iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

My Blendercon Lightning talk "OpenUSD: Don't Worry About It!" is now also available in text if you prefer reading: rystorm.com/blog/openusd... And with a fixed video, without Google Slide glitches: www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Kp... Huge thanks to the Blender folks for allowing me to fix the video!

Me on stage, with my fist up, and a slide saying "Don't worry about it!" with me putting a thumbs up

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 2h

LEGO is hiring a UX Director in London, for making digital experiences! I think this is a great opportunity for making your hobby, and your hobby, into a fun job!

I'm very excited to announce another open role at LEGO
Digital Play - UX Director. Come work with me and my amazing team on something playful, creative and fun!
https://Inkd.in/eG3DFSzS

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 29/09/2026

I guess this is some kind of baked in post-Apple hand gesture

Me doing nearly the same hand gesture as Jonathan is doing in the above picture

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 27/09/2026

Yeah, because it is really CnC ants. Boy, I hope someone got fired for that blunder

The "It came from red alert" image from the command & conquer secret ant mission

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 27/09/2026

It is such a ridiculously beautiful station

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 27/09/2026

I often get asked where I buy my shirts, and that's in The Shirt Shop in Amsterdam. But, they're sadly almost all male cuts. Today I walked past a place called Cocon, in Utrecht, which does seem to have some great patterned buttonup shirts in women's cuts.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 25/09/2026

The last part of Blendercon: They have printed out frames of all the open movies. People can then grab a frame before they leave. A very cute setup

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 25/09/2026

There is even a talk about Vtubing using Blender. (I am busy meeting folks so I can't attend, but truly this is the most diverse set of topics at any conference)

Screenshot of the website schedule showing a Vtubing talk

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 25/09/2026

Now seeing a talk about impostor cards, used for the blender game engine (which I didn't know was still running! Unofficially, as a fork) Though the tech also works in Unity and Godot!

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 25/09/2026

Why does Alex Chamberlain print giant dinosaur skeletons? Because billionaires keep buying the real ones for higher prices, and museums keep having to close because they have to cut costs. So he wants to revolutionize the ownership of dinosaur skeletons, and let anyone print them.

A slide saying “billionaires are starting to own everything”

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 25/09/2026

Apparently you can also use Blender to build dinosaurs, that you can then print in real life! Such versatile software.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 25/09/2026

Apparently Blender facilitates the full cat pipeline. (@freya.bsky.social, you might like Blendercon)

A slide showing various elements of a cat, built with Blender

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 25/09/2026

Starting off day 3 of Blendercon by grooming a cat. There are many cat talks at Blendercon. There was one yesterday as well about how to properly simulate the muscles, skeleton, and animation of cats too.

A big cat with clump hair modifier settings visible

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 25/09/2026

For next year's GDCA's there is a category for "Best Gaming Tech" There is still a "best technology" award, which goes to a game, but "Best Gaming Tech" can go to any technology So please submit your tech! Your plugins! Your tools! Your work! Submit before November 1st: gamechoiceawards.com

Best Gaming Tech
Finalists will be recognized for innovations in gaming-related software, hardware, or tools that have advanced the industry – including but not limited to new platforms, engines, devices, or technologies that enhance how games are created, played, or experienced.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

And now it's music time, but for me it's time to get some sleep. A very successful and fun day, goodnight!

DJs and VJs below a projector showing all kinds of visuals

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

How many hands does it take to hold up a default cube?

Many hands holding up a grey default cube

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

Have you ever seen a talk about how to procedurally generate bouldering walls for climbing gyms? Would you like to?

Atlas Hasırcı presenting a generated gym

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

Holy shit: Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is changing their terminal numbering to actually make sense!! I can't believe it! They're literally just make the numbering sequential instead of calling 5 buildings 'terminal 2' presse.groupeadp.fr/groupe-ad... Perhaps there is good in this world

The older numbering which was insane and had 5 building all called terminal 2

The new numbering that is literally just sequential

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

Next: How do you groom Seth Rogen? (I told you Blender has something for everyone)

Grooming Seth Rogen: Restoring a Hairline for a High-Stakes Commercial

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

Next, Obride Deki talking about how he made an interactive action figure, operated by remote control, designed with polygons, CAD, and electronics, in Blender and SolidWorks.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

Or the talk will give you nightmares. It could go either way.

A cursed looking face with a bugged out mouth shape

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

Now I am seeing a talk purely about mouth shapes. Truly Blendercon has whatever detail you are looking for.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

Had a conversation afterwards where I was shown an editor I had not heard of before: Rayon. Used for architectural CAD drawing. I always love seeing editors I've never heard of before. This one has really neat placement tools, grid alignment systems at angles, and more! Great snapping too!

An editor shown with layers, and a house with various gizmos.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

A lot of this is about "8D Gaussian splats", and tbh I really dislike the term "8D", as really it's just 3D that you can then scrub through. 4D would be fine! So you film stuff with real actors, in real sets, generate a splat from that, and then you can relight it, change camera angles, etc.

A Star Trek spaceship with its interior visible

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

Starting off day 2 of Blendercon with a whole bunch of rendering

A “beyond PBR” slide by the head of OTOY

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 24/09/2026

Remember how I said I wasn't doing a talk at Blendercon? I am a little tired today, as I signed myself up for an open slot of the lightning talks yesterday morning, and so I was busy setting up a talk till 2am. But, I think it's looking great. Don't worry about it!

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

I had many great conversations the last few hours, over some great food. Blendercon has breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desert on conference grounds, so you can easily meet folks and don't have to head off to restaurants!

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

Next, a talk about how to make planetarium films, in Blender! Truly, Blendercon has every subject on its schedule, and that's a huge part of what makes it so great!

Tommy Howell presenting on stage with the title slide

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

I am identifiable with my Excel shirt today. I have gotten so many super positive comments on it, thank you! I just love comma separated values so much, and it seems everyone else does too!

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

The talk is titled "The Art of Real-Time Viewport Cheats" and he made a functional playdate that works in Blender?! By using an empty object that moves in various directions to track the Z value that then triggers functionality based on its value?! It's nuts!!

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

I am now seeing a talk about real time car visualization in Blender, and one conclusion is: "So… the solution was to make one giant shader." and a spaghetti of nodes is shown on screen. The whole room laughs. We may all be working in different industries, but we often have the exact same issues.

A giant shader shown in Blender, with a car rendered above it

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

Next, a talk about airplanes! Which longer followers of this account know I am a big fan of for discussions. And in this case the CGI for airplanes was entirely built in Blender

Someone from INK studio on stage with the title slide

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

Most of the conference is spent in the main hall for food, drink, and conversation

The main hall filled with tables and people

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

(No matter what project, no matter what studio, you will always end up with assets called "carpet_nasty" that end up being the most used and liked in the entire production workflow.)

The setup and usage of a carpet_nasty material

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

First talk: How the Backrooms VFX was built and rendered entirely in Blender.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

The conference is sold out and completely packed for the opening session.

Me pulling a face with LOADS of people behind me in the audience

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

Time for the Blender Conference 2026! #bcon26 It's a conference that isn't just games focused, but does all kinds of talks about film, architecture, automotive, medical, and everything to do with 3D. Also, it's in Amsterdam, so I can roll out of bed to be here!

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 23/09/2026

Real actual pipes I have seen this week. People would have called these unrealistic in any game.

A pipe coming from a ceiling, turning 90 degrees, and immediately going through a wall again

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 21/09/2026

10 years?! And I still cannot believe I have a Jojo & Boogie card in my Steam inventory:

The Jojo and Boogie card in my steam inventory

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 20/09/2026

And some resources if you want to dig deeper into it

RESOURCES
Where to explore further
Rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection
Free high-resolution downloads of every game shown tonight and hundreds more
Beyond boardgames
The Rijksmuseum also holds cards-, counter- and token- games worth a look (contact the library - or mel)
Openluchtmuseum Arnhem
Board-, cards-, token- games for children & adults, waiting for people to study them!
collectiegelderland.nl/
CELINE ZAEPFFEL
VE BES BESEETESY
SLUAN 4ADAA
Roid d ioa: ٤
THE GOOSE AND THE MACHINE 7/7
HR-pictures: free to download and use!

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 20/09/2026

There is also a book out about the Industrial Revolution and board games called “The Goose and The Machine”

A slide about the goose and the machine. Available at the Rijksmuseum store (online or on-site) - €15
Or download it for free: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/onderzoek/studies-in-history/the-goose-and-the-machine.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 20/09/2026

And of course some of those boardgames are propaganda that promoted colonialism. Very Dutch.

A slide showing a colonial propaganda boardgame

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 20/09/2026

I’m at the @untitledgamesevent.bsky.social right now, and apparently the Rijksmuseum has nearly 400 boardgames in its collection?! I had no idea, I would’ve loved to have seen some of these on display (cc @whilhorst.bsky.social)

Céline Zaepffel presenting their research on Dutch board games

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 20/09/2026

I'll be at Blendercon next week! Who else will be in Amsterdam? #BCON26

My face with a graphic saying 'See you at Blender Conference, Bcon26

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 18/09/2026

GDC acceptance and denial emails have been sent out. I've got 3 acceptances, one denial! If all goes well with travel, I'll be doing 3 Tool Design Roundtables, 2 OpenUSD Roundtables, and a talk titled: "What is OpenUSD, and why should I care?"

My email box, showing 3 acceptances and one denial

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 18/09/2026

The show was great and I am glad I didn’t come back to being eviscerated

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