oliver
@oliverbates.co.uk
design researcher. he/him
researching through making games, zines and critical tea towels about climate futures, tech, and systems.
Links to my stuff: https://oliverbates.co.uk
https://fractals.coop/ and research fellow @ lancaster uni
researching through making games, zines and critical tea towels about climate futures, tech, and systems.
Links to my stuff: https://oliverbates.co.uk
https://fractals.coop/ and research fellow @ lancaster uni
Pinned
oliver
@oliverbates.co.uk
· Jul 25
Orientation by oliver bates
What would you do if all the big-tech map apps became inaccessible?
oliverbates.itch.io
Orientation is being released today! oliverbates.itch.io/orientation
It's a game/zine about learning to map in a world where the map apps we took for granted are no longer accessible.
#indiegames #zines #rpg
It's a game/zine about learning to map in a world where the map apps we took for granted are no longer accessible.
#indiegames #zines #rpg
Always happy to help you get something out your head.
February 6, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Always happy to help you get something out your head.
Insurgent Tea towels that look and feel like stretch goal rewards, but are actually provocations, manuals or artefacts you can deposit in a game box that some people inadvertently use, changing how the game plays.
February 6, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Insurgent Tea towels that look and feel like stretch goal rewards, but are actually provocations, manuals or artefacts you can deposit in a game box that some people inadvertently use, changing how the game plays.
Did you make any more game components in this vein? We chatted about fixing monopoly and some other things on that train ride to Manchester.
February 6, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Did you make any more game components in this vein? We chatted about fixing monopoly and some other things on that train ride to Manchester.
Reposted by oliver
Had a great time with the @iggi-phd.bsky.social jam this week. One of the suggested constraints was to use Qualtrics (survey platform) as a game engine, and it piqued my interest so I put a small game together. It's called Research Survey - benkirman.itch.io/research-sur...
Research Survey by benkirman
A survey to collect data that is important for research.
benkirman.itch.io
January 16, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Had a great time with the @iggi-phd.bsky.social jam this week. One of the suggested constraints was to use Qualtrics (survey platform) as a game engine, and it piqued my interest so I put a small game together. It's called Research Survey - benkirman.itch.io/research-sur...
Reposted by oliver
Get this occult action thriller ttRPG for 1-7 people. Perfect if you enjoy playing powerful undead revenants embroiled in breakneck action, interpersonal drama, and occult investigation. Soundtrack by @mollynoise.bsky.social and human-made art by @stregawolf.art. Jump in now for early bird deals!
Coming soon: The Thunder Perfect Mind
An Occult Action Thriller Tabletop RPG
www.kickstarter.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Get this occult action thriller ttRPG for 1-7 people. Perfect if you enjoy playing powerful undead revenants embroiled in breakneck action, interpersonal drama, and occult investigation. Soundtrack by @mollynoise.bsky.social and human-made art by @stregawolf.art. Jump in now for early bird deals!
Reposted by oliver
Support our wonderful game!
Wishing you a happy new year, full of good health, happiness, and adventure!
Our first project, All Will Rise, will be launching on Kickstarter in early 2026. Please consider supporting!
Link: www.kickstarter.com/projects/spe...
#IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev
Our first project, All Will Rise, will be launching on Kickstarter in early 2026. Please consider supporting!
Link: www.kickstarter.com/projects/spe...
#IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev
January 1, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Support our wonderful game!
Reposted by oliver
Wishing you a happy new year, full of good health, happiness, and adventure!
Our first project, All Will Rise, will be launching on Kickstarter in early 2026. Please consider supporting!
Link: www.kickstarter.com/projects/spe...
#IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev
Our first project, All Will Rise, will be launching on Kickstarter in early 2026. Please consider supporting!
Link: www.kickstarter.com/projects/spe...
#IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev
January 1, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Wishing you a happy new year, full of good health, happiness, and adventure!
Our first project, All Will Rise, will be launching on Kickstarter in early 2026. Please consider supporting!
Link: www.kickstarter.com/projects/spe...
#IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev
Our first project, All Will Rise, will be launching on Kickstarter in early 2026. Please consider supporting!
Link: www.kickstarter.com/projects/spe...
#IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev
Reposted by oliver
Tempo Sync Reverser by Niall Moody is a free VST Plugin for Windows, macOS "Reverses the sound for a set amount of time" https://www.niallmoody.com/ndcplugs/tsreverser.htm
December 19, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Tempo Sync Reverser by Niall Moody is a free VST Plugin for Windows, macOS "Reverses the sound for a set amount of time" https://www.niallmoody.com/ndcplugs/tsreverser.htm
Reposted by oliver
Important Takeaways:
- @pftompkins.bsky.social is nice
- a berk is a muppet (a type of prat)
- listen to What’s All This Then wherever you get your podcasts for more insights like this
- @pftompkins.bsky.social is nice
- a berk is a muppet (a type of prat)
- listen to What’s All This Then wherever you get your podcasts for more insights like this
November 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Important Takeaways:
- @pftompkins.bsky.social is nice
- a berk is a muppet (a type of prat)
- listen to What’s All This Then wherever you get your podcasts for more insights like this
- @pftompkins.bsky.social is nice
- a berk is a muppet (a type of prat)
- listen to What’s All This Then wherever you get your podcasts for more insights like this
Reposted by oliver
🍃 Are you a interested in a PhD in NetZero Futures?
The NetZero Futures Doctoral Landscape are offering fully funded EPSRC studentships for Royal College of Art PhD students starting in September 2026 and September 2027.
How to apply ➡️ www.rca.ac.uk/study/apply-...
The NetZero Futures Doctoral Landscape are offering fully funded EPSRC studentships for Royal College of Art PhD students starting in September 2026 and September 2027.
How to apply ➡️ www.rca.ac.uk/study/apply-...
Fully Funded Doctoral Landscape Studentship: NetZero Futures
NetZero Futures Doctoral Landscape Award is a Fully funded EPSRC scholarship with the RCA.
www.rca.ac.uk
October 20, 2025 at 9:54 AM
🍃 Are you a interested in a PhD in NetZero Futures?
The NetZero Futures Doctoral Landscape are offering fully funded EPSRC studentships for Royal College of Art PhD students starting in September 2026 and September 2027.
How to apply ➡️ www.rca.ac.uk/study/apply-...
The NetZero Futures Doctoral Landscape are offering fully funded EPSRC studentships for Royal College of Art PhD students starting in September 2026 and September 2027.
How to apply ➡️ www.rca.ac.uk/study/apply-...
Reposted by oliver
Bumper-load of new zines have been listed on the distro for ya.
Starting with: Cervical Screening for Trans+ Autistic People: a tool for self advocacy penfightdistro.com/shop/cervica...
Starting with: Cervical Screening for Trans+ Autistic People: a tool for self advocacy penfightdistro.com/shop/cervica...
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Bumper-load of new zines have been listed on the distro for ya.
Starting with: Cervical Screening for Trans+ Autistic People: a tool for self advocacy penfightdistro.com/shop/cervica...
Starting with: Cervical Screening for Trans+ Autistic People: a tool for self advocacy penfightdistro.com/shop/cervica...
Reposted by oliver
CFP for a special issue of Eludamos. What are antifascist games? Proposal deadline is December 19.
eludamos.org/index.php/el...
eludamos.org/index.php/el...
Special Issue: WHAT ARE ANTIFASCIST GAMES?
| Eludamos: Journal for Computer Game Culture
eludamos.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:18 PM
CFP for a special issue of Eludamos. What are antifascist games? Proposal deadline is December 19.
eludamos.org/index.php/el...
eludamos.org/index.php/el...
UNDERSTAND ME FOR I AM A HUMAN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE TO ANOTHER HUMAN.
I love doing the academic writing i love. For me it’ all about being in dialogue with the writing, the ideas in my head, and trying to process and learn as I write. I have to iterate. And through iteration is where I do my best
I love doing the academic writing i love. For me it’ all about being in dialogue with the writing, the ideas in my head, and trying to process and learn as I write. I have to iterate. And through iteration is where I do my best
November 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
UNDERSTAND ME FOR I AM A HUMAN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE TO ANOTHER HUMAN.
I love doing the academic writing i love. For me it’ all about being in dialogue with the writing, the ideas in my head, and trying to process and learn as I write. I have to iterate. And through iteration is where I do my best
I love doing the academic writing i love. For me it’ all about being in dialogue with the writing, the ideas in my head, and trying to process and learn as I write. I have to iterate. And through iteration is where I do my best
Reposted by oliver
Saw a post today that advised writers to stop writing as if a human will read it and start writing for an LLM that will be summarising.
As someone who really enjoyed trying to develop a peculiar but readable authorial voice, I find this incredibly depressing.
As someone who really enjoyed trying to develop a peculiar but readable authorial voice, I find this incredibly depressing.
November 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Saw a post today that advised writers to stop writing as if a human will read it and start writing for an LLM that will be summarising.
As someone who really enjoyed trying to develop a peculiar but readable authorial voice, I find this incredibly depressing.
As someone who really enjoyed trying to develop a peculiar but readable authorial voice, I find this incredibly depressing.
Reposted by oliver
On today's #TransDayOfRemembrance I'm reminded of this scene from Celeste (a game which draws heavily on trans themes). I was brought to tears when I first played it. So many names every year, it hits hard.
November 20, 2025 at 8:42 AM
On today's #TransDayOfRemembrance I'm reminded of this scene from Celeste (a game which draws heavily on trans themes). I was brought to tears when I first played it. So many names every year, it hits hard.
Reposted by oliver
Deadline for Expressions of Interest for the funded Doctoral Landscape Awards is Monday 17 November at noon. EoIs aren't mandatory, but are encouraged if you're thinking about applying. #PhDfunding #research
Want to do a (funded for UK students) PhD with me? If you're interested in games, posthumanism, avatars, affect, embodiment or any of the other stuff I do (or my colleagues do for that matter) take a look! www.bcu.ac.uk/research/doc... #PhDfunding #PhDstudentship #AHRC #DoctoralFunding #GameStudies
Doctoral Landscape Awards
The AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award is a major new funding scheme from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Its aim is to grow the UK’s capacity for doctoral research in the arts and humanit...
www.bcu.ac.uk
November 14, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Deadline for Expressions of Interest for the funded Doctoral Landscape Awards is Monday 17 November at noon. EoIs aren't mandatory, but are encouraged if you're thinking about applying. #PhDfunding #research
Reposted by oliver
PSA - reminder that #DiGRA2026 submissions due THREE WEEKS TODAY (deadline for full papers and abstracts Monday 1 December).
Obligatory "how is so soon??" "what I am going to submit??" panic may now commence.
www.digraconference2026.com
Obligatory "how is so soon??" "what I am going to submit??" panic may now commence.
www.digraconference2026.com
DiGRA 2026 Conference | Maynooth University, Ireland
Join the DiGRA 2026 conference at Maynooth University, 14–18 June 2026. Theme “Intersectional Pleasures.” A global hybrid event for game research, culture, design, and industry.
www.digraconference2026.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM
PSA - reminder that #DiGRA2026 submissions due THREE WEEKS TODAY (deadline for full papers and abstracts Monday 1 December).
Obligatory "how is so soon??" "what I am going to submit??" panic may now commence.
www.digraconference2026.com
Obligatory "how is so soon??" "what I am going to submit??" panic may now commence.
www.digraconference2026.com
Reposted by oliver
If you want to do research that is ethically committed and makes labor movements stronger, this is a collection of reflections from those who have been there and done that.
"This essential book articulates and embodies ethical knowledge production amidst the rising tide of tech authoritarianism...It is an inspiring and critical corrective to the proliferation of apolitical research on Big Tech." —@veenadubal.bsky.social
⚡️ buff.ly/eFJqFWQ
⚡️ buff.ly/eFJqFWQ
November 13, 2025 at 2:29 AM
If you want to do research that is ethically committed and makes labor movements stronger, this is a collection of reflections from those who have been there and done that.
Congrats to Hazel and all the other award receivers and honorable mentioners! Full list of awards is here: www.goldencobra.org/2025winners....
November 10, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Congrats to Hazel and all the other award receivers and honorable mentioners! Full list of awards is here: www.goldencobra.org/2025winners....
My amazing friend @hazelxd.bsky.social just won an Honorable Mention at this years Golden Cobra Challenge with their game Paranormal Parasocial www.goldencobra.org/submissions2...
Check it out!
#games #indie #awards #GoldenCobra2025
Check it out!
#games #indie #awards #GoldenCobra2025
Golden Cobra Challenge
www.goldencobra.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:11 AM
My amazing friend @hazelxd.bsky.social just won an Honorable Mention at this years Golden Cobra Challenge with their game Paranormal Parasocial www.goldencobra.org/submissions2...
Check it out!
#games #indie #awards #GoldenCobra2025
Check it out!
#games #indie #awards #GoldenCobra2025
Reposted by oliver
Decolonisers of Catan (with dice that only roll 7s) #boardgames #catan
October 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Decolonisers of Catan (with dice that only roll 7s) #boardgames #catan
Reposted by oliver
Hello there! For my first post on this here social network, here's a new thing I've been working on, a live sampler where you scrub through the sound by pulling a string. It has a filter!
November 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Hello there! For my first post on this here social network, here's a new thing I've been working on, a live sampler where you scrub through the sound by pulling a string. It has a filter!
Reposted by oliver
"Dead Wife Detective Simulator" (Mercy (2026)) - Episode 596
@theweeklyplanet.bsky.social #weeklyplanetpod
@theweeklyplanet.bsky.social #weeklyplanetpod
October 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
"Dead Wife Detective Simulator" (Mercy (2026)) - Episode 596
@theweeklyplanet.bsky.social #weeklyplanetpod
@theweeklyplanet.bsky.social #weeklyplanetpod
I zine-ified Screw That: A Resource Scarcity game this morning.
oliverbates.itch.io/screw-that
It's a (very) small frustrating game/LARP sort of thing about a future where your plumbing stops working for some reason.
#zines #games #indie
oliverbates.itch.io/screw-that
It's a (very) small frustrating game/LARP sort of thing about a future where your plumbing stops working for some reason.
#zines #games #indie
SCREW THAT! A resource scarcity game by oliver bates
A little resource scarcity game, exploring possible futures and systems
oliverbates.itch.io
October 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I zine-ified Screw That: A Resource Scarcity game this morning.
oliverbates.itch.io/screw-that
It's a (very) small frustrating game/LARP sort of thing about a future where your plumbing stops working for some reason.
#zines #games #indie
oliverbates.itch.io/screw-that
It's a (very) small frustrating game/LARP sort of thing about a future where your plumbing stops working for some reason.
#zines #games #indie