iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Stefan Gagne

Jeff VanderMeer @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social · 12h

They quoted me in this New Yorker piece about AI today. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

“Let’s say there’s a world or time line I exist in where A.I. has been subject to regulation. It is ethical. It has no footprint environmentally,” the novelist Jeff VanderMeer, a prominent critic of A.I., told me over the phone. “With those guardrails in place, would I read an A.I. book? All I can say is no. And the reason is, in part, because I want to read something coming from a particular mind.” Using A.I., he said, “feels like a betrayal of the whole point of why you’re a writer.”

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 14h

Figuring out what dance moves will please our robotic masters is not the sci-fi future I wanted

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Reposted by Stefan Gagne

Double Fine @doublefine.com · 15h

🚨 12 HOURS REMAIN 🚨 Become a backer of Amnesia Fortnight: Indie Reboot to get cool swag, play game jam prototypes, vote on your favorite project, and support our indie studio. Head to Kickstarter to join the campaign, but act fast, it ends TODAY! kck.st/4gu8zAF

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 30/09/2026

Batomon Showdown... how dare you. Ohhh, how dare you. You evil sons of bitches. How dare. It's so good. It's so FUN. I barely understand what I'm doing and I'm still loving it. You horrible, sadistic maniacs. I'm gonna lose hours to do this. It's so perfect to poke at while listening to stuff.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 29/09/2026

Me: OK, I only have a week in this game event for fallout to get the one weapon I'm actually looking for, and you only get one shot every hour. I hate grinding but I guess here we go Fallout: it's in the second bag I'm giving you, you're done now Me: Well, then! More time for writing.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 28/09/2026

I've had the song "The Politics of Dancing" stuck in my head all day but it sounds more like "The Politics of Danzig" and now I'm wondering what Glenn Danzig's politics are (one wikipedia check later) yeah okay meh right-leaning centrist doofus nevermind

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 28/09/2026

Finally getting the nerve back up to resume playing control. Watch the YouTube play through because I was stuck in an endless tunnel loop, turns out I missed a giant sign with an arrow on it that essentially says "this way, dumbass." no clue how I didn't spot it.

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Reposted by Stefan Gagne

Fiction Factory Games @fictionfactorygames.com · 28/09/2026

Meet Detective Inque Wells, your literature teacher. Two fists of cold justice, half a bottle of bathtub moonshine, and They/Them pronouns. Respect 'em or yours become Was/Were. The Edutainment Vortex Diner releases Dec 7 for free on PC. store.steampowered.com/app/4993020/...

Picture of an individual in a trenchcoat and hat, sitting in a diner decorated like a film noir detective's office. Text reads: My name, at least as I'd like to remember it, was Detective Inque Wells. An oozing, stained name for an oozing, stained soul.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 28/09/2026

I got that. There's one last book in the DiscWorld series that I haven't read yet and I don't think I ever will because I don't wanna admit that Terry is gone.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 28/09/2026

Have you watched any of the 2017 version of DuckTales? It's surprisingly good. Sharp writing, some terrific gags, interesting takes on the characters.

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Reposted by Stefan Gagne

Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

People aren’t faking their disabilities, they’re faking being well. We know society hates us. We know we will be judged for using assistive devices. Many of us take years to get the courage to lean in to accommodations. Stop judging. Help us build a more inclusive world.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 27/09/2026

It's weird because it's definitely tech that would be much more appealing to children, their toys making noises as they move around. But it doesn't do actual pre-recorded audio, and sounds nothing like the actual movies. So what's the point? It's just expensive without providing the fantasy.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 27/09/2026

The X-Wing is a little underwhelming, definitely meant to be played with by kids rather than put on display, and the airport is a little basic. Those would be the first to go since I have a limited amount of display space in my apartment. But for now, happy with them.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 27/09/2026

Here's my current complete Lego collection. Started building and curating this year, wrapping up with a lot of really lovely sets on display. Until they announce something that I feel would fit in with all this (or I pay hoarder prices for retired sets) it's pretty much good to go.

Lego sets for Shopping Street, Central Station, airport, the bridge of the enterprise, a Nintendo entertainment system, a Polaroid camera, a normal shutter camera, a retro phone, the DeLorean for back to the future, a hot rod, a french fry truck, and a burger truck.

Lego sets for the smart play Star Wars X wing, Nintendo game boy, an arcade machine modified to look like a neo Geo, and figurines that look like my characters Naomi and Penny.

Lego arcade cabinets for donkey Kong and Pac-Man.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 27/09/2026

After ten hours of noodling around and wasting time I finally sit down to write and... now I need to go to sleep. I feel like I'm always running out of time, but rarely utilize what I have available to me. What happens when I'm too old and tired to write? Piles of regret over procrastinated hours?

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 26/09/2026

What can I say? Your team creates really amazing game ideas! Can't narrow it down to one. Each has their own strengths in different contexts.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 26/09/2026

I put my vote in, although I wish I could've put one in for "this should kick ass after one month of development for DFAL" vs "if you took a year or so on this it could really shine as a full game"

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 26/09/2026

Now that the Amnesia Fortnight demos are out and I've played them, I can back up what I said here. Plot Armor has the most long-term value, Uprise is the best candidate for a quick one month turnaround. (Although I was having some issues timing the attacks in that game, it is SO pretty and cozy.)

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Reposted by Stefan Gagne

Joshua Saxon @saxonaudio.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

It’s not that you’re using em-dashes, it’s not that you’re using negation, it’s not that you’re using anything in a patterned way. It’s that you’re using software built on the theft of others’ copyrighted works. It is not, nor will it ever be a creative process. This matters.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 26/09/2026

Yeah, it's really not needed for Wolverine since that's basically a corridor shooter. Well, corridor stabber starring Edward Murderknuckles. But this game, the camera's pulled far back, no landmarks, everything is perpetual chaos or sameness. Maybe it improves later but this early game is rough.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 26/09/2026

I might actually have gained a little sympathy for insomniac with their blue fart gas trails in Wolverine. Every hallway, tunnel, street, alley, everything looks the same with no landmarks and no compass direction beyond a vague "that way" and even that doesn't appear all the time.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 26/09/2026

I really wanna follow the story but it's genuinely a difficult experience. Even with immortality turned on, I'm button bashing and hoping I hit something, then running around aimlessly for an hour. I had trouble navigating in the first game too but not this badly.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 26/09/2026

I am really struggling with Control Resonant. I can't finish a quest because I'm getting lost in these tunnels and can't figure out where I'm supposed to go next, I'm getting motion sickness from the camera swinging around so much, and I can't track 96 glowing things on a pitch black screen at once.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 25/09/2026

"Fucklower" is certainly a word but I'm not quite sure what it means

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Reposted by Stefan Gagne

SEGA SATURN, SHIRO! @segasaturnshiro.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Is there any harm in using AI to work on — or entirely create — projects for the Sega Saturn and elsewhere in the retro gaming scene? Yes, PandaMonium says in this opinion column, equating such work to digital asbestos: www.segasaturnshiro.com/2026/09/24/c... #sega #saturn #segasaturn #retrogaming

segasaturnshiro.com

Column: All A.I. Projects Are Digital Asbestos

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of all SHIRO! Media Group contributors. The cost of modern day video game consoles and personal computers have skyrocketed…

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 24/09/2026

Control Resonant: Hey uh buddy do you need the popup tutorial on what button to push to dodge again Me: No, I just have the reflexes of a 51 year old disabled guy Control Resonant: Y'want assist mode on? It's cool, we won't take away cheevos Me: Yep thanks I appreciate you not judging me

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 24/09/2026

I don't think so. Not unless there's some exclusive developer event happening, which is what Steam keeps pushing me to do in every sale. trying to normalize it, push it, make it a thing people expect. Having a direct hotline to the kinds of people that post on Steam forums feels like self harm

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 24/09/2026

As a game developer I should probably be more plugged in. I'd get better placement in promotional events if I streamed on Steam, for instance. But fuck that noise, y'know? I'm content to buy games and play games and release games and that's it. That's all I need.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 24/09/2026

Steam desperately wants to replace Discord and even Twitch, offering chat, forums, streaming, everything. But like... why? The forums are toxic unmoderated rivers of culture warrior sludge, and curators seem to only exist to scam me for game keys. Clean your house if you want me to live there.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 24/09/2026

NINJAAAAAAA! I've learned to appreciate his craft thanks to Forgotten_VCR's streams. Dude knew how to stare menacingly.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 24/09/2026

That leaves Uprising, the kite-flying racing / sonic style game. Which after two weeks is already so beautiful and so exciting and fascinating, and one month would definitely be enough time to make it delightful. So as much as I CRAVE Plot Armor I think Uprising's what DoubleFine needs short term.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 24/09/2026

I was pulling HARD for Plot Armor because "Visual novel where your decisions affect the meta-narrative of the RPG" is amazing. But one month of extra time isn't going to be enough to do the idea justice; it's too big. I'd love to see it developed as a full game. Maybe 2-D instead of 3-D, too.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 24/09/2026

Amnesia Fortnight demos! Bearing in mind this is MY take, and not a judgment? Bard Crawl makes me motion sick and is clearly for wacky friendslop-loving pals, which I lack, so sadly no. Architactics is really fascinating but RTS and city management are not really my genres. The last two, though...

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 24/09/2026

They were Future Crew! Seriously! Kinda explains why they've always had a flair for visual technical wizardly and abstract artistic mayhem. I remember as a kid thinking scene coders would make great game devs. Only two groups tried, and only FC endured.

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Reposted by Stefan Gagne

Ryan North @ryannorth.ca · 23/09/2026

Pompeii is a UNESCO world heritage site not because it was remarkable in its prime, but because it survived to our era untouched: one moment, preserved for all time. But future generations won't know what OUR world was like unless we do the same. This is why we MUST bury Toronto with a volcano

Picture of the streets of Pompeii, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pompei_-_panoramio_(26).jpg. Taken by Tanya Dedyukhina, used under CC

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 23/09/2026

It doesn't unlock until tomorrow. I mean I assume I'm going to like it but hey.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 23/09/2026

I do get a bunch of indie games a year, admittedly -- but they're smaller asks, and I also wait for sales since I'm kinda drowning in things I wanna do already (including working on my own games).

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 23/09/2026

That was 2019, so outside the three-year window I mentioned! I bought that, too. Damn good game but I played before they added difficulty / accessibility options so it was really hard for me to get through.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 23/09/2026

Honestly though, I wasn't going to buy this one until I saw the very wide array of difficulty options and accessibility controls. I am terrible at spectacle fighters. My heart sank when I saw that was the direction they were going. But they're not leaving folks who just want a story behind.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 23/09/2026

I've bought exactly three full-price AAA games in the last three years. Two are WWE (not really proud of that) but the third is Control Resonant. I've been following Remedy since they were Future Crew in the 90s. I don't know who keeps giving them money to make gonzo games but I reap the reward.

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Reposted by Stefan Gagne

✪ Gray Skies Ahead ✪ @jongraywb.blacksky.app · 23/09/2026

Honestly, this kinda sounds like what this whole September has felt like.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 23/09/2026

Is it weird that I feel like I need to re-train myself to watch TV and movies? Like, just WATCH. Not get distracted every few minutes and go poke an app, not leave it on in the background while I work, just focus and enjoy the story and cinematography and stuff. I feel like I'm very scatterbrained.

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Stefan Gagne @stefangagne.com · 22/09/2026

Do you remember The twenty first night of DAMMIT i'm three minutes too late oh well try again next year

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Reposted by Stefan Gagne

Fiction Factory Games @fictionfactorygames.com · 21/09/2026

The Great Zephyr is here to teach you math and perform magical wonders! Get ready to be dazzled by algorithms, AI, and cryptocurrency. ...she DOES specialize in trickery, but who's the real mark? The Edutainment Vortex Diner debuts Dec 7th for free on PC. store.steampowered.com/app/4993020/...

Screenshot of Zephyr, a woman wearing a stage magician's costume complete with top hat. Her version of the diner looks like a casino. Dialogue reads: I'm here to dazzle you with my mathemagic tricks... and give you a peek behind the curtain so you can learn them, too!

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