Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
@opourzia.bsky.social
[She/Her] Game writer, narrative designer, all-around nerd. Unable to resist putting words in things.
(Same handle on twitter.)
(Same handle on twitter.)
Pinned
Made this graph to remind myself that even when a currently beloved project gets scary or hard it WILL be fun again. (through gritted teeth) It will... be fun... again...
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
this is such a depressing read. studios are happy to exploit the labour and creativity of women & queer people & poc but then turn around and sacrifice them to a baying mob of bad actors who they believe are their core audience. did we learn no lessons from gamergate?
For @aftermath.site, I spoke to @imodrew.bsky.social, the Sucker Punch dev fired after making a Charlie Kirk joke.
She paints a picture of an industry that all too often ignores bad actors until those bad actors threaten them financially.
aftermath.site/sucker-punch...
She paints a picture of an industry that all too often ignores bad actors until those bad actors threaten them financially.
aftermath.site/sucker-punch...
Two Months After Firing Over Charlie Kirk Comments, Ghost Of Yotei Dev Blames Harassment Campaign, Not ‘Bad Joke’
"I really don’t want this to happen to anyone else, because I feel like with the state of everything, it will absolutely happen to other people," says Drew Harrison
aftermath.site
November 24, 2025 at 7:24 PM
this is such a depressing read. studios are happy to exploit the labour and creativity of women & queer people & poc but then turn around and sacrifice them to a baying mob of bad actors who they believe are their core audience. did we learn no lessons from gamergate?
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
one of the things that makes me most mad about genAI (and there are many) is we've been told there's not enough money for hiring. but there's billions poured into ai.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
November 23, 2025 at 7:50 PM
one of the things that makes me most mad about genAI (and there are many) is we've been told there's not enough money for hiring. but there's billions poured into ai.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this is by far one of the most beautiful I've seen this year. (And this story absolutely deserves it.)
November 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this is by far one of the most beautiful I've seen this year. (And this story absolutely deserves it.)
Me when I am a wizard
The wizard sings a song to the little cat.
November 22, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Me when I am a wizard
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
you'd think the forced displacement of 10 million people from one of the oldest centres of civilisation in human history would get a little more news attention than beltway journalists writing essays on how Olivia Nuzzi is a genius because they want to bone her and you'd be wrong
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
you'd think the forced displacement of 10 million people from one of the oldest centres of civilisation in human history would get a little more news attention than beltway journalists writing essays on how Olivia Nuzzi is a genius because they want to bone her and you'd be wrong
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
The amount of people I know who have been laid off from games industry jobs and are deciding to leave games entirely as a result is not only extremely saddening (of course), but also genuinely scary. We have lost legitimately thousands of years of knowledge and experience in the last four years.
November 21, 2025 at 2:13 AM
The amount of people I know who have been laid off from games industry jobs and are deciding to leave games entirely as a result is not only extremely saddening (of course), but also genuinely scary. We have lost legitimately thousands of years of knowledge and experience in the last four years.
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
Oh hell yeah
I’m super happy to officially announce our next project, spearheaded by @threeohfour.bsky.social!
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
Gilt on Steam
Embark on a quest of redemption across the planet of Gilt to restore a disillusioned priest's faith, a dying God's power, and the waning hope of a people who have forgotten how to believe. A sci-fi fa...
store.steampowered.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Oh hell yeah
Working on stuff you're excited about unlocks a form of imposter syndrome known as Turbo Mode. In Turbo Mode, a voice made up of all of your worst fears and doubts will box with your brain 24/7 until one of you dies. We hope you enjoy this fun new feature!
November 18, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Working on stuff you're excited about unlocks a form of imposter syndrome known as Turbo Mode. In Turbo Mode, a voice made up of all of your worst fears and doubts will box with your brain 24/7 until one of you dies. We hope you enjoy this fun new feature!
Tried a new TTRPG tonight (Candela Obscura) and had a blast! Times might be bad but telling stories with friends is good ❤️
November 16, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Tried a new TTRPG tonight (Candela Obscura) and had a blast! Times might be bad but telling stories with friends is good ❤️
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
An interesting example of how it's easy to get trapped in "doing things for the sake of doing them" in gamedev how this thread showcases complex game desgin being done to allow this sort of thing but little examination of how that possibility space affects the world and the player's psychology
Hive mind.. whats the general thoughts on allowing players to brick their games by letting them kill NPCs? Are folk ok with that? any smart examples where it is recoverable?
November 15, 2025 at 7:46 PM
An interesting example of how it's easy to get trapped in "doing things for the sake of doing them" in gamedev how this thread showcases complex game desgin being done to allow this sort of thing but little examination of how that possibility space affects the world and the player's psychology
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
the average salary of tens of thousands of games industry professionals is actually now $0, hope that clears things up
The average salary for games industry professionals based in the United States was $142,000 in 2025, according to a new report from GDC Festival of Gaming.
www.gamesindustry.biz/gdc-survey-a...
www.gamesindustry.biz/gdc-survey-a...
GDC Survey: Average salary for US games professionals was $142,000 in 2025
Findings reveal 33% of workers feel employers are "working to close existing pay gaps," while one-tenth report no efforts are being made
www.gamesindustry.biz
November 14, 2025 at 8:51 PM
the average salary of tens of thousands of games industry professionals is actually now $0, hope that clears things up
This is only one of the countless horrifying stories of deportations, but it's one that felt important for me to share. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/w...
‘It Feels Like I’m in a Nightmare’: Inside the First Deportation Flight to Iran
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
This is only one of the countless horrifying stories of deportations, but it's one that felt important for me to share. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/w...
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
KEEP HONKING
I'M LISTENING TO
THE HONEYED LIES
OF MY TREACHEROUS VIZIER
I'M LISTENING TO
THE HONEYED LIES
OF MY TREACHEROUS VIZIER
November 14, 2025 at 4:15 AM
KEEP HONKING
I'M LISTENING TO
THE HONEYED LIES
OF MY TREACHEROUS VIZIER
I'M LISTENING TO
THE HONEYED LIES
OF MY TREACHEROUS VIZIER
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
How is AI *really* impacting jobs?
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
What’s really going on with AI and jobs?
Record-breaking layoff reports, Amazon's mass firings, and a slump in entry level employment. Is AI behind it all?
www.bloodinthemachine.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
How is AI *really* impacting jobs?
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
My gay bias is really showing in this top 10 lol
November 13, 2025 at 4:48 PM
My gay bias is really showing in this top 10 lol
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
Like, how much of this "I talk to chatgpt 5 hours a day and it is teaching me to to become a god" is the result of a normal person glimpsing the abyss that is *literally* a billionaire's every single social interaction, and it fucking destroying them.
May 12, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Like, how much of this "I talk to chatgpt 5 hours a day and it is teaching me to to become a god" is the result of a normal person glimpsing the abyss that is *literally* a billionaire's every single social interaction, and it fucking destroying them.
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
I wonder how much of AI "it tells me I am transforming into a god" cultism involves a digital version of Stendhal Syndrome, a cheesecake superstimulus very deliberately tailor made by the billionaires who created it to do so.
May 12, 2025 at 6:35 AM
I wonder how much of AI "it tells me I am transforming into a god" cultism involves a digital version of Stendhal Syndrome, a cheesecake superstimulus very deliberately tailor made by the billionaires who created it to do so.
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
i spoke to LOADS of people about this very recently, and the only people using it regularly were the dipshits in charge
November 12, 2025 at 3:47 AM
i spoke to LOADS of people about this very recently, and the only people using it regularly were the dipshits in charge
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
Updating the "everyone is 12" theorem to add "everyone is 12 and can't read"
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
November 12, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Updating the "everyone is 12" theorem to add "everyone is 12 and can't read"
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
If this is what they are doing with the AI, what do you think they are doing with the much simpler and easier to control algorithm that chooses which posts you see and which of your posts are seen by others?
November 12, 2025 at 4:56 AM
If this is what they are doing with the AI, what do you think they are doing with the much simpler and easier to control algorithm that chooses which posts you see and which of your posts are seen by others?
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
every single frame of animation, in-house developed sound effect, line of code, visual asset, chart, and line of dialogue was done by a human and done without using generative AI tools in the making of UNBEATABLE. relinquishing creative choices to tools makes your work empty, vapid, and meaningless
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm - AUTOMATON WEST
In an interview following the launch of ARC Raiders, the CEO of Embark Studios' parent company Nexon shares his views on AI.
automaton-media.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:07 AM
every single frame of animation, in-house developed sound effect, line of code, visual asset, chart, and line of dialogue was done by a human and done without using generative AI tools in the making of UNBEATABLE. relinquishing creative choices to tools makes your work empty, vapid, and meaningless
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
If your game has voice acting, then working with the voice actors is half of your writing process. It's not complete until you've heard it interpreted and reimagined by a voice actor. And they always reimagine it in ways that elevate the writing, in ways you never would have imagined yourself.
November 11, 2025 at 2:52 PM
If your game has voice acting, then working with the voice actors is half of your writing process. It's not complete until you've heard it interpreted and reimagined by a voice actor. And they always reimagine it in ways that elevate the writing, in ways you never would have imagined yourself.
Reposted by Olivia Pourzia [she/her]
Hey all you gamers claiming to "want shorter games made by fewer people who are paid more to work less" here's your chance to put your $15 where your mouth is: a spooky & elegiac exploration game made by ex-Bethesda & Ubi devs. It's excellent. Buy it & prove there's a market for games like this!
There'll be a new pinned post this week, but for now: Ambrosia Sky: Act One is *out* now!
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3580160/...
EGS: store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ambr...
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3580160/...
EGS: store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ambr...
Save 15% on Ambrosia Sky on Steam
You left. Now they’re dead. Ambrosia Sky: Act One is an immersive sim about exploring an asteroid colony devastated by a mysterious contamination. Survive and harvest strains of aggressive alien fungi...
store.steampowered.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Hey all you gamers claiming to "want shorter games made by fewer people who are paid more to work less" here's your chance to put your $15 where your mouth is: a spooky & elegiac exploration game made by ex-Bethesda & Ubi devs. It's excellent. Buy it & prove there's a market for games like this!