iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

If women-in-tech initiatives don’t see this as an issue, we will waste the investment made 15 years ago. We assumed women would automatically become leaders. Instead, we sent them into cannon fodder without a long-term support needed to survive decades of invisible battles.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

After 20+ years, you will have to fight internalized sexism: thousands of small belittlements is now your inner voice. Where are the employer-funded therapists for women leaders? Peer support for long-term exposure to misogyny? Programs to help women stay and strengthen their leadership visions?

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Maybe it doesn’t matter. But think about it: women in their 50s are still fighting the same misogyny they faced when they entered the workforce. The people around them haven’t changed that much. It’s the same shit. You don’t get used to it. You get worn down.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Lately, I’ve been thinking that feminism remains trapped in the maiden narrative. We know how to defend young women from misogyny and structural sexism. But we rarely fight as hard to get older women into leadership.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Many of us game scholars operate and contribute with language that we don’t speak natively. After 20 years, and 120 academic papers, it is easier. But I still lack nuanced space that my own language, Finnish, would offer me instead. It does handicap us, and puts anglophones in priviledged position.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

It was a good look at early studies. But more research in both AI use as well as general practice is needed. Global game making community is much bigger than what we might assume and varied approaches will be there, as varied as the artform itself. And things are constantly evolving, especially now.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

2026 & games? For the 4th year, I’m gathering perspectives on emerging trends in game ecosystems, now looking toward 2026. I’m interested in a broad spectrum of voices and phenomena: All roles and experience levels are welcome! Survey open until the end of the year. forms.gle/cHEr7og6qRrv...

forms.gle

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

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

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

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!

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Which kind of scan detects it? I’ve had MRI and ultra, maybe mammo also covered the armpit. Cannot remember now.

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Reposted by Annakaisa Kultima

Sam Lake @samlakewrites.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

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

gofund.me

Donate to Sasha's fight for life, organized by Anastasia Mordovina

Hey everyone, my name’s Ann, and I've created this campaign because I need your help to sav… Anastasia Mordovina needs your support for Sasha's fight for life

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Happy and Playful New Year 2025 for everyone!

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

I used to quote Rocky (sry) "Life's not about how hard of a hit you can give... it's about how many you can take, and still keep moving forward.” But I mean, we all know what multiple hits will do to a brain. Do I want my brain to be stabbed and shat until I cannot function? What is the point?

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

But self-esteem is not a choice. Women often are attributed to be weaker, because they do not have enough "thick skin". Trust me, the skin cannot be thick enough. Maybe some have an antisocial personality disorder, and do have it. I don't know. It is magic from my pov.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

After two decades, the "kitchen of the academia" can start to feel quite an appealing option. Who wouldn't like a woman nurturing, secretarial, punctual, and obedient? Pleasing left and right, carrying others to the top floors. Thank you, you are the best. No, I have no opinions or objections.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

And to add to this: what kind of a human can start with 300%, to afford to have 50% buffed out, just to be able to still continue with that 150%? Because, trust me, this will happen in a course of decades if you accept the fighter role.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

I deem them as torture devices. What kind of psychopath eats one candy per day? Rather not eat any candy.

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Reposted by Annakaisa Kultima

Antti Tiihonen @anttitiihonen.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

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/...

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Maybe you are right. But doesn’t it feel depressive if egalitaritan would mean that we are not willing or able to pay the costs of our own entertainment. Is economic participation a priviledge or a burden?

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

This still pisses me off and there is so much I would like to say publicly, but just cannot.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

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. :)

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

So much growth past few weeks, let’s just wait and see?

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

And it is not helping that this has only 130 citations in almost 20 years. Yeah, who cares.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

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:

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

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

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 07/11/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 05/11/2024

Aaaa! Makes more sense! Thanks for sharing!

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 05/11/2024

My latest love has been COCOON. I only cheated a little (a lot). And this is a poem (song actually) I have read the last. It is ”Magic Circle March” from Finnish magicians magazine from 1965. Great to have so many game people at this beautiful blue sky!

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 05/11/2024

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!

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

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.

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 12/03/2024

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!

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Annakaisa Kultima @aakoo.bsky.social · 02/11/2023

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

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