Esther Wright
@enwright.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Digital History @ Cardiff University. Historical video game marketing & Rockstar Games researcher. Co-convenor: @historygamesnet [She/her]. 🏴
Hi all! Just a reminder the CFP deadline for MAMG's annual asynchronous conference is approaching (3 Aug)! Our theme this year is 'Possible Worlds’ and ‘Possible Pasts’. The link below has the full CFP #MAMG #medieval #gamestudies @midagesmodgames.bsky.social tinyurl.com/MAMG2026
‘Star Wars: Star Pilots’ releases in exactly 2 months in the UK (a slightly longer wait for this of you in the US)! The fact that we’re suddenly that close absolutely blows my mind. If you’re interested in or excited by the book then there’s still time to pre-order: geni.us/StarWarsStar...
Star Wars Star Pilots by Chris Kempshall: 9798217305841 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
Wedge Antilles – hero, warrior, star pilot. The only rebel to face two Death Stars and live to tell the tale. Wedge confronted death countless times, in battles large and small, where split-second...
geni.us
Chris Kempshall@chriskempshall.bsky.social · last mo.'Make it worth it.' As revealed by @starwarsexplained.com the front cover for 'Star Wars: Star Pilots' from @dkbooks.bsky.social is here. If you're excited about the book the time to pre-order is here: geni.us/StarWarsStar... The countdown to 1st Oct (UK) and 6th Oct (US) begins today.
This was an interesting piece to write, reflecting on how stories changes over time, how they both shape and are shaped by ideas of national identity, and how that feeds into my own current work. I've been following the HGN blog posts for a while now - it was lovely being invited to contribute!
Historical Games Network@historygamesnet.bsky.social · 6d agoNew post! ✍️ The first for our "Nations" theme, Stevan Anastasoff writes about the ongoing development of Tales of the Mabinogion (@mabinogiongame.bsky.social), translating Welsh history, stories and language into game design through layers of interpretation 🏴 www.historicalgames.net/making-tales...
A super thoughtful post on the way interpretation of literary texts - across time - shapes the stories we tell, even before they make it into a video game. Super interested to see more of @mabinogiongame.bsky.social and how it puts Wales and the Welsh language at its heart! 🏴
Historical Games Network@historygamesnet.bsky.social · 6d agoNew post! ✍️ The first for our "Nations" theme, Stevan Anastasoff writes about the ongoing development of Tales of the Mabinogion (@mabinogiongame.bsky.social), translating Welsh history, stories and language into game design through layers of interpretation 🏴 www.historicalgames.net/making-tales...
In October last year I was fired by Rockstar Games in what we believe was a union busting move. We lost our home. We lost 2 jobs with my partner being forced to resign. We lost a community. Most importantly however we had to leave our two dogs behind, one of which will never return.
Chris Bratt@chrisbratt.bsky.social · 2w agoBack in October, Rockstar Games fired 34 employees for alleged gross misconduct. The severity of these firings could have spelled the end for a burgeoning union effort that was underway, but it didn't. In fact, the union is now *bigger* than it's ever been before. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym4z...
Back in October, Rockstar Games fired 34 employees for alleged gross misconduct. The severity of these firings could have spelled the end for a burgeoning union effort that was underway, but it didn't. In fact, the union is now *bigger* than it's ever been before. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym4z...
Rockstar Fired 34 People, but the Union Is Bigger than Ever
YouTube video by People Make Games
youtube.com
Delighted to say that I’m going to be speaking on a panel along with some other excellent academics and developers at AdventureX (a conference I love) The panel is titled “Fact versus Fiction: Creating historical games for a modern audience” - should be a good one!
AdventureX@adventurex.bsky.social · 2w agoThis year’s schedule and lineup of incredible talks and panels are live! Visit adventurexpo.org for details. Join us at #AdvX26 in London on 7-8 November to hear from @sallybeaumont.bsky.social, @theexaminedgame.bsky.social, and more amazing gaming pros. Keynotes coming soon! Follow for updates
My complimentary copy has arrived in the office here in the Philippines. All the thanks to the wonderful editors @enwright.bsky.social, Iain Donald, and @doktornick.bsky.social for giving me a chance to be a part of this anthology. Congratulations to them and all the other writers!
Genuinely ecstatic we have this chapter in Writing Game Histories. An amazing range of perspectives from people who care about what games do to history & vice versa. And at the core of it, a clear sense of why thinking thoughtfully & creatively about history, play (and research!!) matters so much
Dr Holly Nielsen@hollynielsen.bsky.social · last mo.I did the round table that became this chapter the literal day before handing in my PhD thesis 🥲
We're a bit late doing this but announcing our new theme - Nations - and the full call for contributions. As usual it's an open call, and full details are available on the HGN blog here: www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
Call for Contributions - Nations | Historical Games Network
Games are a significant medium through which ideas of nationhood, identity, history, and cultural belonging are produced, circulated, and contested. Whether through historically themed simulations, mi...
historicalgames.net
If you missed last month’s discussion panel for our Analogue theme, you can now find a recording of the event on the HGN blog and YouTube channel! Watch this space for our next theme announcement, coming soon… www.historicalgames.net/recording-hg...
Recording: HGN Analogue Panel (19th May 2026) | Historical Games Network
On the 19th May 2026, we hosted our 14th HGN discussion panel for our Analogue theme, with guest speakers Izzy Bartley, Liz Davidson, and Andrew McKelvey (chaired by Nick Webber). You can now find a r...
historicalgames.net
Very proud of the theme of this edition. Come and join us to talk about possible pasts, possible worlds, and possibilities for our collective future through the study of history.
The Middle Ages in Modern Games@midagesmodgames.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe CfP for the upcoming #MAMG26 is now live! The event will take place on 5-7 Oct, assynchronously and online. Come join us from anywhere in the world to discuss medievalisms in games and alternative approaches to the ludic past.
My thesis “Archaeological Game Design: Video Game Archaeology as Interpretive Play and Play Preservation” is now online and open access! You can access the official version here, however this has some figures redacted: qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle...
My book, "The Middle Ages in Computer Games" is out in paperback tomorrow (2 Jun). If you've been waiting to get hold of it, now could be a good time! boydellandbrewer.com/book/the-mid...
Was delighted to contribute with my fellow series editors to this piece on intersections between the Humanities disciplines and game studies in our series and more broadly, as part of a great collection!
dehypotheses@dehypotheses.bsky.social · 2mo ago“What do the humanities do with video games and what do video games do to the humanities?” Games shape memory, ideology, space, identity, and cultural imagination. Why #GameStudies need disciplinary heterogeneity ⬇️ gespielt.hypotheses.... via AKGWDS
Writing Game Histories edited by Esther Wright, Iain Donald & Nick Webber explores how games shape—and are shaped by—our understanding of the past, offering a clear introduction to the fast‑growing field of Historical Game Studies. Discover the book https://bit.ly/4sAXVLm
LOVE THIS! Here’s the US link:
bloomsbury.com
Esther Wright@enwright.bsky.social · 2mo agoIt's publication day for Writing Game Histories!! 🥳🎉 Please do recommend it for your library, but it's also out in paperback so not as hideously expensive as academic books can be: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/writing-g... @doktornick.bsky.social @doni.bsky.social @historygamesnet.bsky.social
Publication day. Thank you to @enwright.bsky.social, Iain, and Nick for making this so. I think this is a meaningful contribution to the field of historical games. My chapter is on historical rhetoric and board games, with a case study on Crisis: 1914. lnkd.in/evi5Z7Nw
So happy I could contribute the text Historical Theory and Game Design to the amazing Writing Game Histories anthology by @enwright.bsky.social, Iain Donald, and @doktornick.bsky.social! ✍️🕹️📜 Hit me up if you want to chat about anything related to historical game development 😺 Link in the comment!
Absolutely thrilled to have a chapter in this book (alongside other wonderful historical game developers and academics)! Huge congrats to Esther, Nick, and Iain 🎉 Can’t wait to read the book!
Esther Wright@enwright.bsky.social · 2mo agoIt's publication day for Writing Game Histories!! 🥳🎉 Please do recommend it for your library, but it's also out in paperback so not as hideously expensive as academic books can be: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/writing-g... @doktornick.bsky.social @doni.bsky.social @historygamesnet.bsky.social
It's publication day for Writing Game Histories!! 🥳🎉 Please do recommend it for your library, but it's also out in paperback so not as hideously expensive as academic books can be: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/writing-g... @doktornick.bsky.social @doni.bsky.social @historygamesnet.bsky.social
Don’t forget to sign up to our Analogue event this coming Tuesday (19th May, 16:00 UK time) over on TicketTailor! www.tickettailor.com/events/histo...
Select tickets – Historical Games Network Panel - Analogue – Teams
Historical Games Network Panel - Analogue – Teams, Tue 19 May 2026 - Join us for the 14th Historical Games Network Discussion Panel on the 19 May 2026 (16:00-17:30 UK time), on the theme of "Analogue"...
tickettailor.com
New on the HGN blog today! Guest speaker for our upcoming “Analogue” discussion panel Liz Davidson (@beyondsolitaire.bsky.social) reflects on 3 recent historical board game projects, and the balance between “authenticity” and “accuracy” in game design: www.historicalgames.net/accuracy-vs-...
Accuracy vs. Authenticity in Historical Board Game Design | Historical Games Network
Since May 2020, I have conducted over 200 interviews for my podcast, Beyond Solitaire. A significant number of these focus on historical gaming, and one of the most common recurring themes among them ...
historicalgames.net
Our next HGN panel is coming up next week, 19th May. Our brilliant panel will be talk all things analogue games and history Come join us! 👇👇
Historical Games Network@historygamesnet.bsky.social · 3mo agoOur Analogue theme event will take place online on Tuesday 19 May, 16:00-17:30 UK time - just 2 weeks away! We're joined by the excellent Izzy Bartley, @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social, and @theoldkingscrown.bsky.social. Tickets here: www.tickettailor.com/events/histo... #gamestudies #skystorians #gtp
New today on the HGN blog - the first post from our event panellists! Izzy Bartley explores the coloniality of collecting in museums and Western boardgames. www.historicalgames.net/parallel-play/ #gamestudies #historicalgames #gtp #skystorians
Parallel Play: The Coloniality of Collecting in Western Museums and Western-designed Board Games | Historical Games Network
Many museums in Britain have their foundations firmly planted in the colonial project. I am a White British woman, educated through the English national curriculum and I work as a Digital Learning Off...
historicalgames.net
Our Analogue theme event will take place online on Tuesday 19 May, 16:00-17:30 UK time - just 2 weeks away! We're joined by the excellent Izzy Bartley, @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social, and @theoldkingscrown.bsky.social. Tickets here: www.tickettailor.com/events/histo... #gamestudies #skystorians #gtp
Select tickets – Historical Games Network Panel - Analogue – Teams
Historical Games Network Panel - Analogue – Teams, Tue 19 May 2026 - Join us for the 14th Historical Games Network Discussion Panel on the 19 May 2026 (16:00-17:30 UK time), on the theme of "Analogue"...
tickettailor.com
Your perspective matters! We’re assessing HGN’s impact, and your input will shape our future work. If you’ve attended an event, read our blog or followed us, we’d like to hear from you. ⏱️Survey takes only 2–5 minutes Thank you for being part of our community forms.cloud.microsoft/e/3vawgZSsST
Come help us shape the future of video game heritage in Scotland! New AHRC PhD opportunity for anyone interested in video game heritage and want to work with National Museums Scotland, Abertay Uni and Uni of Glasgow, apply! Applications due 11/05/2026 ce0173li.webitrent.com/ce0173li_web...
ce0173li.webitrent.com
This Friday (24th; 6pm UK/1pm Eastern) I'm speaking with Daniel J. Finnegan on our work with the Cardiff Heritage Jam, engaging students with local history & heritage through games, for this Teaching Game Studies roundtable (in excellent company, too!) Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
it's that time of year again...are you a historical videogame player living in the Netherlands? do you want to contribute to player-focused research on past-play? come sign up for a gameplay session so i can watch you 👀 for science! check out edu.nl/cd849 to learn more 🏛️🎮⚔️🎲
