James Montagna
@jpop.bsky.social
WayForward Game Director — Advance Wars (Nintendo), Shantae, Vitamin Connection |
the Willy Wonka of games
@JamesPopStar other places | follow if you like
the Willy Wonka of games
@JamesPopStar other places | follow if you like
THANK YOU SAKURAI — you made a lifelong dream come true!! 💙💗
20 years ago, I was a teen when we met for the first time. I worked up the courage to ask: “Please consider making Lololo & Lalala playable someday!”
Two decades later…you actually did it. Lololo & Lalala are here — in Kirby Air Riders.
20 years ago, I was a teen when we met for the first time. I worked up the courage to ask: “Please consider making Lololo & Lalala playable someday!”
Two decades later…you actually did it. Lololo & Lalala are here — in Kirby Air Riders.
October 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
THANK YOU SAKURAI — you made a lifelong dream come true!! 💙💗
20 years ago, I was a teen when we met for the first time. I worked up the courage to ask: “Please consider making Lololo & Lalala playable someday!”
Two decades later…you actually did it. Lololo & Lalala are here — in Kirby Air Riders.
20 years ago, I was a teen when we met for the first time. I worked up the courage to ask: “Please consider making Lololo & Lalala playable someday!”
Two decades later…you actually did it. Lololo & Lalala are here — in Kirby Air Riders.
Always viewed Tomonobu Itagaki as someone who embodied fearless creation-- chaotic, bold, free. He unapologetically made *exactly* what he wanted to
He may gone, but that fire still burns in the creators he’s inspired. His influence endures
He may gone, but that fire still burns in the creators he’s inspired. His influence endures
October 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Always viewed Tomonobu Itagaki as someone who embodied fearless creation-- chaotic, bold, free. He unapologetically made *exactly* what he wanted to
He may gone, but that fire still burns in the creators he’s inspired. His influence endures
He may gone, but that fire still burns in the creators he’s inspired. His influence endures
Mister Donut retro donut recipes return for anniversary
October 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Mister Donut retro donut recipes return for anniversary
meet you in the sports lot, items are on
October 6, 2025 at 11:04 PM
meet you in the sports lot, items are on
was riding the bus and came up with a character named Robot Lemon
actually, I didn’t invent Robot Lemon — he was always there and just waiting for me to notice
actually, I didn’t invent Robot Lemon — he was always there and just waiting for me to notice
October 2, 2025 at 2:26 AM
was riding the bus and came up with a character named Robot Lemon
actually, I didn’t invent Robot Lemon — he was always there and just waiting for me to notice
actually, I didn’t invent Robot Lemon — he was always there and just waiting for me to notice
Just got the new Shantae Swimsuit Special 2025 and every page is a lightning strike to my mind…
Shantae art never fails to fuel me with raw artistic combustion and the drive to create things
Shantae art never fails to fuel me with raw artistic combustion and the drive to create things
September 20, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Just got the new Shantae Swimsuit Special 2025 and every page is a lightning strike to my mind…
Shantae art never fails to fuel me with raw artistic combustion and the drive to create things
Shantae art never fails to fuel me with raw artistic combustion and the drive to create things
FREE issue of NF Magazine (today only)!
There's an excellent Super Mario retrospective AND you get a very fun interview (pg. 63) where I reveal my secret origin story while also talking about Super Mario; there's a lot of Mario going on here really
Anyway, go nab it before they make it not free ⭐
There's an excellent Super Mario retrospective AND you get a very fun interview (pg. 63) where I reveal my secret origin story while also talking about Super Mario; there's a lot of Mario going on here really
Anyway, go nab it before they make it not free ⭐
September 13, 2025 at 7:48 PM
FREE issue of NF Magazine (today only)!
There's an excellent Super Mario retrospective AND you get a very fun interview (pg. 63) where I reveal my secret origin story while also talking about Super Mario; there's a lot of Mario going on here really
Anyway, go nab it before they make it not free ⭐
There's an excellent Super Mario retrospective AND you get a very fun interview (pg. 63) where I reveal my secret origin story while also talking about Super Mario; there's a lot of Mario going on here really
Anyway, go nab it before they make it not free ⭐
Who knew it would be a rare treasure; a foretelling
So wrong in every sense
So wrong in every sense
September 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Who knew it would be a rare treasure; a foretelling
So wrong in every sense
So wrong in every sense
!!! BABY WALUIGI IS EXIST
I am gonna throw up. How dare I feel paternal instinct for this stupid baby
I am gonna throw up. How dare I feel paternal instinct for this stupid baby
September 12, 2025 at 2:34 PM
!!! BABY WALUIGI IS EXIST
I am gonna throw up. How dare I feel paternal instinct for this stupid baby
I am gonna throw up. How dare I feel paternal instinct for this stupid baby
Wii U development hardware ran on its own little “sandbox” ecosystem. Back then I’d just toss random usernames into the friend search to see what popped up… and stumbled across a very important one
August 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Wii U development hardware ran on its own little “sandbox” ecosystem. Back then I’d just toss random usernames into the friend search to see what popped up… and stumbled across a very important one
Happy Kirby & Shantae day!!
The return of Kirby Air Ride with the Kirby Air Riders Direct…
And after 20+ years, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is finally out TODAY.
Historic milestone day for game dreams coming true ☆
Hope you’ll enjoy the new Shantae game; I’d love to hear if you pick it up!
The return of Kirby Air Ride with the Kirby Air Riders Direct…
And after 20+ years, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is finally out TODAY.
Historic milestone day for game dreams coming true ☆
Hope you’ll enjoy the new Shantae game; I’d love to hear if you pick it up!
August 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Happy Kirby & Shantae day!!
The return of Kirby Air Ride with the Kirby Air Riders Direct…
And after 20+ years, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is finally out TODAY.
Historic milestone day for game dreams coming true ☆
Hope you’ll enjoy the new Shantae game; I’d love to hear if you pick it up!
The return of Kirby Air Ride with the Kirby Air Riders Direct…
And after 20+ years, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is finally out TODAY.
Historic milestone day for game dreams coming true ☆
Hope you’ll enjoy the new Shantae game; I’d love to hear if you pick it up!
Dreamt Kirby Air Ride had a vocal theme. Then, woke up at 6am, just in time for the Direct to start… and it actually opened with singing. Instantly felt electric chills.
The game is stunning!!
The game is stunning!!
August 19, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Dreamt Kirby Air Ride had a vocal theme. Then, woke up at 6am, just in time for the Direct to start… and it actually opened with singing. Instantly felt electric chills.
The game is stunning!!
The game is stunning!!
cashier said “enjoy your bawls” and i said “you too” and now i can’t go back there
July 17, 2025 at 1:38 AM
cashier said “enjoy your bawls” and i said “you too” and now i can’t go back there
Satoru Iwata reflected on technology leaving people “alone together”—side-by-side, yet isolated
His answer: dokusou (独創), creating something unique. Especially that which brings joy + connection
10 years after his passing, I think he’d be proud of how Nintendo still brings us together
His answer: dokusou (独創), creating something unique. Especially that which brings joy + connection
10 years after his passing, I think he’d be proud of how Nintendo still brings us together
July 11, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Satoru Iwata reflected on technology leaving people “alone together”—side-by-side, yet isolated
His answer: dokusou (独創), creating something unique. Especially that which brings joy + connection
10 years after his passing, I think he’d be proud of how Nintendo still brings us together
His answer: dokusou (独創), creating something unique. Especially that which brings joy + connection
10 years after his passing, I think he’d be proud of how Nintendo still brings us together
it’s the 4th of july in japan too
July 4, 2025 at 4:24 AM
it’s the 4th of july in japan too
“Where you were touched”…
June 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
“Where you were touched”…
GameStop I worked at 18 years ago (during Wii launch) has shut down for good.
I’ll never forget the time a confused woman came asking for the DS game her son wanted. She declared audibly, with sincerity:
“I’m looking for… Where you were touched?”
(see replies for the game…)
I’ll never forget the time a confused woman came asking for the DS game her son wanted. She declared audibly, with sincerity:
“I’m looking for… Where you were touched?”
(see replies for the game…)
June 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
GameStop I worked at 18 years ago (during Wii launch) has shut down for good.
I’ll never forget the time a confused woman came asking for the DS game her son wanted. She declared audibly, with sincerity:
“I’m looking for… Where you were touched?”
(see replies for the game…)
I’ll never forget the time a confused woman came asking for the DS game her son wanted. She declared audibly, with sincerity:
“I’m looking for… Where you were touched?”
(see replies for the game…)
That moment when Donkey Kong did the thing
June 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
That moment when Donkey Kong did the thing
“As every game developer understands, the three basic food groups are Fritos, Cheetos, and Doritos.” — Satoru Iwata
June 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
“As every game developer understands, the three basic food groups are Fritos, Cheetos, and Doritos.” — Satoru Iwata
searched a font and the Google results put on its Sunday best
(it’s a fun and real Easter Egg — if it’s in Google Fonts, the page styles itself in that font)
(it’s a fun and real Easter Egg — if it’s in Google Fonts, the page styles itself in that font)
June 14, 2025 at 1:16 AM
searched a font and the Google results put on its Sunday best
(it’s a fun and real Easter Egg — if it’s in Google Fonts, the page styles itself in that font)
(it’s a fun and real Easter Egg — if it’s in Google Fonts, the page styles itself in that font)
Important decisions made
June 13, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Important decisions made
breaking news from California
June 12, 2025 at 4:34 AM
breaking news from California
Today I’m joining the roundtable on METROIDVANIA games (like Yars Rising) at PAX East
I promise to finally answer urgent questions such as “Why”, “How dare you”, and “What button does the shoot thing”
Streaming live: Twitch.tv/PAX @ 2pm EDT 🖥️
Drop in & let’s celebrate games!
I promise to finally answer urgent questions such as “Why”, “How dare you”, and “What button does the shoot thing”
Streaming live: Twitch.tv/PAX @ 2pm EDT 🖥️
Drop in & let’s celebrate games!
May 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Today I’m joining the roundtable on METROIDVANIA games (like Yars Rising) at PAX East
I promise to finally answer urgent questions such as “Why”, “How dare you”, and “What button does the shoot thing”
Streaming live: Twitch.tv/PAX @ 2pm EDT 🖥️
Drop in & let’s celebrate games!
I promise to finally answer urgent questions such as “Why”, “How dare you”, and “What button does the shoot thing”
Streaming live: Twitch.tv/PAX @ 2pm EDT 🖥️
Drop in & let’s celebrate games!