Nina Penner
@ninapenner.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Music, Brock University. Author of Storytelling in Opera and Musical Theatre (Indiana UP, 2020). Currently researching video game music.
Pinned
Nina Penner
@ninapenner.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Dynamic Music at the Macro and Micro Levels: A Comparison of The Pathless (2020) and Tchia (2023)1
The unpredictability of player behavior in open-world games presents notable challenges, particularly for developers with storytelling ambitions. Most composers have met these challenges by writing mu...
doi.org
Hi! I’m a musicologist. I mostly post about videogames these days. My work in this area include doi.org/10.1525/jsmg... & unwinnable.com/2024/06/04/h.... I have written about opera, musical theatre, and film music in the past, including iupress.org/978025304997...
Chicory is a game about the challenges of creating art, of impostor syndrome, and of breaking the rules and imagining a more equitable future. And it has an absolutely banger soundtrack, my favourite from
@lena.fyi, and that’s saying something.
@lena.fyi, and that’s saying something.
🖌️ Chicory: A Colorful Tale is part of Games with Heart, a Steam event supporting the American Heart Association! All of the games participating are donating a percentage of their sales to the AHA 💖
store.steampowered.com/curator/4590...
store.steampowered.com/curator/4590...
February 12, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Chicory is a game about the challenges of creating art, of impostor syndrome, and of breaking the rules and imagining a more equitable future. And it has an absolutely banger soundtrack, my favourite from
@lena.fyi, and that’s saying something.
@lena.fyi, and that’s saying something.
Ever since the creation of this category, I knew it was just a matter of time that Austin Wintory would win. It’s fitting it’s for a @giantsquidstudios.com collaboration. He and @mattnava.bsky.social do magic together. Congrats!
February 3, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Ever since the creation of this category, I knew it was just a matter of time that Austin Wintory would win. It’s fitting it’s for a @giantsquidstudios.com collaboration. He and @mattnava.bsky.social do magic together. Congrats!
When I saw the nominees, I was disappointed at the absence of some significant scores of the year: E33, Hades II. I didn’t imagine that an indie game, a new IP, with an eclectic, subtle touch would win. I was elated to discover yesterday that I was wrong.
I shared some thoughts on the GRAMMYs. It won't let me post the full video here so below are the links to it on my IG page and on YT.
(And yes I have some thoughts on Expedition 33 in there...)
instagram.com/p/DURnze8D3A3/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC6M...
(And yes I have some thoughts on Expedition 33 in there...)
instagram.com/p/DURnze8D3A3/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC6M...
Austin Wintory on Instagram: "Some thoughts on the GRAMMYs...
... and yes I couldn't help but discuss Expedition 33"
194 likes, 22 comments - a.wintory on February 2, 2026: "Some thoughts on the GRAMMYs...
... and yes I couldn't help but discuss Expedition 33".
instagram.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:06 AM
When I saw the nominees, I was disappointed at the absence of some significant scores of the year: E33, Hades II. I didn’t imagine that an indie game, a new IP, with an eclectic, subtle touch would win. I was elated to discover yesterday that I was wrong.
Reposted by Nina Penner
Super excited to announce Our Sonic Landscape, a one day game audio conference taking place on May 2nd here in Vancouver BC.
Rachel, Em and I are organizing this and tickets on sale soon.
So we're looking for speakers. Please fill out the form on the website
oursoniclandscape.com
#gameaudio
Rachel, Em and I are organizing this and tickets on sale soon.
So we're looking for speakers. Please fill out the form on the website
oursoniclandscape.com
#gameaudio
January 19, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Super excited to announce Our Sonic Landscape, a one day game audio conference taking place on May 2nd here in Vancouver BC.
Rachel, Em and I are organizing this and tickets on sale soon.
So we're looking for speakers. Please fill out the form on the website
oursoniclandscape.com
#gameaudio
Rachel, Em and I are organizing this and tickets on sale soon.
So we're looking for speakers. Please fill out the form on the website
oursoniclandscape.com
#gameaudio
Tall Trails by @bradysoglin.bsky.social: a charmingly silly game with joyous and varied movement and level design, a surprisingly meaty experience for a solo project. One of my 6yr old’s favourites of 2025. Currently on sale on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/2393760/...
Save 25% on Tall Trails on Steam
A chill exploration game where EVERYTHING goes in the boot! You're Alp, a lil' golem on a quest to find his purpose. Run, climb, and use items as fuel in your Rocket Boot to blast yourself into the ai...
store.steampowered.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Tall Trails by @bradysoglin.bsky.social: a charmingly silly game with joyous and varied movement and level design, a surprisingly meaty experience for a solo project. One of my 6yr old’s favourites of 2025. Currently on sale on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/2393760/...
Experienced bugs related to characters speaking when I was trying to interact with the map or go to sleep. There was also one English translation error near the end: “cease” instead of “seize” I believe.
January 17, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Experienced bugs related to characters speaking when I was trying to interact with the map or go to sleep. There was also one English translation error near the end: “cease” instead of “seize” I believe.
Would benefit from mini-game instructions in the menu (and maybe a way of turning these off: my kid couldn’t do them), a way to tell the difference between main and side quests, and having characters go silent when you’ve exhausted their dialogue.
January 17, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Would benefit from mini-game instructions in the menu (and maybe a way of turning these off: my kid couldn’t do them), a way to tell the difference between main and side quests, and having characters go silent when you’ve exhausted their dialogue.
Fading Serenades by @partnano.bsky.social: a miniature “strand” game in the trappings of Stardew Valley exploring topical themes of obsolescence and technology-related ecological collapse. Beautiful sound and pixel art kept me going despite repetitious dialogue and quests.
January 17, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Fading Serenades by @partnano.bsky.social: a miniature “strand” game in the trappings of Stardew Valley exploring topical themes of obsolescence and technology-related ecological collapse. Beautiful sound and pixel art kept me going despite repetitious dialogue and quests.
Reposted by Nina Penner
Reposted by Nina Penner
Me, a professor: *orders a course pack*
Campus bookstore: give us two months to make sure these 18 copies you requested you don’t violate any publisher’s copyright
Me, an AI company: *violates every publisher’s copyright*
Campus bookstore: we will pay you to offer your services to all students
Campus bookstore: give us two months to make sure these 18 copies you requested you don’t violate any publisher’s copyright
Me, an AI company: *violates every publisher’s copyright*
Campus bookstore: we will pay you to offer your services to all students
December 31, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Me, a professor: *orders a course pack*
Campus bookstore: give us two months to make sure these 18 copies you requested you don’t violate any publisher’s copyright
Me, an AI company: *violates every publisher’s copyright*
Campus bookstore: we will pay you to offer your services to all students
Campus bookstore: give us two months to make sure these 18 copies you requested you don’t violate any publisher’s copyright
Me, an AI company: *violates every publisher’s copyright*
Campus bookstore: we will pay you to offer your services to all students
Happy new year, John! Very grateful for the community you’ve built around Gaming in the Wild.
December 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Happy new year, John! Very grateful for the community you’ve built around Gaming in the Wild.
Great list! Love to see South of Midnight get some recognition for its score.
December 16, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Great list! Love to see South of Midnight get some recognition for its score.
Reposted by Nina Penner
i am begging game developers and musicians who are not putting your soundtracks on bandcamp/ampwall to just... do that... please... i will not be streaming your music off A Music Service. let me actually give you money.
December 5, 2025 at 6:19 PM
i am begging game developers and musicians who are not putting your soundtracks on bandcamp/ampwall to just... do that... please... i will not be streaming your music off A Music Service. let me actually give you money.
Same. Wishlisted right away.
November 21, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Same. Wishlisted right away.
Enjoy! There are some good songs. I don’t even play this genre and it’s my most played game this year. Though i mostly play really small indie games so that’s maybe that carries less weight than it does with others. I didn’t play Clair Obscure this year for example.
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Enjoy! There are some good songs. I don’t even play this genre and it’s my most played game this year. Though i mostly play really small indie games so that’s maybe that carries less weight than it does with others. I didn’t play Clair Obscure this year for example.
You or your student, @profjay.bsky.social? Or @kategalloway.bsky.social for a musical perspective.
Looking to speak with academics/experts specializing in video games studies specifically ideas around conquest, environmentalism, and land for a piece. Please repost this or give recs.
November 20, 2025 at 12:54 AM
You or your student, @profjay.bsky.social? Or @kategalloway.bsky.social for a musical perspective.
Totally. It seems always this way. Thankfully we now have the @indiegameawards.gg. So many games on there I hadn’t heard of. I just played Many Nights a Whisper last night. What an impactful game in such a small package. Only weird aspect was Clair Obscure been deemed “indie.”
November 18, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Totally. It seems always this way. Thankfully we now have the @indiegameawards.gg. So many games on there I hadn’t heard of. I just played Many Nights a Whisper last night. What an impactful game in such a small package. Only weird aspect was Clair Obscure been deemed “indie.”
It’s like 10 hours. I don’t want to say too much. I guess I’ll just say that I don’t think it’s going to blow your mind. But I am glad I played it. This would be a game for me right now. I’ve actually considered replaying it.
November 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
It’s like 10 hours. I don’t want to say too much. I guess I’ll just say that I don’t think it’s going to blow your mind. But I am glad I played it. This would be a game for me right now. I’ve actually considered replaying it.
My big one is Expedition 33, though to be honest I don’t think I’m going to get to it for GOTY season. Life is too much right now.
November 8, 2025 at 11:52 AM
My big one is Expedition 33, though to be honest I don’t think I’m going to get to it for GOTY season. Life is too much right now.
I’m so curious about your thoughts on Wanderstop. I don’t think you need to be into cozy/farming games.
November 8, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I’m so curious about your thoughts on Wanderstop. I don’t think you need to be into cozy/farming games.
Congrats! Glad but not surprised to see Sword on this list. Yes, where is Expedition 33 and Hades II? I know this was never going to happen for such an indie release but I would have loved to see @lena.fyi’s Beastieball get its flowers too: such a fun listen.
November 7, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Congrats! Glad but not surprised to see Sword on this list. Yes, where is Expedition 33 and Hades II? I know this was never going to happen for such an indie release but I would have loved to see @lena.fyi’s Beastieball get its flowers too: such a fun listen.
I literally went on Bluesky just to see what you two are doing for Halloween. Bravo! Love it!
October 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I literally went on Bluesky just to see what you two are doing for Halloween. Bravo! Love it!
Safe travels! My student Lex House and I are looking forward to seeing you soon!
October 26, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Safe travels! My student Lex House and I are looking forward to seeing you soon!
Reposted by Nina Penner
Announcing our JSMG editorial board Pipeline to Publication Workshop Friday, October 17 at 2pm EDT/7pm GMT at tinyurl.com/bdcpupby, passcode: 847119. We hope you can join us, and please share this post to all who might benefit!
September 30, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Announcing our JSMG editorial board Pipeline to Publication Workshop Friday, October 17 at 2pm EDT/7pm GMT at tinyurl.com/bdcpupby, passcode: 847119. We hope you can join us, and please share this post to all who might benefit!