Ben McKenzie
@benmckenzie.com.au
Performer, writer, educator, game designer and ginger on Wurundjeri Country (aka Melbourne, Australia). He/him.
I make the Pratchat book club podcast, time travel radio comedy Night Terrace, and other things.
Not the actor that wrote the book on crypto.
I make the Pratchat book club podcast, time travel radio comedy Night Terrace, and other things.
Not the actor that wrote the book on crypto.
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
#TTRPG Designers, players, & related nerds:
@ttrpgcataloging.bsky.social is a group of Library & Information Science MA students are working on a research project focused on improving cataloging for TTRPGs — unbelievably important work!
They’re seeking participants for interviews.
@ttrpgcataloging.bsky.social is a group of Library & Information Science MA students are working on a research project focused on improving cataloging for TTRPGs — unbelievably important work!
They’re seeking participants for interviews.
January 7, 2026 at 3:47 PM
#TTRPG Designers, players, & related nerds:
@ttrpgcataloging.bsky.social is a group of Library & Information Science MA students are working on a research project focused on improving cataloging for TTRPGs — unbelievably important work!
They’re seeking participants for interviews.
@ttrpgcataloging.bsky.social is a group of Library & Information Science MA students are working on a research project focused on improving cataloging for TTRPGs — unbelievably important work!
They’re seeking participants for interviews.
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
The VicEmergency website has been overloaded, causing intermittent outages. Use radio for official emergency updates www.abc.net.au/emergency/ho... #VicFires
How to listen to ABC Radio in an emergency - ABC Emergency
Stay informed in an emergency, set your local ABC radio station in the ABC listen app, and find the frequency on your battery-powered radio.
www.abc.net.au
January 9, 2026 at 3:45 AM
The VicEmergency website has been overloaded, causing intermittent outages. Use radio for official emergency updates www.abc.net.au/emergency/ho... #VicFires
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
When is an encyclopaedia not an encyclopaedia? Maybe when everything in it is made up…
Liz and Ben discuss The #Discworld Companion in its various forms, but mostly the current edition, The Ultimate Discworld Companion, from Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs. #Pratchat91 (optional)
Liz and Ben discuss The #Discworld Companion in its various forms, but mostly the current edition, The Ultimate Discworld Companion, from Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs. #Pratchat91 (optional)
#Pratchat91 – We Can Reference It For You Wholesale
Liz and Ben do a little light Summer reading as they tackle one of the biggest Discworld books of all - Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs’ The Discworld Companion, in all its various editions (but mostly 2021’s The Ultimate Discworld Companion). From the Abbott of the History Monks, to dimensionally-displaced traveller Jack Zweiblumen, the Discworld Companion is an alphabetical encyclopaedia of everything Discworld!
pratchatpodcast.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:58 AM
When is an encyclopaedia not an encyclopaedia? Maybe when everything in it is made up…
Liz and Ben discuss The #Discworld Companion in its various forms, but mostly the current edition, The Ultimate Discworld Companion, from Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs. #Pratchat91 (optional)
Liz and Ben discuss The #Discworld Companion in its various forms, but mostly the current edition, The Ultimate Discworld Companion, from Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs. #Pratchat91 (optional)
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
If it’s safe to leave, leave now. If VIC Emergency suggests you should leave, please leave
January 8, 2026 at 7:34 AM
If it’s safe to leave, leave now. If VIC Emergency suggests you should leave, please leave
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
For many years I lived in an apartment without aircon. My list of places I could go to escape the heat in metro Melbourne
January 5, 2026 at 7:48 AM
For many years I lived in an apartment without aircon. My list of places I could go to escape the heat in metro Melbourne
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Your disabled friend isn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of getting whatever horrible lurgy you’ve reassured them isn’t Covid, it has been revealed.
Disabled friend doesn’t particularly want your Not-Covid either
Your disabled friend isn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of getting whatever horrible lurgy you’ve reassured them isn’t Covid, it has been revealed. In a statement released today, your disabled…
thedailytism.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Your disabled friend isn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of getting whatever horrible lurgy you’ve reassured them isn’t Covid, it has been revealed.
We did this on stage in 2011, in a little musical called The Terminativity. I was Melchior.
youtu.be/F6sE3Fjgi18
youtu.be/F6sE3Fjgi18
December 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
We did this on stage in 2011, in a little musical called The Terminativity. I was Melchior.
youtu.be/F6sE3Fjgi18
youtu.be/F6sE3Fjgi18
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Here it is. The final 24 hours. You've helped coax banked embers into a steady flame. Tell me, what is one thing you'll bring with you into What-Comes-Next? Seeds? Thread? A good kitchen knife? What will you make of what's left? Together, let's light up the world.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Here it is. The final 24 hours. You've helped coax banked embers into a steady flame. Tell me, what is one thing you'll bring with you into What-Comes-Next? Seeds? Thread? A good kitchen knife? What will you make of what's left? Together, let's light up the world.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Heads up that the Discord face video age verification system requires you to remove your glasses, then has written instructions on the screen, including moving closer or further away.
No doubt verification is partly an estimate of how bad your eyesight is based on how long this takes.
No doubt verification is partly an estimate of how bad your eyesight is based on how long this takes.
December 10, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Heads up that the Discord face video age verification system requires you to remove your glasses, then has written instructions on the screen, including moving closer or further away.
No doubt verification is partly an estimate of how bad your eyesight is based on how long this takes.
No doubt verification is partly an estimate of how bad your eyesight is based on how long this takes.
The requests across various platforms to verify my age has begun. All using third party services.
The least intrusive option, credit card, does not work with Visa/MC debit. (I assume that’s why; it doesn’t say.)
How many different companies will I have to let scan my face, or ID documents?
The least intrusive option, credit card, does not work with Visa/MC debit. (I assume that’s why; it doesn’t say.)
How many different companies will I have to let scan my face, or ID documents?
December 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The requests across various platforms to verify my age has begun. All using third party services.
The least intrusive option, credit card, does not work with Visa/MC debit. (I assume that’s why; it doesn’t say.)
How many different companies will I have to let scan my face, or ID documents?
The least intrusive option, credit card, does not work with Visa/MC debit. (I assume that’s why; it doesn’t say.)
How many different companies will I have to let scan my face, or ID documents?
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Brendan Keogh's Putting Challenge is currently 40% off on Steam! It is not Steam Deck verified but I verify that it works on Steam Deck store.steampowered.com/app/1625830/...
Save 40% on Brendan Keogh's Putting Challenge on Steam
Brendan Keogh’s Putting Challenge is a local co-op golf game about all the parts other golf videogames cut out. Sounds tedious? It sort of is. Bring your friends! ⛳️
store.steampowered.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Brendan Keogh's Putting Challenge is currently 40% off on Steam! It is not Steam Deck verified but I verify that it works on Steam Deck store.steampowered.com/app/1625830/...
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Is that a steam train - in Ankh-Morpork? Psychologist Craig Hildebrand-Burke joins Liz and Ben to put on our anoraks and write "40" in our notebooks for a gradely discussion of #TerryPratchett's penultimate #Discworld novel: Raising Steam! #Pratchat90
#Pratchat90 – Mind the Ginnungagap
Psychologist Craig Hildebrand-Burke rejoins Liz and Ben as we don our flat caps and anoraks, as we make sense of Terry Pratchett's penultimate Discworld novel, 2013's Raising Steam. Dick Simnel has created Iron Girder, the Disc's first steam engine - and he's brought it to Ankh-Morpork seeking an investor. He finds one in Sir Harry King, who is keen to be known as the King of something other than what brought him his wealth.
pratchatpodcast.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Is that a steam train - in Ankh-Morpork? Psychologist Craig Hildebrand-Burke joins Liz and Ben to put on our anoraks and write "40" in our notebooks for a gradely discussion of #TerryPratchett's penultimate #Discworld novel: Raising Steam! #Pratchat90
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
DOGPILE | Release Year Announcement Trailer
YouTube video by Studio Folly
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
State Library of Victoria staff have been harassed, belittled, prevented from doing their job, fired and/or told they will be fired if they publicly tell the truth about the shiteshow of scandals & damage behind the scenes. Please speak for them by signing here. www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/ha...
Hands off our State Library!
Library workers deliver essential services to 2.8 million people in our community each year. They run information services, connect people online, hold free workshops, develop community connections an...
www.megaphone.org.au
December 1, 2025 at 10:40 AM
State Library of Victoria staff have been harassed, belittled, prevented from doing their job, fired and/or told they will be fired if they publicly tell the truth about the shiteshow of scandals & damage behind the scenes. Please speak for them by signing here. www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/ha...
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
US customers can now pick up the new boxed set version of The Quiet Year. Check out my webstore for more info!
store.buriedwithoutceremony.com
store.buriedwithoutceremony.com
Buried Without Ceremony
My name is Avery Alder, and for the past eighteen years I’ve been designing tabletop roleplaying games. These are games about community, relationships, doubt, queerness, and the collapse of civilizati...
store.buriedwithoutceremony.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:57 PM
US customers can now pick up the new boxed set version of The Quiet Year. Check out my webstore for more info!
store.buriedwithoutceremony.com
store.buriedwithoutceremony.com
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
This cause is close to my heart - please sign:
A call for safe air and masking in healthcare settings
#LongCovid
#ME/CFS
A call for safe air and masking in healthcare settings
#LongCovid
#ME/CFS
A Call for Safe Air and Masking in Healthcare Settings
We, the undersigned clinicians, scientists, and health professionals, call for the urgent reinstatement of basic airborne-infection-control measures—clean indoor air and appropriate airborne respirato...
our.actionstation.org.nz
December 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign:
A call for safe air and masking in healthcare settings
#LongCovid
#ME/CFS
A call for safe air and masking in healthcare settings
#LongCovid
#ME/CFS
We really needed a good news story in games, and this is great news!
just incredibly thrilled to announce that after months and months of uncertainty over the future of the game, and several I have bought Zombies, Run!, the game I co-created and have been making for the past 12 years:
zombiesrungame.com
observer.co.uk/the-critics/...
zombiesrungame.com
observer.co.uk/the-critics/...
I’m a novelist who’s just bought a video games company. Here’s why you should care about games writing | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 AM
We really needed a good news story in games, and this is great news!
Finally got around to starting #GhostsAustralia, and it’s a bloody delight. Lovely positive but cheeky tone, and it really feels authentically Australian, rather than a carbon copy of the original. Plus the cast are all wonderful - @michellebrasier.bsky.social, you’re killing it! I recommend.
November 19, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Finally got around to starting #GhostsAustralia, and it’s a bloody delight. Lovely positive but cheeky tone, and it really feels authentically Australian, rather than a carbon copy of the original. Plus the cast are all wonderful - @michellebrasier.bsky.social, you’re killing it! I recommend.
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Me: Hey Gemini, what is the absolute worst possible example for an AI prompt to encourage people to use you?
Gemini: How about outsourcing human connection and gratitude, while abrogating involvement in a child's education?
Me: Nailed it.
Gemini: How about outsourcing human connection and gratitude, while abrogating involvement in a child's education?
Me: Nailed it.
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Me: Hey Gemini, what is the absolute worst possible example for an AI prompt to encourage people to use you?
Gemini: How about outsourcing human connection and gratitude, while abrogating involvement in a child's education?
Me: Nailed it.
Gemini: How about outsourcing human connection and gratitude, while abrogating involvement in a child's education?
Me: Nailed it.
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Screen Australia is doing a massive research project on the current state of the screen and games industries in Australia. Local devs, please consider taking the time to complete their survey survey.alchemer.com/s3/8573365/S...
Screen Currency 2025 — Screen and Games Industry Survey
survey.alchemer.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Screen Australia is doing a massive research project on the current state of the screen and games industries in Australia. Local devs, please consider taking the time to complete their survey survey.alchemer.com/s3/8573365/S...
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
I went to meet the 'Rockstar 31', the developers who were suddenly fired from their work on GTA 6 for what the studio has described as gross misconduct.
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
The Rockstar Workers Fired Before They Could Finish GTA 6
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I went to meet the 'Rockstar 31', the developers who were suddenly fired from their work on GTA 6 for what the studio has described as gross misconduct.
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
I’m going down Peel Street on the tram and there’s so much dandelion in the air! It’s like the pollen count has become visible! I’ve never seen this before. Most visible around Queensberry and Victoria Streets.
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I’m going down Peel Street on the tram and there’s so much dandelion in the air! It’s like the pollen count has become visible! I’ve never seen this before. Most visible around Queensberry and Victoria Streets.
No Pun Included is one of my favourite channels for game criticism and thinking. Efka and Elaine make some outstanding videos which get deeper than just reviews. For example, for Blood on the Clocktower, Efka digs into the history of social deduction games. You won’t regret subscribing.
November 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM
No Pun Included is one of my favourite channels for game criticism and thinking. Efka and Elaine make some outstanding videos which get deeper than just reviews. For example, for Blood on the Clocktower, Efka digs into the history of social deduction games. You won’t regret subscribing.