James O’Connor
@jickle.net
Narrative designer, writer, editor, critic, consultant and mock reviewer for hire! Author of Untitled Goose Game for Boss Fight Books and (unannounced second book)! Winner of some awards! jamesoconnorau at gmail.
Pinned
James O’Connor
@jickle.net
· May 30
New pinned post! I am an:
-Author (second book in the works)
-Narrative designer and game writer
-Award-winning critic and journalist
-Mock reviewer, narrative consultant and script editor seeking new clients (jamesoconnorau at gmail dot com to discuss rates!)
-Copywriter, if the pay's not bad
-Author (second book in the works)
-Narrative designer and game writer
-Award-winning critic and journalist
-Mock reviewer, narrative consultant and script editor seeking new clients (jamesoconnorau at gmail dot com to discuss rates!)
-Copywriter, if the pay's not bad
I am finally playing @traindetective.bsky.social and I am just immediately in love with this game
January 19, 2026 at 7:36 AM
I am finally playing @traindetective.bsky.social and I am just immediately in love with this game
Had to watch another movie this morning to get a more interesting four (I had not watched R+J since high school, what a picture)
January 17, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Had to watch another movie this morning to get a more interesting four (I had not watched R+J since high school, what a picture)
Reposted by James O’Connor
The new Adelaide Festival board has:
- retracted the previous board’s statement about Randa Abdel-Fattah
- rescinded her exclusion and invited her to the 2027 festival
- apologised to Louise Adler
- rescinded the decision to have a subcommittee review AWW operations
- retracted the previous board’s statement about Randa Abdel-Fattah
- rescinded her exclusion and invited her to the 2027 festival
- apologised to Louise Adler
- rescinded the decision to have a subcommittee review AWW operations
January 15, 2026 at 12:43 AM
The new Adelaide Festival board has:
- retracted the previous board’s statement about Randa Abdel-Fattah
- rescinded her exclusion and invited her to the 2027 festival
- apologised to Louise Adler
- rescinded the decision to have a subcommittee review AWW operations
- retracted the previous board’s statement about Randa Abdel-Fattah
- rescinded her exclusion and invited her to the 2027 festival
- apologised to Louise Adler
- rescinded the decision to have a subcommittee review AWW operations
Worth noting that the *entire* board resigned and has been replaced, so this is a whole new group of people navigating this shitshow
Adelaide Festival board has retracted their statement of 8 January and have an extended an invite to Randa Abdel-Fattah for the 2027 Writers' Week
January 15, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Worth noting that the *entire* board resigned and has been replaced, so this is a whole new group of people navigating this shitshow
Just got notified that the great folks at @pixelcrib.bsky.social have ordered in more copies of my book after it sold out, so you can preorder it now and it'll ship in February: www.pixelcrib.com.au/products/unt...
Untitled Goose Game by James O'Connor | Boss Fight Books | PixelCrib
It's a beautiful day in the village, and you are a horrible goose, ready to wreak charming havoc on the weary locals. You'll ruin their gardens, invade their pub, and terrorize their children. What ki...
www.pixelcrib.com.au
January 14, 2026 at 5:16 AM
Just got notified that the great folks at @pixelcrib.bsky.social have ordered in more copies of my book after it sold out, so you can preorder it now and it'll ship in February: www.pixelcrib.com.au/products/unt...
I am late to the party on this but it is kind of incredible how good season 2 of the Twisted Metal TV show is? Started watching because I like Mike Mitchell, and the first season was fine, but I am surprised to find myself all the way locked in on season 2. It’s really fun!
January 13, 2026 at 11:15 AM
I am late to the party on this but it is kind of incredible how good season 2 of the Twisted Metal TV show is? Started watching because I like Mike Mitchell, and the first season was fine, but I am surprised to find myself all the way locked in on season 2. It’s really fun!
Reposted by James O’Connor
We're looking for a News Editor to join TWIV. Ideal candidate would have proven experience with:
- Working in news for a games outlet
- Conducting original reporting
- Mentoring junior writers
...and genuinely enjoy writing news, diving deep, and talking to people. UK timezone preferred. Email me.
- Working in news for a games outlet
- Conducting original reporting
- Mentoring junior writers
...and genuinely enjoy writing news, diving deep, and talking to people. UK timezone preferred. Email me.
January 13, 2026 at 10:17 AM
We're looking for a News Editor to join TWIV. Ideal candidate would have proven experience with:
- Working in news for a games outlet
- Conducting original reporting
- Mentoring junior writers
...and genuinely enjoy writing news, diving deep, and talking to people. UK timezone preferred. Email me.
- Working in news for a games outlet
- Conducting original reporting
- Mentoring junior writers
...and genuinely enjoy writing news, diving deep, and talking to people. UK timezone preferred. Email me.
Reposted by James O’Connor
Bendigo Writers Festival, Meanjin, now Adelaide Writers … powerful vested interests would rather destroy the cultural institutions they are supposedly responsible for than allow certain voices to be heard
Adelaide Festival board facing a stark choice: Are they willing to sacrifice the entire festival to prevent a single Palestinian-Australian author from speaking?
January 9, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Bendigo Writers Festival, Meanjin, now Adelaide Writers … powerful vested interests would rather destroy the cultural institutions they are supposedly responsible for than allow certain voices to be heard
Reposted by James O’Connor
Every time Malinauskas speaks about the Writers Festival, he just makes it more obvious that this whole thing was his call www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in...
'Not the Premier's book club': Malinauskas addresses criticism over resignations - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia
Premier Peter Malinauskas today assured the Adelaide Festival board is still functional after its chair and three members resigned.
www.indailysa.com.au
January 12, 2026 at 7:17 AM
Every time Malinauskas speaks about the Writers Festival, he just makes it more obvious that this whole thing was his call www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in...
Kind of staggering to try and comprehend the level of incompetence and hate that led to this moment. Even this final statement stinks like dogshit.
Adelaide Festival is done - and the rest of the board has stepped down
January 13, 2026 at 4:34 AM
Kind of staggering to try and comprehend the level of incompetence and hate that led to this moment. Even this final statement stinks like dogshit.
January 13, 2026 at 4:21 AM
Love Lego, love Pokemon, but that $1000 Pokemon Lego is some sort of psy-op designed to identify and target unserious people
(The Eevee is quite nice though)
(The Eevee is quite nice though)
January 12, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Love Lego, love Pokemon, but that $1000 Pokemon Lego is some sort of psy-op designed to identify and target unserious people
(The Eevee is quite nice though)
(The Eevee is quite nice though)
Disappointed with myself when I realise that I came out of 2025 without any real blistering hot takes. I didn't love Ball X Pit or Despelote quite as much as everyone else, but those are not fun opinions. I feel like I need to go watch Ella McKay and then declare it a masterwork or something.
My favorite critics always have a handful of "brother, what the fuck are you talking about?" level opinions, real passion that comes out of left field for absolute dogwater, that they are not only willing but able to defend to the point where they almost win you over.
January 12, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Disappointed with myself when I realise that I came out of 2025 without any real blistering hot takes. I didn't love Ball X Pit or Despelote quite as much as everyone else, but those are not fun opinions. I feel like I need to go watch Ella McKay and then declare it a masterwork or something.
I have gone back to Yakuza 0 - a game I never finished - and the pure vibes of holding the walk button and slowly walking down a bustling street are off the charts
January 10, 2026 at 1:23 AM
I have gone back to Yakuza 0 - a game I never finished - and the pure vibes of holding the walk button and slowly walking down a bustling street are off the charts
A truuuuuly cool game
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance drops onto Switch 2 Nintendo Classics today, soundtrack on Nintendo Music too www.vooks.net/fire-e...
January 9, 2026 at 1:43 AM
A truuuuuly cool game
You expect to change and grow as you age, but I am 38 now and honestly very pleased to hear that a fifth Jackass movie is coming this year
January 8, 2026 at 5:10 AM
You expect to change and grow as you age, but I am 38 now and honestly very pleased to hear that a fifth Jackass movie is coming this year
In previous years I've been a big fan of the Adelaide Festival and have attended Writer's Week regularly - but this year they might as well go ahead and cancel the whole thing. A nonsense decision made by, best case scenario, pathetic cowards. www.adelaidefestival.com.au/news/2025/ad...
Adelaide Festival Board Statement
www.adelaidefestival.com.au
January 8, 2026 at 3:11 AM
In previous years I've been a big fan of the Adelaide Festival and have attended Writer's Week regularly - but this year they might as well go ahead and cancel the whole thing. A nonsense decision made by, best case scenario, pathetic cowards. www.adelaidefestival.com.au/news/2025/ad...
A cool thing about games is that sometimes even when I'm playing a bad one I still find myself thinking "but someone built this whole virtual world and now I'm moving through it??? That's so cool!"
January 7, 2026 at 4:13 AM
A cool thing about games is that sometimes even when I'm playing a bad one I still find myself thinking "but someone built this whole virtual world and now I'm moving through it??? That's so cool!"
2020: trick question, not a real year, did not happen / Da 5 Bloods
2021: Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 (sorry, very James pick)
2022: Everything Everywhere All At Once
2023: The Zone of Interest
2024: Challengers
2025: No Other Choice
2021: Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 (sorry, very James pick)
2022: Everything Everywhere All At Once
2023: The Zone of Interest
2024: Challengers
2025: No Other Choice
60% of the way through the decade, what are your fav movies?
2020: Shiva Baby
2021: Licorice Pizza
2022: Decision to Leave/Nope
2023: Asteroid City
2024: I Saw The TV Glow
2025: Sinners*
*I barely saw anything from 2025 and this will be surpassed as soon as I catch something great
2020: Shiva Baby
2021: Licorice Pizza
2022: Decision to Leave/Nope
2023: Asteroid City
2024: I Saw The TV Glow
2025: Sinners*
*I barely saw anything from 2025 and this will be surpassed as soon as I catch something great
January 2, 2026 at 8:40 AM
2020: trick question, not a real year, did not happen / Da 5 Bloods
2021: Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 (sorry, very James pick)
2022: Everything Everywhere All At Once
2023: The Zone of Interest
2024: Challengers
2025: No Other Choice
2021: Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 (sorry, very James pick)
2022: Everything Everywhere All At Once
2023: The Zone of Interest
2024: Challengers
2025: No Other Choice
I had a dream that I was at a preview event for Control 2, but I accidentally exited out of the demo on the Steam Deck I was given to play it on and could not find a way back into it, plus I had no commission and started doing the maths on just how little money I could make if everything went right
January 1, 2026 at 10:15 PM
I had a dream that I was at a preview event for Control 2, but I accidentally exited out of the demo on the Steam Deck I was given to play it on and could not find a way back into it, plus I had no commission and started doing the maths on just how little money I could make if everything went right
I saw 41 new release films in 2025, which is a lower number than I would like. Here is my top 16. Thank you.
December 31, 2025 at 12:38 AM
I saw 41 new release films in 2025, which is a lower number than I would like. Here is my top 16. Thank you.
There is only one right way to react to the death of this wonderful actor: shiiiiiiiiiiiieeeet. deadline.com/2025/12/isia...
Isiah Whitlock Jr. Dies: ‘The Wire’ Actor & Frequent Spike Lee Collaborator Was 71
Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr., known for his roles in The Wire, Veep, Your Honor and The Residence and a number of Spike Lee movies, passed away Dec. 30.
deadline.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:13 PM
There is only one right way to react to the death of this wonderful actor: shiiiiiiiiiiiieeeet. deadline.com/2025/12/isia...
I know this is a dead horse but it deserves further beatings - this final season of Stranger Things is truly one of the most inert pieces of work I’ve ever convinced myself to endure. The television equivalent of trying to take a sip from an empty cup.
(I hope that animated series works though)
(I hope that animated series works though)
December 29, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I know this is a dead horse but it deserves further beatings - this final season of Stranger Things is truly one of the most inert pieces of work I’ve ever convinced myself to endure. The television equivalent of trying to take a sip from an empty cup.
(I hope that animated series works though)
(I hope that animated series works though)
Back to the Future is a holiday movie series, in that they are all about trying to get back home (3.5 is maybe a bit generous for Olive the Other Reindeer but I was blinded by the Michael Stipe cameo and song)
December 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Back to the Future is a holiday movie series, in that they are all about trying to get back home (3.5 is maybe a bit generous for Olive the Other Reindeer but I was blinded by the Michael Stipe cameo and song)
Reposted by James O’Connor
It has been a little while since I have written a big opinion piece for GameSpot, but I’m on there today talking about my beloved The Hundred Line www.gamespot.com/articles/the...
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy's Enormous Size Was A Huge Risk - But It Paid Off
The Hundred Line's developer almost went bankrupt making it, but the quality and success of the game fills me with hope.
www.gamespot.com
December 26, 2025 at 12:57 PM
It has been a little while since I have written a big opinion piece for GameSpot, but I’m on there today talking about my beloved The Hundred Line www.gamespot.com/articles/the...