iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Why does the theme to Homes Under the Hammer fit the Persona 5 intro so perfectly?

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

An important moment in Explosive Alan lore

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Xain'd Sleena! Here's mine (even I'd forgotten what it was called)

Screenshot of Gang Wars, a 1989 belt-scroller beat 'em up.

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Finishing on this one because a friend messaged me with a photo of it, saying: "This pun has confirmed ASTRO BOT as a GOTY contender." How prescient he was.

Image of the Solid Snake-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Legendary Mercenary, description: "Was a terrible child."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

The WipEout crafts were among the hardest to write, but a vanity search revealed that the research paid off among hardcore fans. The FEISAR one refers to the "Temtesh Bay Disaster" in WipEout lore, and the Auricom one alludes to the company's first appearance in Psygnosis' '94 shooter Novastorm.

Image of the WipEout FEISAR-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Future Racer, description: "Watch where you're aiming that Super Missile!"

Image of the WipEout Auricom-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Nova Stormer, description: "You're never alone with a clone!"

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Another carefully deployed capital G, this time a reference to Bloodborne's secret 'Childhood's Beginning' ending.

Image of the Bloodborne Hunter-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Yharnam Tourist, description: "Destined for Greatness."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Simple, but effective. During my early years at Sony, I had a pal in business development who received deliveries of every Japanese release - the PS2 copy of Katamari Damacy he gave me is still in my collection. Thanks Matt!

Image of the Katamari Damacy Prince-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Royal Roller, description: "They'll make you a star!"

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Should FromSoftware bring back the Tendency systems? Would we even notice?

Image of the Demon's Souls-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Archstone Explorer, description: "Has a tendency to see things in black and white."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Note the capitalised 'G' in 'Giant'. There's a lot of that going on. Typos to the untrained eye, but IYKYK.

Image of the painting board item for the Angrboda-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Jotnar Shrine, description: "A blank canvas with Giant potential."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Aloy's description is another one for the fans. I guess many of these could be considered spoilers, but I tried to stick to an, "If you know, you know", vibe throughout.

Image of the Aloy-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Machine Hunter, description: "There's nobody quite like her. Well, maybe a couple."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Some items required a fair amount of research. There are also a LOT of swords in the game, and I did my utmost not to repeat the word "sword". This one, for Legend of Dragoon's Dart, refers to the fact that your first sword can also be found in a chest in Hellena Prison.

Image of the broadsword item for the Legend of Dragoon-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Hero's Broadsword, description: "Amazing what you can find in prison..."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Two archery-related puns. The Patapon one edges it for me, but I'm fond of the more subtle use of "quiver".

Image of the bow and arrow item for the Patapon-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Arrow Flinger, description: "Don't nock it until you've tried it."

Image of the bow and arrow item for the Ellie-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Survival Kit, description: "Makes enemies quiver in fear."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

If you don't know Boku no Natsuyasumi and have six hours (!) to spare, Tim Rogers has you covered: www.youtube.com/watch?v=779c... The description is accurate to the game, but is also a sly nod to my comedy heroes Vic and Bob who sang this song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=673c...

Image of the Boku no Natsuyasumi-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Young Holidaymaker, description: "Still remembers the summer of '75."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

This is just stupid. "Unsuccessful Plant" really tickled me, for some reason. Btw, I've seen people speculate that the text was all written in Japanese first and then localised, but it was actually vice-versa! I tried to leave as many notes as poss, but I still felt bad for the localisation team.

Image of the banana-in-a-plant-pot item from ASTRO BOT. Named Unsuccessful Planet, description: "Why won't it grow?!"

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

As a massive Monster Hunter fan, this was a real honour to write. Capcom's localisation team is incredible, so I had to pay my respects to their cat pun-laden Palico dialogue. This was approved on the first pass, too, which felt like a victory.

Image of the Palico-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Cat-Like Companion, description: "The purrfect partner to their Meowster, nya!"

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Thought I'd include a nod to the infamous "Sheng Long" mistranslation and the legendary April Fool's hoax it inspired: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheng_L...

Image of the Ryu-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Disciplined Warrior, description: "You must defeat his dragon punch to stand a chance."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

...like this one. Unlike the character copy-which can be accessed in the VIP gallery-I believe the Gatcha item text is only seen when you earn the item. Thank goodness for YouTube.

Image of the Gatcha item for the Arthur-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Knight's Javelin, description: "You can throw this lance a lot."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

"Shiba Inufluencer" is possibly my favourite pun of the game, but there are other contenders...

Image of the Humanity Shiba Inu-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Shiba Inufluencer, description: "When they bark, humanity listens."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

If you know that Nioh's William Adams is an Irishman and are familiar with Irish slang, "Deadly" takes on a different meaning.

Image of the William Adams-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Western Warrior, description: "A pirate and a samurai? Deadly."

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Dan Maher @danmaher.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Nothing too witty here, but looking at comments from many heartbroken Persona 3 fans they appreciated the reference to the game's emotional finale. Asobi's artists and animators put so much attention to detail into every character that I felt duty-bound to commit equal deep-cut energy to the copy.

Image of the Aigis-inspired bot from ASTRO BOT. Named Protective Android, description: "Will stay with you to the very end."

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