#Gamers: the best Twitter feeds to follow

Gaming conversations are no longer confined to the screen of a multiplayer lobby. The explosion of social media platforms like Twitter has enabled gamers and developers alike to share titbits of info, screenshots, and (very) honest opinions. For those making the games, social media can be used to announce new titles and crowdfunding campaigns. Players can follow feeds while playing games, or search through highlighted hashtags when they are not bashing buttons. The Twitterverse can prove be a maze of accounts to follow, with many trolls and fakes to avoid, so here are a select few to get you started on your social media journey.

Game developers

The developers you follow will come down to the games you play, but there are a few who stand out from the crowd. Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima is very well known for his highly entertaining tweets, and an ability to troll players with fake stories.

Another uber-cool handle to follow is Rhianna Pratchett, who is following in her late father’s footsteps as a writer, mainly for video games like Tomb Raider and Mirror’s Edge. If you're looking for someone who's not afraid to voice opinions and vent frustrations, both Twisted Metal creator David Jaffe and Boss Key Productions head honcho Cliff Blesinski fit the bill.

 

Hardware creators 

Following hardware developers not only keeps you in the loop about future tech, but also gives you the chance to enter the competitions they announce to get your hands on free loot. The global Republic of Gamers feed shows off all the latest ASUS gaming machines as well as boundary-pushing benchmark tests.

You can also follow their eSports tournament feed, ROG Masters, with cash prizes of up to $150,000. Another great Twitter account is John Carmack, founder of Oculus VR. Not only is he incredibly smart, but he offers insights about the design decisions that influenced their VR headset, the Oculus Rift. While not technically hardware, for PC games you should definitely follow Steam. The online marketplace has revolutionized how games are sold and traded, and watching their feed means you won’t miss out on any indie hits and rare gems that surface.

 

Journalists 

There are so many gaming websites that it would be impossible to come up with a select few, but Kotaku, Eurogamer, and Giant Bomb offer a solid selection of news, reviews, previews, and snarky opinions.

One of the best individual journalists to follow is Leigh Alexander. Her tweets mainly revolve around the game industry itself, and she's anything but boring. Another leading media figure is Geoff Knightley, who produces The Game Awards, and often reveals exclusive stories first on his Twitter feed. For those seeking inside gossip and leaks, the anonymous blogger Superannuation is a must-follow.

 

Comedians

Reading Twitter can become a very tiring affair, so it's always best to add some comedy into the mix. Peter Molydeux is a parody account for game developer Peter Molyneux, making rather cutting jokes at the expense of the British designer. Another humorous handle is The Optimistic Indie, parodying an entire group of game developers, because – let’s face it – with no money and no staff, there are no optimistic indie developers.

Exploring the Twittersphere is a very personal, and public, discussion. Remember to play nice, and enjoy the endless stream of opinions.

By Andrew Rainnie