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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman

@cassiebara29.bsky.social
388 followers 274 following 154 posts

Media and Comms Lecturer at Unimelb 🏫 | Game Studies Scholar 🎮 | Deputy Director of MAGPIE 🐦‍⬛| DiGRAA Board Member 🌏 | Checkpoint Critic & Writer ✍️ | She/Her linktr.ee/cbarkman

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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 2m
Earlier this year Freeplay announced that 2026 might be their last year of operation. I've spent the last few weeks talking to people in and around Freeplay about this point in its history regarding how its changed, its relationship to funding and what it might look like in the future.
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Brendan Keogh @brkeogh.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
MASSIVE strike at QUT today. About 200 of us on the picket line demanding better working and learning conditions from our overpaid corporate managers. Such incredible solidarity.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Reviewed Digger. Hard review to write - always expected it be polarising and my feelings on it are still settling but I think I dug it ever so slightly. checkpointgaming.net/features/202...
checkpointgaming.net
Cinematic Mode - Digger sees Tom Cruise digging for farce
Digger is an uneven film of crass black comedy, great performances, easy satire and compelling reflections on art and crisis.
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Taylor Hardwick @darthtayrah.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Game dev mates!! My pals at USyd have been cooking up something special: @ludolio.com, a platform that brings games into classrooms while making sure devs get paid 🙏 the catalogue currently slays but if you’re like, it could slay more, you should register your game 👀 www.ludolio.com/for-developers
ludolio.com
For Developers – Ludolio
Discover how Ludolio empowers game developers to reach new audiences and grow through library partnerships.
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Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Come chat with me about feminine computer creativity :) Did you make experimental hobbyist games? Did you mod the sims? Did you make Neopets fan sites? Are you Australian and over 18yo?
A participant recruitment flyer for a research project on feminine computer creativity. An image of a Sims house and a Neopets character are included on the poster.

The callout reads:
"I am looking to talk with people who used computers for hobbyist non- commercial feminine creativity relevant to games. All interpretations
of femininity are welcome. This project aims to learn more about feminine tech-competency and feminine game cultures that have
been overlooked in games histories."
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Checkpoint Gaming @checkpointau.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
So how much does it really cost for an indie developer to showcase their game at @paxaus.bsky.social ? ...and is it worth it? We found out. checkpointgaming.net/features/202...
checkpointgaming.net
Pay to play: The cost of exhibiting at PAX Aus
PAX Aus gives indie developers a chance to showcase their games, but doing so at the event comes with a few challenges.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Reupping my Aether and Iron review given its AGDA GOTY nom - cool game that has an awful lot of fun playing around in it's genre sandboxes. checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2026...
checkpointgaming.net
Aether & Iron Review - Stratosphere Boulevard
Aether & Iron takes immense joy messing around in the noir decopunk playground it has constructed, and that joy is often infectious.
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Press Start Journal @psjournal.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Open Call for Papers 2026🥰📢 Press Start is currently seeking full-length game studies papers from current grad students/recent grads. Submit by Dec 4, 2026, for a potential spot in our 2027 issue! More details below in this thread👇 #CallForPapers #GameStudies
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Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 02/09/2026
‘We have had enough’: thousands of University of Sydney staff walk off the job over AI and job security
theguardian.com
‘We have had enough’: thousands of University of Sydney staff walk off the job over AI and job security
Hundreds of university staff were stationed at picket lines, calling for stronger protections around the use of AI * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The same week union members at the University of Sydney agreed to a 24-hour strike, staff received the results of an internal survey. In the faculty of arts and social sciences, 0% agreed with the statement: “I trust the University of Sydney to act in the best interests of staff, students and the broader community.” Continue reading...
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Reviewed Zero Company. I'm a tactics sicko with too many hours in XCOM 2 and this game scratched an itch that no other has since that released. Writing and the cast of characters are also far better than they have any right to be.
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Chad Toprak @chadtoprak.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
📣 Hey Australian gamemakers! Screen Australia's round of games grants close in 3 days! A reminder to get your applications in! 🫶 🛠 Games Production Fund - up to $100,000 🎨 Emerging Gamemakers Fund - up to $30,000 📆 Applications close Thu 27 Aug, 5pm (AEST) 👉 screenaustralia.gov.au/fund/?catego...
An image featuring tiles of released games funded by Screen Australia.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Waiting for the next Big Walk session like
The Pablo waiting meme with a Big Walk character superimposed over.
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Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Call for Papers to share your work at DiGRAA 2027, hosted at RMIT, Melbourne in Feb! digraa.org/post/cfp-dig...
digraa.org
CFP: DiGRA Australia 2027 National Conference Call for Papers and Important Dates – DiGRA Australia
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Pro Jank Footy @projankfooty.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
PRO JANK FOOTY is OUT NOW 🏆 Aussie Rules meets Aussie humor in this chaotic, unpredictable, and proudly Australian arcade game featuring commentary from Broden Kelly! Play it now on Steam, PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The joy this elicited in me while playing Big Walk (as someone who hiked in Wilson's Prom a bunch as a kid) has genuinely led to me pitching the game to other locals with 'its got squeaky beach sounds!'
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
New career milestone: Yesterday @antipollution.bsky.social informed me that our paper is now cited in Wikipedia. I think I can happily retire now.
A screenshot detailing a Wikipedia footnote that reads '9. Dawson, Finn; Barkman, Cassandra (2026). "Interface Games as Microgenre: Definition and Thematic Investigation". Television & New Media. doi:10.1177/15274764251410591. ISSN 1552-8316. LCCN 99009518. OCLC 231901154.'
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House House @househouse.com · 04/08/2026
🔴🟡🔵 BIG WALK 🔴🟡🔵 Out now on Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5. Hooray!
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I was part of the Big Walk review crew at Checkpoint and heartily endorse everything Elliot says in his review - this is a genuinely special game in how ingeniously it facilitates interesting forms of social play. Everyone owes it to themselves to go and do the biggest walk.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Checked out a cool new games event over the weekend and wrote about it! @asymptotes.au
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Reviewed Denshattack, an energetic and tightly made weirdo of a game that I briefly describe as 'Subway Surfer on crack' and acts as an interesting lens for me to chatter about contemporary spectacle.
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Asymptotes. @asymptotes.au · 04/07/2026
Asymptotes is running in 2 weeks, on July 18th at Balam Balam Place, Brunswick. Showcasing: 🟢 7 abandoned games 🟠 A talk diving deep into an abandoned game 🟣 3 panels discussing noncommercial game-making More details to come. 👉 asymptotes.au
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Press Start Journal @psjournal.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Hi all, we are looking for three peer reviewers for an article on Chinese indie games. Please see the attached image for the abstract. Please note that all reviewers for Press Start must be current students or within one year of graduation. Contact info in the replies👇
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Asymptotes. @asymptotes.au · 18/06/2026
Announcing... Asymptotes. Asymptotes is a games event in Naarm, Australia, celebrating imperfection. On Saturday July 18th, we're running a showcase of abandoned games, with talks and panels on non-commercial and difficult to commercialise game-making. 👉 asymptotes.au
The top half of the image shows the Asymptotes logo (a stylised moth on an asymptotic graph).

Underneath, the text reads "Saturday 18 July, 6:00 - 9:30pm". There is a link to the Asymptotes website, at "asymptotes.au"
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Reviewed new NZ game Rose and Locket after being previously enamoured with it at PAX. Launch seems to have flown under the radar, which is a shame given how striking and assured the game itself is; big recommend. checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2026...
checkpointgaming.net
Rose and Locket Review - Every Frame a Panel
Rose and Locket's interactive panels and quick combat crackle with ingenuity and flair, and makes for a graphical pleasure of a playthrough.
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Ryan Stanton @stantium.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
New Article about E3 and other “Gamer Christmas” Events. Very proud to finally write about this topic so please give it a read! And give @cassiebara29.bsky.social some love for her invaluable co-author work
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
New article out! (My second this week hah). Co-authored with @stantium.bsky.social, its called 'Publisher Presentations as Promotional Paratexts' and the accepted version is available here: dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/...
dl.acm.org
Publisher Presentations as Promotional Paratexts | Games: Research and Practice
This article will explore the increasing prominence of ‘publisher presentations’ — online streams where game publishers like Sony, Nintendo and Devolver Digital showcase their upcoming products direct...
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
New article out! Its called "Leisure or Labour: An Aesthetic Reading of Playing Stardew Valley" in the latest special issue of Well Played titled 'Well Read Games'. playstorypress.org/well-played-...
playstorypress.org
Leisure or Labour: An Aesthetic Reading of Playing Stardew Valley – Play Story Press
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Brendan Keogh @brkeogh.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Deeply disrespectful to the entire Australian cultural sector that the Office of the Arts can't be bothered actually reading all the submissions people are working very hard on for the National Cultural Policy, and instead will be asking genAI for a summary. www.arts.gov.au/have-your-sa...
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Reviewed the new Star Wars movie, which was an exercise in such 'its fine' mediocrity that waking up this morning most of the plot has already left my brain.
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Freeplay @free-play.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
✦ PARALLELS 2026 — THE CALL-OUT IS HERE ✦ Making a game, and wanna yap about it at Parallels 2026? Now is the time to let us know! Speaker submissions close on the 5th of June. That’s THREE WEEKS. Don't overthink it. Just apply here: forms.gle/j8NkrdqMnwoH...
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Reviewed the new Lego Batman. Looks like I enjoyed it a lot less than most others - was sorely disappointed with how flat and unambitious its main campaign and open world missions were - but is still an interesting game with a few bright spots. checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2026...
checkpointgaming.net
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review - Brick-ham City
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a simplified continuation of the Arkham series, but it is never quite the sum of its bricks.
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Dan Golding @dangolding.com · 14/05/2026
This really is tremendous leadership from Freeplay, and the kind of thing that has been glaringly missing from the games sector. This stuff is really important, so games people, do not let this moment go to waste.
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Frosty Games 🍦 @frostygamesfest.com · 12/05/2026
We're thrilled to announce Frosty Games Fest will be streaming LIVE on Sunday June 7 at 8am AEST / 10am NZST as part of Summer Game Fest 💙 Tune in for a chocka-block showcase, featuring announcements from 50+ games made in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand 🎮
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Press Start Journal @psjournal.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
🧑‍🎓CALL FOR EDITORS📷 The editorial board of Press Start is currently seeking to recruit new editors to join our team! 🌟 Please see the next post in the thread for more details. Applicants must be current graduate/postgraduate students or have graduated within the past year.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
How prophetic given the article @antipollution.bsky.social and I wrote earlier this year exactly on the microgenre of interface games! You can read it here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com
Interface Games as Microgenre: Definition and Thematic Investigation - Finn Dawson, Cassandra Barkman, 2026
In this article, we identify and define an emerging microgenre of videogame we call the interface game. While all videogames contain interfaces, “interface game...
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Checkpoint Gaming @checkpointau.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
REVIEW: Titanium Court "...a hilarious and richly designed roguelike that also gleefully points the finger back at us through the screen, daring us to prove that we don’t enjoy running around in circles for its own (and our) amusement." @fellowtraveller.games checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2026...
checkpointgaming.net
Titanium Court Review - Lord, what fools these players be
Titanium Court is a joy of a game to clown around in - a hilarious, richly designed and ingeniously made roguelike.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Reviewed Titanium Court, a game with the spirit of a Shakespearian fool and the wit and introspection to match. Adored it, will now be promptly recommending it to everyone. checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2026...
checkpointgaming.net
Titanium Court Review - Lord, what fools these players be
Titanium Court is a joy of a game to clown around in - a hilarious, richly designed and ingeniously made roguelike.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Reviewed Titanium Court, a game with the spirit of a Shakespearian fool and the wit and introspection to match. Adored it, will now be promptly recommending it to everyone. checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2026...
checkpointgaming.net
Titanium Court Review - Lord, what fools these players be
Titanium Court is a joy of a game to clown around in - a hilarious, richly designed and ingeniously made roguelike.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Reviewed Tides of Tomorrow. Has a compelling and eerie 'story-link' mechanic that plays with the social elements of choice-based games in fun ways, but is also bogged down in aggressively average storytelling. checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2026...
checkpointgaming.net
Tides of Tomorrow Review - A storied swell
Tides of Tomorrow is a textbook example of mechanics that would be better served in a stronger game. Its story-link system is compellingly eerie and smartly iterates on the social aspects of choice-ba...
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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 20/04/2026
Chinese DiGRA 2026 Call for Papers: Chinese Game Studies: Publishing, Platforms, and Player Cultures: 19–20 September, Wuhan; 15 May deadline A wide range of game studies topics relating to China are welcome! chinesedigra.org/call-for-pap...
chinesedigra.org
CDiGRA 2026 – Call for Papers
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Press Start Journal @psjournal.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Hi everyone😀 we are looking for one reviewer for an article concerning intersectional representation in the Sims franchise. If you’re interested, please email Ambrin directly at a.hasnain@student.unimelb.edu.au. See the attached image for the abstract.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Review dropped while I was away, but Aether & Iron has just come out and unfortunately doesn't seem to have garned much attention so far. I found it a very entertaining 'decopunk' noir narrative/tactics with affection for its genre tropes that's near infectious. checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2026...
checkpointgaming.net
Aether & Iron Review - Stratosphere Boulevard
Aether & Iron takes immense joy messing around in the noir decopunk playground it has constructed, and that joy is often infectious.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Last night I attended the Lizzies alongside my @checkpointau.bsky.social crew, and I was surprised and honoured to receive a highly commended award for Best Game Reviewer. Was also just amazing to be in the room and meet all these incredible people I had previously only admired from afar.
A picture of Cass Barkman (me) holding a framed certificate that reads 'Highly Commended - Best Game Reviewer'.A picture of the three Checkpoint attendees at the Lizzies posing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge - Cass, Austin and Erielle.A picture of the highly commended winners posing on the stage together.A picture of the room the Lizzies was hosted in prior to the event starting.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Something a little different from me today - I haven't been able to stop thinking about Esoteric Ebb after my review, and wanted to spend some time unpacking its politics and TTRPG tropes, and why it feels like an RPG of the moment. @chrisbodegard.bsky.social has made something pretty special here.
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Very weird and cool to say I've been nominated for two Lizzies (IT Journalism Awards) for Best Game Reviewer and Best New Journalist this year. Kind of wild to just be on the same list as writers who I've previously admired from afar.
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Checkpoint Gaming @checkpointau.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
CONTINUE, a new Australian print gaming magazine, has been announced and is currently available to be supported on Kickstarter. @serrels.bsky.social checkpointgaming.net/news/2026/03...
checkpointgaming.net
New Australian gaming print magazine CONTINUE announced, Kickstarter live now
A new Australian print magazine from Mark Serrels and Jackson Ryan has just been announced via Kickstarter called CONTINUE.
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CONTINUE Magazine @continuemag.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Oh, uh! Hello! This is CONTINUE. We're a defiant, new videogames magazine. We have assembled an incredible roster of talented creatives, writers, artists and illustrators to build Issue 01 of our new magazine. We launched our Kickstarter today! www.kickstarter.com/projects/con...
kickstarter.com
CONTINUE: A Defiant, New Videogames Magazine
Bringing together journalists, devs and artists, CONTINUE celebrates and interrogates videogame culture, creativity and community
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
My Arms are Jack(ed) Now
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Cassandra (Cass) Barkman @cassiebara29.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Reviewed Esoteric Ebb, the new Disco-like that I have real affection for, even while struggling with how close it hews to its inspirations. Also has a beautifully introspective TTRPG narrative that I'm still thinking about days later. @esotericebb.bsky.social checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2026...
checkpointgaming.net
Esoteric Ebb Review - Dungeons & Disco
Esoteric Ebb is the videogame equivalent of the best kind of cover band - one that understands, remixes, hybridises and ultimately shows great affection for its inspirations.
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Chad Toprak @chadtoprak.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Applications close in 3 days! 👀 👉 www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-...
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