Noah Wardrip-Fruin
@n-w-f.bsky.social
UC Santa Cruz professor; makes/studies games, elit, AI, etc; co-editor MIT Press Software Studies series; parent; Quaker; Henson/Muppet fan; disabled; he/him
New book on Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the U Chicago Press Replay series
New book on Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the U Chicago Press Replay series
Pinned
ICYMI, my new book on Animal Crossing: New Horizons is 30% off (w/ free shipping)
It's a scholarly book, looking at ACNH through lenses like craft, compulsion, and community. It's also a personal book, about playing with my kids during the pandemic
More details: press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/vi...
It's a scholarly book, looking at ACNH through lenses like craft, compulsion, and community. It's also a personal book, about playing with my kids during the pandemic
More details: press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/vi...
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
My work concerning the use of LLMs for authoring interactive narrative has just been published in Transactions on Games! We explore if LLMs could produce writing for IDNs, and if we SHOULD use LLMs in this creative writing from perspectives of actual authors. I'll let you explore our findings :)
"[Writers] preferred inspiration outside generated content and did not find the proposed collaborative work with LLMs enjoyable or fulfilling."
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/112...
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/112...
Could vs Should: Exploring Prompting Strategies and Writer Perspectives Towards LLM Assistance in Storylet Authoring
Large Language Models (LLMs) and procedural narrative practices have grown significantly over the past few years, but there are many questions about their newfound capabilities. In the context of vide...
ieeexplore.ieee.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM
My work concerning the use of LLMs for authoring interactive narrative has just been published in Transactions on Games! We explore if LLMs could produce writing for IDNs, and if we SHOULD use LLMs in this creative writing from perspectives of actual authors. I'll let you explore our findings :)
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Haven't read the paper yet but in my experience LLM is just terrible at picking up what makes writers actually proud of their work like proses, themes and very tailored moments of obfuscation and reveal. Glad there's a study on it now!
"[Writers] preferred inspiration outside generated content and did not find the proposed collaborative work with LLMs enjoyable or fulfilling."
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/112...
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/112...
Could vs Should: Exploring Prompting Strategies and Writer Perspectives Towards LLM Assistance in Storylet Authoring
Large Language Models (LLMs) and procedural narrative practices have grown significantly over the past few years, but there are many questions about their newfound capabilities. In the context of vide...
ieeexplore.ieee.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Haven't read the paper yet but in my experience LLM is just terrible at picking up what makes writers actually proud of their work like proses, themes and very tailored moments of obfuscation and reveal. Glad there's a study on it now!
"[Writers] preferred inspiration outside generated content and did not find the proposed collaborative work with LLMs enjoyable or fulfilling."
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/112...
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/112...
Could vs Should: Exploring Prompting Strategies and Writer Perspectives Towards LLM Assistance in Storylet Authoring
Large Language Models (LLMs) and procedural narrative practices have grown significantly over the past few years, but there are many questions about their newfound capabilities. In the context of vide...
ieeexplore.ieee.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
"[Writers] preferred inspiration outside generated content and did not find the proposed collaborative work with LLMs enjoyable or fulfilling."
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/112...
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/112...
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
okay, seriously: if we were to corral this, would anyone be interested in contributing? Here is the google form:
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
November 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
okay, seriously: if we were to corral this, would anyone be interested in contributing? Here is the google form:
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
I'm honored to be included in this exciting collection of new university press books!
#TeamUP and #ReadUP in the arts, performing arts & media studies with works by @uchicagopress.bsky.social, @n-w-f.bsky.social, @cmupress.bsky.social, @nupress.bsky.social & more in the #UPWeek Gallery https://bit.ly/3WTl7XD
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I'm honored to be included in this exciting collection of new university press books!
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
#TeamUP and #ReadUP in the arts, performing arts & media studies with works by @uchicagopress.bsky.social, @n-w-f.bsky.social, @cmupress.bsky.social, @nupress.bsky.social & more in the #UPWeek Gallery https://bit.ly/3WTl7XD
November 10, 2025 at 4:45 PM
#TeamUP and #ReadUP in the arts, performing arts & media studies with works by @uchicagopress.bsky.social, @n-w-f.bsky.social, @cmupress.bsky.social, @nupress.bsky.social & more in the #UPWeek Gallery https://bit.ly/3WTl7XD
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
OPPORTUNITY! Creative Assembly - UK - Principal Narrative Designer
Not affiliated. Shares welcome!
www.creative-assembly.com/careers/view...
Not affiliated. Shares welcome!
www.creative-assembly.com/careers/view...
Principal Narrative Designer | Creative Assembly
As a Principal Narrative Designer, you will be tasked with creating and implementing engaging dialogue and compelling characters. You will craft the game's narrative journey while collaborating with t...
www.creative-assembly.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:26 AM
OPPORTUNITY! Creative Assembly - UK - Principal Narrative Designer
Not affiliated. Shares welcome!
www.creative-assembly.com/careers/view...
Not affiliated. Shares welcome!
www.creative-assembly.com/careers/view...
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Reposting! Do you know someone working at the intersection of Interactive Art, Performance, and Games? We’re hiring!
Spread the word! We have an open Assistant Professor search in my department of Performance, Play & Design, which combines Theater, Dance, and Games faculty in the Arts Division at UCSC. This position would teach in our Art and Design: Games and Playable Media BA program. recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01998
Assistant Professor of Interactive Art, Performance & Games (Initial Review Date 11/14/25)
University of California, Santa Cruz is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ucsc.edu
October 2, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposting! Do you know someone working at the intersection of Interactive Art, Performance, and Games? We’re hiring!
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Here We GO! Come along, my dearies!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Here We GO! Come along, my dearies!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Bribing people to donate to @ucscmonsters.bsky.social
. We’re raising money for the 2026 Festival of Monsters and the $ is matched. So, if you would like me to make you an emotional support ghost, donate $30+ and send proof/address to ucscmonsters at gmail and I’ll make you one! bit.ly/monstergive
. We’re raising money for the 2026 Festival of Monsters and the $ is matched. So, if you would like me to make you an emotional support ghost, donate $30+ and send proof/address to ucscmonsters at gmail and I’ll make you one! bit.ly/monstergive
November 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Bribing people to donate to @ucscmonsters.bsky.social
. We’re raising money for the 2026 Festival of Monsters and the $ is matched. So, if you would like me to make you an emotional support ghost, donate $30+ and send proof/address to ucscmonsters at gmail and I’ll make you one! bit.ly/monstergive
. We’re raising money for the 2026 Festival of Monsters and the $ is matched. So, if you would like me to make you an emotional support ghost, donate $30+ and send proof/address to ucscmonsters at gmail and I’ll make you one! bit.ly/monstergive
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Bring the 2026 Festival of Monsters to life! It's Giving Day at UC Santa Cruz and monster matches magically turn $1 into $2. bit.ly/monstergive Your support means the monsters live to lecture another day, #give2ucsc @dsas #monsters
November 5, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Bring the 2026 Festival of Monsters to life! It's Giving Day at UC Santa Cruz and monster matches magically turn $1 into $2. bit.ly/monstergive Your support means the monsters live to lecture another day, #give2ucsc @dsas #monsters
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
👻 Happy Halloween!
What better time to discover the inaugural volume in Lever Press's film|minutes book series?:
'Bride of Frankenstein' by @shanedenson.bsky.social dissects the 1935 classic through sound, technology, and time itself minute-by-minute.🎃 🍿
bit.ly/3JzEdPr
@leverpress.bsky.social
What better time to discover the inaugural volume in Lever Press's film|minutes book series?:
'Bride of Frankenstein' by @shanedenson.bsky.social dissects the 1935 classic through sound, technology, and time itself minute-by-minute.🎃 🍿
bit.ly/3JzEdPr
@leverpress.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 2:16 PM
👻 Happy Halloween!
What better time to discover the inaugural volume in Lever Press's film|minutes book series?:
'Bride of Frankenstein' by @shanedenson.bsky.social dissects the 1935 classic through sound, technology, and time itself minute-by-minute.🎃 🍿
bit.ly/3JzEdPr
@leverpress.bsky.social
What better time to discover the inaugural volume in Lever Press's film|minutes book series?:
'Bride of Frankenstein' by @shanedenson.bsky.social dissects the 1935 classic through sound, technology, and time itself minute-by-minute.🎃 🍿
bit.ly/3JzEdPr
@leverpress.bsky.social
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Call for Papers! The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Chrono Trigger – Play Story Press
playstorypress.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Come work with me!
We've opened the search for a full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Game Arts at Pratt Institute.
A good match would be an artist, game developer, or educator with an active creative practice in indie games, game studies and theory, playful coding, or art games.
We've opened the search for a full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Game Arts at Pratt Institute.
A good match would be an artist, game developer, or educator with an active creative practice in indie games, game studies and theory, playful coding, or art games.
Assistant Professor Digital Arts, Game Arts 2026 (71102)
The Department of Digital Arts at Pratt Institute invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in Game Arts at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning in Fall 2026. The successful ca...
www.schooljobs.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Come work with me!
We've opened the search for a full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Game Arts at Pratt Institute.
A good match would be an artist, game developer, or educator with an active creative practice in indie games, game studies and theory, playful coding, or art games.
We've opened the search for a full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Game Arts at Pratt Institute.
A good match would be an artist, game developer, or educator with an active creative practice in indie games, game studies and theory, playful coding, or art games.
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
In happier news: for Critical Inquiry, I reviewed @hagenblix.bsky.social and Ingeborg Glimmer’s WHY WE FEAR AI, which has just lately been catching some deserved hotness. 🔥 Read my take here: criticalinquiry.uchicago.edu/matthew_kirs...
Critical Inquiry
A journal of Art, Culture and Politics, Published by the University of Chicago
criticalinquiry.uchicago.edu
October 30, 2025 at 10:18 PM
In happier news: for Critical Inquiry, I reviewed @hagenblix.bsky.social and Ingeborg Glimmer’s WHY WE FEAR AI, which has just lately been catching some deserved hotness. 🔥 Read my take here: criticalinquiry.uchicago.edu/matthew_kirs...
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
The Video Game History Expansion Pack – Pitch your story
Today I’m putting my money where my mouth is and launching a new project — a book focused on game history outside of the usual North American perspectives.
crpgbook.wordpress.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:11 PM
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
We’re playing the Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival tomorrow! 🎃
And we've got a SPECIAL GUEST...
Join us LIVE this Thursday on Twitch as we play with the game’s CREATOR, @adamgryu.bsky.social at 8:30pm EST for a fun Halloween hangout full of ghosts, pumpkins & secrets!
✨Follow on Twitch buff.ly/JFTqgrY
And we've got a SPECIAL GUEST...
Join us LIVE this Thursday on Twitch as we play with the game’s CREATOR, @adamgryu.bsky.social at 8:30pm EST for a fun Halloween hangout full of ghosts, pumpkins & secrets!
✨Follow on Twitch buff.ly/JFTqgrY
October 29, 2025 at 10:00 PM
We’re playing the Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival tomorrow! 🎃
And we've got a SPECIAL GUEST...
Join us LIVE this Thursday on Twitch as we play with the game’s CREATOR, @adamgryu.bsky.social at 8:30pm EST for a fun Halloween hangout full of ghosts, pumpkins & secrets!
✨Follow on Twitch buff.ly/JFTqgrY
And we've got a SPECIAL GUEST...
Join us LIVE this Thursday on Twitch as we play with the game’s CREATOR, @adamgryu.bsky.social at 8:30pm EST for a fun Halloween hangout full of ghosts, pumpkins & secrets!
✨Follow on Twitch buff.ly/JFTqgrY
Today Nintendo announced a Switch 2 and 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Why would they make a major new update for a game more than five years old? Why would they bet on nostalgia for something from the Covid-19 pandemic?
www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/...
www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/...
Animal Crossing: New Horizons sails ashore with a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and free content update Jan. 15 - News - Nintendo Official Site
Ahoy! New things are en route to your island getaway, whether you’re planning to arrive on these shores for the first time, or already a seasoned Island Resident. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons – N...
www.nintendo.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Today Nintendo announced a Switch 2 and 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Why would they make a major new update for a game more than five years old? Why would they bet on nostalgia for something from the Covid-19 pandemic?
www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/...
www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/...
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
*Three* sandbox islands per player?!! We’re so back
a close up of a cartoon character 's face with the words get on animal crossing below it
Alt: The villager from animal Crossing glitches out into a slightly spooky, but definitely excited blur. The text reads “get on animal crossing”.
media.tenor.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
*Three* sandbox islands per player?!! We’re so back
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Just yesterday I was talking about starting a new Animal Crossing island and wondering what that said about the state of my mental health, and now Nintendo are full on enabling me
Nintendo has announced it's reviving Animal Crossing: New Horizons early next year with a new Switch 2 Edition, a major content update for all players - including a new on-island Resort Hotel - and a special Lego collaboration. https://bit.ly/4qOGJ5o
October 30, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Just yesterday I was talking about starting a new Animal Crossing island and wondering what that said about the state of my mental health, and now Nintendo are full on enabling me
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
I have to know some people for whom this role would be fitting -- come work with me (and other great people) as a Lead Narrative Designer on Project Sirius
jobs.smartrecruiters.com/CDPROJEKTRED...
jobs.smartrecruiters.com/CDPROJEKTRED...
Lead Narrative Designer
Company Description: To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social medi...
jobs.smartrecruiters.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I have to know some people for whom this role would be fitting -- come work with me (and other great people) as a Lead Narrative Designer on Project Sirius
jobs.smartrecruiters.com/CDPROJEKTRED...
jobs.smartrecruiters.com/CDPROJEKTRED...
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
There is something truly remarkable about Generative AI.
Several years in this revolution, half of the US GDP dumped to make these tools free, and i can't think of a single generated artifact, text, image, sound, video that had a significant cultural impact.
Several years in this revolution, half of the US GDP dumped to make these tools free, and i can't think of a single generated artifact, text, image, sound, video that had a significant cultural impact.
October 28, 2025 at 7:46 PM
There is something truly remarkable about Generative AI.
Several years in this revolution, half of the US GDP dumped to make these tools free, and i can't think of a single generated artifact, text, image, sound, video that had a significant cultural impact.
Several years in this revolution, half of the US GDP dumped to make these tools free, and i can't think of a single generated artifact, text, image, sound, video that had a significant cultural impact.
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
So excited to be contributing an essay to this book.
I’ll be covering one of my all time favourite games, Year Walk
I’ll be discussing memory, perspectives on inevitability, folklore, and (of course) history
I’ll be covering one of my all time favourite games, Year Walk
I’ll be discussing memory, perspectives on inevitability, folklore, and (of course) history
Heartbeats, Dreams and Laser Eyes: 15 Years of @Simogo.com 💗
Look sharp!🤵We've partnered with Simogo on a book that reveals the heartbeats of the Malmö based studio fuelled by curiosity – and nuclear-strength coffee! ☕
Pre-Order by Jan 2nd: lostincult.co.uk/simogo
Look sharp!🤵We've partnered with Simogo on a book that reveals the heartbeats of the Malmö based studio fuelled by curiosity – and nuclear-strength coffee! ☕
Pre-Order by Jan 2nd: lostincult.co.uk/simogo
October 28, 2025 at 2:23 PM
So excited to be contributing an essay to this book.
I’ll be covering one of my all time favourite games, Year Walk
I’ll be discussing memory, perspectives on inevitability, folklore, and (of course) history
I’ll be covering one of my all time favourite games, Year Walk
I’ll be discussing memory, perspectives on inevitability, folklore, and (of course) history
It's a good time to write a book about a single game/series!
There's the great work being published by @bossfightbooks.com
And now three of the best scholarly presses have joined in ...
There's the great work being published by @bossfightbooks.com
And now three of the best scholarly presses have joined in ...
October 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
It's a good time to write a book about a single game/series!
There's the great work being published by @bossfightbooks.com
And now three of the best scholarly presses have joined in ...
There's the great work being published by @bossfightbooks.com
And now three of the best scholarly presses have joined in ...
Reposted by Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Want to teach? Make/research games? Apply to teach at Marist #Top50 #GamesProgram. It's for:
🎮 People who make games.
🎲 Game researchers who also love to teach.
🕹️ Those who love both.
Review of applications begins on November 1st.
careers.marist.edu/cw/en-us/job...
#facultyjobs
🎮 People who make games.
🎲 Game researchers who also love to teach.
🕹️ Those who love both.
Review of applications begins on November 1st.
careers.marist.edu/cw/en-us/job...
#facultyjobs
Careers at Marist - Marist University
Thank you for your interest in a career with Marist University!
careers.marist.edu
October 27, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Want to teach? Make/research games? Apply to teach at Marist #Top50 #GamesProgram. It's for:
🎮 People who make games.
🎲 Game researchers who also love to teach.
🕹️ Those who love both.
Review of applications begins on November 1st.
careers.marist.edu/cw/en-us/job...
#facultyjobs
🎮 People who make games.
🎲 Game researchers who also love to teach.
🕹️ Those who love both.
Review of applications begins on November 1st.
careers.marist.edu/cw/en-us/job...
#facultyjobs