Kyle Ackerman
@kyleackerman.bsky.social
Consultant, analyst, archaeologist, producer, designer, and faculty at USC.
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
"With each passing scene, the giant birds taunt me. As Steve Martin races Kevin Bacon to the cab, I wonder, 'Why not hail an eagle instead?' As Neal furiously rants to the car rental lady, I'm reminded: 'All those fucks could've been avoided with an eagle.'"
Why Didn’t Eagles Just Fly Del and Neal to Chicago?
Every Thanksgiving, I watch the greatest comedy of all time: Planes, Trains and Automobiles. It’s beautifully written, intelligently directed, and ...
buff.ly
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"With each passing scene, the giant birds taunt me. As Steve Martin races Kevin Bacon to the cab, I wonder, 'Why not hail an eagle instead?' As Neal furiously rants to the car rental lady, I'm reminded: 'All those fucks could've been avoided with an eagle.'"
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
The designer of Mouse Trap, Rock'em Sock'em Robots, Lite Brite, and many other toys has passed away.
What a legacy of joy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/a...
What a legacy of joy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/a...
Burt Meyer, 99, Dies; Made Lite-Brite and Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The designer of Mouse Trap, Rock'em Sock'em Robots, Lite Brite, and many other toys has passed away.
What a legacy of joy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/a...
What a legacy of joy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/a...
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
For every carefree, "Don't stress, things always work themselves out!" person there is at least one extremely anxious, detail-oriented, forward-thinking loved one or coworker who has spent years behind the scenes making sure things work out
November 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
For every carefree, "Don't stress, things always work themselves out!" person there is at least one extremely anxious, detail-oriented, forward-thinking loved one or coworker who has spent years behind the scenes making sure things work out
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
you want a GOTY discussion? how about STUDIO LAYOFF OF THE YEAR
how about HR AI MODEL OF THE YEAR
how about COMPANY THAT JUST MAKES A GAME AND DOESN'T TAKE PE MONEY TO FLY DIRECTLY INTO THE GROUND OF THE YEAR
i'd watch those awards. i'd PRESENT those awards.
how about HR AI MODEL OF THE YEAR
how about COMPANY THAT JUST MAKES A GAME AND DOESN'T TAKE PE MONEY TO FLY DIRECTLY INTO THE GROUND OF THE YEAR
i'd watch those awards. i'd PRESENT those awards.
November 17, 2025 at 4:58 PM
you want a GOTY discussion? how about STUDIO LAYOFF OF THE YEAR
how about HR AI MODEL OF THE YEAR
how about COMPANY THAT JUST MAKES A GAME AND DOESN'T TAKE PE MONEY TO FLY DIRECTLY INTO THE GROUND OF THE YEAR
i'd watch those awards. i'd PRESENT those awards.
how about HR AI MODEL OF THE YEAR
how about COMPANY THAT JUST MAKES A GAME AND DOESN'T TAKE PE MONEY TO FLY DIRECTLY INTO THE GROUND OF THE YEAR
i'd watch those awards. i'd PRESENT those awards.
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
'Four cones wins, but in order to get a cone you have to build a civilization. Which is where the spirit cards come in'
November 15, 2025 at 11:25 PM
'Four cones wins, but in order to get a cone you have to build a civilization. Which is where the spirit cards come in'
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
they were called "MMOs" once and you found success through lots of single-player content, deep systems appealing to both singletons and groups, support for guild drama, and customer service that wasn't akin to getting a root canal, none of which seems to have made the transition to "live service"
How on earth do you find lasting, meaningful success with a live-service game? Developers answer the "billion dollar question". https://bit.ly/47xnpSv
November 11, 2025 at 1:19 AM
they were called "MMOs" once and you found success through lots of single-player content, deep systems appealing to both singletons and groups, support for guild drama, and customer service that wasn't akin to getting a root canal, none of which seems to have made the transition to "live service"
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
![Comic. Someone is claiming to predict the exact date of a future earthquake. Should you listen? [flowchart: start] → NO (There are big earthquakes constantly, so if anyone ever *does* figure this out, it will be immediately obvious that their method works and then the world’s seismologists will not shut up about it. You won’t need this flowchart.)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreic7wdqg4w6qfevbqzzq4esd6237pojsnpwsrbb7gaxsxobqaiwazm@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
In what is easily the funniest bug of the next ten minutes, in Europa Universalis V, you can hire Martin Luther as your cabinet member and then task him with converting your heretic Protestants back to Catholicism.
November 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM
In what is easily the funniest bug of the next ten minutes, in Europa Universalis V, you can hire Martin Luther as your cabinet member and then task him with converting your heretic Protestants back to Catholicism.
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
AAANNNNND that's a wrap. Here it is, folks, the top 10 board games in the world, according to the sort of delusional people who waste their time sorting board game lists on places like YouTube. (One of us, one of us)
If you like this content, please leave a comment.
www.zenofdesign.com/6493-2/
If you like this content, please leave a comment.
www.zenofdesign.com/6493-2/
November 4, 2025 at 11:39 PM
AAANNNNND that's a wrap. Here it is, folks, the top 10 board games in the world, according to the sort of delusional people who waste their time sorting board game lists on places like YouTube. (One of us, one of us)
If you like this content, please leave a comment.
www.zenofdesign.com/6493-2/
If you like this content, please leave a comment.
www.zenofdesign.com/6493-2/
I'm still convinced that Perfect Harmony (2019) is the beginning of Bradley Whitford's character arc, making it the prequel to The Handmaid's Tale (2017) TV series.
If only Dr. Cochran hadn't been fired, he wouldn't have rebranded himself as Joseph Lawrence and been the architect of Gilead.
If only Dr. Cochran hadn't been fired, he wouldn't have rebranded himself as Joseph Lawrence and been the architect of Gilead.
Johnny Dangerously (1984)
Married to the Mob (1988)
Oscar (1991)
Get Shorty (1995, series 2017-2019)
Micky Blue Eyes (1999)
#FilmSky📽️ whatcha got?
Married to the Mob (1988)
Oscar (1991)
Get Shorty (1995, series 2017-2019)
Micky Blue Eyes (1999)
#FilmSky📽️ whatcha got?
Name movie or tv universes that aren’t connected but should be.
November 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
I'm still convinced that Perfect Harmony (2019) is the beginning of Bradley Whitford's character arc, making it the prequel to The Handmaid's Tale (2017) TV series.
If only Dr. Cochran hadn't been fired, he wouldn't have rebranded himself as Joseph Lawrence and been the architect of Gilead.
If only Dr. Cochran hadn't been fired, he wouldn't have rebranded himself as Joseph Lawrence and been the architect of Gilead.
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
They made... an AI tool... to make AI... which is already built on actual writing... seem less like slop...
JUST DO THE WRITING YOURSELF TO BEGIN WITH JESUS FUCKING CHRIST
JUST DO THE WRITING YOURSELF TO BEGIN WITH JESUS FUCKING CHRIST
November 4, 2025 at 2:24 AM
They made... an AI tool... to make AI... which is already built on actual writing... seem less like slop...
JUST DO THE WRITING YOURSELF TO BEGIN WITH JESUS FUCKING CHRIST
JUST DO THE WRITING YOURSELF TO BEGIN WITH JESUS FUCKING CHRIST
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
Game design is simple, actually. Except when it isn't. Here are the 12 things you need to know.
Game design is simple, actually
So, let’s just walk through the whole thing, end to end. Here’s a twelve-step program for understanding game design. One: Fun There are a lot of things people call “fun.” But most of them are not useful for getting better at making games, which is usually why people read articles like this. The fun of a bit of confetti exploding in front of you, and the fun of excruciating pain and risk to life and limb as you free climb a cliff are just not usefully paired together.
www.raphkoster.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Game design is simple, actually. Except when it isn't. Here are the 12 things you need to know.
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
Still one of the best Halloween costumes I've ever seen.
I kind of want one.
I kind of want one.
October 31, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Still one of the best Halloween costumes I've ever seen.
I kind of want one.
I kind of want one.
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
I, too, am looking for the old woman who will speak to me of my fate upon looking at the scar where the wolf bit me
October 31, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I, too, am looking for the old woman who will speak to me of my fate upon looking at the scar where the wolf bit me
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
The Video Game History Expansion Pack – Pitch your story
Today I’m putting my money where my mouth is and launching a new project — a book focused on game history outside of the usual North American perspectives.
crpgbook.wordpress.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:11 PM
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
For those who like my board game lists, my unexpected time off has given me time to start publishing my UBERLIST, which is a compilation of all of the lists on the Internet I can find. So far, 100-91 is up, and I'll try to get another 10 or 20 up tomorrow.
www.zenofdesign.com/the-top-100-...
www.zenofdesign.com/the-top-100-...
The Top 100 Board Game FAMILIES of All Time: An Introduction – Zen Of Design
www.zenofdesign.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:43 PM
For those who like my board game lists, my unexpected time off has given me time to start publishing my UBERLIST, which is a compilation of all of the lists on the Internet I can find. So far, 100-91 is up, and I'll try to get another 10 or 20 up tomorrow.
www.zenofdesign.com/the-top-100-...
www.zenofdesign.com/the-top-100-...
Went with the extended family yesterday to sit in Mickey Cohen's booth before Coles French Dip closes.
October 27, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Went with the extended family yesterday to sit in Mickey Cohen's booth before Coles French Dip closes.
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
makes me weep to think of the gifts robbed from us because unaffordable housing has made it difficult for people to pursue their passions and hobbies
October 26, 2025 at 8:49 PM
makes me weep to think of the gifts robbed from us because unaffordable housing has made it difficult for people to pursue their passions and hobbies
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
Never in my life have I seen someone somehow smash bananas into laptop port
October 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Never in my life have I seen someone somehow smash bananas into laptop port
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
“What is something that’s as bad as drugs but isn’t drugs.”
October 22, 2025 at 11:30 PM
“What is something that’s as bad as drugs but isn’t drugs.”
This is a bot on Bluesky that deserves your support!
(AH AH AH Ahhh!)
(AH AH AH Ahhh!)
Today's number is Three Hundred Thirteen! AH AH AH!
October 22, 2025 at 4:59 PM
This is a bot on Bluesky that deserves your support!
(AH AH AH Ahhh!)
(AH AH AH Ahhh!)
Reposted by Kyle Ackerman
Your idea ain't shit if it don't playtest well.
What's your number one personal game design principle? And even better - does it have a cool name?
October 21, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Your idea ain't shit if it don't playtest well.