Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
@halfrobot.com
Game Designer (Consentacle +37 others)
Chair / Director, NYU Game Center ( https://gamecenter.nyu.edu/ )
Founding Collective, Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Formerly: Gamelab, LEGO, strap-on.org etc.
https://metasynthie.itch.io/
Opinions are only my own!
Chair / Director, NYU Game Center ( https://gamecenter.nyu.edu/ )
Founding Collective, Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Formerly: Gamelab, LEGO, strap-on.org etc.
https://metasynthie.itch.io/
Opinions are only my own!
post a game you remember playing that nobody else remembers
January 15, 2026 at 4:44 AM
post a game you remember playing that nobody else remembers
Reposted by Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
You should also read this piece from 2018 (gift link)
It lays out the history of ICE, and how problematic it's been since day one. Ask Dems WHY this specific model has to be kept? Why can't it be scrapped?
Remind them it's their job to think of legislative solutions. Do it.
wapo.st/4qTxDDw
It lays out the history of ICE, and how problematic it's been since day one. Ask Dems WHY this specific model has to be kept? Why can't it be scrapped?
Remind them it's their job to think of legislative solutions. Do it.
wapo.st/4qTxDDw
Perspective | Angry that ICE is ripping families apart? Don’t just blame Trump. Blame Clinton, Bush and Obama, too.
The militarization of immigration enforcement.
wapo.st
January 14, 2026 at 6:02 PM
You should also read this piece from 2018 (gift link)
It lays out the history of ICE, and how problematic it's been since day one. Ask Dems WHY this specific model has to be kept? Why can't it be scrapped?
Remind them it's their job to think of legislative solutions. Do it.
wapo.st/4qTxDDw
It lays out the history of ICE, and how problematic it's been since day one. Ask Dems WHY this specific model has to be kept? Why can't it be scrapped?
Remind them it's their job to think of legislative solutions. Do it.
wapo.st/4qTxDDw
So is there a point in telling people to know their rights or understand the limits of established legal protections if some tyrant is going to blow past time? Of course there is, because those things *might* help--just not as a guarantee. Much like a shield, or a protective vest, or any defense.
January 14, 2026 at 5:59 PM
So is there a point in telling people to know their rights or understand the limits of established legal protections if some tyrant is going to blow past time? Of course there is, because those things *might* help--just not as a guarantee. Much like a shield, or a protective vest, or any defense.
Getting pretty tired of seeing posts acting as if "civil rights" are something that binarily exist or don't exist.
Cops & courts have violated the rights of many individuals and groups throughout history, and yet the idea that people have them does *sometimes* deter force, violence and injustice.
Cops & courts have violated the rights of many individuals and groups throughout history, and yet the idea that people have them does *sometimes* deter force, violence and injustice.
January 14, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Getting pretty tired of seeing posts acting as if "civil rights" are something that binarily exist or don't exist.
Cops & courts have violated the rights of many individuals and groups throughout history, and yet the idea that people have them does *sometimes* deter force, violence and injustice.
Cops & courts have violated the rights of many individuals and groups throughout history, and yet the idea that people have them does *sometimes* deter force, violence and injustice.
i'm so proud of both of you
(gives you each a CURSED MANAGEMENT CANDY)
(gives you each a CURSED MANAGEMENT CANDY)
January 14, 2026 at 4:20 PM
i'm so proud of both of you
(gives you each a CURSED MANAGEMENT CANDY)
(gives you each a CURSED MANAGEMENT CANDY)
Heritage Foundation still at it in 20th-c.-moral panic style in their new "family family demo-collapse family" mega-report
Did you know the family's threatened by gay marriage? And threfore trans dads, which in turn lead to sexbots and polyamory? It's enough to make your great-grandpa write a check
Did you know the family's threatened by gay marriage? And threfore trans dads, which in turn lead to sexbots and polyamory? It's enough to make your great-grandpa write a check
January 14, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Heritage Foundation still at it in 20th-c.-moral panic style in their new "family family demo-collapse family" mega-report
Did you know the family's threatened by gay marriage? And threfore trans dads, which in turn lead to sexbots and polyamory? It's enough to make your great-grandpa write a check
Did you know the family's threatened by gay marriage? And threfore trans dads, which in turn lead to sexbots and polyamory? It's enough to make your great-grandpa write a check
OMG Spider & Web
January 11, 2026 at 4:21 AM
OMG Spider & Web
If you read the first panel and thought "wait, there's one extra" then (rings bell) you've won the no-prize! It's a typo, Namor is actually repeating it wrong. He was told to say one less "O."
January 10, 2026 at 2:22 AM
If you read the first panel and thought "wait, there's one extra" then (rings bell) you've won the no-prize! It's a typo, Namor is actually repeating it wrong. He was told to say one less "O."
The author (Bob Denatale) left comics not long after to focus on butoh, the avant-garde Japanese dance form bobdenatale.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:17 AM
The author (Bob Denatale) left comics not long after to focus on butoh, the avant-garde Japanese dance form bobdenatale.com
[x salvage]
An odd moment in 1990: apropos of nothing the Sub-Mariner chants an anagram of "Abortion Rights Womens Choice" to calm angry fish-creatures.
An odd moment in 1990: apropos of nothing the Sub-Mariner chants an anagram of "Abortion Rights Womens Choice" to calm angry fish-creatures.
January 10, 2026 at 2:10 AM
[x salvage]
An odd moment in 1990: apropos of nothing the Sub-Mariner chants an anagram of "Abortion Rights Womens Choice" to calm angry fish-creatures.
An odd moment in 1990: apropos of nothing the Sub-Mariner chants an anagram of "Abortion Rights Womens Choice" to calm angry fish-creatures.
X salvage continued, somehow in May 2023 I found that someone had made an AI chatbot based on @foddy.net and never was able to locate it again
January 10, 2026 at 1:55 AM
X salvage continued, somehow in May 2023 I found that someone had made an AI chatbot based on @foddy.net and never was able to locate it again
X salvage continued, had to save this banger from @molleindustria.org
January 10, 2026 at 1:49 AM
X salvage continued, had to save this banger from @molleindustria.org
Still, Barnes v. Felix did establish that whether use of force is reasonable depends on the “totality of the circumstances” including what the officer did prior to the use of force (like standing in front of a car) not just the “moment of threat” (a moving car)
January 9, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Still, Barnes v. Felix did establish that whether use of force is reasonable depends on the “totality of the circumstances” including what the officer did prior to the use of force (like standing in front of a car) not just the “moment of threat” (a moving car)
This happens so often that many law enforcement agencies have guidelines about “officer-created jeopardy” that very commonly say not to approach a car from the front or stand there, since that could lead to this. But in May SCOTUS declined to enshrine office-created jeopardy as a firm standard.
January 9, 2026 at 10:20 PM
This happens so often that many law enforcement agencies have guidelines about “officer-created jeopardy” that very commonly say not to approach a car from the front or stand there, since that could lead to this. But in May SCOTUS declined to enshrine office-created jeopardy as a firm standard.
People who believe in authoritarian violence are clear on two things others aren’t:
1. if you stand near a cop vehicle and the corner brushes you as it’s pulling out, that’s your fault
2. if a cop stands near your vehicle and the corner brushes him as you pull out, he gets to shoot you dead
1. if you stand near a cop vehicle and the corner brushes you as it’s pulling out, that’s your fault
2. if a cop stands near your vehicle and the corner brushes him as you pull out, he gets to shoot you dead
January 9, 2026 at 10:12 PM
People who believe in authoritarian violence are clear on two things others aren’t:
1. if you stand near a cop vehicle and the corner brushes you as it’s pulling out, that’s your fault
2. if a cop stands near your vehicle and the corner brushes him as you pull out, he gets to shoot you dead
1. if you stand near a cop vehicle and the corner brushes you as it’s pulling out, that’s your fault
2. if a cop stands near your vehicle and the corner brushes him as you pull out, he gets to shoot you dead
No matter how they try, it's never possible to completely eliminate game journalists... because new game journalists are born every second of every day.
Also, old game journalists know how to reanimate each other from the dead. Sketchy but useful.
Also, old game journalists know how to reanimate each other from the dead. Sketchy but useful.
January 9, 2026 at 8:29 PM
No matter how they try, it's never possible to completely eliminate game journalists... because new game journalists are born every second of every day.
Also, old game journalists know how to reanimate each other from the dead. Sketchy but useful.
Also, old game journalists know how to reanimate each other from the dead. Sketchy but useful.
Reposted by Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
hi! i'm co-founding a new gaming website with my former polygon colleague @zoehhannah.com. it's called mothership.blog. i made it for someone like me... the kind of website i always wished we had in our space. watch the video to learn more :D
It's time to board the Mothership.
www.youtube.com/shorts/iEw90...
www.youtube.com/shorts/iEw90...
Board the Mothership.
YouTube video by Mothership Media LLC
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:04 PM
hi! i'm co-founding a new gaming website with my former polygon colleague @zoehhannah.com. it's called mothership.blog. i made it for someone like me... the kind of website i always wished we had in our space. watch the video to learn more :D
Big congrats to IGF nominees including the controversial Horses, plus many home-grown crops from these parts like Baby Steps, Ball X Pit, Kiloton by @jackmorehart.bsky.social and AP's mystery-shrouded recently-unwrapped Titanium Court which you can now wishlist
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
Titanium Court on Steam
A surreal strategy game for clowns and criminals.
store.steampowered.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Big congrats to IGF nominees including the controversial Horses, plus many home-grown crops from these parts like Baby Steps, Ball X Pit, Kiloton by @jackmorehart.bsky.social and AP's mystery-shrouded recently-unwrapped Titanium Court which you can now wishlist
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
grats on IGF noms too!
January 9, 2026 at 5:48 PM
grats on IGF noms too!
Reposted by Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
The IGFs are the most important award show imo, and while you've probably seen a lot of the nominees listed here, you should really check out the honorable mentions. Lots of cool stuff that I've never heard of - and also games that aren't even out yet!
Baby Steps leads 28th annual IGF Awards nominations
Baby Steps leads 28th annual IGF Awards nominations
Blippo+, Titanium Court, and Horses have also received multiple nods.
www.gamedeveloper.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:29 PM
The IGFs are the most important award show imo, and while you've probably seen a lot of the nominees listed here, you should really check out the honorable mentions. Lots of cool stuff that I've never heard of - and also games that aren't even out yet!
Refactoring a branching narrative's structure and effects on persistent values due to ripple effects of a late-breaking change. It's mind-numbing and stressful which IMO is the worst kind of boring. Also nobody should ever do this kind of nightmare-boring.
January 9, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Refactoring a branching narrative's structure and effects on persistent values due to ripple effects of a late-breaking change. It's mind-numbing and stressful which IMO is the worst kind of boring. Also nobody should ever do this kind of nightmare-boring.
Reposted by Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
Quite precise: We are more positive about AI generation in areas outside our own expertise; we worry more about our own jobs.
the discourse on what jobs are acceptable to replace with generative AI reveals a lot about what we think of other people's jobs
January 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Quite precise: We are more positive about AI generation in areas outside our own expertise; we worry more about our own jobs.
funny how things bend towards money
January 9, 2026 at 4:22 AM
funny how things bend towards money
"Sexualizing" prompts seem to be disregarded by Grok on X now -- although other kinds, like "making women dress more modestly" are not, which is notable since it's not a rate-limit or something.
Anyway, that makes it easy for Apple & Google to do jack squat, for UK govt to do jack squat, etc etc
Anyway, that makes it easy for Apple & Google to do jack squat, for UK govt to do jack squat, etc etc
January 9, 2026 at 3:57 AM
"Sexualizing" prompts seem to be disregarded by Grok on X now -- although other kinds, like "making women dress more modestly" are not, which is notable since it's not a rate-limit or something.
Anyway, that makes it easy for Apple & Google to do jack squat, for UK govt to do jack squat, etc etc
Anyway, that makes it easy for Apple & Google to do jack squat, for UK govt to do jack squat, etc etc
Reposted by Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
Our almost 4-hour GOTY 2025 special is live now!
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners.
secretlives.games/151-games-of...
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners.
secretlives.games/151-games-of...
The Secret Lives of Games: 151: Games of the Year 2025
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners. Happy new year! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Our GOTY Pic...
secretlives.games
January 8, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Our almost 4-hour GOTY 2025 special is live now!
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners.
secretlives.games/151-games-of...
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners.
secretlives.games/151-games-of...