Trent Kusters
@trentkusters.bsky.social
studio director League of Geeks • co-host AIAS #GameMakersNotebook • GDC board • co-creator Armello + Solium Infernum + Jumplight Odyssey
Reposted by Trent Kusters
taleb also wrote ‘antifragile’ and he himself sees that book as a more complete perspective on the same idea. i tend to agree, but black swan was a bit more specific and applicable for me somehow
December 18, 2025 at 4:16 AM
taleb also wrote ‘antifragile’ and he himself sees that book as a more complete perspective on the same idea. i tend to agree, but black swan was a bit more specific and applicable for me somehow
Reposted by Trent Kusters
i still think about the ideas in that book every few weeks 20 years later. even though it’s not about game development specifically, it speaks to attributes of things with luck and chance that is applicable to game dev. like why to prototype & iterate, or what ideas to pick up, how markets work, etc
December 18, 2025 at 4:16 AM
i still think about the ideas in that book every few weeks 20 years later. even though it’s not about game development specifically, it speaks to attributes of things with luck and chance that is applicable to game dev. like why to prototype & iterate, or what ideas to pick up, how markets work, etc
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Organizational Culture & Leadership, 5th Edition, it's a textbook sorry
it's not specific to game direction because I don't think the industry-specific skills are nearly as difficult a challenge as the whole "how to navigate and lead and effect change in an organization full of people" problem
it's not specific to game direction because I don't think the industry-specific skills are nearly as difficult a challenge as the whole "how to navigate and lead and effect change in an organization full of people" problem
December 18, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Organizational Culture & Leadership, 5th Edition, it's a textbook sorry
it's not specific to game direction because I don't think the industry-specific skills are nearly as difficult a challenge as the whole "how to navigate and lead and effect change in an organization full of people" problem
it's not specific to game direction because I don't think the industry-specific skills are nearly as difficult a challenge as the whole "how to navigate and lead and effect change in an organization full of people" problem
Reposted by Trent Kusters
We're only just now starting to get decent contextual accounts of games as a medium, and I find that it's much easier to internalize lessons from related but external media. Someday Valve and Steam may be the subjects of similar documents, but we're still too much in the current moment to understand
December 18, 2025 at 7:41 AM
We're only just now starting to get decent contextual accounts of games as a medium, and I find that it's much easier to internalize lessons from related but external media. Someday Valve and Steam may be the subjects of similar documents, but we're still too much in the current moment to understand
Reposted by Trent Kusters
"I Want My MTV" by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks. It's a tremendous highs and lows accounting of how a dominant cultural movement began and how it shaped the art and world around it, in a way that can only be properly be understood after the fact.
December 18, 2025 at 7:38 AM
"I Want My MTV" by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks. It's a tremendous highs and lows accounting of how a dominant cultural movement began and how it shaped the art and world around it, in a way that can only be properly be understood after the fact.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
That said--as someone literally handing over the reins right now--I made it clear when recommending reading that almost every business book I've ever read was 80% filler around fairly simple (even if novel) concepts. Just read a couple summaries & watch the TED talk.
December 18, 2025 at 6:47 AM
That said--as someone literally handing over the reins right now--I made it clear when recommending reading that almost every business book I've ever read was 80% filler around fairly simple (even if novel) concepts. Just read a couple summaries & watch the TED talk.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
David Graeber - Bullshit Jobs
December 18, 2025 at 6:37 AM
David Graeber - Bullshit Jobs
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Horrific, unspeakably violent greed.
"Zaslav will receive $30 million in "Golden Parachute' compensation along with $537 million in equity for a total of $567 million in a transaction-associated pay."
half a billion dollars for being terrible at your job
half a billion dollars for being terrible at your job
Warner Bros. Golden Parachutes Revealed: What David Zaslav and C-Suite Will Get In a Deal
The CEO stands to gain $567 million if a deal is sealed to sell the WB empire while longtime lieutenant Gunnar Wiedenfels will see $144 million in cash and stock considerations if a transaction close...
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Horrific, unspeakably violent greed.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Keep thinking about this term "pre-digested" that Kojima used to describe art that's instantly gratifying. And how it's better when people grow to love something instead.
I've gravitated, as player and designer, toward the latter, but that term "pre-digested" is new and feels very strong.
I've gravitated, as player and designer, toward the latter, but that term "pre-digested" is new and feels very strong.
December 17, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Keep thinking about this term "pre-digested" that Kojima used to describe art that's instantly gratifying. And how it's better when people grow to love something instead.
I've gravitated, as player and designer, toward the latter, but that term "pre-digested" is new and feels very strong.
I've gravitated, as player and designer, toward the latter, but that term "pre-digested" is new and feels very strong.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
I know everyone talks about this book, but I quite honestly always revere it as the most helpful book I've ever read in my professional life
Radical Candour. How to be a kick ass boss without losing your humanity
www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach
Radical Candour. How to be a kick ass boss without losing your humanity
www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach
Our Approach: Kim Scott's Feedback Framework
Telling people what to do doesn't work. Our approach, developed by Kim Scott, is radically candid feedback that’s both kind and clear, specific and sincere.
www.radicalcandor.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I know everyone talks about this book, but I quite honestly always revere it as the most helpful book I've ever read in my professional life
Radical Candour. How to be a kick ass boss without losing your humanity
www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach
Radical Candour. How to be a kick ass boss without losing your humanity
www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Genuinely only know one book that targeted. Ashamed to say (that despite owning it) I haven't read it, but really enjoyed working under Brian:
www.directingvideogames.com
www.directingvideogames.com
Directing Video Games - A Guide to Creative Leadership
Are you interested in what it takes to become a video game director? Learn about the art of creative leadership and directing video games
www.directingvideogames.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Genuinely only know one book that targeted. Ashamed to say (that despite owning it) I haven't read it, but really enjoyed working under Brian:
www.directingvideogames.com
www.directingvideogames.com
GameDev peeps. Keen to hear your ultimate videogame lit rec:
You're a game director. You have an upcoming, hungry, talented individual on your team that you want to assist in succeeding you in the role of game director at the studio.
You can recommend them only one book. What is it?
You're a game director. You have an upcoming, hungry, talented individual on your team that you want to assist in succeeding you in the role of game director at the studio.
You can recommend them only one book. What is it?
December 18, 2025 at 12:20 AM
GameDev peeps. Keen to hear your ultimate videogame lit rec:
You're a game director. You have an upcoming, hungry, talented individual on your team that you want to assist in succeeding you in the role of game director at the studio.
You can recommend them only one book. What is it?
You're a game director. You have an upcoming, hungry, talented individual on your team that you want to assist in succeeding you in the role of game director at the studio.
You can recommend them only one book. What is it?
hey i haven't logged on in a while, but has anyone here figured out how to stop thinking about arc raiders yet?
December 17, 2025 at 5:18 AM
hey i haven't logged on in a while, but has anyone here figured out how to stop thinking about arc raiders yet?
Reposted by Trent Kusters
Want to be one of the first people to get hands-on with Streets of Fortuna? We'll be a selecting a small group for our Steam Alpha Playtest in 2026.
🏛 Sign up here: store.steampowered.com/app/2946850/...
🏛 Sign up here: store.steampowered.com/app/2946850/...
December 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Want to be one of the first people to get hands-on with Streets of Fortuna? We'll be a selecting a small group for our Steam Alpha Playtest in 2026.
🏛 Sign up here: store.steampowered.com/app/2946850/...
🏛 Sign up here: store.steampowered.com/app/2946850/...
Reposted by Trent Kusters
A good day of gaming.
December 5, 2025 at 12:06 AM
A good day of gaming.
If it’s Shogun 3 I will shit a brick. Sumimasen.
New Total War game to be announced at The Game Awards, confirms Creative Assembly
➡️ www.gamesradar.com/games/total-...
➡️ www.gamesradar.com/games/total-...
December 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
If it’s Shogun 3 I will shit a brick. Sumimasen.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
TOMORROW: Nuclear Throne 10th anniversary, update 100, 10am Pacific Time. store.steampowered.com/app/242680/N...
December 4, 2025 at 4:51 PM
TOMORROW: Nuclear Throne 10th anniversary, update 100, 10am Pacific Time. store.steampowered.com/app/242680/N...
Let's gooooooo! 📔📈👀
ONLY ONE HOUR LEFT! And so close to $100k and 1k followers!
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
December 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Let's gooooooo! 📔📈👀
Reposted by Trent Kusters
ONLY ONE HOUR LEFT! And so close to $100k and 1k followers!
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
December 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
ONLY ONE HOUR LEFT! And so close to $100k and 1k followers!
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
@tdcpresents.bsky.social approached us in 2023 with the idea of a Kickstarter for a collection of his novellas. Almost all of the money from your pledges go directly towards supporting his great work.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
We all work in a joke industry run by anti-intellectual unserious people.
This is the most powerful and promising medium of all humankind and corporate America’s uncultured conservative values has its foot firmly on our artists’ necks, while they sell us off to the Saudis.
Santa Ragione 4eva. ✊🏻
This is the most powerful and promising medium of all humankind and corporate America’s uncultured conservative values has its foot firmly on our artists’ necks, while they sell us off to the Saudis.
Santa Ragione 4eva. ✊🏻
Humble's now banned it too, post-launch:
www.ign.com/articles/hor...
www.ign.com/articles/hor...
Horses, the Upsetting Horror Game Previously Banned on Steam, Gets Last Minute Ban From Epic Games Store Too - IGN
Last week, we reported that disturbing horror game Horses had been banned from Steam. Now, at the last possible minute before the game was set to release widely across other PC store fronts, Epic Game...
www.ign.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:51 AM
We all work in a joke industry run by anti-intellectual unserious people.
This is the most powerful and promising medium of all humankind and corporate America’s uncultured conservative values has its foot firmly on our artists’ necks, while they sell us off to the Saudis.
Santa Ragione 4eva. ✊🏻
This is the most powerful and promising medium of all humankind and corporate America’s uncultured conservative values has its foot firmly on our artists’ necks, while they sell us off to the Saudis.
Santa Ragione 4eva. ✊🏻
Reposted by Trent Kusters
also games yeah exactly
December 3, 2025 at 7:51 PM
also games yeah exactly
Incredible how many people say "sorry, just saw your email now" in a world that has had email read receipts for 15+ years.
Brother, I can see that you already opened my email precisely 13.7 times in the past month.
We're all terrible at emails. No need to lie. Join us.
Brother, I can see that you already opened my email precisely 13.7 times in the past month.
We're all terrible at emails. No need to lie. Join us.
December 3, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Incredible how many people say "sorry, just saw your email now" in a world that has had email read receipts for 15+ years.
Brother, I can see that you already opened my email precisely 13.7 times in the past month.
We're all terrible at emails. No need to lie. Join us.
Brother, I can see that you already opened my email precisely 13.7 times in the past month.
We're all terrible at emails. No need to lie. Join us.
Reposted by Trent Kusters
My Armello Kickstarter collaboration with @leagueofgeeks.com is drawing to a close in 24 hours, but what a ride it's been!
We're over 300% funded, and inching closer to a killer stretch goal to boot! If you haven't checked it out yet, now's the time!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
We're over 300% funded, and inching closer to a killer stretch goal to boot! If you haven't checked it out yet, now's the time!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
December 3, 2025 at 12:30 PM
My Armello Kickstarter collaboration with @leagueofgeeks.com is drawing to a close in 24 hours, but what a ride it's been!
We're over 300% funded, and inching closer to a killer stretch goal to boot! If you haven't checked it out yet, now's the time!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
We're over 300% funded, and inching closer to a killer stretch goal to boot! If you haven't checked it out yet, now's the time!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lea...
There is nowhere near enough coverage of how extortionate font licensing firms are, specifically to game developers.
The last font we had to license even the representative for the licensing company effusively expressed how much they despised their superiors and loathed the business model.
Crooks.
The last font we had to license even the representative for the licensing company effusively expressed how much they despised their superiors and loathed the business model.
Crooks.
Monotype accused of overcharging Japanese devs for Japanese language fonts
Monotype accused of overcharging Japanese devs for Japanese language fonts
Fontworks' new US-owned parent company Monotype is charging $20,500 per year, up from $380.
www.gamedeveloper.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:42 PM
There is nowhere near enough coverage of how extortionate font licensing firms are, specifically to game developers.
The last font we had to license even the representative for the licensing company effusively expressed how much they despised their superiors and loathed the business model.
Crooks.
The last font we had to license even the representative for the licensing company effusively expressed how much they despised their superiors and loathed the business model.
Crooks.