iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Richie Shoemaker

Andy Robinson @andyrobinson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Brilliant review here from @zptr.bsky.social - a man who knows a lot about reviewing Peter Molyneux games

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

The world feels a little less dark this morning, doesn't it. A tinge more Green.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Was just checking out some old links to stuff I'd written years ago for @pcgamesn.com and @rockpapershotgun.bsky.social and, rather depressingly, my name has either been removed entirely or replaced by someone else's. Classy.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Played a game, had some opinions, typed them up:

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

This looks utterly charming. After six months exclusively flying spaceships, I'm ready to try on some different wings.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Oh my! I sat across from Nick during my short time at Imagine and we caught up again over the summer, for a feature he was writing. A really lovely bloke whose knowledge and patience will be hugely missed. Huge condolences to family and friends.

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Reposted by Richie Shoemaker

Hologram Ghost @hologramghost.com · 03/12/2025

The Steam page for our first game is now LIVE! 🎮✨ We've heard wishlists are pretty important. (Please wishlist us!) 🐊 store.steampowered.com/app/4218800/...

store.steampowered.com

Nothing's Ever Really Dead on Steam

A cyberpunk point-and-click murder mystery. Solve the murder of your best friend ... with the help of your best friend?!

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

I would urge you to listen this series on the history of Gaza, stretching back to the Bronze Age. The ep on post-WWI British rule is devastating: at the same time Nazi's were dive-bombing Guernica on behalf of Spanish fascists, the RAF was doing the same to Arab villages in Palestine.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Time to download Too Good To Go...

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Reposted by Richie Shoemaker

Debug Magazine @debugmag.com · 02/10/2025

Debug and Debug++ subscribers can now access all their digital magazines in one place... Not a subscriber? No problem. You can see all the digital issues you own here, too!

A screenshot from the Debug website displaying the Magazine Library, with covers from Debug magazine

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

New issue! Hope you like purple.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Pondering #EliteDangerous: What if CMDRs could opt out of weekly gameplay ARX and rather that it being lost to the ether, it was put in a big pot and either raffled or converted into $$$ and given to charity? I dunno, but with 60k stuff soon to be available, 400 is bordering on contemptuous ;)

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Tuned in to the tail end of #TheLastNightoftheProms (expecting #MOTD) and it cheers my heart that at this bastion of conservative patriotism there were more EU flags being waved that Union Jacks. Was it always ever thus?

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Reposted by Richie Shoemaker

Debug Magazine @debugmag.com · 14/08/2025

Our free games industry magazine Debug++ has a Physical Edition and it’s shipping today! If you want to contribute, be featured, or have comments and suggestions please chat to editor @zptr.bsky.social Get you copy: debug.plus

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Just got back from having the father-in-law looking after the kids for 4 days and the place looks like 3 children have been home alone rather than two left with a responsible adult.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

You don't have to be an all-in-one #indiedev or coder, btw. Maybe you're all about the pixels, or the words, or a tunesmith, or, like me, wrangle content for others to ogle over (or whatever the aural equivalent is). You just need to identify as indie and have a god-like hero in your chosen field.

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Reposted by Richie Shoemaker

One Life Left @onelifeleft.com · 31/07/2025

You heard about it on OLL, now go and check it out! Go on!! #GameDev

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

I really should crack on with the next ish of @debug.plus, which means I need to find another victim/subject for this soon-to-be series. So, if you're an #indiedev that sees themselves more on the left of this pic, who might be the person on the right that you'd like to quiz?

Image from Debug++ magazine with Eric Barone on the right, and relative unknown indiedev Kye Cavender on the left.

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Reposted by Richie Shoemaker

Vinny Mainolfi | FREEZE64.com | Commodore 64 @freeze64.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

The colour proof of the first ever issue of FREEZE-ZX has *just* landed, and it looks gorgeous! Hopefully the bulk order of print will arrive this time next week, at which point I’ll start posting out pre-orders. Secure your copy from: freeze64.com/freezezx-iss... #ZXSpectrum #Speccy

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Gosh, GFN really is quite good isn't it! I've been comparing #EliteDangerous on Deck through GFN vs native and even sans tweaks it's noticably better. Kind of a shame to use the Deck as a dumb terminal though.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

The mealy-mouthed Labour government continually takes 2 steps back for every inch forward. If you believe in a state's right to exist, you don't make it conditional on its neighbour continuing to be genocidal.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Did that paddleboarding thing at the weekend and didn't fall in the water once. I've now convinced myself that I need to get serious; buy my own and start thinking about the next Olympics.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

The mag I've been working on, @debug.plus, is out. It's free, full of #indiedev insight, and I think quite good. Check it out so I can do another one.

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Reposted by Richie Shoemaker

One Life Left @onelifeleft.com · 20/07/2025

Hello! Our latest episode did indeed feature Mr Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social and he did cover himself in glory despite an incorrect score! 😆 You've still time to get your letters to us before our final episode ahead of the summer hols! Zap 'em to us at team<at>onelifeleft.com ASAP! #GameDev

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Career highlight! I was invited on the @onelifeleft.com podcast this week to talk about a new mag that I've been working on and some old ones that I wish were still around. I might not have covered myself in glory, but I'll score it a 9/10 anyway. www.onelifeleft.com#listen

onelifeleft.com

One Life Left - The World's Longest Running Videogame Radio Show

Presented by Ste Curran and Simon Byron, One Life Left offers a friendly, accessible, easily-distracted look at games and the games industry.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Every time I think about putting some ££ aside to get with the current gen, a new Speccy comes along. Life is so unfair.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

If you need something to write about this week, or just want to feel old (although not as old as Florence Cohen would be), Hot Coffee was er, being reheated around this time 20 years ago. www.gamesindustry.biz/take-two-fac...

gamesindustry.biz

Take Two facing possible class action lawsuit over Hot Coffee

New York grandmother sues over adult-rated game purchased for 14 year old boy

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Internal dialogue: I wonder if this free magazine needs "FREE" somewhere around the masthead? Nah, it cheapens it.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

I've often wondered how life might've turned out had I taken the other job. Would I have been thrown on the scrapheap after working on SWOS 97/98 (as some were) to never trouble the industry again, or risen through the ranks elsewhere, throwing other people on the scrapheap 23/24?

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

EVE's reign as my most played game is about to end o7

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Career aspirations have been met

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

The Young Gods have a new album out today. If you've not heard of this splendid band, know that they are the best thing to come out of Switzerland since my great grandfather, Albrecht Schumacher, thought the UK in 1912 would be a good place to head for. www.younggods.com/2025/06/new-...

younggods.com

New album - Appear Disappear - The Young Gods

Hey music lovers, Our new album, “Appear Disappear“, is out now. This album was born from a desire for something raw. After the atmospheric rock of Data Mirage Tangram (2019) and the hour-long instru...

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

My skills are more transferable than I thought.

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Reposted by Richie Shoemaker

Sayem Ahmed @sayemahmd.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Tom's Hardware is seeking contributors for freelance opportunities. We're searching for technical hardware experts with a demonstrable knowledge of consumer and enterprise hardware. If you know the semiconductor industry like the back of your hand, get in touch. sayem.ahmed(at)futurenet(dot)com

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Rather ashamed to admit I was largely unaware of Marwan Barghouti until listening to this interview with his son. More people need to know who he is and what he represents in terms of a peaceful way forward for Gaza. youtu.be/bYNSBrA_V4M?...

youtu.be

The Son Of Palestine's Most Popular Leader: What Is Legitimate Opposition To Occupation?

YouTube video by Leading

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Finally, FINALLY, we're having decent internet installed tomorrow. Never had fibre before. Expect to see lots of "Zapatero played xxxx for the first time" on your Friend Activity feed.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Not someone you expect to bump into in #EliteDangerous

Screenshot from Elite Dangerous showing a ship being flown by 'Hellmar'.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

What is the point of a Guardian tech review when everything gets 4 or 5 stars? Paul Whitehouse was more discerning about Cheesy Peas than this guy is about phones. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

theguardian.com

Pixel 9a review: Google’s cut-price Android winner

Class-leading camera, top-tier chip, very long battery life, AI and quality software dominate mid-range rivals

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

For those that would like to compare and contrast with the version depicted in the #BlackMirror episode, here are some pics from the PC Zone office in the 90s. That's me in the orange shirt and that last pic was my desk. There's an overflowing ashtray in there somewhere. Absolute filth and carnage.

It's me in the PC Zone office in the 1990s

The clutter of the Zone basement in Bolsover Street, London

Paul Hendo Henderson at the desk of Paul Mallo Mallinson.

My old desk at PC Zone. Mags, games and other gaming detritus everywhere. Buried under it all somewhere, no doubt, is an overflowing ashtray

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

PC Zone is real. The office not so much.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Been listening to Japanese shoegaze of late and at high school pickup today my daughter called it cool. Which means I am cool. Ok, so she didn't say 'cool' (or lit, safe, wicked or rad) but whatever the 2025 word is for cool. I didn't quite catch it, but I am that. Cool dad.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

A bit lucky in the first half, brilliant in the second. Play up to stay up!

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

I started the year working on four games mags, one of which was very advanced. That one unexpectedly stalled last month (which I'm still pissed about) and another has just been shot down entirely (which was expected and I'm ok with). The other two are still on course. I remain hopeful.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Valentine's Day breakfast courtesy of my amazing wife. Gonna crash hard in about an hour.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Today I learnt two things. The first was the existence of something called a double plus (⧺). The second was that my LinkedIn had been hacked. Thankfully the double plus is of more use to me at the present time.

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Richie Shoemaker @zptr.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

RIP 'Pubic Hare', my character in Toontown Online, who Disney killed off 20 years ago this month. Yes, he made it through character creation and 18 months of grinding Cogs, but the profanity filter got him in the end.

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