Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
@queso2469.bsky.social
Still working at Muse Games, making cool, weird, multiplayer games.
Director on Stars of Icarus (wishlist it on steam pls)
Opinions are everyone else's.
Director on Stars of Icarus (wishlist it on steam pls)
Opinions are everyone else's.
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
the game being called "unbeatable" despite being obviously beatable is an example of what we in the biz call "ludonarrative dissonance"
December 20, 2025 at 1:59 AM
the game being called "unbeatable" despite being obviously beatable is an example of what we in the biz call "ludonarrative dissonance"
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
Is it walking into rake week for studio heads? Do I have to check on all my team leads and boss?
"It’s time to face reality, AI is here to stay" - Kingdom Come: Deliverance head Daniel Vávra says Larian got a "crazy shitstorm" for doing what "absolutely everyone else is doing", and that while he's "no fan of AI generated art" it's going nowhere.
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/its-tim...
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/its-tim...
‘It’s time to face reality, AI is here to stay’: Kingdom Come Deliverance studio head responds to Larian backlash | VGC
Daniel Vávra says AI is a frightening prospect but has its uses, and that “absolutely everyone else” is using it…
www.videogameschronicle.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Is it walking into rake week for studio heads? Do I have to check on all my team leads and boss?
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
I begged them to let me hire some weirdos to write some Lower Decks EU novels with saucy covers and they said no.
So can we get Star Trek novels set after the series like authors did during the wilderness period.
I would love a Discovery, Prodigy, Lower Decks novels continuing the adventures of those characters. Definitely an Enterprise G novel.
#StarTrek
I would love a Discovery, Prodigy, Lower Decks novels continuing the adventures of those characters. Definitely an Enterprise G novel.
#StarTrek
December 16, 2025 at 5:03 AM
I begged them to let me hire some weirdos to write some Lower Decks EU novels with saucy covers and they said no.
Hey, if you're a sicko for space, 6DoF games, 00s anime, games about repairing things under fire, turret shooting, flying spaceships, PvP, or asymmetric combat, you should play the alpha playtest for Stars of Icarus. We just extended access to Early January.
store.steampowered.com/app/2278950/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2278950/...
Stars of Icarus on Steam
Assemble your crew and take to the stars in a team-based PvP dogfight. Enter the forgotten arenas of space, master your ship's loadout and strategize with the rest of your ragtag squadron. Victory or ...
store.steampowered.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Hey, if you're a sicko for space, 6DoF games, 00s anime, games about repairing things under fire, turret shooting, flying spaceships, PvP, or asymmetric combat, you should play the alpha playtest for Stars of Icarus. We just extended access to Early January.
store.steampowered.com/app/2278950/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2278950/...
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
extraction games are the most I have ever felt "am i so out of touch / it's the kids who are wrong", man. Like they're trying to trick me into thinking that I, someone with 1500+ hours in Apex and one wonderful summer spent in Straftat lobbies, don't like PVP shooters. I don't get it.
December 15, 2025 at 6:44 PM
extraction games are the most I have ever felt "am i so out of touch / it's the kids who are wrong", man. Like they're trying to trick me into thinking that I, someone with 1500+ hours in Apex and one wonderful summer spent in Straftat lobbies, don't like PVP shooters. I don't get it.
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
We'll be hosting a Dev Stream of Stars of Icarus tomorrow at 1700 EST!
Join us at www.twitch.tv/musegamesnyc and watch us fly, shoot, and repair in the stars!
#devstream #starsoficarus
Join us at www.twitch.tv/musegamesnyc and watch us fly, shoot, and repair in the stars!
#devstream #starsoficarus
MuseGamesNYC - Twitch
We’re Muse Games, an independent game studio in NYC. We focus on boundary-pushing multiplayer gameplay, with the aim of bringing people closer together through games. We're known for Wildmender, Embr,...
www.twitch.tv
December 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
We'll be hosting a Dev Stream of Stars of Icarus tomorrow at 1700 EST!
Join us at www.twitch.tv/musegamesnyc and watch us fly, shoot, and repair in the stars!
#devstream #starsoficarus
Join us at www.twitch.tv/musegamesnyc and watch us fly, shoot, and repair in the stars!
#devstream #starsoficarus
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
Stars of Icarus is a space-based successor to the majestic Guns of Icarus, and pits your crew against rivals in intense dogfights that rely on teamwork. #StarsOfIcarus #Multiplayer #SpaceGame
www.pcgamesn.com/stars-of-ica...
www.pcgamesn.com/stars-of-ica...
This space combat sequel to a multiplayer favorite feels like competitive No Man's Sky, and a big playtest is live now
A Stars of Icarus playtest lets you try the squad-based space combat dogfighter on Steam, bringing teamwork to the forefront of competition.
www.pcgamesn.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Stars of Icarus is a space-based successor to the majestic Guns of Icarus, and pits your crew against rivals in intense dogfights that rely on teamwork. #StarsOfIcarus #Multiplayer #SpaceGame
www.pcgamesn.com/stars-of-ica...
www.pcgamesn.com/stars-of-ica...
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
Love Discord being like "bro you didnt complete any quests this year" yeah man I dont know what those are and I'm working really hard not to have to learn
December 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Love Discord being like "bro you didnt complete any quests this year" yeah man I dont know what those are and I'm working really hard not to have to learn
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
Private Equity
December 2, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Private Equity
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
“Wow so you get to play games all day?” as a reaction to me being a game dev still has the power to make me instantly need a nap
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 9:54 PM
“Wow so you get to play games all day?” as a reaction to me being a game dev still has the power to make me instantly need a nap
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
this is obviously an attempt at small talk, but stymied by the fact people outside game dev have heard of zero games (with a 1% margin of error)
"I'm a game developer."
"Oh? Anything I've heard of?"
First off, I have no idea what your gaming could even potentially look like. But second, this really sounds like "Have you worked on anything important enough for me to treat you differently?"
"Oh? Anything I've heard of?"
First off, I have no idea what your gaming could even potentially look like. But second, this really sounds like "Have you worked on anything important enough for me to treat you differently?"
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 9:54 PM
this is obviously an attempt at small talk, but stymied by the fact people outside game dev have heard of zero games (with a 1% margin of error)
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
this oft-reposted brian eno quote also applies to the star trek enterprise theme tune
November 26, 2025 at 10:40 PM
this oft-reposted brian eno quote also applies to the star trek enterprise theme tune
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
Game Designer and AI Programmer looking at this together, trying to figure out a way to avoid this (currently 10% repro rate after 6h of gameplay)
So this happened in Oslo yesterday. Four articulated buses got stuck in a roundabout.
November 26, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Game Designer and AI Programmer looking at this together, trying to figure out a way to avoid this (currently 10% repro rate after 6h of gameplay)
People Make Games still doing the work of real journalism in this industry.
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
The Messages Rockstar Saw Before Firing 34 Union Members
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
People Make Games still doing the work of real journalism in this industry.
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
using AI for code is great to get you 50% of the way there, especially if you were 80% there already
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
using AI for code is great to get you 50% of the way there, especially if you were 80% there already
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
The silence from New Jersey’s loudest lawmakers was deafening last week after the Port Authority announced it would jack the PATH train fare from $3 to a whopping $4 over the next four years: https://gothamist.visitlink.me/MU5kMO
November 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The silence from New Jersey’s loudest lawmakers was deafening last week after the Port Authority announced it would jack the PATH train fare from $3 to a whopping $4 over the next four years: https://gothamist.visitlink.me/MU5kMO
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
Is there a reason that UK MP's are taking consultation from American YouTubers but not, say, indie game developers who would be affected by changes in the law?
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
November 12, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Is there a reason that UK MP's are taking consultation from American YouTubers but not, say, indie game developers who would be affected by changes in the law?
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
Counterpoint: no it’s not, that’s a stupid thing to say
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm - AUTOMATON WEST
In an interview following the launch of ARC Raiders, the CEO of Embark Studios' parent company Nexon shares his views on AI.
automaton-media.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Counterpoint: no it’s not, that’s a stupid thing to say
Eurogamer is probably one of the last bastions of games journalism. Even if you don't agree with this review, both industries (games and games journalism) are worse off if we don't have reviews like this.
Rich PvE combat and an unusually friendly community make Arc Raiders a more approachable extraction shooter than most, but Embark Studios' continued use of AI voice generation is a black mark against its reputation.
Our review:
www.eurogamer.net/arc-raiders-...
Our review:
www.eurogamer.net/arc-raiders-...
November 10, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Eurogamer is probably one of the last bastions of games journalism. Even if you don't agree with this review, both industries (games and games journalism) are worse off if we don't have reviews like this.
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
i think it's good actually that a videogame prominently featuring AI voice acting is finding success while my VA friends haven't found steady work in years and have their rates forcibly ground into dust over the few reliable gigs left
but hey the game is really fun right!!!!!!!
but hey the game is really fun right!!!!!!!
November 3, 2025 at 9:14 PM
i think it's good actually that a videogame prominently featuring AI voice acting is finding success while my VA friends haven't found steady work in years and have their rates forcibly ground into dust over the few reliable gigs left
but hey the game is really fun right!!!!!!!
but hey the game is really fun right!!!!!!!
Still writing dev logs for Stars of Icarus. Have a read if you want my thoughts on Social PvP game design!
store.steampowered.com/news/app/227...
store.steampowered.com/news/app/227...
Stars of Icarus - Dev Log #5: Why we love Social PvP Games! - Steam News
I had an interesting conversation this September at PAX West that’s been on my mind. I was chatting with a guy about some of the choices we were making, being an indie PvP game in a turbulent game ind...
store.steampowered.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Still writing dev logs for Stars of Icarus. Have a read if you want my thoughts on Social PvP game design!
store.steampowered.com/news/app/227...
store.steampowered.com/news/app/227...
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
for the record: I develop games for people who play games to have fun
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 AM
for the record: I develop games for people who play games to have fun
Genre is one of the few tools developers have to avoid having to teach mechanical depth from scratch. It's important to be relatively intentional in implementing or choosing to break from those conventions. They are a bedrock that helps build additional interest/complexity on top.
I think critics,devs,audiences should treasure & protect unintuitive genre abstractions. Like static cameras in survival horror games. The fact that its tied to a genre makes it a known language to players. & that's a beautiful thing cuz devs wont have to do the teaching every time they use it
November 5, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Genre is one of the few tools developers have to avoid having to teach mechanical depth from scratch. It's important to be relatively intentional in implementing or choosing to break from those conventions. They are a bedrock that helps build additional interest/complexity on top.
Reposted by Matthew "Queso" Niederberger
