Stacey Mason
@stcymsn.bsky.social
❧ Interactive narrative innovation & research
❧ Senior Quest Designer: Cyberpunk 2
❧ Prev R&D: procedural narrative, hypertext lit
❧ PhD: Responsive Narrative Systems
❧ Narr design analysis: twitch.tv/CerebralArcade
❧ Opinions mine
❧ More: staceymason.info
❧ Senior Quest Designer: Cyberpunk 2
❧ Prev R&D: procedural narrative, hypertext lit
❧ PhD: Responsive Narrative Systems
❧ Narr design analysis: twitch.tv/CerebralArcade
❧ Opinions mine
❧ More: staceymason.info
Pinned
Stacey Mason
@stcymsn.bsky.social
· Oct 18
For new folks, my whole deal is that I’m obsessively trying to advance the art of interactive storytelling & do new things with how we tell stories!
I talk a lot about agency, responsive systems, procedural narrative, AI ethics, creative leadership, burnout, etc. I also just babble. It’s 50/50.
I talk a lot about agency, responsive systems, procedural narrative, AI ethics, creative leadership, burnout, etc. I also just babble. It’s 50/50.
Reposted by Stacey Mason
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
January 23, 2026 at 8:16 PM
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
Reposted by Stacey Mason
This is what they said about him then. This is what they say about us now. This is who they always have been.
January 19, 2026 at 6:09 PM
This is what they said about him then. This is what they say about us now. This is who they always have been.
Most recent: Two different strangers helped me get my Christmas tree into and out of my car when I was bringing it home this Christmas.
TIMELINE CLEANSE
When's a time that a stranger helped you in an unexpected, maybe even small way?
When's a time that a stranger helped you in an unexpected, maybe even small way?
January 19, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Most recent: Two different strangers helped me get my Christmas tree into and out of my car when I was bringing it home this Christmas.
Reposted by Stacey Mason
Reposted by Stacey Mason
I'm excited to share that Game Poems Issue 1 is now live at www.gamepoems.com/issue01
A new online literary magazine dedicated to exploring the artistic and poetic potential of short-form videogames by publishing new games directly in a playable format.
Thanks for playing and sharing!
A new online literary magazine dedicated to exploring the artistic and poetic potential of short-form videogames by publishing new games directly in a playable format.
Thanks for playing and sharing!
Game Poems #1
An online literary magazine publishing short-form videogames directly in a playable format. Issue #1 features interactive works by international artists and game designers.
www.gamepoems.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:20 PM
I'm excited to share that Game Poems Issue 1 is now live at www.gamepoems.com/issue01
A new online literary magazine dedicated to exploring the artistic and poetic potential of short-form videogames by publishing new games directly in a playable format.
Thanks for playing and sharing!
A new online literary magazine dedicated to exploring the artistic and poetic potential of short-form videogames by publishing new games directly in a playable format.
Thanks for playing and sharing!
Reposted by Stacey Mason
Its not that the media is not covering what is happening, but it does feel like the military occupation of an American city should be treated as a national crisis.
A video of ICE agents conducting door-to-door searches today in Minneapolis
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
January 12, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Its not that the media is not covering what is happening, but it does feel like the military occupation of an American city should be treated as a national crisis.
Reposted by Stacey Mason
I know plenty have folks have shared it but in case you missed it, Discord is asking for user opinions on adding AI to the platform. Give em hell and tell them precisely how you feel about it. Including the intent to leave if it's added in.
discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com
January 10, 2026 at 5:20 PM
I know plenty have folks have shared it but in case you missed it, Discord is asking for user opinions on adding AI to the platform. Give em hell and tell them precisely how you feel about it. Including the intent to leave if it's added in.
discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
My favorite version of this is
“you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to”
“you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to”
One of the most useful things a community organizer ever told me was "if someone wants to play tug of war with you, let go of the rope." The power in any conflict lies not w/ the person who initiates, but w/the person who responds. "Thanks for sharing your perspective, you may be right." And move on
January 8, 2026 at 11:16 PM
My favorite version of this is
“you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to”
“you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to”
Reposted by Stacey Mason
I should follow this up with another facet since it's related to games.
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
January 8, 2026 at 8:24 PM
I should follow this up with another facet since it's related to games.
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
Reposted by Stacey Mason
Reposted by Stacey Mason
I feel like AI should not be given the active voice in news articles. It’s like saying: “In 1993, rakes began to give Jim a lot of help organizing leaves on the lawn.” Center the agency of humans, with anything inanimate (including AI software) as the direct objects.
January 6, 2026 at 12:09 AM
I feel like AI should not be given the active voice in news articles. It’s like saying: “In 1993, rakes began to give Jim a lot of help organizing leaves on the lawn.” Center the agency of humans, with anything inanimate (including AI software) as the direct objects.
Me, apparently forgetting where I live: “My shins are killing me from running on these bricks, which I SWEAR feel harder than concrete. I’ll just focus on NOT running on bricks and beeline through neighborhoods to the soft river paths”
Cambridge Brickwalk Conservancy: “who’s gonna tell her?”
Cambridge Brickwalk Conservancy: “who’s gonna tell her?”
Welcome
WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO The Cambridge Brickwalk Conservancy, Inc. (CBC) is a non-profit organization formed to preserve, maintain and extend the traditional brick sidewalks in Cambridge, MA. We strive....
www.cbc-brick.org
January 6, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Me, apparently forgetting where I live: “My shins are killing me from running on these bricks, which I SWEAR feel harder than concrete. I’ll just focus on NOT running on bricks and beeline through neighborhoods to the soft river paths”
Cambridge Brickwalk Conservancy: “who’s gonna tell her?”
Cambridge Brickwalk Conservancy: “who’s gonna tell her?”
Walking down a wet hall coming in from marching band practice, flute in one hand, music stand in another. Slipped and my only thought while falling was to try to fall in such a way to protect the flute. Instead I got a concussion, broke my arm, and still bent the flute 🤦♀️
What's the most ridiculous way you ever hurt yourself? I got out of the tub, skidded in water and tripped over the toilet. Ankle sprain.
😅
😅
January 6, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Walking down a wet hall coming in from marching band practice, flute in one hand, music stand in another. Slipped and my only thought while falling was to try to fall in such a way to protect the flute. Instead I got a concussion, broke my arm, and still bent the flute 🤦♀️
Reposted by Stacey Mason
There's a lot going on rn, but there's less than a day left on the biggest discount for Bundle of Joy, my Wario-ware inspired narrative game about becoming a parent, over on @itch.io.
I don't wanna play the "pity card" here, but I haven't sold a single copy this Winter sale lol, so tell ur friends!
I don't wanna play the "pity card" here, but I haven't sold a single copy this Winter sale lol, so tell ur friends!
ICYMI, my games are bundled together for a pretty big discount:
itch.io/s/175487/win...
Biggest discount of Bundle of Joy to date, and %90 of sales go directly to Essay Games' future project development.
Tell your narrative-game-sicko friends
itch.io/s/175487/win...
Biggest discount of Bundle of Joy to date, and %90 of sales go directly to Essay Games' future project development.
Tell your narrative-game-sicko friends
Winter Sale 2025 by Essay Games
A bundle by Essay Games, $5.98 for The Last Survey, Bundle of Joy
itch.io
January 4, 2026 at 7:18 PM
There's a lot going on rn, but there's less than a day left on the biggest discount for Bundle of Joy, my Wario-ware inspired narrative game about becoming a parent, over on @itch.io.
I don't wanna play the "pity card" here, but I haven't sold a single copy this Winter sale lol, so tell ur friends!
I don't wanna play the "pity card" here, but I haven't sold a single copy this Winter sale lol, so tell ur friends!
Reposted by Stacey Mason
You don’t have to want kids or even enjoy being around them. But it’s also worth unpacking why kids simply existing, learning, or having unmet needs reads as “annoying,” “unlikeable,” or “bad behavior.”
This collective discomfort with noise, need, & vulnerability is why many ADULTS are struggling.
This collective discomfort with noise, need, & vulnerability is why many ADULTS are struggling.
January 4, 2026 at 3:44 PM
You don’t have to want kids or even enjoy being around them. But it’s also worth unpacking why kids simply existing, learning, or having unmet needs reads as “annoying,” “unlikeable,” or “bad behavior.”
This collective discomfort with noise, need, & vulnerability is why many ADULTS are struggling.
This collective discomfort with noise, need, & vulnerability is why many ADULTS are struggling.
Reposted by Stacey Mason
Reposted by Stacey Mason
Re: New Year’s Resolutions ✅
Reminder (mostly to myself): the goal of a todo list is not to create a list of obstacles between you and rest when “done”.
The goal of a todo list is to get more done *than you would without the list*. Don’t measure against an arbitrary “done”; measure against what you’d accomplish with no list.
The goal of a todo list is to get more done *than you would without the list*. Don’t measure against an arbitrary “done”; measure against what you’d accomplish with no list.
December 31, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Re: New Year’s Resolutions ✅
My 2025:
- divorce FINALLY finalized
- got 2 dream job offers in different industries and made the decision to stay in gamedev
- started at CDPR
- ran my first marathon
- moved back to Boston (home)
Plenty of anxieties about the world but lots of gratitude for what 2025 brought me personally
- divorce FINALLY finalized
- got 2 dream job offers in different industries and made the decision to stay in gamedev
- started at CDPR
- ran my first marathon
- moved back to Boston (home)
Plenty of anxieties about the world but lots of gratitude for what 2025 brought me personally
December 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
My 2025:
- divorce FINALLY finalized
- got 2 dream job offers in different industries and made the decision to stay in gamedev
- started at CDPR
- ran my first marathon
- moved back to Boston (home)
Plenty of anxieties about the world but lots of gratitude for what 2025 brought me personally
- divorce FINALLY finalized
- got 2 dream job offers in different industries and made the decision to stay in gamedev
- started at CDPR
- ran my first marathon
- moved back to Boston (home)
Plenty of anxieties about the world but lots of gratitude for what 2025 brought me personally
Reposted by Stacey Mason
As we enter the New Year remember fear of making bad art is holding you back. Fear of people not liking your work is holding you back. Rejection is holding you back
You'll make bad art, you'll have people not like your work, and you'll be rejected. Moving past it is half the job of being a creative
You'll make bad art, you'll have people not like your work, and you'll be rejected. Moving past it is half the job of being a creative
December 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
As we enter the New Year remember fear of making bad art is holding you back. Fear of people not liking your work is holding you back. Rejection is holding you back
You'll make bad art, you'll have people not like your work, and you'll be rejected. Moving past it is half the job of being a creative
You'll make bad art, you'll have people not like your work, and you'll be rejected. Moving past it is half the job of being a creative
I can’t tell if it’s being out of the Bay or being back in Boston but I can literally feel parts of myself healing here. I cannot overstate how much easier community building is in a place that actually WANTS community and is both culturally and architecturally built for it.
December 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I can’t tell if it’s being out of the Bay or being back in Boston but I can literally feel parts of myself healing here. I cannot overstate how much easier community building is in a place that actually WANTS community and is both culturally and architecturally built for it.
Reposted by Stacey Mason
I contributed to this list. Top 10 games that were most influential to me as a designer, personally
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
The Polaris List
Polaris is a non-profit committed to improving and refining the art and craft of game design. In order to get a snapshot of current game design thinking and reference points, we wondered — what do wor...
polarisgamedesign.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I contributed to this list. Top 10 games that were most influential to me as a designer, personally
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
Reposted by Stacey Mason
Yeah but it’s a dry insane
December 20, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Yeah but it’s a dry insane
Reposted by Stacey Mason
PSA: Please do not send me or my colleagues your story ideas for the game we're actively working on. Especially do not send us your long, detailed manifesto about what changes we should make and your ideas for improving the story. We can't read it. We won't read it. Don't do it!
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
PSA: Please do not send me or my colleagues your story ideas for the game we're actively working on. Especially do not send us your long, detailed manifesto about what changes we should make and your ideas for improving the story. We can't read it. We won't read it. Don't do it!
Okay look, Spotify Wrapped was cute for a minute but I really don’t need to look back on my year in Uber rides 🤣
December 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Okay look, Spotify Wrapped was cute for a minute but I really don’t need to look back on my year in Uber rides 🤣