Sign in

Zhenia Puzankov

@allworms.bsky.social
1.4K followers 393 following 439 posts

IN EXILE from St Petersburg. MA from CGL. Solo game maker and narrative designer. Curator and producer at Briefs. linktr.ee/all_worms

PostsRepliesMedia
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 3h
New (reposted) article on In Brackets. This is about staying sane while dealing with interactivity vs non-linearity. The terminology and applications are quite insane. #interactive #gamedev #indiedev #narrativedesign nejeneva.ghost.io/non-linearit...
nejeneva.ghost.io
Non-linearity vs Interactivity
Interactive and Linear are different things!
071
Reposted by Zhenia Puzankov
TimOfLegend @timoflegend.bsky.social · 22h
Only 18 hours left to back this crazy thing! 18 hours left to bet on which prototype we polish up and ship! 18 hours to get more tahirts!! www.kickstarter.com/projects/dou...
kickstarter.com
Amnesia Fortnight 2026, Indie Reboot
A Double Fine Productions Game Jam, Documentary, and Kickstarter Campaign
27822
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Strangened Narratives! Only two days left before the October price change. Apply now to secure the current price and join this narrative design workshop. 6 weeks of practice and exercises! 3 free of charge spots will close on Friday! #indiedev #gamedev shorturl.at/v7GeD
shorturl.at
Strangened Narratives Workshop | Notion
The workshop starts October 9th!
0103
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Strangened Narratives Workshop is a bit too expensive for you? Here's a solution. If you buy at least one issue of @pizzapranks.bsky.social indiepocalypse, you get a 50 bucks discount (so currently 250 USD). Just mention the number of the issue and the favorite game in the form! shorturl.at/v7GeD
shorturl.at
Strangened Narratives Workshop | Notion
The workshop starts October 9th!
112
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Feeling like I should do a little look around for new or current narrative designers who are on top of the game to check their work know-hows. Any suggestions or recommendations? I don't care about companies, they are transient, I need naaaames, links, and passwords.
110
Reposted by Zhenia Puzankov
Sefirot @sefirotgame.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Defy despots. Defend Dioscoria. Haven's Heir is LIVE. ✨ Back now to get a free alchemist print as a 48-hour Early Bird Special with every physical pledge! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
06821
Reposted by Zhenia Puzankov
Damien Crawford @developerdamien.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Haven't gotten any consult work or much game sales lately, so if anyone has some work they need done or microgrants to give, my door is extremely open
1812
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I have added 3 free spots for Strangened Narratives Workshop! As in if you're selected you will join the workshop for free. More info at the link! Share and signal boost! #indiedev #narrativedesign #gamedev shorturl.at/v7GeD
shorturl.at
Strangened Narratives Workshop | Notion
The workshop starts October 9th!
092
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Added the piece on walls of texts to the newsletter! The piece concerns different ways of reading the players can do and the way we can work with it. It's not that people don't read, it's that we don't make it easier or better. nejeneva.ghost.io/breaking-dow...
nejeneva.ghost.io
Breaking Down Walls Of Text
Walls of text are a very common problem in many video games and among many writers and designers. I figured it’s time to address it.
000
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I sold a painting today and I'm still shocked that such a thing can happen to me. It's called Neva Flow and I'm gonna remember it.
010
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Last day to get an early bird price for STRANGENED NARRATIVES WORKSHOP! It's designed both as an entrance (though wild) into Narrative Design and a way for experienced and established people to learn something new and shake the creative juices. We're starting October 9th! shorturl.at/v7GeD
shorturl.at
Strangened Narratives Workshop | Notion
The workshop starts October 9th!
010
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Something had to go.
210
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Strangened Narratives Workshop! October 9th! Last day to grab an Early bird price! This is a narrative design workshop, fully online and very live. 2-3 hours of live Discord calls every week, exercises aimed at finding the craft and practice with feedback! #indiedev #gamedev shorturl.at/v7GeD
070
Reposted by Zhenia Puzankov
Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.com · 16/09/2026
Production 101 of the video courses exists because too many times indie studios know how to build a game, but not how to ship a commercial game. Production is a large part of what publishers evaluate, and the skill you need to ship. Available now for teams & freelancers both: courses.ramiismail.com
114124
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
This game is still absolutely unhinged you simply must experience its design!
011
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Amazing and unhinged game!
032
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Two days left to get the early bird price for this workshop! Don't miss it! It will be a lot of fun and the practice will let you to improve or develop new narrative design skills! #narrativedesign #gamedev #indiedev
061
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Ok, now it is actually happening. My newsletter is up with two articles and awaits your eyes and subscriptions. I'm opening with my article on choice spaces (Essential) and FIRE (a storytelling solution). Both are fine and mercifully short. #narrativedesign #writing #indiedev nejeneva.ghost.io
nejeneva.ghost.io
In Brackets (Parentheses)
Practicing "mind at work" writing. Thoughts, stories and ideas. Interactive media, narrative design, storytelling, games. Typos welcome..
041
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Are you looking at my workshop and thinking I'm gonna tell you basic tips? I wrote a thesis on absurd games. When I say esoteric and weird I mean parabolic structures, actual LN, spirals, etc. Check the thesis. That's about 8 out of my 10 all-worms.itch.io/absurd-games #indiedev #narrativedesign
all-worms.itch.io
Absurd Games by All Worms
A thesis I've done for MA in Game Development and Research at Cologne Game Lab.
071
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Well just my like to jump on a sinking ship again. Apparently gotta reconsider the whole substack thing. Any alternatives of preference for folks?
210
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Every time I look at itch dashboard it pleases me to see that someone has checked out my ink templates. Haven't said anything about them in a couple years and people still find them. This is them btw. They do be free. #narrativedesign #indiedev #gamedev all-worms.itch.io/interactive-...
all-worms.itch.io
Interactive Story-Telling Templates by All Worms
A selection of templates for ink engine by Inkle. Playable, downloadable, usable.
0163
Reposted by Zhenia Puzankov
Museum of Twitter @museum-of-twitter.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
@SoliSolstice

what blows my mind about everybody neglecting human experiences in favor of being on their phone 14 hours a day is that like 95% of you suck at being on the phone. can’t post for shit, 100 unread wikipedia articles in your tabs, getting groomed on discord. you are not good at it
3475081320
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
America Dreams Again
010
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
One week left to secure the early bird price! C'mon in let's write strange narratives this fall!
010
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Wrapping up my #narrativedesign lectures on gumroad with Strangened Narratives! This course was experimental and features wild stuff including a whole lecture on endings so frequently forgotten. An online workshop version of this is currently running too! #indiedev #gamedev gum.allworms.art/l/SNL
gum.allworms.art
Strangened Narratives Lectures
These are the entire lessons used for my course on experimental narratives which I ran from 2022 to 2024.A variation of this course is currently running as an online but very live workshop with additi...
0103
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Today was the first time when I forgot the English word and a Spanish one popped up! I'd say it's an achievement! (It happens often but usually it's Russian that fills the blank)
040
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Added Dialogue Design lectures to the gumroad! As far as I know the only dialogue DESIGN framework with a focus on interactive media. Advanced too! Advanced #narrativedesign is rare! #gamedev #indiedev gum.allworms.art/l/DDL
gum.allworms.art
Dialogue Design Lectures
These are the entire lessons used for my retired course on Dialogue Design which I ran from 2022 to 2024. It was designed as an advanced course and materials are presented here as they were at the mom...
0103
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
One must imagine coyote happy.
030
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Testing out gumroad for distribution which means my narrative crash course lectures are up on gumroad too now! Give them a go! Absolutely perfect for the beginners! #narrativedesign #gamedev #indiedev gum.allworms.art/l/NNCL
gum.allworms.art
Narrative Crash Course Lectures
These are the entire lessons used for my beginner course on Narrative Design which I ran from 2020 to 2024. It was designed as a beginner course and materials are presented here as they were at the la...
0114
Reposted by Zhenia Puzankov
Internet Archive @archive.org · 04/09/2026
If you see something, save something. Web pages disappear daily—changed, moved, deleted, or just forgotten. 🕳️ Save Page Now lets you preserve a webpage before it disappears. See something worth keeping? Save it today. ➡️ web.archive.org/save/ #ToolsYouCanUse
Cream graph-paper graphic with a decorative yellow line-art path and "save" wordmark, plus a yellow ">" chevron tagline reading "tools you can use." Bold black text reads "Save Page Now." Below, a yellow folder icon with the Internet Archive logo and white text: "If you see something, save something."Cream graph-paper graphic with decorative yellow zigzag line art framing the edges. Bold black text reads "Save Page Now lets you preserve a webpage that's important to you before it changes or disappears." A yellow ">" chevron tagline at the bottom reads "tools you can use."Cream graph-paper graphic framed by yellow line art, featuring a screenshot of the Internet Archive Wayback Machine homepage with its search bar, page thumbnails, and three tool options — Subscription Service, Collection Search, and Save Page Now — with the Save Page Now box circled in red. A yellow ">" chevron tagline below reads "tools you can use," pointing toward a yellow arrow.Cream graph-paper graphic with decorative yellow zigzag line art and a small multicolor line-art icon of the Internet Archive's columned building in the lower right. Bold black text reads "Save a page that matters today."
11695355
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Strangened Narratives Workshop! October 9th! This is a narrative design workshop, fully online and very live. 2-3 hours of live Discord calls every week, strange but fun exercises aimed at finding the fun in the craft while practicing unorthodox ways with feedback! #indiedev shorturl.at/v7GeD
shorturl.at
Strangened Narratives Workshop | Notion
The workshop starts October 9th!
192
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Quick, not that you're back from gamescom! Check out my new workshop! Let's get writing and designing!
010
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Saw someone checking my lecture bundles via LLM and now I think how to poison the free lectures.
020
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Briefs 2026 winners!
010
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Added the installment options.
001
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
While everybody is at the gamescom you can get an early bird price for my brand new (updated?) workshop. It's Strangened Narratives but now with a bigger focus on practice and exercises. It's also 6 weeks long now! Check it out and tell your friends! #indiedev #narrativedesign shorturl.at/v7GeD
shorturl.at
Strangened Narratives Workshop | Notion
Join the workshop now for 250 USD! Price will go up to 300 from Sep 16 and 400 from Oct 1.
0174
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
The Odyssey makes me want to call my mom and check who did the translation I read when I was like 10. I remember it very differently. Odysseus is supposed to be a clever fool full of hubris who wants to go home, not a wise king who is also somehow a dumbass who rarely remembers he wanna go home.
130
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
That moment when you get annoyed by trying to do a landing for the workshop and you go to see the movies and you get annoyed by the odyssey instead.
010
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
During the art residency I made 20 tiny (8x8) paintings and here are all of them. Testing the notes scanner quality too. #art #myart #ghosts
030
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
This painting I did for a residency is a nightmare but it absolutely belongs on a bathroom door : skinsuit. Tried to paint myself but something went very very badly. #art
040
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
My favourite paintings I made for the art residency: Soulmates and Refuge #art #amateurart
040
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
More photos of my paintings from the residency I did. This one is Saint-Petersburg pack of ghosts! #art #canvasart #amateurart #fineart
030
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Don't know how it happened but I spent a whole month at an art residency painting ghosts. This is part one of like many, gotta spread the content and I made like 24 paintings of ghosts!! #art #tinyart #freshtinyart #freshestteenytinyart
030
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Go rate and talk about the Briefs alums, SVP
010
Reposted by Zhenia Puzankov
Fabrizio Espindola @fabrizioespindola.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
@allworms.bsky.social is currently developing this very cool book! Ideal for indie devs who want to add compelling storytelling to their games. Wishlist it! 🔗 jettelly.com/store/narrat... #gamedev #indiedev
0137
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Oh no. Videogamena.me is down. How else can we randomly generate s video game name?
videogamena.me
Hostineer | Engineered Hosting
Secure elastic web hosting with PHP, Node, Python, and Ruby built on cloud technology.
000
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Fell sick after eternity on the plane so cheer me up by buying this bundle of narrative design goodness.
020
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
But the way, my lessons (plus couple weird games) are doing the whole summer sale! itch.io/s/191007/sum...
itch.io
Summer Sale 2026 by All Worms
A bundle by All Worms, $40.00 for 5 games
000
Zhenia Puzankov @allworms.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I thought I would be ecstatic about internet outside of Russia, I.e. No vpns and stable connection. But not only ads are overwhelming, YouTube feels way more aggressive with the algorithm. Like in Russia it didn't jump on me immediately with gaming content after watching one gamedev video.
110
Reposted by Zhenia Puzankov
BRIEFS @briefsge.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
IMPORTANT: We're extending the deadline to the 22nd of June. Also if you are in Istanbul you can find one hour curators at WN conference this Friday!
053