Katelyn Kivel-Reporter

Editorial Team

Reporter

February, 2023
10+ years of journalism experience, ranging from science and technology to politics to gaming.
Indie Games, Final Fantasy 14, Community
  • 181
    articles
  • 1
    News
  • 266
    Features
  • 1
    Reviews

Page 6

About Katelyn Kivel

Katelyn has been a journalist for nearly 15 years, with focuses on science and technology, law, politics, and now the games industry. She's particularly proud of her work interviewing developers of indie hits just before they launch. In her career, she's interviewed game developers, researchers, business leaders, US Senators, and has broken news from game delays to election results.

Industry Focus

Katelyn focuses on interviews with developers of upcoming titles and creative forces within the gaming community. In particular, she's focused on the roleplaying communities in games like Final Fantasy XIV and Fallout 76, and the developers of upcoming cozy games, RPGs, and survival crafting titles.

Favorite Games

Katelyn is an avid player of Final Fantasy XIV with a frankly absurd number of alts. She's a devoted fan of Bethesda RPGs, GreedFall, Star Ocean, and more. Her favorite franchise, though, is the cozy JRPG crafting games in Atelier, which she runs convention panels highlighting.

Favorite Anime

Katelyn's an expert on yuri anime, presenting panels about queer women at anime conventions across the Midwest. In the genre, her top selections are YuruYuri, El Cazador de la Bruja, I'm In Love with the Villainess, and Magical Revolution. She's also a huge fan of the modern classic Frieren and the anime in Type-MOON's universe.

Latest

Rabbit and Steel-Moon-Racket-1
Rabbit and Steel is More Than a Love Letter to Final Fantasy 14

The Best War Games speaks with Rabbit and Steel's developer about how Final Fantasy 14 and other games influence its bullet hell design.

Rabbit and Steel-PiiKuu-Racket-1
Steam Couldn't Handle Rabbit and Steel's Real Name, Says Dev

Writing Rabbit and Steel's name as intended would 'destroy' systems like Steam, says Mino Dev in a The Best War Games interview.

2
Kristala-Splash
Interview: Kristala Dev Discusses Episodic Structure, Sekiro Inspirations, and Journey to Release

In an interview with The Best War Games, Astral Clocktower Studios teased the Early Access date announcement for their Sekiro-like cat adventure Kristala.

Kristala-Altar
Kristala Dev Pulls Back The Curtain on The Game's Most Interesting Feature

The Sekiro-like Kristala has an ace up its sleeve in the form of a rich worldbuilding tool used in GreedFall, Final Fantasy, and Star Trek.

Kristala-Photobomb
Kristala Dev Discusses How Cats, Crystals, and Death Metal Create Its Unique Vibe

The developers of the Sekiro-like Kristala explain the surprising overlap between metalheads, cat lovers, and soulslike fanatics.

life is feudal mmo steam
Life is Feudal: MMO Publisher Discusses the Game's Relaunch, Missteps, and Going Forward

Long Tale Games tackles the issues surrounding sandbox MMO Life is Feudal: MMO's return to Steam and its rocky history.

snippet from the game Life is Feudal
Player Feedback is the King of Life is Feudal: MMO

Life is Feudal: MMO's new publisher, Long Tale Games, is focusing on its fans and their response to the game to inform its continuing relaunch.

another-crabs-treasure-game-rant-advance-talks-shell-design-the-glock-and-more-thumb-1
Another Crab's Treasure Devs Talk Shell Design, The Glock, and More

Devs at Aggro Crab finally answer one of the biggest questions about Another Crab's Treasure: how does a Glock work underwater?

Starship-Title Splash
Starship Simulator Dev Talks Favorite Sci-Fi Designs, FTL Science, and More

Fleetyard Studios director Dan Goiver speaks to The Best War Games about his favorite approaches to sci-fi, working with modern FTL science, and more.

another-crabs-treasure-game-rant-advance-what-is-the-gunk-thumb
Another Crab's Treasure: What Is the Gunk?

During a The Best War Games interview, two Another Crab's Treasures devs explain how Gunk is more than just a pointed pollution allegory.

Neopets-Anniversary-Splash-KKiv
Neopets CEO Talks New Projects, 25th Anniversary, and More

In a wide-ranging interview with Neopets boss Dominic Law, The Best War Games dives deep on the past and future of a piece of internet history.

Cinnabunny-Announce-Splash
Cinnabunny Interview: Reky Studios Explains the Bunnyverse

Reky Studios launched a Kickstarter for Cinnabunny, the follow-up to 2021's Bunhouse, and explained their Bunnyverse in a The Best War Games interview.

Cinnabunny-Announce-Luminears
Cinnabunny's Kickstarter Will Help Game Raise Charity, Let Backers Submit Their Rabbits for the Game

Cute rabbit baking simulator game, Cinnabunny, hopes to repeat the Kickstarter success of its predecessor, Reky Studios' Bunhouse.

SolarRaiders-Announcement-KeyArt
Blue Fire Dev Talks New Game Solar Raiders, Its Demo, and Much More

The Best War Games speaks with Robi Studios about Solar Raiders, its overarching design and demo release, its plan for future content, and more.

SolarRaiders-Announcement-PartyCleaner
Solar Raiders Hits the Right Tone for a Hangout Game

The Best War Games speaks with Robi Studios regarding the newly announced co-op bullet hell game, Solar Raiders, and its social experience.

Floramancer-Release-Logo
FloraMancer Interview: Dev Discusses the Home Stretch of Game Development

FloraMancer: Seeds and Spells developer Joe Sullivan details the last six months of development, ahead of the game's early March release date.

FalloutNV-NewMexico-Welensky
Fallout: Nuevo Mexico Modders Talk Ghoul Playthrough, 2024 Plans, and More

The Best War Games sits down with the Fallout: Nuevo Mexico team to learn about its plans for 2024 and how the game has changed over the past year.

FalloutNV-NewMexico-MexicoFlag
Fallout: Nuevo Mexico Will Give Players A New Look at Mexico This Year

The Best War Games speaks with the Fallout: Nuevo Mexico team about trailers coming later this year, which will bring fans' first look at Mexico proper.

FalloutNV-NewMexico-Prisoner
Why Fallout: New Vegas Is Still Getting DLC-Sized Mods like Nuevo Mexico Nearly 14 Years Later

The Best War Games speaks with the Fallout: Nuevo Mexico team about their choice to use New Vegas over Fallout 4 for modding purposes.

FFXIV-Blitzball-Pregame-Honji-1
Interview: Final Fantasy 14's Roleplay Blitzball League Gears Up for 2024 Season

The Best War Games speaks with Final Fantasy 14's Blitzball League coordinators as they prepare for the upcoming 2024 season, beginning March 9.