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Jonathan Masino

@jonathanmasino.bsky.social

24 followers 41 following 31 posts

Film Dude and Editor from the NYC. Sr Video Producer @ Penguin Random House. Co-host @ LitsPlay. Views are 100% my own, unfortunately.

Posts Replies Media

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

I really hate writing dialogue. I mean the word, "dialogue", it annoys me.

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Got to interview Tonda Ros (@dogubomb.bsky.social), the man behind the seemingly endless supply of secrets and intrigue in #BluePrince. We talked about its approach to storytelling and worldbuilding, the influence of Victorian literature, and more! youtu.be/H0nY1MjmGvg

Writing BLUE PRINCE with Creator Tonda Ros

YouTube video by Lits Play

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Fans of #ScarletHollow, check out this in-depth interview we did with its creators @blacktabbygames.com about its writing, monster romances, and more! youtu.be/MKXWZo3Ff10

Writing SCARLET HOLLOW — Interview with Abby Howard and Tony Arias

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Yes, Blue Prince is that good.

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

What's everyone's favorite Kingdom Hearts World? Over at Lits Play we decided to do a March Madness style tournament to decide the best one. Hearts Madness? #kingdomhearts youtu.be/cpBP9WEAvAA?...

The Best Kingdom Hearts Worlds — Ultimate Tournament

YouTube video by Lits Play

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Charlotte and I took to #Minecraft to try and build the tower from Rapunzel. Do we have enough hair between us to escape? You decide. youtu.be/JtCrbsrFWFw

Let's Build Rapunzel's Tower in MINECRAFT — PS5 gameplay

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

If you like a hilarious and contemporary take on the cyberpunk noir mystery, I highly recommend TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE by Cory O'Brien (@bettermyths.bsky.social). If you like watching me get humiliated in a dating sim, I highly recommend this video: youtu.be/BPNWdCIJda8?...

Let's Play Monster Prom with the Game's Narrative Designer Cory O'Brien

YouTube video by Lits Play

Reposted by Jonathan Masino

Charlotte Lesnick @hissthemovie.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Check out some fun we had making Sims with @delilahsdawson.bsky.social youtu.be/Yf1XrQCHFTU

Delilah S. Dawson Turns Her Books into Sims | Sims Author Challenge #4

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

I'm not sure it reflects well on the publishing industry, but we played through the beginning of #SplitFiction and had a grand ol' time: youtu.be/d1Fllz53Cp4

SPLIT FICTION PS5 Gameplay - First 60 Minutes with LITS PLAY!

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

We've been doing a bunch of great interviews with game developers at Lits Play on writing and story design. Here's a compilation of various devs talking about the Books that inspired their stories: youtu.be/RIA2wDu0pMw?...

Game Developers on the Books that Inspired their Stories — ALAN WAKE 2, CYBERPUNK 2077, UNTIL DAWN

YouTube video by Lits Play

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

I've been obsessed with #KingdomComeDeliverance2 this month so it was a huge thrill to chat with its Creative Director Daniel Vávra on the writing the game's 2.2 million words among other things. #kcd2 youtu.be/Js5Ye63D3b8

Writing KINGDOM COME: DELIVERANCE 2 with Creative Director Daniel Vávra

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that I spend 5% of all working hours untangling XLR cables.

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

New Lits Play pod is up, where we yap about Horror in games and literature, and what scares us. I may or may not have mentioned Madonna youtu.be/WmQJIAonOeM?...

Talking Horror in Games and Books | Lits Play Podcast 8

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Authors Layne Fargo and Sarah MacLean rated some of gaming's spiciest kissing scenes. We had a time. youtu.be/MTznyyVRQbc

Romance Author Reacts to Gaming Kiss Scenes — THE LAST OF US PART 2, BALDUR'S GATE 3, FFVII REBIRTH

YouTube video by Lits Play

Reposted by Jonathan Masino

Amy Mallett @amymallett.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

I DID A THING WITH LITS PLAY! 📚🎮 this channel is dedicated to exploring where literature meets video games and I can't believe they asked me to come on it and yap about FFVII Thanks @jonathanmasino.bsky.social and here's a big old spoilery podcast for my fellow Rebirth boffins ⬇️

Reposted by Jonathan Masino

Gareth DAMIAN MARTIN | Jump Over the Age @jumpovertheage.com · 28/01/2025

A little chat with Penguin Random House's "Lits Play" just went live today--it was fun to chat explicitly about literary style and influence. Not always something I get chance to do! youtu.be/REJS8ELZE94?...

Creating CITIZEN SLEEPER 2 — Interview with Gareth Damian Martin

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Had so much fun learning about the story behind the imaginative universe and branching narrative of the upcoming science fiction tabletop-inspired RPG, #CitizenSleeper2, with its creator Gareth Damian Martin @jumpovertheage.com. youtu.be/REJS8ELZE94

Creating CITIZEN SLEEPER 2 — Interview with Gareth Damian Martin

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Me trying to decide whether to root for the Commanders or Eagles today

media.tenor.com

a man in a new york giants jersey is watching a football game

ALT: a man in a new york giants jersey is watching a football game

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

I think I spent the entire day on Microsoft Teams...don't recommend.

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

What do you do when you fundamentally disagree with how an author pronounces their main character's name?

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Here's a short clip on the open world storytelling in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth with the amazing and funny, Amy Mallett @amymallett.bsky.social Part of a full narrative breakdown we did for the whole game 👀 Full video link here: youtu.be/jNAhaR6Rpec

Reposted by Jonathan Masino

Paolo Bacigalupi @paolobacigalupi.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

If you're concerned about the direction of the world, there are many local civic/governmental boards and meetings starving for attention, skill, and participation. Water boards. Electric coops. School boards. Town management. Planning commissions. Etc. We get the democracy we participate in.

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Why do I keep getting sucked into most-likely-never-to-be-finished fantasy sagas?

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

The Lits Play Podcast is back in 2025! Here we talk about our most anticipated games and books coming this year. youtu.be/k-Q5_qXIHEs?...

Most Anticipated Games and Books of 2025 | The Lits Play Podcast 7

YouTube video by Lits Play

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Had an awesome time learning all about the writing and research behind the great historical mystery game #Pentiment with its Director Josh Sawyer (@jesawyer.bsky.social). Check out the interview here: youtu.be/JiSu_Z3wAmQ?...

Writing PENTIMENT — Interview with Josh Sawyer

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Lots of great nuggets of game writing wisdom in this Lits Play interview with @jojofinal-final.bsky.social and the amazing writing in @cultofthelamb.bsky.social. Check it out: youtu.be/l33GaOTR1qg?...

Writing Game Narrative with JoJo Zhou | CULT OF THE LAMB

YouTube video by Lits Play

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Salute to the great sci-fi and now, fantasy writer @paolobacigalupi.bsky.social for trying out our Fantasy Map Geography Test. See if Paolo can remember where locales are from LOTR and ASOIAF. Full Video Link: youtu.be/_AuXLj5mINM?...

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Just posted a new interview with the great game writer @evanskolnick.bsky.social about his book, Video Game Storytelling, where we discussed narrative design in games and how it has evolved over the years. Here's a clip about using cut scenes:

Reposted by Jonathan Masino

Evan Skolnick @evanskolnick.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Now live! On the cusp of the 10th anniversary of my book, Video Game Storytelling, being published by Penguin Random House, I was interviewed on their "Lits Play" YouTube channel. How has game narrative evolved in that time? What's improved? What challenges persist? And where are things headed?

Video Game Storytelling with Game Writer Evan Skolnick | MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2, STAR WARS 1313

YouTube video by Lits Play

Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Lots of great games this year, but here are a few I really liked that fell a bit under the radar.

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Jonathan Masino @jonathanmasino.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

David Grann has written some of my favorite history books so it was a great thrill to interview him and put this video together about his career highlights. youtu.be/XXn2Hx6aTqQ?...

Author David Grann breaks down his most popular books

YouTube video by Penguin Random House

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