David Varela

I had one of those debates once and thought that I’d won, but hadn’t. I wanted five seconds of black screen after a shock revelation, to let the player stew (before the next scene let them know it was all fine).

When the game came out, those five seconds had been cut “to reduce file size.” Grrr.

A booklet of ‘Subbuteo Rules and Regulations’.

Me (aged 49): VAR is ruining the game! How are kids in the playground supposed to apply all this nonsense when they’re having a kick about?

Also me (aged 9):

Maybe they should have stopped at the bilogy.

Shuttle Voyage LCD game.

Zaxxon LCD game.

Tetris Nintendo watch!

Donkey Kong LCD game.

Oh dear… I opened a box and now I’m in nostalgia free-fall.

Plastic case for the Alien Trilogy, featuring the outline of a face hugger.

Printed promotional stills from the Alien Trilogy.

Privilege card for the Alien War experience, alongside a VHS ‘making of’ from Alien 3.

Three VHS tapes of Alien, Aliens and Alien 3.

Nostalgic for the days of physical media (and the days when there were only three Alien films).

Note the 2-for-1 privilege card for Alien War at the Trocadero, expiring 1995.

A title image reads “So Youve Just Been Laid Off a post-corporate message from @katewelchhhh”

“One year ago, I was laid off from my corporate gaming job. For the first time in my 15-year career, I was unemployed without a next secure, salaried job on the horizon. I am either exceptionally lucky or talented, but it doesn't matter which it is - both no longer seem applicable.”

I just saw this instagram post from the incredibly talented and breathtakingly hilarious Kate Welch, who was laid off around a year ago, and I wanted to share it here. It’s an important message, and you deserve to read it:
(thread)

Search Jobs - Ziff Davis We hire only the best and brightest because we know it takes great people to make a great company. We embrace the power of collaboration, have an entrepreneurial spirit and promote a work environment ...

PCMag is now hiring for TWO roles. The first is for a Writer to cover mobile, and the second is for a Senior Writer to cover mobile.

This is the Writer job:
www.ziffdavis.com/careers/jobs...

This is the Senior Writer job:
www.ziffdavis.com/careers/jobs...

The Creatives Grant let's make art less middle class

£500 given out to a working class writer every month.

Details in link.

Please share :)

Here's a lovely thing for unpublished/unproduced writers in the UK: www.londonlibrary.co.uk/about-us/ll-...

title: The Writer in January Panel 1. “A short stroll...” says the writer aleaving the house. The sun has begun to peek over the horizon. Panel 2. “Then back to my desk for a good day's writing in the winter sun.” The sun has risen a little higher. Panel 3. “Surely it's not going down yet?” The sun is indeed on its way down. Panel 4. “Perhaps I'll catch the last rays.” Says the writer breaking into a sprint. Panel 5. The writer is back at home sitting at a desk saying “Damn!”. The sun is gone. The sky is gloomy.

A recent cartoon for @theguardian.com

LONDON'S HOMICIDE RATEIS LOWESTIN RECORDED HISTORY Targeted measures led by the Mayor to tackle violent crime have helped London achieve its lowest per capita homicide rate on record in 2025, despite a growing population. 3.0 Г Homicide rate per 100,000 residents 55% LOWER THAN 1997 2.5 V 2.0 - 1.5 T 1.0 1997 2001 2009 2013 2017 Source: MPS recorded homicide data for period 1s January to 31s December, 1997 to 2025 Population Source: ONS Mid Year Population Estimates for London, 2024 2025

Lowest murder rate in London since records began.

Last week, I ate a persimmon for the first time and it's now one of my favourite fruits. This morning, I read a chapter in a novel where the main characters experience exactly the same revelation. Am I just late to the whole persimmon trend? Were you all in on this?

I was once in the same flight from Australia as Kylie Minogue, but all I knew about it was from the very excited air stewards.

The real networking is the friends we made along the way

Bueller falling asleep in a cardboard box with his face smushed.

Some gifts wrap themselves.

Driving Home for Christmas was the unofficial anthem for a very specific group of my uni friends and it has brought back ridiculous memories every year for the past 30 years. Drive safe, Mr Rea.

State of play: who holds the power in the video games industry in 2025? This year has brought us many brilliant video games – but as wealth continues to concentrate, and games are used to exert economic and political influence, we need to keep an eye on the top players

www.theguardian.com/games/2025/d...

Merry Christmas everyone!*

*Full-time employees only. Contractors and freelance team-members must provide their own merriment. Management cannot be held responsible for any lack of joy, gaiety or festive spirit. Glad tidings expire 26 December.

I haven't posted on the Hellsite for years, but this was the final kick up the arse I needed to delete my account. Do yourself a favour if you haven't already.

*WRITERS WANTED*

We’re looking for freelance writers who know and love The Laundry Files.

If that sounds like your kind of hazard pay, we want to hear from you!

https://cubicle7games.com/en_EU/blog/call-for-writers-the-laundry-roleplaying-game

OPPORTUNITY Narrative Designer- Jam City - US, CA

Not affiliated. Shares welcome!

jobs.lever.co/jamcity/aad4...

On International Migrants Day, let’s celebrate the generations of migrants who’ve helped make London what it is today - the greatest city in the world.

Now fire half of the writers, replace them with AI, and generate 100 'new' books based on what you have so far.

I think The Soho Project was when I first met many of these people. Was it part of London Games Fringe in some way? Who the hell was paying for all this?

Hollywood reacts in shock to death of Rob Reiner: ‘One of the greatest filmmakers to ever live’ Actors, directors and politicians voice their sadness after bodies of Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner were found by authorities

Aw shit. He directed some of the most warm-hearted, brilliant (and brilliantly stupid) movies ever made. Inconceivable.

www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...

Uncommon Games is hiring a Narrative Writer We are looking for a Narrative Writer to collaborate with our small but growing team.

Narrative role on work with indies! www.workwithindies.com/careers/unco...

🚨 The UK Video Games Industry Census closes 19 Dec.

Run by Ukie & Dr Mark Taylor, it’s the most comprehensive survey of the UK games workforce, exploring:
🔹 Industry mood & outlook
🔹 Layoffs, visas & training
🔹 Careers of women in games

Open to all UK games workers. Take part: zurl.co/yfMwu

My ‘Daily readiness’ score for today is allegedly 100. As a percentage. Out of 100.

I showed Spela this stat for today and she just looked at me and couldn’t stop laughing.

Hats off to FairSquare for registering the complaint. I expect FIFA will take it so seriously that Gianni Infantino himself will head up the investigation.

When the Wind Blows. Which also ruined The Snowman for me.