Fred Z.
@fred-zed.bsky.social
Game designer, adventurer, karaoke host, and American immigrant. I contain multitudes, but usually talk about writing and designing for games. You've probably played some of my work. See my longer form stuff at https://fredzed.substack.com/
Loading screens, cutscenes, and conversations: you can hide them, or you can make them something you play, rather than something you endure.
Gameplay Dead Spots and How to Handle Them
Loading screens, cutscenes, conversations -- make them playable, or make them invisible
open.substack.com
Skipping conversations and cutscenes: the bane of the narrative designer. But why do players do it? And what can we do to make it more appealing to stay?
Why do Players Skip?
Getting back to the action
open.substack.com
>Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson were all on Russian payroll >Orban loses in Hungary >Rod Dreher immediately leaves Budapest >The Daily Wire fires half their staff was all the right-wing conspiracy posting about USAID just massive fucking projection?
I may be the only narrative designer who hates cutscenes in games.
Bugbears: the Cutscene
Play, don't show
open.substack.com
This is a stupid and frustrating time to be alive. Being alive is still probably better than the alternative, but don't quote me on that.
I write primarily as a way to process my thoughts on complex topics and big feels. Lots of writers do this. Sometimes I also write to vent. These pieces usually involve more florid and profane imagery. But I know I'm really in a bad state when I'm driven to that dread refuge of the damned: poetry.
After hearing this, my grandfather would’ve taken a bullet for this man. Just a crazy skill of making great speechwriting (written by and with others, I’m sure) sound conversational.
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani@mayor.nyc.gov · 6mo agoHappy St. Patrick's Day, New York.
What does a bard in a tavern have in common with an early access gamedev? They know how to read the room.
Responsive Storytelling
An artform with an old history, and old techniques that are ripe for rediscovery
open.substack.com
Delighted to hear @shutupshow.bsky.social reminisce about Amalur's "beautiful neon fantasy colors"! Always a pleasure to hear it fondly remembered. If you liked it too, check out the now-funding board game featuring @seanandrewmurray.bsky.social, Amalur's lead concept artist! www.cityofgateway.com
Gateway
cityofgateway.com
Players love breaking your game, and it takes a brave designer to let them. The results can be horrible — and greater than you can imagine.
Player Investment: Break It Your Way
Be willing to sacrifice tone for something unexpected and wonderful
open.substack.com
Is anybody ever gonna take a step back and realize the "Russia Russia Russia" people — derided as lunatic wine moms — were actually underplaying the foreign influence stuff, and the loud people who kept insisting it was all fake are now saying Jeffrey Epstein was kind of a cool guy?
NSA detected phone call between foreign intelligence and a person close to Trump
Whistleblower says that Tulsi Gabbard blocked agency from sharing report and delivered it to White House chief of staff
theguardian.com
How a simple walk with Dad took a bloody turn in Fallout 3 — and what it takes to make unexpected story moments in games, both from the designer and the player.
Emergent Narratives: Finding Ghosts in the Machine
Finding the stories that show up between the rules
open.substack.com
this is such weak baby behavior. just say whistles should be illegal because fuck you, that's why. trying to justify this by whining that your big brains can't handle loud noises is coward shit
Justin Baragona@justinbaragona.bsky.social · 7mo agoWhistles are now WMDs, according to the "high IQ" crowd.
Crowd is massive, now overflowing Congress Plaza and taking up a block-long stretch of Michigan Avenue. Reminder: this event was only announced yesterday.
Interactive media requires writers to give up some control to the player. But why would a writer want to do that in the first place? And what does it require from the players who take that extra agency?
The Trade-Offs of Interactive Media
What game writers give up, all in hopes of reaching a deeper connection
open.substack.com
Game design, bones, and AI slop. Why it’s troubling when a studio head says they’re using AI “but it won’t be in the final game.” (with thanks to @unburntwitch.com for inspiring me to write this, and to @jasonschreier.bsky.social for the original interview)
Do the Work
The bones of a game, AI slop, and how an idea becomes reality
open.substack.com
