn't work. Our approach, developed by Kim Scott, is radically candid feedback that’s both kind and clear, specific and sincere.
www.radicalcandor.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I know everyone talks about this book, but I quite honestly always revere it as the most helpful book I've ever read in my professional life
Radical Candour. How to be a kick ass boss without losing your humanity
www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach
Radical Candour. How to be a kick ass boss without losing your humanity
www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Genuinely only know one book that targeted. Ashamed to say (that despite owning it) I haven't read it, but really enjoyed working under Brian:
www.directingvideogames.com
www.directingvideogames.com
Directing Video Games - A Guide to Creative Leadership
Are you interested in what it takes to become a video game director? Learn about the art of creative leadership and directing video games
www.directingvideogames.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Genuinely only know one book that targeted. Ashamed to say (that despite owning it) I haven't read it, but really enjoyed working under Brian:
www.directingvideogames.com
www.directingvideogames.com
GameDev peeps. Keen to hear your ultimate videogame lit rec:
You're a game director. You have an upcoming, hungry, talented individual on your team that you want to assist in succeeding you in the role of game director at the studio.
You can recommend them only one book. What is it?
You're a game director. You have an upcoming, hungry, talented individual on your team that you want to assist in succeeding you in the role of game director at the studio.
You can recommend them only one book. What is it?
December 18, 2025 at 12:20 AM
GameDev peeps. Keen to hear your ultimate videogame lit rec:
You're a game director. You have an upcoming, hungry, talented individual on your team that you want to assist in succeeding you in the role of game director at the studio.
You can recommend them only one book. What is it?
You're a game director. You have an upcoming, hungry, talented individual on your team that you want to assist in succeeding you in the role of game director at the studio.
You can recommend them only one book. What is it?
hey i haven't logged on in a while, but has anyone here figured out how to stop thinking about arc raiders yet?
December 17, 2025 at 5:18 AM
hey i haven't logged on in a while, but has anyone here figured out how to stop thinking about arc raiders yet?
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Want to be one of the first people to get hands-on with Streets of Fortuna? We'll be a selecting a small group for our Steam Alpha Playtest in 2026.
🏛 Sign up here: store.steampowered.com/app/2946850/...
🏛 Sign up here: store.steampowered.com/app/2946850/...
December 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Want to be one of the first people to get hands-on with Streets of Fortuna? We'll be a selecting a small group for our Steam Alpha Playtest in 2026.
🏛 Sign up here: store.steampowered.com/app/2946850/...
🏛 Sign up here: store.steampowered.com/app/2946850/...
Reposted by Trent Kusters
A good day of gaming.
December 5, 2025 at 12:06 AM
A good day of gaming.
If it’s Shogun 3 I will shit a brick. Sumimasen.
New Total War game to be announced at The Game Awards, confirms Creative Assembly
➡️ www.gamesradar.com/games/total-...
➡️ www.gamesradar.com/games/total-...
December 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
If it’s Shogun 3 I will shit a brick. Sumimasen.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
TOMORROW: Nuclear Throne 10th anniversary, update 100, 10am Pacific Time. store.steampowered.com/app/242680/N...
December 4, 2025 at 4:51 PM
TOMORROW: Nuclear Throne 10th anniversary, update 100, 10am Pacific Time. store.steampowered.com/app/242680/N...
Let's gooooooo! 📔📈👀
ONLY ONE HOUR LEFT! And so close to $100k and 1k followers!
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
December 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Let's gooooooo! 📔📈👀
Reposted by Trent Kusters
ONLY ONE HOUR LEFT! And so close to $100k and 1k followers!
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
December 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
ONLY ONE HOUR LEFT! And so close to $100k and 1k followers!
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...