Steven Messner

Dammit, Matt... I'm so sorry you're (and everyone else affected) having to go through this.

You're an incredible talent and I hope you land something soon 🙏🏼🙏🏼.

Ahhh! Congratulations!!

So happy for you and can't wait to read it 😊

I really love this perspective on parenting: give 'em enough slack to wade out of their comfort zone, where they'll be challenged and can grow.

That said we let our three year old watch Spirited Away once, totally forgetting how intense it was. So there's always a delicate balance 😅

"Congratulations. That was a test. You passed."

I've actually just gone ahead and given my personal account mod powers because at least I can still ban a fool.

Also a fun extra wrinkle is my personal discord is attached to an old work email I don't have access to, so I'm terrified or logging out and hitting a 2FA and losing EVERYTHING 🫠

Holy crap this is my biggest frustration with Discord right now!!

It's so annoying when you have a work/CM account and a personal one 😭

Between the FF7 Remake trilogy, the Eva Rebuild series, Gundam GQuuuX, and now Death Stranding 2, I'm discovering that I really like the "Works in direct but understated conversation with the creator's previous stuff" genre.

This gets one enthusiastic "Oh, helllll yaaaaa" from me.

Got home from a work trip to a surprise birthday party. Cake, balloons, even a present!

It is not my birthday.

Turns out my 3yo just randomly decided she had to throw me a party and refused to take no for an answer.

Also the gift was reusable water balloons... She insisted I'd love them!

Got really worried when this random person messaged me on Chess dot com, only for it to turn into the most wonderful interaction.

I'm stunned (and humbled) that someone remembered my byline from @pcgamer.com all these years later 🥹

WHAT IS @stevenmessner.bsky.social TELLING US HERE

!!! had a fun time, thanks everyone!

Thanks :D

Made a disastrous parenting error playing chess with my 3yo this morning.

I saw a chance to teach her about discovered checks while also taking her bishop.

I am an idiot.

But I'm at least a proud idiot: While she was sobbing under the sofa she correctly referred to it as her "dark-squared bishop"

Super excited that BBI is supporting this wonderful project as co-development partners.

Go check out the demo on Steam and let me know what you think!

I want this to sell no less than 33 times more.

You did and continue to do an incredible job, Len ♥️

Sending you hugs, man, and hope you're doing okay. It's awful to say goodbye, but how wonderful you got to make these great memories together ♥️

Yeah, this really sucks 😞

Remembering Leif Johnson, the gaming industry's one and only cowboy poet Leif was a historian, a fountain pen connoisseur, and a kind soul who brought a remarkably eclectic background to his time writing about games.

I wrote a tribute to Leif Johnson, a former writer for many gaming publications, and my friend, who died last weekend. The world is poorer without him in it.

Obituary for Jeremiah Leif Pickett Johnson | After® Remembering the obituary for Jeremiah Leif Pickett Johnson: On May 17, 2025, Jeremiah Leif Pickett Johnson, 45, died suddenly of a cardiovascular event. Known as “Leif” to his friends and colleagues a...

I became friends with Leif so early in my career because I emailed him out of the blue randomly asking for advice. He didn't know me at all, but he was so generous with his time.

He was a wonderful, brilliant person and we will miss him dearly.

RIP, friend...

www.after.com/obituaries/j...

Very good fix in today's Stellaris patch notes:

Thanks!

Thank you!!

Alert: I'm now Director of Communications & Audiences!

Hooray!

I'm STOKED for obvious reasons but especially because this role means working more closely with our amazing dev teams, empowering them to make games that players will adore.

Lots happening at BBI that I can't wait to talk about SOON™!

There are too many strong games reporters, not enough platforms. Maybe Game File can help?

Thus...I'm announcing a plan for freelancers

Guaranteed rates plus a cut of new subscriber revenue, so that writers, not just me, benefit if their stories blow up

Details:
www.gamefile.news/p/game-file-...

The untold history of Barbie Fashion Designer, the first mass-market ‘game for girls’ How Digital Domain and Mattel Media built Barbie’s wardrobe

I'm getting more sad about getting laid off. My work means so much to me. I'm a really good reporter. I've been getting scoops every single week lately, while also doing in-depth, award-winning reporting. I have good ideas!

New email: nicolecarpenterwrites@gmail.com

www.polygon.com/23776996/bar...

doom and gloom aside, we just recently committed to publishing even more freelance work as part of our subscriber drive, and we’re (finally) gonna post an actual pitch guide next week. for now, though, hit up inbox@aftermath.site if you’ve got a cool idea. our rates are pretty good

Really sad to hear the news about Polygon today. Hoping all those very talented folks land *VERY QUICKLY* into new jobs.

Pretty sweet to go see a band you've never even heard before, they end up being one of the best live shows you've ever seen, and walk out being like yah okay I guess this is my new favorite artist.

(They're called Leprous and you should listen to them)