Xalavier Nelson Jr.

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Xalavier Nelson Jr.
Xalavier Nelson Jr. GDC Awards 2024.jpg
Nelson in 2024
Born (1999-12-10) December 10, 1999 (age 26)
CitizenshipAmerican
Occupation Video game developer
Notable work Clickolding , Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator , El Paso, Elsewhere ,
Website https://www.strangescaffold.com/

Xalavier Nelson Jr. is a video game developer, writer, voice actor, and the founder of indie game studio Strange Scaffold. [1] [2] Nelson was inspired to create video games with a focus on shorter playtime lengths and ethical production cycles, citing his frustration with burnout and perceived unhealthy industry practices. [3]

Contents

Career

Nelson began as a video game reviewer and wrote articles for PC Gamer . [3] Eventually, he realized that he wanted to tell narrative stories using video games, which led the production of his first game as creative director, An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs. [3]

In 2025, it was announced Nelson would voice Aidan Lynch, the lead character in the upcoming 2026 survival horror action video game, Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival. [4]

Awards and accomplishments

In 2024, Nelson was published as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree for his contributions to the gaming industry. [5] That year, Nelson also won the Black in Gaming Indie Developer Award, [6] and Nelson's game El Paso, Elsewhere was nominated for the D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game at the 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. [7]

In 2025, Nelson was named one of BAFTA's Breakthroughs for the United States. [8]

Works

The following list is not comprehensive.

YearGameCredited as
2019 Hypnospace Outlaw Writer [9]
2019Can Androids PrayWriter
2020Cellular HarvestWriter
2020 Reigns: Beyond Writer
2021AdiosProducer
2021 An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs Designer [10]
2021 Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator Designer
2023 El Paso, Elsewhere Director
2024 Life Eater Director
2024 Clickolding Director
2024I Am Your BeastDirector
2025 Skin Deep Additional writing
2025 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Director
2026 Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator Director

References

  1. ↑ Goldberg, Harold (2024-08-22). "A Video Game Dynamo With Strange Ideas Always Swirling". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  2. ↑ "Aftermath".
  3. 1 2 3 https://www.gamesindustry.biz/finding-humanity-in-an-airport-for-aliens-currently-run-by-dogs
  4. ↑ https://x.com/WritNelson/status/1947660138988638250
  5. ↑ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2024: Games". Forbes . 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  6. ↑ Carter, Justin (2024-03-21). "Are game studios suddenly abandoning Black developers?". Game Developer . Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  7. ↑ "27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Finalists Revealed". AIAS . 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  8. ↑ "Meet the 2025 US Breakthroughs". Bafta. 2025-12-02. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  9. ↑ Reuben, Nic (2024-05-12). "What's on your bookshelf?: El Paso, Elsewhere and Hypnospace Outlaw's Xalavier Nelson Jr". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  10. ↑ "Our Games". Strange Scaffold. 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
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