Original tweet that started the meme
@Jordan_Mallory. “i want shorter games with worse graphics made by people who are paid more to work less and i’m not kidding.” Twitter. Jun 28, 2020. https://twitter.com/Jordan_Mallory/status/1277483756245442566

The first popular example of the tweet being used as a meme, using pixel art
@moshboy. “attribution for this little poem goes to @Jordan_Mallory wh oyou should follow.” Twitter. Jun 30, 2020 (Archived). https://web.archive.org/web/20210909032336/https://twitter.com/moshboy/status/1278202555995090947

The Sonic meme edit that blew up
@MsFeliciaRondo. “This is a worker’s rights tweet.” Twitter. Nov 12, 2020 (Archived). https://web.archive.org/web/20210913193133/https://twitter.com/MsFeliciaRondo/status/1326955135478755330

The Spy Kids meme that also blew up
@moshboy. “incase this goes big, attribution goes to @Jordan_Mallory for the words.” Twitter. Dec 4, 2020 (Archived). https://web.archive.org/web/20211103075723/https://twitter.com/moshboy/status/1335080853987192832

Shorter games with worse graphics Itchio bundle
Crawford, Damien. “The Shorter Games With Worse Graphics Bundle.” Itchio. https://itch.io/b/737/the-shorter-games-with-worse-graphics-bundle

Team Bondi and LA Noire (I know Bondi is pronounced Bond-eye, I just didn’t put together that the company was named after the beach, for some reason)
McMillen, Andrew. “Why Did L.A. Noire Take Seven Years to Make?” IGN. Jun 24, 2011. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/24/why-did-la-noire-take-seven-years-to-make

The Iron Triangle, as described by Wikipedia
“Project management triangle.” Wikipedia. Accessed Jun 15, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management_triangle

Article about video game production cycles taking longer recently
Middler, Jordan. “Xbox Game Studios chief says people need to realise games now take 4-6 years to make.” VGC. Jun 13, 2023. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-game-studios-chief-says-people-need-to-realise-games-now-take-4-6-years-to-make/

Article on crunch actually hurting productivity
Ropbinson, Evan. “Why Crunch Mode Doesn’t Work: Six Lessons.” IGDA. Feb 12, 2005. https://igda.org/resources-archive/why-crunch-mode-doesnt-work-six-lessons-2005/

Paper about wages increasing productivity
R Strain. Michael. “The Link Between Wages and Productivity Is Strong.” Aspen Institute. Archived Dec 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201222224410/https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/3.2-Pgs.-168-179-The-Link-Between-Wages-and-Productivity-is-Strong.pdf

Article about decline of unions leading to lower wages
Rosenfeld, Jake. Denice, Patrick. Laird, Jennifer. “Union decline lowers wages of nonunion workers.” Economic Policy Institute. Aug 30, 2016. https://www.epi.org/publication/union-decline-lowers-wages-of-nonunion-workers-the-overlooked-reason-why-wages-are-stuck-and-inequality-is-growing/

Polygon article about game unions
Colwill, Tim. “Game developers need to unionize.” Polygon. Jan 16, 2019. https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/16/18178332/game-developer-union-crunch

International Game Developers Association guide to unionization
“Unionization Information.” IGDA. Apr 29, 2020. https://igda.org/resources-archive/igda-guide-to-unionization-2020/

Game Workers Unite (Website no longer available)
“Frequently Asked Questions.” Game Workers Unite. Archived Feb 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230207013607/https://gameworkersunite.org/faq

Game Workers Coalition (similar group with many of the members of Game Workers Unite)
“About the GWC.” Game Workers Coalition. Accessed Jan 12, 2026. https://gameworkerscoalition.org/en/