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Nathan Savant

@baldsavant.bsky.social

2.4K followers 570 following 2.5K posts

Actions Speak Louder Than Words ✍️ Systemic Narrative Designer 🧭 Quest designer and world builder 🧠 Psychology and Sociology in #GameDesign 🧙‍♂️ Wizard in need of a pointy hat Currently @ Unemployed He/Him

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · Aug 29

NEW BLOG POST!

This time I'm diving into Donkey Kong Bananza and arguing that it is, in fact, a Pixar film! I describe some of the narrative techniques and elements the game uses and how that echoes Pixar's approach.

Check if out if that sounds interesting!

www.nathansavant.com/post/a-narra...

A Narrative Bananza

Donkey Kong Bananza is a game that gets the closest I’ve seen to recreating the Pixar narrative formula via game design. I’ve been on record saying that time is a problem for game design because film’s story structure relies so heavily on it but in interaction you can’t predict it. Using time as the key to story progress doesn’t work for us, but what does? Well the answer is game design, but what that looks like is honestly pretty hard to describe. Donkey Kong Bananza, however, gives us that ans

www.nathansavant.com

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Quest 64 Official @quest64official.bsky.social · 11h

Press any button to continue

It's a controller with assorted cross buttons

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Faint_Kitten @faintkitten.bsky.social · 5h

The crazy sons of bitches actually put him on 2 legs. Get the fuck out they put him on 2 legs. I shouldn't be surprised, but scooby doo is gonna fucking shoot ppl.

For some reason I just thought: There's no way. We'd get Shaggy, maybe Velma. He'd be a back bling. They put him on 2 legs.

Hanna-Barbera Wiki @hbgrifkuba.bsky.social · 8h

October 9

#scoobydoo #fortnite

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 5h

If you never stop brushing your teeth, you'll become the most powerful CTO of all time!!

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 6h

I don't believe I've ever beaten this fight in the 4 or so times I've played through this game, and so far this remake has done little to help that other than to allow me to go grind some more.

Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 6h

Wow the Wiegraf fight is just never not bullshit, huh?

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Alanna Linayre <3s Toadhouse Games @tybawai.bsky.social · 7h

You could call someone cringe

Or

You could vibe with them and meet their excitement.

See, I think most times when people make someone feel bad for getting excited, they themselves rarely feel such joy. So they have to squash it. But you can always just join them.

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 11h

This whole thing screams identity crisis...

Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 11h

I guess the rebranding means we can host official gdc speed runs now (after presumably forking out thousands of dollars to gdc for the privilege)? Yay?

Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 15h

Calling partners for GDC 2026! Deadline extended to Friday, October 10

From speedruns, to LEGO building, to movie screenings, to concerts in the park, and more! Here’s what you need to know about GDC's search for new partnerships.

www.gamedeveloper.com

Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 14h

Natchitoches, Calcasieu, Iowa, literally everyone's surname, most place names and other proper nouns.

Louisiana's nouns will destroy you and everything you love.

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 15h

What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?

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GamesIndustry.biz @gibiz.bsky.social · 1d

Just under half of gamers worldwide are women, according to a new report published by the Entertainment Software Association

www.gamesindustry.biz/esa-48-of-vi...

ESA: 48% of video game players are women

2025 Global Power of Play report also found that mobile is the preferred device for women and players overall

www.gamesindustry.biz

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 1d

I will stare directly into those sad eyes as I shove them into the woods, never to be seen, never to know love. Their sadness has no home here, and neither do they.

Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 1d

The last one was not only an excellent movie, but by far my favorite of all the depictions of the turtles in their entire history!

So hyped it's getting a sequel!!

DiscussingFilm @discussingfilm.net · 2d

First look at ‘TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: CHROME ALONE 2’

The animated short, set in the ‘Mutant Mayhem’ universe, follows the Turtles as they go to New Jersey on a mission after a toy company exploits the turtles’ newfound fame.

(Source: variety.com/2025/film/ne...)

Reposted by Nathan Savant

André Cardoso @andremc.bsky.social · 2d

Recently had the opportunity to build 3 demos to demonstrate the power of game feel!

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

God I truly just do not understand why anyone is still using Spotify at this point...

Culture Crave 🍿 @culturecrave.co · 2d

Spotify is partnering with ChatGPT

• Will personalize music and podcast recommendations

• Available on an opt-in basis

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

I like my train wrecks happening at a safe distance, thanks. This one's gunna be pumping the air full of smog for 200 miles, just like every other company he owns.

Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

"Guys! I had this great idea, have you ever heard of this game called Bioshock?!"

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

Every monday he comes into the office out of his mind on weekend cocaine, raving about a game from 20 years ago that he's just seen for the first time.

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

Man turns on Animal Crossing and the villagers all just turn their own game off.

Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

The one good thing about this. The burst is now guaranteed.

Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

Jesus christ "IGN is going to have to invent numbers lower than 7" is my new favorite thing.

Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

I can't imagine a single person less qualified to create the next big game than Musk, who doesn't even play the accounts he owns.

Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

I'm not usually one for schadenfreude posting, but OH MAN this is going to plop straight onto its face so hard it cracks the earth.

Every Film Now @everyfilmnow.bsky.social · 2d

Elon Musk announces xAI game studio will release a great AI-generated game before end of 2026.

Powered by Grok, the studio aims to revolutionize gaming with dynamic, photo-realistic experiences.

#xAI #Grok #AIGaming

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Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美 @halfrobot.com · 2d

This is amazing; I very much agree with the how the report calculated value to society here:
www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

But for people excited about a *literal* profit machine, note that the real net fiscal cost was almost €72M. It made €146M due to the estimated value of gains in mental wellbeing.

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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 2d

Australia's grid operator has a clear line of sight to 100% renewables. There's nothing unknown or exotic required.

It'll be fun when the first large/major economies start hitting the goal. Too bad the US is likely to be at the rear of the pack.

As coal fades, Australia looks to realize dream of 100% renewable…

The country’s grid operator says shifting from coal to clean power is not only possible but inevitable. The work there could provide a road map for other…

www.canarymedia.com

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Nathan Savant @baldsavant.bsky.social · 2d

Me: "How do I carefully craft a game that tells a compelling story while also making sure I'm reinforcing positive mental health practices and helping people role play a better version of themselves?"

Strange Scaffold:

Strange Scaffold @strangescaffold.bsky.social · 2d

"...you'll see where I cashed out midway through. This baby rode the lightning at critical health for half its lifespan."

- A recent post by a dev in our internal Discord.

Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator is out in 2026!

An alien child, green with large dark green eyes, has multiple alien creatures wearing suits scrambling up its head. Atop the babies head, where all the other aliens are reaching, is one alien holding a briefcase of cash. "Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator" is written next to the baby. Behind that text is a stock ticker arrow that has moved up and down but, at the end of it, is pointing up.

A furry looking baby floats in space. Beside them , text reads...

1 Pursued Night School
2 Survived a Suicide Mission
3 Punched Commanding Officer
4 Re-Drafted Into Service
5. Failed to defuse exposive

To the right of the baby is a stock chart, showing a good trend of growth on the investments made. Text by this chart reads

Baby Value
Invested Stock

Avg. Stock Price: 278
Avg. Sale Price: 335

Below it shows that after trading stocks on this baby the investory made 1427 and are now invited to continue.

Most of the screen is taken up by a line graph, charting the rise and fall in stock price of a babies life. At this point, thay are 46 and the line has had a big dip. Above the graph in red text in a box with arrows pointing down it says "Bitten by Horse". Which is, what has happened to the baby at this point of its life. The baby is called "Pollo" and the extra information to the right of this chart tells us they are "unwell". Which adds up, having being bitten by a horse. Who among us could claim to be at their peak post-horse bite? You? Well, honestly, I want to know your story. Did you develop powers? Did the collected germs in the horses mouth actually counteract some viral agent that had just recently hit your veins? Or were you just having such a bad time that the horse biting you was actually the best part of your day? Seriously, let me know!