Natalia Lakes!
@natalialakes.com
Writer, Producer and Sound Designer <3
Co-Host of Zed Games on @4zzzradio.bsky.social
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Co-Host of Zed Games on @4zzzradio.bsky.social
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
'Being told a video game was made with only “0.3%” LLM use is like being handed a glass of water that “only has” a single drop of urine in it.'
Rio is one of my favourite game writers and this piece on the Alters is some of her best work – do yourself a favour and read it if you haven't already!!
Rio is one of my favourite game writers and this piece on the Alters is some of her best work – do yourself a favour and read it if you haven't already!!
Finally finished this monster piece about the Alters! This is my second big feature for Qualbert, and gets into why I want genAI out of my damn games www.qualbert.com/ai-use-in-th...
I’m Still Not Done Talking About AI Use in The Alters | Qualbert
The more we let companies use GenAI in development, the more we all stand to lose. We examine the ripple effects of AI use in games, beginning with The Alters.
www.qualbert.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:20 AM
'Being told a video game was made with only “0.3%” LLM use is like being handed a glass of water that “only has” a single drop of urine in it.'
Rio is one of my favourite game writers and this piece on the Alters is some of her best work – do yourself a favour and read it if you haven't already!!
Rio is one of my favourite game writers and this piece on the Alters is some of her best work – do yourself a favour and read it if you haven't already!!
My new life goal is to eat things with chopsticks that weren't intended to be eaten as such. I get to enjoy a delicious meal, to revel in the satisfaction of overcoming great odds, AND a forearm workout to boot
October 30, 2025 at 4:12 AM
My new life goal is to eat things with chopsticks that weren't intended to be eaten as such. I get to enjoy a delicious meal, to revel in the satisfaction of overcoming great odds, AND a forearm workout to boot
I first heard about Call of the Golden Valley at High Score where I was completely blown away by @benhmusic.bsky.social's score (literal goosebumps...)
Having played it later in the week, I was impressed by it's Australian cast and intrigued to unravel the mystery further. Excited to play more!
Having played it later in the week, I was impressed by it's Australian cast and intrigued to unravel the mystery further. Excited to play more!
It's here! Call of the Golden Valley is available on Steam NOW!
If you have a favourite truecrime podcast, love a good mystery & are prone to the occasional bit of internet snooping, then this is for you!
Check out our Steam page to Investigate further:
🔍 bit.ly/4mTIprq
If you have a favourite truecrime podcast, love a good mystery & are prone to the occasional bit of internet snooping, then this is for you!
Check out our Steam page to Investigate further:
🔍 bit.ly/4mTIprq
October 24, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I first heard about Call of the Golden Valley at High Score where I was completely blown away by @benhmusic.bsky.social's score (literal goosebumps...)
Having played it later in the week, I was impressed by it's Australian cast and intrigued to unravel the mystery further. Excited to play more!
Having played it later in the week, I was impressed by it's Australian cast and intrigued to unravel the mystery further. Excited to play more!
Congratulations to @sbug.games for launching the incredible Isopod: A Webbed Spin-off this week!!
To celebrate, we'll be interviewing the team on @4zzzradio.bsky.social's Zed Games tonight at 6PM AEST!
You can listen-in live on 102.1 FM or via the website: 4zzz.org.au
To celebrate, we'll be interviewing the team on @4zzzradio.bsky.social's Zed Games tonight at 6PM AEST!
You can listen-in live on 102.1 FM or via the website: 4zzz.org.au
October 23, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Congratulations to @sbug.games for launching the incredible Isopod: A Webbed Spin-off this week!!
To celebrate, we'll be interviewing the team on @4zzzradio.bsky.social's Zed Games tonight at 6PM AEST!
You can listen-in live on 102.1 FM or via the website: 4zzz.org.au
To celebrate, we'll be interviewing the team on @4zzzradio.bsky.social's Zed Games tonight at 6PM AEST!
You can listen-in live on 102.1 FM or via the website: 4zzz.org.au
Reposted by Natalia Lakes!
First up was #HighScore2025! Coming from sound in film, it was enriching to meet so many talented sound designers and composers working with adaptive audio. A personal highlight was Sarah Wolfe's talk about crafting a hyperpop soundtrack for the excellent, upcoming @girlypop.net!
October 17, 2025 at 5:11 AM
First up was #HighScore2025! Coming from sound in film, it was enriching to meet so many talented sound designers and composers working with adaptive audio. A personal highlight was Sarah Wolfe's talk about crafting a hyperpop soundtrack for the excellent, upcoming @girlypop.net!
Now that I'm finally starting to recover from the behemoth that was Melbourne International Games Week, I'm super keen to share some of what I got up to from High Score through to PAX!
I'll be drip feeding it on my feed over the next few days, so keep an eye out :)
I'll be drip feeding it on my feed over the next few days, so keep an eye out :)
October 17, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Now that I'm finally starting to recover from the behemoth that was Melbourne International Games Week, I'm super keen to share some of what I got up to from High Score through to PAX!
I'll be drip feeding it on my feed over the next few days, so keep an eye out :)
I'll be drip feeding it on my feed over the next few days, so keep an eye out :)
Reposted by Natalia Lakes!
BORN TO GAME /
MELBOURNE IS A FUCK /
ゲーム Play Em All 2025 /
I am indie dev /
410,757,864,530 MIGW ATTENDEES
MELBOURNE IS A FUCK /
ゲーム Play Em All 2025 /
I am indie dev /
410,757,864,530 MIGW ATTENDEES
October 12, 2025 at 12:51 PM
BORN TO GAME /
MELBOURNE IS A FUCK /
ゲーム Play Em All 2025 /
I am indie dev /
410,757,864,530 MIGW ATTENDEES
MELBOURNE IS A FUCK /
ゲーム Play Em All 2025 /
I am indie dev /
410,757,864,530 MIGW ATTENDEES
Reposted by Natalia Lakes!
(shared AI video of the Teletubbies eating a hiker that wandered into their territory)
Okay so it turns out that video was fake, but it resonated because this kind of stuff happens every day
Okay so it turns out that video was fake, but it resonated because this kind of stuff happens every day
October 11, 2025 at 7:32 PM
(shared AI video of the Teletubbies eating a hiker that wandered into their territory)
Okay so it turns out that video was fake, but it resonated because this kind of stuff happens every day
Okay so it turns out that video was fake, but it resonated because this kind of stuff happens every day
I cannot stress how awesome this game by @toestee.itch.io is!
Even as a (polished) prototype, Bug Brains is so cute and compelling that every day I wasn't playing it was a day I spent thinking about it...
Please check it out – this need a physical release ASAP
Even as a (polished) prototype, Bug Brains is so cute and compelling that every day I wasn't playing it was a day I spent thinking about it...
Please check it out – this need a physical release ASAP
Fuck networking at Megadev I’m playing Bug Brains by @toestee.itch.io
October 13, 2025 at 11:46 AM
I cannot stress how awesome this game by @toestee.itch.io is!
Even as a (polished) prototype, Bug Brains is so cute and compelling that every day I wasn't playing it was a day I spent thinking about it...
Please check it out – this need a physical release ASAP
Even as a (polished) prototype, Bug Brains is so cute and compelling that every day I wasn't playing it was a day I spent thinking about it...
Please check it out – this need a physical release ASAP
Especially hot off of playing Consume Me, this seems like required reading!!
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...
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...
October 8, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Especially hot off of playing Consume Me, this seems like required reading!!
*uses a real physical map once*
Wow this is just like Silksong fr, so immersive!!
Wow this is just like Silksong fr, so immersive!!
October 2, 2025 at 2:46 AM
*uses a real physical map once*
Wow this is just like Silksong fr, so immersive!!
Wow this is just like Silksong fr, so immersive!!
Whoever invented early morning flights should be tucked into a really comfortable bed and forced to enjoy the simple pleasure of a restful sleep. Maybe then they would let us sleep in too 😮💨😴
October 2, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Whoever invented early morning flights should be tucked into a really comfortable bed and forced to enjoy the simple pleasure of a restful sleep. Maybe then they would let us sleep in too 😮💨😴
Reposted by Natalia Lakes!
i will never get fighting games.
Fighting game enthusiasts will post something like "CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THIS IS BULLSHIT" with a picture or video that look like this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3zA...
Fighting game enthusiasts will post something like "CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THIS IS BULLSHIT" with a picture or video that look like this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3zA...
tmpMo4GJT
YouTube video by Webdriver Torso
www.youtube.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:42 AM
i will never get fighting games.
Fighting game enthusiasts will post something like "CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THIS IS BULLSHIT" with a picture or video that look like this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3zA...
Fighting game enthusiasts will post something like "CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THIS IS BULLSHIT" with a picture or video that look like this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3zA...
Reposted by Natalia Lakes!
Give folks their flowers
No, I mean right now. Go tell someone you loved their work right now. They're on social media just say it, it has never been easier
"They know how much people love--" no they don't go say it right now to a composer or artist or game dev or writer or anyone AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
No, I mean right now. Go tell someone you loved their work right now. They're on social media just say it, it has never been easier
"They know how much people love--" no they don't go say it right now to a composer or artist or game dev or writer or anyone AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
September 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Give folks their flowers
No, I mean right now. Go tell someone you loved their work right now. They're on social media just say it, it has never been easier
"They know how much people love--" no they don't go say it right now to a composer or artist or game dev or writer or anyone AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
No, I mean right now. Go tell someone you loved their work right now. They're on social media just say it, it has never been easier
"They know how much people love--" no they don't go say it right now to a composer or artist or game dev or writer or anyone AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
If you die in the kitchen, you die in real life 😱
September 8, 2025 at 11:41 AM
If you die in the kitchen, you die in real life 😱
I love it when I am just going to have a little nap and OH GOD I JUST HIBERNATED FOR 16 HOURS
September 2, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I love it when I am just going to have a little nap and OH GOD I JUST HIBERNATED FOR 16 HOURS
That’s what she said? I’m going to need you to back up your claim with evidence
August 31, 2025 at 11:08 PM
That’s what she said? I’m going to need you to back up your claim with evidence
Anytime someone says
“THEY made a movie about this” or “that’s what THEY want you to think”
It’s actually just one really prolific non-binary person. Keep up the good work
“THEY made a movie about this” or “that’s what THEY want you to think”
It’s actually just one really prolific non-binary person. Keep up the good work
August 31, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Anytime someone says
“THEY made a movie about this” or “that’s what THEY want you to think”
It’s actually just one really prolific non-binary person. Keep up the good work
“THEY made a movie about this” or “that’s what THEY want you to think”
It’s actually just one really prolific non-binary person. Keep up the good work
Reposted by Natalia Lakes!
The trick to writing characterful dialogue is to add unexpected question marks?
August 26, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The trick to writing characterful dialogue is to add unexpected question marks?
Reposted by Natalia Lakes!
my heart is frail, or maybe just not designed to lurch between lols and war crimes and taylor swift and a chatbot encouraging a child’s suicide
August 26, 2025 at 9:34 PM
my heart is frail, or maybe just not designed to lurch between lols and war crimes and taylor swift and a chatbot encouraging a child’s suicide
made guac
, forgot the cilantro. someone revoke my Mexican heritage pls
, forgot the cilantro. someone revoke my Mexican heritage pls
a pile of brown powder is on a white background .
Alt: An emoji pleads to god for forgiveness before being obliterated into dust.
media.tenor.com
August 26, 2025 at 1:35 PM
made guac
, forgot the cilantro. someone revoke my Mexican heritage pls
, forgot the cilantro. someone revoke my Mexican heritage pls
Reposted by Natalia Lakes!
if you haven't listened to these two pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
eyeriss.bandcamp.com/album/abdica...
eyeriss.bandcamp.com/track/vermin
#newmusic
eyeriss.bandcamp.com/album/abdica...
eyeriss.bandcamp.com/track/vermin
#newmusic
Abdication, by Eyeriss
2 track album
eyeriss.bandcamp.com
August 15, 2025 at 11:38 PM
if you haven't listened to these two pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
eyeriss.bandcamp.com/album/abdica...
eyeriss.bandcamp.com/track/vermin
#newmusic
eyeriss.bandcamp.com/album/abdica...
eyeriss.bandcamp.com/track/vermin
#newmusic
Did my first live music mix tonight!!
Feeling like the disparate strands of sound knowledge I’ve accumulated over the past few months starting to click together,,, literally the best feeling
Feeling like the disparate strands of sound knowledge I’ve accumulated over the past few months starting to click together,,, literally the best feeling
August 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Did my first live music mix tonight!!
Feeling like the disparate strands of sound knowledge I’ve accumulated over the past few months starting to click together,,, literally the best feeling
Feeling like the disparate strands of sound knowledge I’ve accumulated over the past few months starting to click together,,, literally the best feeling