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Branden Lizardi

@lizardrock.bsky.social
71 followers 40 following 30 posts

Games Writer person. Evergreen Editor at TheGamer.com. I also have thelizardrock.com that I never post on anymore.

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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Jade King ✍️ OPEN FOR WORK @konayma6.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
No time like the present - if you're PR, editors, or even just a little curious go ahead and add jadekingfreelance@gmail.com to your lists ❤️ getting chinese later it feels justified.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Are you a public-facing figure in the D&D, Daggerheart, Pathfinder, or other TTPRG world? Did you do work for WotC? Run a popular D&D podcast/video series? etc? I'm looking to interview you! Send me a DM if you're interested or know someone who might be.
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Kotaku @kotaku.com · 23/05/2026
Video game website company reveals galaxy brained new plan to play writers nothing if their posts don't get enough clicks kotaku.com/one-of-the-worst-compani…
kotaku.com
Video Game Website Has Controversial Plan To Only Pay Per Click
Editors and writers at the Valnet-owned site TheGamer will now reportedly not be paid for their work if their articles do not accrue enough views
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
lex luddy needs a nap @lexluddy.xyz · 23/05/2026
On Thursday evening Valnet issued new contracts to writers at TheGamer instituting a minimum article viewership threshold for payment. Most writers already have pay tied to article performance, but this new system would mean that if a piece didn't get X number of clicks you wouldn't be paid for it.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
In this age of media streaming, I became used to "whatever it puts on" for music. It's fine, it works. But recently, I remembered the quickly forgotten world of internet radio stations. and its great! It does exactly what I needed, without any of the drudgery of modern streaming services.
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Serrels @serrels.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
A reminder that we're dead keen for pitches. Got a bunch in here already, but if you have a dream story, or a story only you can tell, chuck it in the form. Also we're looking for illustrators! We have some onboard already but we need more! Any Qs slide into my DMs!
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Chris Wade @luckshotgames.com · 17/01/2026
If you see that BIG HOPS is made by 1 guy anywhere that is NOT true at all. We had a big team of skilled, smart, funny people and I will not accept being credited that way. It was my vision and I did a lot of jobs, but everyone in this list deserves the credit and praise: bsky.app/starter-pack...
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Go read this, if only exclusively to chortle about the choice of feature image. thephrasemaker.com/2026/01/16/a...
thephrasemaker.com
Is The AZLA ARES Clear Gaming Earbuds Worth It? - Review
Korean AZLA brand has a long and established history with high quality audio, and the Ares (and Ares Clear) is their gaming-focused take on earbuds.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
I'm fortunate that a place as cool as Unwinnable was open to me being dramatic and introspective about such a common video game mechanic. Give it a read, it might validate some feelings you weren't aware you had.
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
this was 2025, as told by 91 writers across the world intothespine.com/2025/12/31/s...
a collage of 15 different games included on the list, from silent hill f to elden ring nightreign
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
I'd have never known that the actor from Tron/The Big Labowski has been doing such interesting work towards photography history revitalization if not for this site. It's cool to see. thephrasemaker.com/2025/11/25/t...
thephrasemaker.com
Tron’s Jeff Bridges Is Reviving an Iconic Film Camera
On October 6, 2023, Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges took to Instagram to announce The Widelux Revival Project. The endeavor is supported by a brand-new company, SilverBridges.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
My coworkers generally love me. My editors, however, want to rip the concept of present tense out of my brain, neuron by neuron.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
I wrote about how this K-Pop Demon Hunters Roller Coaster Tycoon Video was the only thing this year to remind me of how beautiful "old youtube" style content can be nowadays. www.thelizardrock.com/articles/a-f...
thelizardrock.com
I Needed This K-Pop Demon Hunters RCT YouTube Video
A Roller Coaster Tycoon track synchronized to a popular song from K-Pop Demon Hunters, was the first real thing this year to make my feel that cliche.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
I'm breathing life back into my personal website. And what better a way to do that than a blog post about the phrase that got me through 2025? www.thelizardrock.com/im-getting-m...
thelizardrock.com
I'm Getting My PhD In Doin' Things - The LizardRock
Every year, instead of a New Year's resolution, I like to give myself a motivational phrase.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
I'll also be dusting off my Twitch account in the meantime. come join me for my favorite murder mystery game, Shadows of Doubt! www.twitch.tv/lizardrock
twitch.tv
LizardRock - Twitch
Ironman With The Snail Nemesis In Shadows of Doubt!
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
I went to go do the dishes to take my mind of things, only to be confronted by the reminder that I made a complete dogshit Mac & Cheese for dinner last night.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
It sounds like this is a larger scale termination by Valnet. I don't know who all is affected, but my sympathies go out to them, too.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Unfortunately, my time as an Editor for TheGamer.com has come to an end. I met some of the best coworkers I've ever had there, I learned and grew a lot. If anyone is looking for a journo, especially for guides, reviews, VR, horror, and farming RPGs, I'd love to hear from you.
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Carli Boo-locci 👻 @carlivelocci.com · 22/10/2025
✨Have YOU played powerwash simulator and then gone on to powerwash something in real life? Do you have thoughts on how they compare? I want to talk to you for a story I'm working on. Shares appreciated!
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
IGN Creators Guild @ignunion.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Ziff Davis and IGN routinely decide that work done by our laid off colleagues is not important. But inevitably, that crucial work falls onto those who remain. Not this time. Not anymore.
FROM NOW UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH IGN CREATORS GUILD IS GOING TO... DO OUR JOB!

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IGN MANAGEMENT HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH LAYING OFF OUR COWORKERS OVER AND OVER. MEANWHILE, MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE LEFT THE COMPANY IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO BUYOUTS, OVERWORK, AND FEELING UNSUPPORTED, EACH TIME, THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO BACKFILL MANY ESSENTIAL ROLES, CLAIMING WE'RE ON A HIRING FREEZE, IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET, OR THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO LESS WORK THIS TIME.

AS A RESULT, IGNCG MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TAKE ON MORE OF THEIR FORMER COLLEAGUES' WORKLOADS. MANY OF US NOW WORK LONGER HOURS THAN WE USED TO. A LOT OF US RARELY TAKE LUNCH BREAKS. SOME OF US DO NOT TAKE ADEQUATE TIME OFF DUE TO THERE BEING NO ONE TO PICK UP THE SLACK. OTHERS OF US ARE STUCK DOING WORK WE WERE NEVER HIRED TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE.
UP TO THIS POINT, WE'VE ALL ACCEPTED THIS AS NORMAL, BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IGN AND THE WORK WE DO. BUT WITH SO MANY OF US STRUGGLING MORE AND MORE AS EACH NEW WAVE OF OUR COWORKERS ARE DEPRIVED OF A LIVELIHOOD, THIS CYCLE CAN'T CONTINUE. MANAGEMENT IS UNWILLING TO STOP IT, SO IT FALLS TO US.
WITH THE LAYOFFS OF EIGHT OF OUR COWORKERS, IGNCG HAS NEGOTIATED A SIX-MONTH RECALL LIST. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, IF IGN WANTS TO FILL ANY OF THOSE ELIMINATED ROLES AGAIN, THEY MUST REHIRE OUR LAID-OFF COLLEAGUES. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR JOBS BACK IF THEY WANT THEM, AND IF NOT, WE WANT THOSE ROLES BACKFILLED TO EASE THE BURDEN ON THE REST OF US.
SO STARTING TODAY, LENCE MEMBERS ARE COMMITTING TO DO OUR JOBS. NO MORE, NO LESS. WELL SHOW UP TO WORK ON TIME AND LEAVE ON TIME. WE'RE TAKING ALL OF OUR LUNCH TIME, EVERY DAY.
IF WE WORK LATE, WE WILL FIRMLY ASK FOR OUR RIGHTFULLY EARNED COMP TIME. AND IF IGN WANTS OUR LAID-OFF COWORKERS' WORK TO GET DONE, THEY'LL HAVE TO REHIRE THEM TO DO IT INSTEAD OF FOISTING IT UPON US.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT IGNCG IN ALL THIS?
SHARE THIS POST, AND TELL IGN MANAGEMENT THAT Y…
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Santi Leguiza @santileguiza.com · 18/08/2025
Ok, so. I've been let go of my job at TheGamer. If you're looking for a gaming journalist with 7+ years of experience in the field and 3 years of experience as an editor, just hit me up at synchrocolt@gmail.com, or check santileguiza.com to read my work!
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Rebekah Valentine @duckvalentine.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
really excited to share this fun interview with the dude who designed THE Pokemon logo! www.ign.com/articles/mee...
ign.com
Meet the Man Who Designed Pokémon’s Iconic Logo - IGN
Meet Chris Maple, a Seattle-based designer who unwittingly stumbled into creating one of the most iconic logos in the world: Pokémon.
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Chris Plante @plante.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
I'm no longer with Polygon. If you're hiring, please consider the many talented writers and editors now on the market. Every one of them deserves a spot on your staff. I won't be talking more about the sale because I wasn't involved. Going to hang out with my kid. Taking wins where I can.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
My deepest empathy goes out to all the Polygon folks now looking for work. I'm sorry that there's not more I could do to help.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
"Babe where do you want to go for dinner?"
a screenshot of Mario Kart World, showing a Yoshi branded burger restaurant by a highway.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
I am having a lot of fun being a goofball tonight, come see!
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
em 🩸 @citri.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
no more fear no more pain only gamecube harvest moon cow
A picture of a cow from the videogame Harvest Moon: It's A Wonderful Life for Gamecube stands in a field of tall grass.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 25/12/2024
Listen to me talk about Farming Simulator. It's a fun game, I swear
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The Cozy Co-Op @thecozycooppodcast.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
open.spotify.com/episode/0Uvp... Good evening, gamers! We divert from our usual schedule to bring you our own little recap of the Game Awards from last Thursday. We definitely didn't cover everything, so tell us what you found most exciting/aggravating/interesting about the show this year!
open.spotify.com
The 2024 Game Awards Show
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Santi Leguiza @santileguiza.com · 13/12/2024
@warframe.com releases its new chapter today, and I got to ask Creative Director @rebbford.bsky.social several things about The Hex, the Warframe Community, and the 1999 update itself. Check it out! www.thegamer.com/warframe-199...
thegamer.com
Warframe: 1999 - Receiving The New Millennium With Rebb Ford
Find out what's coming up in Warframe: 1999!
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phasingphoenix.bsky.social @phasingphoenix.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
FUCK YEAH GAMERS!!!!!!! LET'S GO GAMERS!!!!!!
A screenshot of Stardew Valley. The player character stands beside Sebastian on a high cliff overlooking the valley. The player character has a music note speech bubble. The caption reads PERFECTION ACHIEVED
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The Cozy Co-Op @thecozycooppodcast.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
And as promised, a new episode! Stardew was the first ever game we talked about on our podcast, so it was fitting to be able to talk about the new updates after our long hiatus. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do! -J podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/liz...
podcasters.spotify.com
Stardew Valley by The Cozy Co-op
In this episode, we revisit the game we talked about back in the beginning: Stardew Valley. With the 1.6 update, we talk about our time with the game, it's history, and what to expect when the update ...
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Santi Leguiza @santileguiza.com · 04/11/2024
When they said "Everyone is here" they literally meant it, so here's the guide to unlocking every secret character in Vampire Survivors: Ode To Castlevania! I don't usually post guides here, but I'm proud of this one, so you will have to suffer me. www.thegamer.com/vampire-surv...
thegamer.com
Vampire Survivors: Ode To Castlevania DLC - How To Unlock Every Secret Character
Here's how to unlock every hidden character in Vampire Survivors: Ode To Castlevania DLC!
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 01/11/2024
I'm dusting off my old Twitch Channel to start streaming again! But to keep it from overtaking my normal account, I made a separate account for that. Go.. engage, or what have you.
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Reposted by Branden Lizardi
Santi Leguiza @santileguiza.com · 29/10/2024
Last week, during the #EVA2024 I had the pleasure of talking with Florencia Fole and Marcos Ribatto Crespo from ADVA about the event, the association's trajectory, and their plans for the future. Give it a read! www.thegamer.com/eva-2024-arg...
thegamer.com
EVA 2024 - A Glimpse Into Argentina's Gaming Industry Future
We sat down with the folks at ADVA to talk about the EVA 2024.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 26/10/2024
This is how I found Affinity Photo, and it remains my favorite image editor.
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 18/10/2024
I'm watching a macro delete all my twitter posts, so I'm glancing at my various posts from years ago. So far, none of them have beat out "This might be controversial, but I support mass carcinization"
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Branden Lizardi @lizardrock.bsky.social · 17/10/2024
Alright! Time to make the move over proper. Hi everyone, Expect a variety of games journalism posts mixed with dumb jokes and random hobbies.
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