Devan Soyka
@windmilljouster.bsky.social
Senior Narrative Designer at Crytek | She/Her | 🖤🤍💜 | A proud founder of the VOW game writers union | Opinions here are mine alone | PFP by @diansakhuart
Pinned
Devan Soyka
@windmilljouster.bsky.social
· Oct 19
Hi new folks! I'm a senior narrative designer who has written everything from FPS to RPGs to dating sims. My work is always looked over by my editor in chief, Basil the cat.
Reposted by Devan Soyka
If you're a freelancer or contract worker who is feeling scared or angry: you aren't alone. Our union is diligently exploring options to help freelancers bite back. If you're sick of feeling alone while going solo, consider joining our ranks. Many lances makes an army 💪
uvw-cwa.org/membership
uvw-cwa.org/membership
JOIN OUR UNION
DuesDues are calculated on a sliding scale based on 1% of your income, starting at a minimum of $15USD/17.30CAD.We welcome community supporters as non-voting members at the minimum dues rate. The full...
uvw-cwa.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 AM
If you're a freelancer or contract worker who is feeling scared or angry: you aren't alone. Our union is diligently exploring options to help freelancers bite back. If you're sick of feeling alone while going solo, consider joining our ranks. Many lances makes an army 💪
uvw-cwa.org/membership
uvw-cwa.org/membership
Brought shelled (unsalted) peanuts today and the crows went BALLISTIC. TIL they just swallow them whole, shell and all?? 😭
Craziest thing was that I feed them before I get on the train, but TWO WERE WAITING FOR ME WHEN I GOT OFF AT MY STOP. How did they know???
Craziest thing was that I feed them before I get on the train, but TWO WERE WAITING FOR ME WHEN I GOT OFF AT MY STOP. How did they know???
November 4, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Brought shelled (unsalted) peanuts today and the crows went BALLISTIC. TIL they just swallow them whole, shell and all?? 😭
Craziest thing was that I feed them before I get on the train, but TWO WERE WAITING FOR ME WHEN I GOT OFF AT MY STOP. How did they know???
Craziest thing was that I feed them before I get on the train, but TWO WERE WAITING FOR ME WHEN I GOT OFF AT MY STOP. How did they know???
Happy Halloween
October 30, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Happy Halloween
The park crows are too funny. I was chopped liver all summer because they had plenty of food, but now that it's cold, ohhhh aren't I just everybody's best friend. For half a block I had the whole murder of 30 flying in circles around me like a Greed Tornado (today I brought almonds)
October 24, 2025 at 6:54 AM
The park crows are too funny. I was chopped liver all summer because they had plenty of food, but now that it's cold, ohhhh aren't I just everybody's best friend. For half a block I had the whole murder of 30 flying in circles around me like a Greed Tornado (today I brought almonds)
-"Apple changed its regulations"
-"We have to pivot"
-"It's classic Hero's Journey"
-"Visa changed its regulations"
-"We didn't make cert"
-"Did you see this?" [Sends link to another studio's announcement of the exact game you've spent the last 3 years making]
-"We have to pivot"
-"It's classic Hero's Journey"
-"Visa changed its regulations"
-"We didn't make cert"
-"Did you see this?" [Sends link to another studio's announcement of the exact game you've spent the last 3 years making]
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
October 13, 2025 at 2:38 PM
-"Apple changed its regulations"
-"We have to pivot"
-"It's classic Hero's Journey"
-"Visa changed its regulations"
-"We didn't make cert"
-"Did you see this?" [Sends link to another studio's announcement of the exact game you've spent the last 3 years making]
-"We have to pivot"
-"It's classic Hero's Journey"
-"Visa changed its regulations"
-"We didn't make cert"
-"Did you see this?" [Sends link to another studio's announcement of the exact game you've spent the last 3 years making]
Hottest notes to self from my draft zero, so far:
"Go Redwall on this shit"
"NOPE"
"What are you, asexual?"
"This isn't extra enough. MAKE IT A MASQUERADE"
"Go Redwall on this shit"
"NOPE"
"What are you, asexual?"
"This isn't extra enough. MAKE IT A MASQUERADE"
September 21, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Hottest notes to self from my draft zero, so far:
"Go Redwall on this shit"
"NOPE"
"What are you, asexual?"
"This isn't extra enough. MAKE IT A MASQUERADE"
"Go Redwall on this shit"
"NOPE"
"What are you, asexual?"
"This isn't extra enough. MAKE IT A MASQUERADE"
Reposted by Devan Soyka
One issue generally overlooked in the whole screenwriter vs gamewriter, discussion is time.
Beyond anything to do with training, ability, style etc is the amount of time screenwriters get to invest in a script.
Whilst there are time pressures on any writer, the vast amounts of script that-
1/9
Beyond anything to do with training, ability, style etc is the amount of time screenwriters get to invest in a script.
Whilst there are time pressures on any writer, the vast amounts of script that-
1/9
September 16, 2025 at 9:36 AM
One issue generally overlooked in the whole screenwriter vs gamewriter, discussion is time.
Beyond anything to do with training, ability, style etc is the amount of time screenwriters get to invest in a script.
Whilst there are time pressures on any writer, the vast amounts of script that-
1/9
Beyond anything to do with training, ability, style etc is the amount of time screenwriters get to invest in a script.
Whilst there are time pressures on any writer, the vast amounts of script that-
1/9
It only took several HUNDRED hours of playing Hunt: Showdown but I took out a whole party today. Made such a weird little victory screech that both my teammates laughed
September 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
It only took several HUNDRED hours of playing Hunt: Showdown but I took out a whole party today. Made such a weird little victory screech that both my teammates laughed
New Fire Emblem announced AND it has a prettyboy edgelord in black armor; be prepared to lose all contact with me for about 3 full months in 2026
September 12, 2025 at 7:54 PM
New Fire Emblem announced AND it has a prettyboy edgelord in black armor; be prepared to lose all contact with me for about 3 full months in 2026
Developing anything: why does anyone do this to themselves!!! This endeavor is doomed!!! This will never work!!!!
Seeing it in the build: 🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭🥹🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💫
Seeing it in the build: 🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭🥹🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💫
September 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Developing anything: why does anyone do this to themselves!!! This endeavor is doomed!!! This will never work!!!!
Seeing it in the build: 🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭🥹🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💫
Seeing it in the build: 🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭🥹🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💫
Reposted by Devan Soyka
The tabletop freelancer survey closes on Monday, if you want to make sure IWGB has the info to fight for fair freelancer wages share it and fill it in now!
forms.gle/efLP5CLxskse...
forms.gle/efLP5CLxskse...
Tabletop Freelancer Rates Survey
[PLEASE DO NOT FILL IN THIS SURVEY IF YOU DO NOT LIVE / WORK IN THE UK]
This is a form put together by freelance tabletop workers in the IWGB to better understand the rate of freelance pay provided ...
forms.gle
September 6, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The tabletop freelancer survey closes on Monday, if you want to make sure IWGB has the info to fight for fair freelancer wages share it and fill it in now!
forms.gle/efLP5CLxskse...
forms.gle/efLP5CLxskse...
Beat all the Nightreign bosses so now I simply sit upon my lonely mountaintop, for there is nothing left to scale.
...
Just kidding! Time to do it again on hardmode
...
Just kidding! Time to do it again on hardmode
September 7, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Beat all the Nightreign bosses so now I simply sit upon my lonely mountaintop, for there is nothing left to scale.
...
Just kidding! Time to do it again on hardmode
...
Just kidding! Time to do it again on hardmode
Congratulations, Diablo devs!! ❤️
BREAKING: Over 450 game developers behind hit video-game series Diablo have joined CWA, joining the historic fight for a better video game industry.
Hail to you, union champions 💪
Hail to you, union champions 💪
Hundreds of Diablo Game Developers Join Communications Workers of America
Today, over 450 game developers behind the popular video game series Diablo have voted strongly in favor of union representation with CWA.
cwa-union.org
August 28, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Congratulations, Diablo devs!! ❤️
Reposted by Devan Soyka
I have a (initially very obvious) belief that a game is not primarily the artifact of the game but the stories generated by people interacting with the game, & that a good measure of success is the notability (for lack of a better word*) of those stories both by impact & number of people affected
August 27, 2025 at 3:45 AM
I have a (initially very obvious) belief that a game is not primarily the artifact of the game but the stories generated by people interacting with the game, & that a good measure of success is the notability (for lack of a better word*) of those stories both by impact & number of people affected
Stop doomscrolling. Enjoy this picture of Basil in front of the portrait @jannouna.bsky.social painted of him
August 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Stop doomscrolling. Enjoy this picture of Basil in front of the portrait @jannouna.bsky.social painted of him
Reposted by Devan Soyka
“What’s a good name for the order” listen I don’t want to be world building right now, I just want my coffee
August 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
“What’s a good name for the order” listen I don’t want to be world building right now, I just want my coffee
Reposted by Devan Soyka
When Paizo unionized, I got a raise amounting to thousands of dollars. I also get a higher cost of living salary increase every year in addition to my seniority salary increase. I have incredible job security. I have advocates if I have grievances. Unionizing is hard and scary but so worth it.
August 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
When Paizo unionized, I got a raise amounting to thousands of dollars. I also get a higher cost of living salary increase every year in addition to my seniority salary increase. I have incredible job security. I have advocates if I have grievances. Unionizing is hard and scary but so worth it.
Reposted by Devan Soyka
If the AI bubble really is bursting, please take this lesson from it:
Nothing marketed to you this relentlessly is ever worth it. If it was, they wouldn’t need to beg you.
Nothing marketed to you this relentlessly is ever worth it. If it was, they wouldn’t need to beg you.
August 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
If the AI bubble really is bursting, please take this lesson from it:
Nothing marketed to you this relentlessly is ever worth it. If it was, they wouldn’t need to beg you.
Nothing marketed to you this relentlessly is ever worth it. If it was, they wouldn’t need to beg you.
Spent the first day of devcom #ddc2025 in all my favorite ways:
-attending narrative talks
-talking to students
-teaching folks their labor rights and directing them to the games union for their country
-recommending everyone play Ghost Trick
-attending narrative talks
-talking to students
-teaching folks their labor rights and directing them to the games union for their country
-recommending everyone play Ghost Trick
August 18, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Spent the first day of devcom #ddc2025 in all my favorite ways:
-attending narrative talks
-talking to students
-teaching folks their labor rights and directing them to the games union for their country
-recommending everyone play Ghost Trick
-attending narrative talks
-talking to students
-teaching folks their labor rights and directing them to the games union for their country
-recommending everyone play Ghost Trick
Reposted by Devan Soyka
when you're new to making games, it's easy to think it's about making art and making the right decisions and having the best taste. but actually making games is about dancing really good when the old west bandit shoots bullets at your toes
August 16, 2025 at 7:35 PM
when you're new to making games, it's easy to think it's about making art and making the right decisions and having the best taste. but actually making games is about dancing really good when the old west bandit shoots bullets at your toes
Reposted by Devan Soyka
Kurt Vonnegut’s definition of what makes something “art” is one of my favorites I’ve seen - from a letter to his brother in 1995.
August 15, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Kurt Vonnegut’s definition of what makes something “art” is one of my favorites I’ve seen - from a letter to his brother in 1995.
So who's going to Devcom/Gamescom next week? 😄 I want to make sure I see everybody
August 14, 2025 at 10:28 AM
So who's going to Devcom/Gamescom next week? 😄 I want to make sure I see everybody
The chess pieces I move may be heavy, but best believe it's because I'm playing a 4-dimensional game 😌
August 7, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The chess pieces I move may be heavy, but best believe it's because I'm playing a 4-dimensional game 😌
Reposted by Devan Soyka
