iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

If I ever get infected I 100000% wanna be one of these crawlin, worm-suckin big boys

Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Finally watches 28 Years Later. Had held off because it was so divisive, but I ended up enjoying it a lot -- especially because it's such a fever dream that takes some wild risks. I get why some people bounced off, though. Really excited to watch Bone Temple next.

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

The vibes in Arc Raiders' solo queue are so chill. I haven't felt *this* enchanted by a multiplayer game since Classic WoW. Met a buddy and looted, then at extraction met two other players, exchanged pleasantries, and then caught the elevator down together. Yes, I was terrified the whole time.

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

One last plug for @shipbreakergame.bsky.social before I sleep for a thousand years. I'm *very* excited about the LYNX Pioneer Program, a new community initiative to get our players closer to development of the next Hardspace games. Learn about it here: blackbirdinteractive.com/lynxpioneerp...

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Got really worried when this random person messaged me on Chess dot com, only for it to turn into the most wonderful interaction. I'm stunned (and humbled) that someone remembered my byline from @pcgamer.com all these years later 🥹

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Very good fix in today's Stellaris patch notes:

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Pretty sweet to go see a band you've never even heard before, they end up being one of the best live shows you've ever seen, and walk out being like yah okay I guess this is my new favorite artist. (They're called Leprous and you should listen to them)

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Only played an hour of Path of Exile 2 but, damn, the combat feels *so* good. I love how difficult and intentional it is. Feels almost subversive to PoE1 in all the right ways. Absolutely wild to me that people would complain that it's not just more PoE1... Like, dude, that exists already...

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

In primordial tunnels gnashed by stone teeth, I find it. An artifact. Studying the black tubes of its frame, I become confident of its purpose: It is a metal folding chair. --- Peak moment in Caves of Qud tonight.

Caves of Qud screenshot showing the textual description of a metal folding chair, which I found while exploring an underground ruin.

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Caves of Qud is my goty - and it's not even close. Absolutely astonishing open-world CRPG and old-skool roguelike. Don't be intimidated by it. It's not that hard and there's plenty of good guides. And the controller support is sublime!

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Weekend project is painting the kids' rooms -- really proud of how this turned out... ...Even if I've spent the whole time fantasizing about getting it done so I could play Stalker 2 🙃

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Actually, as good as that Oblivion screenshot is, the one that totally enchanted me was this pre-release forest. I stared at this thing for hours because I just couldn't comprehend graphics that realistic — the density of the forest, the lighting, the texture of the bark.

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Steven Messner @stevenmessner.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

This is driving me mad. This is definitely the same location but the screenshot I remember had only one NPC and he was looking off in the distance. Screenshots like these were my Roman Empire as a teenager. Right up there with this Oblivion screenshot that STILL lives rent-free in my head.