Alan (Who Is Awesome)
@alanwritesstuff.bsky.social
I write stuff about stuff | ✍️ Nintendo Life, Omni Common & More | 10+ Years Art Directing 🖼️
❤️: media literacy, Nintendo, art directing, games media, Balatro, psychology of creating, Pokemon cards (shut up)
nintendolife.com/authors/Pandaman
❤️: media literacy, Nintendo, art directing, games media, Balatro, psychology of creating, Pokemon cards (shut up)
nintendolife.com/authors/Pandaman
OKAY, that’s a wrap!!! Thanks for looking through random swag boxes with me!!
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
OKAY, that’s a wrap!!! Thanks for looking through random swag boxes with me!!
Damn!! Iykyk!
#SmashBrosInvitational
#SmashBrosInvitational
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Damn!! Iykyk!
#SmashBrosInvitational
#SmashBrosInvitational
Sorry for stealing your Comic-Con menu, Blizzard!!!
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Sorry for stealing your Comic-Con menu, Blizzard!!!
Nintendo gave me these cool bookmarks when I visited NOA headquarters (okay, they gave every visitor these just let me enjoy it okay)
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Nintendo gave me these cool bookmarks when I visited NOA headquarters (okay, they gave every visitor these just let me enjoy it okay)
I’m 100% certain I have the world’s only Professor Layton Cafe merch set 🎩
(Those are unopened tea bags!!)
(Those are unopened tea bags!!)
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
I’m 100% certain I have the world’s only Professor Layton Cafe merch set 🎩
(Those are unopened tea bags!!)
(Those are unopened tea bags!!)
Ah yes, here’s where I kept my unfolded Super Mario Bros 3 Happy Meal boxes… 🍔
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Ah yes, here’s where I kept my unfolded Super Mario Bros 3 Happy Meal boxes… 🍔
Damn these are probably worth something right??
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Damn these are probably worth something right??
ANYONE NEED A WONDERFUL 101 MASK???
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
ANYONE NEED A WONDERFUL 101 MASK???
Soooooo much freaking E3 swag 🫨😵💫
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Soooooo much freaking E3 swag 🫨😵💫
“How many different toys for the Pokemon promotion, boss…?”
“….57.”
“….57.”
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
“How many different toys for the Pokemon promotion, boss…?”
“….57.”
“….57.”
They are ""scored"". It's their portfolio. You're thinking of a writing portfolio.
January 28, 2026 at 5:48 PM
They are ""scored"". It's their portfolio. You're thinking of a writing portfolio.
2/2 If & when Nintendo scales down what's possible — from a game making philosophy — it's bc they are eminent designers that harbor an OBSESSION with curating experience.
Kudos to us pushing their games to the limit, but we should at least endeavor to understand their work, even when we disagree.
Kudos to us pushing their games to the limit, but we should at least endeavor to understand their work, even when we disagree.
January 26, 2026 at 6:59 PM
2/2 If & when Nintendo scales down what's possible — from a game making philosophy — it's bc they are eminent designers that harbor an OBSESSION with curating experience.
Kudos to us pushing their games to the limit, but we should at least endeavor to understand their work, even when we disagree.
Kudos to us pushing their games to the limit, but we should at least endeavor to understand their work, even when we disagree.
Wait do you take pitches in 2026 👀
January 23, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Wait do you take pitches in 2026 👀
I sincerely can't tell if this quote by Tanabe is breathtakingly creatively bankrupt, or fucking baller.
January 22, 2026 at 6:45 PM
I sincerely can't tell if this quote by Tanabe is breathtakingly creatively bankrupt, or fucking baller.
I am dead fucking serious when I say THIS is what a REAL journalist is supposed to ask when they speak to the CEO of a controversial company.
January 20, 2026 at 6:07 PM
I am dead fucking serious when I say THIS is what a REAL journalist is supposed to ask when they speak to the CEO of a controversial company.
You fucked the bread.
January 19, 2026 at 7:06 PM
You fucked the bread.
Absolutely nothing escapes Nintendo’s deft hand. This project is the one collab that lets an appreciable amount of light in. That’s just my opinion though!
January 9, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Absolutely nothing escapes Nintendo’s deft hand. This project is the one collab that lets an appreciable amount of light in. That’s just my opinion though!
Oh it's DEF not as burdened as the Pokemon operettas! Nintendo clearly loves Metroid for Metroid's sake more than it wants to make Metroid Tennis.
I WILL go out on a limb though... given Retro's very unique position at Nintendo, it's the one game most influenced by NOA, and to me, it really shows.
I WILL go out on a limb though... given Retro's very unique position at Nintendo, it's the one game most influenced by NOA, and to me, it really shows.
January 9, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Oh it's DEF not as burdened as the Pokemon operettas! Nintendo clearly loves Metroid for Metroid's sake more than it wants to make Metroid Tennis.
I WILL go out on a limb though... given Retro's very unique position at Nintendo, it's the one game most influenced by NOA, and to me, it really shows.
I WILL go out on a limb though... given Retro's very unique position at Nintendo, it's the one game most influenced by NOA, and to me, it really shows.
Same thing that usually burdens projects at this scale: it had to commit to "player trends" (open world) - probably due to market research. It has to connect to MP3 & MP5. It has to sell amiibos.
Like Pokemon, elements exists to buoy more than narrative & gameplay. Some works but imo not in concert
Like Pokemon, elements exists to buoy more than narrative & gameplay. Some works but imo not in concert
January 9, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Same thing that usually burdens projects at this scale: it had to commit to "player trends" (open world) - probably due to market research. It has to connect to MP3 & MP5. It has to sell amiibos.
Like Pokemon, elements exists to buoy more than narrative & gameplay. Some works but imo not in concert
Like Pokemon, elements exists to buoy more than narrative & gameplay. Some works but imo not in concert