Rastagong
@lrwerther.bsky.social
30+ | FR | he/they | Black Diaspora | visual novel writer | interactive fiction, lit, horror, mystery | main blog https://home.rastagong.eu | itchio https://rastagong.itch.io | Mastodon https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@lrwerther
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Rastagong
@lrwerther.bsky.social
· Jan 31
Looking Back on Two Years
It's been a while..? An introspective life update feat. Anatomy of a Fall and Cornelia the New Priest (Umineko Tsubasa).
home.rastagong.eu
Finally wrote an update on my blog after 2.5 years! feat. that one scene from Anatomy of a Fall and a side story from Umineko Tsubasa! home.rastagong.eu/article/look...
It got more introspective than expected and a little maudlin so I'm sorry! I'm planning to write Part II sometime in February
It got more introspective than expected and a little maudlin so I'm sorry! I'm planning to write Part II sometime in February
Reposted by Rastagong
this year I handed out the “Best Visual Novel” and the aptly named “This One Goes Out to the Sickos” awards. Give it a read!
The startmenu Awards return for another year with the debut of the first site-wide vote for startmenu’s Game of the Year! But before that, we’ve got a selection of critics’ choice awards highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2025.
The startmenu Awards 2025 | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
The startmenu Awards return for another year with the debut of the first site-wide vote for startmenu’s Game of the Year! But before that, we’ve got a selection of critics’ choice awards highlighting ...
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 4:24 PM
this year I handed out the “Best Visual Novel” and the aptly named “This One Goes Out to the Sickos” awards. Give it a read!
Reposted by Rastagong
Give yourself something to look forward to next year. Something less substantial than a resolution which can carry regret if you can't stick to it. Think of a book you want to read, a genre of music you'd like to learn more about, a curiosity to chase no matter how trivial. Keep your spark lit.
December 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Give yourself something to look forward to next year. Something less substantial than a resolution which can carry regret if you can't stick to it. Think of a book you want to read, a genre of music you'd like to learn more about, a curiosity to chase no matter how trivial. Keep your spark lit.
Reposted by Rastagong
Nanao from the flop hit mech ps2 game Robot Alchemic Drive is truly the most real icon of the working class
She is our struggler icon
She is our struggler icon
December 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Nanao from the flop hit mech ps2 game Robot Alchemic Drive is truly the most real icon of the working class
She is our struggler icon
She is our struggler icon
Reposted by Rastagong
This Deer Hunting USA board might be malfunctioning...̸̴̶̡͈͔͚͎̌̐ͧ̎͌ͬ.̯ͪ_̸̴̧̟̝͔̰̱̇_̼̤̩͍̪̦̟̺̝̙͔̠̮̆ͬ̆̆́͋̆̔͐ͧ.̵͙͔͊ 🦌
December 29, 2025 at 9:13 PM
This Deer Hunting USA board might be malfunctioning...̸̴̶̡͈͔͚͎̌̐ͧ̎͌ͬ.̯ͪ_̸̴̧̟̝͔̰̱̇_̼̤̩͍̪̦̟̺̝̙͔̠̮̆ͬ̆̆́͋̆̔͐ͧ.̵͙͔͊ 🦌
Reposted by Rastagong
Rappel que la trilogie Histoires de Fantômes chinois est encore à l’affiche au cinéma Le Grand Action à Paris. Si vous en avez l’occasion regardez au moins le 1 et puis le 2. Mais a minima, le 1.
December 26, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Rappel que la trilogie Histoires de Fantômes chinois est encore à l’affiche au cinéma Le Grand Action à Paris. Si vous en avez l’occasion regardez au moins le 1 et puis le 2. Mais a minima, le 1.
Reposted by Rastagong
Merry Christmas
December 25, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Merry Christmas
Reposted by Rastagong
First teaser for "Look Back" live-action film by Hirokazu Kore-eda.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=djXq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=djXq...
December 21, 2025 at 10:16 AM
First teaser for "Look Back" live-action film by Hirokazu Kore-eda.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=djXq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=djXq...
Reposted by Rastagong
Reposted by Rastagong
Eliza is 50% off. It’s a fully-voiced visual novel about an AI therapy app. It was released in 2019, years before the idea of AI became what it is now. How much did it get right? What did it get wrong? Play it for yourself (play the whole thing) and decide.
store.steampowered.com/app/716500/E...
store.steampowered.com/app/716500/E...
Save 50% on Eliza on Steam
Eliza is a visual novel about an AI counseling program, the people who develop it, and the people who use it. Follow Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey as she reconnects with people from her past, gets to know the ...
store.steampowered.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Eliza is 50% off. It’s a fully-voiced visual novel about an AI therapy app. It was released in 2019, years before the idea of AI became what it is now. How much did it get right? What did it get wrong? Play it for yourself (play the whole thing) and decide.
store.steampowered.com/app/716500/E...
store.steampowered.com/app/716500/E...
Reposted by Rastagong
Choosing to focus, on hearing the news of Rob Reiner's passing, to remember this moment where he was so overcome with joy and laughter that he - the director of the movie - was one of many people banished from the set in order to finish filming.
TIL nearly all of the "Miracle Max" scene from Princess Bride was improvised by Billy Crystal, and it took three ten hour days to shoot, because they couldn't get through his improv without everyone (cast and crew) laughing so hard it ruined the audio.
Mandy Patinkin bruised a rib holding it in.
Mandy Patinkin bruised a rib holding it in.
a man and a woman are standing next to each other and laughing .
Alt: Miracle Max and his wife waving goodbye from the Princess Bride.
media.tenor.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Choosing to focus, on hearing the news of Rob Reiner's passing, to remember this moment where he was so overcome with joy and laughter that he - the director of the movie - was one of many people banished from the set in order to finish filming.
Reposted by Rastagong
Reposted by Rastagong
Nice essay echoing some thoughts I've had about E33's cultural reception. I've always thought it has this its air of respectability comes from evoking modern television aesthetics, so it's "not nerdy" to enjoy it (vs. Something like trails or rpgmaker games which have just as interesting stories)
Took some time to unpack a few thoughts on Expedition 33.
Watching what I thought was a "pretty good" game get transformed into A Cultural Object has been disheartening.
So I have some thoughts on glitz, glamour, and respectability...
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8027631...
Watching what I thought was a "pretty good" game get transformed into A Cultural Object has been disheartening.
So I have some thoughts on glitz, glamour, and respectability...
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8027631...
The Attempt To Escape From Pain Creates More Pain
Lord forgive me, I'm blogging. I can't help it! Many years ago, I got some advice from a writer who I deeply respect, James Howell, and he told me that criticism needs to proceed confidently. Don't...
transgamerthoughts.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Nice essay echoing some thoughts I've had about E33's cultural reception. I've always thought it has this its air of respectability comes from evoking modern television aesthetics, so it's "not nerdy" to enjoy it (vs. Something like trails or rpgmaker games which have just as interesting stories)
Reposted by Rastagong
Ayé c'est officiel : tout #TwinPeaks pour la gratuité à la demande du 8 janvier au 19 décembre 2026 sur @artefr.bsky.social . Avec The Return pour la première fois diffusé sans nécessité d'abonnement. Quand même la classe internationale ce plan.
December 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Ayé c'est officiel : tout #TwinPeaks pour la gratuité à la demande du 8 janvier au 19 décembre 2026 sur @artefr.bsky.social . Avec The Return pour la première fois diffusé sans nécessité d'abonnement. Quand même la classe internationale ce plan.
Reposted by Rastagong
Reposted by Rastagong
For anyone who hasn't seen it yet and would be interested, submissions for this year's IF Short Games Showcase are now open: itch.io/jam/if-short...
Open to games <30 min released in 2025 & broadly interactive fiction: Twine/choice-based games, parser IF, visual novels, Bitsy games w text, P&C, etc
Open to games <30 min released in 2025 & broadly interactive fiction: Twine/choice-based games, parser IF, visual novels, Bitsy games w text, P&C, etc
IF Short Games Showcase 2025
A game jam from 2025-11-23 to 2026-01-25 hosted by Emery Joyce & Encorm. What is the Short Games Showcase? The Short Games Showcase is an opportunity to show off shorter interactive fiction works made...
itch.io
December 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
For anyone who hasn't seen it yet and would be interested, submissions for this year's IF Short Games Showcase are now open: itch.io/jam/if-short...
Open to games <30 min released in 2025 & broadly interactive fiction: Twine/choice-based games, parser IF, visual novels, Bitsy games w text, P&C, etc
Open to games <30 min released in 2025 & broadly interactive fiction: Twine/choice-based games, parser IF, visual novels, Bitsy games w text, P&C, etc
Reposted by Rastagong
Hey Bluesky!
I'll lose my job in ~1 month, and I'm not eligible for any unemployment benefits. The job market in Belgium really sucks rn, so I could definitely use some work as a freelance.
If you're looking for AI-free, high quality French localisation for your indie game, I'd love to help! 👋
I'll lose my job in ~1 month, and I'm not eligible for any unemployment benefits. The job market in Belgium really sucks rn, so I could definitely use some work as a freelance.
If you're looking for AI-free, high quality French localisation for your indie game, I'd love to help! 👋
November 29, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Hey Bluesky!
I'll lose my job in ~1 month, and I'm not eligible for any unemployment benefits. The job market in Belgium really sucks rn, so I could definitely use some work as a freelance.
If you're looking for AI-free, high quality French localisation for your indie game, I'd love to help! 👋
I'll lose my job in ~1 month, and I'm not eligible for any unemployment benefits. The job market in Belgium really sucks rn, so I could definitely use some work as a freelance.
If you're looking for AI-free, high quality French localisation for your indie game, I'd love to help! 👋
Reposted by Rastagong
Sega Bass Fishing (DC / Sega AM1, Sims / 1999)
November 29, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Sega Bass Fishing (DC / Sega AM1, Sims / 1999)
Reposted by Rastagong
H9: ORIGIN is out
A faux-documentary horror game that uncovers the truth behind an incident at the development studio of a canceled VN from the 90s
Directed by Nagai Tomoyoshi, who contributed to My Merry May, 428, and the first Zero Escape
JP/EN/CN
A faux-documentary horror game that uncovers the truth behind an incident at the development studio of a canceled VN from the 90s
Directed by Nagai Tomoyoshi, who contributed to My Merry May, 428, and the first Zero Escape
JP/EN/CN
November 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
H9: ORIGIN is out
A faux-documentary horror game that uncovers the truth behind an incident at the development studio of a canceled VN from the 90s
Directed by Nagai Tomoyoshi, who contributed to My Merry May, 428, and the first Zero Escape
JP/EN/CN
A faux-documentary horror game that uncovers the truth behind an incident at the development studio of a canceled VN from the 90s
Directed by Nagai Tomoyoshi, who contributed to My Merry May, 428, and the first Zero Escape
JP/EN/CN
Reposted by Rastagong
ciel: lot of murders lately
shiki: yes, but it wasn't me. I was in bed for two days
ciel: oh? weren't you bored?
shiki: no, actually. I was playing my PS3
ciel: that's a pretty solid alibi, tohno-kun
[music stops]
ciel: except
shiki: yes, but it wasn't me. I was in bed for two days
ciel: oh? weren't you bored?
shiki: no, actually. I was playing my PS3
ciel: that's a pretty solid alibi, tohno-kun
[music stops]
ciel: except
November 18, 2025 at 8:15 PM
ciel: lot of murders lately
shiki: yes, but it wasn't me. I was in bed for two days
ciel: oh? weren't you bored?
shiki: no, actually. I was playing my PS3
ciel: that's a pretty solid alibi, tohno-kun
[music stops]
ciel: except
shiki: yes, but it wasn't me. I was in bed for two days
ciel: oh? weren't you bored?
shiki: no, actually. I was playing my PS3
ciel: that's a pretty solid alibi, tohno-kun
[music stops]
ciel: except
Reposted by Rastagong
We are proud to announce our upcoming game : 13 Germinal. ⛏️
Citizen Sleeper and Disco Elysium meet Emile Zola's novel in this historical and narrative RPG.
Survive the ruthless mines, forge friendships, and take part in a deadly strike. ✊
Join the revolt with a wishlist, link below ⬇️
Citizen Sleeper and Disco Elysium meet Emile Zola's novel in this historical and narrative RPG.
Survive the ruthless mines, forge friendships, and take part in a deadly strike. ✊
Join the revolt with a wishlist, link below ⬇️
November 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
We are proud to announce our upcoming game : 13 Germinal. ⛏️
Citizen Sleeper and Disco Elysium meet Emile Zola's novel in this historical and narrative RPG.
Survive the ruthless mines, forge friendships, and take part in a deadly strike. ✊
Join the revolt with a wishlist, link below ⬇️
Citizen Sleeper and Disco Elysium meet Emile Zola's novel in this historical and narrative RPG.
Survive the ruthless mines, forge friendships, and take part in a deadly strike. ✊
Join the revolt with a wishlist, link below ⬇️
Reposted by Rastagong
Rebecca Heineman's last message was for people to look up her departed partner, Jennell Jaquays.
Jaquays was so influent to tabletop RPGs that "Jaquaysing" became a verb for designing complex, non-linear dungeons.
@nickoten.bsky.social wrote a great article on her:
pathikablog.com/2025/04/26/h...
Jaquays was so influent to tabletop RPGs that "Jaquaysing" became a verb for designing complex, non-linear dungeons.
@nickoten.bsky.social wrote a great article on her:
pathikablog.com/2025/04/26/h...
How Jennell Jaquays Evolved Dungeon Design, Part 1: Pre-Jaquays Dungeons
(This is a slightly cleaned up version of my two Bluesky threads on Jennell Jaquays, preserved in a hopefully easier to read format. Thank Amanda P for reminding me that having these things stored …
pathikablog.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Rebecca Heineman's last message was for people to look up her departed partner, Jennell Jaquays.
Jaquays was so influent to tabletop RPGs that "Jaquaysing" became a verb for designing complex, non-linear dungeons.
@nickoten.bsky.social wrote a great article on her:
pathikablog.com/2025/04/26/h...
Jaquays was so influent to tabletop RPGs that "Jaquaysing" became a verb for designing complex, non-linear dungeons.
@nickoten.bsky.social wrote a great article on her:
pathikablog.com/2025/04/26/h...
Reposted by Rastagong
Raising a fireside toast to Rebecca Heineman with the first game I ever played that she programmed and co-designed: Bard's Tale III: The Thief of Time.
November 17, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Raising a fireside toast to Rebecca Heineman with the first game I ever played that she programmed and co-designed: Bard's Tale III: The Thief of Time.
Reposted by Rastagong
oh what's up? you haven't watched proto sekai-kei masterpiece Dream Island Girl yet? you haven't violently reached into the messy sludge of the soul yet? what are you, some kind of bozo?
Dream Island Girl (Shoichiro Sasaki, 1974) w/ English Subs
YouTube video by Tsundoku Diving
youtu.be
April 21, 2025 at 10:15 PM
oh what's up? you haven't watched proto sekai-kei masterpiece Dream Island Girl yet? you haven't violently reached into the messy sludge of the soul yet? what are you, some kind of bozo?
Reposted by Rastagong
Happy 82nd birthday to Wallace Shawn, who has always understood the assignment.
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Happy 82nd birthday to Wallace Shawn, who has always understood the assignment.
Reposted by Rastagong
nightmares are fucked up. we do not acknowledge how fucked up they are. how are you doing today? not great, spent a couple hours in the torment dimension last night
November 11, 2025 at 9:40 PM
nightmares are fucked up. we do not acknowledge how fucked up they are. how are you doing today? not great, spent a couple hours in the torment dimension last night