Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · 12h

Some locals just drove by, selling pumpkins out of their pickup truck. Somehow I scored a lil pumpkin for free, just by laughing at their hilarious sales pitch? (I wonder what tipped them off I might want it… 🎃🍂😅)

A little orange pumpkin, with a freakishly long stem, sitting on a picnic table

Selfie with a fall leaf pendant, made of stained glass, and pumpkin earrings

Reposted by Elana

Unquiet Games @unquietgames.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks so much for the shout-out, @kymira.ca! We couldn't have asked for a better neighbor than @wtchcrft.com at @qgcon.bsky.social last weekend. We should totally collaborate on a "queer indie games inspired by Blue Prince" bundle, haha! 🩵

Kylie @kymira.ca · 8d

On our other side we had @unquietgames.bsky.social and their game Banned Together. A puzzle exploration game taking place in a college library with a very unique focus mechanic I can see future games trying to mimic!

bsky.app/profile/unqu...

Unquiet Games @unquietgames.bsky.social · Jun 7

Our debut game Banned Together is now available to wishlist on Steam! 📚💕 If you like puzzles, libraries, or messy queers on a mission, this one’s for you. Demo coming soon ✨ store.steampowered.com/app/3551960/...

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · 12d

On my way to @qgcon.bsky.social, and the first leg of my flight to Montréal is behind schedule. The pilot has reassured us he’ll “try to take any shortcuts we can.” Can’t wait to see how this guy folds space and time to shortcut us through the sky!

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Jun 22

Been learning so much and meeting some amazing people at NarraScope this weekend! If you're around, and happen to be a mortal creature like myself, you might enjoy my talk on death-positive narrative design this afternoon (1:30 ET, URBN Center 141, more details at narrascope.org/schedule/#ta...) 💀🎲🖤

The title slide of a presentation, featuring white text on a black background, which reads: "The Life We Have Left to Live: Death-Positive Narrative Design and Embracing Mortality Through a Site-Specific Cemetery Roleplay." The slide has an ornate border, and includes some art of a skull beside a few dice and a dice shaker.

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Reposted by Elana

Unquiet Games @unquietgames.bsky.social · Jun 17

Excited to continue our celebration of Pride month over at Coexist tonight! Come for @officialnycg.bsky.social's talk about representation in gaming, then stick around to play our latest demo of Banned Together 🏳️‍🌈🎮

IGDA NYC @igdanyc.bsky.social · Jun 16

One of our two featured indie games at the June 17 IGDA NYC Level Up Tuesday event!

RSVP here to get into Coexist Game Club for FREE (a $20 value). coexistgaming.com/event-detail...
#NYMakesGames

Unquiet Games @unquietgames.bsky.social · Jun 7

Our debut game Banned Together is now available to wishlist on Steam! 📚💕 If you like puzzles, libraries, or messy queers on a mission, this one’s for you. Demo coming soon ✨ store.steampowered.com/app/3551960/...

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Jun 13

If I had a nickel for every queer engineer I know who worked at Amazon for many years, wanted a change of culture, founded an inclusive game studio, then eventually got snatched up by Anthropic… I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice!

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Reposted by Elana

Unquiet Games @unquietgames.bsky.social · May 31

We’re kicking off Pride in style by demoing our new gameplay at Gaymer Pride today! It’s a free event, so come hang out with us at the Museum of the Moving Image, play Banned Together, and we’ll send you off with a snazzy gay bookmark 📚🌈✨

NYC Gaymers @officialnycg.bsky.social · May 15

Gaymer Pride 2025 is LEVELING UP! We're so excited to share the Event Schedule and ask that y'all help NYC Gaymers SPREAD THE WORD! GP25 is going to be LEGENDARY!
@movingimagenyc.bsky.social #nycpride #pride2025 #gaymerpride #nycgaymers #summerofgames

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Reposted by Elana

NYU Game Center @nyugamecenter.bsky.social · May 29

We are live NOW with the 2025 NYU Game Center Incubator Showcase!

On Steam: store.steampowered.com/sale/GamesinNY

And on Twitch: twitch.tv/nyugamecenter

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · May 29

Check out all these amazing games made right here in NY! 🏙️🎮🤩 Some of the most diverse & innovative work in indie games is happening here, and I’m so proud that Banned Together (my upcoming queer mystery game about book banning) is featured here for wishlisting: store.steampowered.com/sale/GamesinNY

Games in New York

Games set, published and designed in New York

store.steampowered.com

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Reposted by Elana

Chella Ramanan 🇬🇩 @chellaramanan.bsky.social · May 15

Over here. A thing to help working class ppl into games
@pocinplay.bsky.social
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

Into Games @intogames.bsky.social · May 15

We have extended the IG50 award application deadline to midday on May 19th, so you now have the whole weekend to submit your applications!

If you are from a low-income or working-class background and you haven't yet had your first full-time role in games, you need to apply... www.intogames50.uk

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · May 12

Ah, nice, I was close! Pretty sure this is concept art for Kadish Tolesa, which I've been using as my own wallpaper:

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · May 12

Speaking of wallpapers… Is that old Myst concept art on the laptop to the right? Looks suspiciously familiar!

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · May 8

(Ok so maybe the math says there’s a 2% chance this would’ve happened to me by now. But that’s a lot to ask of life’s RNG lol)

Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · May 8

Trying to be cryptic here, to prevent spoilers for a certain puzzle game I happen to be obsessed with lately, but… I just found my 7th red letter, and it feels like a *wild* coincidence that that happened today, of all days!? If you know, you know 🩵👑😉

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Apr 24

If, like me, you’re a big fan of @noclipvideo.bsky.social, @2playerproductions.bsky.social, and quality documentaries about indie games, this is for you! (Of course, I may be a little biased, since I’m working on this project, and Myst is very dear to my heart 📚🎥)

The Myst Doc @themystdoc.bsky.social · Apr 23

Greetings, #Bluesky!

We are The #Myst Documentary (Directed by @philipashane.bsky.social) 🌲

The movie is currently in development heading into the final interviews! ⚙️

You can late pledge here to get in on some cool rewards while there's time ⬇️

fulfillment.fangamer.com/kindling/the...

A photo of Philip Shane, director of The Myst Documentary, standing between Robyn Miller and Rand Miller, the brothers who created the best-selling video game, Myst

An image from the original game Myst showing the spaceship and a silhouette of two film crew members, one with a camera and one with a mic

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Apr 4

oh my gosh I played taiko for several years in college - I feel like I have to try this! 🤩 I assume the two drums are for competitive play? or is there a cooperative mode?

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Apr 4

thanks so much for hosting!! would love to come back if/when it happens again ✨

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Apr 4

As someone making a game about books, I felt lucky to attend *multiple* events this week at the intersection of games & writing: the launch of @jeannethornton.bsky.social’s novel A/S/L, steeped in digital nostalgia, and @ashleybardhan.bsky.social’s delightful “video game reading night” about love!

In a small queer bookstore in Williamsburg, a crowd applauds Jeanne Thornton, who sits beside fellow author Cat Fitzpatrick, holding a microphone as she introduces Jeanne.

Ashley stands on a stage, speaking into a microphone as she introduces this month’s “video games reading night,” with four guest readers (mostly games journalists) sitting on a couch behind her.

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Mar 28

Being a game designer isn't about getting things right the first time: it's about trying something out, listening to playtesters, trusting your team, then trying again! Here's my dev log about the evolution of a rhythm game at @bolerogamestudio.bsky.social: bolerogamestudio.itch.io/old-and-gray...

Unpacking the Game Design Process of Old & Gray

It's GDC season and the Bolero crew is in San Francisco with an expanded 7-minute demo of Old & Gray! The whole team has been hard at work enriching and polishing our latest build for playtesting with...

bolerogamestudio.itch.io

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Mar 18

Hey that’s us! Come check out our new gameplay if you’re around tonight 📚🌈✨

Qweerty Gamers 🔜 Twitch Con @qweertygamers.org · Mar 18

🚨 Beyond Pixels is back—online & in person!

We're ft. Banned Together by @unquietgames.bsky.social at our event!

🔍 A queer mystery about book banning—play as Ruby (they/them), a journalism major uncovering the truth behind disappearing books in their college library.

RSVP bit.ly/3Qq630g

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Mar 15

The fact my suitcase looks like this when packing for a conference makes me confident I’m in the right industry 🎮🎭 Can’t wait to see everyone at GDC!

An open suitcase, with a game controller and fancy party mask in the zip pouch, and a sequined coat, dress, & choker below

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Mar 7

New achievement unlocked: @natmesnard.bsky.social & I pitched our game together in front of a live audience at a public event, and we had a great time! Next stop: GDC ✈️

Unquiet Games @unquietgames.bsky.social · Mar 7

We had a blast pitching Banned Together, our queer mystery game about book banning, and meeting fellow finalists at the Diversity in Game Design pitch contest! Congrats to Made in Brooklyn Games on their well-deserved win, and thanks to Downtown Brooklyn for making this happen ✨

Nat Mesnard, with a microphone in their hands, and Elana Bell Bogdan stand at the front of the room and take questions from the audience

Finalists and judges pose for a group photo, while Hessvacio from Made in Brooklyn Games hold a giant check

Elana chats with fellow finalist Theresa Long from FORM360 in a bar setting

A brochure listing all the finalists and judges, as well as some opening remarks from organizers. Elana from Unquiet Games is slated to pitch first!

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Mar 3

For sure, I’ll connect you two over email! It’s great that you’re getting a crew together for this action!

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Mar 2

Oh are you going to this? My best friend’s helping organize the Lansing action! Thanks for helping spread the word 📢🧬🧪

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Elana @elanamakesgames.bsky.social · Mar 2

Ever wonder what kind of indie game @natmesnard.bsky.social & I have been developing over the past year and a half? DM if you’d like free tickets to our pitch this Tues! 😉

Unquiet Games @unquietgames.bsky.social · Mar 2

We’re honored to be selected as finalists to pitch our game on Tues! ✨ Come see us talk about Banned Together, a first-person mystery game about book banning & chosen family: www.downtownbrooklyn.com/event/miib-g...

Pixel-art flyer for an event called “Diversity in Game Design Pitch Contest,” hosted by Make It In Brooklyn

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