iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 08/08/2026

If you see this, post a magic user. #Nerdlings

Cassie, female gnome wizard by Reaper Minis, painted with blue robes and purple trousers. She has red hair, glowing yellow eyes, and is casting a spell. She's standing on grey flagstones, and her casting is creating a red/yellow circle with runes on the ground. She's carrying a staff in her right hand, and she has a large potion on her belt.

Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 14/07/2026

This seems like an odd conclusion. Clearly, trying to assess the quality of a store page is a difficult thing, but I don't think word count is a very good proxy. We all know LLMs can be wordy, if AI game store pages are longer, devs may just be slapping whatever description the model threw at them.

Screenshot from the second linked article in the post above, in the "Challenged / Disproved" common beliefs section.

The stated belief is "AI games have lazy, thrown-together store pages."

The rebuttal is "No - their store descriptions are slightly LONGER than non-AI (median 208 vs 190 words)."

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 12/07/2026

That reminds me of this thing I had (and quickly abandoned) as a teenager. Turning and tilting it to look around made me realize the advantage of a mouse is you control the direction you look in directly, whereas this controls the rate of turn. It's the derivative of the thing you actually want.

Picture of the box of the Thrustmaster Fragmaster, a controller designed for FPSes. You hold it with both hands and both slide and twist the controller to handle both movement and looking. It was very clunky.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 04/06/2026

The Cerebral Puzzle Showcase ends later today - Hexahedra will be 50% off for the next 6 and a bit hours, so grab a copy while it's going cheap! store.steampowered.com/app/1248420/... @puzzleshowcase.bsky.social #gamedev #indiegame

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 27/05/2026

Post someone bald! (I have the *perfect* army for this...) #warhammer #paintingminiatures

Front view of a metal Necron Lord, with a Staff of Light in his left hand, and pointing with a huge clawed right hand. He's painted primarily in Leadbelcher with joints in Brass Scorpion, with a glowing ribcage and the Staff of Light painted in Naggaroth Night, Xereus Purple, Alaitoc Blue, and Lothern Blue. His cloak has the same purple to blue transition. He's on a desert sand base with a spring of withered grass by his right foot.

Rear view of the same model, showing more of the cloak.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 26/05/2026

Hexahedra will be taking part in the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase on Steam, 28th May to 4th June! And it just might be discounted! store.steampowered.com/app/1248420/... @puzzleshowcase.bsky.social #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 25/04/2026

"Sir, those parkour kids were back last night." "Right, that's it. Put a landmine on the porch roof and we'll see how they like it then." #Helldivers

A screenshot from Helldivers 2, during a city mission against Automatons. A glowing red Automaton landmine is sitting on a roof overhanging the entrance to a building.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 20/04/2026

This bit. Let me aim with a mouse, plz.

Screenshot of the post to which this is a reply, with a box around the "twin-stick" part.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 18/04/2026

Thanks, Walker Drop-Off Pilot. #Helldivers

A screenshot from Helldivers 2. An exosuit (a big pilotable mech with heavy weapons) has been dropped in, but it's landed on top of the extraction beacon, which means that it's too high up to get into. The extraction beacon is very slender, so the whole thing looks rather comical.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 02/04/2026

Arrived at Enclave. Tomorrow there will be PUZZLES.

A photo of an empty LAN hall, with rows of desks. In the foreground, an extra table with an aluminium sign that reads "Exorecon Lab - Authorized Shifters Only". A small box that will turn out to be very useful later sits next to it.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 01/04/2026

Enclave 2 (@enclavelan.bsky.social) starts tomorrow, and I'll be bringing another batch of puzzles with me! Come and join the Exoreconnaisance Corps and investigate strange events beyond the safety of the Enclave's walls.

A screenshot of a virtual terminal. At the top the word "Exorecon" in ASCII art. Below this reads:
Authorized shifters only. All activity may be monitored and reported.
ShiftOS 16.3.10 "Penthesilea"
There's then a command prompt, into which the command "ls" has been typed, with the terminal responding with three directories, "log", "mail", and "transcripts".

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 14/03/2026

If you see this, post a robot!

Four Spindle Drones from Blackstone Fortress. They have roughly triangular heads, painted in a bluish-grey, and three metallic legs. Their central eye glows red and yellow.
Their bases are shards of a black material, with blue glows in some corners, and edge highlighted in pale blue. Some bases have blue crystals growing out of them.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 13/03/2026

Hopefully if you take cover in these ruins, it'll go better than it did for the poor dead Skitarius in the corner.

Warhammer 40k gaming terrain, made from tiny bricks and with sand on the floor. This is a set of ruins, with two ruined walls coming together at a corner. The remains of two wooden upper floors allow models to gain a height advantage, although the higher of the two floors has only enough floor remaining for three or four models.
On the first floor, windows allow models to see out, on the ground floor there are archways at intervals.
A dead Skitarius is on the ground floor right in the corner. In front of him is the remains of a collapsed pillar.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 27/02/2026

Does anyone else feel like this whenever they use reflection? #gamedev

Screenshot of some C# code to set up integration tests, which includes using reflection to access a private variable. A comment is highlighted, which reads "Oh, playerList is private? Parry this you filthy casual"

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 31/12/2025

The prizes are set up for the annual family Sprout Bowling session.

A long room with furniture cleared to the sides. At the far end are various sweets and jars of fudge or marshmallows on the floor, ready to be won by the nearest-bowled sprout.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 21/12/2025

What's the stupidest picture you own?

A wooden fence interrupted by a fallen tree. One section of the fence has been installed ABOVE the tree trunk, with some chicken wire filling in the gaps underneath.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 17/12/2025

Our tree is up! This year the position of angel stand-in goes to WALL-E.

Christmas tree in our living room. The tree is decorated with fairy lights and baubles, and a crocheted WALL-E is at the top of the tree.

Close-up of the top of the tree, showing crocheted WALL-E more clearly, as well as a few baubles.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 15/12/2025

Browsing the Good Old Game section of the GOG store and discovering that the original Crysis is 18 years old 😨

Screenshot from the GOG store, showing that Crysis is tagged as a "Good Old Game".

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 02/12/2025

I got home from a LAN party yesterday to find that my wife had numbered 125 tiny plastic ducks and hidden them round the house. She'd made a list and stuck it to the fridge so I could mark them off. I've found about 85 so far. She's tracking my progress so she can make a graph.

A bag of tiny, numbered plastic ducks stuck to our fridge. Most of them are yellow, a few are other colours.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 30/11/2025

No, Google, I did not "sign up to use Gemini", I accidentally pressed the middle button at the bottom of the screen longer than usual. Get this non-consensual AI nonsense off my phone.

Tiny text from the bottom of an email I received after I accidentally activated Gemini on my phone. It reads:

"This message was sent to you because you signed up to use Gemini".

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 21/11/2025

Wearing the skin of your slain enemies is a totally normal thing to do, right guys? Guys?

Five Necron Flayed Ones (the old, metal models). They're metal skeletons wearing the skin of their victims.

Going from left to right, numbers 1 and 3 are wearing white skin, and number 3 has a Skitarius head on its base.
Numbers 2 to 4 are wearing black skin.
Number 5 is wearing a Tau's blue skin.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 13/11/2025

Today in "sinister email subjects":

Screenshot of an email subject line, which reads

"Your supporters are closer than you think ❤️"

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 11/11/2025

I remember this in meme form from years ago.

A Demotivational-style meme. The image shows all the Bond actors against the backdrop of the rifled "inside the gun barrel" view from the start of the films, coloured in gold.

Underneath, the text "James Bond Time Lord"

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 09/11/2025

They mocked me for painting a (Necron proxy) Mummy holding a ball, but this was the unlikely moment when, having unexpectedly caught a bouncing ball on a 6+ roll, he succeeded in grinding forward 9 squares in the last 3 turns to score a last-minute equalizer. #BloodBowl

A Necron Overlord standing in for a Shambling Undead Mummy in a Blood Bowl Sevens game. He's standing on the touchdown line having just scored.

I've used green stuff to turn the resurrection orb into a ball, and removed the void scythe, so he looks like he's about to throw the ball. He's got one foot up on a Space Marine captain's shield.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 08/11/2025

Mistakes were made. (This was a sevens game, so it's a foul by the entire opposition team...) #BloodBowl

A photo of a game of Blood Bowl, Shambling Undead vs Skaven.

A Wight Blitzer (represented by a Necron Lychguard) is lying prone on a stone Blood Bowl pitch, having fallen over on its own turn.

The entire team of seven opposing Skaven have surrounded it for a foul.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 01/11/2025

Lychguard...er...sorry, *Wight* Blitzer for my Suspiciously Metallic Shambling Undead Blood Bowl team. "A weapon, ref? No, just a very sharp shield..."

A modified Necron Lychguard model. It has a voidblade, centred in the shot and seen from slightly above, painted blue and white, but no weapon in its other hand. It is striding forwards, using the shield to bash a theoretical opponent out of the way.

It has a desert base, and is standing on a grass Blood Bowl pitch.

The same model, photographed from the front in a light box. Its glowing ribcage can be seen.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 26/10/2025

This is where I'm posting from.

Picture of an Acorn Electron computer. It looks like a very thick, chunky, beige keyboard - all the rest of the components are inside the keyboard case. Four cable sockets can be seen on the left-hand side.

Photo credit: Bilby (Wikipedia user), Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 20/10/2025

More progress on the Suspiciously Metallic Shambling Undead team for Blood Bowl. 4 Zombie Linemen, ready to stumble slowly in the direction of the ball. #PaintingWarhammer #Nerdlings

4 modified Necron Warrior models. These are from the current 2020 kit. They've had their weapons removed, so they look as though they're shambling forward while swinging their fists. The front two are facing towards the camera, the back two are facing away. They're posed on a grass Blood Bowl pitch.

They're painted primarily with Leadbelcher, with joints and other metal highlights painted in Brass Scorpion over Warplock Bronze. The metallic parts were then washed with Nuln Oil. Some parts have been highlighted or weathered using Runefang Steel and Necron Compound. The Triarch symbols on their sternums are in Liberator Gold.

Their shoulder pads are purple, Naggaroth Night transitioning through Xereus Purple to Genestealer Purple. Their ribcages are glowing, painted in Naggaroth Night, Xereus Purple, Alaitoc Blue, Lothern Blue, and Baharroth Blue. Their eye sockets are Naggaroth Night, with the pupils in Lothern Blue. They are based using Armageddon Dunes, Agrax Earthshade, and Tyrant Skull, with some flocking to create yellowed grass.

The same 4 models, arranged in a line against a black background. The two on the edges are facing away from the camera. On the bottom edge of their shoulder pads are markings showing the one on the left is Number 2, and the one on the right is Number 4 - this allows them to be differentiated easily during games. The two in the middle are facing towards the camera.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 17/10/2025

Grr, another "please tick this box if you would like X", on a form which, it turns out, refuses to submit if the box is not ticked. Poor showing from myenergi.com

Checkbox with text highlighted in red (because I didn't tick the box and tried to submit the form).

Text reads:
In the event, you are not contacted by your chosen Installers, please tick the box if you would like us to pass your details to a nationwide installer to contact you to discuss your requirements. As above, myenergi does not guarantee to secure an installer on your behalf and is not responsible for any works carried out.

This field is required.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 12/10/2025

If you see this, quote your favourite Pokémon! (Wrong answers only)

The Puckmaren from Flight of the Navigator, being stroked by David.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 10/10/2025

A redheaded gnome sorceror in a red casting circle. Both one of the few red, and the few non-Warhammer things I've painted!

A female gnome sorceror, on a flagstone base which has a red-yellow magic circle on it. She has a staff in her right hand, and a potion and scroll case on her belt. She has her arms spread wide as she casts a spell. Her eyes are glowing yellow.

Model by Reaper Minis (https://www.reapermini.com/miniatures/bones+female/latest/77031)

The same mini, viewed from behind and to the left. The full staff can now be seen, with a metal cog on its lower end.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 08/10/2025

Bryan Cranston, best known for his role as Ranger Ericsson in the Babylon 5 episode "The Long Night" (1997)

Still from the Babylon 5 series 4 episode "The Long Night". In the foreground, Bryan Cranston playing the role of Ranger Ericsson, dressed in the standard Ranger uniform, on the bridge of a White Star ship. In the background, three religious caste Minbari wearing yellow robes.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 03/10/2025

I finally understand why timezones are so hard. #gamedev

Results of a Google search for "2025-10-01T07:00:00+01:00"

Before the traditional search results, Google shows a section called "How to solve your problem". It has interpreted the search query as an equation:

2025 - 10 + (-T * (7/0))/0 + 1/0

It then says "Simplify". Step 1 is "Division by zero is undefined". Here it shows the same equation twice more, with an arrow pointing down from the first copy to the second. The "7/0" part is highlighted in red each time. Presumably this would show an actual simplification if it wasn't complaining about division by 0.

Below this is a section that reads "Result: The expression 7/0 is undefined."

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 03/10/2025

I'm making a robotic Blood Bowl team! This is a Mummy, Obduron the Sizeable.

Front view of a modified Necron Overlord, with his void scythe removed, and a Lychguard shield instead of a resurrection orb. He's on a 32mm base to fit the Blood Bowl grid.

Side view of a modified Necron Overlord, showing the Lychguard shield which has replaced his resurrection orb. The void scythe has been removed. He's on a 32mm base to fit the Blood Bowl grid.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 30/09/2025

Rider is capabable of being a lot weirder about your use of language:

A grammar suggestion from JetBrains Rider, suggesting that "mid" should be followed by a hyphen. It gives the example of "He woke up mid-sleep and screamed".

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 19/09/2025

If you see this, QTP with a video game that transports you back to your childhood!

"Load New Commander" screen of the Acorn Electron version of the original Elite.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 15/09/2025

I'm not really sure why I slogged through the (rereleased) Hexen again, but I did. I see that one in seven players who did the same dropped it so quickly once they'd killed Korax that they didn't even bother to walk through the final portal to get the "complete the game" achievement.

Two achievements from Hexen.

The top one is "Checkmate", for completing Hexen, achieved by 5.3% of players.

The other is "Are YOU Ready to Die?", for killing Korax, the final boss of the game.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 12/09/2025

My wife freestyles all her Orks - she likes playing 40k but isn't much into building and painting, so she crochets them. Here are her Kommandos.

Five crocheted Ork Kommandos, made by my wife. They're hiding in various objects.
Back row, left to right: In a bush, a wooden barrel, and a crate.
Front row, left to right: A postbox, and a red metal barrel.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 11/09/2025

"Objective public tender decisions" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Meme in the "Goose Chasing Man in Jacket" format.
First panel: a goose asks "Who gets to set the AI's parameters?"
Second panel: the goose chases a man wearing a jacket, while shouting "WHO GETS TO SET THE AI'S PARAMETERS?"

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 10/09/2025

I found Tomb Blades to be another fiddly Necron model. Possibly I just need to get used to the idea of painting subassemblies. I've not heard "glocktopus" before, I've always thought of it as a "one-person Mexican standoff".

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 08/09/2025

Uh...this started about 10 mins ago. Although this page describes the problem as a "technical issue", it very much reads like a legal one. Especially the bit about account data not coming back. Something something GDPR, and they're blocking it until they've rewritten some systems? #biblegateway

A notice currently being served by biblegateway.com that shows that it's unavailable in the UK and EU, and which suggests that the issue is likely to continue for some time.

Content Unavailable
Bible Gateway is currently unavailable to consumers in the United Kingdom and European Union due to technical issues. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

Paid Bible Gateway Plus account users in these regions should receive a refund for their subscription no later than September 15, 2025. If you have not received a refund by this date, please reach out to Customer Service.

Frequently Asked Questions
- When will access to Bible Gateway be restored for UK and EU consumers?
- We are working on a new solution.

- I have a paid subscription to Bible Gateway Plus. Will I be reimbursed?
- Yes, users who have a paid Bible Gateway Plus account should receive a refund for their subscription no later than September 15, 2025. If you have not received a refund by this date, please reach out to Customer Service.

- Will saved content (e.g., notes, progress) be accessible?
- No, all account data and saved content will no longer be accessible. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

- What content will be available once Bible Gateway is restored?
- We are working on a new solution.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 04/09/2025

That's not a mullet. That's a Camilla.

Side-by-side comparison of Richard Dean Anderson on the cover of MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis, and a photo of Camilla, Queen Consort of the UK, showing remarkably similar hairstyles.

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Chris Knowles @tarrenam.com · 04/09/2025

Here we go! Prototype of Something New incoming. #gamedev #indiedev

Screenshot of a git command line (decorated by oh-my-posh)
First line: Tarrenam@🧐 D:/git/urui master branch, 47 staged files
Second line: git commit -m "Initial commit - empty Unity 2D project, .gitignore in place."

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