iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by c.diffin

zep.p8 @lexaloffle.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#pico8 now has the most officially published cartridges of any console in history. Well done everyone.

c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Had a lovely opportunity to demo some games at Hypertext '26 conference along with some other current and alumni students from the MA Games Design course at @unioftheartslondon.bsky.social

A large room lined with computers running video games. Almost all the computers are occupied by conference attendees playing the demos. I'm in the foreground with my back turned, wearing some black dungarees that were perhaps a bit too casual for the setting.

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Reposted by c.diffin

doruk balcı @dorukb.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

new blogpost fuzul.bearblog.dev/speculations...

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

For those that have trouble with the in-browser player for #pico8 games (I find Safari doesn’t like it on itch pages for some reason…) this is a big upgrade!! You’ll also find a nice nonograms game by me in the featured carts! Thanks @macs.eurosky.social !

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

apparently I’m an ada freak

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Excellent pico-8 find this week: Carrot Kingdom! 🥕🥕 Thanks @donutshunter.com !! www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=156...

Screenshot of the game’s end scene. It shows my first playthrough time of 26:55 and 8 carrots collected.

Additional text reads: “ninjin oukoku! dev: shoma. Thank you for playing!”

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Computer𝔍𝔞𝔪𝔢𝔰 @computerjames.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

still glowing after GIGF26 @glasgowindiegamesfest.org its heartening to see so many beautiful people exploring the potential of indie games by just following their own personal fascinations and micro obsessions my faith in the medium has been restored for another year

c.diffin doing the invisible casino (a card game with blank cards)

a wooden sound play machine of colourful shapes

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

The Dealer is having a lovely time at @glasgowindiegamesfest.org. So far, he’s climbed some stairs, done a little exercise routine, and had a little sleep.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Uh oh… looks like someone from the back back office gave the Dealer a box budget for this manifestation at @glasgowindiegamesfest.org…

A stack of fancy printed cardboard boxes with a battered brown suitcase on top. A sign on top of the suitcase reads “The Dealer will return shortly”. Taped to the front of the boxes is a sign that reads “The Invisible Casino, c.diffin”

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

I think I’m ready to embark on the right of passage all true games designers must undergo. (I am thinking about making a sokoban)

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I think that being in Ireland and seeing that the Irish government has paid for there to be pride flags literally everywhere and having bus drivers that aren’t ground down to within an inch of their last nerve has really brought home how worried I am about my home rn

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

So I snuck something in to the manifesto jam last night. It’s about how we have games design practices at home. I considered updating it with an image and better formatting today, but on reflection I think that would be missing my own point. cdiffin.itch.io/games-design...

cdiffin.itch.io

Games Design has a Backlog Problem by c.diffin

A manifesto for Manifesto Jam 2026

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

@haraiva.bsky.social hey! I’m trying to fling my entry under the closing door but itch doesn’t seem to want to let me choose it as an option on the jam page? Has anyone else encountered this?

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Sadly, someone tipped me $5 for The Invisible Casino last night so I didn't read this (to be safe). Talk about timing! But I'm reliably told this is dead on

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

This August, I will be replacing all other voice chat with Big Walk. Phone calls, FaceTime, Discord, Teams… out. I will only be reachable via Big Walk.

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H.L. Roberts @hlroberts.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

"It's Scorched Earth, Pale" 🚀>Contact Protocol: SCORCHED-EARTH👨‍🚀 is a six page fan made comic adaptation, written by @hlroberts.bsky.social and illustrated by @livnimbe.bsky.social for the upcoming game Contact Protocol by @coldzephyrgames.bsky.social Coming out next week on the 12th!

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Nick Murray @cassettewitch.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Games Garden Party is part unconference and part games show-and-tell. Join us in NW London on June 27th for an afternoon of chats and games. More info and sign up here: gamesgarden.neocities.org

gamesgarden.neocities.org

Games Garden

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The emotional rollercoaster of seeing Wes Streeting had quit (yay), then thinking he’d be doing a leadership bid (oh no), to him saying he wouldn’t (lol), to now people saying he is… has been a lot.

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Marie Foulston @tigershungry.co.uk · 19/05/2026

If you’ve a card, betting or bluffing game/ prototype or idea for one that you’d like to grace the Car Boot Casino floor with in future then let me know this-a-way -> forms.gle/HVi9q7irnX21...

car boot casino at the V&A. I drawn a smiling blob over Vs face. Text reads “your face here” and “your game here”

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Reposted by c.diffin

Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

It's been a while since I shared a long read! I spent several months looking at gender representation in the world of board games. Hugely grateful for the time of the designers who shared their stories with me.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

“Do not play games by using in-game functions in a manner other than what they were originally intended for.” - FromSoftware, Elden Ring, 2022

Screenshot of an information screen that appears when starting the game Elden Ring.

Text reads:

INFORMATION
[Behavior during online multiplayer] (1/2)
When playing with other players in online multiplayer, please keep the following in mind.
Do not use data that has been illegally modified.
Do not play games by using in-game functions in a manner other than what they were originally intended for.
No intentional disconnection during play.
Do not say or do anything that makes others uncomfortable, is offensive to public…

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Pretty much my week in one pic: 10/10

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

🦩Attention @amazefest.bsky.social attendees! Our data suggests that the Dealer will manifest at the open screens today at 17:00! Proceed with caution.

An image of a rolled up yellow tie decorated with pink flamingos.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I’ve reached the point in learning CSS where I now know the situations where the usual logic doesn’t apply, but don’t quite understand the different logic that applies in those cases. My spellbook grows…

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

The Dealer is ready. They even have a new tie…

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Alistair Aitcheson & Mademoiselle Cafetière @agaitcheson.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

I can highly recommend going to this! Not least because I'm showing two things in it 😄 MY DATE WITH PIERCE BROSNAN will be running on 6 Jun 💖 THE BOOK RITUAL will be playable throughout the weekend 📚

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

I love trains. I wish more people loved trains. I think making them affordable would probably help a lot. But there is a thing as too much train.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Recently realised just how much I think about this page from Wanderhome by @jdragsky.bsky.social It’s basically every day, and I just love it so much. I want nothing more than to be making spaces where people can show up and feel connection, even if talking is too much. That’s the goal.

A page from Wanderhome by Jay Dragon, with floral decorations at the top and bottom, that reads:

The first time I played Wanderhome was with friends outside, sitting in the grass by the creek. I brought pencils and tokens, while Charlie printed out copies of the playbooks. Socks baked cookies and had a pitcher of punch, and Mel didn't have the energy to bring anything—xyr presence was a present. While I had read Wanderhome plenty of times, I had never facilitated it. The rest of my friends were going in completely fresh-faced.
A few months later, we welcomed a new friend to our group—this time digitally. I curled up with a PDF of the game and a plate of crackers, while we all said hello to Maeve. While we were all familiar with the game, we wanted to take some time to welcome her into our little traveling party.
Mel spent fifteen minutes showing off all the art xe had drawn of our characters (the most xe had talked in months!) and Socks helped Maeve figure out what character she wanted.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I played Power Grid yesterday for the first time and I can't stop thinking about it. There is exactly 1 source of randomness in the whole game, which is tuned to produce absolute maximum schadenfreude, and then its just raw competency contingency all the way down.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

No-one prepares you for the leap in arcane lore skill required for the CSS dungeon. I'm going back to farm HTML for a bit.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

im at the Whitechapel (tube station) i dont see you here dawg tiny ass hamburgers tiny ass cheeseburgers tiny ass chicken sandwiches its outlandish kid …

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Who doesn’t want to play a game about being a seagull, pooping everywhere and robbing chips? Saw the full process of LJ designing this and it’s lovely to see it (hopefully) made available!

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

The best roomie for the weekend! The spiritual urn-egy is much needed. Back in at @theatredeli.bsky.social tomorrow, lots of lovely stuff to play if you fancy popping down.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

When you lose your shit at the Lads on the train who’re already pissed and harassing women at 9am and somehow come away feeling like you were being unreasonable… 😔 Corrections welcome

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

The Invisible Casino embraces the strange... The Dealer's next outing is this weekend at the @voidspacezine.bsky.social x London Games Weeks Official side event: Strange Play! 🗓️ Sat 18th-Sunday 19th April, 11:00-18:00 📍 Theatre Deli, London 📟 Tickets and Info: voidspacezine.com/strange-play/

The central icon is black and white and features a design of a game controller either dripping with fluid, or possibly running as if made of paint. It has the text "Strange Play Showcase". Surrounding the central icon are a number of previews for the featured works.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

When you’re supposed to be helping someone clear out their house but you keep refusing to throw things away and instead wear them for the rest of the day.

A bearded man with a red face is wearing a bright green golf visor in the style of the great Luigi Mario (it was apparently a promotional item for a Mario Golf game)

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Marie Foulston @tigershungry.co.uk · 27/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who braved the BIG queue to join us in a packed out Car Boot Casino floor tonight. & especially big thanks to all our beautiful croupiers.

A very busy fancy cafe full of tables of people playing games

Me making a smooch face in front of a poster that reads “Car Boot Casino”

A table full of casino prizes such as a bet lynch mug, a glass duck, a jigsaw puzzle

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Today I’ve been playing the latest game by @inkle.co The one that’s like Type Help and Her Story. Loving it!! Anyway I stepped away for a bit and now all of a sudden I’m Admiral Ackbar-ing all over the kitchen. Anyway, I’m off to tell everyone I love to play it. 👋

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Good grief, he's done it... A blog post compiling much news about The Invisible Casino, including news! (+ New news!) Would love to see you at the Car Boot Casino @ V&A on ✨Friday✨ - check out the post for details. Should a lovely bunch of games... cdiffin.itch.io/the-invisibl...

cdiffin.itch.io

You didn’t think the game was over, did you?

photo credit - Ben Catchpole, 2025, benpetercatchpole.com Hello folks! Thanks so much for checking out this project. A massive thanks to those that have played it! And an even greater thanks to those....

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Also, here is a picture of me in a silly hat. More sincerely, was a lovely day to feel gratitude for the people who got me to this point. Lecturers, classmates and of course my lovely partner and family. Thank you so much!

A bearded man with a bright red face stands awkwardly in a graduation gown: a mortarboard hat, gown and hood with red and purple trim. He wears a yellow tie that he doesn’t entirely hate and a white collared shirt, which he sort of does. He makes finger guns at the camera, having failed to learn to be comfortable as the solo subject of a “nice photo” even in his mid-30s. Signage in the background places the photo outside Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre. There are long shadows and quite pleasant natural light, indicating magic hour would have been about 30 mins away if they’d thought about it.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

My project The Invisible Casino will fulfil its nominatively determined promise of appearing in the Car Boot Casino! Promises to be a great collection of homebrew card and bluffing games on show! 📍 V&A South Kensington 🗓️ Next Friday 27th March, 18:30-22:00 💸 FREE!! www.vam.ac.uk/event/Wl9jvz...

A show poster featuring a King Charles spaniel wearing a green visor, smoking a pipe and holding a hand of cards in what the author will inexpertly refer to as a regency style. Text reads:

CAR BOOT CASINO

Friday 27 March
6:30pm - 9:30pm

V&A South Kensington
Play/Performer Friday Late

A night of homebrew bluffing & betting games

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

We celebrate this concluding day of Neurodiversity Awareness Week by finally having access to my medication again!! Yay for private sector subsidies in the NHS 🙃 I have been very neurodiverse this week. Stand by for all the posts I meant to make this week!! NEWS!!

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Went to @paradiceuk.bsky.social yesterday. Excellent time, had a few great chats. Nice to see indie physical games represented! However, my most exciting pick up was a CRC published textbook. I am suffering the psychic damage of this revelation today.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Weekend takeaway: Be the kind of person who makes custom extra tokens so you can play The Gang with 10 players. Well. I would, but this melted my brain. These were serious gamers.

Top down view of a 10 player game of The Gang, published by Kosmos, in play on a long pub table. Standard playing cards in the centre show the shared cards- the river has been dealt. Visible are multiple chips with 7 or more stars in each of the game’s colours- white, yellow, orange and red. These have been custom 3D printed by the host to allow higher player counts than are accommodated by the standard components in the box. Players are deciding which of the final red poker chips they want to add to their lines, which sit in front of each player.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Had an excellent time with this show last night! Just… giving people space to play in public with strangers is really powerful. Alistair does such a good job of facilitating that!

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Ordered this as soon as I read the contents. Has been carried around for a few weeks and just got a chance to start. 100% of my lane so far. @add-hawk.bsky.social ‘s previous “Games: Agency as art” was top 2 influential things I read on the MA.

Picture of a hardcover book. The Score: how to stop playing someone else’s game. By C. Thi Nguyen.

The cover illustration shows a cube made of smaller wooden cubes with one cube piece missing, and a separate ball of the same size and material to one side.

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c.diffin @cdiffin.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

How does James Blake push the button every single time? youtu.be/neglkknTYB4?...

youtu.be

James Blake - Death of Love (Live)

YouTube video by James Blake

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