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Nick Mangiaracina

@nickmanwrites.bsky.social

he/him (HevyD elsewhere) - Narrative Design/Game Writing - nickmanwrites.com - Contributor @monstervine.com - Professional Inquiries: nickmanwrites@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/nickmanwrites - Open for Work

889 Followers  |  740 Following  |  2,131 Posts  |  Joined: 14.07.2023  |  1.7333

Latest posts by nickmanwrites.bsky.social on Bluesky

Preview
Yarn Spinner Showcase Explore games built with Yarn Spinnerβ€”from indie darlings to major studio releases.

Every few days when someone gets a moment, we add a few new games to the Yarn Spinner showcase. We still have a huge list to get through, but it's such a fun little job and the page is looking so great already! yarnspinner.dev/showcase/

16.02.2026 05:23 β€” πŸ‘ 50    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Youth sized shirt.

"When I grow up I want to be six seven"

There's a picture of a ruler that tops out at 6 foot 7 inches.

Youth sized shirt. "When I grow up I want to be six seven" There's a picture of a ruler that tops out at 6 foot 7 inches.

16.02.2026 00:21 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I do not think Highguard is a good game. In fact I think it’s pretty poor compared to the many other options you have for shooters. But that release was far from a nuclear winter scenario. They had big numbers at launch. That the benchmark was apparently miles beyond that is business malpractice.

12.02.2026 00:50 β€” πŸ‘ 61    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

Bluesky was literally meant to be a cryptobro social network for grifters, LinkedIn sludge, and libertarians who know way too much about age of consent laws.

Jack Dorsey *left* when instead of weird and off-putting cryptonerds, trans people started hanging out here.

15.02.2026 22:50 β€” πŸ‘ 7660    πŸ” 1951    πŸ’¬ 18    πŸ“Œ 82
Wage Theft (when employers steal from employees)

Minimum wage violations: $23.20 billion
Overtime violations: $8.80 billion
Rest break violations: $4.00 billion
Off-the-clock violations: $3.20 billion

Other types of theft

Larceny: $5.30 billion
Burglary: $4.10 billion
Auto theft: $3.80 billion
Robbery: $0.34 billion

*all $ amounts are per year
*all data is for the U.S.

https://www.tcworkerscenter.org/2018/09/wage-theft-vs-other-forms-of-theft-in-the-u-s/

Wage Theft (when employers steal from employees) Minimum wage violations: $23.20 billion Overtime violations: $8.80 billion Rest break violations: $4.00 billion Off-the-clock violations: $3.20 billion Other types of theft Larceny: $5.30 billion Burglary: $4.10 billion Auto theft: $3.80 billion Robbery: $0.34 billion *all $ amounts are per year *all data is for the U.S. https://www.tcworkerscenter.org/2018/09/wage-theft-vs-other-forms-of-theft-in-the-u-s/

Wage theft is the largest form of theft in the United States, dwarfing other kinds of theft. Companies steal up to $50 billion or more from workers annually, with only a tiny fraction ever recovered and paid to employees. This perpetuates income and wealth inequalities.

www.epi.org/publication/...

17.01.2025 22:46 β€” πŸ‘ 65    πŸ” 35    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 7
Post image

Happy Valentine's day from this cute couple!
#jimmyandthepulsatingmass #IndieDev #Valentines #ValentinesDay

14.02.2026 20:13 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

"No one can afford to buy games" is one explanation for what's going on in the games industry but it doesn't really explain the rapid contraction. I think more salient factors are:

1. dependency on external investment that has dried up
2. rapidly changing patterns of consumption post-covid

15.02.2026 16:53 β€” πŸ‘ 179    πŸ” 24    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 3
Screenshot of Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass. Jimmy as a green haired low-level goon shakes a proper low-level goon who says:
"You're a natural, kid, but goon try-outs were yesterday."

Article text says:
Speaking of the Petty Thugs, they were already a funny bunch, but in the 2020s, where goon took on a whole new definition? It’s comedy gold. I respect my gooners. I still love the Bear transformation, but I will proudly be a Low-Level Goon any day of the week.

Screenshot of Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass. Jimmy as a green haired low-level goon shakes a proper low-level goon who says: "You're a natural, kid, but goon try-outs were yesterday." Article text says: Speaking of the Petty Thugs, they were already a funny bunch, but in the 2020s, where goon took on a whole new definition? It’s comedy gold. I respect my gooners. I still love the Bear transformation, but I will proudly be a Low-Level Goon any day of the week.

Today, we're stepping back in the past! We're looking at the new definitive console edition of Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass!

indiehellzone.com/2026/02/04/j...

05.02.2026 07:24 β€” πŸ‘ 33    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
A screenshot of the game Ys III: Wanderers from Ys for the MSX2, emulated through EGGCONSOLE on the Nintendo Switch.

A screenshot of the game Ys III: Wanderers from Ys for the MSX2, emulated through EGGCONSOLE on the Nintendo Switch.

Get 'em, Adol!

14.02.2026 22:41 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

I know it's meant in good faith but "if we just made smaller scope games and charged 20-40 dollars for them it would fix the industry" is very funny to me. indies release like 20 of those a week on steam. are you buying them? is the industry fixed? no? hm. sounds like you need a different solution

15.02.2026 08:01 β€” πŸ‘ 3485    πŸ” 591    πŸ’¬ 77    πŸ“Œ 55
Post image

You can draw whatever you want. Never forget that

15.02.2026 06:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3526    πŸ” 825    πŸ’¬ 44    πŸ“Œ 6
A screenshot of a New York Times Magazine story titled "Ozempic Could Crush the Junk Food Industry. But It Is Fighting Back."

A screenshot of a New York Times Magazine story titled "Ozempic Could Crush the Junk Food Industry. But It Is Fighting Back."

A screenshot of a Financial Review piece called "Is Ozempic killing off the business lunch?"

A screenshot of a Financial Review piece called "Is Ozempic killing off the business lunch?"

A screenshot of a piece from the Atlantic titled "Ozempic Killed Diet and Exercise: Doctors might be slow to admit it, but Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs are making dieting and exercise obsolete."

A screenshot of a piece from the Atlantic titled "Ozempic Killed Diet and Exercise: Doctors might be slow to admit it, but Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs are making dieting and exercise obsolete."

A screenshot of a San Diego Magazine piece reads "Is Ozempic Killing Restaurants? GLP-1 weight-loss drugs slash customers' appetites for food and alcohol, potentially spelling trouble for your favorite bistro as the meds' market booms."

A screenshot of a San Diego Magazine piece reads "Is Ozempic Killing Restaurants? GLP-1 weight-loss drugs slash customers' appetites for food and alcohol, potentially spelling trouble for your favorite bistro as the meds' market booms."

Millennials are killing the diamond industry

15.02.2026 02:35 β€” πŸ‘ 290    πŸ” 24    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 2
r/analytics
β€’ IOh
We just found out our AI has been making up
analytics data for 3 months and I'm gonna
throw up.
Support
So we've been using an Al agent since November to
answer leadership questions about metrics. It seemed
amazing at first fast answers, detailed explanations,
everyone loved it.
I just found out it's been hallucinating numbers this
entire time.
Our VP of sales made territory decisions based on
data that didn't exist. Our CFO showed the board a
deck with fake insights. The Al was just inventing
plausible sounding percentages.
I only caught it by accident when someone asked me
to double check something. I started digging, and
holy shit, it's bad.

r/analytics β€’ IOh We just found out our AI has been making up analytics data for 3 months and I'm gonna throw up. Support So we've been using an Al agent since November to answer leadership questions about metrics. It seemed amazing at first fast answers, detailed explanations, everyone loved it. I just found out it's been hallucinating numbers this entire time. Our VP of sales made territory decisions based on data that didn't exist. Our CFO showed the board a deck with fake insights. The Al was just inventing plausible sounding percentages. I only caught it by accident when someone asked me to double check something. I started digging, and holy shit, it's bad.

lol this is gonna burst so fucking hard

14.02.2026 23:47 β€” πŸ‘ 19922    πŸ” 5191    πŸ’¬ 415    πŸ“Œ 1220
"Blame this on the misfortune of your birth"

"Blame this on the misfortune of your birth"

Roses are red
We live on Earth

14.02.2025 12:55 β€” πŸ‘ 453    πŸ” 239    πŸ’¬ 15    πŸ“Œ 3

This is actually the MSX2 version emulated through the EGGCONSOLE release on the Switch.

14.02.2026 23:05 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A screenshot of the game Ys III: Wanderers from Ys for the MSX2, emulated through EGGCONSOLE on the Nintendo Switch.

A screenshot of the game Ys III: Wanderers from Ys for the MSX2, emulated through EGGCONSOLE on the Nintendo Switch.

Get 'em, Adol!

14.02.2026 22:41 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Screenshot of an email that reads β€œIf you put as much energy in walking, therapy and trying to be a kind person - you may be able to help yourself
On your last day, the way you spent you life spreading your anger about how fat people are treated instead of preaching hope and empowerment with the voice you have created
But I suspect you have no self awareness.
Addicts are narcissists and do not ever apologize or take personal responsibility
You are fat because you choose to be fat.”

Screenshot of an email that reads β€œIf you put as much energy in walking, therapy and trying to be a kind person - you may be able to help yourself On your last day, the way you spent you life spreading your anger about how fat people are treated instead of preaching hope and empowerment with the voice you have created But I suspect you have no self awareness. Addicts are narcissists and do not ever apologize or take personal responsibility You are fat because you choose to be fat.”

When we talk about the ~ozempic discourse~ it's easy to think about that as a kind of broad social or marketing pressure that's applied equally to everyone with a body.

It's worth noting that it shows up in more acute & targeted ways, too. I'm getting more emails like this one than I have in years.

14.02.2026 19:03 β€” πŸ‘ 675    πŸ” 120    πŸ’¬ 33    πŸ“Œ 20
@upgradeaccessi1 

just a reminder that chronic illness can still occur no matter how 'heatlhy' you eat, how many vitamins/supplements you take, and/or how much exercise.  

a person doesn't choose chronic illness.  

saying or implying that is ableist.

@upgradeaccessi1 just a reminder that chronic illness can still occur no matter how 'heatlhy' you eat, how many vitamins/supplements you take, and/or how much exercise. a person doesn't choose chronic illness. saying or implying that is ableist.

14.02.2026 13:15 β€” πŸ‘ 145    πŸ” 42    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 3
What the cast of STARTUP HELL by Caitlin Rozakis thinks of Valentine's Day

What the cast of STARTUP HELL by Caitlin Rozakis thinks of Valentine's Day

STARTUP HELL is a lot of things - a searing satire of capitalism and corporate life, a teasing of urban fantasy tropes and their kickass heroines, a comic fantasy with some cute pets - but it's also a sweet romance! πŸ’™πŸ“š

14.02.2026 16:20 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

That's good, there aren't enough fun games out there. If there were, my dollar could go elsewhere. Alas, only shitty people make good games so I simply MUST give them my money.

Weird post to make, Hans.

14.02.2026 15:08 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

I assumed it was bad. This is worse.

14.02.2026 15:05 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

what do you even say to this

14.02.2026 06:54 β€” πŸ‘ 142    πŸ” 26    πŸ’¬ 29    πŸ“Œ 44

I hear this hero is from Lake Zurich, one of my old stomping grounds. Love it. This is how we deal with fascists in IL.

14.02.2026 14:01 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Video thumbnail

Stand Elsewhere: It's Stephen King's classic coming of age story, semi-competently re-imagined in Pico-8.

(With a radio mode that lets you listen to chiptune versions of 12 different tracks from the movie!)

postgoodism.itch.io/stand-elsewh...

#IndieDev #Pico8 #IndieGame

14.02.2026 14:03 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Woah woah woah
Are you telling me theres an anime thats ending is synced up Yes' Roundabout?!?!

14.02.2026 14:05 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A screenshot of the trophy list for Console Archives: Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos. The trophy list contains 4 trophies total, 1 bronze for playing the game once and 3 golds for playing each level for 10 minutes.

A screenshot of the trophy list for Console Archives: Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos. The trophy list contains 4 trophies total, 1 bronze for playing the game once and 3 golds for playing each level for 10 minutes.

Man, this sucks. Could I start an achievement consulting firm to help with this? Because, man, what a bummer.

We've had some really shit-tier achievement lists lately.

13.02.2026 23:48 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
A white a red truck coated in the box art of Dragon Age: Origins.

A white a red truck coated in the box art of Dragon Age: Origins.

I don't want to own Dragon Age: Origins truck. Dragon Age: Origins truck should roam free across Central Europe.

But I want to see Dragon Age: Origins truck. To experience it. To know such beauty still exists in our world, crafted by hands not so different than mine, to know it is able to endure.

13.02.2026 16:19 β€” πŸ‘ 323    πŸ” 104    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 22
Preview
a man in a suit and tie is disappointed Alt: ron in parks and rec show in a suit and tie is disappointed sighing, shaking head.

vegan watching people stress over if a chatbot might have feelings or be unhappy

13.02.2026 09:16 β€” πŸ‘ 107    πŸ” 16    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 0
A screenshot of the trophy list for Console Archives: Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos. The trophy list contains 4 trophies total, 1 bronze for playing the game once and 3 golds for playing each level for 10 minutes.

A screenshot of the trophy list for Console Archives: Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos. The trophy list contains 4 trophies total, 1 bronze for playing the game once and 3 golds for playing each level for 10 minutes.

Man, this sucks. Could I start an achievement consulting firm to help with this? Because, man, what a bummer.

We've had some really shit-tier achievement lists lately.

13.02.2026 23:48 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Post image

I’m not like him. I’ll never be like him. #ff7

13.02.2026 22:49 β€” πŸ‘ 8495    πŸ” 2929    πŸ’¬ 31    πŸ“Œ 7

@nickmanwrites is following 20 prominent accounts