iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 04/09/2026

This was pretty fun, and it got me: a farm kid from central Wisconsin, and it still shows. mydialect.us/quiz-standar...

Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 01/09/2026

My September #promosky I'm Will, I'm a gamer that teaches about/researches media and video games! Follow if you want to hear about: -my takes on games -TTRPG GMing -teaching, video game research, and academia -anime convention management -Japan adventures -Random life stuff ❤️&🔁 appreciated!

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 01/09/2026

Post something random or you’ll have an awful September

Cat under covers, with text:

I was not built for this
(Getting out of bed)

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 15/08/2026

And with that, as of today I've visited all three Eorzea cafes in Japan!

Me with a moogle at Eorzea cafe Akihabara

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 15/08/2026

Machinedramon (he TOTALLY counts)

Machinedramon, as seen in Digimon Adventure

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 14/08/2026

Another Eorzea Cafe visit-this time the Yokohama one (themed after Limsa)

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 09/08/2026

QTP with your most anticipated upcoming game!

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 09/08/2026

Tried a new drink in Japan, and it looks and tastes like I'd expect one of the beverages in Cyberpunk 2077 to be. Still not sure if that is a good thing or bad.

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 04/08/2026

A better late than never August #promosky Will, 39, game scholar/fan. Likes: JRPGs Anime Final Fantasy XIV Mecha Games Retro/vintage games Fallout TTRPGs Digimon Lockpicking Nerf Posts about: Video game things Japan travel Academic adventures Running an anime convention (UI-CON)

Me posing with a spriggan statue at Osaka Eorzea Cafe

My bookshelf in my office at the university

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 03/08/2026

Tempura fried Cheddar Cheese Sushi. This makes my inner Wisconsin farm kid happy 😁

A plate from Kura sushi with tempura fried cheddar cheese nigiri sushi

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 01/08/2026

Taking the Shinkansen to Osaka today.

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 24/07/2026

Still coming together, but liking my decor for my new office!

Pic if my Game Shelf, featuring Chrono Trigger, The Legend of Zelda, FFVII, and Wild Arms

My current collection of academic books (I should get some more)

A Cybiko Xtreme (one of my published papers in on the Cybiko) and a XE-1AP Genesis/Mega Drive controller (one of the prototype analog controllers that predates present dual analog)

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 24/07/2026

QTP with a gif of your favourite Pokémon! (Wrong answers only.)

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 06/07/2026

Ran an amazing in-person game for my friends I've been running a Digimon/Cyberpunk campaign, complete with 3d-printed urban terrain and (with one exception) minis that I painted. It was SO FUN, and I am so lucky to have such a fun group of players!

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 28/06/2026

Here's mine! This was really fun.

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 23/06/2026

More than never, the time has come for building cyberdecks, installing emulators, and pirating software (except for indie games).

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 21/06/2026

Let’s see you absolute favourite go to #Digimon Chaosdramon!

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 12/06/2026

Experiencing this moment in FFXIV for the first time:

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 06/06/2026

Teaching college students keeps me more aware of things, and I tend to be a bit unorthodox in how I do some things lol

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 02/06/2026

June #promosky A big fan of video games, so much so I got a PhD studying them 😅 Follow if ya like: -Video games, like: ⚔️RPGs ☢️Fallout 🦿Mech Games ☄️FFXIV -Anime, especially: 🧝‍♀️Fantasy (isekai too at times) 🌌Sci-fi 👾Digimon -TTRPGs -hearing about: 📖Academic life 🍡Anime convention running 🏯Japan trips

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 24/05/2026

Obligatory media scholar one:

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 21/05/2026

Which, to be fair, they to also make (in both classic C-stick style as well as modernized analog sticks), but still.

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 21/05/2026

Kinda wanna try to play games using this cursed controller just for the lols. Like, I get that there are things to like about the GC button layout, but what's the audience for this (aligned analog plus that button layout)? Like, if you want that GC feel, wouldn't you want offset sticks?

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 18/05/2026

New class unlocked...now where is my Job Stone? 😆 #PhD #graduation

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 17/05/2026

Welp, no surprise here really.

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 16/05/2026

If you were a video game character, what would your health pickup be? Mountain Dew Kickstart (orange citrus)

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 11/05/2026

Simple answer: it always has been. NES had B on the left, A on the right, so when they shifted to the diamond layout they made the right-most button the A button and the bottom one the B button.

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 16/04/2026

Gonna do this one too! My list of games.

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 14/04/2026

Drop your crime-fighting Catholics. I say he counts.

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 02/04/2026

My #promosky for April! Academic who studies and is also a fan of video games and Japanese media! I post about: -Video games (esp. RPGs) -TTRPGs -Star Trek -Academic life (research and teaching) -Anime (Mecha, Sci-fi, Fantasy, occasionally isekai) -Digimon -FFXIV -Running an anime convention

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 28/03/2026

Me when the late night depression creeps up on me again:

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 15/03/2026

Search your camera roll for "hell"

Aurora with the PS2 error message overlaid on the image, caption: bro I'm in HELL WHAT THE FUCK IS GOIN ON OUT HERE

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 08/03/2026

It definitely has a cult following, but Steambot Chronicles is a favorite of mine, as definitely wasn't popular back in the day:

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 26/02/2026

Post something random, or you'll have an AWFUL March!

A cute wizard with the caption: I do not have my shit together

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Dr. Will Helmke @williamhelmke.com · 24/02/2026

Day 29: Final Fantasy you Want remade most: Since I can't say Chrono Trigger because it's technically not a FF... Full remake (like FFVII)? FFVI. Seeing that world in a fully realized 3D form would be wonderful. (Pixel) Remaster? FF Mystic Quest or FF Dimensions

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