Manda Farough
@amandafarough.ca
Director of Production @ Causeway. Executive Producer & Writer (TMNT: Tactical Takedown, Truck-kun). Principal narrative on Terrible Lizards, GNAW & [redacted]. Award-nominated Multiclasser. UVW-CWA. @virtualeconcast.com cohost. Mama. 🇨🇦🏳️🌈 amandafarough.ca
Pinned
(Re)introducing myself.
I’m Amanda Farough, most people call me Manda. I’m an award-nominated Multiclasser working at the intersection of creativity and business in game development across a number of disciplines.
I’ve been working in and around games since 2009; got my start writing about ‘em.
I’m Amanda Farough, most people call me Manda. I’m an award-nominated Multiclasser working at the intersection of creativity and business in game development across a number of disciplines.
I’ve been working in and around games since 2009; got my start writing about ‘em.
Oh hell yeah buy this game
Ambrosia Sky: Act One is available now!
Your homecoming is not what you expected. An alien fungus has claimed your past and your present. Fight back with every tool at your disposal before it takes your future.
Maeve is waiting.
ambrosiasky.com
Your homecoming is not what you expected. An alien fungus has claimed your past and your present. Fight back with every tool at your disposal before it takes your future.
Maeve is waiting.
ambrosiasky.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Oh hell yeah buy this game
Made it to MD last night, onwards to home this morning. Shoutout to @caffeinewitch.bsky.social and @digitallozenge.bsky.social for taking good care of my exhausted self at 1am 🫠💜
Fuck it I’m driving home.
November 10, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Made it to MD last night, onwards to home this morning. Shoutout to @caffeinewitch.bsky.social and @digitallozenge.bsky.social for taking good care of my exhausted self at 1am 🫠💜
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
CREW TIMED OUT
WHOMP WHOMP
CREW TIMED OUT
WHOMP WHOMP
Fingers crossed I’ll be able to get home on this other flight 🫠
November 10, 2025 at 12:23 AM
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
CREW TIMED OUT
WHOMP WHOMP
CREW TIMED OUT
WHOMP WHOMP
Me staring at my flight getting delayed all day until it was cancelled
November 9, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Me staring at my flight getting delayed all day until it was cancelled
I just want to scream about how I sacrificed and scraped and paid my dues and fought tooth and nail for the writing career I have today.
In what universe would I ever take that for granted and just outsource it to technology that is literally killing the planet and rewiring brains in a BAD WAY?!
In what universe would I ever take that for granted and just outsource it to technology that is literally killing the planet and rewiring brains in a BAD WAY?!
If you’re a writer using LLMs to do your work, I have less than zero respect for you. It is a goddamn privilege to do what we do.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
November 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I just want to scream about how I sacrificed and scraped and paid my dues and fought tooth and nail for the writing career I have today.
In what universe would I ever take that for granted and just outsource it to technology that is literally killing the planet and rewiring brains in a BAD WAY?!
In what universe would I ever take that for granted and just outsource it to technology that is literally killing the planet and rewiring brains in a BAD WAY?!
Reposted by Manda Farough
To make art is to be human
November 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
To make art is to be human
If you’re a writer using LLMs to do your work, I have less than zero respect for you. It is a goddamn privilege to do what we do.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
November 9, 2025 at 10:03 PM
If you’re a writer using LLMs to do your work, I have less than zero respect for you. It is a goddamn privilege to do what we do.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
There are a bajillion other ways to overcome creative blocks, not the least of which is being a friggen professional and writing through it.
Reposted by Manda Farough
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by Manda Farough
“I’ve got a great marketing plan, we’ll get the dumbest motherfucker in our industry, one that just nobody respects, and we’ll have him say the most asinine thing possible and that will be our pull quote, it’s surefire
November 7, 2025 at 11:40 PM
“I’ve got a great marketing plan, we’ll get the dumbest motherfucker in our industry, one that just nobody respects, and we’ll have him say the most asinine thing possible and that will be our pull quote, it’s surefire
Reposted by Manda Farough
The industry is also in an era now where now more than ever we need to lean on and help each other. Please consider using some of the fire stoked this week to donate your time, energy, or money (lol) to helping the various industry community groups and endeavors.
November 7, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The industry is also in an era now where now more than ever we need to lean on and help each other. Please consider using some of the fire stoked this week to donate your time, energy, or money (lol) to helping the various industry community groups and endeavors.
Reposted by Manda Farough
Our industry does have peer-voted awards, the most visible being DICE, Game Developers Choice Awards, BAFTA. There are scores of smaller developer-led awards too. We do have spaces to celebrate and uplift one another, please support and watch these shows! The teams work hard for the devs!
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Our industry does have peer-voted awards, the most visible being DICE, Game Developers Choice Awards, BAFTA. There are scores of smaller developer-led awards too. We do have spaces to celebrate and uplift one another, please support and watch these shows! The teams work hard for the devs!
Reposted by Manda Farough
A note about the TGAs worth remembering as this Future Class story unfolds: it’s a marketing beat, consumer-facing, and voted on by media/influencers. Developers are, by design, not included or considered in the structure. Which feels bad! www.polygon.com/explained/49...
How The Game Awards voting works
It’s the press and fans, not game devs, who vote on The Game Awards
www.polygon.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
A note about the TGAs worth remembering as this Future Class story unfolds: it’s a marketing beat, consumer-facing, and voted on by media/influencers. Developers are, by design, not included or considered in the structure. Which feels bad! www.polygon.com/explained/49...
Reposted by Manda Farough
I *love* that Xalavier shared this. This kind of adaptive problem solving might be my favorite part of game development.
There is something MUCH larger we've done that also falls into this category. And it's become so integral to the game I was screaming at my PC last night. :D
There is something MUCH larger we've done that also falls into this category. And it's become so integral to the game I was screaming at my PC last night. :D
ECONOMICS GAMES ARE NOT ABOUT MONEY AND I CAN PROVE IT BY SHOWING THIS ALIEN BABY ABSOLUTELY BEEFING IT AND LOSING ALL AUTONOMY AND LIVELIHOOD IN SPACE WARLORD BABY TRADING SIMULATOR.
I GROW MORE NORMAL BY THE DAY.
I GROW MORE NORMAL BY THE DAY.
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I *love* that Xalavier shared this. This kind of adaptive problem solving might be my favorite part of game development.
There is something MUCH larger we've done that also falls into this category. And it's become so integral to the game I was screaming at my PC last night. :D
There is something MUCH larger we've done that also falls into this category. And it's become so integral to the game I was screaming at my PC last night. :D
Your regular reminder that IGFs, BAFTAs, and the DICE Awards mean a hell of a lot more than The Game Awards do.
If you’re at GDC, attend the awards. If you’re at DICE, attend the awards. If you’re able, watch the BAFTAs via stream (unless you’re fabulous enough to be invited, of course).
If you’re at GDC, attend the awards. If you’re at DICE, attend the awards. If you’re able, watch the BAFTAs via stream (unless you’re fabulous enough to be invited, of course).
November 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Your regular reminder that IGFs, BAFTAs, and the DICE Awards mean a hell of a lot more than The Game Awards do.
If you’re at GDC, attend the awards. If you’re at DICE, attend the awards. If you’re able, watch the BAFTAs via stream (unless you’re fabulous enough to be invited, of course).
If you’re at GDC, attend the awards. If you’re at DICE, attend the awards. If you’re able, watch the BAFTAs via stream (unless you’re fabulous enough to be invited, of course).
Reposted by Manda Farough
Game Awards: We're inviting less press and opening up seats to the public so that we (probably) can have a more engaged, excited audience for the camera and make more money
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford:
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford:
I asked about Game Awards press tickets in October. Got an email yesterday encouraging me to buy my own, as there were no spares.
November 7, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Game Awards: We're inviting less press and opening up seats to the public so that we (probably) can have a more engaged, excited audience for the camera and make more money
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford:
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford:
Reposted by Manda Farough
The fact that 30% of our stock market is wrapped up in “help-kids-kill-themselves” technology seems to be an important datapoint in the evolution of late stage capitalism.
ChatGPT advised a suicidal young woman on how to take her own life, telling her "If you choose death, I'm with you - till the end, without judging."
I wanted ChatGPT to help me. So why did it advise me how to kill myself?
ChatGPT wrote a woman a suicide note and another AI chatbot role-played sexual acts with children, BBC finds.
www.bbc.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:20 AM
The fact that 30% of our stock market is wrapped up in “help-kids-kill-themselves” technology seems to be an important datapoint in the evolution of late stage capitalism.
Playing Until Dawn with my teenagers and Viv says, “Why are they running around in the dark?? They should be inside playing board games!!”
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Playing Until Dawn with my teenagers and Viv says, “Why are they running around in the dark?? They should be inside playing board games!!”
My dreams of a jungle in my writing space are becoming a reality. Added some new ones to the mix this week, including a blue cebu pothos, a black lipstick plant, a creeping fig, and a silver pothos.
My favourite is my lavender tradescantia bc, well, it’s purple!
My favourite is my lavender tradescantia bc, well, it’s purple!
November 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
My dreams of a jungle in my writing space are becoming a reality. Added some new ones to the mix this week, including a blue cebu pothos, a black lipstick plant, a creeping fig, and a silver pothos.
My favourite is my lavender tradescantia bc, well, it’s purple!
My favourite is my lavender tradescantia bc, well, it’s purple!
Reposted by Manda Farough
Everything about making video games is harder than you think.
November 6, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Everything about making video games is harder than you think.
Reposted by Manda Farough
"Hope is not blind optimism or uncritical belief in a political savior. Hope, to me, means the ability to imagine a better world is possible and then work to build it brick by brick. It is, as @prisonculture.bsky.social says, not an emotion but a discipline—one we must practice every single day."
Mayor Mamdani redefines what it means to hope
His victory has created a harsh contrast between the world we want and the world we have.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 6, 2025 at 1:08 AM
"Hope is not blind optimism or uncritical belief in a political savior. Hope, to me, means the ability to imagine a better world is possible and then work to build it brick by brick. It is, as @prisonculture.bsky.social says, not an emotion but a discipline—one we must practice every single day."
Reposted by Manda Farough
"'They’re spending more money than I would even tax them,' [Mamdani] said in an interview with MSNBC last week."
This is the message. Make it clear that these billionaires aren't just worried about losing money. They're worried about losing the ability to exchange their money for power.
This is the message. Make it clear that these billionaires aren't just worried about losing money. They're worried about losing the ability to exchange their money for power.
November 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
"'They’re spending more money than I would even tax them,' [Mamdani] said in an interview with MSNBC last week."
This is the message. Make it clear that these billionaires aren't just worried about losing money. They're worried about losing the ability to exchange their money for power.
This is the message. Make it clear that these billionaires aren't just worried about losing money. They're worried about losing the ability to exchange their money for power.
honestly, one of the best parts of working with the @causewaystudios.com folks is how readily they'll share their knowledge with me. I'm still relatively new to implementation work, so @kjartankennedy.com and @gregwrogers.bsky.social take extra time to teach as OFTEN as I need.
Learning rules <3
Learning rules <3
November 5, 2025 at 8:40 PM
honestly, one of the best parts of working with the @causewaystudios.com folks is how readily they'll share their knowledge with me. I'm still relatively new to implementation work, so @kjartankennedy.com and @gregwrogers.bsky.social take extra time to teach as OFTEN as I need.
Learning rules <3
Learning rules <3
Reposted by Manda Farough
man I dunno this is just off the top of my head, probably missed some things
November 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
man I dunno this is just off the top of my head, probably missed some things
Reposted by Manda Farough
@virtualeconcast.com is easily one of the best gaming podcasts.
@amandafarough.ca & @futterish.fsquared.biz give so much valuable business insight while always championing devs & holding execs accountable.
I’ve learned so much from them & can’t recommend the pod enough.
Congrats on 200 episodes! 👏
@amandafarough.ca & @futterish.fsquared.biz give so much valuable business insight while always championing devs & holding execs accountable.
I’ve learned so much from them & can’t recommend the pod enough.
Congrats on 200 episodes! 👏
Episode 200 is LIVE!!!!
Amazon Primed for Gaming Exit (News Show)
With 14,000 people laid off, studios shuttered, and projects abandoned, Amazon seems ready to give up on most or all of its gaming dreams. Also, it’s episode 200! We have guests Andy Pan and @gregoryalderton.bsky.social!
Amazon Primed for Gaming Exit (News Show)
With 14,000 people laid off, studios shuttered, and projects abandoned, Amazon seems ready to give up on most or all of its gaming dreams. Also, it’s episode 200! We have guests Andy Pan and @gregoryalderton.bsky.social!
November 5, 2025 at 1:44 AM
@virtualeconcast.com is easily one of the best gaming podcasts.
@amandafarough.ca & @futterish.fsquared.biz give so much valuable business insight while always championing devs & holding execs accountable.
I’ve learned so much from them & can’t recommend the pod enough.
Congrats on 200 episodes! 👏
@amandafarough.ca & @futterish.fsquared.biz give so much valuable business insight while always championing devs & holding execs accountable.
I’ve learned so much from them & can’t recommend the pod enough.
Congrats on 200 episodes! 👏
Reposted by Manda Farough
No matter how hard people try to convince us having empathy is wrong,
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
November 4, 2025 at 2:55 AM
No matter how hard people try to convince us having empathy is wrong,
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.