Caleb
@thepwnicorn.bsky.social
Technical/3D artist & game designer. Assistant Professor of Game Design and Animation @LMU. Ex-Otherworld Interactive
Pinned
Caleb
@thepwnicorn.bsky.social
· Dec 1
Here's my growing block list I continue to add to. Mostly full of maga trolls and other spam accounts. Feel free to share/subscribe/block all
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by Caleb
Easy explanation: Rich people are not good people. Having more than everybody corrupts your mind into thinking you are special. There's no secret sauce here rich people are just selfish.
This fascinating new research overturns longstanding assumptions. It finds that lower-income groups are more concerned about the environment and prefer environmental protection over economic growth, compared to higher-income groups. Data from the USA.
June 2, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Easy explanation: Rich people are not good people. Having more than everybody corrupts your mind into thinking you are special. There's no secret sauce here rich people are just selfish.
Reposted by Caleb
I agree the mech and dragon sequences feel superfluous in Dark Ages, and the game would be better off without them.
But going back to what I was saying before on game design?
Nobody could tell you mechs would be boring on paper. It SOUNDS great. Big Doom guy mech!
www.polygon.com/opinion/6012...
But going back to what I was saying before on game design?
Nobody could tell you mechs would be boring on paper. It SOUNDS great. Big Doom guy mech!
www.polygon.com/opinion/6012...
Maybe Doom: The Dark Ages didn’t need mechs and dragons after all
Why punch demons when ya got a chainsaw shield?
www.polygon.com
May 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I agree the mech and dragon sequences feel superfluous in Dark Ages, and the game would be better off without them.
But going back to what I was saying before on game design?
Nobody could tell you mechs would be boring on paper. It SOUNDS great. Big Doom guy mech!
www.polygon.com/opinion/6012...
But going back to what I was saying before on game design?
Nobody could tell you mechs would be boring on paper. It SOUNDS great. Big Doom guy mech!
www.polygon.com/opinion/6012...
Reposted by Caleb
slight spoilers but this random-ass stock photo bit is one of my favorite parts of creepy redneck dinosaur mansion 3 (which you should wishlist by the way)
store.steampowered.com/app/2116510/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2116510/...
April 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
slight spoilers but this random-ass stock photo bit is one of my favorite parts of creepy redneck dinosaur mansion 3 (which you should wishlist by the way)
store.steampowered.com/app/2116510/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2116510/...
Reposted by Caleb
can we take a moment to celebrate the magnificent economy of the phrase "dipshit sex pest failsons asking chatgpt to regurgitate a trade policy for them"
The US tariffs were designed by dipshit sex pest failsons asking chatgpt to regurgitate a trade policy for them, it's literally a chatgpt tax on Americans.
Calling it the chatgpt tax on American consumers kills two fucked up birds with one stone
Calling it the chatgpt tax on American consumers kills two fucked up birds with one stone
April 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
can we take a moment to celebrate the magnificent economy of the phrase "dipshit sex pest failsons asking chatgpt to regurgitate a trade policy for them"
Reposted by Caleb
Love this idea introduced to me by Adrian Hon's newsletter: "Para-academic: serious treatments of subjects under-examined by academia, by writers outside or excluded from academia."
Aka almost all serious and broadly used game design writing and theory.
Aka almost all serious and broadly used game design writing and theory.
March 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Love this idea introduced to me by Adrian Hon's newsletter: "Para-academic: serious treatments of subjects under-examined by academia, by writers outside or excluded from academia."
Aka almost all serious and broadly used game design writing and theory.
Aka almost all serious and broadly used game design writing and theory.
Reposted by Caleb
I just wrapped up a 90m sneak peek and Q&A for our Kickstarter launch day for Stars Reach.
What a day. Running on 2 hours of sleep, barely got to eat... but the amazing response has just floored us all. Funded in less than an hour, front page of KS and Project They Love...
What a day. Running on 2 hours of sleep, barely got to eat... but the amazing response has just floored us all. Funded in less than an hour, front page of KS and Project They Love...
February 26, 2025 at 3:59 AM
I just wrapped up a 90m sneak peek and Q&A for our Kickstarter launch day for Stars Reach.
What a day. Running on 2 hours of sleep, barely got to eat... but the amazing response has just floored us all. Funded in less than an hour, front page of KS and Project They Love...
What a day. Running on 2 hours of sleep, barely got to eat... but the amazing response has just floored us all. Funded in less than an hour, front page of KS and Project They Love...
Reposted by Caleb
HOLY COW! Stars Reach hit its funding target in less than one hour, and is currently the #2 product globally on Kickstarter.
I cannot express how grateful we are here.
We will start unlocking stretch goals and more Early Birds (they went FAST)!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sta...
I cannot express how grateful we are here.
We will start unlocking stretch goals and more Early Birds (they went FAST)!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sta...
STARS REACH: A Living Galaxy Sandbox MMORPG🌌
Explore a living galaxy in a shardless sandbox MMORPG from the visionary team led by Raph Koster, designer of Ultima Online & SWG.
www.kickstarter.com
February 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
HOLY COW! Stars Reach hit its funding target in less than one hour, and is currently the #2 product globally on Kickstarter.
I cannot express how grateful we are here.
We will start unlocking stretch goals and more Early Birds (they went FAST)!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sta...
I cannot express how grateful we are here.
We will start unlocking stretch goals and more Early Birds (they went FAST)!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sta...
Reposted by Caleb
THE #STARS#REACH #KICKSTARTER IS LIVE!
The journey has begun. Stars Reach is now live on Kickstarter. Be part of the adventure and help us reach for the stars.
Back us now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sta...
The journey has begun. Stars Reach is now live on Kickstarter. Be part of the adventure and help us reach for the stars.
Back us now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sta...
February 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
THE #STARS#REACH #KICKSTARTER IS LIVE!
The journey has begun. Stars Reach is now live on Kickstarter. Be part of the adventure and help us reach for the stars.
Back us now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sta...
The journey has begun. Stars Reach is now live on Kickstarter. Be part of the adventure and help us reach for the stars.
Back us now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sta...
Reposted by Caleb
it's unfortunate that for various reasons Polaris Game Design Retreat can only be attended by ~30 people every year, but it's EXTREMELY fortunate that those people tend to write up their findings and learnings, and give it away FOR FREE, check it out: polarisgamedesign.com/reports/
Reports
REPORTS 2022 2023 2023 Understanding Systems Suspense Why is it fun to learn the rules of a videogame? Not just to play the game, but to learn it; to travel from the state of unknowing to knowing, to ...
polarisgamedesign.com
February 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
it's unfortunate that for various reasons Polaris Game Design Retreat can only be attended by ~30 people every year, but it's EXTREMELY fortunate that those people tend to write up their findings and learnings, and give it away FOR FREE, check it out: polarisgamedesign.com/reports/
Reposted by Caleb
Wildkeepers Rising - a Pokémon/Vampire Survivors hybrid bullet heaven game with monster taming - has a new demo available on Steam now, and looks pretty fun!
store.steampowered.com/app/3184800/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3184800/...
February 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Wildkeepers Rising - a Pokémon/Vampire Survivors hybrid bullet heaven game with monster taming - has a new demo available on Steam now, and looks pretty fun!
store.steampowered.com/app/3184800/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3184800/...
Reposted by Caleb
I wrote this bit that is entirely unrelated to current things
Voting for the Mayor Who Promised to Blow Up the City Doesn’t Mean I Approve of the Mayor Blowing Up the City
It’s so easy to label people these days. From the way folks have been talking, you’d think everyone falls into two buckets: those who voted against...
www.mcsweeneys.net
February 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I wrote this bit that is entirely unrelated to current things
Reposted by Caleb
New from 404 Media: inside the gov meeting where Musk ally laid out plans for data sharing across gov/AI. We got audio. In the call an employee pushed back and said the plan would be “illegal.” Musk ally said “we should still push forward and see what we can do.” www.404media.co/things-are-g...
‘Things Are Going to Get Intense:’ How a Musk Ally Plans to Push AI on the Government
404 Media has obtained audio of a meeting held by Thomas Shedd, a Musk-associate who is now heading a team of government coders. In the call one employee pushed back and said one of the planned moves ...
www.404media.co
February 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
New from 404 Media: inside the gov meeting where Musk ally laid out plans for data sharing across gov/AI. We got audio. In the call an employee pushed back and said the plan would be “illegal.” Musk ally said “we should still push forward and see what we can do.” www.404media.co/things-are-g...
Reposted by Caleb
It's really important to correct this.
Trump won 49% of counted votes.
36% of eligible voter didn't vote or were not registered at the time of the election (see: purged from voter rolls)
Trump won about 31.8% of adults. Dems did worse at 30.8%.
Trump won 49% of counted votes.
36% of eligible voter didn't vote or were not registered at the time of the election (see: purged from voter rolls)
Trump won about 31.8% of adults. Dems did worse at 30.8%.
2024 United States presidential election - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 24, 2025 at 7:13 PM
It's really important to correct this.
Trump won 49% of counted votes.
36% of eligible voter didn't vote or were not registered at the time of the election (see: purged from voter rolls)
Trump won about 31.8% of adults. Dems did worse at 30.8%.
Trump won 49% of counted votes.
36% of eligible voter didn't vote or were not registered at the time of the election (see: purged from voter rolls)
Trump won about 31.8% of adults. Dems did worse at 30.8%.
Reposted by Caleb
No one who hasn't shared or donated to this gofundme is allowed to talk about Disco Elysium ever again.
I know! I'm poor too. I don't always eat either.
A single dollar. One currency.
I know! I'm poor too. I don't always eat either.
A single dollar. One currency.
January 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
No one who hasn't shared or donated to this gofundme is allowed to talk about Disco Elysium ever again.
I know! I'm poor too. I don't always eat either.
A single dollar. One currency.
I know! I'm poor too. I don't always eat either.
A single dollar. One currency.
Reposted by Caleb
Slow-motion videos reveal tree frogs making some of the most dramatic landings in nature.
Learn more: scim.ag/4gTAurn
Learn more: scim.ag/4gTAurn
January 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Slow-motion videos reveal tree frogs making some of the most dramatic landings in nature.
Learn more: scim.ag/4gTAurn
Learn more: scim.ag/4gTAurn
Reposted by Caleb
5 tongue-in-cheek game writing exercises that are a more realistic representation of what most game writers do (in my experience) than a branching dialog tree:
January 14, 2025 at 5:57 PM
5 tongue-in-cheek game writing exercises that are a more realistic representation of what most game writers do (in my experience) than a branching dialog tree:
Reposted by Caleb
Hey folks, I know a lot is happening right now, and it feels inconsiderate to talk about it...
But the game I spent the last 2.5 years of my life on, Hyper Light Breaker, is out today as early access. If you could check it out, it would mean a lot to me.
store.steampowered.com/app/1534840/...
But the game I spent the last 2.5 years of my life on, Hyper Light Breaker, is out today as early access. If you could check it out, it would mean a lot to me.
store.steampowered.com/app/1534840/...
Hyper Light Breaker on Steam
Enter the Overgrowth, a new realm in the world of Hyper Light. Play alone or with friends to explore open worlds, create new builds, rip through hordes and overcome the Crowns and the Abyss King.
store.steampowered.com
January 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Hey folks, I know a lot is happening right now, and it feels inconsiderate to talk about it...
But the game I spent the last 2.5 years of my life on, Hyper Light Breaker, is out today as early access. If you could check it out, it would mean a lot to me.
store.steampowered.com/app/1534840/...
But the game I spent the last 2.5 years of my life on, Hyper Light Breaker, is out today as early access. If you could check it out, it would mean a lot to me.
store.steampowered.com/app/1534840/...
Reposted by Caleb
I just got laid off.
Gutted. I loved Heart Machine. They were good to me. My only regret is that I couldn't stay.
Character rigger of 12+ yrs, 2 GDC talks, 1 Gnomon talk, VES nominee, etc. Spider-Man PS4, The Order:1886, Hyper Light Breaker.
All info here: tinyurl.com/3ccdcmdc
#gamedevjobs
Gutted. I loved Heart Machine. They were good to me. My only regret is that I couldn't stay.
Character rigger of 12+ yrs, 2 GDC talks, 1 Gnomon talk, VES nominee, etc. Spider-Man PS4, The Order:1886, Hyper Light Breaker.
All info here: tinyurl.com/3ccdcmdc
#gamedevjobs
Sol Brennan - Heart Machine | LinkedIn
A highly enthusiastic technical artist with a strong interest in rigging and animation… · Experience: Heart Machine · Education: University of Abertay Dundee · Location: Vashon · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Sol Brennan’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.
www.linkedin.com
November 19, 2024 at 9:07 PM
I just got laid off.
Gutted. I loved Heart Machine. They were good to me. My only regret is that I couldn't stay.
Character rigger of 12+ yrs, 2 GDC talks, 1 Gnomon talk, VES nominee, etc. Spider-Man PS4, The Order:1886, Hyper Light Breaker.
All info here: tinyurl.com/3ccdcmdc
#gamedevjobs
Gutted. I loved Heart Machine. They were good to me. My only regret is that I couldn't stay.
Character rigger of 12+ yrs, 2 GDC talks, 1 Gnomon talk, VES nominee, etc. Spider-Man PS4, The Order:1886, Hyper Light Breaker.
All info here: tinyurl.com/3ccdcmdc
#gamedevjobs
Reposted by Caleb
Announcing:
🦆 A Waddleful Life 🐤🐤🐤
A sweet little game where you play as a duck raising ducklings.
Wishlist now on Steam!
#indiegame
🦆 A Waddleful Life 🐤🐤🐤
A sweet little game where you play as a duck raising ducklings.
Wishlist now on Steam!
#indiegame
September 24, 2024 at 10:49 PM
Announcing:
🦆 A Waddleful Life 🐤🐤🐤
A sweet little game where you play as a duck raising ducklings.
Wishlist now on Steam!
#indiegame
🦆 A Waddleful Life 🐤🐤🐤
A sweet little game where you play as a duck raising ducklings.
Wishlist now on Steam!
#indiegame
Reposted by Caleb
*slamming the button* wii shop wednesday don't fail us now
January 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
*slamming the button* wii shop wednesday don't fail us now
Reposted by Caleb
I’ve never donated to Wikipedia before but I set up a small monthly donation as a fuck you to the world’s richest psychopath.
Elon Musk takes aim at Wikipedia
Musk has denounced Wikipedia as "Wokepedia" on X and urged people not to donate to the platform.
www.newsweek.com
December 25, 2024 at 6:18 PM
I’ve never donated to Wikipedia before but I set up a small monthly donation as a fuck you to the world’s richest psychopath.
Reposted by Caleb
if you see this post, your actions are:
- if you have a spare buck, give it to Wikipedia, then repost this
- if you don't have a spare buck, just repost
your action is mandatory for the world's best source of information to survive
- if you have a spare buck, give it to Wikipedia, then repost this
- if you don't have a spare buck, just repost
your action is mandatory for the world's best source of information to survive
I’ve never donated to Wikipedia before but I set up a small monthly donation as a fuck you to the world’s richest psychopath.
Elon Musk takes aim at Wikipedia
Musk has denounced Wikipedia as "Wokepedia" on X and urged people not to donate to the platform.
www.newsweek.com
December 26, 2024 at 12:03 PM
if you see this post, your actions are:
- if you have a spare buck, give it to Wikipedia, then repost this
- if you don't have a spare buck, just repost
your action is mandatory for the world's best source of information to survive
- if you have a spare buck, give it to Wikipedia, then repost this
- if you don't have a spare buck, just repost
your action is mandatory for the world's best source of information to survive
Reposted by Caleb
Twitter thread re-post (05/2022):
"How do games intrinsically motivate players to explore" is a favorite #GameDesign topic of mine.
Many of the games that do this achieve it partially by evoking a sense of awe while exploring their worlds.
Let's talk about how that works in games
"How do games intrinsically motivate players to explore" is a favorite #GameDesign topic of mine.
Many of the games that do this achieve it partially by evoking a sense of awe while exploring their worlds.
Let's talk about how that works in games
December 23, 2024 at 6:08 PM
Twitter thread re-post (05/2022):
"How do games intrinsically motivate players to explore" is a favorite #GameDesign topic of mine.
Many of the games that do this achieve it partially by evoking a sense of awe while exploring their worlds.
Let's talk about how that works in games
"How do games intrinsically motivate players to explore" is a favorite #GameDesign topic of mine.
Many of the games that do this achieve it partially by evoking a sense of awe while exploring their worlds.
Let's talk about how that works in games
Reposted by Caleb
Alright, here it is:
I collected ~100 #GameDev starter packs and put them all on one Notion page! ✨
They're categorized by:
🍃 Location
🍃 Discipline
🍃 Game Genre
🍃 & more!
It also includes tips / labellers / block lists that I've stumbled on. I hope this helps you settle in & reconnect! 😊
👉 LINK
I collected ~100 #GameDev starter packs and put them all on one Notion page! ✨
They're categorized by:
🍃 Location
🍃 Discipline
🍃 Game Genre
🍃 & more!
It also includes tips / labellers / block lists that I've stumbled on. I hope this helps you settle in & reconnect! 😊
👉 LINK
October 24, 2024 at 10:15 AM