Matt Firor
@thefiror.bsky.social
Graybeard Game Developer, Historian of the real and the fictional. Elder Scrolls Online and Dark Age of Camelot project lead. Lover of the written word and interactive entertainment. Three chord guitar player. Perpetual lurker.
One again Westminster Maryland says NO KINGS! Turnout about 2X the size of the last protest - so happy to be out here representing sanity with so many others!
October 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
One again Westminster Maryland says NO KINGS! Turnout about 2X the size of the last protest - so happy to be out here representing sanity with so many others!
Very sad to hear the news that Julian LeFay has passed. As one of the original creators of The Elder Scrolls series he was the lead developer on Arena and Daggerfall. I only met him once, and that was just in passing, so I didn't know him. His creation has had a profound impact on my career and life
July 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Very sad to hear the news that Julian LeFay has passed. As one of the original creators of The Elder Scrolls series he was the lead developer on Arena and Daggerfall. I only met him once, and that was just in passing, so I didn't know him. His creation has had a profound impact on my career and life
No Kings! So says Westminster Maryland. Great to see so many people out for the rally
June 14, 2025 at 3:49 PM
No Kings! So says Westminster Maryland. Great to see so many people out for the rally
"I look into my phone, where they store the horrors....."
Fortunately the phone is also where they store Alexandra Petri - so glad to have her back on the job, but I wish she wasn't so on the nose about .... everything....
Fortunately the phone is also where they store Alexandra Petri - so glad to have her back on the job, but I wish she wasn't so on the nose about .... everything....
So, What Did I Miss?
“How much can possibly happen when I’m on parental leave?” I said five months ago.
www.theatlantic.com
June 13, 2025 at 5:54 PM
"I look into my phone, where they store the horrors....."
Fortunately the phone is also where they store Alexandra Petri - so glad to have her back on the job, but I wish she wasn't so on the nose about .... everything....
Fortunately the phone is also where they store Alexandra Petri - so glad to have her back on the job, but I wish she wasn't so on the nose about .... everything....
It's Friday! That means the next in the series of Elder Scrolls Online's development history hosted by the guys at Kinda Funny. Hear about how we set up Tamriel in the early days of the project and much, much more
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRED...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRED...
The Elder Scrolls Online Podcast - A Kinda Funny Gamescast Limited Series - Episode 3
YouTube video by Bethesda Softworks
www.youtube.com
May 9, 2025 at 3:52 PM
It's Friday! That means the next in the series of Elder Scrolls Online's development history hosted by the guys at Kinda Funny. Hear about how we set up Tamriel in the early days of the project and much, much more
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRED...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRED...
It's been two weeks which means Ep. 2 of Kinda Funny's deep dive into Elder Scrolls Online's development history - in this one we talk about revenue models, server stability and much more. As always thanks to @gameovergreggy.bsky.social and the gang at Kinda Funny!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfct...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfct...
The Elder Scrolls Online Podcast - A Kinda Funny Gamescast Limited Series - Episode 2
YouTube video by Bethesda Softworks
www.youtube.com
April 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM
It's been two weeks which means Ep. 2 of Kinda Funny's deep dive into Elder Scrolls Online's development history - in this one we talk about revenue models, server stability and much more. As always thanks to @gameovergreggy.bsky.social and the gang at Kinda Funny!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfct...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfct...
I think it’s time to come to grips with the fact that we (Americans) have constructed an information firewall far more effective than the Chinese in keeping information we don’t want to see away from our screens. At least 50% of us have outsourced our firewall duties to Fox News, et al
America's obsession with countering mis- and disinformation has withered as society grows skeptical of institutions once trusted with facts.
Fact-checking fades as Americans grow skeptical of institutions
Professional fact-checking went mainstream during the first Trump administration, but it's since become politicized.
www.axios.com
April 22, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I think it’s time to come to grips with the fact that we (Americans) have constructed an information firewall far more effective than the Chinese in keeping information we don’t want to see away from our screens. At least 50% of us have outsourced our firewall duties to Fox News, et al
If you’ve ever wondered how a giant game like Elder Scrolls Online is designed and developed, here’s the first episode in a limited podcast series from Kinda Funny all about ESO. Thanks to @gameovergreggy.bsky.social and the gang at KF for this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5XI3YlJ4A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5XI3YlJ4A
April 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
If you’ve ever wondered how a giant game like Elder Scrolls Online is designed and developed, here’s the first episode in a limited podcast series from Kinda Funny all about ESO. Thanks to @gameovergreggy.bsky.social and the gang at KF for this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5XI3YlJ4A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5XI3YlJ4A
Reposted by Matt Firor
No more monkeying around! 🐒 Today's the day! Tune in today at 3:00 PM ET/8:00 PM BST for the #ESODirect2025 at twitch.tv/bethesda.
April 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM
No more monkeying around! 🐒 Today's the day! Tune in today at 3:00 PM ET/8:00 PM BST for the #ESODirect2025 at twitch.tv/bethesda.
Apropos of nothing in particular, here is a really good succinct lesson on dictatorship/authoritarian history and characteristics.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK6f...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK6f...
History Professor Answers Dictator Questions | Tech Support | WIRED
YouTube video by WIRED
www.youtube.com
March 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Apropos of nothing in particular, here is a really good succinct lesson on dictatorship/authoritarian history and characteristics.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK6f...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK6f...
The Video Games Industry Memo is a gem and should be subscribed to by everyone interested in game business and development. I had a great chat with George Osborn about live service games in general and Elder Scrolls Online - check it out here
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/still-aliv...
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/still-aliv...
Listen to your Elder Scrolls, 13/03/2025
Matt Firor, Studio Director at ZeniMax Online Studios, provides some optimism for live service game developers
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com
March 13, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The Video Games Industry Memo is a gem and should be subscribed to by everyone interested in game business and development. I had a great chat with George Osborn about live service games in general and Elder Scrolls Online - check it out here
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/still-aliv...
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/still-aliv...
We are in uncharted treacherous waters leading towards a world calamity. Appeasing Russia will only kick the can down the road (and condemning Ukraine to the sword as payment) - and in months or years we will be back in the same place with far higher stakes (Poland, Hungary, Finland)
February 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM
We are in uncharted treacherous waters leading towards a world calamity. Appeasing Russia will only kick the can down the road (and condemning Ukraine to the sword as payment) - and in months or years we will be back in the same place with far higher stakes (Poland, Hungary, Finland)
Reposted by Matt Firor
I can't express just how much today's display of stupidity, cowardice and treason in the Oval Office goes against nearly everything I've believed in my entire life.
I remember when America stood for something other than/in addition to making a few people rich.
I remember when America stood for something other than/in addition to making a few people rich.
February 28, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I can't express just how much today's display of stupidity, cowardice and treason in the Oval Office goes against nearly everything I've believed in my entire life.
I remember when America stood for something other than/in addition to making a few people rich.
I remember when America stood for something other than/in addition to making a few people rich.
Donald Trump is a disgrace to this nation, and at this point, to the world.
His dogged adherence to Putin is putting all of us in danger - Europe, North America, and the world. We have small-minded arrogantly ignorant individuals in charge and we are all going to pay the price
His dogged adherence to Putin is putting all of us in danger - Europe, North America, and the world. We have small-minded arrogantly ignorant individuals in charge and we are all going to pay the price
February 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Donald Trump is a disgrace to this nation, and at this point, to the world.
His dogged adherence to Putin is putting all of us in danger - Europe, North America, and the world. We have small-minded arrogantly ignorant individuals in charge and we are all going to pay the price
His dogged adherence to Putin is putting all of us in danger - Europe, North America, and the world. We have small-minded arrogantly ignorant individuals in charge and we are all going to pay the price
In this, the last hour of sanity we will know for years, an interesting take on Tolkien's understanding of what a LOTR sequel meant: it rendered all the heroics of the trilogy moot. A lesson for us all today.
Apologies for paywall, but it's a Post exclusive
www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/0...
Apologies for paywall, but it's a Post exclusive
www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/0...
Review | The lesson of J.R.R. Tolkien’s abandoned Lord of the Rings sequel
‘The New Shadow,’ which Tolkien left unfinished at his death, has a chilling warning about the dangers of historical amnesia and peacetime rot.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 20, 2025 at 4:10 PM
In this, the last hour of sanity we will know for years, an interesting take on Tolkien's understanding of what a LOTR sequel meant: it rendered all the heroics of the trilogy moot. A lesson for us all today.
Apologies for paywall, but it's a Post exclusive
www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/0...
Apologies for paywall, but it's a Post exclusive
www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/0...
I just started following Greg Olear - highly recommended. There is so much (mis, dis, other) information flying around right now that it is very refreshing to find someone who can distill this chaos into a coherent narrative. @gregolear.bsky.social
gregolear.substack.com/p/sunday-pag...
gregolear.substack.com/p/sunday-pag...
Sunday Pages: The Age of Unreality
This is not a movie.
gregolear.substack.com
January 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I just started following Greg Olear - highly recommended. There is so much (mis, dis, other) information flying around right now that it is very refreshing to find someone who can distill this chaos into a coherent narrative. @gregolear.bsky.social
gregolear.substack.com/p/sunday-pag...
gregolear.substack.com/p/sunday-pag...
It never ceases to amaze me how talented people can be with Elder Scrolls Online's housing system - here's a user named Futerko, who has built an homage to King Kong (the island and the beast) - simply amazing!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQFI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQFI...
King Kong - ESO
YouTube video by Futerko
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2024 at 10:26 PM
It never ceases to amaze me how talented people can be with Elder Scrolls Online's housing system - here's a user named Futerko, who has built an homage to King Kong (the island and the beast) - simply amazing!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQFI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQFI...
If you want some distraction today, I got the opportunity to go in depth on Elder Scrolls Online, my path into the game industry in the Modem Age, and generally chatting about my favorite games. This is a great podcast and is now on my weekly listening rotation
pca.st/episode/9952...
pca.st/episode/9952...
Matt Firor, founder of ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online). - My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin
In My Perfect Console, Simon Parkin, award-winning writer for the New Yorker and The Observer newspaper's video game critic invites a well-known guest from the worlds of gaming, film and television, m...
pca.st
November 5, 2024 at 11:59 AM
If you want some distraction today, I got the opportunity to go in depth on Elder Scrolls Online, my path into the game industry in the Modem Age, and generally chatting about my favorite games. This is a great podcast and is now on my weekly listening rotation
pca.st/episode/9952...
pca.st/episode/9952...
Well it’s not as impressive as some of you with your numbers under 50,000, but glad to be here!
September 18, 2024 at 2:20 AM
Well it’s not as impressive as some of you with your numbers under 50,000, but glad to be here!