Manda Farough
@amandafarough.ca
Director of Production @ Causeway. Executive Producer & Writer (TMNT: Tactical Takedown, Truck-kun). Principal narrative on Terrible Lizards, GNAW & [redacted]. Award-nominated Multiclasser. UVW-CWA. @virtualeconcast.com cohost. Mama. 🇨🇦🏳️🌈 amandafarough.ca
Pinned
(Re)introducing myself.
I’m Amanda Farough, most people call me Manda. I’m an award-nominated Multiclasser working at the intersection of creativity and business in game development across a number of disciplines.
I’ve been working in and around games since 2009; got my start writing about ‘em.
I’m Amanda Farough, most people call me Manda. I’m an award-nominated Multiclasser working at the intersection of creativity and business in game development across a number of disciplines.
I’ve been working in and around games since 2009; got my start writing about ‘em.
Reposted by Manda Farough
Thanks to @kyleor.land for asking for my thoughts on the Steam Machine. I wrote him a huge book (sorry, Kyle!) and this is such a thoughtful piece with multiple perspectives.
arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/...
arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/...
Are you ready for a $1,000 Steam Machine? Some analysts think you should be.
Tariffs, component volatility, and Valve’s tolerance for losses all lead to uncertainty.
arstechnica.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Thanks to @kyleor.land for asking for my thoughts on the Steam Machine. I wrote him a huge book (sorry, Kyle!) and this is such a thoughtful piece with multiple perspectives.
arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/...
arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/...
I wish that there was a way that I could send feedback to all of these otherwise awesome app developers that the moment I see "powered by AI" in their marketing copy, it makes me want to run in the opposite direction.
like.
stop it. please, I beg.
like.
stop it. please, I beg.
November 13, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I wish that there was a way that I could send feedback to all of these otherwise awesome app developers that the moment I see "powered by AI" in their marketing copy, it makes me want to run in the opposite direction.
like.
stop it. please, I beg.
like.
stop it. please, I beg.
Reposted by Manda Farough
These companies realize that someone has to make the games……… right?
November 13, 2025 at 7:38 PM
These companies realize that someone has to make the games……… right?
……… gonna be a fun episode of @virtualeconcast.com once we have more info 🫠
Ubisoft just postponed its earnings report and halted the trading of its shares. Unclear why at this point but could indicate a major announcement related to the company.
November 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM
……… gonna be a fun episode of @virtualeconcast.com once we have more info 🫠
Reposted by Manda Farough
We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm - AUTOMATON WEST
In an interview following the launch of ARC Raiders, the CEO of Embark Studios' parent company Nexon shares his views on AI.
automaton-media.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:25 AM
We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Reposted by Manda Farough
Reminder: If you use generative AI for *any of your writing tasks* you are a Slopper not a writer and should be ashamed of yourself. The end.
November 11, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reminder: If you use generative AI for *any of your writing tasks* you are a Slopper not a writer and should be ashamed of yourself. The end.
A reminder to always reach out for help and compassionate assistance when you are at your lowest (hello hi, it me). When you're honest about where you are and how you're feeling, the right people will always rally around you and bolster you, no matter what.
Things suck right now, but I am loved.
Things suck right now, but I am loved.
November 12, 2025 at 2:47 PM
A reminder to always reach out for help and compassionate assistance when you are at your lowest (hello hi, it me). When you're honest about where you are and how you're feeling, the right people will always rally around you and bolster you, no matter what.
Things suck right now, but I am loved.
Things suck right now, but I am loved.
Reposted by Manda Farough
A significantly shorter listen than Part One.
We had a bunch to say about all of the labor issues hitting, including the big layoffs and scale-down at Amazon, Take-Two / Rockstar's union busting, Ubisoft's re-org, and more!
Thanks again to Andy Pan and @gregoryalderton.bsky.social for joining us!
We had a bunch to say about all of the labor issues hitting, including the big layoffs and scale-down at Amazon, Take-Two / Rockstar's union busting, Ubisoft's re-org, and more!
Thanks again to Andy Pan and @gregoryalderton.bsky.social for joining us!
The Second Part of Episode 200 (!!!) is LIVE!
Amazon Primed for Gaming Exit (News Show)
We're back with investments, quick hits, and a pretty gnarly labor report. Grab a Taco Bell Mexican Pizza and turn up the volume so you can hear over the crunch!
virtualeconcast.com/podcast/epis...
Amazon Primed for Gaming Exit (News Show)
We're back with investments, quick hits, and a pretty gnarly labor report. Grab a Taco Bell Mexican Pizza and turn up the volume so you can hear over the crunch!
virtualeconcast.com/podcast/epis...
November 12, 2025 at 12:24 AM
A significantly shorter listen than Part One.
We had a bunch to say about all of the labor issues hitting, including the big layoffs and scale-down at Amazon, Take-Two / Rockstar's union busting, Ubisoft's re-org, and more!
Thanks again to Andy Pan and @gregoryalderton.bsky.social for joining us!
We had a bunch to say about all of the labor issues hitting, including the big layoffs and scale-down at Amazon, Take-Two / Rockstar's union busting, Ubisoft's re-org, and more!
Thanks again to Andy Pan and @gregoryalderton.bsky.social for joining us!
@alyssamerc.bsky.social absolutely killed it with this piece
“Don’t gather some of the most brilliant activists in the industry, treat us like crap, and then expect us to do nothing about it.” After the Game Awards cancelled its Future Class programme, @alyssamerc.bsky.social talked to its former honorees
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
“We were effectively props”: young stars of game development feel let down by the ‘gaming Oscars’
Announced in 2020 by the Game Awards as an inclusive programme for the industry’s next generation, the Future Class initiative has now been discontinued. Inductees describe clashes with organisers and...
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
@alyssamerc.bsky.social absolutely killed it with this piece
this is so very, very true
if you don’t hire VO actors you don’t get to make them laugh, which is one of the great joys in life
November 11, 2025 at 5:27 PM
this is so very, very true
Oh hell yeah buy this game
Ambrosia Sky: Act One is available now!
Your homecoming is not what you expected. An alien fungus has claimed your past and your present. Fight back with every tool at your disposal before it takes your future.
Maeve is waiting.
ambrosiasky.com
Your homecoming is not what you expected. An alien fungus has claimed your past and your present. Fight back with every tool at your disposal before it takes your future.
Maeve is waiting.
ambrosiasky.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Oh hell yeah buy this game
Made it to MD last night, onwards to home this morning. Shoutout to @caffeinewitch.bsky.social and @digitallozenge.bsky.social for taking good care of my exhausted self at 1am 🫠💜
Fuck it I’m driving home.
November 10, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Made it to MD last night, onwards to home this morning. Shoutout to @caffeinewitch.bsky.social and @digitallozenge.bsky.social for taking good care of my exhausted self at 1am 🫠💜
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
CREW TIMED OUT
WHOMP WHOMP
CREW TIMED OUT
WHOMP WHOMP
Fingers crossed I’ll be able to get home on this other flight 🫠
November 10, 2025 at 12:23 AM
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
CREW TIMED OUT
WHOMP WHOMP
CREW TIMED OUT
WHOMP WHOMP
Me staring at my flight getting delayed all day until it was cancelled
November 9, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Me staring at my flight getting delayed all day until it was cancelled
I just want to scream about how I sacrificed and scraped and paid my dues and fought tooth and nail for the writing career I have today.
In what universe would I ever take that for granted and just outsource it to technology that is literally killing the planet and rewiring brains in a BAD WAY?!
In what universe would I ever take that for granted and just outsource it to technology that is literally killing the planet and rewiring brains in a BAD WAY?!
If you’re a writer using LLMs to do your work, I have less than zero respect for you. It is a goddamn privilege to do what we do.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
November 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I just want to scream about how I sacrificed and scraped and paid my dues and fought tooth and nail for the writing career I have today.
In what universe would I ever take that for granted and just outsource it to technology that is literally killing the planet and rewiring brains in a BAD WAY?!
In what universe would I ever take that for granted and just outsource it to technology that is literally killing the planet and rewiring brains in a BAD WAY?!
Reposted by Manda Farough
To make art is to be human
November 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
To make art is to be human
If you’re a writer using LLMs to do your work, I have less than zero respect for you. It is a goddamn privilege to do what we do.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
November 9, 2025 at 10:03 PM
If you’re a writer using LLMs to do your work, I have less than zero respect for you. It is a goddamn privilege to do what we do.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
Reposted by Manda Farough
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by Manda Farough
“I’ve got a great marketing plan, we’ll get the dumbest motherfucker in our industry, one that just nobody respects, and we’ll have him say the most asinine thing possible and that will be our pull quote, it’s surefire
November 7, 2025 at 11:40 PM
“I’ve got a great marketing plan, we’ll get the dumbest motherfucker in our industry, one that just nobody respects, and we’ll have him say the most asinine thing possible and that will be our pull quote, it’s surefire
Reposted by Manda Farough
The industry is also in an era now where now more than ever we need to lean on and help each other. Please consider using some of the fire stoked this week to donate your time, energy, or money (lol) to helping the various industry community groups and endeavors.
November 7, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The industry is also in an era now where now more than ever we need to lean on and help each other. Please consider using some of the fire stoked this week to donate your time, energy, or money (lol) to helping the various industry community groups and endeavors.
Reposted by Manda Farough
Our industry does have peer-voted awards, the most visible being DICE, Game Developers Choice Awards, BAFTA. There are scores of smaller developer-led awards too. We do have spaces to celebrate and uplift one another, please support and watch these shows! The teams work hard for the devs!
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Our industry does have peer-voted awards, the most visible being DICE, Game Developers Choice Awards, BAFTA. There are scores of smaller developer-led awards too. We do have spaces to celebrate and uplift one another, please support and watch these shows! The teams work hard for the devs!
Reposted by Manda Farough
A note about the TGAs worth remembering as this Future Class story unfolds: it’s a marketing beat, consumer-facing, and voted on by media/influencers. Developers are, by design, not included or considered in the structure. Which feels bad! www.polygon.com/explained/49...
How The Game Awards voting works
It’s the press and fans, not game devs, who vote on The Game Awards
www.polygon.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
A note about the TGAs worth remembering as this Future Class story unfolds: it’s a marketing beat, consumer-facing, and voted on by media/influencers. Developers are, by design, not included or considered in the structure. Which feels bad! www.polygon.com/explained/49...
Reposted by Manda Farough
I *love* that Xalavier shared this. This kind of adaptive problem solving might be my favorite part of game development.
There is something MUCH larger we've done that also falls into this category. And it's become so integral to the game I was screaming at my PC last night. :D
There is something MUCH larger we've done that also falls into this category. And it's become so integral to the game I was screaming at my PC last night. :D
ECONOMICS GAMES ARE NOT ABOUT MONEY AND I CAN PROVE IT BY SHOWING THIS ALIEN BABY ABSOLUTELY BEEFING IT AND LOSING ALL AUTONOMY AND LIVELIHOOD IN SPACE WARLORD BABY TRADING SIMULATOR.
I GROW MORE NORMAL BY THE DAY.
I GROW MORE NORMAL BY THE DAY.
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I *love* that Xalavier shared this. This kind of adaptive problem solving might be my favorite part of game development.
There is something MUCH larger we've done that also falls into this category. And it's become so integral to the game I was screaming at my PC last night. :D
There is something MUCH larger we've done that also falls into this category. And it's become so integral to the game I was screaming at my PC last night. :D
Your regular reminder that IGFs, BAFTAs, and the DICE Awards mean a hell of a lot more than The Game Awards do.
If you’re at GDC, attend the awards. If you’re at DICE, attend the awards. If you’re able, watch the BAFTAs via stream (unless you’re fabulous enough to be invited, of course).
If you’re at GDC, attend the awards. If you’re at DICE, attend the awards. If you’re able, watch the BAFTAs via stream (unless you’re fabulous enough to be invited, of course).
November 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Your regular reminder that IGFs, BAFTAs, and the DICE Awards mean a hell of a lot more than The Game Awards do.
If you’re at GDC, attend the awards. If you’re at DICE, attend the awards. If you’re able, watch the BAFTAs via stream (unless you’re fabulous enough to be invited, of course).
If you’re at GDC, attend the awards. If you’re at DICE, attend the awards. If you’re able, watch the BAFTAs via stream (unless you’re fabulous enough to be invited, of course).
Reposted by Manda Farough
Game Awards: We're inviting less press and opening up seats to the public so that we (probably) can have a more engaged, excited audience for the camera and make more money
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford:
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford:
I asked about Game Awards press tickets in October. Got an email yesterday encouraging me to buy my own, as there were no spares.
November 7, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Game Awards: We're inviting less press and opening up seats to the public so that we (probably) can have a more engaged, excited audience for the camera and make more money
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford:
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford: