Elizabeth Ballou
@elizabethballou.bsky.social
she/her. game designer/writer on various and sundry projects. sometimes: game studies adjunct. buy endgame sequences, an anthology about death and dying in games: https://endgamesequences.gumroad.com. fix your hearts or die.
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
I’ve been gone awhile because things have been very hard at home. I find myself at an unfathomable point, and my heart is absolutely broken. If you’re able to donate and share, my gratitude is deep. I never wanted to get here. Thank you for your consideration and assistance. gofund.me/0b0592ad0
Donate to Ease the Tragic Ending of A Romance Writer’s Epic Love Story, organized by Heidi McDonald
I was a game writer at the height of my career - author, freq… Heidi McDonald needs your support for Ease the Tragic Ending of A Romance Writer’s Epic Love Story
gofund.me
September 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I’ve been gone awhile because things have been very hard at home. I find myself at an unfathomable point, and my heart is absolutely broken. If you’re able to donate and share, my gratitude is deep. I never wanted to get here. Thank you for your consideration and assistance. gofund.me/0b0592ad0
it's been re-indexed! but keep up the calls to Stripe/Paypal/Visa/Mastercard, y'all! stop-paypros.neocities.org
August 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
it's been re-indexed! but keep up the calls to Stripe/Paypal/Visa/Mastercard, y'all! stop-paypros.neocities.org
Today I learned that a game I made in partnership with Jennifer Ann's Group has been de-indexed on Itch. A Thousand Cuts is a texting game - no other graphics, no depictions of human forms literally at all - about how hard it is to report sexual assault to Title IX adjudicators at universities.
Not sure where to share and hope this is okay here.
Two of our nonprofit org's free #educational games about #consent are de-indexed. We opened support tickets.
They are *not* adult games. We marked both games as "sensitive content" and "content warning" due to the subject matter.
Two of our nonprofit org's free #educational games about #consent are de-indexed. We opened support tickets.
They are *not* adult games. We marked both games as "sensitive content" and "content warning" due to the subject matter.
August 13, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Today I learned that a game I made in partnership with Jennifer Ann's Group has been de-indexed on Itch. A Thousand Cuts is a texting game - no other graphics, no depictions of human forms literally at all - about how hard it is to report sexual assault to Title IX adjudicators at universities.
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
here she is: my narrative portfolio!! 🥹 i’ve worked hard on her hehe. i’m so happy to have finally assembled her and to now be showing her off!!
nataliecheco.carrd.co
nataliecheco.carrd.co
June 6, 2025 at 4:55 PM
here she is: my narrative portfolio!! 🥹 i’ve worked hard on her hehe. i’m so happy to have finally assembled her and to now be showing her off!!
nataliecheco.carrd.co
nataliecheco.carrd.co
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
if I weren't laughing (very darkly) I'd be crying my dudes
Deck Nine takes back GDC award from laid off devs after failing to send anyone to accept it
aftermath.site/gdc-awards-d...
aftermath.site/gdc-awards-d...
April 1, 2025 at 1:13 AM
if I weren't laughing (very darkly) I'd be crying my dudes
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
At least 6 people who worked on Double Exposure were present at GDC, but none of the ones who were laid off were contacted. I can't speculate on why D9 didn't send any representatives to accept the award at all, but it sure would've been nice if they'd had the opportunity to say something like this🤷
In this case, I would like to break the cycle and the silence on my own erasure. Since the night of the GDC Awards, I often think about what I would have said if I had been given the opportunity to speak. I think it would have been something like this:
March 24, 2025 at 8:15 PM
At least 6 people who worked on Double Exposure were present at GDC, but none of the ones who were laid off were contacted. I can't speculate on why D9 didn't send any representatives to accept the award at all, but it sure would've been nice if they'd had the opportunity to say something like this🤷
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
I wish so much that this acceptance speech could have been heard at the GDCAs last week. I support it 100%.
In this case, I would like to break the cycle and the silence on my own erasure. Since the night of the GDC Awards, I often think about what I would have said if I had been given the opportunity to speak. I think it would have been something like this:
March 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I wish so much that this acceptance speech could have been heard at the GDCAs last week. I support it 100%.
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
In this case, I would like to break the cycle and the silence on my own erasure. Since the night of the GDC Awards, I often think about what I would have said if I had been given the opportunity to speak. I think it would have been something like this:
March 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
In this case, I would like to break the cycle and the silence on my own erasure. Since the night of the GDC Awards, I often think about what I would have said if I had been given the opportunity to speak. I think it would have been something like this:
I deleted my posts about The Award because several outlets have run stories that make it sound as if nobody who worked on the game was at gdc *at all* and have not quoted other devs who also talked about this, and one has unfounded rumors about whose fault this was or wasn't
March 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I deleted my posts about The Award because several outlets have run stories that make it sound as if nobody who worked on the game was at gdc *at all* and have not quoted other devs who also talked about this, and one has unfounded rumors about whose fault this was or wasn't
richmond may have one of the worst postal systems in the country and a spotty record w/r/t running water, but at least we also have
February 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
richmond may have one of the worst postal systems in the country and a spotty record w/r/t running water, but at least we also have
just covered God of War + Senua's Sacrifice in class. meaning that if I had a nickel for every time in the last month that I taught a game about a traumatized person going to Hellheim while carrying a talking severed head, I'd have 2 nickels. which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.
February 5, 2025 at 5:43 PM
just covered God of War + Senua's Sacrifice in class. meaning that if I had a nickel for every time in the last month that I taught a game about a traumatized person going to Hellheim while carrying a talking severed head, I'd have 2 nickels. which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.
it's been over 10 years since I was introduced to this song by the first Walking Dead game and I still cry every time it comes on. it feels particularly poignant right now tho youtu.be/fdq2Hy3WH6k?...
The Walking Dead Game OST-19 take us back
YouTube video by HBM
youtu.be
February 4, 2025 at 1:28 PM
it's been over 10 years since I was introduced to this song by the first Walking Dead game and I still cry every time it comes on. it feels particularly poignant right now tho youtu.be/fdq2Hy3WH6k?...
one of the delightful things about teaching again is that I can have serious conversations with students about games called stuff like "Dream Daddy," "Boyfriend Dungeon," "Don't Shit Your Pants," or "Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion"
January 29, 2025 at 2:34 PM
one of the delightful things about teaching again is that I can have serious conversations with students about games called stuff like "Dream Daddy," "Boyfriend Dungeon," "Don't Shit Your Pants," or "Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion"
no better example of the idiocy of search engine AI snippets than searching for a Shrek meme and being told that Shrek supported freedom of association in Belarus
January 24, 2025 at 4:04 AM
no better example of the idiocy of search engine AI snippets than searching for a Shrek meme and being told that Shrek supported freedom of association in Belarus
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
Hey folks! My severance ends tomorrow and I’m still looking for contact work to tide me over until I can find a more permanent position! Hit me up!
new followers! i'm currently looking for freelance writing work!! i can work on your video game, your narrative podcast, your trading card system! I've written for the life is strange series, homestuck properties, and magic the gathering. i'm excellent at unsnarling plots and i'm great at parties
January 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Hey folks! My severance ends tomorrow and I’m still looking for contact work to tide me over until I can find a more permanent position! Hit me up!
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
If you slip Elisabeth Kübler-Ross a little cash she'll show you how to unlock the secret bonus stage of grief where you have to use your street fighting skills to demolish a car.
January 10, 2025 at 11:56 AM
If you slip Elisabeth Kübler-Ross a little cash she'll show you how to unlock the secret bonus stage of grief where you have to use your street fighting skills to demolish a car.
really apocalyptic to sit here looking at this from Richmond, VA, where a snowstorm knocked out power to the city pumps 2 days ago. the backup pump failed, then the entire IT infrastructure. we haven't had running water since. this includes hospitals.
2025 not looking good for climate change 🫠
2025 not looking good for climate change 🫠
LA this morning.
Wait for the camera to pan.
(Via @andrewkimmel on X)
Wait for the camera to pan.
(Via @andrewkimmel on X)
January 8, 2025 at 5:14 PM
really apocalyptic to sit here looking at this from Richmond, VA, where a snowstorm knocked out power to the city pumps 2 days ago. the backup pump failed, then the entire IT infrastructure. we haven't had running water since. this includes hospitals.
2025 not looking good for climate change 🫠
2025 not looking good for climate change 🫠
really excited to be heading to GDC this year for the first time since 2019 - this time as part of the Pixelles Ensemble. let me know if you'll be around and would like to chat!
January 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
really excited to be heading to GDC this year for the first time since 2019 - this time as part of the Pixelles Ensemble. let me know if you'll be around and would like to chat!
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
Hamzas grandmother is sick and needs money for medication and treatment 😪💔 if you’re able please send a few dollars their way
January 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Hamzas grandmother is sick and needs money for medication and treatment 😪💔 if you’re able please send a few dollars their way
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
BIPOC game studies conference at the Rochester Museum of Play is looking for submissions. Deadline is soon!
The first Conference on BIPOC Game Studies is this September. We would love to have you involved! If you're interested in submitting, please get your pitches in by January 18. More information here: conference.blackgamestudies.com/index.html
The 2025 Conference on BIPOC Game Studies The Strong National Museum of Play
conference.blackgamestudies.com
January 5, 2025 at 4:57 PM
BIPOC game studies conference at the Rochester Museum of Play is looking for submissions. Deadline is soon!
Reposted by Elizabeth Ballou
Hello! as I have joined the ranks of the Laid Off, I am taking on new freelance writing/consulting work. I've written for the life is strange series, various homestuck properties, and magic the gathering. I am a lead writer and narrative designer with 8 years of dev experience.
January 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Hello! as I have joined the ranks of the Laid Off, I am taking on new freelance writing/consulting work. I've written for the life is strange series, various homestuck properties, and magic the gathering. I am a lead writer and narrative designer with 8 years of dev experience.
watching this show as an Anne Rice reader is wild because the books go to the most insane places of any series I have ever read. I keep thinking "will this show get enough seasons that they cast Jesus and Satan? will Lestat indeed kiss his mom with tongue?"
finally started Interview With The Vampire. ended up bingeing it at record speed. I fear these queers have changed my brain chemistry forever
January 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
watching this show as an Anne Rice reader is wild because the books go to the most insane places of any series I have ever read. I keep thinking "will this show get enough seasons that they cast Jesus and Satan? will Lestat indeed kiss his mom with tongue?"
finally started Interview With The Vampire. ended up bingeing it at record speed. I fear these queers have changed my brain chemistry forever
December 30, 2024 at 6:35 PM
finally started Interview With The Vampire. ended up bingeing it at record speed. I fear these queers have changed my brain chemistry forever