iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Shenmue started life on the Sega Saturn, moved to Dreamcast and took years to make. My new documentary looks at the complete history of the first game, from its early development through to its release in 1999, and what came after. youtu.be/sMHqhRZxc64 #Shenmue #SEGA #Dreamcast

youtu.be

Complete History of Shenmue

YouTube video by doodnat

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Atari's 1984 MindLink promised hands-free games controlled by thought. It detected electrical activity in forehead muscles and sent it by infrared to the console. Its Breakout demo moved the paddle as you tensed your forehead and wriggled your eyebrows. Atari showed it at CES, then cancelled it.

A woman demonstrates Atari MindLink in 1984, wearing its wired headband while facing an Atari game displayed on a television.

A 1984 Atari catalogue page introducing MindLink, with the black headband and infrared units beneath the slogan ‘The state of the art for the state of your mind’.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I imagine them to be quite powerful.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Takara's 2002 Bowlingual claimed to translate dog barks. A collar microphone sent each bark to a handheld unit, which classified it as one of six emotional states and displayed a matching phrase. Its inventors won an Ig Nobel Peace Prize for “promoting peace and harmony between the species”.

2003 North American Bow-Lingual retail box showing a golden retriever wearing the collar microphone beside the handheld receiver. Its screen displays the supposed translation, “I need a hug."

The contents of a Bow-Lingual package: a blue handheld receiver, collar-mounted wireless microphone, batteries, instruction manual and retail box.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Bandai's 1988 Terebikko turned children's VHS cartoons into quiz games using a toy telephone. Characters rang the handset and asked questions. Tones carried by the tape identified the right answer, so the phone could judge which of four coloured buttons you pressed. Interactive TV by telephone.

Bandai Terebikko toy telephone and its 1988 packaging. The handset connects to a base containing four large coloured answer buttons.

A 1992 Doraemon quiz VHS made for Bandai’s Terebikko, with Doraemon holding the telephone controller on the cover.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I think it makes logical sense to remove things. But perhaps in actuality what was doing most of the work was just the rub the cartridge got from being removed and put back in, without any of that liquid in there.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Really would like one. Although if I've gone back to smoking it normally means I'm depressed and don't want people coming up to me complimenting my calculator lighter.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

In 1978, in an attempt to incorporate the next winning gimmick into their calculators, Casio added fire. The QL-10 “Calculighter” combined a calculator, clock, alarm, timer, calendar, and cigarette lighter. Kinda makes sense when considering what's normally in one's pocket... But an iPhone lighter?

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Wouldn't it be more scratchy if synthetic and more soft if natural? I'm confused by modern usage of crunchy. 😭

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

My favourite is Stand By Your Man.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Looks like she would have fitted into the West in the 70s.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

It's because of where the power lies.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Looking back, I feel bad for my hamster going round in its ball. ... Hamsters and that.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

But I doubt they really wanted to. It's just an interesting talking point, and remains so. Cover is cool!

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Looks like an amazing day. Also quite a lot of phlegmy throat clearing from the cigarettes.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Not voting for them can help.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Therapy costs a lot and subtly suggests it can do more than it could possibly ever deliver. Particularly when most people's problems could be fixed with more money.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Like lambs to the slaughter. But pigs.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The Arcade Machine With a Horse is out now. A short documentary about Final Furlong, Namco’s 1997 horse-racing arcade game with a horse-shaped controller that players had to ride. Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vga... #RetroGaming #ArcadeGames #Namco

youtube.com

The Arcade Machine With a Horse

YouTube video by doodnat

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Did blowing on game cartridges actually make them work, or were we all performing the same strange gaming ritual? The dirt, faulty NES connectors, horrid human breath and “superstitious” pigeons behind it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW39... #RetroGaming #NES #GamingHistory

youtube.com

Why Did We Blow On Cartridges?

YouTube video by doodnat

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

How did Dune II, Warhammer, and a tiny Californian developer lead to Warcraft? My new doc. explores the history of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, from Patrick Wyatt’s early prototype and Blizzard’s origins to multiplayer, Azeroth, and the 2024 remaster. youtu.be/zfOlfteQm70 #Warcraft #RetroGaming

youtu.be

Complete History of Warcraft

YouTube video by doodnat

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Grand Theft Auto began as a cops-and-robbers game called Race'n'Chase. My new documentary explores the complete history of the original GTA, from its development at DMA Design to its release, controversy and GTA: London. Watch: youtu.be/vz0-eXq2tV0 #GTA #GrandTheftAuto #GamingHistory

youtu.be

Complete History of Grand Theft Auto

YouTube video by doodnat

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I think it's suffered from having to live in the shadow of three of the greatest games of all time.

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Grand Theft Auto is coming this Sunday! The next video goes back to DMA Design and the development of GTA 1 / Race’n’Chase. No Wednesday release this week. Full update: www.patreon.com/doodnat/post... #GTA #RetroGaming

patreon.com

Grand Theft Auto is coming this Sunday | doodnat

The next video is about the first Grand Theft Auto, released for PC and PlayStation in 1997. We’re going back to DMA Design in Dundee, where

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The fourth Monkey Island game took Guybrush into full 3D, threw away the mouse, and became only the second and final game built on LucasArts’ GrimE engine. The Complete History of Escape from Monkey Island is out now! 🏴‍☠️ youtu.be/42ERyfSztHU #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts #RetroGaming #GamingHistory

youtu.be

Complete History of Escape from Monkey Island

YouTube video by doodnat

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I'm putting the finishing touches on my Escape from Monkey Island documentary, coming this Sunday. One rabbit hole I went down was about Herman Toothrot... I've written a bit more about the research over on Patreon. www.patreon.com/doodnat/post...

patreon.com

Escape From Monkey Island Documentary Out This Sunday | doodnat

I'm putting the finishing touches on my next documentary, Escape from Monkey Island, which should be out this Sunday. Escape from Monkey Isl

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The Curse of Monkey was the last Monkey Island game to use SCUMM, the adventure engine LucasArts had been building and refining since Maniac Mansion in 1987. Here's the complete history: youtu.be/5zA8gGpSqEc #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts #RetroGaming #GameHistory #VideoGameHistory

youtu.be

Complete History of Curse of Monkey Island

YouTube video by doodnat

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Secret of Mana was originally being built for the cancelled SNES CD-ROM before one of gaming's biggest hardware partnerships collapsed. This is the complete history of one of the greatest action RPGs. youtu.be/X6s_gjan1c8 #SecretOfMana #SNES #JRPG #RetroGaming #GamingHistory

youtu.be

Complete History of Secret of Mana

YouTube video by doodnat

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

The Amiga version of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge shipped on a staggering 11 floppy disks. The complete history is here, from its ambitious development to its unforgettable ending and lasting legacy. youtu.be/a0Tlkjki9_I #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts #RetroGaming #GamingHistory #PointAndClick

youtu.be

Complete History of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge

YouTube video by doodnat

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doodnat @doodnat.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The game that launched one of gaming's greatest adventure series. The Complete History of The Secret of Monkey Island is now live on YouTube. youtu.be/abojWnd1QD8 #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts #AdventureGames #RetroGaming #GamingHistory

youtu.be

Complete History of Secret of Monkey Island

YouTube video by doodnat

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