John Walker - Industry Analcyst
@botherer.bsky.social
3.5K followers 380 following 1.5K posts
Co-creator of Rock Paper Shotgun, currently helping out at Kotaku, and still looking for a new long-term gig. I write www.buried-treasure.org, unearthing excellent unknown indies. Please consider supporting! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/buriedtreasure
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botherer.bsky.social
Grummz clearly messaging his support for trans rights and the eradication of being "gender-locked".
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
ttbngaming.bsky.social
Imagine being this insanely misogynistic
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
botherer.bsky.social
With Herculean speed and handsomeness, I've picked 10 demos from the new Next Fest to highlight.

kotaku.com/best-free-de...

I will likely try to find a bunch more even more obscure entries for Buried Treasure this week.
10 Of The Best Demos To Check Out In October's Steam Next Fest
We've ploughed through the thousands of submissions to bring you an eclectic collection of fascinating games
kotaku.com
botherer.bsky.social
I'm just astonished by how unsafe Spotify is. Spotify! A music app! And I don't want to be some "SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" type, but seriously, if you've got a pre-teen with Spotify, I'd be super-concerned. Not least because it will put this stuff into recommended feeds.

Ugh. 4/4
botherer.bsky.social
Spotify has refused to add the NZ controls to the RoW for three years now, where parents can block podcasts/video, and block specific bands and playlists topics. It's SO obviously the right thing to do.

Meanwhile, Spotify Kids is a pile of crap, claiming to be up to 13, but aimed at under 5s. 3/4
botherer.bsky.social
...And it now allows any and all YouTube video content that creators have opted to add, so YouTube limitations you have are immediately circumvented.

Spotify literally only blocks songs with swears in - the least concerning thing possible.

The only country with proper controls is New Zealand! 2/4
botherer.bsky.social
Dunno if you have a kid who's allowed Spotify and thought that setting it so explicit content is blocked would, you know, block explicit content. But OH MY GOD, no.

I've tested it and it will offer literal porn audiobooks (with porn images), podcasts about self-harm and explicit sexual themes 1/4
botherer.bsky.social
With Herculean speed and handsomeness, I've picked 10 demos from the new Next Fest to highlight.

kotaku.com/best-free-de...

I will likely try to find a bunch more even more obscure entries for Buried Treasure this week.
10 Of The Best Demos To Check Out In October's Steam Next Fest
We've ploughed through the thousands of submissions to bring you an eclectic collection of fascinating games
kotaku.com
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
botherer.bsky.social
My son (10) asked me if he could write articles for Buried Treasure so he could earn some money. I said sure, if he wrote at least 250 words and edited his work before filing it. So he did! Here's his review of Gems of War:

buried-treasure.org/2025/10/toby...

Please do leave a kind comment.
Toby Reviews: Gems Of War – Buried Treasure
buried-treasure.org
botherer.bsky.social
I was really impressed by his understanding of irony.
botherer.bsky.social
My son (10) asked me if he could write articles for Buried Treasure so he could earn some money. I said sure, if he wrote at least 250 words and edited his work before filing it. So he did! Here's his review of Gems of War:

buried-treasure.org/2025/10/toby...

Please do leave a kind comment.
Toby Reviews: Gems Of War – Buried Treasure
buried-treasure.org
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
botherer.bsky.social
Chronoquartz by @infinitestairs.bsky.social is an outstandingly smart timeloop RPG puzzle game that had me cheering its cleverness throughout!

buried-treasure.org/2025/10/chro...

Please support Buried Treasure with teeny bits of money: www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
Chronoquartz. Chronoquartz. Chronoquartz. Chronoquartz.
botherer.bsky.social
(I don't think this video is AI, btw. I think it's Unreal. But it's still so stunning tone deaf.)
botherer.bsky.social
I really hope so. Anywhere other than SF, so I can afford a hotel again.
botherer.bsky.social
GDC was one of my favourite things. It had many flaws, but it was a place that celebrated independent development like nothing else, and was so positive.

I hate this. I hate that it thinks there's a desire for it to be even more corporate, announcing it's "uniting the B2B games ecosystem" ffs.
botherer.bsky.social
Chronoquartz by @infinitestairs.bsky.social is an outstandingly smart timeloop RPG puzzle game that had me cheering its cleverness throughout!

buried-treasure.org/2025/10/chro...

Please support Buried Treasure with teeny bits of money: www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
Chronoquartz. Chronoquartz. Chronoquartz. Chronoquartz.
botherer.bsky.social
I've also written about why Nintendo's approach of bankrupting individuals for the rest of their lives in its profitless campaign against piracy is cruel and pointless.

kotaku.com/nintendo-swi...
Nintendo Demands $4.5 Million From Switch Piracy Reddit Mod
After being ignored by Archbox, Nintendo is pushing for a default ruling
kotaku.com
botherer.bsky.social
Today I've written a piece about my fears for Pokémon TCG and Magic: The Gathering, as they put all their focus on adult collectors and in doing so are losing a generation of younger players of the games:

kotaku.com/pokemon-magi...
Pokémon And Magic Risk Losing An Entire Generation Of Players
Short-term profits from scalper-driven markets and quick-cash tie-ins do not invest in the future
kotaku.com