If this is a real scenario, why do it feel bigger ick of giving my data to Elon than to China?

I’m teaching a very nice cohort of design bachelors this Spring at Aalto University. Just wanted to say this, as it is nice to have nice students. Also: it’s nice to normalize game design into ”just one of the design practices”, relevant to any designers. Maybe more about this later. :) Bye!

Dear game scholars, anyone else struggling with writing? Especially finding inspiration or motivation to always do it in a tight headspace? I only had one day allocated for my thinking and alas... my head is not co-operating.

Sasha is part of the @remedygames.com family. She is a wonderful game artist. She is fighting cancer and needs help to fund the treatments. If you can, please help. Thank you ❤️. gofund.me/369fcadf

Happy and Playful New Year 2025 for everyone!

And these are just my raw opinions, based on my 45 years on this planet. Some of these views are (unfortunately) backed by studies, some (if we are lucky) can be dismissed as "anomalies", "bad luck", "coincidences" or "my own fault". Note: Diversity is much bigger issue than just male/female.

In leadership, self-esteem matters. You cannot lead, if you're not tough enough against the external threats. Only exceptional women lead, because they have to be 150% more sturdy in comparison to their male counterparts. Because of structural sexism, you need to work harder to be accepted to lead.

Assumptions matter, because they also contribute to self-esteem. Nobody is immune to the effects of constant negative assumptions, nor positive. It is normal part of social psychology. Self-esteem acts as a fuel for taking steps in leadership. This is how we loose diversity in leadership.

Then, let's talk about the benefits. It is a new thought for me, because it is not my pov. But a male colleague shared an experience where he had been assumed to know about things, just because of his middle-aged white male with a beard -appearance.

Btw, structural sexism is a bias that we all are affected. We all are guilty of it. Some of us suffer from it, some get benefit from it. But this is for my female colleagues, students and peers: you also evaluate other females unfairly.

Cumulative effect of structural sexism is apparently a real thing. Looking at some amazing women in games, I cannot help but comparing myself. How did they make it? I just don’t have it.

If you played Stuffo the Puzzle Bot please leave a review on Steam. I'm just 3 tiny 🤏 reviews away from 100! (exclamation point, not a factorial unfortunately 😀) If you haven't played it it's still on sale for 75% off. 100% of the reviewers recommend it! ✌️ store.steampowered.com/app/1068460/...

Playing F2P games is like living in a society where most of the people did not bother to pay taxes, so now we have beggars on the street constantly asking for pocket money.

What are the classics of playful art, but not games? If you have something, please provide a name of the work, year, link to something. :)

On my way to today’s still-very-male-dominated game industry conference, I listened Paris Paloma, Sofia Isella and Chinchilla. While reflecting on those (incredibly good) jams, I coined a term ”sexism-caused PTSD”. Just googled the term, and it is depressing to get this as a first hit:

Today is #RovioCon. After the lunch, we danced. But dance, we mean hurting knees and swaying. It was fun. But I felt extremely awkward and old.

Games Now! is live now! www.twitch.tv/gamesnowaalt...

Games folks in Helsinki! Please join an exhibition opening at Kumma Gallery, Kankurinkatu 5, today (11th Nov) at 6pm!! Concept art goodies from COCOON! #gamesnowaaltofi

In Finland, tax information is open. Every year, we get media covering who paid most taxes out of their earnings from last year. That day is today. Supercell founders still at the top 10.

What is going on? So many new followers. HELLO! What do you do? What is your favorite game? What was the last poem you read? Are we now seriously blueskying? GREAT!

The lecture series I have curated since 2017 has turned into a twice-a-year-two-day extravaganza. Highlight speakers of this Autumn are Erwin Kho (Cocoon’s AD) and Noora Archer (ESA’s first game designer). Join at Aalto University of at our Twitch! Gamesnow.aalto.fi.

Dear game scholars! I’m at GDC next week and hope to meet other researchers, teachers and jamtivists. My talk is about Finnish gam jams, but I hope to also connect with those of you who run bachelor programs on game design/dev as I have two masters programs that I represent atm! Let’s talk!

I wish sexism, also the structural sexism, would dissapear while I sleep tonite.

I feel pissed off for no particular reason. I know it is Monday, but is there any other reasons? Currently, I need a reason to validate my feelings. Thank you.

Sweden, you always win. ”Majority of Swedish gaming companies are profitable.” AND ”44% of all new 2022 hires were women”. www.pocketgamer.biz/news/82700/2...

Finnish #gamestudies #gameresearch @fransmayra.bsky.social @aakoo.bsky.social @jaakkostenros.bsky.social @tainam.bsky.social @riikkaaurava.bsky.social @perttu-h.bsky.social @lankoski.bsky.social @korppisusi.bsky.social @nitessine.bsky.social @vkankainen.bsky.social @rosgakori.bsky.social

If you are an Indigenous person working in games (or you know someone who is) we'd love to have you as part of the Indigenous Game Devs Discord! Note: we consider Palestinians Indigenous peoples and welcome them to join! Reach out to our admins through our website to get an invite:

Now that we are entering the bedbug pandemic, it’s time to share my tips for travel: 1) choose only a bag & clothes you can wash in high heat, 2) travel ultra light, 3) use vacuum bags for your items, 4) place your luggage to the bathroom, 5) check the bed, 6) wash ALL you can when u come back.

In 2013, I was leading several initiatives (FinnishGameJam, Akateemiset pelaajat ry, OASIS space), that I’d completely forgotten my role in IGDATampere foundation work. I’ve always considered myself as an outsider to the IGDA community, but it lingers strongly on my skin.

In 2013, I & bunch of good people founded a non-profit Finnish Game Jam. 2023, thus, will be an excellent year for a celebratory exhibition on game jam stories from Finland. The exhibition will open on 8th of Dec at The Finnish Museum of Games & after March 2024, it’ll be available for traveling.

Next up at Kumma Gallery: 100 Game Jams by Samuli Jääskeläinen. Since 2012, Samuli has championed over 100 game jams alongside his other game making projects. Join the exhibition at Helsinki’s Punavuori, Kankurinkatu 5, open daily 16-20 and by appointment. 🧡🧡🧡

Anyone know if there is a game educating/teaching about houseplants?

Games Helsinki conference today. It is a very comfy console game/pc game oriented local conference. Two big games reflected by their directors: Returnal and Control among other talks.

My dear game scholars, how many of you have no programming skills, but feel constant pressure to use your precious time to learn to program just to get you into places? #gamestudies #moreprogrammers #techoverhumanities #skills #time

Time to take my ”Hahmotuksia/Figurings” paintings down and move to a storage to make way for a photography exhibition about climate change opening this week at Kumma Gallery! :) #playfulart #playful #art #artgallery #helsinki

I am constantly discovering new plants I want to buy. My newest love is Epipremnum Pinnatum ’Shangri La’. Isn’t it amazing!? Epipremnums are so easy to take care of, so it feels like a jackpot to find one that looks so alien.

On 1st Sept 2023, I am celebrating my 20 years of academic career. It has been incredibly miraculous, but unfortunately also incredibly hard journey. Did you know that I’ve had around 20+ temporary work contracts during this time? Next up: 2 month contract!

Maybe I just want to be that regular person who takes ceramics classes, knits and hoardes house plants as a hobby.

So, I am 44 now. Have slowly gotten my endometriosis pain back after a nice painless 3 years (made a human). I did not remember it’s so paralysing and life-defining. But hey, did you all know, that they found a cure for it? Looking fwd to see which one gets to me first, menopause or the antibiotics…

Trying to get ready to end the long Nordic summer break. I’ve forgotten all the names of people, companies and software. Replaced with intel about crocheting and houseplants (let me know if you are great at naming different tradescantias…)

Okay. Now I feel like I am too old for new platforms.

So… what is the verb, blueskying?

Hello world!