Nathan Black
LightNews LightNews
banner
nathanblack.com
Nathan Black
@nathanblack.com
540 followers 170 following 220 posts
Factotum, Flâneur

Big Bad Con Community Coordinator

Mugs and games and games on mugs:
https://www.sassys86.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
nathanblack.com
An booming⚡️crack⚡️fills the air causing the crowd to run for shelter as the shockwave lifts them from their feet

Uncle gently chuckles, a second rumbling underneath the first

GO FORTH AND SUPPORT they bellow, with the whispers of the brainer behind them just off-unison

Barf Forth Apocalypse World
November 6, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
pitecohansen.bsky.social
🎯
lizardengland.bsky.social Liz England @lizardengland.bsky.social · 6d
man I dunno this is just off the top of my head, probably missed some things
GDC informa survey of the industry with the question "From your perspective, what is responsible for the rise in layoffs in the game industry?" and the answer "The economy is heading south so people are battening down the hatches. Money continues to flow upwards and consolidate in fewer hands, leaving the rest to fight for crumbs and fold. The promise of cheap labor - whether it's AI or offshoring - combines with the pressures of our capitalist system on infinite growth and competing for ever larger slices of the pie to keep costs down. The business chases profit to the point where our industry seeks out the lowest cost methods to produce the most revenue, sacrificing quality in favor quantity and a sweatshop approach to development. Funding sources have dried up, with fewer investors or publishers willing to fund a game through completion and instead pulling out partway, leaving teams abandoned with incomplete games and no money to finish them. What funding exists requires significant investment on the side of the creators in the first place - money that, again, is not available except for very few - or is dedicated toward the AI bubble, incentivizing companies to go all-in on a technology that requires them to destroy our own labor market."
November 5, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
bigbadcon.bsky.social
Announcement for 2025.
Announcement for 2025 After careful consideration, the Board, Leadership, and our Staff have concluded that we are unable to host our in-person convention this year. We discussed this thoroughly and this decision was not reached lightly. Our volunteer Staff and Rangers exceeded expectations in organizing last year’s convention. We thank them for their hard work.
March 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
nathanblack.com
Had a great time hanging out in Marfa, TX this weekend
A long vista down I10 heading east towards west Texas with the sun setting behind us and mountains in the distance A yard with a collection of old rusted propane tanks in a variety of faded colors and rickety table and chairs in the background. An expanse of blue sky stretches over head A solitary tree by the roadside on a small island of faded green scrub grass. The blue sky stretches above, uncaring A bride and groom on horseback, backlit by the setting sun in Marfa,TX. Gentle clouds lace the background and provide a rare touch of texture to the sky
November 3, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Reposted by Nathan Black
python.org
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
epidiah.bsky.social
This, my friends, is the secret difference between action and epic action.

It’s not the pacing.

It’s not the music.

It’s not the choreography.

It’s not the breath-taking vistas or frenetic cinematography.

It’s not the scale and it’s not the stakes.

It’s the shield.
October 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
nathanblack.com
From ancient mouldering periodicals a colossus arises. Long has it been whispered that Swords Without Master would emerge from its surrounding texts like a death moth tearing free of its cocoon. And now those Dread days are upon us.

The prophecy is upon us and we are called to support!

TO ARMS!
unwrittenearths.bsky.social Unwritten Earths Symposium @unwrittenearths.bsky.social · Oct 10
⚔️ The Season of Swords is upon us! Swords Without Master is coming out of the pages of Worlds Without Master Issue 3 into a full, stand-alone release!

🔮 Follow the Kickstarter page to get notified on launch in early 2026

www.kickstarter.com/projects/unw...
Coming soon: Swords Without Master
A ttrpg of strange sorceries, brutal violence and astounding wonder by Epidiah Ravachol.
www.kickstarter.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social
repost this if an editor has ever saved you from yourself
blipstress.bsky.social violet allen @blipstress.bsky.social · Oct 8
An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.
October 8, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
rbreich.bsky.social
Keeping the U.S. government funded now is to participate in the most atrocious misuse of the power of the United States in modern times.

So I for one have decided that the best route is to shut the whole f*cking thing down. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/should-democrats-shut-the-government
September 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
nathanblack.com
Very exciting! I’ve been enjoying the previews in the Lumpley Patreon, and I’m very excited to see how it all comes together!
September 1, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
seantcollins.com
Butlerian Jihad Now
August 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
schliefke.bsky.social
I don't think many people realize how much galleries make just because they have dinner parties and mailing lists with lots of rich people.
hyperallergic.com Hyperallergic @hyperallergic.com · Aug 19
August is when the capitalist parts of the art world go to sleep. As dealers vanish to the Hamptons and collectors retreat upstate, artists — the ones at the center of this whole machine — don’t get to disappear.
It’s Time to Rethink the 50/50 Split With Art Galleries
Should artists accept this standard without questioning the gallery's actual contribution?
hyperallergic.com
August 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
acvalens.net
Let’s change gears. Do some good

Sign this. Make it go viral. Protect sex workers. End payment processor discrimination

action.aclu.org/petition/mas...
Mastercard: Sex Work is Work. End Your Unjust Policy.
Mastercard's new policy unfairly targets the adult content industry, making sex workers more vulnerable, especially Black trans women. It must be stopped.
action.aclu.org
July 23, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
ndpdesign.com
not to put this person on blast but uh... no. this is not real! I do not have this page on my website! ChatGPT is not a search engine! sorry! find new games literally anywhere else!
screenshot of an email asking "is this the rpg that chat gpt recommend to me available to buy anywhere" with a screenshot describing a game called Relic (I do not have a game called Relic) and links to pages on my website that do not exist
July 19, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
victoriatran.bsky.social
✨ MY BOOK IS OUT NOW ✨

"Mastering Community Management" is finally here! 😭

Learn what goes into community management for video games from pre- to post-production. ❤️ Get my step-by-step strategy for creating meaningful online spaces!

Shares appreciated. AHH!!

Buy: www.victoriatran.com/book
Holding up my book "Mastering Community Management: Chaos, Compassion, and Connection in Games". Picture of me in between shelves of books, holding up my book.
July 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
nathanblack.com
See a vampire, post a vampire
Dark uplit vampire reaching out to grab ya, with Frankenstein kinda vibes
July 16, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
gamefiend.bsky.social
Still looking for more followers for Five Fires, a 80s/90s hip hop TTRPG:

www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
Get Ready for Five Fires
From Thoughtcrime Games LLC - Get Ready for Five Fires
www.backerkit.com
July 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
maxnichols.bsky.social
I've read 100s of Shigeru Miyamoto interviews; this one is a top five, easy.

A long Iwata, Miyamoto, and Itoi (Earthbound creator) discussion on the nature of creativity, how to cultivate it as a leader, artistic aesthetic, how to collaborate creatively

iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/w...
Itoi: Like yakisoba that's got burnt bits in it. If a big company were to bring out yakisoba, they would talk about how it mustn't be burnt. A rigid conversation ends with the conclusion that yakisoba must never be burnt. But when you keep the conversation rolling, someone says, "It's inexplicable, but that burntness is fragrant and tasty." … But when you follow strict product guidelines in a meeting, you just lop off every imperfection. Miyamoto: Yes, that's how it goes. Itoi: If you don't get past "Yes, that's right," that's what happens. Iwata: Because something without flaws is without character. It doesn't bear its creator's imprint or have any personality. Miyamoto: So sometimes when we're presenting what we've made, we end up saying, "I guess it's okay, right?" And I think that's really unacceptable. … You'll ask the director, "How it's look?" And he'll answer, "It's passable." How could you call something passable? … When someone asks, "How is it?" I think that it takes more courage to answer, "It's pretty good." Itoi: Hmm, that's true. Because "pretty good" means "good.” Miyamoto: Compared to that, "passable" doesn't really tell you anything. Is it 10 percent out of 100? 80 percent? 60 percent? It doesn't even tell you that. "Passable" takes away everyone's responsibility. Iwata: It's unsettling, because at that point the discussion is taking places without any set values. Itoi: Rather than preparing Plans B and C, you should use your time to polish up Plan A, the one you really think is good. You're the same way, aren't you, Miyamoto-san? Miyamoto: Yes. I've never thought of alternate ideas. Itoi: Or, you haven't ever attended a meeting where you had to pitch your presentation so that it is accepted, have you? Miyamoto: No. I was in an environment where I made decisions myself and continually asked myself whether it was truly good or not. Itoi: … If you're constantly worried about what so-and-so will say, the project or team will never grow. … You may think, "What will the customers say?" You may worry too much about these customers you can't see, which shrinks your idea. Miyamoto: I don't know if it comes from not having a boss, but I can't tell if I'm a good boss or not. Itoi: Oh… Miyamoto: For example, staff members who have worked with me for a long time will often come up to me and say, "I thought of something," but about 70% of the time, I say, "That won't work." I know it isn't nice, but I know if that idea was mine I'd decline it too, I have to say it anyway. Sometimes, I think if I don't stop that, I won't be able to help anyone grow. Itoi: Well, part of that can't be helped. Miyamoto: I know, but when I think about it later, I didn't need to be so harsh for about 20% of that 70%.
July 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
nathanblack.com
If you think Texans “got what they deserved got for how they voted” then we all did
July 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
caraellison.bsky.social
even left sympathisers somehow don’t know that you cannot apply for asylum in a country without actually crossing its borders first. Did you know that? You have to actually be at a country’s borders physically to ask for protection, you cannot ‘apply’ in a bourgeois manner to let you in beforehand
July 6, 2025 at 1:02 PM
nathanblack.com
Whelp, I preordered Death Stranding 2, and that gives me early access, so here goes?
June 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
lumpley.bsky.social
Good morning friends!

To celebrate Pride, we're putting the Under Hollow Hills collection on sale on itch: itch.io/s/154748/und...

There are community copies too. Check it out!
Under Hollow Hills Pride Sale by Meguey & Vincent Baker, et al
A bundle by Meguey & Vincent Baker, et al, $42.00 for Under Hollow Hills, Under Hollow Hills presents The Wolf King's Son, Under Hollow Hills presents In Dreaming Avalon
itch.io
June 11, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
scottsantens.com
This will be of no surprise to any artist here on Bluesky but a new qualitative report has been published about the Basic Income for Artists pilot in Ireland and it turns out that the impact has been far-ranging and has affected all aspects of artists' lives

booksirelandmagazine.com/basic-income...
More than 50 artists and creative arts workers were interviewed by a sociologist to talk about the changes that the BIA has brought to their lives. This report provides additional context to the data collected this far by the Department as part of the BIA research programme, including quotes from participants. Minister O’Donovan said that the research shows that the impact of the basic income is far-ranging and affects all aspects of recipients’ lives. As the pilot ends, it’s important to hear from the artists themselves. I am struck by the stories collected in this report. This paper complements my Department’s research to date which shows that the BIA payment is having a consistent, positive impact for those in receipt of it. Artists are investing more time and more money into their practice, completing more new artistic output, experiencing reduced anxiety, and are protected from the precariousness of incomes in the sector to a greater degree than those who are not receiving the support.’ This qualitative report clearly demonstrates that the BIA has helped to sustain individual creative practice, boost ambition and creative outputs, as well as strengthen artists’ connections to their local communities. In addition, the pilot scheme has supported artists to secure more sustainable housing, address health issues, start families and even establish pension schemes. The findings affirm what the arts sector has long known: the deep precarity of the arts requires sustained, courageous support—support that not only transforms the lives of artists, but also strengthens the society they help to shape.” The paper published today finds that the stability of the payment has significantly reduced underlying financial stress, has allowed recipients to devote time to research and experimentation which resulted in improved quality and opened new career trajectories. Recipients invested in upskilling and equipment. Recipients are also better able to take care of their physical and mental health. They report a sense of legitimacy and validation and mentioned the importance of ‘giving back’ to their community.
May 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by Nathan Black
brightwhitney.bsky.social
When I was a kid reading Dune I didn't really get the Butlerian Jihad, but holy shit do I get it now.
May 21, 2025 at 2:43 PM
nathanblack.com
Happy to be the 281st backer for Dahlia’s Diversions for Peculiar Parties! Go @ashcheshire.bsky.social GO!!!

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
Dahlia’s Diversions for Peculiar Parties
A sampler of bite-sized roleplaying games suitable for any occasion.
www.backerkit.com
May 9, 2025 at 5:54 AM