Hi, I’m Alex Amancio— a writer, creative director, and shameless world-building enthusiast.
This blog is where I dive into the swirling thoughts that keep me up at night — like how cultural shifts influence media, how binge-watching shapes our collective attention spans, and whether algorithms are secretly plotting to make us fall in love with mediocrity.
I believe in challenging comfort zones — mine, yours, and the algorithms’. So expect conversations that might nudge you to rethink your favorite tropes, question your content habits, or simply laugh at the trends, fads, and absurd quirks shaping today’s zeitgeist.
Let’s explore, question — and maybe even do a little thinking along the way.
2024 Game Industry Retrospective (Part 2): Looking to 2025
As 2025 approaches, the industry must rebuild trust, embrace sustainability, and reignite creativity to chart a bold, innovative path forward.
2024 Game Industry Retrospective (Part 1): What Worked, What Didn’t
2024 was a turbulent year for gaming, marked by layoffs, economic pressures, and creative struggles. Yet, indie innovation, player-driven storytelling, and AI promise hint at reinvention ahead in 2025.
What the Hell is Transmedia, Anyways?
Transmedia. It’s a word that’s thrown around far too often, either as a magical solution for building IPs or as an overhyped buzzword that falls short. But what does it really mean? And why does it so often fail?
In this article, I break down the real purpose of transmedia storytelling, its common pitfalls, and how to craft initiatives that resonate deeply with audiences.
From Script to Sandbox
What if games weren’t just stories to experience but worlds to shape? From procedural fires in Far Cry 2 to the bustling streets of Assassin’s Creed Unity, this is a call to reimagine storytelling in games as dynamic, emergent, and player-driven. The future of gaming lies in your story.
Lessons from Elden Ring
How did a punishing, cryptic game like Elden Ring become a global phenomenon? It wasn’t luck—it was boldness earned. FromSoftware built trust with their niche audience, creating a ripple effect that took their bold vision mainstream. This is the story of how boldness, strategy, and consistency redefined success.
Why Boldness Fails
Bold ideas don’t have it easy these days. Creators play it safe because risks rarely pay off, and audiences—drowning in a sea of content—tend to reject anything that doesn’t click right away. But the truth is, the stories that stay with us are often the ones that take risks. Maybe it’s time we give boldness another shot.
The Death of Depth
Deep, layered storytelling has taken a backseat to algorithms, echo chambers, and flashy distractions. The art that once challenged us now feels increasingly shallow, reduced to soundbites and gimmicks. If we’re not careful, we risk losing more than just creativity: we risk losing the ability to dream.