iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Anyone have any friends at NEON Films?

Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I have never, ever heard of this and my daughter is in fifth grade in the... what do you even call this? The target demo? No. God no.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I think it's almost exclusively people in our age cohort turning out for it too. Midnight launches for games and hardware in 2026 is like when late '80s/'90s hardcore and punk bands started reuniting in the early '10s and you saw mosh pits full of gray hair and faded tats.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

My wife immediately pointed out that I wrote "scene" instead of "seen." I have been editing professionally for 20 years, folks. I'm going to go ahead and act like this was a Gene Shalit-esque pun I did on purpose.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Honorable Mention: The Rivals of Amziah King Look. This movie sucks. It *sucks*. But it sucks so singularly that I will think about it for the rest of my life. Is it a '90s dark comedy with scenes of sudden extreme violence? Is it a folk musical? Is it Bee Movie 2? It is everything. It is nothing.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The Christophers It is flummoxing that Steven Soderbergh simultaneously crowed about taking money from Meta and using LLMs to pour dross into a documentary about Yoko Ono and John Lennon while also releasing this movie. It is small, elegant, and forthright. Loved it. It's got that good Magneto.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Hope The first 45 minutes of Hope is an extended action sequence that so captures the emotional reality of living in the 2020s—bad things are happening, loud bad things, always just around the corner until they're not, now go go GO—that it almost belies how insane the following 90 minutes are.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Rose of Nevada This screen doesn't do justice to the visual magic of this grimy slice of supernatural despair. It is simultaneously a testament to the benefits of shooting on real film to astonishing effect and probably the only time someone's made a real Silent Hill movie.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

So: my wife runs one of the five largest remaining first-run indie movie theaters in the country. Cinemapolis! It rules. If there is a fantasy version of a movie theater in your head—cool staff, great programming—it's this. Top Three Things in 2026 I Wouldn't Have Scene Without It (Pictured: Me.)

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

This is why I generally can't play shooters that are even remotely realistic, even hinting at realism really, anymore. It's just too overwhelming and sad.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Going to be talking about this on the next Continue Podcast episode, but wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem: Do you still love intense horror art but had to abandon it at a certain point because it's too existentially stressful?

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

That is, unfortunately, a good descriptor for Star Wars in the 2020s overall. Andor notwithstanding.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

This has been my concern since it was announced: something that might have benefitted from being half the launch price and truly an arcade-style like FAST Racing Neo rather than something outwardly presented as having a lot more longevity and variety than it really does.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

If you see this, post a Witch! 🧙‍♀️🧹🧪🪄🐈‍⬛🐸

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Reposted by Anthony John Agnello

Hannah Nicklin @hannahnicklin.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I'm wrapping up my time with Cardboard Computer on their unannounced game in early November, & I have some capacity again! If you're looking for consultation or longer term support from an expert game director, narrative designer & writer, drop me a line 💖 contact [at] hannahnicklin.com

A calling card style image with a picture of a white woman with blonde hair and glasses speaking at a conference. The card otherwise reads:

HANNAH NICKLIN
Creative Director, Narrative Lead/Designer, Senior Writer
12+ years' experience in interactive story + games

• 4 games shipped as Lead (PC, console, mobile)
• Original and existing IP
• Loc, VO, various engines + middleware
• PhD in Interactive Arts
• Masters & BA in Play/Screenwriting
• GDC IS Advisor, BAFTA Juror, TGA Future Class 2020
• Author of Writing for Games: Theory & Practice

Netflix's Unhinged; Black Mirror: Thronglets; Saltsea Chronicles; Mutazione; Saturnalia; Die Gute Fabrik, Night School, Cardboard Computer, Santa Ragione.

Based in: United Kingdom
Work in: Remote, CET-PST
LinkedIn.com/in/hannah-nicklin
hannahnicklin.com

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

This game is *gorgeous*. Cannot wait to download it.

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Reposted by Anthony John Agnello

Zombies. The undead. You know, ghouls. @edgarallanbro.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Support local bookstores and not the evil megacompany that wants you dead and forces its delivery drivers to pee in bottles

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Those Uniqlo releases were so good. Once I was wearing that shirt at an airport and this kid was just staring at me from across the waiting area. Finally after 20 minutes he beelines over. "YOU LIKE FINAL FANTASY!" He was so excited. Then he looked like I kicked his dog when I said I don't like 14.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Right. Like a guaranteed nightmare surprise.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Is it weird that I want the Nerds candy corn *with* the gummy cluster gummy part around it?

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Another cool project: I contributed two essays to this 30th anniversary celebration of the Nintendo 64. The book is gorgeous. Ogre Battle 64 and Star Fox 64 were my purview. Wish I could share the art but... no spoilers.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Strange thing too. Even while I've been ensconced in creative agency world over my Bluesky absence, I've actually been getting some actual games writing done again. I wrote this for Laced Records' vinyl release of the Stellar Blade soundtrack. Came out nice. www.lacedrecords.com/blogs/blog/e...

lacedrecords.com

Even when Stellar Blade’s soundtrack goes hard, there’s a sadness pres

Writer Anthony John Agnello takes a journey through Stellar Blade music highlights, from sad piano to dancehall to jaunty cool jazz.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

How is this sentence something that repeats in life over and over and over? At least the music this year is great. That's not nothing.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

And then it just hard cuts to me chasing them down the street yelling, "I'm normal. I'M NORMAL!"

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Wait... how did you get footage of me from E3 2013?!?!?!

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The other reason I ended my social hermitage: I'm 3 months into querying agents for the first time. Shopping a complete three-book middle-grade fantasy series. It's been a trip after 20 years in journalism and creative agency work. Marketing others? Easy. Marketing yourself? Alien and hard.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Back in the mix here partially to commune with everyone else hunting for the next full-time gig. Like so many in gaming world, I was laid off this past June. If you know anyone hiring, I've got ten years in creative strategy and creative direction under my belt. www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-j...

linkedin.com

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

It is a bad demo. Just a poor opening and introduction to something that is going to feel so different immediately after the point it stops.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

For job hunting and lit agent querying purposes... well... I might be back here. It's a test case. Anyway: hello everyone. It's been a bit. I hope you're well.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

You know, I've been wanting to replay the whole series for a while now. That would have been an amazing 4, which is tied with Lost Legacy as my favorite. It's been almost ten years since I played it... might be time.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

I just got double jump in Metroid Prime 4 after hours of linear funneling through a jungle and a bunch of Matrix factory towers. Usually double jump is exciting in Prime. Now I can go to all those places I couldn't reach! Only here that never happened. Shut up, says Prime 4. They're psychic.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Metroid Prime 4 is the Star Trek Into Darkness of Metroid games.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

No see hipsters do it as a choice, not because their belt buckle fell apart and they refuse to buy a belt until they find the perfect belt. ... shit.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Solid black silk. It's like my pants play trombone for a ska band.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

I've been wearing a necktie as a belt for four days straight. AMA.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

It's fucked up that I can literally hear it in my head. "Id Icaurs/Flew too close to my love/Again again again/And ego wax burrrrrrnnnnnnnnnns"

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

This is a good PSA for anyone playing Metroid Prime 4 and feeling a little disappointed by it: you can fire up your 3DS and try a legitimately horrible Metroid if you want to!

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Change a letter, ruin a game: Id Icarus (NES)

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Because I refuse modernity at every level, I'm waiting for a cartridge to arrive a couple of days from now. I'm basking in the warm glow of everyone having this revelatory moment.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

I just realized that Hesgeth absolutely, positively can't grow a beard.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Hey buy these. There are liner notes from cool guys like me and @jparish.bsky.social.

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

I named my fists Sonic and Knuckles because they have lock on technology. And DeviantArt search results for them are profoundly disturbing.

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Reposted by Anthony John Agnello

Wario64 @wario64.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Follow @wario64.bsky.social and repost for a chance to win 1 of 4 codes for Tomb Raider Definitive Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 (NA eShop Code) courtesy of @aspyr.com. Giveaway closes on Nov 21st, 6 PM PT. Game is out now on Nintendo Switch & Switch 2 (no upgrade paths)

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Anthony John Agnello @ajohnagnello.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Farewell, burgers and soda. We never needed you at all.

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