Jonathan Masino
Film Dude and Editor from the NYC. Sr Video Producer @ Penguin Random House. Co-host @ LitsPlay. Views are 100% my own, unfortunately.
- I really hate writing dialogue. I mean the word, "dialogue", it annoys me.
- 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
- 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
- Yes, Blue Prince is that good.
- 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?...
- Saw some folks were asking for a bracket they can fill out on their own. Here it is!
- 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
- 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?...
- Reposted by Jonathan MasinoCheck out some fun we had making Sims with @delilahsdawson.bsky.social youtu.be/Yf1XrQCHFTU
- 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
- 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?...
- 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
- I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that I spend 5% of all working hours untangling XLR cables.
- 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?...
- Authors Layne Fargo and Sarah MacLean rated some of gaming's spiciest kissing scenes. We had a time. youtu.be/MTznyyVRQbc
- Reposted by Jonathan MasinoI 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 ⬇️
- 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 MasinoA 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?...
- 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
- Me trying to decide whether to root for the Commanders or Eagles today
- I think I spent the entire day on Microsoft Teams...don't recommend.
- What do you do when you fundamentally disagree with how an author pronounces their main character's name?
- 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 MasinoIf 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.
- Why do I keep getting sucked into most-likely-never-to-be-finished fantasy sagas?
- 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?...
- 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?...
- 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?...
- 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?...
- 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 MasinoNow 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?
