I really hate writing dialogue. I mean the word, "dialogue", it annoys me.
Jonathan Masino
@jonathanmasino.bsky.social
Film Dude and Editor from the NYC. Sr Video Producer @ Penguin Random House. Co-host @ LitsPlay. Views are 100% my own, unfortunately.
Got to interview Tonda Ros (@dogubomb.bsky.social), the man behind the seemingly endless supply of secrets and intrigue in #BluePrince. We talked about its approach to storytelling and worldbuilding, the influence of Victorian literature, and more! youtu.be/H0nY1MjmGvg
Writing BLUE PRINCE with Creator Tonda Ros
YouTube video by Lits Play
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Fans of #ScarletHollow, check out this in-depth interview we did with its creators @blacktabbygames.com about its writing, monster romances, and more! youtu.be/MKXWZo3Ff10
Writing SCARLET HOLLOW — Interview with Abby Howard and Tony Arias
YouTube video by Lits Play
youtu.be
What's everyone's favorite Kingdom Hearts World? Over at Lits Play we decided to do a March Madness style tournament to decide the best one. Hearts Madness? #kingdomhearts youtu.be/cpBP9WEAvAA?...
The Best Kingdom Hearts Worlds — Ultimate Tournament
YouTube video by Lits Play
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Charlotte and I took to #Minecraft to try and build the tower from Rapunzel. Do we have enough hair between us to escape? You decide. youtu.be/JtCrbsrFWFw
Let's Build Rapunzel's Tower in MINECRAFT — PS5 gameplay
YouTube video by Lits Play
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If you like a hilarious and contemporary take on the cyberpunk noir mystery, I highly recommend TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE by Cory O'Brien (@bettermyths.bsky.social). If you like watching me get humiliated in a dating sim, I highly recommend this video: youtu.be/BPNWdCIJda8?...
Let's Play Monster Prom with the Game's Narrative Designer Cory O'Brien
YouTube video by Lits Play
youtu.be
I'm not sure it reflects well on the publishing industry, but we played through the beginning of #SplitFiction and had a grand ol' time: youtu.be/d1Fllz53Cp4
SPLIT FICTION PS5 Gameplay - First 60 Minutes with LITS PLAY!
YouTube video by Lits Play
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We've been doing a bunch of great interviews with game developers at Lits Play on writing and story design. Here's a compilation of various devs talking about the Books that inspired their stories: youtu.be/RIA2wDu0pMw?...
Game Developers on the Books that Inspired their Stories — ALAN WAKE 2, CYBERPUNK 2077, UNTIL DAWN
YouTube video by Lits Play
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I've been obsessed with #KingdomComeDeliverance2 this month so it was a huge thrill to chat with its Creative Director Daniel Vávra on the writing the game's 2.2 million words among other things. #kcd2 youtu.be/Js5Ye63D3b8
Writing KINGDOM COME: DELIVERANCE 2 with Creative Director Daniel Vávra
YouTube video by Lits Play
youtu.be
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that I spend 5% of all working hours untangling XLR cables.
New Lits Play pod is up, where we yap about Horror in games and literature, and what scares us. I may or may not have mentioned Madonna youtu.be/WmQJIAonOeM?...
Talking Horror in Games and Books | Lits Play Podcast 8
YouTube video by Lits Play
youtu.be
Authors Layne Fargo and Sarah MacLean rated some of gaming's spiciest kissing scenes. We had a time. youtu.be/MTznyyVRQbc
Romance Author Reacts to Gaming Kiss Scenes — THE LAST OF US PART 2, BALDUR'S GATE 3, FFVII REBIRTH
YouTube video by Lits Play
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I DID A THING WITH LITS PLAY! 📚🎮 this channel is dedicated to exploring where literature meets video games and I can't believe they asked me to come on it and yap about FFVII Thanks @jonathanmasino.bsky.social and here's a big old spoilery podcast for my fellow Rebirth boffins ⬇️
Jonathan Masino@jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 2y agoHere's a short clip on the open world storytelling in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth with the amazing and funny, Amy Mallett @amymallett.bsky.social Part of a full narrative breakdown we did for the whole game 👀 Full video link here: youtu.be/jNAhaR6Rpec
A little chat with Penguin Random House's "Lits Play" just went live today--it was fun to chat explicitly about literary style and influence. Not always something I get chance to do! youtu.be/REJS8ELZE94?...
Creating CITIZEN SLEEPER 2 — Interview with Gareth Damian Martin
YouTube video by Lits Play
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Had so much fun learning about the story behind the imaginative universe and branching narrative of the upcoming science fiction tabletop-inspired RPG, #CitizenSleeper2, with its creator Gareth Damian Martin @jumpovertheage.com. youtu.be/REJS8ELZE94
Creating CITIZEN SLEEPER 2 — Interview with Gareth Damian Martin
YouTube video by Lits Play
youtu.be
Me trying to decide whether to root for the Commanders or Eagles today
a man in a new york giants jersey is watching a football game
ALT: a man in a new york giants jersey is watching a football game
media.tenor.com
I think I spent the entire day on Microsoft Teams...don't recommend.
What do you do when you fundamentally disagree with how an author pronounces their main character's name?
Here's a short clip on the open world storytelling in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth with the amazing and funny, Amy Mallett @amymallett.bsky.social Part of a full narrative breakdown we did for the whole game 👀 Full video link here: youtu.be/jNAhaR6Rpec
If you're concerned about the direction of the world, there are many local civic/governmental boards and meetings starving for attention, skill, and participation. Water boards. Electric coops. School boards. Town management. Planning commissions. Etc. We get the democracy we participate in.
Why do I keep getting sucked into most-likely-never-to-be-finished fantasy sagas?
The Lits Play Podcast is back in 2025! Here we talk about our most anticipated games and books coming this year. youtu.be/k-Q5_qXIHEs?...
Most Anticipated Games and Books of 2025 | The Lits Play Podcast 7
YouTube video by Lits Play
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Had an awesome time learning all about the writing and research behind the great historical mystery game #Pentiment with its Director Josh Sawyer (@jesawyer.bsky.social). Check out the interview here: youtu.be/JiSu_Z3wAmQ?...
Writing PENTIMENT — Interview with Josh Sawyer
YouTube video by Lits Play
youtu.be
Lots of great nuggets of game writing wisdom in this Lits Play interview with @jojofinal-final.bsky.social and the amazing writing in @cultofthelamb.bsky.social. Check it out: youtu.be/l33GaOTR1qg?...
Writing Game Narrative with JoJo Zhou | CULT OF THE LAMB
YouTube video by Lits Play
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Salute to the great sci-fi and now, fantasy writer @paolobacigalupi.bsky.social for trying out our Fantasy Map Geography Test. See if Paolo can remember where locales are from LOTR and ASOIAF. Full Video Link: youtu.be/_AuXLj5mINM?...
Just posted a new interview with the great game writer @evanskolnick.bsky.social about his book, Video Game Storytelling, where we discussed narrative design in games and how it has evolved over the years. Here's a clip about using cut scenes:
Now live! On the cusp of the 10th anniversary of my book, Video Game Storytelling, being published by Penguin Random House, I was interviewed on their "Lits Play" YouTube channel. How has game narrative evolved in that time? What's improved? What challenges persist? And where are things headed?
Video Game Storytelling with Game Writer Evan Skolnick | MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2, STAR WARS 1313
YouTube video by Lits Play
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Lots of great games this year, but here are a few I really liked that fell a bit under the radar.
