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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
@cassiebara29.bsky.social
320 followers 230 following 79 posts
Media and Comms Lecturer at Unimelb 🏫 | ECR researching videogames, narrative complexity and pedagogy 🎮 | Deputy Director of MAGPIE 🐦‍⬛| DiGRAA Board Member 🌏 | She/They https://linktr.ee/cbarkman
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · Nov 20
Earlier this year I submitted my PhD on narrative complexity in indie games, which you can now read online here: figshare.swinburne.edu.au/articles/the...

I'm definitely biased, but I think its kinda neat.
Narrative Complexity in Videogames
This thesis considers narrative complexity within the videogame medium. Narrative complexity refers to stories that are difficult to follow or hard to understand. I explore the connection between narr...
figshare.swinburne.edu.au
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 23h
Reviewing this game was actually a joy, not because it's good but just because of how eclectically interesting it is. Simultaneously recommend and warn you.
checkpointau.bsky.social
Checkpoint Gaming @checkpointau.bsky.social · 2d
REVIEW: Dreams of Another

"...an eclectic kaleidoscope of bizarre artistic motifs, a fascinatingly surreal mood and a (possibly entirely unintentional) thematic density that is still worth treasuring amidst the haze of its voxel world."

checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2025...
Dreams of Another Review - Sleepshooting
Dreams of Another offers an eclectic kaleidoscope of bizarre artistic motifs and a fascinatingly surreal mood.
checkpointgaming.net
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 1d
Oh its me.
unimelb.bsky.social
University of Melbourne @unimelb.bsky.social · 1d
Today, video game stories come in all shapes and sizes 🎮

Dr Cassandra Barkman and A/Prof Eddie Paterson from the Faculty of Arts and MAGPIE (Melbourne Academic Games, Play and Interactive Entertainment) share how storytelling in games allows for diverse stories to be shared → unimelb.me/473I27w
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
magpiegameresearch.bsky.social
MAGPIE Research Initiative @magpiegameresearch.bsky.social · 1d
To coincide with Melbourne International Games Week, MAGPIE has put together a special report with @unimelb.bsky.social's Pursuit talking all about the effects gaming is having socially and culturally on the world around us.

pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/special-repo...
All the world's a game
Around eighty per cent of Australians play video games – but the term 'gamer’ can exclude as much as it includes. From cosplay to LARPs, from exposing racism to storytelling, University of Melbourne e...
pursuit.unimelb.edu.au
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
gamehistoryorg.bsky.social
Video Game History Foundation @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social · 6d
The latest Video Game History Hour podcast talks to Dr. Stephanie Harkin, lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, about her research on video games in girls’ lifestyle magazines like Girl Gamer & Total Girl: gamehistory.org/episode-141-...
Episode 141: Hidden Advertising of Feminine Games | Video Game History Foundation
Phil Salvador interviews Dr. Stephanie Harkin, lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) School of Design Games Program in Australia, about her research on femininity in gaming, p...
gamehistory.org
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
saharkin.bsky.social
Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · 7d
My book is out! 💗
Girlhood Games: Gender, Identity and Coming of Age in Videogames is a 6-year-long labour of love for young adult stories, teen heroines in videogames and unnoticed girly game histories.
Thank you @livvy.itch.io for the beautiful cover!

www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Book cover for "Girlhood Game: Gender, Identity, and Coming of Age in Video Games." A youthful feminine bedroom is depicted, centring on a computer desk setup with game accessories.
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
psjournal.bsky.social
Press Start Journal @psjournal.bsky.social · 7d
‼️Call for reviewers‼️
We're looking for three reviewers for an article concerning Pokémon and the deconstruction of the Hero's journey. Please check the attached image for the abstract. (1/2)
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 8d
Got to watch and play a secret early version of this and absolutely loved it (also incredible trailer), everyone go wishlist immediately.
folly.studio
Studio Folly — DOGPILE!!! @folly.studio · 8d
Announcing... DOGPILE!!! ✨🦴

Dogpile is a roguelike deckbuilder about merging DOGS. Play dogs, get money, customize your dogs with special traits, refine your deck, PLAY MORE DOGS!

Free demo is live on Steam, WISHLIST NOW!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/3839300/...
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
darthtayrah.bsky.social
Taylor Hardwick @darthtayrah.bsky.social · 9d
New article in @theconversation.com today reflecting on Australia’s 2024 loot box regulations and how, 1 year later, there remains widespread non-compliance - and generally really confusing age ratings for mobile games on the App Stores!

theconversation.com/loot-boxes-a...
Loot boxes are still rife in kids’ mobile games, despite ban on ‘gambling-like’ features
Games with ‘loot boxes’ should be classified for over-15s – but a new study shows many of the most popular mobile games completely ignore the rules.
theconversation.com
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 13d
Happy Hades II day to all who celebrate (I will see everyone in a week's time).
supergiantgames.bsky.social
Supergiant Games @supergiantgames.bsky.social · 13d
🌒HADES II v1.0 is OUT NOW!! 🌘

Battle beyond the Underworld in our bewitching sequel to the godlike roguelike. Go Kill Time!

Nintendo Switch 2: supergiant.games/h2switch2
Nintendo Switch: supergiant.games/h2switch
Steam: supergiant.games/h2steam
Epic Games Store: supergiant.games/h2egs
Hades II – Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 - Nintendo Official Site
Buy Hades II – Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition and shop other great Nintendo products online at the official My Nintendo Store.
supergiant.games
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
psjournal.bsky.social
Press Start Journal @psjournal.bsky.social · 14d
‼️Call for reviewers‼️
We are looking for three peer reviewers familiar with textual analysis and/or media philosophy for a manuscript titled "The Look of Gaming's Cognitive Bond" 📷 Please check the attached image for the abstract. (1/2)
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 16d
Played this at PAX in 2023 and had an absolute blast (and still got the pin!). Great Aussie get by Devolver.
checkpointau.bsky.social
Checkpoint Gaming @checkpointau.bsky.social · 16d
Name a more iconic duo than The Dungeon Experience and @devolverdigital.com - we'll wait.

@jacobjanerka.bsky.social @sboxle.bsky.social

checkpointgaming.net/news/2025/09...
Melbourne-made The Dungeon Experience releasing with Devolver Digital in 2026
Melbourne-based studio Bone Assembly announced that The Dungeon Experience is being published by Devolver Digital, releasing on PC in 2026.
checkpointgaming.net
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
lil-pink-clouds.bsky.social
☁️ Little Pink Clouds ☁️ @lil-pink-clouds.bsky.social · 23d
Letters to Arralla is OUT NOW on Steam with a limited time 20% launch discount!! 🏝️💌

After 5 long years of development and lots of fruit & veggies eaten to power our developers, this cheeky game is finally ready to be delivered directly into your hands!! ☺️ Play now on Steam!

youtu.be/7GbGTEpsoIM
Letters to Arralla OUT NOW!
YouTube video by Little Pink Clouds
youtu.be
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
hellomisspotter.com
Amy PJ 🌺 @ MIGW @hellomisspotter.com · 26d
I realise posting this on a Saturday is not ideal, but, hear me out.

We are trying very hard to keep Frosty alive, and even grow it into something more helpful for ANZ based devs, long term 🍦
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
darthtayrah.bsky.social
Taylor Hardwick @darthtayrah.bsky.social · 27d
✨I’m recruiting for a research project on game monetisation!✨
I’m keen to chat to game devs about how monetisation shapes the dev process. Interviews will be 60mins via Zoom. To learn more, head to bit.ly/40mOB3f

if you'd like to participate, shoot me a DM or email [email protected] 😊
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
leena.reuben.games
Leena 🌵 @leena.reuben.games · Sep 7
sonic meme: I WANT SECURELY EMPLOYED CRITICS WITH NO OBLIGATION TOWARD MAINTAINING ACCESS OR RELENTLESS RELEASE CYCLES AND IM NOT KIDDING
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · Sep 5
@antipollution.bsky.social and I double-dipped this week and ALSO spoke at Media Traditions 2025 on our work thinking through itch.io as an incidental videogame archive.

Full on week, but been very luck to see a lot of great research and meet a lot of lovely researchers.
Picture of Cass Barkman and Finn Dawson presenting at media traditions. Picture of Cass Barkman and Finn Dawson presenting at Media Traditions 2025. Screenshot of an opening slide that reads 'Itch.io as an Incidental videogame archive'.
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · Sep 4
What few XCOM 3 hopes I had left have just been found dead in a ditch.
cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · Sep 4
Oh. Oh this one hurts.
gamedeveloper.bsky.social
Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · Sep 4
2K confirms layoffs at Civilization developer Firaxis
2K confirms layoffs at Civilization developer Firaxis
Dozens of workers have reportedly been impacted, according to sources close to the situation.
www.gamedeveloper.com
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
brkeogh.bsky.social
Brendan Keogh @brkeogh.bsky.social · Sep 4
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT! @mahliann.bsky.social, @marcuscarter.com, and myself have combined our collective brains and written a wide-reaching introduction to the complex and interdisciplinary field of Game Studies in this forthcoming book for Polity. www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b...
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · Sep 3
Our abstract can be found linked here alongside a bunch of fantastic talks: sites.google.com/view/replayi...

We're going to be at the Media Traditions conference next!
Replaying Japan 2025 - Programme
RJ2025 Programme
sites.google.com
cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · Sep 3
Myself and @antipollution.bsky.social are at Replaying Japan 2025 this week and just presented our work on dark media archives and itch.io horror games Frontiers of the Mind and Basilisk 2000
Picture of presentation in front of a slide reading 'dark media' Picture of a presentation in front of a slide showing the title cards for itch.io horror games Frontiers of the Mind and Basilisk 2000. Screenshot of a PowerPoint slide titled 'Dark Media Archives on Itch.io'.
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cassiebara29.bsky.social
Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · Aug 22
Game is very good, should play.
evilempirestudio.bsky.social
Evil Empire Studio @evilempirestudio.bsky.social · Aug 22
Our bad, BlueSky!

It turns out that releasing a game in the middle of Gamescom made us forget to announce you that...

The Rogue Prince of Persia is out on consoles and Steam 1.0 (Switch 1 & 2 coming soon).

Here's one of the trailers for the launch. Have fun!
youtu.be/RxqkMJCCoTk?...
What makes The Rogue Prince of Persia unique?
YouTube video by Evil Empire
youtu.be
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Reposted by Cassandra (Cass) Barkman
psjournal.bsky.social
Press Start Journal @psjournal.bsky.social · Aug 18
📢Press Start is delighted to welcome our newest board members! We'll be introducing one member every day in this thread, so please give them all a warm welcome♥️
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