James Montagna
@jpop.bsky.social
WayForward Game Director — Advance Wars (Nintendo), Shantae, Vitamin Connection |
the Willy Wonka of games
@JamesPopStar other places | follow if you like
the Willy Wonka of games
@JamesPopStar other places | follow if you like
Pinned
James Montagna
@jpop.bsky.social
· Oct 23
THANK YOU SAKURAI — you made a lifelong dream come true!! 💙💗
20 years ago, I was a teen when we met for the first time. I worked up the courage to ask: “Please consider making Lololo & Lalala playable someday!”
Two decades later…you actually did it. Lololo & Lalala are here — in Kirby Air Riders.
20 years ago, I was a teen when we met for the first time. I worked up the courage to ask: “Please consider making Lololo & Lalala playable someday!”
Two decades later…you actually did it. Lololo & Lalala are here — in Kirby Air Riders.
! Never thought I’d see Dragon Hopper released.
It gives me hope for other projects that were finished → cancelled → well documented. Sound Fantasy by Toshio Iwai comes to mind, one of the earliest SNES Mouse games
It gives me hope for other projects that were finished → cancelled → well documented. Sound Fantasy by Toshio Iwai comes to mind, one of the earliest SNES Mouse games
As hoped for in our newest issue, Dragon Hopper has just been confirmed for release 30 years after its Summer 1996 release plans were cancelled!
January 27, 2026 at 4:29 PM
! Never thought I’d see Dragon Hopper released.
It gives me hope for other projects that were finished → cancelled → well documented. Sound Fantasy by Toshio Iwai comes to mind, one of the earliest SNES Mouse games
It gives me hope for other projects that were finished → cancelled → well documented. Sound Fantasy by Toshio Iwai comes to mind, one of the earliest SNES Mouse games
Reposted by James Montagna
Reposted by James Montagna
making sure your game has a suitable variety of interesting stuff in it
January 5, 2026 at 11:03 PM
making sure your game has a suitable variety of interesting stuff in it
Reposted by James Montagna
“ONLINE” Moe Shop feat. TORIENA — The Sound of Yars Rising (Official Soundtrack) (2025)
December 10, 2025 at 6:17 PM
“ONLINE” Moe Shop feat. TORIENA — The Sound of Yars Rising (Official Soundtrack) (2025)
Reposted by James Montagna
2025 was a year I purchased quite a number of Atari games and took even greater notice of the company and its output. I finally picked up Yars Rising and it made me so interested in the world and history of Yars.
There's a lot from Atari I anticipate on getting In the future.
There's a lot from Atari I anticipate on getting In the future.
December 31, 2025 at 7:06 PM
2025 was a year I purchased quite a number of Atari games and took even greater notice of the company and its output. I finally picked up Yars Rising and it made me so interested in the world and history of Yars.
There's a lot from Atari I anticipate on getting In the future.
There's a lot from Atari I anticipate on getting In the future.
Reposted by James Montagna
Love this from Guillermo del Toro
January 5, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Love this from Guillermo del Toro
Reposted by James Montagna
Gen Hoshino performed his Super Mario Bros. 35th anniversary song "Create" at the Nintendo Museum as part of the NHK New Years Special Music Program.
Legendary Nintendo Composer Koji Kondo joined him as a surprise special guest!
Legendary Nintendo Composer Koji Kondo joined him as a surprise special guest!
January 1, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Gen Hoshino performed his Super Mario Bros. 35th anniversary song "Create" at the Nintendo Museum as part of the NHK New Years Special Music Program.
Legendary Nintendo Composer Koji Kondo joined him as a surprise special guest!
Legendary Nintendo Composer Koji Kondo joined him as a surprise special guest!
Reposted by James Montagna
December 31, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by James Montagna
Update: Today's livestream will feature two special guests: directors James Montagna and Adam Tierney! Kick back and relax as we play River City Girls 2, Shantae Advance, and more, starting at 3PM Pacific/6PM Eastern on twitch.tv/wayforwardtv and youtube.com/wayForward/streams!
December 30, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Update: Today's livestream will feature two special guests: directors James Montagna and Adam Tierney! Kick back and relax as we play River City Girls 2, Shantae Advance, and more, starting at 3PM Pacific/6PM Eastern on twitch.tv/wayforwardtv and youtube.com/wayForward/streams!
Come watch me struggle to play a game we literally developed. I think this actually counts as my year-end performance review
Our year-end livestream happens tomorrow, when we'll be playing Shantae Advance and other games with director James Montagna! Tune in at 3PM Pacific/6PM Eastern on twitch.tv/wayforwardtv and youtube.com/wayForward/streams!
December 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Come watch me struggle to play a game we literally developed. I think this actually counts as my year-end performance review
Reposted by James Montagna
Our year-end livestream happens tomorrow, when we'll be playing Shantae Advance and other games with director James Montagna! Tune in at 3PM Pacific/6PM Eastern on twitch.tv/wayforwardtv and youtube.com/wayForward/streams!
December 29, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Our year-end livestream happens tomorrow, when we'll be playing Shantae Advance and other games with director James Montagna! Tune in at 3PM Pacific/6PM Eastern on twitch.tv/wayforwardtv and youtube.com/wayForward/streams!
Reposted by James Montagna
Last night out this year and feeling thankful. 2025 was good. Walking home through the quiet Meguro streets and listening to a Beatmania GB2 licensed music playlist, like any normal person would
December 29, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Last night out this year and feeling thankful. 2025 was good. Walking home through the quiet Meguro streets and listening to a Beatmania GB2 licensed music playlist, like any normal person would
designed in an era when someone could still say ‘fuck it, let’s try this’ in a meeting
December 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
designed in an era when someone could still say ‘fuck it, let’s try this’ in a meeting
Reposted by James Montagna
zoey + cinnamoroll pajamas ☁️🩵
December 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
zoey + cinnamoroll pajamas ☁️🩵
Merry Christmas! i hope santa brought you what you wanted since he has access to information we do not
meanwhile i’ll be putting my holiday in the colonel’s hands per the ancient traditions of Japan
meanwhile i’ll be putting my holiday in the colonel’s hands per the ancient traditions of Japan
December 26, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Merry Christmas! i hope santa brought you what you wanted since he has access to information we do not
meanwhile i’ll be putting my holiday in the colonel’s hands per the ancient traditions of Japan
meanwhile i’ll be putting my holiday in the colonel’s hands per the ancient traditions of Japan
in high school i drank BRAIN WASH daily
we all believed it turned your piss blue
nobody questioned this
anyway bottoms up everyone
we all believed it turned your piss blue
nobody questioned this
anyway bottoms up everyone
December 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
in high school i drank BRAIN WASH daily
we all believed it turned your piss blue
nobody questioned this
anyway bottoms up everyone
we all believed it turned your piss blue
nobody questioned this
anyway bottoms up everyone
Reposted by James Montagna
Reposted by James Montagna
Reposted by James Montagna
I was so happy to see Music in S-tier. I am biased but I think it’s the game dev wildcard in terms of attention/care. For some games music is just a line item and you just “get a person.” For others it’s part of the fabric, beautifully collaborative.
I’m glad to be on so much S-tier work now.
I’m glad to be on so much S-tier work now.
Task difficulty tier list of game development
December 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I was so happy to see Music in S-tier. I am biased but I think it’s the game dev wildcard in terms of attention/care. For some games music is just a line item and you just “get a person.” For others it’s part of the fabric, beautifully collaborative.
I’m glad to be on so much S-tier work now.
I’m glad to be on so much S-tier work now.
Reposted by James Montagna
November 27, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Reposted by James Montagna
It's a time to be thankful and with your friends and family, and we're very thankful for everyone in our Gold Gold Adventure Gold Family!
But ever wondered where you've seen em before?
#IndieGame #IndieDev #VoiceActing
But ever wondered where you've seen em before?
#IndieGame #IndieDev #VoiceActing
December 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
It's a time to be thankful and with your friends and family, and we're very thankful for everyone in our Gold Gold Adventure Gold Family!
But ever wondered where you've seen em before?
#IndieGame #IndieDev #VoiceActing
But ever wondered where you've seen em before?
#IndieGame #IndieDev #VoiceActing
Reposted by James Montagna
