Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026How often do you feel like all of your professional training boils down to how intricately can you draw nests of boxes and arrows 000
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 21/09/2026We've decided to extend the deadline for the Workshop on Automated Game Design to this Sunday, September 27th, midnight AOE! Read more here: wagd.site 001
Reposted by Sam ShieldsMuseum of Art and Digital Entertainment @mademuseum.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Join us tomorrow at 1pm for @smshieldsy.bsky.social's intensive trading card game workshop where participants will go hands on with Worldbuilding and Scarcity in card games www.eventbrite.com/e/tcg-tradin...eventbrite.comTCG (Trading Card Game) Intensive WorkshopWhat makes trading card games stick with people? Join us in this intensive 4-day workshop to find out! 022
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 17/09/2026One day to submit prototypes and write-ups to the Workshop on Automated Game Design at the AAAI Artificial Intelligence in Interactive Digital Entertainment conference! We want to see maximalist systems that push the limits of procedural content generation. More here: wagd.site #agd #pcg #aiidewagd.siteWAGD 2026 - Workshop on Automated Game Design at AIIDEA home for advancing the state-of-the-art in automated game design. AIIDE 2026, November 9-10. Submissions due September 18th. 044
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Shot calling: With the inevitable release of Majora's Mask remastered, we also get a tie-in A24 produced adaptation of BEN DROWNED 000
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026id you know there's a ~hip~ new workshop in #AGD / #PCG? Check us out at wagd.site! We want to read your papers, see your demos, play your interactive sessions, and see your systems making weird little dudes doing weird little things. @tanyaxshort.bsky.social and @mtrc.bsky.social are keynoting!wagd.siteWAGD 2026 - Workshop on Automated Game Design at AIIDEA home for advancing the state-of-the-art in automated game design. AIIDE 2026, November 9-10. Submissions due September 18th. 111
Reposted by Sam ShieldsMike Cook @mtrc.bsky.social · 11/08/2026There's still lots of time to submit to the 1st Workshop on Automated Game Design, led by @smshieldsy.bsky.social. Come and tell us your ideas about game design spaces, weird little procedural generation gremlins, and more: smshields.github.io/AIIDE-2026-W...smshields.github.ioWAGD - Workshop on Automated Game Design 051
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 30/07/2026How aware do you think Magic designers are of player's proclivities to smell freshly opened cards ...or is that just a me thing 100
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Not sure we need a new Resident Evil movie when Evil Dead Burn absolutely nailed the Biohazard vibes 000
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 21/07/2026If you're in the bay area and interested in learning about or trying your hand at trading card game design, come join me at the MADE sometime in the next two months! luma.com/3x2vn3xvluma.comTCG Design Workshop #1 · LumaAre you a fan of Gundam, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, and/or other trading card games? Do you ever wonder what makes them so popular? Well this… 031
Reposted by Sam ShieldsAIIDE @aiide.bsky.social · 15/07/2026Consider sponsoring the AAAI AIIDE conference in Belo Horizonte, Brazil! Your support will help motivate cutting-edge advancements in Game AI and creative technologies while giving you access to the best global talent in the field. Get involved: sites.google.com/view/aiide20...sites.google.comAIIDE 2026 - SponsorsCall for Sponsors We are excited to announce the Call for Sponsors for the The 22nd AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment (AIIDE 2026), taking place in Belo ... 034
Reposted by Sam ShieldsAIIDE @aiide.bsky.social · 03/07/2026Today is the last day to submit full papers for AIIDE 2026! Submit in Easychair by midnight tonight (AOE). Missed the paper deadline but want to show a demo? Submit to the case studies track by next Thursday to showcase and playtest it at the conference! sites.google.com/view/aiide20...sites.google.comAIIDE 2026The 22nd AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment (AIIDE 2026) is the next in an annual series of conferences showcasing interdisciplinary research on modeling,... 035
Reposted by Sam ShieldsMagic: The Gathering @magic.wizards.com · 24/06/2026It's with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of iconic artist, Ron Spears. With a flair for the fantastic, Spears's illustrations have transported players to planes across the Multiverse for over 20 years🌻magic.wizards.com/en/news/feat... 3496111
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 24/06/2026My new favorite whiteboard doodle, in which a player thinks too hard about their role in The Sims 000
Reposted by Sam ShieldsUnited Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 23/06/2026Today is a momentous day for the workers of Arena! After months of planning, waiting and organizing, our dream is finally a reality; the votes have been counted, and our union of UWOTC-CWA has been officially elected. From this day forward, we have a union! 13255091737
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 23/06/2026Can someone tell me why Baudrillard's "reception" section on Wikipedia is only negative 000
Reposted by Sam ShieldsAIIDE @aiide.bsky.social · 10/06/2026AIIDE is going to have three workshops this year! This year, we are hosting Experimental AI in Games, The Workshop on Automated Game Design, and Designing Neuroinclusive Human-AI Interactive Learning Environments. Learn more here: sites.google.com/view/aiide20...sites.google.comAIIDE 2026 - WorkshopsAIIDE is proud to announce three workshops this year! See their descriptions below. Experimental AI in Games (EXAG) The Experimental AI in Games (EXAG) workshop is a workshop traditionally held at th... 133
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 03/06/2026Very excited to announce the FIRST Workshop on Automated Game Design at this year's AIIDE! We are welcoming submissions through to September. Read more and submit here: smshields.github.io/AIIDE-2026-W...smshields.github.ioWAGD - Workshop on Automated Game Design 000
Reposted by Sam ShieldsAIIDE @aiide.bsky.social · 22/05/2026We're one month away from submissions! Start (or finish) your papers and join an active and thriving AI in entertainment community at AIIDE. Abstracts are due June 19th. Read more: sites.google.com/view/aiide20...sites.google.comAIIDE 2026 - Call for PapersAIIDE 2026 welcomes submissions across the vast field of Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment. We are particularly interested in novel contributions and applications, as well ... 176
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 17/05/2026Robe of Philosophy: +2 INT +2 WIS -2 DEX Wearer takes 1 fire damage every turn spent in direct sunlight 120
Reposted by Sam ShieldsTanya X. Short @tanyaxshort.bsky.social · 10/05/2026living as a normal human: yes let's become more self-aware and gently try to improve ourselves and achieve enlightenment trying to create literally anything at all: SHUT UP SHUT UP I HAVE TO STOP EXISTING FOR THIS TO WORK SHUT UP 0304
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Excited to share two pieces of accepted work at this year's IEEE Conference on Games! One work details a framework for balancing games based on a literature review, while the other focuses on player experiences in interactive digital narrative. See you in Madrid! 020
Reposted by Sam ShieldsSam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Hello my name is Sam I sometimes draw hands 001
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Throwing this out there to my fellow game designers/devs - how do we feel about the ethics of using LLMs in coding? I'm on the side of the fence of being profoundly negative about the strip-mining of creatives in asset production, but coding is something that I'm scratching my head on. 000
Reposted by Sam ShieldsAIIDE @aiide.bsky.social · 17/04/2026Are you a PhD student interested in game AI? Submit to AIIDE 2026’s Doctoral Consortium! The feedback a DC provides helps sharpen your dissertation focus while informing you about potential career options. Applications are due July 25, 2026! Read more at: tinyurl.com/aiide26dct.cohttps://tinyurl.com/aiide26dc 046
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 15/04/2026Grogu, Pikachu, thank you for coming today, it's an honor *wipes sweat* Imagine: a haunted light fixture travels the universe trying to meet other friendly ghosts, but keeps accidentally burning down manors in the process. I call it... "The Chandelurean" I can get 50 pages on your desk by Monday 000
Reposted by Sam Shields🐔 Brian Bucklew 🐔 ₑͤ>∿<ₑͤ ∞🌮 @unormal.bsky.social · 15/04/2026check it out, sick little tool by James Ryan viv.sifty.studioviv.sifty.studioViv: An Engine for Emergent NarrativeViv is an engine for emergent narrative. 28222
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 14/04/2026The metaphysical and industrial/ecological implications of everyone using Rotoms for everything in all Pokemon regions constantly haunts me 130
Reposted by Sam ShieldsCASCADE CASCADE - SUMMER VACATION @cascadecascade.com · 10/04/2026You can't just taunt me with a Brothers War anime... 1363
Reposted by Sam ShieldsTommy Thompson @tommy.aiandgames.com · 08/04/2026Look I know we generally hate Generative AI right, but it would help that when we're reporting on AI in the games industry that we do so accurately. Drawing a line between two disparate events at the same company does not a narrative make. 1155
Reposted by Sam ShieldsAIIDE @aiide.bsky.social · 08/04/2026This year’s AIIDE is hosted by the Federal University of Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil! Nestled in the Pampulha district’s cultural corridor, the campus’ location makes getting to nearby cultural landmarks a breeze. 155
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 06/04/2026Now that I have it officially submitted/accepted, I can share my favorite page of my dissertation - the last one. 140
Reposted by Sam ShieldsMark Riedl @markriedl.bsky.social · 05/04/2026What does a product look like with 100% AI-written code look like? Reading about the Claude Code leak is fascinating. techtrenches.dev/p/the-snake-... 33011
Reposted by Sam ShieldsAIIDE @aiide.bsky.social · 30/03/2026The AIIDE 2026 Call for Workshops is open! Hosting a workshop lets you explore a topic in-depth with experts in AI in digital entertainment. Workshops can take many forms: papers, game jams, mixers, and more! Proposals due May 15th, 2026. Read more at: tinyurl.com/aiide26wstinyurl.comAIIDE 2026 - Call for WorkshopsAIIDE 2026 invites proposals for half-day, one-day, or two-day workshops. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to meet and discuss issues with a selected focus, providing an informal settin... 034
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 28/03/2026Currently having a Tim-Robinson-esque crash out over the fact that the global supply of Midori MD A5 dot-grid notebooks seems to be sold out. Who's hoarding the notebooks?!?media.tenor.coma man wearing glasses is looking at a computer screen with hbo max written on the bottomALT: a man wearing glasses is looking at a computer screen with hbo max written on the bottom 000
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 28/03/2026I really didn't think I could like Invincible any more, but then they went and cast Bruce Campbell as Satan. So groovy 000
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 26/03/2026Just double checking - playing Dandan is basically strength training for blue mages, right? 000
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 12/03/2026My ratio of conference to Spellslinging is way off this week. If anyone wants to jam some commander around 2ish shoot me a DM/Discord/Astral Plane Psychic message and let's play #GDC #magic 010
Reposted by Sam ShieldsBrie @briechindeyerle.bsky.social · 11/03/2026If you think the industry should be hiring more juniors but feel like your pleas are falling on deaf ears with your leadership, come to our panel! We’ll be providing anecdotal and hard data about the value junior hires bring to your teams. 3:10, west hall 2016. schedule.gdconf.com/session/supp...schedule.gdconf.comSupporting Junior Talent and Why the Industry Needs Them | Agenda | GDC Festival of GamingHow do you support juniors in the current industry environment? The short answer is: be brave and take the risk. The long answer, we'll share. The current state of the games industry has resulted in a... 176
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 08/03/2026Hey everyone! A bit late (I was a little busy) but I'll be at GDC this year! Would love to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. Shoot me a DM or carrier pigeon if you want to chat! 100
Reposted by Sam ShieldsMike Cook @mtrc.bsky.social · 06/03/2026Congratulations to Dr. Shields! It was such a treat meeting him at AIIDE last year - I highly recommend checking out his work on game design analysis, he has such a great perspective on design, balance and technology: ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI... 051
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 05/03/2026As it turns out, Shields... 😐🤏🕶️😎 Are good for defending YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAH 291
Reposted by Sam ShieldsSam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 19/02/2026My PhD defense has officially be scheduled and is open to the public! Would be honored if you could tune in or join in person. I'm going to be talking about player-centric approaches to game balance design and proceduralization. Calendar details here: events.ucsc.edu/event/shield...events.ucsc.eduShields, S. (CM) – Procedural, Player-Centric Game Balancing – Events 0145
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 26/02/2026Urgent question: Are rhinos considered unicorns (or vice versa) I can't stress enough how urgent this is 000
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 22/02/20261. Majora's Mask 2. A Link to the Past 3. Tears of the Kingdom 000
Sam Shields @smshieldsy.bsky.social · 19/02/2026My PhD defense has officially be scheduled and is open to the public! Would be honored if you could tune in or join in person. I'm going to be talking about player-centric approaches to game balance design and proceduralization. Calendar details here: events.ucsc.edu/event/shield...events.ucsc.eduShields, S. (CM) – Procedural, Player-Centric Game Balancing – Events 0145