iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

It's not even a field you can make money in! What's the point of boosting these things with fkn paid bots??? Go try Mario in the Multiverse, Shanghai.EXE (many trigger warnings on that one though), or Super Mariomon. Mashups in many ways better than the OGs because THEY WERE DESIGNED.

000

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I've lived through a decade of mockery towards mods and modders, and now that they've finally reached some level of respect, hundreds of human efforts are gonna get pushed back due to fan translations and mashups getting hijacked by AI bros. People doing good work for free are losing motivation.

100

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I spent all of last year playing fangames so seeing this new AI mod trend is fucking maddening. Can't even imagine how it feels for those who spent years working on a good mashup. Like, actually designing them to feel good and not just overlaying one on top of the other with AI.

110

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Oh, and the Castlevania demo was fantastic by the way, go try it, progress carries over. Love the grapple hook physics.

010

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Big month for gaming. Huge. Perhaps the biggest of the year? Maybe even the decade? Heh. That's right. Toy Story: Retro Roundup is coming out this month. AND Toy Story 3 Remaster. Holy shit. And if you think I'm joking, wake up. That collection has BUG'S LIFE on it. BUG'S LIFE! FOR THE PS1.

121

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

C•ko•fn•ta•C I was always honest about my enthusiasm, so it's gotta go both ways. I was not a fan of this one 😔 It felt like one character took on so many negative traits of what she's meant to represent (and extra random ones!) that I couldn't buy into it during her POV scenes. Art's amazing tho!

madocactus.itch.io

C•ko•fn•ta•C by Mado

misery for the modern millenial maiden (21+)

000

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

games are like gambling because I want to play them

110

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Back in 2021, I watched AEW Double or Nothing on a whim. It's no exaggeration to say that the main event—Pac vs Kenny Omega vs Orange Cassidy for the World Title—is one of the main reasons I found my passion for wrestling. Rest in peace to Benjamin "Pac" Satterley, one of my all-time favorites.

040

Reposted by Werty800

GameObserver @gameobserver.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Apropos of nothing, here is a list of great indie games that, while not meeting the scope of AAA titles, might scratch the itch if you were to want to play an XBOX game and were, for whatever reason, wanting to avoid doing that. gameobserver.com/10-indie-alt...

gameobserver.com

10 Indie Alternatives To Your Favorite XBOX Games | GameObserver

While you wait for those AAA games (that may never come), here's a few alternatives from the indie scene!

143

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I get it. I had that reaction too back when the first big announcement came. Embarrassingly. It's crazy that it's happening twice though. I guess the people up top will get away with it.

000

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Normally, when you announce layoffs, you just have to eat the bad vibes. That's the reality of it. But Xbox has been carefully trickling these announcements, and successfully appealing to certain communities with one good thing among the thousands of tragedies. And it's working. Eugh.

110

Reposted by Werty800

GameObserver @gameobserver.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

We do not recommend "tactical timeline" RPG, Qliphah in Providence's Shadow, by Arc System Works and UnitePlus. Read our full review here: gameobserver.com/qliphah-in-p...

021

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Schrodinger's Call is one of the this year's highest-rated games that barely anyone talks about. Just finished it. If you like any popular mystery visual novel games, you should absolutely try it. Haven't cried this hard in a long while.

031

Reposted by Werty800

Fabraz - Demon Tides & Bubsy 4D @fabraz.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Ever heard of Archipelago Randomizers? It randomizes items across different games and you (and your friends) need to try sending items to each other from one game to another. It's wild! And Demon Tides has an Archipelago mod I'll link below.

416127

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Read the fkn manual JOE!!!!!!!!!

020

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I mean if the combat sucks that's a whole other thing lmao but I feel like that's not where the conversation is? Could be tangential, doom-scrolling evidence. But this was really nice to write, if only for myself!

010

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

From the outside, to me that's just a type of game. Slightly adjusted. And It's okay it's doing all those things. Even though they cost millions of dollars, I cannot ascribe universal importance to it just by the virtue of that if I'm to continue believing in a better future for the medium.

110

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

And I think the sort of talk about "the direction of future games" is only further giving power to a publisher like Sony. One developer's one failure to uphold the industry's universal direction of "how to trick players" further pushes us into the idea of universality of AAA game design to all games

110

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

So I personally find the distinction between the overt and the more "camouflaged" direction to be practically meaningless, and the discussion around design that more effectively "tricks" you into learning or following a path to be sort of worthless in my journey through the medium at this point.

111

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Even though most of my favorites are of the sort that just plop you into a world and let you carve at it without hints, I don't feel insulted or upset when a game does the opposite either anymore. I don't feel the need for the game to cater to my level of experience. I don't see that as evolution.

110

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I think, quite simply, your perception of these things is just entirely shaped by what you played recently. Or how much you've played overall. The "fart trail" footage shared around doesn't bother me at all, and I think that's because I exclusively play indies nowadays. I don't play "better AAA."

110

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Earlier this year, there were several videos and outlets criticizing Mina the Hollower for how ineffectively it communicated an entrance into one of the game's most important areas. I never spared it a thought because I thankfully understood it immediately. The Wolverine stuff is an inverse of that.

120

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Arjun Street Fighter 6 is so fucking cool. Thank you for your time.

010

Reposted by Werty800

Axel Cushing @ravingarmy.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Threw up some more flash fic on my blog. It's funny, but I've kinda moved away from the r/humansarespaceorcs community as a writer. The stories are still worth saving, though. axelswritinglab.blogspot.com

axelswritinglab.blogspot.com

The Writing Lab of Axel Cushing

Axel Cushing's blog of short stories, novels, screenplays, and other narrative projects.

011

Reposted by Werty800

Retro Observer @retroobservercom.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Welcome to RetroObserver! Our site is entirely constructed by humans and without the influence of AI. Independent writers share their unique analysis on their own schedules. Like the well-aged retro games and animation we cover, good writing takes time. If that sounds good, give us a follow!

183

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

It's confusing, but ends up a delightful mystery. The closure of the studio is an unbelievable loss of talent. Released at the right time, this is a formative story for the next decade, and a game that gets an even better sequel mechanically. Shame on Kwalee forever for allowing this to happen.

140

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Luna Abyss finished. I feel like you don't really see enough in-depth story and lore exploration about it online. It's about human form, jealousy and male entitlement to the female form, freedom of form, gods taking form. Understanding the extent of human meddling in the universe's plan. So fun.

152

Reposted by Werty800

Double Fine @doublefine.com · 02/09/2026

WE DID IT! 🎉🎉🥳 Fully funded in just over 72 hours! Your support means so much to us, thank you to everyone who got us over the finish line 🥹🧡 But we're not done yet! There's an entire game jam to be had, and some amazing new stretch goals coming to the campaign. Stay tuned!

1044381

Reposted by Werty800

Nirav @gandheezy.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Hello! I am pleased to announce that in addition to GameObserver and FilmObserver, ObserverCrew has launched a third sister site called Retro Observer! This site's focus will be more niche topics concerning retro gaming, animation, anime, and more. Come by! retroobserver.com/shin-megami-...

retroobserver.com

Shin Megami Tensei If... – A Deep Dive Into Persona’s Bizarre, Untranslated Ancestor

Before jumping into Persona 6, let's revisit a Super Famicom classic where the Atlus JRPG series first planted its roots

032

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I have also been playing some games from studios that have been shut down. Eh. Mio: Memories in Orbit deserves a sequel. Really cool exploration. Luna Abyss starts slow, but the second mission is already some of the coolest sci-fi FPSing you'll get. Also scratches the megastructure itch so good.

010

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Long time no thoughts. After finishing Xenogears my brain got fried from frustration so I'm just playing catchup on 2026 releases mostly. Sovereign Tower is fantastic. Between this and Esoteric Ebb, it's a big year for the silliest of knights.

110

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This but opposite. Keep the battle themes, remove the boring ambient. There's like three companies that do fun ambient exploration stuff and then combat music fkn pwns.

020

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

My Captain's Unbinding This one I picked off a recommendation I've seen on here. Oh god did this hurt. The inspiration that comes from niche art, and the community you find through it, fizzling out in the face of life and the fear of change. Terrifying, amazing video game.

ruemilley.itch.io

my captain's unbinding by ruemilley

THE SEME IN MY YAOI SHIP CAME TO LIFE AS A HOT WOMAN WHO LIVES IN MY BEDROOM?

110

Reposted by Werty800

GameObserver @gameobserver.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Double Fine opens up their annual game jam to backers for the first time since 2017 in order to raise funds for the developer's independent future gameobserver.com/double-fines...

gameobserver.com

Double Fine's First Post-Xbox Project Is A Game Jam Kickstarter Campaign | GameObserver

Double Fine is opening up their annual game jam to the public once again to raise funds for the studio's post-Xbox future

011

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I just saw a One Piece X Spongebob Happy Meal ad and it gave me existential dread, because I always had assumed there will be a time where all the collaboration slop will just run out of IPs, but now I realized they can just recycle them by collabing stuff inside a collab. A trillab? Good god.

010

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I've finished Xenogears. If I can survive Xenogears I can survive anything in life. Believe in yourself!!!!!!!!!!

010

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

All the best to Warren Spector on his game-making retirement. Brilliant leader for some of my all-time favorite art. Thanks for everything.

020

Reposted by Werty800

Stellbound: Stellraiser II @antlervel.vet · 13/08/2026

Hey everybody. I’ve seen the statement by Matt Karch, the CEO of Saber Entertainment, and all of the truly horrendous things he said about me. I think it should be obvious to anyone who reads that statement that he’s lashing out because he did not want people to know there was AI use in the game.

69101531641

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The one thing no tutorial, no video, or anything else will ever teach you about playing video games is that playing video games incorrectly is actually playing games correctly. If you don't do dumb shit only you would do to test things in games, you are depriving yourself of your own stories.

010

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES

010

Werty800 @werty800.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Yesterday I played Titanic II: Orchestra for Dying at Sea (2022). Free on Steam. Somehow. Very cool. You really FELT like you were dying at sea.

A slanted shot of the lovers from Majora's Mask in an embrace next to a moon. A regular moon, not the Majora's Mask one.

A female figure staring at the cruise from Super Mario Sunshine

A twitch chat message on a wall, detailing how a fisherman abandoned commercial fishing due to falling in love with the fish he was killing and a newfound love of nature

000