Rob "Xemu" Fermier
@xemu.bsky.social
He/ Him. Making games since 1993. System Shock 1&2, Age of Mythology, Heretic Operative, Millennia, and lots of others.
MIT grad, founder at Irrational Games & C Prompt Games.
Next project: TBD!
MIT grad, founder at Irrational Games & C Prompt Games.
Next project: TBD!
Pinned
Rob "Xemu" Fermier
@xemu.bsky.social
· May 4
Hello BlueSky folks!
My very first official game industry job was working on System Shock at Looking Glass - which was previously known as ...
"Blue Sky Productions"
So I take this as an auspicious sign for the success of the game dev community here!
My very first official game industry job was working on System Shock at Looking Glass - which was previously known as ...
"Blue Sky Productions"
So I take this as an auspicious sign for the success of the game dev community here!
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
This is like Mr Rogers picking up Mjolnir
We got Weird Al out here singing Killing In The Name, the time for moderation is over
December 6, 2025 at 7:59 PM
This is like Mr Rogers picking up Mjolnir
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
If you work on Discord and you follow me, can you please stop working on Discord? It already works. The shit you're adding is just slop. Stop it.
December 5, 2025 at 9:41 PM
If you work on Discord and you follow me, can you please stop working on Discord? It already works. The shit you're adding is just slop. Stop it.
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
I still think this is one of the biggest discourse generators: games are like 5+ different mediums we use the same word for.
Imagine if we didn't have separate terms for novels, poetry, plays, scripted film/TV, and they were instead all called wordseq (sequential word-based media), and we had people arguing that films weren't actually good wordseq because they didn't focus exclusively on words.
Disco Elysium is a great work of art that is also a relatively weak game, and does not make a strong case that games are art because it doesn't do what the best games do, which is allow meaning to emerge from the intersection of game mechanics and the player's decisions.
December 5, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I still think this is one of the biggest discourse generators: games are like 5+ different mediums we use the same word for.
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
Every legal story now is either
Ancient Circuit Judge Delivers Crystal Clear 100 Page Rebuke To Trumpist Overreach
or
In Unsigned Shadow Docket Decision, 6-3 Majority Declares Trump Can Hunt People For Sport
Ancient Circuit Judge Delivers Crystal Clear 100 Page Rebuke To Trumpist Overreach
or
In Unsigned Shadow Docket Decision, 6-3 Majority Declares Trump Can Hunt People For Sport
October 3, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Every legal story now is either
Ancient Circuit Judge Delivers Crystal Clear 100 Page Rebuke To Trumpist Overreach
or
In Unsigned Shadow Docket Decision, 6-3 Majority Declares Trump Can Hunt People For Sport
Ancient Circuit Judge Delivers Crystal Clear 100 Page Rebuke To Trumpist Overreach
or
In Unsigned Shadow Docket Decision, 6-3 Majority Declares Trump Can Hunt People For Sport
As far as I'm concerned it's not illegal or unethical to ruthlessly abuse this if companies (and individuals) are going to be foolish enough to put real money on it.
The real problem with stuff like this is it’s extremely easy for unethical insiders to make money off their unfair knowledge. Not saying he would, but Keighley could make a mint here!
Hi. There has been $38 million worth of activity on the game of the year results on gambling platform Polymarket.
December 4, 2025 at 12:29 AM
As far as I'm concerned it's not illegal or unethical to ruthlessly abuse this if companies (and individuals) are going to be foolish enough to put real money on it.
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
For anybody who thinks being a U.S. citizen will save them, or that being white will save them, this is a blonde white woman who is a US citizen and the thugs took her too.
Anyway, for the 80 billionth time, stand up for everybody’s rights
Anyway, for the 80 billionth time, stand up for everybody’s rights
Agents in Key Largo, Florida ripped this woman wearing medical scrubs out of her car as she screamed she is a US citizen. Agents cuffed her and put her in one of their cars.
She was eventually let go, per David Goodhue of the Miami Herald, who also took this footage:
She was eventually let go, per David Goodhue of the Miami Herald, who also took this footage:
December 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM
For anybody who thinks being a U.S. citizen will save them, or that being white will save them, this is a blonde white woman who is a US citizen and the thugs took her too.
Anyway, for the 80 billionth time, stand up for everybody’s rights
Anyway, for the 80 billionth time, stand up for everybody’s rights
This song is so good (on a soundtrack full of them) that I will even forgive rhyming "Fibonacci" with "largely" (or maybe it's "logically", kind of hard to tell)
I think “Fibonacci” is my fav track on the Outer Worlds 2’s Order radio. Beating out “Prove It” and “Sam Riegel insultingly explaining prime numbers”
youtu.be/eguCXgnb9NA?...
youtu.be/eguCXgnb9NA?...
The Outer Worlds 2 Official Game Soundtrack - Fibonacci
YouTube video by Obsidian Entertainment
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This song is so good (on a soundtrack full of them) that I will even forgive rhyming "Fibonacci" with "largely" (or maybe it's "logically", kind of hard to tell)
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
My Spotify Wrapped is that Spotify pays artists like shit and is shoveling genAI audio into your feed so they can pay artists even less, so go buy albums instead.
Reject the rental economy.
Reject the rental economy.
December 3, 2025 at 5:26 PM
My Spotify Wrapped is that Spotify pays artists like shit and is shoveling genAI audio into your feed so they can pay artists even less, so go buy albums instead.
Reject the rental economy.
Reject the rental economy.
Decided to get one of my alts in WoW up to max level. The XP on the story "catch up" and lorewalking is kind of insane. Went 71 to 80 in a few hours.
December 3, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Decided to get one of my alts in WoW up to max level. The XP on the story "catch up" and lorewalking is kind of insane. Went 71 to 80 in a few hours.
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
Since I haven’t seen anyone mention this: When the U.S. commits war crimes it puts our troops in danger also, as it gives a green light to other countries that they can do the same to us
December 2, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Since I haven’t seen anyone mention this: When the U.S. commits war crimes it puts our troops in danger also, as it gives a green light to other countries that they can do the same to us
I try to make it a point not to repost any footage of Trump if I can avoid it, but that segment with Rubio talking to a literally asleep Trump in the cabinet meeting is utterly deranged.
December 2, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I try to make it a point not to repost any footage of Trump if I can avoid it, but that segment with Rubio talking to a literally asleep Trump in the cabinet meeting is utterly deranged.
Puzzmo is fantastic, quality puzzles delivered every day.
If you're trying to ditch NYT Games, which you should be since their games singlehandedly prop up the entire dogshit rag financially, you should switch to Puzzmo. An annual sub is 50% off today for a crazy $19 and as a bonus doesn't enable the genocides of Palestinians and trans people
Puzzmo — The (new) place for thoughtful puzzles.
Re-imagined mainstays like the daily Crossword Puzzle, modern classics like Really Bad Chess and SpellTower, and even a few brand new puzzles.
www.puzzmo.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Puzzmo is fantastic, quality puzzles delivered every day.
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
Reposting because I forgot one ...
In the pretty unlikely event of a Dem win today in TN-7, the House would be at 219-214. After MTG resigns on Jan. 5, it would be 218-214. After the TX-18 election on Jan. 31, it'll be 218-215. And ...
In the pretty unlikely event of a Dem win today in TN-7, the House would be at 219-214. After MTG resigns on Jan. 5, it would be 218-214. After the TX-18 election on Jan. 31, it'll be 218-215. And ...
December 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposting because I forgot one ...
In the pretty unlikely event of a Dem win today in TN-7, the House would be at 219-214. After MTG resigns on Jan. 5, it would be 218-214. After the TX-18 election on Jan. 31, it'll be 218-215. And ...
In the pretty unlikely event of a Dem win today in TN-7, the House would be at 219-214. After MTG resigns on Jan. 5, it would be 218-214. After the TX-18 election on Jan. 31, it'll be 218-215. And ...
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
sabrina carpenter more clear in her "messaging" than most dem members of congress
December 2, 2025 at 5:01 PM
sabrina carpenter more clear in her "messaging" than most dem members of congress
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
AD-ROCK: Yo Ebenezer you gotta show re-
BEASTIES: MORSE
AD-ROCK: Redemption is not a mere matter of
Beasties: COURSE
MIKE D: We’ll show you Bob Cratchit’s not a lazy
BEASTIES: MOOCHER
MCA: We’re Christmas Past
MIKE D: Christmas Present
BEASTIES: AND CHRISTMAS FUTURE
BEASTIES: MORSE
AD-ROCK: Redemption is not a mere matter of
Beasties: COURSE
MIKE D: We’ll show you Bob Cratchit’s not a lazy
BEASTIES: MOOCHER
MCA: We’re Christmas Past
MIKE D: Christmas Present
BEASTIES: AND CHRISTMAS FUTURE
January 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
AD-ROCK: Yo Ebenezer you gotta show re-
BEASTIES: MORSE
AD-ROCK: Redemption is not a mere matter of
Beasties: COURSE
MIKE D: We’ll show you Bob Cratchit’s not a lazy
BEASTIES: MOOCHER
MCA: We’re Christmas Past
MIKE D: Christmas Present
BEASTIES: AND CHRISTMAS FUTURE
BEASTIES: MORSE
AD-ROCK: Redemption is not a mere matter of
Beasties: COURSE
MIKE D: We’ll show you Bob Cratchit’s not a lazy
BEASTIES: MOOCHER
MCA: We’re Christmas Past
MIKE D: Christmas Present
BEASTIES: AND CHRISTMAS FUTURE
Anyone have recommendations for small-ish (~50) batch t-shirt printing companies? (USA only)
December 1, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Anyone have recommendations for small-ish (~50) batch t-shirt printing companies? (USA only)
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
this is all generative tech! almost all the time, it is better to just do the thing yourself than to try to build a monkey with poor cognition that can occasionally, in perfect conditions, do it for you
emergence is only useful in contexts where a random vector is desirable and intentional!
emergence is only useful in contexts where a random vector is desirable and intentional!
I'll say it again -- I'm on my firm's AI committee: every canned demo has had brutal, malpractice-level errors, and every live trial has required more time and care to vet the output than to just do it, like working with an unteachably incompetent associate you'd need to sit down for a Hard Talk.
Loving that AI productivity boost!
"the more artificial intelligence is used within a law firm, the more lawyers are needed to vet the technology’s outputs."
www.afr.com/companies/pr...
"the more artificial intelligence is used within a law firm, the more lawyers are needed to vet the technology’s outputs."
www.afr.com/companies/pr...
December 1, 2025 at 8:04 AM
this is all generative tech! almost all the time, it is better to just do the thing yourself than to try to build a monkey with poor cognition that can occasionally, in perfect conditions, do it for you
emergence is only useful in contexts where a random vector is desirable and intentional!
emergence is only useful in contexts where a random vector is desirable and intentional!
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
I hate that negativity gets all the amplification by social media algorithms.
Let’s amplify LOVE instead.
I am beaming love at you. Right now.
Fuck the haters. I defy you. I am beaming extra love right into your face. Relax and be loved.
Let’s amplify LOVE instead.
I am beaming love at you. Right now.
Fuck the haters. I defy you. I am beaming extra love right into your face. Relax and be loved.
November 23, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I hate that negativity gets all the amplification by social media algorithms.
Let’s amplify LOVE instead.
I am beaming love at you. Right now.
Fuck the haters. I defy you. I am beaming extra love right into your face. Relax and be loved.
Let’s amplify LOVE instead.
I am beaming love at you. Right now.
Fuck the haters. I defy you. I am beaming extra love right into your face. Relax and be loved.
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
a few candidates have talked about this but any Dem planning to run in 2028 should make it explicit: the next DOJ will, in fact, go after you if you’re funding this awful ballroom, or any other pay to play deals you make with this administration
Dimon on why JPMorgan Chase is not funding WH Ballroom:
We have an issue, which is anything we do, since we do a lot of contracts with governments here and around the world, we have to be very careful how anything is perceived, and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it.
We have an issue, which is anything we do, since we do a lot of contracts with governments here and around the world, we have to be very careful how anything is perceived, and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it.
November 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
a few candidates have talked about this but any Dem planning to run in 2028 should make it explicit: the next DOJ will, in fact, go after you if you’re funding this awful ballroom, or any other pay to play deals you make with this administration
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
During WWII a German vessel fired upon sailors floating in the sea after the Greek vessel Peleus was sunk. The officers were tried and convicted in the Peleus War Crimes trial.
November 29, 2025 at 7:54 PM
During WWII a German vessel fired upon sailors floating in the sea after the Greek vessel Peleus was sunk. The officers were tried and convicted in the Peleus War Crimes trial.
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
This is a lot of words to say, “Yikes! That Washington Post story about us illegally killing survivors on the open seas was 100% correct!”
November 29, 2025 at 12:46 AM
This is a lot of words to say, “Yikes! That Washington Post story about us illegally killing survivors on the open seas was 100% correct!”
Kind of an embarrassing game to be my very first achievement though TBH
November 29, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Kind of an embarrassing game to be my very first achievement though TBH
(was glad to see Bluesky export for this!)
Autogenerated #MyXboxStory thing from @TrueAchievement www.trueachievements.com/my-xbox-stor...
Autogenerated #MyXboxStory thing from @TrueAchievement www.trueachievements.com/my-xbox-stor...
Xemu's #MyXboxStory
Check out Xemu's lifetime Xbox stats
www.trueachievements.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:50 AM
(was glad to see Bluesky export for this!)
Autogenerated #MyXboxStory thing from @TrueAchievement www.trueachievements.com/my-xbox-stor...
Autogenerated #MyXboxStory thing from @TrueAchievement www.trueachievements.com/my-xbox-stor...
Bolts has pretty consistently been doing of the best coverage of state-level politics I’ve seen, in an era where it is needed more than ever. Well worth supporting IMO.
a Black Friday deal: it’s a great day to support our independent journalism at Bolts
We want to prepare for 2026 on as strong a foot as possible, and we’d love to grow our supporter count (at any level!) by 50 people today.
If you can—jump onboard and help us cover local politics and civil rights!
We want to prepare for 2026 on as strong a foot as possible, and we’d love to grow our supporter count (at any level!) by 50 people today.
If you can—jump onboard and help us cover local politics and civil rights!
Support Bolts
We are a nonprofit publication that covers the nuts and bolts of political change, from the local up, and we need reader support to build our journalism.
Boltsmag.org
November 28, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Bolts has pretty consistently been doing of the best coverage of state-level politics I’ve seen, in an era where it is needed more than ever. Well worth supporting IMO.
Reposted by Rob "Xemu" Fermier
What a great headline
November 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
What a great headline