Michael Cripe
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mikecripe.bsky.social
Michael Cripe
@mikecripe.bsky.social
820 followers 450 following 140 posts
Freelance reporter | ✍🏻 IGN, The Escapist, Kansas City's The Pitch, & More. Second Wind Contributor. Wild Rivers #2 fan. He/Him. Email: mcripe21@gmail.com.
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mikecripe.bsky.social
Michael Cripe @mikecripe.bsky.social · Feb 19
I'm on the hunt for more freelance work! Although I think I'm pretty flexible, I've got a list of strengths for you to keep in mind.

-Writing: news, reviews, previews, features, editing
-Video: reviews, previews, essays, editing

Reposts appreciated! Check out some of my work below🧵
Reposted by Michael Cripe
hypercubexl.bsky.social
🫡
photo of vince gilligan with a quote from variety: "AI is the world's most expensive and energy-intensive plagiarism machine. I think there's a very high possibility that this is all a bunch of horseshit." - Vince Gilligan on why he hates AI
November 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
mikecripe.bsky.social
I am not sure I can properly enjoy a video game unless I am given the freedom to control a Little Guy.
November 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM
mikecripe.bsky.social
ZOHRAN MAMDANI.
November 5, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
wario64.bsky.social
GODZILLA -0.0 (Godzilla Minus Zero) title reveal announced www.youtube.com/watch?v=msII...

VFX, Written, Directed by Takashi Yamazaki
Produced by TOHO CO., LTD.
Production: TOHO Studios / ROBOT
VFX: Shirogumi
November 3, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
stephentotilo.bsky.social
NEW: I spoke to original Halo devs about that ICE Halo post

One: "abhorrent”

Another: "Using Halo imagery in a call to ‘destroy’ people because of their immigration status goes way too far, and ought to offend every Halo fan, regardless of political orientation”

www.gamefile.news/p/halo-ice-d...
Halo co-creator says ICE’s Halo-themed recruitment ad “makes me sick”
Another Halo maker says ad "ought to offend every Halo fan, regardless of political orientation." ALSO: A developer whose game just launched on Xbox slams Microsoft’s silence
www.gamefile.news
October 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
alyssamerc.bsky.social
I reached out to The White House and asked about its use of AI-generated Halo imagery. White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai just responded to me, and it's insane.

I've removed the paywall. Please share and subscribe if you can.

www.patreon.com/posts/exclus...
[Exclusive] The White House Responds To Its Use of Halo Imagery: 'Yet Another War Ended Under President Trump's Watch' | Alyssa Mercante - Video Games, Internet Culture & More
Get more from Alyssa Mercante - Video Games, Internet Culture & More on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
epicswitzer.bsky.social
After 6 years with TheGamer, Valnet has decided to shut down features and lay off the entire team, including me.

I don't know what's next for me but I intend to stay in games, whether that's at another outlet, consulting, or PR. If you have any leads, I'd appreciate any help
October 22, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
blessingjr.bsky.social
Cowards and bigots
stephentotilo.bsky.social Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo.bsky.social · Oct 8
SCOOP: Last year, Ubisoft cancelled an Assassin's Creed game set during Reconstruction. Was to feature a Black Assassin who, among other things, fought the rise of the Klan

Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke

www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...
Scoop: Ubisoft cancelled a post-Civil War Assassin’s Creed last year
Company leadership deemed the project too controversial for the moment, sources tell Game File
www.gamefile.news
October 8, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
shineyezehuhh.bsky.social
Makoto Yukimura was worried that Vinland Saga's farming arc and "I have no enemies" moment was a gamble that readers wouldn't like. I told him about the J. Cole meme from the Kendrick Lamar and Drake rap beef. This is how he reacted.
o9: To give more color on that, Thorfinn’s famous declaration that he has “no enemies” has become a meme in the west—used affectionately, especially during the high-profile rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, through J.Cole reaction images in social media posts, and as a shorthand catchphrase in anime circles. How does it feel to see such a pivotal moment in your story take root in popular culture in this way? Yukimura: (Laughs) First of all, I feel very happy that it has turned into such a phenomenon—my work turning into a meme—because it means that my intention to make what I’m trying to say in the story into a short, compact sentence was successful. People won’t remember if it was a really long sentence or something very complicated. If “I have no enemies” has become a meme and people remember it, then maybe people will understand what I’m really trying to say through the story, which is that humans are immature, but we can mature. To become mature is to become kind. This is the foundation of what I’m trying to say, but it really has to be much shorter for people to remember. But it does give me hope that people remember these short phrases as memes. Then, one day, it will click in their mind what I was trying to really say in the first place.
October 7, 2025 at 8:43 PM
mikecripe.bsky.social
So long, Bowser.
nintendeal.com Nintendeal @nintendeal.com · Sep 25
Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser will retire on December 31, 2025

Devon Pritchard, currently the Executive Vice President of Revenue, Marketing & Consumer Experience, will become President of NoA effective January 1, 2026
September 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
mikecripe.bsky.social
September 23, 2025 at 6:16 AM
mikecripe.bsky.social
OK I'll watch Hacks.
September 15, 2025 at 6:05 PM
mikecripe.bsky.social
I sat down with Ripple Effect's Christian Buhl and Matthew Nickerson to talk all about how Battlefield Studios has spent the last few years preparing for the launch of Battlefield 6. You can see everything they had to say about playing on console, leaks, goofy skins, and more at @ign.com.
'Secretly Console First' – Ripple Effect Talks Building Battlefield 6 and Lessons Learned from Battlefield 2042 - IGN
We sat down with technical director Christian Buhl and senior console combat designer Matthew Nickerson to learn more about how BF Studios worked to shock life back into EA's classic shooter series wi...
www.ign.com
September 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
tomrmarks.bsky.social
For no reason in particular, reminder that now is always a great time to donate to Trans Lifeline if you have the means: translifeline.org/donate/
A screenshot of the Trans Lifeline website with the following text: Thank you for your gift You will soon receive a confirmation email to the account provided. We work hard to make sure that every dollar you give goes toward care and support for all trans people. We've logged thousands of hours of talk time on the hotline, and we've distributed over a million dollars to trans people with our microgrants. With your help, we will continue these lifesaving services until the day we are no longer needed.
September 12, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
marioprime.bsky.social
Cowards for not doing a Sunshine movie first. I want to see Mario go to JAIL.
September 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
rogue.site
Rogue.site is now a reality! Thank you to everyone along the way who helped make it possible.

If you like what you see, and want more of it. Consider pledging your support with a subscription. Your funds will go to support independent games journalism written by humans, for humans.
Rogue
Ad-free video game news, guides, opinions, history, culture, previews, interviews, and reviews written by humans, for humans
Rogue.site
September 2, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
alyssamerc.bsky.social
I am looking to chat with people who have been disparagingly featured in Zack “Asmongold” Hoyt’s content.

I would like to see how this affected you, especially if you can provide ample receipts and clear timelines. Please signal boost this anywhere you’d like, as I’m not on Twitter anymore.
September 2, 2025 at 1:16 PM
mikecripe.bsky.social
I met the wonderful Satoshi at Toadstool Cafe yesterday. He is the first (and likely last) person to ever pop quiz me on what “F.L.U.D.D.” stands for. Of course I had to get a picture with him.
#TeamSatoshi
Satoshi (left) and Michael (right) at the Toadstool Cafe.
August 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
ignunion.bsky.social
Ziff Davis and IGN routinely decide that work done by our laid off colleagues is not important. But inevitably, that crucial work falls onto those who remain.

Not this time. Not anymore.
FROM NOW UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH IGN CREATORS GUILD IS GOING TO... DO OUR JOB! OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IGN MANAGEMENT HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH LAYING OFF OUR COWORKERS OVER AND OVER. MEANWHILE, MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE LEFT THE COMPANY IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO BUYOUTS, OVERWORK, AND FEELING UNSUPPORTED, EACH TIME, THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO BACKFILL MANY ESSENTIAL ROLES, CLAIMING WE'RE ON A HIRING FREEZE, IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET, OR THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO LESS WORK THIS TIME. AS A RESULT, IGNCG MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TAKE ON MORE OF THEIR FORMER COLLEAGUES' WORKLOADS. MANY OF US NOW WORK LONGER HOURS THAN WE USED TO. A LOT OF US RARELY TAKE LUNCH BREAKS. SOME OF US DO NOT TAKE ADEQUATE TIME OFF DUE TO THERE BEING NO ONE TO PICK UP THE SLACK. OTHERS OF US ARE STUCK DOING WORK WE WERE NEVER HIRED TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE. UP TO THIS POINT, WE'VE ALL ACCEPTED THIS AS NORMAL, BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IGN AND THE WORK WE DO. BUT WITH SO MANY OF US STRUGGLING MORE AND MORE AS EACH NEW WAVE OF OUR COWORKERS ARE DEPRIVED OF A LIVELIHOOD, THIS CYCLE CAN'T CONTINUE. MANAGEMENT IS UNWILLING TO STOP IT, SO IT FALLS TO US. WITH THE LAYOFFS OF EIGHT OF OUR COWORKERS, IGNCG HAS NEGOTIATED A SIX-MONTH RECALL LIST. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, IF IGN WANTS TO FILL ANY OF THOSE ELIMINATED ROLES AGAIN, THEY MUST REHIRE OUR LAID-OFF COLLEAGUES. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR JOBS BACK IF THEY WANT THEM, AND IF NOT, WE WANT THOSE ROLES BACKFILLED TO EASE THE BURDEN ON THE REST OF US. SO STARTING TODAY, LENCE MEMBERS ARE COMMITTING TO DO OUR JOBS. NO MORE, NO LESS. WELL SHOW UP TO WORK ON TIME AND LEAVE ON TIME. WE'RE TAKING ALL OF OUR LUNCH TIME, EVERY DAY. IF WE WORK LATE, WE WILL FIRMLY ASK FOR OUR RIGHTFULLY EARNED COMP TIME. AND IF IGN WANTS OUR LAID-OFF COWORKERS' WORK TO GET DONE, THEY'LL HAVE TO REHIRE THEM TO DO IT INSTEAD OF FOISTING IT UPON US. HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT IGNCG IN ALL THIS? SHARE THIS POST, AND TELL IGN MANAGEMENT THAT Y…
August 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
mikecripe.bsky.social
I interviewed the narrative team at @gearboxofficial.bsky.social to learn more about Borderlands 4 and its more grounded story. There are so, so many details in here that I think Borderlands fans will love combing through.

My story for @ign.com -
August 25, 2025 at 3:45 PM
mikecripe.bsky.social
Putting silksong out in two weeks after years and years of no-shows is wild but obviously we’ve never been more back.
August 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
norainthefuture.tv
i do everything i can to create opportunity for moments like this so people can see there’s support for us out there in a time that support can sometimes seem scarce – this one is pretty special 🏳️‍⚧️
August 16, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
thatwitchmia.bsky.social
Guess it’s my turn to say that I was laid off at IGN. Real crummy birthday gift, to be honest, but my union fought like hell on my behalf and people came out of the woodwork to support me. Couldn’t be more moved by my colleagues & friends, and am devastated to lose a job and community I love. (1/3)
August 12, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
robmanuel.bsky.social
I am back on the job hunt.

Please let me know if you are looking for:
Events Management
Content Strategy
Scouting / Biz Dev
Producer for Live or Taped Segments
Someone to talk about indie games for hours

Please let me know and please share with others.
Contact cthuloops at gmail.com.

Thank you!
August 7, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by Michael Cripe
erikadams.bsky.social
But if you hear of any good jobs while I'm hooting and hollering on Batman: The Ride, email erikadamswrites@gmail.com.

And for a full archive of quality pop-culture writing from the past 17 years, visit erikmadams.com.
erikadams.bsky.social Erik Adams @erikadams.bsky.social · Aug 5
The search for the next thing begins tomorrow. Today: I'm riding roller coasters.
erikadams.bsky.social Erik Adams @erikadams.bsky.social · Aug 5
It's all still too fresh, and there's a lot of processing to do, but what's certain is that I'm glad my two years at IGN ended with a review of the new Naked Gun.
August 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM