iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

And I don't think it's as much about the size, as it is about being beholden to shareholders. The moment that happens, priorities shift in ways that usually make things tougher for users, but better for short term investors.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 4h

Except for the FOSS ones, like Blender and Godot, which really are getting better with increased market size.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 5h

I just found this very old picture of me in 2014 at Gamescom, where I had received a bunch of VIP passes to skip the line for seeing the Witcher 3. It's crazy to think that this year at Gamescom, 12 years later, I yet again was able to skip the line to see the demo... for the Witcher 3.

Me pulling a face with 3 Witcher 3 VIP passes in my hands

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Reposted by Robin-Yann Storm

Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 10h

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 · 9h

I notice that most technical folks love reading instead of watching. I once had a principal engineer tell me that whenever they watched one of my videos, they had a sinking feeling that at any moment I would say "And today's sponsor is squarespace!" which put them off from watching.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 9h

I have also added an addendum to the text version, explaining my thought process for building it on a last minute notice, giving it, and the intention of it. I am super glad the response to it has been so positive! Thank you all very much!

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 10h

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 12h

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 · 13h

For love, absolutely. For family, partners, and friends, none of anything is transactional

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 16h

Skipping tutorials is classic for replayability, e.g. ToTK and KotOR are classics for this issue, but it feels strange to account for that maybe less than 10% of players when a tutorial touches 100% of players

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 16h

I mean, sure it could be obvious for you, but the game added a tutorial pop-up after release which at least seems to indicate it was an issue for many.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 16h

“Never been true” is too much imo. The level design has plenty of traps, scheming NPCs, and player left messages that make you think twice about any other message you see.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 16h

The pop-up was only added after initial complaints, right?

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 17h

I feel this assumption is incorrect if it has happened to multiple big projects like this, including Nintendo who usually takes all the time in the world to make things fit.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 17h

Considering Elden Ring players also often missed the tutorial because it is out of the way, and that meme about the steamer missing that they can hop/dodge in The Legend of Zelda due to missing a tutorial, it seems like this is a recurring pattern of some kind. Why? What is causing this design?

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 18h

Agreed, if it's 0 effort then it's a little less painful, but usually there is at least some personal credit to it. Like, if I handed someone a walkie talkie and they dropped it off a ski lift, everything is permitted.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 18h

It is a night and day difference, where for the people who follow through I will genuinely help out every single next time they need a hand. And the people who do not follow through I will barely ever do anything for again. But is that wrong of me? I wonder how universal this feeling is.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 18h

When I stick out my neck/reputation for a contact like this, and then one of the people does not even show the courtesy of reaching out via the contact/email/phone number mentioned, it irks me to an enormous degree. I will probably not put the effort in again for that person.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 18h

Whenever I connect two people together, as they have both mentioned interest in something, the favorite feeling is days, weeks, or even months later hearing either of them say: "Thank you, we indeed had a great chat and now I have a contact/job/contract/product/talk!" It is wonderful! But...

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 18h

I’ve seen enough: Kojima has scanned you

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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 · 28/09/2026

This was a very interesting problem in ARC Raiders, so much so that I wrote up an entire explanation of why the incentives are set up wrong, and how they affect each other. rystorm.com/blog/the-sys... (and how this is the case for many things in this world)

rystorm.com

An analysis of the Trial System in ARC Raiders (and other incentives in game development) — Robin-Yann Storm, Tool Design Director

How do the trials work, how does that fit into the rest of the game, and how does that involve the steam algorithm?

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 28/09/2026

This involved 'save scumming' in the way of continually resetting the world to get the best possible spawn location, time stamp, and enemies.

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 28/09/2026

rystorm.com

An analysis of the Trial System in ARC Raiders (and other incentives in game development) — Robin-Yann Storm, Tool Design Director

How do the trials work, how does that fit into the rest of the game, and how does that involve the steam algorithm?

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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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Reposted by Robin-Yann Storm

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 · 27/09/2026

Not knowing the language the ending of this sentence gave me a huge surprise

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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 · 27/09/2026

I am at least consistent in my hate for Google slides: bsky.app/profile/ryst...

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 26/09/2026

To me, the recording of my section has big bright white flashes due to Google slides being absolutely awful and taking a frame to load in a background image. I hate Google slides But other folks are telling me they can't tell. Is that so? Do you not see the white flashes? I see my whole body lit up

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Robin-Yann Storm @rystorm.com · 26/09/2026

And even worse: Complete randomness that yet still feels like more of the same all the time. The thousand bowls of oatmeal problem.

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

Also, if you love a plugin for Unreal, Unity, Godot, or anything else for gaming, please tag the creator and tell them to submit!

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

And that's the end of Blendercon 2026! Sorta. There is another meetup tomorrow morning at the Blender offices, and folks are still watching movies at De Balie right now. Blendercon is a perfectly organized conference. Ridiculously well produced, set up, and arranged. I have no notes on it. Perfect.

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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

There are way too many Discords, Slacks, Gits, Rocketchats, and everything else, for me to read them all and keep track of them. There is simply no way for me to see there is a conversation happening about USD, or Tool UX Design in general. So just ping me, tag me, email me, anything is fine!

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

I am getting a lot of compliments for the USD lightning talk I gave yesterday: Thank you! I am glad it both made you laugh, and think. I also get a lot of questions about how if I can help with USD features in Blender, Godot, etc: And the answer is YES! But please ping me, and I will always answer!

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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

The most often heard sentiment at Blendercon is, by speakers: "Not that I'm an expert, I didn't know this was novel, I just kinda built something and they accepted my talk." So never ever stop yourself from submitting your work. For awards, for conferences, for literally anything. JUST SUBMIT!

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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

And the M chips are also crazy powerful, it’s kinda nuts

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