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Gianni Di Giovanni

@gdig.bsky.social
297 followers 88 following 197 posts

Games journalist and Radio Broadcaster. Views are my own and not representative of my employer

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Reposted by Gianni Di Giovanni
ABC News Australia @news.abc.net.au · 06/07/2026
First Nations creators tell Indigenous stories through video games
abc.net.au
From Call of Duty to Dreamtime: These designers are lighting up video games
As part of NAIDOC Week, we meet the Indigenous creatives who are re-shaping Australia's video game industry.
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kat @kgt.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Happy NAIDOC 🖤 we're out here making games. I had a really lovely chat about making a rhythm game that honours Country, and working with Wali Studios on Wyrmspace Tactics.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
🎶 Whether or not you’ve played League of Legends or are an Arcane fan the story of how the music at Riot is made is a fascinating one. @jdspearsmusic.bsky.social + @snajand.bsky.social join @musophrenic.bsky.social and I to share the collaboration at the heart. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...
abc.net.au
How the soundtracks for Arcane and League of Legends are made
Musicians and game developers work closely to make the world of League of Legends sound so incredible.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Cool story from Francisco writing for ABC Arts on Mixtape. 💿 www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05...
abc.net.au
Aussie rocker-turned-game developer restores lost art of the mixtape
Melbourne's Johnny Galvatron gave up the rockstar life to become a BAFTA-winning game developer. Now, his studio's latest release, Mixtape, re-imagines the music game as an eclectic playlist of genres...
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James O’Connor @jickle.net · 10/05/2026
Apparently getting the rights to this shirt was more difficult than any of the song rights were (source: me) www.theguardian.com/games/2026/m...
theguardian.com
From Smashing Pumpkins to Ferris Bueller: new Australian indie video game Mixtape is a blast of nostalgia
In the game by Melbourne-based Beethoven and Dinosaur, you play as a teenage girl the night before moving to New York – drinking, skateboarding and getting into trouble, all soundtracked by 80s and 90...
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
It’s hard to adapt a branching dynamic video game to the silver screen, each player has their own story when they play. Director of Exit 8 Genki Nakamura wanted to tell one story in that same world and get us to think again about the modern loops we’re stuck in www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05...
abc.net.au
How the Tokyo Metro became the terrifying setting for film Exit 8
The creator of the minimalist horror film hopes it inspires viewers to stop doomscrolling and take a look at the world around them.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
I’ve interviewed @gregorylouden.bsky.social a few times over the years and it was always interesting to hear how he thinks about interactive narratives. SAROS is out this week and it was cool to learn about why a lot of his games have characters retracing their steps www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...
abc.net.au
Meet the Australian behind PlayStation's next big game Saros
Developer Gregory Louden always wanted to work in games, but it was a sidestep into filmmaking that helped him secure his dream job at Finnish studio Housemarque.
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BURD @tezamondo.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
You know what they say. Tomodatchi Life, Tomodatchi Wife
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
🗡️🌊 @mattnava.bsky.social and @awintory.bsky.social have a long career of collaboration, their two creative disciplines intertwined. I remember distinctly how exciting it was when Journey was nominated for a Grammy, and now Sword of the Sea is the latest winner. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...
abc.net.au
Team behind cult 2012 video game reunites on Grammy winner
Art director Matt Nava and composer Austin Wintory reveal how their cult 2012 video game Journey shaped their latest offering, the Grammy Award-winning Sword of the Sea.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
I’m on ABC Radio chatting about the new Bluey game right now and the shape of the Australian games scene www.abc.net.au/listen/live/...
abc.net.au
ABC Perth Live Audio - ABC listen
Listen live, whenever you want, wherever you are with ABC Perth.
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Reposted by Gianni Di Giovanni
Julian Fell @jtfell.com · 30/03/2026
In the early days of the Middle East war, petrol stations hiked prices faster than the rise of global oil prices, in what several leading experts say was an attempt to maintain their profit margins. But since then, there has been a complete turnaround. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...
abc.net.au
Petrol stations tried to 'shape' the market – now it's shaping them
Petrol stations in our biggest cities hiked prices ahead of global oil prices, but experts say their profit margins are now much slimmer.
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Chris “Mutton” Button @bibbybhoy.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
After 10 years of writing about video games and technology, I won my first industry award: Best Technology Reviewer. Feels pretty good!
A hand holding the glass statuette for Best Technology Reviewer.A photo taken by a mini camera of the SIFTER teamA certificate with Chris Button’s name edited to be ‘Chris Mutton’A photo of Chris and Claire holding their awards
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David Smith @rhunwords.com · 27/03/2026
Stunned. Grateful. Didn’t expect ABC Gamer pick up a Lizzie but utterly thrilled that we did. It’s almost like it should still be here! Please, with everything you’ve got, support the small teams still churning out great Australian games journalism every single day.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
@rhunwords.com congrats fella you deserve it so thrilled 👏
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Reposted by Gianni Di Giovanni
David Smith @rhunwords.com · 26/03/2026
If you’re a small games outlet that’s still grinding SEO, pack it in. Change your strategy. The days of taking the easy road, flipping press releases and fighting for top spots on Google News, are over.
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Chris “Mutton” Button @bibbybhoy.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
DLSS 5 has sent shockwaves through the games industry, so I asked several artists and developers what concerns them most about the technology. Unsurprisingly, their ire is about far more than ‘AI slop’. www.gadgetguy.com.au/nvidia-dlss-...
gadgetguy.com.au
"Disgust" over Nvidia's DLSS 5 has the games industry on edge
Nvidia's controversial DLSS 5 technology drew the ire of the games industry, but the reasons run deeper than 'AI slop' imagery.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
The Game Boy came out in 1989, The Game Boy Color in 1998 and in 2026 meet the Australian developers Tom Lockwood and Orlando Mee making new games for the decades old console, wrapping nostalgia and their culture into the work. New story from me www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...
abc.net.au
New games for an old console: Meet the new generation of Game Boy developers
A small community of game developers is releasing new games for Nintendo's decades-old video game console, harnessing the nostalgia of these classic devices.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Huge miss not calling it bing bong what are you doing @serrels.bsky.social @jacksonwryan.com
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
During the late 1970s a Newcastle based company built a set uniquely Australian Pinball machines, Dennis Lillee 🏏 FJ Holden 🚘 and Shark 🦈 and the world’s first Star Wars pinball machine ever. These machines have been collected by the NFSA, new story by me www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...
abc.net.au
Iconic Australian-made pinball machines preserved for generations to come
Five pinball machines, including the first licensed Star Wars unit, have been saved from the scrap heap and will eventually be made available for the public to play at a special exhibition.
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Reposted by Gianni Di Giovanni
Aftermath @aftermath.site · 02/03/2026
The secretive company filling video game sites with gambling and AI aftermath.site/gameshub-click...
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
The music of Hollow Knight Silksong is already iconic. Christopher Larkin was able to increase the number of real instrumentalists from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra on the sequel. Another insight into the making of this blockbuster game www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
abc.net.au
Behind the music of hit Australian indie game Hollow Knight: Silksong
The video game soundtrack will be performed live for the first time by Orchestra Victoria at ACMI in February.
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Reposted by Gianni Di Giovanni
Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson @jendn.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Small but important AWW update that adds two authors: Holly Gramazio and Olivia de Zilva. Thanks everyone for sharing!
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Across seven hours in the Sydney Opera House this Sydney Festival, a herd of audience members will take turns leading a virtual group of donkeys in an experience that merges theatre and video games. New story from me www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
abc.net.au
How a video game about donkeys tests social cohesion
Theatre makers Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim have built a game to be played socially in an auditorium, with a single player leading a group of donkeys on a journey of discovery.
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Reposted by Gianni Di Giovanni
SIFTER @sifterhq.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
2025 The definitive list of Australian made video games. 🎮 We've recorded games all year for our seventh annual collection of local titles, across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and more! FEATURE by @gdig.bsky.social + @juiceboxcat.bsky.social www.sifter.com.au/post/2025-th... #videogames
A cartoon illustration of Australian native animals designed in an anthropomorphised way, a Koala, a platypus holding a trophy and a quokka stand in front of a media wall with SIFTER and Pixel Sift logos at an awards ceremony. The platypus has just won an award for their game. Text overlayed says "The Definitive List of every Australian made video game released in 2025. Feature on sifter.com.au. "
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
It was an honour to collate the first games wrap story for ABC this year, check out what @rhunwords.com @geeofdee.bsky.social @nomibelle.bsky.social and more great people loved playing this year. If you need a bit of escapism today have a look at this www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
abc.net.au
Hollow Knight to Donkey Kong: Our favourite video games of 2025
There are games to suit everyone, and overwhelmingly Australians are a game-playing nation. Here are some of the most important titles released this year.
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Reposted by Gianni Di Giovanni
David Smith @rhunwords.com · 11/12/2025
Tomorrow is my last day on Gamer, and before I leave, I wanted to give everyone a little gift. Below, you’ll find Good Game: The Complete* Collection. All 12 seasons of Good Game, 418 episodes, in one massive playlist. youtube.com/playlist?lis...
youtube.com
Good Game: Seasons 1 - 12 - YouTube
Good Game! Every single season, (almost) every single episode, in one place. Regrettably missing from this archive and possibly lost to time: Season 3, Episo...
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Meena Shamaly 🎮🎻🎙 @musophrenic.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
An hour with the music of Silksong (@teamcherry.bsky.social), plus another hour (almost) chatting to its bard, @christopherlarkin.bsky.social 🪡🎵🎮 🎙️ Big thanks to @gdig.bsky.social for joining me on this interview 🎙️ 🎧 The Game Show on ABC Classic 🎧
abc.net.au
Grand and tender: the music of Silksong by Christopher Larkin - ABC listen
The music of one of the most anticipated games of 2025, and an extended conversation with its Australian composer, Christopher Larkin.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
😎 Have a cool game? 👀 Want people to know about it? Submissions open for ALT:GAMES 2026 at Powerhouse right now do it now, don’t put it off, I know you reckon you’ll get round to it but be honest with yourself and just do it the second you see this because let’s be real
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Hey what are you doing at 8:00PM AEDT tonight? How about listen to Download This Show with the excellent @raejohnston.bsky.social , Alice Clarke and myself! We talk AI bubbles, age-verification and more! Here is the link or find it on your podcast players after that www.abc.net.au/listen/live/...
abc.net.au
Radio National live player - ABC listen
Radio National goes beyond the news headlines to examine a diverse range of topics, including arts and culture, business and current affairs, health, science and technology, Indigenous culture and iss...
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Another cool games story up today Mietta Adams and Charlie McLean in the Pilbara office. Game designed to save dying Aboriginal language wins global awards www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
abc.net.au
Game designed to save dying Aboriginal language wins global awards
With only eight fluent Nyiyaparli speakers remaining, an Aboriginal group is racing against time to save their 41,000-year-old language.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Think of the Wii Shop Channel music. Iconic. The Nintendo Wii was a massive success and got heaps of new players into join in. Even my mum played a lot of Wii Sports with us and she mostly thinks games are a waste of time. I look back at the legacy on its anniversary www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
abc.net.au
Nintendo gave away millions of games for free. The risk paid off
Innovative motion controls and accessible design made the Nintendo Wii one of the most popular consoles of all time.
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David Smith @rhunwords.com · 12/11/2025
However, I’m not giving up on Gamer just yet because I believe in the importance of strong, independent games coverage at Aunty (and @gdig.bsky.social can’t be left to his own devices, let’s be honest). I’ll be knocking on every door in the building to prove its value before I go.
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David Smith @rhunwords.com · 12/11/2025
Hey folks, bit of news. Commissioning changes have meant that ABC Gamer will be rested at the end of the year. My contract ends in December and I will be back on the job hunt. It’s been a dream to work here, and the Children & Family team have been extraordinary to work with. Nothing but love.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Tell you what, if you pester your friend @musophrenic.bsky.social to make a Zelda episode of Game Show it works. Keep that in mind if you need anything from Meena! Thank you mate for doing this for me specifically (it wasn’t it was already planned but I’ll claim it) www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
abc.net.au
Zelda's extraordinary playlist - ABC listen
A musical exploration across The Legend of Zelda series, from 1986 through to the modern day.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Well worth reading through @juiceboxcat.bsky.social ‘s story on Delphinium a game that really caught my attention at #MIGW this year. Good read!
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Chris “Mutton” Button @bibbybhoy.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
This was a fun interview to do, mainly because I got to do it with my bud @gdig.bsky.social who put together a sensational video cut for Sifter: www.sifter.com.au/post/ghost-o...
sifter.com.au
Inside Ghost of Yōtei: Quest design, Cinematic samurai influences & Designing around different play styles | SIFTER
The Australian developer Rob Davis on his role as Campaign Director of the new sequel to Ghost of Tsushima recorded live at PAX Australia.
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Brendan Keogh @brkeogh.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Reminder to Australian devs that @sifterhq.bsky.social does the lord's work every year by compiling every single Australian-made videogame they can find. You can submit your 2025 releases here: www.sifter.com.au/add-my-game-...
sifter.com.au
Add my game to SIFTER's Australian Made Games List
Have you released a game made in Australia this year? Use this form to let us know
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
This is an incredible way to learn about these stories, it’s visualised in such an interesting and interactive way. The artwork was done by my friend Abby Richards here in Boorloo. Scroll through and take a look or click off in other directions. www.abc.net.au/news/deeptim...
abc.net.au
Australia is seen as a young country — but do you really know its ancient story?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' story goes way, way back… take an awe-inspiring journey into Deep Time.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Thanks for a great MIGW. It’s one of my absolute highlights of the year for sure. It was excellent to see you all again and meet some of you for the first time!
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Imagine if in the late nineties digital distribution existed? What could have been the big genres today if it wasn’t swayed by retail. @hopecorr.bsky.social with this great story www.pcgamer.com/games/baldur...
pcgamer.com
RPG devs stopped making games like Baldur's Gate 'because retailers told us no one wanted to buy them', says New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity director Josh Sawyer
The Infinity Engine wasn't quite so infinite, in the end.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Whip cracks and soundtracks, @musophrenic.bsky.social and I spoke to Pete Ward audio director of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle who spoke at High Score for #migw25 about how to capture those iconic sounds www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
abc.net.au
Whips to grunts, how game creators use music to evoke the world of Indiana Jones
The sound world of Indiana Jones is iconic. While in Australia, the video game's audio director shares how he leveraged this to bring the game world to life.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
G'day I'm off to MIGW today looking forward to seeing you! Here is where I'll be: 🎻 High Score (Sun) 🚀 Games Week Launch 👨‍💻 GCAP - doing a talk on Mon w @hopecorr.bsky.social @harrisonpolites.bsky.social @sagefoxx.bsky.social at 3PM + Tue 🫶 Games for Change (Wed) 🏆 AGDAs 🎨 Parallels 🎮 PAX Aus
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Oh damn this was a great show you’re in for a treat
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Josh Taylor @joshtaylor.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
I conducted an experiment on what Tiktok and YouTube recommends when not logged in on the app. Given the social media ban only covers accounts, hard not to see this could be the experience for teens in Australia come December. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/s...
theguardian.com
From zero to neo-Nazis: what under-16s may see under Australia’s social media ban, simply by not logging in
Guardian Australia test finds scrolling shortform videos while logged out of YouTube and TikTok quickly leads to gambling, violent and far-right content
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Leah J. Williams @legenette.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
i know i am getting old when my first tip for #paxaus is wearing comfortable shoes
screenhub.com.au
PAX Aus 2025: Tips and tricks to make the most of your time | ScreenHub: Film, TV, Streaming and Games
PAX Aus 2025 is a packed event with hundreds of panels, game demos, exhibits, and activations. Here's how to make the most of your time.
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BarmE @barmearme.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Schedule live! At PAX Aus I have the privilege and pleasure to facilitate the Kirrip Wilam room, a space for Indigenous people to showcase, connect, recharge and share their pop culture fandom. Check out the schedule for the room in the link below (filter: Kirrip Wilam) and come and say hello ☺️
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
ACMI today opens Game Worlds a big exhibition featuring Silksong WoW Sim City. I spoke to Dean Ravenola from Neopets and Robin Walker original developer on Team Fortress alongside Beth Johnson, ACMI Curator for a look at the exhibit. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
abc.net.au
This Aussie game broke the internet. A new exhibit reveals how it was made
An exhibition at Melbourne's ACMI will pull back the curtain on how iconic games like Hollow Knight Silksong, Team Fortress, Neopets and Sim City were made.
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Gianni Di Giovanni @gdig.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
I got to be a little bit romantic about the idea of typing, writing and the QWERTY keyboard when I spoke to David Marr on Late Night Live on Radio National last night. Take a listen with some ASMR clickety-clacks of my mechanical keyboard www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
abc.net.au
Why do we use the QWERTY keyboard? - ABC listen
The QWERTY keyboard wasn't designed to be fast or logical. It was created in the 1870s to stop typewriter keys from jamming - and to suit telegraph operators working in morse code. Since then, more ef...
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