We're entering the last week to contribute to funding @continuemag.bsky.social, the kickstarter just jumped over $80KAUD!! It would be really good to get it to $100K because it would be funny for @serrels.bsky.social to have to buy a scooter. 🛴 www.kickstarter.com/projects/con...

Today, as I watch generative AI ruin my life and those of my students, I would just like every AI wonk who has never thought about the consequences of anything but their bank account to injure themselves slightly in some odd way, then get absolutely fucked advice from the chatbot they ask for help.

"AI is not a magical tool built by people in San Francisco making millions of dollars a year and pushing their companies to insane valuations. Artificial intelligence is an extractive technology that relies on the brutal labor of underpaid workers around the world" www.404media.co/ai-is-africa...

You had us at “annotated by Rincewind”.

Do I know anyone who has transferred from Switch to Switch 2? What happens if transfer save data for a game you only own as a physical card?

It’s almost time for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, so for the ninth year running, I have made a bingo card for it.

It’s sort of (thanks timezones) both the anniversary of Douglas Adams’ birth (11 March) and Terry Pratchett’s death (12 March). I don’t think their work is very similar, despite how they’re lumped together. But they’re two of the writers who most shaped me. At least, my good bits. GNU both of ‘em.

The other Ben McKenzie* is at it again - this time with a documentary film! I’m looking forward to seeing him expose more grift. Less looking forward to the emails I will get that are meant for him, but hey, I’ll take one for team McKenzie. * In reality, of course, I’m “the other Ben McKenzie”.

New episode alert! With the fabulous Sharmini Kumar. Available everywhere you listen to podcasts! Discussing #Bridgerton S4E3

Casting call! Looking for a woman voice actor, 50+ who is versatile and a vocal chameleon / can play many different bit parts in an audio comedy. We’re recording in London on 13th & 14th April. This is a paid opportunity. Actor does not need to be autistic! 1/

More skeletons

My cats have invented their own form of wrestling which feels kind of like a reverse WWF. Instead of winning a belt and proudly showing it off, the goal seems to be to make your opponent lose their collar and then run away from it as much as possible.

Australian indie podcasters - how have you made Riverside or SquadCast etc work? I find that Australian internet is frequently not up to the task. Even a good NBN plan drops out and has lag. What do you use that actually works consistently, recording platform or internet provider-wise?

Getting a nice list of #Tasmanian made games up on the @tasgamemakers.com website! This is only the beginning of the list! 😍 tasgamemakers.com/tasmanian-ga...

We just dropped episode 1 of the new season of the Quinns Quest actual play show. Who wants to hear me GM the official Ghostbusters RPG from 1986? open.spotify.com/episode/4hdy...

I remember the efforts by @scottmccloud.bsky.social and others to make online micro-transactions a thing. Imagine the world where it worked out (with no crypto!), instead of this subscription hellscape! But we are seeing some small shifts - eg Patreon now supports buying access to individual posts.

This is a long shot, but does anyone know anyone who works at Soundcloud? They forced me to reset my password, but the reset email doesn’t arrive. The email address is working (support emails arrive). The support team just keep sending the same canned (AI?) message to check my spam filter. Help?

The RPG scene still loves blogs - especially the OSR, a philosophy of play evolved from early D&D. The #Bloggies are awards for the best RPG blogging, started in 2022. We Read the Bloggies is a community podcast of readings, to help more people vote! I joined in to read three of the debut posts.

My first academic publication came out today in Education Sciences! Our paper presents a card game I designed as an example of how bespoke boardgames can provide an authentic learning experience. Huge thanks to lead and co-authors @melissainau.bsky.social and @elisabone.bsky.social.

Gamers! There's a big bundle of games on sale on Itch.io to support the Immigrant Law Center of Minneapolis. itch.io/b/3484/no-ic...

Death has...gone. People have stopped dying - but they don’t just keep living, either. Someone needs to find Death and get him back to work, and that someone is you! Except you’re Rincewind. Again. (Sorry.) @katclay.com joins us to discuss the 1996 videogame, Discworld 2: Missing, Presumed...!?

Your #Bridgerton friends are back for season 7 (!!) of What Would Danbury Do? . With special guest host @jodimca.bsky.social, we waltz with episode one of season four of Bridgerton, Benedict, Sophie and the lady in silver. On all your favourite podcast providers or bridgertonpod.com #wwddpod

Hey folks, an FYI if you make extensive use of Safari tab groups - do not update any of your devices to OS 26.2. It will overwrite them with new blank ones and they cannot be recovered unless you have a Time Machine backup from before the update. And yes, I am in this boat. Quietly upset.

In high school we had an assignment to write a fictional news story. I wasn’t very in touch with politics, but I was inspired by the government response to the then recent Port Arthur shooting. I wrote about a protest that led to the split of the coalition over gun laws. Feels weird now.

#TTRPG Designers, players, & related nerds: @ttrpgcataloging.bsky.social is a group of Library & Information Science MA students are working on a research project focused on improving cataloging for TTRPGs — unbelievably important work! They’re seeking participants for interviews.

The VicEmergency website has been overloaded, causing intermittent outages. Use radio for official emergency updates www.abc.net.au/emergency/ho... #VicFires

When is an encyclopaedia not an encyclopaedia? Maybe when everything in it is made up… Liz and Ben discuss The #Discworld Companion in its various forms, but mostly the current edition, The Ultimate Discworld Companion, from Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs. #Pratchat91 (optional)

If it’s safe to leave, leave now. If VIC Emergency suggests you should leave, please leave

For many years I lived in an apartment without aircon. My list of places I could go to escape the heat in metro Melbourne

Your disabled friend isn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of getting whatever horrible lurgy you’ve reassured them isn’t Covid, it has been revealed.

We did this on stage in 2011, in a little musical called The Terminativity. I was Melchior. youtu.be/F6sE3Fjgi18

Here it is. The final 24 hours. You've helped coax banked embers into a steady flame. Tell me, what is one thing you'll bring with you into What-Comes-Next? Seeds? Thread? A good kitchen knife? What will you make of what's left? Together, let's light up the world. www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...

Heads up that the Discord face video age verification system requires you to remove your glasses, then has written instructions on the screen, including moving closer or further away. No doubt verification is partly an estimate of how bad your eyesight is based on how long this takes.

The requests across various platforms to verify my age has begun. All using third party services. The least intrusive option, credit card, does not work with Visa/MC debit. (I assume that’s why; it doesn’t say.) How many different companies will I have to let scan my face, or ID documents?

Brendan Keogh's Putting Challenge is currently 40% off on Steam! It is not Steam Deck verified but I verify that it works on Steam Deck store.steampowered.com/app/1625830/...

We're essentially releasing The Grant Grover Anthology on the shareware model: one full episode for free, two more if you buy. Couldn't resist this little homage to DooM, though we probably won't use it as it doesn't really fit the tone of the game 🤓 #gamedev #indiedev

Is that a steam train - in Ankh-Morpork? Psychologist Craig Hildebrand-Burke joins Liz and Ben to put on our anoraks and write "40" in our notebooks for a gradely discussion of #TerryPratchett's penultimate #Discworld novel: Raising Steam! #Pratchat90

so nbd but………. DOGPILE IS RELEASING IN 2025!!!!!!! 🔥 youtu.be/3nypRrTHPCE?...

State Library of Victoria staff have been harassed, belittled, prevented from doing their job, fired and/or told they will be fired if they publicly tell the truth about the shiteshow of scandals & damage behind the scenes. Please speak for them by signing here. www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/ha...

US customers can now pick up the new boxed set version of The Quiet Year. Check out my webstore for more info! store.buriedwithoutceremony.com

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: A call for safe air and masking in healthcare settings #LongCovid #ME/CFS

We really needed a good news story in games, and this is great news!

Finally got around to starting #GhostsAustralia, and it’s a bloody delight. Lovely positive but cheeky tone, and it really feels authentically Australian, rather than a carbon copy of the original. Plus the cast are all wonderful - @michellebrasier.bsky.social, you’re killing it! I recommend.

Me: Hey Gemini, what is the absolute worst possible example for an AI prompt to encourage people to use you? Gemini: How about outsourcing human connection and gratitude, while abrogating involvement in a child's education? Me: Nailed it.

Screen Australia is doing a massive research project on the current state of the screen and games industries in Australia. Local devs, please consider taking the time to complete their survey survey.alchemer.com/s3/8573365/S...

I went to meet the 'Rockstar 31', the developers who were suddenly fired from their work on GTA 6 for what the studio has described as gross misconduct. That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...

I’m going down Peel Street on the tram and there’s so much dandelion in the air! It’s like the pollen count has become visible! I’ve never seen this before. Most visible around Queensberry and Victoria Streets.

No Pun Included is one of my favourite channels for game criticism and thinking. Efka and Elaine make some outstanding videos which get deeper than just reviews. For example, for Blood on the Clocktower, Efka digs into the history of social deduction games. You won’t regret subscribing.