iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

About 5 hours into Control Resonant and going to put it aside for a while and go back to Valheim. Love the Remedy world building but the game isn't really clicking for me.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

In the middle of a project where most of the parts are coming from my existing supply which feels great but also... do I restock?

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

@adashtra.bsky.social Catching up on @insertcredit.com and heard you mention Summit Mall. 35+ years ago the @frankcifaldi.bsky.social corridors used to be by the Jewel Mart which is apparently now a Dillards near the Apple Store. Another one near what was the Woolworths but is now a food court?

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Picked up this rolling work cart at the Tippett sale and that holder on the left was blocking me from using it the way I wanted to. Realized I was being too precious and I should adjust it so that it fit my workflow. Relocated it to the back and instantly better. Love the patina on this thing.

A wooden work surface with 8 high walls on 3 sides and two areas with circular cutouts to hold paint cups. 4 on the left that intrudes on the work surface and 3 sticking out the back. There are also 3 boxes bolted to the right side. The whole thing is mounted on the base of a high adjustable stool on casters. On the floor you can see a Tippett Studios apple box and a Fire Escape arcade game behind it.

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Reposted by Steve Lin

Video Game History Foundation @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Starting today, we're piloting Japanese magazines in our digital archive! We've spent the last few months upgrading our library infrastructure to support Japanese-language material, starting with the magazine Neo Geo Freak. Read the full blog post for more info: gamehistory.org/5k-magazines/

A two-page spread from Neo Geo Freak featuring Nakoruru from the game Samurai Shodown. All text is accurately highlighted on the page, including vertical writing being mapped vertically.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

As much as arcade hardware is meant to be beat to crap because it's in a public environment sometimes boards can be very temperamental. PCB: "I'm dead and there is no hope." Me: <Pressing on some chips and giving it +0.1 more voltage> PCB: "We good, fam! Who wants to play some Sunset Riders!?"

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Exciting @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social update tomorrow on an ongoing project

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Presumably followed up by the alternate 'Travis Old Yeller' repaint of the same toy

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Leave it to Chris to find deals in Akiba of all places hours before his flight home and in the midst of a typhoon.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Just listened to Sherry on the @404media.co podcast and excited to read her book. Recalling reading Bowling Alone 26 years ago and already worrying about fewer opportunities for engaging with other humans in person and all the unpredictability and growth that comes from those interactions.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

He's from Chicago, right? Is this a Malörb?

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Captain's personal log: A Star Wars-inspired electronica band named the MIDI-Chlorianas

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Seeing this trailcam pic when you're in the middle of playing Valheim...

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Got on the list for the Steam Frame recognizing I fall into the weird gap that it fills. Index lighthouses and umbilical were too cumbersome for the living room and on principle we don't have any Meta accounts so Quests are out. I'm looking forward to it!

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Trying out Valheim as I wait for Control/Silent Hill. Having fun so far and not nearly as punishing as some of the other survival games I've played. Famous last words so we'll see what I think given more time.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I must acquire Coronation Starscream Plush

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

$1 well spent at the flea market

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

4'33" and associated works are fascinating to me. Layman understanding but Cage's target venue and expected audience decorum was part of the piece. I'm curious how he would react once people were in on it. e.g. People eating beans prior and turning it into the Blazing Saddles campfire scene.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Without any additional context today was a good day.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

On one hand this is an *incredible* deal on the other hand I don't like that something this great is less than $5 because a) why undervalue and b) every other ~$5 game had Atari 50 as its competition

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

3D printing some necromancer figurines and because they are so organic it tripped the printer's spaghetti detection a few times. I'll take that tradeoff for prints that don't fail.

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Reposted by Steve Lin

Michael Pavone @retrodev.com · 12/09/2026

I promised a new BlastEm release on September 11th... and it's still September 11th here in PST... by 16 minutes anyway. Presenting BlastEm 1.0.0 - supporting most of Sega's 16 and 8-bit hardware. It includes some new features and debugging improvements too www.retrodev.com/blastem/anno...

retrodev.com

BlastEm 1.0.0 Release Announcement

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Bird walk and other social obligations so not attending the last Electronics Flea of the season tomorrow morning. Happy hunting to those who go and post pics of stuff you got and/or saw!

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

My reaction to this picture was wondering if anyone ever dressed as a Snork for Halloween and if so do you have a picture? (There's one Ben Cooper Allstar on eBay for $100 since I know some people following me would search for that asap)

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

The design and build video for this should be playing next to it or something. Incredible work and now I have even more VCFMW FOMO

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Yes there are a lot of toys on this $14,000 machine but I was also informed that there are three licencing agreements: Bethesda for the game, Amazon for the footage, and Warner for the music. BOM is higher than average but curious on how the math works out.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Never forget that 11 years ago a shocking number of people involved in the planning, practice, and execution thought this was an appropriate cheer routine

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

TIL Ridley Scott was at the E3 2010 XBOX Kinect launch event. IYKYK

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Ah yes this is exactly how a Donkey Kong board should run

A small Panasonic monitor showing a screen filled with a jumble of square tiles each with a different pattern and no discernable continuity.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Borrowing a pinball machine from a friend and he forgot the key. Fortunately (?) arcade locks are shockingly easy to pick. I should just keep a paper clip on my key ring.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Realizing I restored this just in time! Trek memory: My dad took a wee little me to see Star Trek: The Motion Picture in the theater. The transporter accident caused a bit of trauma but I enjoyed the movie enough to where I had some of the toys. That started a lifelong Trek fandom. Thanks, dad!

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

My Le Creuset dutch oven was one of my pandemic kitchen saviors. Imma have to pick up the Klingon mini and the shuttlecraft casserole dish, right? "Today is a good day to shallow fry!"

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The South Bend Electronic U.S.S. Enterprise toy from my childhood was in rough shape. Yellowed and stickers barely there so I had to give her some love. Gentle cleaning and printed new water slide decals but kept the yellow patina. Ready for her next mission!

A South Bend Electronic USS Enterprise taken apart on top of a cutting mat. In the center is the saucer section upside down with NCC-1701 and ENTERPRISE visible. There are also these goofy triangular stickers at the corners that point to 4 additional port stickers. There's a bowl of water in the upper right of the table and the backs of water slide decals in a pile to the left. On the right is the main hull, nacelle pylons, and warp nacelles with the angular front from The Motion Picture model. A little hard to see in the picture but there is extensive yellowing at the seams and along some of the molded indentations.

The South Bend USS Enterprise put together and sitting on a red stand. It's on a platform next to Tomy's 1:350 scale die cast Enterprise. The Tomy model is 32.5 inches long and the South Bend model is approximately 20 inches. It's much lighter and far less accurate with incorrect proportions and additional slots so that the pylons and nacelles can be reconfigured. That and the aforementioned creative art choices. There's a small knob on the back of the saucer section and the center top is a small red dome that covers up an LED light.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

What was up with our collective fascination with barbed wire in the 90s?

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Saw more AI slop from food vendors at the flea market and signs at some booths. Do they not perceive how awful they look? It seems super obvious to me but maybe it's like those ringtones that only the youts can hear? Anyway, stop it. Guaranteed I won't engage if I see you using it.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Flea market purchases: Super Mario's Great Adventure with the box. Basically a Tomy "Run Yourself Ragged" but with a Mario theme. Halloween Horrors LP featuring an introduction from Peter Cullen RIP. Deep Space 9 LCD watches!

A big yellow box with Super Mario's Great Adventure written in Japanese at the top. There's a picture of Mario throwing a fireball at Bowser while two Toads run away on the left and Princess Toadstool behind Bowser on the right as he stands atop a photograph of the toy itself which is a complicated maze with different levels and obstacles that are controlled by levers on the front and right of the toy. White text across the front reads "Quickly clear seven consecutive challenging obstacles! Great takes on a grand aventure." A Koopa is lunging towards Mario at the bottom while a Hammer Brother on the far right has his arm back ready to throw. On the table in the back and foreground you can see the Halloween Horrors LP, DS9 watches, some dinosaur stickers, and a succulent.

Picture of the Super Mario's Grand Adventure taken out of the box. It's mostly Mario yellow with a lot of stickers showing the environments and the order in which you complete the obstacles. The first is a jump from one level to the next activated by a button, the second is a high wire that is controlled by a crank and attaches via magnet to the top of the character's head (in this case Luigi). The third are four holes heading down the right side, fifth are two logs that spin and propel the character forward. Sixth is a chair to swing the player counterclockwise into the seventh which is a large screw that propels the character upward to a hair that swings the player to the finish.

The back of the Halloween Horrors LP. The Sounds of Halloween in dripping letters is at the top and there's a witch, bats, and a black cat visible. Side One is STORY: HALLOWEEN HORROR and Side Two THE SOUNDS OF HALLOWEEN and other useful effects. Introduction: Peter Cullen. 1. Screams - Falling Scream - Cackle - Witches Laughter - Howling - Ghost - Groans - Mob Scene. 2. Creaking Door Opening and Closing - Shutters Banging - Creaking Iron Gate - Breaking Window - Chains - Bubbling - Earthquake. 3. Pipe Organ - Violin - Church Bells - Chimes - Gong - Foghorn - Ship Creaking - Storm At Sea. 4. Thunder and Lightning - Rain - Wind - Fire - Dripping Water. 5. Bats - Cats - Owls - Crickets - Baying Dogs - Snarling Dogs - Snake Hiss - Panther Howl - Lions' Roar - Monsters Breathing - Monsters Roar. 6. Horse And Wagon - Train - Automobile - Auto Crash - Police Siren - Helicopter Taking Off and Landing - Explosion - Gun Shots - Machine Gun - Swords Clashing. 7. Flying Saucers - Giant Space Ship - Laser Ray Gun - Galaxy Sounds - Space Station Computer Interstellar Communication. With these sound effects, you can make your own Halloween Party. For best results, listen to this album in a dark room.

Two Star Trek Deep Space 9 LCD watches in blister packs. The first has a model of Starbase DS9 suspended in water as you look down at the top of the station. It's kind of absurd because the pylons of the station can float and get in the way of the tiny LCD screen underneath that shows the time. Poor Man's MB&F watch. The second is much more straightforward with a picture of DS9 at an angle and a 'futuristic' alternating color rivet pattern along the bezel. The first watch has "Star Trek Deep Space Nine" on the strap while the other has that on the top part of the strap and "DS9" at the bottom end.

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Oh no I think I have a new project...

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I did not realize Natalie Portman's partner was named by Hideo Kojima

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

If you've been waiting for one of these go go go

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Going to revamp the home network this weekend which means a lot of downtime and then a "Hold onto your butts" moment when I turn it back on. What am I not thinking about and/or should integrate while things are offline?

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

A bunch of Fallout fans are like "A new pinball machine is *how much*!?". Also all the LEs are already sold out. youtu.be/fZzST8M0sTY?...

youtu.be

Fallout by Stern Pinball Game Features

YouTube video by Stern Pinball

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Listening to Dorothy Ashby's Hip Harp and just in awe of people who have musical talent of which I have none of open.spotify.com/album/5sBtbf...

open.spotify.com

Hip Harp - Album by Dorothy Ashby | Spotify

Dorothy Ashby · album · 2018 · 7 songs

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Anyone have a lead on a Neptune PCB kit? Just found my potential donor boards but can't seem to find a semi-populated PCB for sale anymore

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The candidate this person is talking about is dead. WTF is happening?

A screenshot from a news article about a board of supervisors candidate who died whole campaigning by falling in a driveway. The candidate is dead and this is still their statement. THEIR CANDIDATE IS NOT ALIVE! "“The campaign is absolutely still going. We know that this was Bruce's mission to get elected and we're going to complete the mission. We're going to get him elected in November,” Carrie Biggs-Adams, a volunteer with the campaign, said. “He's still the right person for the job. He won't be able to serve, but he's absolutely the right one to win in November.”

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

$200 for this and a copy of F1 Circus is how I began my PC Engine import experience.

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Reposted by Steve Lin

Kevin Bunch (ubersaurus) @atariarchive.org · 31/08/2026

Back in May, I helped dump seven prototype game cartridges that represent some of the earliest steps toward home video games as we know them today. I've published my findings on a new Archive Annex video: meet the FRED III. youtu.be/180erQryZFw

youtu.be

FRED III: RCA's Original Prototype Game Console - Archive Annex 6

YouTube video by Atari Archive

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I'd often look for the cheapest possible games/systems I could find. Some of these prices were wild even back then but imagine buying a Wii for 63 cents or Gran Turismo for 12 cents now.

A copy of Gran Turismo for the Playstation 1 with a 20 yen pricetag

A Super Formation Soccer cart for Super Famicom priced at 30 yen

A stack of loose Wii consoles priced at 100 yen each with a warning that many have parental controls enabled so you have to figure out how to disable. No returns. Loose Super Famicom consoles priced at 800 yen

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Steve Lin @stevelin.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I can't think of a time, other than COVID, where the PC hardware I purchased is worth considerably more many months/years later.

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