Laura E. Hall
@lauraehall.bsky.social
Mysteries, puzzles, adventures. I make games & escape rooms, write books & preserve immersive history. PDX. They/she
PLANNING YOUR ESCAPE (Simon & Schuster), KATAMARI DAMACY (Boss Fight Books)
✨ lauraehall.com
🔎 cfia.org
🎙️ eggplant.show
PLANNING YOUR ESCAPE (Simon & Schuster), KATAMARI DAMACY (Boss Fight Books)
✨ lauraehall.com
🔎 cfia.org
🎙️ eggplant.show
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
A good meditation on why just "recreating" an historic structure architecturally without the everyday lived context ends up with a sterile result.
Also why thoughtful environmental storytelling is so powerful
Also why thoughtful environmental storytelling is so powerful
For this weekend's PC Gamer column, I went for a walk through Kowloon Walled City
(in Minecraft).
www.pcgamer.com/games/surviv...
(in Minecraft).
www.pcgamer.com/games/surviv...
This Minecraft map that recreates one of history's most notorious slums made me reconsider what's important in 3D level design
Kowloon Walled City in Minecraft is a feat of virtual architecture, but it's missing one crucial ingredient.
www.pcgamer.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
A good meditation on why just "recreating" an historic structure architecturally without the everyday lived context ends up with a sterile result.
Also why thoughtful environmental storytelling is so powerful
Also why thoughtful environmental storytelling is so powerful
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Escape to another world
November 30, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Escape to another world
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
monsterus2 #basilisk #manticore ink and brush on paper to see soph franz’s version of this monster check out a free patreon post www.patreon.com/posts/144635...
November 29, 2025 at 3:13 AM
monsterus2 #basilisk #manticore ink and brush on paper to see soph franz’s version of this monster check out a free patreon post www.patreon.com/posts/144635...
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Does anyone have a good sample of a letter of introduction to provide a student to use foreign archives? The AHA claims to have one but it is a broken link. We need one in Spanish, Italian, and German. C'mon, help a girl out, people!
November 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Does anyone have a good sample of a letter of introduction to provide a student to use foreign archives? The AHA claims to have one but it is a broken link. We need one in Spanish, Italian, and German. C'mon, help a girl out, people!
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
the secret is that people actually still crave this but dragging them away from the skinnerbox that keeps them unhappy is difficult
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Bookselling is like the most "people go to the store and buy what looks cool to them without a particular agenda" type business left, and your purchases have a huge influence on what is ordered, what is displayed, and what is recommended.
November 29, 2025 at 8:41 PM
the secret is that people actually still crave this but dragging them away from the skinnerbox that keeps them unhappy is difficult
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Bookselling is like the most "people go to the store and buy what looks cool to them without a particular agenda" type business left, and your purchases have a huge influence on what is ordered, what is displayed, and what is recommended.
November 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
The X-Files is genuinely a timelessly good show, because when not focusing on overarching conspiracy plot, they would really just focus on a single concept and quite crucially, it would cast an incredible actor to center the episode around who would be utterly god damn captivating to watch.
November 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The X-Files is genuinely a timelessly good show, because when not focusing on overarching conspiracy plot, they would really just focus on a single concept and quite crucially, it would cast an incredible actor to center the episode around who would be utterly god damn captivating to watch.
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Tomorrow, GDQ will be hosting its first disability and neurodivergent-led event. I spoke with the hosts and organizers, exploring the importance of disability representation within the speedrunning community. Read my latest Access Designed on @ign.com here: www.ign.com/articles/gam...
Games Done Quick's New Disability and Neurodivergence Special Is An Important Step For Accessible Events - IGN
Speedrunning charity drive Games Done Quick is holding a Disability and Neurodivergence Special this weekend, and is an important step for accessibility in gaming events.
www.ign.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Tomorrow, GDQ will be hosting its first disability and neurodivergent-led event. I spoke with the hosts and organizers, exploring the importance of disability representation within the speedrunning community. Read my latest Access Designed on @ign.com here: www.ign.com/articles/gam...
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
sorry i can't go to that thing tonight. yeah im gonna be busy taking poison damage and cycling through the same three grunting sound effects. yeah.
November 28, 2025 at 2:54 AM
sorry i can't go to that thing tonight. yeah im gonna be busy taking poison damage and cycling through the same three grunting sound effects. yeah.
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Thrilled to share the Point Reyes Myriorama: a storytelling art deck inspired by the National Seashore and my love of Philip Pullman. I teamed up with artist Carrie Alyson of Aspenhearted. Preorder now for early 2026 delivery: www.pointreyesmyriorama.com
The Point Reyes Myriorama | 24-Card Illustrated Deck
Explore Point Reyes through 24 illustrated cards. Every edge lines up seamlessly to create infinite panoramic landscapes. Includes guidebook.
www.pointreyesmyriorama.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Thrilled to share the Point Reyes Myriorama: a storytelling art deck inspired by the National Seashore and my love of Philip Pullman. I teamed up with artist Carrie Alyson of Aspenhearted. Preorder now for early 2026 delivery: www.pointreyesmyriorama.com
Fun news for puzzle fans! The golden hare from the 1979 armchair treasure hunt book Masquerade by Kit Williams will be auctioned at Sotheby's, estimated at a value of £15,000 to £20,000 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home... (Who wants to crowdfund with me? 👀)
Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Fun news for puzzle fans! The golden hare from the 1979 armchair treasure hunt book Masquerade by Kit Williams will be auctioned at Sotheby's, estimated at a value of £15,000 to £20,000 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home... (Who wants to crowdfund with me? 👀)
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Inspired by lo-fi study beats and driven by my desire for peaceful winter ambience, Endless Winters is a simple hack of EarthBound that perpetually pans over a snowy landscape.
Designed for original hardware, it functions as a installation piece that can be quickly installed using a SNES and a CRT.
Designed for original hardware, it functions as a installation piece that can be quickly installed using a SNES and a CRT.
Endless Winters by Michael Iantorno
A lo-fi ambient hack of EarthBound
michaeliantorno.itch.io
November 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Inspired by lo-fi study beats and driven by my desire for peaceful winter ambience, Endless Winters is a simple hack of EarthBound that perpetually pans over a snowy landscape.
Designed for original hardware, it functions as a installation piece that can be quickly installed using a SNES and a CRT.
Designed for original hardware, it functions as a installation piece that can be quickly installed using a SNES and a CRT.
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Book of Hours
Netherlands, Haarlem, 1445-1460
MS M.1031 fol. 52v.
Netherlands, Haarlem, 1445-1460
MS M.1031 fol. 52v.
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Book of Hours
Netherlands, Haarlem, 1445-1460
MS M.1031 fol. 52v.
Netherlands, Haarlem, 1445-1460
MS M.1031 fol. 52v.
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
narrator: 50 years ago...
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
November 25, 2025 at 2:11 AM
narrator: 50 years ago...
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
The holidays are here, and that means it's time to scramble and find the perfect gift for your family & friends.
We're here to help, whether that's helping you find something or to help you drop some big hints to those shopping for you!
The NoPro Gift Guide is here!
We're here to help, whether that's helping you find something or to help you drop some big hints to those shopping for you!
The NoPro Gift Guide is here!
NoPro’s 2025 Gift Guide for Immersive Fans & Makers
The annual NoPro Gift Guide for the immersive fans and makers in your life!
www.noproscenium.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The holidays are here, and that means it's time to scramble and find the perfect gift for your family & friends.
We're here to help, whether that's helping you find something or to help you drop some big hints to those shopping for you!
The NoPro Gift Guide is here!
We're here to help, whether that's helping you find something or to help you drop some big hints to those shopping for you!
The NoPro Gift Guide is here!
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Here he is with a hat to make him beautiful
February 5, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Here he is with a hat to make him beautiful
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
EIGHT HOURS of Adventure X talks start with the always insightful and entertaining Jon Ingold (Inkle, 80 Days, Heaven's Vault, etc etc).
On Story Generation: Concept to plot.
Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/live/MoIph1L... #adventurex #advx25
On Story Generation: Concept to plot.
Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/live/MoIph1L... #adventurex #advx25
AdventureX 2025
YouTube video by AdventureX
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
EIGHT HOURS of Adventure X talks start with the always insightful and entertaining Jon Ingold (Inkle, 80 Days, Heaven's Vault, etc etc).
On Story Generation: Concept to plot.
Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/live/MoIph1L... #adventurex #advx25
On Story Generation: Concept to plot.
Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/live/MoIph1L... #adventurex #advx25
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
We did something different with the credits for Demonschool. We used this format: name, title, lengthy description of what they did. Often you see credits in games where you don't know what the credited developer was actually responsible for. We wanted to give people proper, actual credit.
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
We did something different with the credits for Demonschool. We used this format: name, title, lengthy description of what they did. Often you see credits in games where you don't know what the credited developer was actually responsible for. We wanted to give people proper, actual credit.
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
i was going through my X archives and found this by @superpodsaga.com, which I qrt'd at some point years ago
so, let me bring the question back: what is the most useless piece of video game knowledge you know?
so, let me bring the question back: what is the most useless piece of video game knowledge you know?
July 4, 2025 at 8:59 PM
i was going through my X archives and found this by @superpodsaga.com, which I qrt'd at some point years ago
so, let me bring the question back: what is the most useless piece of video game knowledge you know?
so, let me bring the question back: what is the most useless piece of video game knowledge you know?
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
upper east side mashup
November 24, 2025 at 7:44 AM
upper east side mashup
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
walking my fish
November 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
walking my fish
Reposted by Laura E. Hall
Good luck losing less than an hour to this: a huge archive of logos for government, non-profit, private, military, and even fictional space agencies and companies. [kottke.org]
The Space Exploration Logo Archive
Good luck losing less than an hour to this: a huge archive of logos for government, non-profit, private, military, and even fictional space agencies and companies. There is also a book, but it looks like it was only
kottke.org
October 16, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Good luck losing less than an hour to this: a huge archive of logos for government, non-profit, private, military, and even fictional space agencies and companies. [kottke.org]