Simon Cutajar

I don’t talk about it much because the situation doesn’t really change but it’s still insane to me what an enormous amount of really talented game developers are out of work. just whole studios worth of incredible people, often people who worked on beloved games, unemployed.

The question by @sean.cutajar is "Do you ever regret leaving Malta or was your passion for gamedev to want to remain in Malta". The background is the clouds as seen from the window of a plane. The answer is: No, I don't regret it at all. I had wanted to leave Malta when I was 21, after finishing my degree. I moved to Denmark for my MSc in Game Development. Back then, I was tired of what Malta was turning into, and it was my best chance of leaving the country. I also wanted to meet new people and expand my network. While there are definitely opportunities for gamedev now in Malta, I don't regret leaving when I did. Stockholm is a fantastic hub for game development and I'm happy to have made it here!

The question "What are the best parts about being a 'new' parent?" asked by @ciwiel. The background is a picture of my kid with their back facing me, looking out of a window watching the rain. My answer is: For me, the best part is watching them learn and understand the world around them. Kids this age are so happy to be involved in what their parents are doing, and to mimic their actions, and it's such a delight! ❤️

Finally, game writing isn't just the overarching story! It's the barks that characters say when taking actions, it's all the dialogue between characters, it's all the item descriptions, all of the UI, and sometimes all of the copy in marketing or other supporting material!

I'm a game programmer by day, but I do dabble in writing as a hobby. Games tend to take narrative inspiration from film, but theatre & hypertext is probably more useful! It's also good to take into account player interactivity and how this could impact the writing; events can appear out of order!

Photo of a nearby park in Stockholm early in the morning. The leaves on the trees are turning orange and yellow, as autumn is approaching.

Ask me anything! Curious about life in Stockholm (or Malta, UK, or Denmark?) What it's like working working as a gamedev? Parenting life in Sweden? Something about books/games/music/RPGs/film/ice-cream? Wanna learn more about me, hopes and dreams, fears and regrets, or affirmations?

Ask away!

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

Honestly sounds like they didn't know what they wanted, and they didn't know what they were missing out on! Sorry to hear :(

Oh to be a little Tardigrade scratching its back on a bubble. 🫧🐻🧪

If you only take the big names as your inspiration you will inevitably be disappointed. There is no career path in games that involves only making big-time successes. Please find inspiration from making work you enjoy and, ideally, uplifting those who DON'T get attention. Many people could use it

I moved from Malta to Denmark in 2011 for my MSc in Game Technology at @itu.dk. I had an amazing time, met a bunch of awesome people in the Copenhagen games scene, and graduated in 2013. Super happy to see the university celebrate its 25th year in games research!

Photo of a pile of books on top of a table. From top to bottom, the books are titled as follows: Kitba W Kittieba tal-Malti - II.2 by Ġużè Cassar Pullicino, Dawl Ġdid fuq Vassalli edited by Olvin Vella, Qwiel u Qaddisin by Victor J. Galea, Gozo: The Island of Joy by Thomas Freller, Spies and Renegades in Hospitaller Malta by Thomas Freller, Il Mezzo Vocabolario Maltese-Italiano del 700 by Arnold Cassola, Maltin u l-Inkiżizzjoni by Alexander Bonnici, A Trial in front of an Inquisitor of Malta (1562-1798) by Alexander Bonnici, Society, Culture and Identity in Early Modern Malta by Carmel Cassar, The Houses of Valletta by Victor F. Denaro, Musical Culture and the Chitarraro: Mattheo Morales in 17th Century Malta by Anna Borg Cardona, Diaspora: Maltese Overseas Settlement by Henry Frendo, Ponta Reale and Environs by MIchael Ellul, Dictionary for Specific Purposes by Charles Briffa, Id-Dar Maltija: Aspetti Soċjali Ekonomiċi u Kulturali bejn il-perjodu Medjevali sa Żminijietna by George A. Said Zammit, Knights in Durance: A Record of the Carvings and Inscriptions in the Dungeon of the Castle of St Angelo in Malta by Denis Calnan, and Malta and the Czars 1697-1802 by Andrew P. Vella.

Finally managed to sort out the latest pile of Maltese books that I brought back with me to Sweden!

Back in Stockholm, and back to my regular routine on parental leave. You can see a snippet of my trip back home in Malta in the quoted thread.

Photo of a pastizz in a paper bag marked with the logo of Sphinx Pastizzeria.

Photo of a slice of Maltese ice-cream (ġelat tan-nanna from Elia) in a bowl.

Photo of two slices of Maltese ftira in a plate, with a napkin marked with the logo from the Valletta Food Market.

Photo of three donuts, two chocolate and one jam, in a cardboard box. Purchased from the donut man.

A selection of food eaten in Malta!

After hearing the donut man shout about his donuts for several days, we couldn't not buy some!

Photo of a lizard trapped within the strands of a purple shag carpet

Found a poor lizard trapped in our carpet this morning. No idea how they got there, but they're now living their best life away from purple carpets.

Photo of the houses at St. Barbara Bastions in Valletta, with iconic blue wooden balconies

Photo of the busy steps down Triq San Ġwann in Valletta. The sea can be seen in the background.

Photo of Fort Saint Angelo, as seen from Valletta. The sky is clear and the sea is calm and blue.

Photo of a picturesque street in Valletta with steps

More photos from Valletta

Photo of a green Norn doll plushie, a character from the game Creatures 2

This might be familiar to anyone in the game AI space, or anyone who's played Creatures 2!

Post a non-religious photo you think of as Holy

Super exciting! I still need to playtest for you; I haven't had the time! I'll be back in Stockholm next week though and should be able to find time during one of the kid's naps ;)

If you haven't read them yet, you should definitely read Becky Chambers' sci-fi books (The Long Small Way to an Angry Planet, and the other books in the series); I got similar vibes from a digital character inhabiting a spaceship and being overwhelmed with all the input coming in from cameras

The books are great! Highly recommend them!

Photo of a sunrise over the sea, making the sky glow orange.

Photo of the moon over the sea during the evening.

Photo of an ominous cloud in the sky over the sea.

Photo of a sunrise turning the sky pink/purple over the sky. The sky is cloudy.

I'll never get tired of this view.

Awguri Anthea! 🎂🎈🎉

The driver swore very colourfully in Maltese. I assume the car is used to this and joined in ;)

Almost got run over by a car today... I was crossing an empty road when a car comes hurtling round the corner, almost knocks me over and speeds up the hill, swearing at me for simply existing

I've been so hesitant to rent a car while in Malta because of how much more dangerous the roads have become

Picture of a floppy disk. The label reads "Treasure Hunt Maths, A:\THM\SETUP" and "Prince of Persia, A:\PRINCE\INSTALL"

Good times. Simpler times.

Photo of the sunrise over the sea. The sky above the horizon is orange.

Got up early to watch the sunrise

Photo in a selfie format of myself in front of the entrance National Library of Malta. The sign behind me is in Maltese and says Bibljoteka Nazzjonali.

Third and final day at the National Library is done! I didn't manage to find everything I wanted, but I found a lot of super interesting stuff that I can't wait to properly dig through.

Photo of a light blue packet of Twistees Minty Fresh, with several boxes in the background containing more packets

This is probably the weirdest flavour idea for a savoury snack that I've seen, but it's not terrible?

Photo of the Triton Fountain in Valletta

Photo of a door leading to the inside of the Palace of the Grandmasters

Photo of the exterior of the National Library of Malta

Photo of Valletta and steps leading down towards Victoria Gate, taken from the bridge

Playing tourist in Valletta