Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Nina Kiel

Jessica Ellis @baddestmamajama.bsky.social · 14h

I’m very very tired of “living in fear” being lobbed at maskwearers by people who frequently say they can’t wear one because no one else around them is.

Living in fear is ignoring science and endangering lives and your own health because you’re terrified of not fitting in.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 2h

"[D]isabled players are pushed out by an industry that purportedly championed their inclusion."

#Gaming #Accessibility #Disability #AAA

Grant Stoner @supercrip1994.bsky.social · 1d

With the continuous rise of prices for games, systems, and tech, and as companies like Xbox announce further increases for services like Game Pass, some disabled individuals are choosing to forgo AAA gaming altogether. Read my latest Access Granted report here:
accessgranted.ghost.io/as-prices-in...

As Prices Increase, Disabled Players Feel Left Behind

Rising costs of games, systems, and tech forces some disabled players to leave behind their favorite accessible hobby.

accessgranted.ghost.io

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 1d

Let's define "game" first.

🏰meg⚔️ @Birthright Audiobook! @impavid.us · 5d

In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand

I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 1d

A quick OER update:

Today I finished one of the most daunting tasks so far: Summarising legislation relevant for games and accessibility.

Our team is now looking for feedback from lawyers and #accessibility experts to make sure I got everything right. If you'd like to help, please get in touch!

A screenshot, showing an excerpt from the document with the following text:

European Accessibility Act (EAA)

Since June 28th, 2025, compliance with the EAA is mandatory if you’re offering certain services or products in the European Union. As is often the case with accessibility laws, digital games are not mentioned specifically, but that does not mean they’re exempt. In fact, several of the services covered by the EAA are relevant to gaming, specifically:

– Digital communication services
– E-commerce services
– And, to a limited extend, TV and video streaming services

Let’s have a closer look at what this means, and what you can do to make your products and services EAA compliant...

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you, Arden! :) For the circle, I've mixed golden thread with yellow and light brown one to create a subtle shimmer (it's a bit more pronounced on the photos).

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you so much! :) Yes, it took a loooong time and I made a lot of mistakes, but this was indeed my second try and the first project I've finished.

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Reposted by Nina Kiel

Ana Valens | 🔞 | Comms Open @acvalens.net · 2d

Thank you Patricia & Polygon for covering this story when so many others have dropped it. Shout out also to TheGamer, RPS, PC Gamer, Automaton, 80 Level

www.polygon.com/steam-adult-...

As Steam cracks down on adult games, one dev urges taking back control

Game developers fear for the future of games with LGBTQ themes, which is leading some to pursue alternate (and way cooler) forms of distribution

www.polygon.com

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 2d

After several months of work, I finished this #embroidery project last weekend. It's my second ever attempt at embroidery and I'm really, really happy with the result.

A close up of the finished work: An embroidered stag beetle, shown from the top, on the back of a dark grey jeans jacket. Behind the beetle's head, there's a golden circle, reminiscent of the sun.

A photo of the entire jacket, showing the placement and the size of the embroidered stag beetle.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 2d

Adult content: New ToS.

🏰meg⚔️ @Birthright Audiobook! @impavid.us · 5d

In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand

I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks for clarifying! And yeah, GAConf still doing hybrid events is awesome, especially because attending the event online doesn't feel like watching from the sidelines; you found a great way to make it work just as well as being on site.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 4d

Der Vollständigkeit halber sei erwähnt, dass geschlechterinklusive Sprache nicht per se verboten, sondern zur Nutzung z.B. von neutralen Formulierungen oder der weiblichen und männlichen Form angeregt wurde. Aber all diese Varianten haben eines gemein: Sie machen nicht-binäre Menschen unsichtbar.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 4d

...sehe ich hier einen Widerspruch zwischen internen Abläufen und Außenkommunikation.
Immerhin konnte ich die Nutzung des Sternchens für meine Kurzbiografie durchsetzen, aber den Einwand, dass selbiges gerade bei einem Beitrag über Diversität angebracht wäre, ließen die Herausgeber nicht gelten.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 4d

...mitherausgegeben von Zimmermann bzw. dem Kulturrat, war die Nutzung des Gendersternchens und des Gender Gaps ausdrücklich untersagt.

Ja, es Ist nicht unüblich, die Sprache in Büchern zu vereinheitlichen und ja, staatliche Verbote sind eine ganz andere Dimension, aber dennoch...

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 4d

„Künstlerinnen, Künstler und Kulturinstitutionen sind frei in der Entscheidung, ob und wie sie gendergerechte Sprache anwenden."

Dieses klare Statement für sprachliche Vielfalt begrüße ich, bin aber auch etwas verwundert, denn: Für Beiträge zum erst kürzlich aktualisierten Handbuch Gameskultur...

Sprache: Kulturrat spricht sich gegen Gender-Verbot aus

Der Kulturstaatsminister positioniert sich offen gegen Binnen-I und Gendersternchen. Nun kontert der Deutsche Kulturrat: Ein Gender-Verbot in Kunst und Kultur dürfe es nicht geben.

www.tagesspiegel.de

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 4d

Most recently, #CollectiveShout made this particular claim — without proving empirical evidence — to deplatform adult games.

So: Let's have a look at research from different fields to find out if there's actually any evidence for these claims and why sexual violence seems to be so popular in porn.

A modified version of the Thursday, what a concept meme, depicting a red-haired woman holding a cigarette in her right hand. This version shows the following text at the bottom: Doing proper research before discussing a complex topic. What a concept.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 4d

@ghmanderfeld.bsky.social and I always take great care in doing proper research, but in this case it's particularly important, as fictional depictions of sexualised violence have been the source of major controversies and often held responsible for real-world crimes.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 4d

Today I'm starting my deep dive into the complex topic we've picked for the next episode of Random Encounters: Sexualised violence in (interactive) pornography.

A photo showing a book and several academic papers on a wooden table. The publications are titled Sex and Sexuality in Game Studies, Pornographie Games on Steam, Sexual fantasy research, and Sexual Violence as a Sexual Script in Mainstream Pornography.

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Reposted by Nina Kiel

GamesMarket @gamesmarkt.bsky.social · 5d

UK Gouvernment: Payment Processors Can Ban NSFW Content
According to the UK treasury, payment processors are in the right and the gouvernment has no plans to step in. This puts it in direct contrast to what artists and the UK games industry have asked for.
www.gamesmarket.global/en/business/...

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Reposted by Nina Kiel

Jess O'Thomson @jessothomson.co.uk · 6d

It cannot be made clearer.

If you continue to support the Harry Potter franchise in any way, you are directly funding the removal of trans people's human rights in the UK.

JK Rowling pledges to keep up fight against SNP trans policies

Author vows to bankroll campaigners after Scottish government fails to pay group's legal fees in Supreme Court equality case

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 5d

"The center of gravity in gaming is shifting from market dynamics to geopolitical power plays."

Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 6d

'Gaming is the new oil:' How the EA buyout 'diverges from the traditional playbook'

Analysts explain how the high-risk leveraged buyout will impact Electronic Arts and the video game industry.

www.gamedeveloper.com

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Reposted by Nina Kiel

Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 8d

Our news editor @kerrblimey.bsky.social has some advice for developers and PR reps looking to navigate the press slalom:

A quote from an article discussing how to engage with journalists that reads:

"No matter how cordial our correspondence, there might come a time when I have to report on you, your product, or your company in a way you no longer find beneficial or flattering. That is the job. Reporters are not an extension of your marketing department. We are not there to promote you, your product, or tailor headlines to meet your specific needs.

"Acknowledge this before you agree to an interview. Let the truth wash over you like a salve. You'll be better off for it."

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 8d

...wiederholt Röcheln und Schniefen zu vernehmen und ich die einzige Person mit Maske war. Aber davon ging natürlich keine Gefahr aus.

Ich hoffe das beste für die Oma.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 8d

... dramatisch zur Seite. Nachdem sie einige Sekunden lang mit angsterfülltem Blick Abstand gehalten hatte, fragte sie, ob ich denn krank sei. Sie habe eine immunschwache Großmutter Daheim und dürfe auf keinen Fall krank werden.

All das passierte in einem komplett überfüllten Café, in dem...

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 8d

Es ist alles so absurd.

Ich suchte am Wochenende ein Café auf, um ein Getränk zum mitnehmen zu kaufen - selbstverständlich mit Maske, denn ich hatte zwar keinerlei Symptome, aber auch wenig Ambitionen, das zu ändern. Als ich Richtung Tresen ging, sprang eine Person mittleren Alters...

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Reposted by Nina Kiel

Jean Ketterling @jeanketterling.bsky.social · 12d

I really enjoyed talking to Chris about the histories that shape the current deplatforming efforts affecting NSFW video games! Grateful for him taking this issue seriously. I wanted to share links to some of my colleagues’ work that I mention here:

Chris Plante @plante.bsky.social · 15d

Give me 45-minutes and I'll make you an expert on NSFW video game censorship (and the growing threat to your favorite hobby)

Why NSFW games aren't doomed (for now)

Sex games researcher Jean Ketterling puts the summer of censorship into context

postgame.substack.com

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