Tanya X. Short
@tanyaxshort.bsky.social
Captain of Kitfox Games (Streets of Fortuna, Boyfriend Dungeon, Dwarf Fortress, Caves of Qud). Co-director of Pixelles & Polaris. She/her. Be full of love. Put in the effort.
I have many thoughts on verisimilitude and simulation and sandbox RPGs, but very few about the unpleasant taste "immersive sim" seems to leave in my mouth
November 20, 2025 at 2:09 AM
I have many thoughts on verisimilitude and simulation and sandbox RPGs, but very few about the unpleasant taste "immersive sim" seems to leave in my mouth
Rian Johnson recently admitted to giving this a hard no and the internet is rioting??? Kate you're too powerful
November 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Rian Johnson recently admitted to giving this a hard no and the internet is rioting??? Kate you're too powerful
WELL ACTUALLY Caves of Qud would win Best Sim / Strategy Game because it came out in December 2024 (so it's eligible) and has a 91 💅
November 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
WELL ACTUALLY Caves of Qud would win Best Sim / Strategy Game because it came out in December 2024 (so it's eligible) and has a 91 💅
It'd be more uniquely correct to say "led by the developer of Fit For a King" but I suspect that's not as meaningful to the broader Bluesky audience
November 13, 2025 at 6:33 PM
It'd be more uniquely correct to say "led by the developer of Fit For a King" but I suspect that's not as meaningful to the broader Bluesky audience
spoken from experience, it sounds like
November 7, 2025 at 4:21 PM
spoken from experience, it sounds like
Reposted by Tanya X. Short
the church of the subgenius had the concept of the third nostril, through which you perceived pstench
November 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
the church of the subgenius had the concept of the third nostril, through which you perceived pstench
now we're talking sense
November 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
now we're talking sense
like, deeply understanding what the player wants/expects/tries to do is absolutely UX/design, but my favorite designs also contain subversions, diversions, distractions, and inherent tensions, and ultimately treat the fantasy as a starting point, not necessarily a climax (medium.com/kitfox-games...)
In Praise of Messy Design
Or, in search of surprise and delight: the Shaggy, the Baggy, and the Craggy
medium.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:35 AM
like, deeply understanding what the player wants/expects/tries to do is absolutely UX/design, but my favorite designs also contain subversions, diversions, distractions, and inherent tensions, and ultimately treat the fantasy as a starting point, not necessarily a climax (medium.com/kitfox-games...)
We work mostly from "user stories" backwards to design our systems/features/priorities.... and those user stories definitely have SOME overlap (at least, in initial conception/overall trajectory) w/ player fantasies.
I think it's more of a product design conversation than true game design though.
I think it's more of a product design conversation than true game design though.
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 AM
We work mostly from "user stories" backwards to design our systems/features/priorities.... and those user stories definitely have SOME overlap (at least, in initial conception/overall trajectory) w/ player fantasies.
I think it's more of a product design conversation than true game design though.
I think it's more of a product design conversation than true game design though.
maybe ONLY designers should be allowed to talk about marketing. no marketers. then there'd be at least as many apologies for strategysharing as there are strategies shared. that'd show them.
November 6, 2025 at 1:15 AM
maybe ONLY designers should be allowed to talk about marketing. no marketers. then there'd be at least as many apologies for strategysharing as there are strategies shared. that'd show them.