Len
@len.bsky.social
Solo indie developer. Strategy/RPG/Horror games freelancer at IGN, PC Gamer, and others. Producer: Three Moves Ahead. Lover of languages, folk metal, and history. she/they
sic semper tyrannis
sic semper tyrannis
Reposted by Len
Getting stuck causes players to explore the world.
Dying causes players to think about what they're doing.
An "impossible" situation causes players to learn how the game works and eventually achieve the impossible.
We need to be able to design *some* games around these fundamental ideas.
Dying causes players to think about what they're doing.
An "impossible" situation causes players to learn how the game works and eventually achieve the impossible.
We need to be able to design *some* games around these fundamental ideas.
November 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Getting stuck causes players to explore the world.
Dying causes players to think about what they're doing.
An "impossible" situation causes players to learn how the game works and eventually achieve the impossible.
We need to be able to design *some* games around these fundamental ideas.
Dying causes players to think about what they're doing.
An "impossible" situation causes players to learn how the game works and eventually achieve the impossible.
We need to be able to design *some* games around these fundamental ideas.
I've seen tons of comparisons between Fallen Order and Souls, but what this actually is at heart is a search action game. Like it's much more Jedi Metroid than it is Jedi Sekiro.
November 27, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I've seen tons of comparisons between Fallen Order and Souls, but what this actually is at heart is a search action game. Like it's much more Jedi Metroid than it is Jedi Sekiro.
Reposted by Len
Once again I confess to missing the old Steam sale structure where you had to check in every six hours to see the hottest Dealz, because I am sick in the head
November 27, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Once again I confess to missing the old Steam sale structure where you had to check in every six hours to see the hottest Dealz, because I am sick in the head
Thanksgiving is a high-tier holiday because it's one of the only proper Feasts we celebrate anymore. There used to be feasts all the time. The liturgical calendar is full of feasts. We should be doing more feasts. Like I'm not "having some friends over for dinner." We're holding a proper feast.
November 27, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Thanksgiving is a high-tier holiday because it's one of the only proper Feasts we celebrate anymore. There used to be feasts all the time. The liturgical calendar is full of feasts. We should be doing more feasts. Like I'm not "having some friends over for dinner." We're holding a proper feast.
I picked Jedi Survivor as the thing I was going to try to clear off my backlog over the holiday break (yeah, the first one) and it's... fine so far? I think the Uncharted-esque big opening set piece set my expectations high and the regular levels have not quite delivered so far.
November 27, 2025 at 3:56 AM
I picked Jedi Survivor as the thing I was going to try to clear off my backlog over the holiday break (yeah, the first one) and it's... fine so far? I think the Uncharted-esque big opening set piece set my expectations high and the regular levels have not quite delivered so far.
Reposted by Len
What if we threw every person involved in private equity into the ocean:
aftermath.site/splash-damage-...
aftermath.site/splash-damage-...
November 26, 2025 at 10:52 PM
What if we threw every person involved in private equity into the ocean:
aftermath.site/splash-damage-...
aftermath.site/splash-damage-...
Reposted by Len
Closest thing you'll see from me maybe ever to a personal essay about a video game vgbees.com/im-great-at-...
I'm Great At Baby Steps Because I Walk Like That In Real Life - VGBees
CW: medical talk, surgical talk, bones, car accident In late May, an uninsured Lexus driver ran a yellow light and pulled in front of me...
vgbees.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Closest thing you'll see from me maybe ever to a personal essay about a video game vgbees.com/im-great-at-...
cities skylines 2
November 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
cities skylines 2
I think any and all gender-affirming surgeries should only require informed consent but if you want Mar-A-Lago Face you probably should have to go through at least six months of counseling first.
November 26, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I think any and all gender-affirming surgeries should only require informed consent but if you want Mar-A-Lago Face you probably should have to go through at least six months of counseling first.
Oh, hey, War Sails is out for Mount & Blade 2, and it's good! I think if you've been waiting for a time to revisit Bannerlord, this is the best time there's ever been. Don't expect a completely transformed game. The core is mostly the same. But the naval stuff is quite impressive.
November 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Oh, hey, War Sails is out for Mount & Blade 2, and it's good! I think if you've been waiting for a time to revisit Bannerlord, this is the best time there's ever been. Don't expect a completely transformed game. The core is mostly the same. But the naval stuff is quite impressive.
"Adulthood" as we knew it growing up was always essentially a marketing scheme.
November 26, 2025 at 12:24 AM
"Adulthood" as we knew it growing up was always essentially a marketing scheme.
When you see someone you mentored posting like you did 3-5 years ago: "did I create a monster? nah, I turned out okay. they probably will too."
November 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
When you see someone you mentored posting like you did 3-5 years ago: "did I create a monster? nah, I turned out okay. they probably will too."
Reposted by Len
I think Demonschool is a good video game but I think Brandon’s approach to how staff worked together and were credited REALLY deserves a lot of attention. Video game crediting is a stupid black box and transparency will help average people understand these roles.
demonschool credits all 145 people who touched the game over the course of its multi-year dev cycle AND explains what exactly they contributed. the rest of the games industry, which commonly omits people from credits entirely, should be taking notes
November 25, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I think Demonschool is a good video game but I think Brandon’s approach to how staff worked together and were credited REALLY deserves a lot of attention. Video game crediting is a stupid black box and transparency will help average people understand these roles.
Reposted by Len
Evil emperor kicks a wretched homunculus into the pit for failing to find the Chosen One – a classic failure to apply the RACI matrix.
💪 Responsible: the Wretched Homunculi
💀 Accountable: the Scheming Vizier <- kick HIM into the pit
🤷 Consulted: the Dark Oracles
👁️ Informed: the Fetid Stakeholders
💪 Responsible: the Wretched Homunculi
💀 Accountable: the Scheming Vizier <- kick HIM into the pit
🤷 Consulted: the Dark Oracles
👁️ Informed: the Fetid Stakeholders
November 25, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Evil emperor kicks a wretched homunculus into the pit for failing to find the Chosen One – a classic failure to apply the RACI matrix.
💪 Responsible: the Wretched Homunculi
💀 Accountable: the Scheming Vizier <- kick HIM into the pit
🤷 Consulted: the Dark Oracles
👁️ Informed: the Fetid Stakeholders
💪 Responsible: the Wretched Homunculi
💀 Accountable: the Scheming Vizier <- kick HIM into the pit
🤷 Consulted: the Dark Oracles
👁️ Informed: the Fetid Stakeholders
don't you know it's rude to ask a girl to rank all the star wars?
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
don't you know it's rude to ask a girl to rank all the star wars?
Reposted by Len
I'm getting real tired of not being able to trust that a video game doesn't have AI crap in it:
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
November 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
I'm getting real tired of not being able to trust that a video game doesn't have AI crap in it:
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
If my past self summoned me from the future and asked when World of Warcraft would add player housing and I said "In 21 years" there is a zero percent chance I would think the spell worked.
November 24, 2025 at 1:43 AM
If my past self summoned me from the future and asked when World of Warcraft would add player housing and I said "In 21 years" there is a zero percent chance I would think the spell worked.
Proving my parents wrong about video games being a silly triviality for kids, if I'm being perfectly honest.
November 23, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Proving my parents wrong about video games being a silly triviality for kids, if I'm being perfectly honest.
Reposted by Len
Hey it's me! Had a great time doing the @3ma.bsky.social podcast about #Anno! Give it a listen!
We had a fantastic panel this week as, @len.bsky.social and @jonbolds.bsky.social are joined by special guests @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social and @thedaynaeileen.bsky.social to build Rome in a day in Anno 117: Pax Romana
www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Anno 117: Pax Romana
Episode 642. Perfidious Albion.
www.idlethumbs.net
November 22, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Hey it's me! Had a great time doing the @3ma.bsky.social podcast about #Anno! Give it a listen!
"We must be careful about judging people from the past using our own, modern moral framework" is one of those things I hear repeated uncritically so often because it kind of sounds wise. It has a flavor of erudition and fairness. But I think it's quite uncomplicatedly correct to say: "No we don't."
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 AM
"We must be careful about judging people from the past using our own, modern moral framework" is one of those things I hear repeated uncritically so often because it kind of sounds wise. It has a flavor of erudition and fairness. But I think it's quite uncomplicatedly correct to say: "No we don't."
Reposted by Len
So happy I got to talk about a game and franchise that has been a big part of my life for like 5 years? 6 years?
You cam hear my excitement when I talk about the fact you can plant your crops in 3 different shapes lol
Thank y'all for having me on! Give it a listen!
You cam hear my excitement when I talk about the fact you can plant your crops in 3 different shapes lol
Thank y'all for having me on! Give it a listen!
We had a fantastic panel this week as, @len.bsky.social and @jonbolds.bsky.social are joined by special guests @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social and @thedaynaeileen.bsky.social to build Rome in a day in Anno 117: Pax Romana
www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Anno 117: Pax Romana
Episode 642. Perfidious Albion.
www.idlethumbs.net
November 22, 2025 at 12:55 AM
So happy I got to talk about a game and franchise that has been a big part of my life for like 5 years? 6 years?
You cam hear my excitement when I talk about the fact you can plant your crops in 3 different shapes lol
Thank y'all for having me on! Give it a listen!
You cam hear my excitement when I talk about the fact you can plant your crops in 3 different shapes lol
Thank y'all for having me on! Give it a listen!
Reposted by Len
I've got wonderful news, there was a great r/askhistorians post on this a couple days ago! Even answers the club question.
reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
From the AskHistorians community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the AskHistorians community
reddit.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:53 AM
I've got wonderful news, there was a great r/askhistorians post on this a couple days ago! Even answers the club question.
reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
Reposted by Len
Canonically, Morpheus died during the events of The Matrix Online.
After "film trilogy that dropped a critical plot point exclusively via timed Fortnite event" and "video game series whose story only makes sense if you're aware of the events of a canon pachinko machine", I feel like there are whole frontiers of user-hostile narrative design waiting to be explored.
November 22, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Canonically, Morpheus died during the events of The Matrix Online.
Reposted by Len
We had a fantastic panel this week as, @len.bsky.social and @jonbolds.bsky.social are joined by special guests @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social and @thedaynaeileen.bsky.social to build Rome in a day in Anno 117: Pax Romana
www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Anno 117: Pax Romana
Episode 642. Perfidious Albion.
www.idlethumbs.net
November 22, 2025 at 12:06 AM
We had a fantastic panel this week as, @len.bsky.social and @jonbolds.bsky.social are joined by special guests @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social and @thedaynaeileen.bsky.social to build Rome in a day in Anno 117: Pax Romana
www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Reposted by Len
desertbus.org/2025/prize/V... This is our VERY LAST giveaway of the Desert Bus for Hope 2025 run! And it's definitely worth the wait. This 1:1 scale FF7 Buster Sword replica is finally up for grabs, and if you want a chance to win...then donate $7.77 or multiples thereof by 11:45am PST!!
1:1 Scale FF VII Buster Sword Replica
This 1:1 scale recreation of the iconic Buster Sword from Final Fantasy 7 is a behemoth of a prop. Measuring a staggering 170cm (5′7″) long it's sure to impress, whether it's as a cosplay accessory...
desertbus.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
desertbus.org/2025/prize/V... This is our VERY LAST giveaway of the Desert Bus for Hope 2025 run! And it's definitely worth the wait. This 1:1 scale FF7 Buster Sword replica is finally up for grabs, and if you want a chance to win...then donate $7.77 or multiples thereof by 11:45am PST!!