David Gaider
@davidgaider.bsky.social
Co-founder and Creative Director at summerfallstudios.com. Canadian game dev who escaped the winter and is now living in Melbourne, Australia! He/Him
My favourite screen cap of @whatkatydid.bsky.social from the Summerfall Discord today. ❤️
October 29, 2025 at 6:28 AM
My favourite screen cap of @whatkatydid.bsky.social from the Summerfall Discord today. ❤️
And this culminated with an appearance by Our Dark Lady in Malys today. Because why not? 😅
To the real Sarah, should you ever see this: we're very sorry. We adore you. Your Summerfall shrine is kept tidy, I swear. ❤️
To the real Sarah, should you ever see this: we're very sorry. We adore you. Your Summerfall shrine is kept tidy, I swear. ❤️
October 23, 2025 at 11:48 PM
And this culminated with an appearance by Our Dark Lady in Malys today. Because why not? 😅
To the real Sarah, should you ever see this: we're very sorry. We adore you. Your Summerfall shrine is kept tidy, I swear. ❤️
To the real Sarah, should you ever see this: we're very sorry. We adore you. Your Summerfall shrine is kept tidy, I swear. ❤️
Our Dark Lady Sarah slowly got midnight black eyes and black tears... and then Benjamin Ee gifted us one month with a lovely painting to go above our Dark Lady Sarah altars.
October 23, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Our Dark Lady Sarah slowly got midnight black eyes and black tears... and then Benjamin Ee gifted us one month with a lovely painting to go above our Dark Lady Sarah altars.
Then someone googled "Sarah" and, I swear, grabbed the pic of a random named Sarah - and she became Our Dark Lady Sarah. Every time we made a decision, we'd all intone "Praise Sarah" or "Praise our Dark Lady Sarah".
I think this is a real person, somewhere. I suspect she would be very confused.
I think this is a real person, somewhere. I suspect she would be very confused.
October 23, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Then someone googled "Sarah" and, I swear, grabbed the pic of a random named Sarah - and she became Our Dark Lady Sarah. Every time we made a decision, we'd all intone "Praise Sarah" or "Praise our Dark Lady Sarah".
I think this is a real person, somewhere. I suspect she would be very confused.
I think this is a real person, somewhere. I suspect she would be very confused.
This is my happy place.
September 26, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This is my happy place.
Finally received the Australian Writers Guild award for 2024, and gosh its kinda pretty. 🥰
May 26, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Finally received the Australian Writers Guild award for 2024, and gosh its kinda pretty. 🥰
I got a lot of characters from shows I don't watch, but mostly? Yes, I am primarily a nerd. Very insightful, quiz. You got me. 😅
May 20, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I got a lot of characters from shows I don't watch, but mostly? Yes, I am primarily a nerd. Very insightful, quiz. You got me. 😅
Had the last session of our 3 1/2 year D&D campaign today, an epilogue to wrap it all up. My players bought me this beautiful laser-cut DM board as a thank you present. Which… I had to find by following a bunch of clues. 😄
May 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Had the last session of our 3 1/2 year D&D campaign today, an epilogue to wrap it all up. My players bought me this beautiful laser-cut DM board as a thank you present. Which… I had to find by following a bunch of clues. 😄
wait what
are you kidding me?!? 😱
are you kidding me?!? 😱
May 16, 2025 at 5:56 AM
wait what
are you kidding me?!? 😱
are you kidding me?!? 😱
This was due in large part to Elie, who was now on board as a co-founder. They wanted to help the industry grow in Australia, you see, and saw our studio as a great start to that. I'll always be eternally grateful for their confidence, as honestly? Without them Summerfall wouldn't be here either.
April 25, 2025 at 5:44 AM
This was due in large part to Elie, who was now on board as a co-founder. They wanted to help the industry grow in Australia, you see, and saw our studio as a great start to that. I'll always be eternally grateful for their confidence, as honestly? Without them Summerfall wouldn't be here either.
Another bit of serendipity: Liam was off at GDC lining up early meetings with publishers, and through a friend word of our interactive musical reached Austin Wintory.
Austin had been toying with an idea for a game with interactive music already, so when he heard this he was eager to get in contact.
Austin had been toying with an idea for a game with interactive music already, so when he heard this he was eager to get in contact.
April 25, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Another bit of serendipity: Liam was off at GDC lining up early meetings with publishers, and through a friend word of our interactive musical reached Austin Wintory.
Austin had been toying with an idea for a game with interactive music already, so when he heard this he was eager to get in contact.
Austin had been toying with an idea for a game with interactive music already, so when he heard this he was eager to get in contact.
Fortunately, the grant meant we could get office space and hire some key staff. Among them: Troy Ferguson, our chief engineer, and Benjamin Ee, our lead artist. Both of them are amazing people I'm lucky to work with still and, man, what a relief to have skills other than writing on the team now. 😅
April 25, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Fortunately, the grant meant we could get office space and hire some key staff. Among them: Troy Ferguson, our chief engineer, and Benjamin Ee, our lead artist. Both of them are amazing people I'm lucky to work with still and, man, what a relief to have skills other than writing on the team now. 😅
On the work front, the game idea was coming along. We had a plan for a story involving Greek gods - initially called "Idols" and then later "Chorus". Film Victoria was delighted by our pitch and they eventually agreed to give us a grant. Honestly, without them? Summerfall would never have happened.
April 25, 2025 at 5:37 AM
On the work front, the game idea was coming along. We had a plan for a story involving Greek gods - initially called "Idols" and then later "Chorus". Film Victoria was delighted by our pitch and they eventually agreed to give us a grant. Honestly, without them? Summerfall would never have happened.
The Road to Summerfall - Part 6
Picture it: it's early 2018 and I'm returning to Melbourne again. As I walk out of the airport, it's a blistering 40C outside - it was -25C in Edmonton when I left. I'm jet-lagged, delirious, packed for a long stay, and wondering "how the f is this going to work?"
Picture it: it's early 2018 and I'm returning to Melbourne again. As I walk out of the airport, it's a blistering 40C outside - it was -25C in Edmonton when I left. I'm jet-lagged, delirious, packed for a long stay, and wondering "how the f is this going to work?"
April 25, 2025 at 5:32 AM
The Road to Summerfall - Part 6
Picture it: it's early 2018 and I'm returning to Melbourne again. As I walk out of the airport, it's a blistering 40C outside - it was -25C in Edmonton when I left. I'm jet-lagged, delirious, packed for a long stay, and wondering "how the f is this going to work?"
Picture it: it's early 2018 and I'm returning to Melbourne again. As I walk out of the airport, it's a blistering 40C outside - it was -25C in Edmonton when I left. I'm jet-lagged, delirious, packed for a long stay, and wondering "how the f is this going to work?"
The Road To Summerfall - Part 5
So here I was, headed to GCAP in Melbourne in late October of 2017 - on my birthday, in fact. Liam wasn't going to have time to chat during the conference, as he was running it, but I was also attending Pax Australia on the weekend. So we'd get a chance to talk then.
So here I was, headed to GCAP in Melbourne in late October of 2017 - on my birthday, in fact. Liam wasn't going to have time to chat during the conference, as he was running it, but I was also attending Pax Australia on the weekend. So we'd get a chance to talk then.
April 19, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The Road To Summerfall - Part 5
So here I was, headed to GCAP in Melbourne in late October of 2017 - on my birthday, in fact. Liam wasn't going to have time to chat during the conference, as he was running it, but I was also attending Pax Australia on the weekend. So we'd get a chance to talk then.
So here I was, headed to GCAP in Melbourne in late October of 2017 - on my birthday, in fact. Liam wasn't going to have time to chat during the conference, as he was running it, but I was also attending Pax Australia on the weekend. So we'd get a chance to talk then.
You know that meme, with the horse drawing that starts off amazing and then turns into a stick figure? Well, that in reverse is the Wheel of Time, for me.
To be fair, S1 wasn't stick-figure worthy. Just mediocre, like a budget series from 2001. S2 was great. But S3? I just finished it and... wow. 😍
To be fair, S1 wasn't stick-figure worthy. Just mediocre, like a budget series from 2001. S2 was great. But S3? I just finished it and... wow. 😍
April 17, 2025 at 10:19 AM
You know that meme, with the horse drawing that starts off amazing and then turns into a stick figure? Well, that in reverse is the Wheel of Time, for me.
To be fair, S1 wasn't stick-figure worthy. Just mediocre, like a budget series from 2001. S2 was great. But S3? I just finished it and... wow. 😍
To be fair, S1 wasn't stick-figure worthy. Just mediocre, like a budget series from 2001. S2 was great. But S3? I just finished it and... wow. 😍
The Road to Summerfall - Part 4
I need to back up the timeline a bit. Remember when I left BioWare at the start of 2016, I said "within a year, I was on my way"?
Technically, I was *already* on my way. I just couldn't have known it at the time. And it started with my trip to GaymerX3 in San Jose.
I need to back up the timeline a bit. Remember when I left BioWare at the start of 2016, I said "within a year, I was on my way"?
Technically, I was *already* on my way. I just couldn't have known it at the time. And it started with my trip to GaymerX3 in San Jose.
April 17, 2025 at 4:45 AM
The Road to Summerfall - Part 4
I need to back up the timeline a bit. Remember when I left BioWare at the start of 2016, I said "within a year, I was on my way"?
Technically, I was *already* on my way. I just couldn't have known it at the time. And it started with my trip to GaymerX3 in San Jose.
I need to back up the timeline a bit. Remember when I left BioWare at the start of 2016, I said "within a year, I was on my way"?
Technically, I was *already* on my way. I just couldn't have known it at the time. And it started with my trip to GaymerX3 in San Jose.
The Road to Summerfall - Part 3
I haven't talked a lot about the two years I spent at Beamdog (between 2016 and 2018) mainly because, well, ultimately nothing came of it. I worked on two projects, both of which ended up cancelled. Still, I think the time I spent there was ultimately worthwhile.
I haven't talked a lot about the two years I spent at Beamdog (between 2016 and 2018) mainly because, well, ultimately nothing came of it. I worked on two projects, both of which ended up cancelled. Still, I think the time I spent there was ultimately worthwhile.
April 15, 2025 at 1:48 AM
The Road to Summerfall - Part 3
I haven't talked a lot about the two years I spent at Beamdog (between 2016 and 2018) mainly because, well, ultimately nothing came of it. I worked on two projects, both of which ended up cancelled. Still, I think the time I spent there was ultimately worthwhile.
I haven't talked a lot about the two years I spent at Beamdog (between 2016 and 2018) mainly because, well, ultimately nothing came of it. I worked on two projects, both of which ended up cancelled. Still, I think the time I spent there was ultimately worthwhile.
The Road to Summerfall - Part 2
I guess the best place to start is with leaving BioWare. Right off the bat, I'll say I enjoyed working there - a lot. Until I didn't. I started in 1999 with BG2 and ended in 2016, 2 years after shipping DAI and after spending a year on the game which became Anthem.
I guess the best place to start is with leaving BioWare. Right off the bat, I'll say I enjoyed working there - a lot. Until I didn't. I started in 1999 with BG2 and ended in 2016, 2 years after shipping DAI and after spending a year on the game which became Anthem.
April 14, 2025 at 4:29 AM
The Road to Summerfall - Part 2
I guess the best place to start is with leaving BioWare. Right off the bat, I'll say I enjoyed working there - a lot. Until I didn't. I started in 1999 with BG2 and ended in 2016, 2 years after shipping DAI and after spending a year on the game which became Anthem.
I guess the best place to start is with leaving BioWare. Right off the bat, I'll say I enjoyed working there - a lot. Until I didn't. I started in 1999 with BG2 and ended in 2016, 2 years after shipping DAI and after spending a year on the game which became Anthem.
The Road to Summerfall - Part 1
I spoke to a friend recently, and the subject of the games industry and all the recent layoffs came up. He said, "I guess there's going to be a lot of new studios starting up, then!" ...to which I gave him my best Cassandra snort, as that's a ridiculous thing to say.
I spoke to a friend recently, and the subject of the games industry and all the recent layoffs came up. He said, "I guess there's going to be a lot of new studios starting up, then!" ...to which I gave him my best Cassandra snort, as that's a ridiculous thing to say.
April 13, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The Road to Summerfall - Part 1
I spoke to a friend recently, and the subject of the games industry and all the recent layoffs came up. He said, "I guess there's going to be a lot of new studios starting up, then!" ...to which I gave him my best Cassandra snort, as that's a ridiculous thing to say.
I spoke to a friend recently, and the subject of the games industry and all the recent layoffs came up. He said, "I guess there's going to be a lot of new studios starting up, then!" ...to which I gave him my best Cassandra snort, as that's a ridiculous thing to say.
The first rounds of the fight, the players have been fighting against their nemesis' allies. They're holding their own. Then the first extra group arrives: the demilich Iriolarthas, who the party started to work with earlier but then screwed him over and destroyed his phylactery. He's pissed.
April 6, 2025 at 10:08 AM
The first rounds of the fight, the players have been fighting against their nemesis' allies. They're holding their own. Then the first extra group arrives: the demilich Iriolarthas, who the party started to work with earlier but then screwed him over and destroyed his phylactery. He's pissed.
Had one of those DM moments during tonight's climactic final battle in our D&D game: do I fudge my roll for drama's sake, or let the players get away with something completely unexpected, which unravels my whole plan?
April 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Had one of those DM moments during tonight's climactic final battle in our D&D game: do I fudge my roll for drama's sake, or let the players get away with something completely unexpected, which unravels my whole plan?
Three hours of printing out and pasting together this bad boy, along with all the counters I need for the enemies, and I think I'm finally ready for the final battle tomorrow. The end of a 3-year D&D campaign, here we come!
April 5, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Three hours of printing out and pasting together this bad boy, along with all the counters I need for the enemies, and I think I'm finally ready for the final battle tomorrow. The end of a 3-year D&D campaign, here we come!
visual representation:
April 4, 2025 at 3:09 AM
visual representation:
Now, these pics are not my miniatures. I've only a few left now, but I went to TOWN. I bought so many. I even picked up Blood Bowl halflings (since I could now) and modded them. Had a halfling hero I added onto a pegasus. This was my glorious "I paint miniatures" nerd era, all to create this army.
March 16, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Now, these pics are not my miniatures. I've only a few left now, but I went to TOWN. I bought so many. I even picked up Blood Bowl halflings (since I could now) and modded them. Had a halfling hero I added onto a pegasus. This was my glorious "I paint miniatures" nerd era, all to create this army.