Shelby Barwood
@threepod.bsky.social
♠️ genderfluid
♠️ game designer and freelance writer
♠️ chatty little fairy creature
♠️ humanist 🚫 noAI
♠️ game designer and freelance writer
♠️ chatty little fairy creature
♠️ humanist 🚫 noAI
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
Jennifer English realizing she's a lesbian and falling in love with one of her mocap directors (Aliona Baranova) over the course of making BG3 and seeing all the queer folks embracing Shadowheart and the impact the game had is genuinely one of the best stories in game production in a long time
Congrats to Jennifer English for winning the Best Lead Performer award at the 2025 #GoldenJoystickAwards!
And her acceptance speech about queer joy was a love letter to @aliona.bsky.social 🥹🌈
And her acceptance speech about queer joy was a love letter to @aliona.bsky.social 🥹🌈
November 21, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Jennifer English realizing she's a lesbian and falling in love with one of her mocap directors (Aliona Baranova) over the course of making BG3 and seeing all the queer folks embracing Shadowheart and the impact the game had is genuinely one of the best stories in game production in a long time
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
I think one reason why games people are looking forward to the collapse of the AI bubble, despite it likely triggering a massive economic crash, is that we're basically already living post-crash.
November 18, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I think one reason why games people are looking forward to the collapse of the AI bubble, despite it likely triggering a massive economic crash, is that we're basically already living post-crash.
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
Love that the internet is run on the same 5 companies in a trenchcoat!
November 18, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Love that the internet is run on the same 5 companies in a trenchcoat!
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
Oh my God
A Brand New 'Star Trek' Movie Is Coming From the Team Behind 'Dungeons & Dragons'
A Brand New 'Star Trek' Movie Is Coming From the Team Behind 'Dungeons & Dragons'
Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley have been hired to make a whole new 'Star Trek' film.
gizmodo.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Oh my God
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
One of the best things to recognise in yourself as a creative person is when you are Sauceless.
Not art blocked. Not struggling with a difficult creative problem.
Being Sauceless is when you've done good work but have been staring at it for too long, and risk making it worse through noodling.
Not art blocked. Not struggling with a difficult creative problem.
Being Sauceless is when you've done good work but have been staring at it for too long, and risk making it worse through noodling.
November 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
One of the best things to recognise in yourself as a creative person is when you are Sauceless.
Not art blocked. Not struggling with a difficult creative problem.
Being Sauceless is when you've done good work but have been staring at it for too long, and risk making it worse through noodling.
Not art blocked. Not struggling with a difficult creative problem.
Being Sauceless is when you've done good work but have been staring at it for too long, and risk making it worse through noodling.
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
(glances to the right of my screen)
November 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
(glances to the right of my screen)
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
The "I don't have time to read lots of dusty tomes for research, so I just ask a bot for a summary" thing keeps coming up. I just can't relate to anyone who isn't incandescently excited about digging into an archive and spending days deciphering Victorian handwriting. It's like a party drug to me.
October 21, 2025 at 10:04 AM
The "I don't have time to read lots of dusty tomes for research, so I just ask a bot for a summary" thing keeps coming up. I just can't relate to anyone who isn't incandescently excited about digging into an archive and spending days deciphering Victorian handwriting. It's like a party drug to me.
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
bringing this one back lmao
October 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
bringing this one back lmao
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
This @superjoost.bsky.social analysis is good.
Electronic Arts' $55B buyout doesn't add up
Power and prestige over profits.
superjoost.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM
This @superjoost.bsky.social analysis is good.
Seriously weighing the pros and cons of releasing “Consensual Mutilation: the Game” to itch to see if it gets banned.
Update: It took 15 customer service calls before they finally let me speak to a human who works for Visa instead of my local bank. The result? She declined to explain what consensual mutilation is or why Visa feels it’s appropriate for their brand identity, and read me the canned statement.
I’ve been avoiding calling them bc I’m a wimp but I am now COMPELLED to ask customer service what the fuck consensual mutilation is
August 21, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Seriously weighing the pros and cons of releasing “Consensual Mutilation: the Game” to itch to see if it gets banned.
Update: It took 15 customer service calls before they finally let me speak to a human who works for Visa instead of my local bank. The result? She declined to explain what consensual mutilation is or why Visa feels it’s appropriate for their brand identity, and read me the canned statement.
I’ve been avoiding calling them bc I’m a wimp but I am now COMPELLED to ask customer service what the fuck consensual mutilation is
Valve breaking silence on this is huge, they really dont do this. Companies, at this scale, dont -do this-.
Visa, mastercard, stripe and paypal are feeling the pressure. They are making mistakes under pressure.
Keep it up
Visa, mastercard, stripe and paypal are feeling the pressure. They are making mistakes under pressure.
Keep it up
August 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Update: It took 15 customer service calls before they finally let me speak to a human who works for Visa instead of my local bank. The result? She declined to explain what consensual mutilation is or why Visa feels it’s appropriate for their brand identity, and read me the canned statement.
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
Let’s be honest here: ableism is seldom if ever considered a red line on the left.
August 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Let’s be honest here: ableism is seldom if ever considered a red line on the left.
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
it goes further: Yu Suzuki had a oh-shit-the-boss-is-here button installed on his devkits that'd corrupt the screen and make the game look visibly "unfinished", in order to keep his boss from trying to force the game out the door ASAP shmuplations.com/afterburner/
August 3, 2025 at 5:41 AM
it goes further: Yu Suzuki had a oh-shit-the-boss-is-here button installed on his devkits that'd corrupt the screen and make the game look visibly "unfinished", in order to keep his boss from trying to force the game out the door ASAP shmuplations.com/afterburner/
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
You do you but I joined a union, started volunteering more, have gotten more involved in my various communities, and am actively trying to have more fun in my day to day. Think of the beach scene in Camus' "The Plague."
Times are bad. We will outlast them and build a better future together.
Times are bad. We will outlast them and build a better future together.
I wouldn't tell anyone else how to think or feel, but I will just say that, for me, the only way to stay sane after the 2024 election has been to pretty much abandon hope. The US is cooked. Everything I value about it is doomed. We're heading into a long period of dissolution & chaos.
August 2, 2025 at 3:49 AM
You do you but I joined a union, started volunteering more, have gotten more involved in my various communities, and am actively trying to have more fun in my day to day. Think of the beach scene in Camus' "The Plague."
Times are bad. We will outlast them and build a better future together.
Times are bad. We will outlast them and build a better future together.
I’ve been avoiding calling them bc I’m a wimp but I am now COMPELLED to ask customer service what the fuck consensual mutilation is
Valve breaking silence on this is huge, they really dont do this. Companies, at this scale, dont -do this-.
Visa, mastercard, stripe and paypal are feeling the pressure. They are making mistakes under pressure.
Keep it up
Visa, mastercard, stripe and paypal are feeling the pressure. They are making mistakes under pressure.
Keep it up
August 2, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I’ve been avoiding calling them bc I’m a wimp but I am now COMPELLED to ask customer service what the fuck consensual mutilation is
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
Well, I'll be damned.
It's royalty free and there's already six, generic manufacturers lined up.
newatlas.com/infectious-d...
It's royalty free and there's already six, generic manufacturers lined up.
newatlas.com/infectious-d...
The first 100% effective HIV prevention drug is approved and going global
An epidemic that's been sustained for 44 years might finally be quelled, with the milestone approval of the first HIV drug that offers 100% protection with its twice-yearly injections. It's a landmark...
newatlas.com
July 27, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Well, I'll be damned.
It's royalty free and there's already six, generic manufacturers lined up.
newatlas.com/infectious-d...
It's royalty free and there's already six, generic manufacturers lined up.
newatlas.com/infectious-d...
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
so what i'm hearing is call more
This is a pathetic statement and I’m begging every journalist to rip it to shreds
August 1, 2025 at 3:56 PM
so what i'm hearing is call more
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
Unexpectedly good politics from Thomas Kinkade's family! www.kinkadefamilyfoundation.org
July 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Unexpectedly good politics from Thomas Kinkade's family! www.kinkadefamilyfoundation.org
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
Steam and itch.io have removed thousands of video games in recent weeks deemed to be "adult content" in order to comply with strict rules from payment processors like Mastercard.
These policies censor artists engaged in lawful speech. Mastercard shouldn't be the gatekeepers of our digital freedom.
These policies censor artists engaged in lawful speech. Mastercard shouldn't be the gatekeepers of our digital freedom.
Why did thousands of adult titles just disappear from the biggest PC gaming marketplaces?
Digital distribution platforms Steam and itch.io have tightened their rules about adult content – under pressure from payment processors. Why has this happened and where will it lead?
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Steam and itch.io have removed thousands of video games in recent weeks deemed to be "adult content" in order to comply with strict rules from payment processors like Mastercard.
These policies censor artists engaged in lawful speech. Mastercard shouldn't be the gatekeepers of our digital freedom.
These policies censor artists engaged in lawful speech. Mastercard shouldn't be the gatekeepers of our digital freedom.
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
Currently on the phone with Visa
Instead of starting with a complaint, I approached this as a Confused American Consumer who doesn't understand why they can't buy things off a website they use
The call center rep immediately asked if it was about Steam/itch
(cont)
Instead of starting with a complaint, I approached this as a Confused American Consumer who doesn't understand why they can't buy things off a website they use
The call center rep immediately asked if it was about Steam/itch
(cont)
July 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Currently on the phone with Visa
Instead of starting with a complaint, I approached this as a Confused American Consumer who doesn't understand why they can't buy things off a website they use
The call center rep immediately asked if it was about Steam/itch
(cont)
Instead of starting with a complaint, I approached this as a Confused American Consumer who doesn't understand why they can't buy things off a website they use
The call center rep immediately asked if it was about Steam/itch
(cont)
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
⚠️ A NOTE ABOUT ITCH.IO ⚠️
Dear #GameDev: I'm not going to pretend I know all the details, or that I should be considered an expert, but we need to talk about this situation. 🧵
P.S. - Jump to the end of the thread for what you personally can do to help address the situation.
Dear #GameDev: I'm not going to pretend I know all the details, or that I should be considered an expert, but we need to talk about this situation. 🧵
P.S. - Jump to the end of the thread for what you personally can do to help address the situation.
July 24, 2025 at 10:24 PM
⚠️ A NOTE ABOUT ITCH.IO ⚠️
Dear #GameDev: I'm not going to pretend I know all the details, or that I should be considered an expert, but we need to talk about this situation. 🧵
P.S. - Jump to the end of the thread for what you personally can do to help address the situation.
Dear #GameDev: I'm not going to pretend I know all the details, or that I should be considered an expert, but we need to talk about this situation. 🧵
P.S. - Jump to the end of the thread for what you personally can do to help address the situation.
Y’know, like “his name is mud.”
Personally I think we should turn Zerat Games into some kind of colloquialism. Like, “I heard itch got Zeratted.” Or, “Itch had steady growth before they got Zeratted.” It would be cool if today’s ire also prevented anyone even remotely associated with Zerat Games from ever making a comeback.
July 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Y’know, like “his name is mud.”
Personally I think we should turn Zerat Games into some kind of colloquialism. Like, “I heard itch got Zeratted.” Or, “Itch had steady growth before they got Zeratted.” It would be cool if today’s ire also prevented anyone even remotely associated with Zerat Games from ever making a comeback.
July 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Personally I think we should turn Zerat Games into some kind of colloquialism. Like, “I heard itch got Zeratted.” Or, “Itch had steady growth before they got Zeratted.” It would be cool if today’s ire also prevented anyone even remotely associated with Zerat Games from ever making a comeback.
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
after a very frustrating call with Visa (US+CAN), I was told that Visa would like inquiries relating to using their bargaining power to destroy adult media to be sent, via email, to
askvisa@visa.com
they asked. to be sent. emails. you know what to do.
askvisa@visa.com
they asked. to be sent. emails. you know what to do.
Maybe we could find out.
Mastercard (US): 1-800-627-8372
Mastercard (Int.): +1-636-722-7111
Visa (US + Can): 1 800 847 2911
Visa (AUS): 1 800 125 440
PayPal: +44-0203-901-7000
Mastercard (US): 1-800-627-8372
Mastercard (Int.): +1-636-722-7111
Visa (US + Can): 1 800 847 2911
Visa (AUS): 1 800 125 440
PayPal: +44-0203-901-7000
Collective Shout, the group that took credit for bullying Mastercard into recently censoring more platforms, stated that apparently it took them ~1000 phonecalls to convince them to give them what they wanted?
We got like way more people than that don't we?
We got like way more people than that don't we?
July 24, 2025 at 11:44 AM
after a very frustrating call with Visa (US+CAN), I was told that Visa would like inquiries relating to using their bargaining power to destroy adult media to be sent, via email, to
askvisa@visa.com
they asked. to be sent. emails. you know what to do.
askvisa@visa.com
they asked. to be sent. emails. you know what to do.
Reposted by Shelby Barwood
If you want to actually solve the problem, instead of punishing itch, start calling payment cos
Collective Shout, which is run by people who get published by Spinifex, a very terf-seeming organization, apparently needed 1,000 people to yell at visa to get this done.
We got more than 1000 people.
Collective Shout, which is run by people who get published by Spinifex, a very terf-seeming organization, apparently needed 1,000 people to yell at visa to get this done.
We got more than 1000 people.
July 24, 2025 at 6:26 AM
If you want to actually solve the problem, instead of punishing itch, start calling payment cos
Collective Shout, which is run by people who get published by Spinifex, a very terf-seeming organization, apparently needed 1,000 people to yell at visa to get this done.
We got more than 1000 people.
Collective Shout, which is run by people who get published by Spinifex, a very terf-seeming organization, apparently needed 1,000 people to yell at visa to get this done.
We got more than 1000 people.