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oliver

@oliverbates.co.uk
243 followers 568 following 203 posts

design researcher. he/him researching through making games, zines and critical tea towels about climate futures, tech, and systems. Links to my stuff: oliverbates.co.uk fractals.coop and research fellow @ lancaster uni

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Reposted by oliver
Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The full EDGE piece on game industry challenges is out now, has a lot of smart people in it (and me) & I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the games biz. knowledge.edge-online.com/p/the-game-i...
knowledge.edge-online.com
The game industry is broken – can we fix it?
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Kelly Whyte @kellywhyte.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Our campaign is live! Back Sage Council to get our comedic card based #ttrpg about d&d-style fantasy city politics, available in digital and physical versions. With an eye on the polls and the other on your purse, navigate the challenges facing a modern medieval metropolis. #kiwirpg
kickstarter.com
Sage Council
A card-based roleplaying game of local politics and city councils.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 13/08/2026
Currently developing a little engine so you can hack together your own screwthatlike game to create mini LARPs about energy scarcity and other possible climate futures. #LARP #gamedesign #rpg
a command line interface for xThat, a playful tool for generating mini games. The interface prints the title xThat followed by a description:

"xThat is a playful mini game generator for anyone looking to create their own mini game.

To make a game we will:
1. provide you with a title for your game
2. prompt you for a subtitle
3. prompt you for 4 bullet points for game play."

The user is then asked "Are you ready to continue:"

The interface then shows the randomly generated game title "MAKE THAT". It the asks the user to "Enter a subtitle"
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 17/07/2026
These manky tea towels are all too clean at #emfcamp please come use, donate, swap and soil. Don’t forget to take a zine! Or download one here: oliverbates.itch.io/manky More info: Manky.website
A gazebo in a field at a festival with many tea towels hanging up.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 15/07/2026
Lost before it got to tell its story.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 15/07/2026
Another great donation to The Museum of Manky Tea Towels! “this timeless dishrag was restored from on top of the wardrobe in the zebra enclosure at Knowsley Safari Park. During a full moon it shapeshifts into a roll of sellotape. Donated: Apr 1992” #storiesofmankyteatowels
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Modiphius @modiphius.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
🎲We're hiring! Modiphius is looking for a new Games Designer to join our team based in Nottingham. Based in the Nottingham studio, this is a full-time position in tabletop game design to help us deliver projects in 2027 and beyond! Apply here: buff.ly/5vT1puW #GamesDev #Hiring
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 09/07/2026
Me and @ben.kirman.org are zine making this week ready for the Museum of Manky Tea Towels (manky.website) and tea towel making workshop at @emfcamp.bsky.social next week! Get in touch to donate your tea towels!
A sketch of a 4 burner oven with two tea towels hanging from the oven door handle. One tea towel reads “manky tea towels rule” with a purple background. The second tea towel is a rough looking sketch that could be a map of a sea side town or other tourist attraction, with grass, sand and water - and maybe a windmill.
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Ben Kirman @ben.kirman.org · 07/07/2026
Prepping for my workshop on making games for fairy lights at @emfcamp.bsky.social next week! Just adding some header pins and sample code to these @pimoroni.com Plasma boards, sealed with the magical swear words I invoke when soldering my fingers.
A photograph of a tabletop laid out with 15 small Plasma2350W circuit boards on antistatic bags. A tray of header pins, some tape and some motivational geese miniatures sit nearby.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 06/07/2026
In June I had the immense pleasure of bringing Zines to the ICT4S 2026 conference to encourage alternative voices, ideas and forms of expression about ICT and sustainability. You can find all the zine contributions on my itch.io page here: lnkd.in/ePySFi4Q #zines #digitalsustainability
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 23/06/2026
learning about LÖVE as a low carbon/permacomputing language for artists today at LIMITS - love2d.org looks great. CONSTRAINTS ARE GREAT. Time to make my p5 games even less resource demanding. Cheers Lee Tusman for the talk! (leetusman.com)
love2d.org
LÖVE - Free 2D Game Engine
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 18/06/2026
I love this
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Ben Kirman @ben.kirman.org · 17/06/2026
Delighted to discover that our tea towels are now appearing alongside papers in google scholar searches ("critical tea towels") - thanks @oliverbates.co.uk for uploading them. and a reminder that "article" is a very broad term so maybe that weird thing you made is also one?
Some tea towels and booklets are spread on a table, along with an annotated map of manchester city centre. The tea towels show scenes from York and Edinburgh as gig couriers encounter difficulties and hostile architectures.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 13/06/2026
People look at you funny when you’re going through security and you get your scanner out.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 09/06/2026
Fresh hot Zines! 11 zines contributed to the #ICT4S2026 zine jam oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines we’ll be making a conference zine this week. I’ll be collecting confessions and questions as prompts for others to collage and sketch zine pages. Come and find me in the coffee break area :)
oliverbates.itch.io
ICT4S 2026 Zine Library by oliver bates
A collection of zines created and curated for the ICT4S 2026 Zine Jam and conference
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a dawn walker @dcwalker.ca · 09/06/2026
memories of my x220 fan taking off on zoom or if too many tabs open, etc, a more perfect computer has never existed, etc... from this: Un vélo électrique pour l'esprit / an electric bike for the mind by Martin Lafréchoux digital: ebike.nologos.net digital zine: oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines
Presentation slide with laptop schematic drawing and titled Un vélo électrique pour l'esprit authored by Martin LafréchouxZine on wood table with a schematic drawing of a laptop and the title an electric bike for the mind by Martin Lafréchoux for LIMITS2026 and ICT4S
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Ben Kirman @ben.kirman.org · 07/06/2026
On my way to #DRS2026 in Edinburgh this week, presenting "Research through Game Design" on Tuesday, w/ @oliverbates.co.uk , Marcia Tavares Smith and @dpgreen.bsky.social. I just deleted "GAMES ARE INDUSTRIAL WASTE FOR DWEEBS" from the talk. But what did I replace it with...? drs2026.thedrs.org/home
Some gothic pixellated text saying "Research through Game Design" by authors Oliver Bates, Ben Kirman, Marcia Tavares Smith and David Philip Green. From Fractals Co-op, University of York, Lancaster University and UKCEH respectivelya photo of a flat head screwdriver, atop a zine called "Screw That, A resource scarcity game" next to a manky pipe and cloth under a toilet somewhere
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 06/06/2026
I’m glad I don’t have to activate a passport like a new bank card.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 01/06/2026
I'm hosting a 1 hour zine making workshop next week at a conference about tech and sustainability. I'd love to hear about any engaging any prompts and activities for making zines from fellow creatives, zine makers, and facilitators. #zines #zinemaking #creativity #facilitation
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 29/05/2026
Our next project is the Museum of Manky Tea Towels. Me and @ben.kirman.org need your help! Got any novelty/souvenir tea towels you could donate? Here’s a longer call for tea towels: crankandfile.co.uk/museum-of-ma... If you’re in the UK drop me a dm so we can arrange postage or a collection.
crankandfile.co.uk
Museum of Manky Tea Towels: Call for Tea Towels!
Call for Tea Towels! As part of ongoing research with tea towels and storytelling, we are co-organising an event at the arts and science festival Electromagnetic Field called “The Museum of Manky Tea ...
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 25/04/2026
Award winning poster alert from NetDrive spring event at Oxford Uni!!! Had fun coming up with a speculative noticeboard from a future where scientific computing is championing digital sufficiency (consuming “just enough”) to reduce the carbon footprint of digital research and scientific computing.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 15/04/2026
CONSOLE NERDS GET ON THIS GAME RIGHT NOW!!! Switch & PS5 Out Now! - Anthology of the Killer thecatamites.itch.io/anthology-of...
thecatamites.itch.io
Switch & PS5 Out Now!
greetings, potential console gamer. what are you doing on itchio? well, i appreciate your broadmindedness. our two cultures have much to teach each other... as part of this magical transfer of informa...
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 08/04/2026
Getting ready to sprinkle chaos across notice boards near you.
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Emiliano Mellino @mellino.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I’ve spent the last year investigating how the UK's broken employment tribunal system lets rogue bosses evade justice. But this is the craziest case,by far. A restaurant chain that lost 21 tribunal claims over several years, yet never paid a single one🧵 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
thebureauinvestigates.com
Meet the restaurant boss who flouted judges’ orders for years
Jason Wells’ restaurant chain has cheated workers, lost 21 tribunal claims – and not paid a single one
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 01/04/2026
#zine jam is still running for ICT4S! If you’d like to contribute or chat dm me. We’re inviting any kind of contribution about sustainability and ICT/tech! We encourage: - Critical perspectives - unfinished ideas - fictions - poems - photo albums - games - absurdity - thinking “otherwise”
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 03/03/2026
We’re inviting game makers, artists, researchers, manifesto makers, and creatives of all kinds to make zines about sustainability and digital tech “otherwise”. The zine jam is one way we’re bringing diy + critical and divergent perspectives to tech and sustainability. #zines #games #diy #jam
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 01/04/2026
“Do not eat” written on the lid of some particularly wet feeling slime that came with a kids magazine. The image of a cake draws me in. I lick my lips. “NOOOOO” screams the child as she swipes it from my mouth. Why is there a picture of a cake on it if I’m not supposed to try a bit?
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a dawn walker @dcwalker.ca · 28/03/2026
Posting a day late to say : this was so much fun! Thanks all for playing the first cut of this zine game + coming up with new hospicing tactics. Thanks to @oliverbates.co.uk jamming on this with me. I'll share an updated version soon here + other places + directly with those who've asked.
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Pippin Barr 🤔 @pippinbarr.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
New game: As Slow As Possible Slow down.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 03/03/2026
We’re inviting game makers, artists, researchers, manifesto makers, and creatives of all kinds to make zines about sustainability and digital tech “otherwise”. The zine jam is one way we’re bringing diy + critical and divergent perspectives to tech and sustainability. #zines #games #diy #jam
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EUphoria Actual Play @euphoriaap.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
TODAY! The final episode of this season of 20 Minute TTRPGs! @drakoniques.itch.io joins @cutestpatoot.itch.io for a deep dive into game design and another spin if the wheel. www.twitch.tv/EUphoriaAP
A bright blue background with occasional white doodles, including stars, hearts and a lightbulb.
The 20 Minute TTRPGs logo at top left, a red d20 with '20 Minute TTRPGs' in a bold all-caps font. 
Heading reads '20 Minute TTRPGs'. Tagline reads 'If you can tell a story, you can make a game!'
Angel's and Drak's headshot in a round, red-rimmed frames.
Subheading reads 'Sunday 22nd February, 1pm GMT / 2pm CET. www.twitch.tv/EUphoriaAP
Euphoria logo at bottom right, a round yellow frame with navy blue background, and a large shooting star made up of yellow d4s streaking from right to left, a yellow tail trailing behind.
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Kean Birch @keanbirch.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
"AI-resistant ‘halo’ [heavy asset, low obsolescence] stocks drive UK and EU markets to record highs" www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
AI-resistant ‘halo’ stocks drive UK and EU markets to record highs
Investors shifting to ‘heavy-asset, low-obsolescence’ companies insulated from disruption, says Goldman Sachs
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 17/02/2026
📓 ICT4S Zine Jam @ ICT4S 2026 (Bern, Switzerland) We’re excited to host the ICT4S Zine Jam and invite you to explore different ways of doing research on ICT and sustainability. conf.researchr.org/track/ict4s-... We’d love to have you there. The ICT4S Zine Collective More info in thread ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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Ben Kirman @ben.kirman.org · 16/01/2026
Had a great time with the @iggi-phd.bsky.social jam this week. One of the suggested constraints was to use Qualtrics (survey platform) as a game engine, and it piqued my interest so I put a small game together. It's called Research Survey - benkirman.itch.io/research-sur...
benkirman.itch.io
Research Survey by benkirman
A survey to collect data that is important for research.
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Tanya Floaker @floaker.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Get this occult action thriller ttRPG for 1-7 people. Perfect if you enjoy playing powerful undead revenants embroiled in breakneck action, interpersonal drama, and occult investigation. Soundtrack by @mollynoise.bsky.social and human-made art by @stregawolf.art. Jump in now for early bird deals!
kickstarter.com
Coming soon: The Thunder Perfect Mind
An Occult Action Thriller Tabletop RPG
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Joost Vervoort @joostvervoort.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Support our wonderful game!
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All Will Rise by Speculative Agency @allwillrise.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Wishing you a happy new year, full of good health, happiness, and adventure! Our first project, All Will Rise, will be launching on Kickstarter in early 2026. Please consider supporting! Link: www.kickstarter.com/projects/spe... #IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev
All Will Rise key art.
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School.VideoGameAudio.com @sovga.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Tempo Sync Reverser by Niall Moody is a free VST Plugin for Windows, macOS "Reverses the sound for a set amount of time" www.niallmoody.com/ndcplugs/tsrever…
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What's All This Then @whatsallthispod.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Important Takeaways: - @pftompkins.bsky.social is nice - a berk is a muppet (a type of prat) - listen to What’s All This Then wherever you get your podcasts for more insights like this
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Royal College of Art @royalcollegeofart.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
🍃 Are you a interested in a PhD in NetZero Futures? The NetZero Futures Doctoral Landscape are offering fully funded EPSRC studentships for Royal College of Art PhD students starting in September 2026 and September 2027. How to apply ➡️ www.rca.ac.uk/study/apply-...
rca.ac.uk
Fully Funded Doctoral Landscape Studentship: NetZero Futures
NetZero Futures Doctoral Landscape Award is a Fully funded EPSRC scholarship with the RCA.
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Pen Fight @penfight.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Bumper-load of new zines have been listed on the distro for ya. Starting with: Cervical Screening for Trans+ Autistic People: a tool for self advocacy penfightdistro.com/shop/cervica...
a hand holding lots of various zines, the front one has the trans flag colours and is titled "Cervical Screening for Trans+ Autistic People: a tool for self advocacy"
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Mark Sample @samplereality.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
CFP for a special issue of Eludamos. What are antifascist games? Proposal deadline is December 19. eludamos.org/index.php/el...
eludamos.org
Special Issue: WHAT ARE ANTIFASCIST GAMES? | Eludamos: Journal for Computer Game Culture
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Hazel Anneke Dixon @hazelxd.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Saw a post today that advised writers to stop writing as if a human will read it and start writing for an LLM that will be summarising. As someone who really enjoyed trying to develop a peculiar but readable authorial voice, I find this incredibly depressing.
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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 20/11/2025
On today's #TransDayOfRemembrance I'm reminded of this scene from Celeste (a game which draws heavily on trans themes). I was brought to tears when I first played it. So many names every year, it hits hard.
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Poppy Wilde @poppywilde.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Deadline for Expressions of Interest for the funded Doctoral Landscape Awards is Monday 17 November at noon. EoIs aren't mandatory, but are encouraged if you're thinking about applying. #PhDfunding #research
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Poppy Wilde @poppywilde.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
PSA - reminder that #DiGRA2026 submissions due THREE WEEKS TODAY (deadline for full papers and abstracts Monday 1 December). Obligatory "how is so soon??" "what I am going to submit??" panic may now commence. www.digraconference2026.com
digraconference2026.com
DiGRA 2026 Conference | Maynooth University, Ireland
Join the DiGRA 2026 conference at Maynooth University, 14–18 June 2026. Theme “Intersectional Pleasures.” A global hybrid event for game research, culture, design, and industry.
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Lilly Irani @gleemie.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
If you want to do research that is ethically committed and makes labor movements stronger, this is a collection of reflections from those who have been there and done that.
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oliver @oliverbates.co.uk · 10/11/2025
My amazing friend @hazelxd.bsky.social just won an Honorable Mention at this years Golden Cobra Challenge with their game Paranormal Parasocial www.goldencobra.org/submissions2... Check it out! #games #indie #awards #GoldenCobra2025
goldencobra.org
Golden Cobra Challenge
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Ben Kirman @ben.kirman.org · 17/10/2025
Decolonisers of Catan (with dice that only roll 7s) #boardgames #catan
A photograph of a Settlers of Catan board, showing two d6s that have 3.5 spots on every side.
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Yann Seznec @yann-seznec.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Hello there! For my first post on this here social network, here's a new thing I've been working on, a live sampler where you scrub through the sound by pulling a string. It has a filter!
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