G.D. Annin
@gdannin.bsky.social
They/them. Auto repair technician-in-training; former Narrative Designer @ Monolith Productions. Fungus, birding, embroidery, animal rescue, F1, video & tabletop games.
Making games and bartending at @okayblueheron.bsky.social
https://linktr.ee/gdannin
Making games and bartending at @okayblueheron.bsky.social
https://linktr.ee/gdannin
Reposted by G.D. Annin
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
I had five fascinating conversations for this RPS piece, gathering perspectives on genAI chatbots in games, as seen in Where Winds Meet. Thanks to @meghna.bsky.social, @pyrofoux.bsky.social, @maxkreminski.bsky.social, and @chrisgardiner.bsky.social www.rockpapershotgun.com/horrible-bor...
"Horrible", "boring", and "cheap": Experts pan new chatbot NPCs, but some leave room for optimism
We speak to a collection of developers and AI experts about the potential impact of LLM-powered NPCs in videogames.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
Reposted by G.D. Annin
they didn't need AI to make Silksong, it just needed some deeply insane guys to have a blank check for living expenses until their next thing was done, I think we should try doing more of that instead
December 22, 2025 at 12:29 AM
they didn't need AI to make Silksong, it just needed some deeply insane guys to have a blank check for living expenses until their next thing was done, I think we should try doing more of that instead
Reposted by G.D. Annin
This was entirely about purging a trans instructor from the school and they succeeded. It was aided by a lot of dumb liberals taking it at face value arguing the minutia of grading rubrics while ignoring the obvious bad faith efforts behind this.
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university
Graduate instructor who gave failing grade to Samantha Fulnecky no longer teaching at OU
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university.
www.koco.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:14 AM
This was entirely about purging a trans instructor from the school and they succeeded. It was aided by a lot of dumb liberals taking it at face value arguing the minutia of grading rubrics while ignoring the obvious bad faith efforts behind this.
I’m 75 hours in at this point and I am still having a fucking blast playing Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. I just wish they’d have used more than four voice actors.
December 23, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I’m 75 hours in at this point and I am still having a fucking blast playing Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. I just wish they’d have used more than four voice actors.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
Please share this widely. There have been 13 peer-reviewed critiques of the Cass Review, to the extent that academia regards it as pseudoscience, but so far all have been subject to organised censorship by mainstream media. This is the first time one has broken through. Oz Guardian only still.
Worked hard to get this into Guardian Oz & big props to @fiercemum.bsky.social for setting it up & Melissa Davey for publishing it. She will doubtless get loads of hassle from transphobes for it, but it needs to be out there.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
Puberty blocker bans in Queensland and NZ risk extreme harm to trans youth, UK expert warns
Sociologist who surveyed effect of 2024 UK ban says denial of gender-affirming care has left trans and non-binary children in ‘abject misery and severe distress’
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Please share this widely. There have been 13 peer-reviewed critiques of the Cass Review, to the extent that academia regards it as pseudoscience, but so far all have been subject to organised censorship by mainstream media. This is the first time one has broken through. Oz Guardian only still.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
So reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can't fly, but they are VERY MAGICAL.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
December 20, 2025 at 11:36 PM
So reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can't fly, but they are VERY MAGICAL.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
The actor Michael Sheen used all his money to start a fake debt collecting business, buy 900 people in Wales's debt, and excused it. If Musk bought ALL $194 billion in medical debt in the U.S. and excused it in the same way, he'd still be the world's riches man by hundreds of billions of dollars.
Michael Sheen spent his own money to write off $1.3 million of neighbors’ debts | CNN
Actor Michael Sheen has bought $1.3 million of his neighbors’ debts and written them off using $129,000 of his own money.
www.cnn.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The actor Michael Sheen used all his money to start a fake debt collecting business, buy 900 people in Wales's debt, and excused it. If Musk bought ALL $194 billion in medical debt in the U.S. and excused it in the same way, he'd still be the world's riches man by hundreds of billions of dollars.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
While ReBoot isn't lost media by any means, the extent to which this restoration project has been going is simply INCREDIBLE.
They got the D-1 master tapes. Then the hardware to read them. Then service manuals to repair/maintain. THEN, CRITICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS. And now they're ERROR CORRECTING.
They got the D-1 master tapes. Then the hardware to read them. Then service manuals to repair/maintain. THEN, CRITICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS. And now they're ERROR CORRECTING.
I am in awe. The folks at ReBoot ReWind have done something astonishing. A remarkable feat of engineering, ingenuity and love. Check it out and give them some ReBooty love in return.
youtu.be/L00jx-GH2w8?...
youtu.be/L00jx-GH2w8?...
WE SAVED REBOOT
YouTube video by ReBoot ReWind
youtu.be
December 19, 2025 at 8:55 PM
While ReBoot isn't lost media by any means, the extent to which this restoration project has been going is simply INCREDIBLE.
They got the D-1 master tapes. Then the hardware to read them. Then service manuals to repair/maintain. THEN, CRITICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS. And now they're ERROR CORRECTING.
They got the D-1 master tapes. Then the hardware to read them. Then service manuals to repair/maintain. THEN, CRITICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS. And now they're ERROR CORRECTING.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
this is a Canadian petition to uphold charter rights for transgender and minority communities
if youre Canadian, please sign it. if youre not Canadian, please share it.
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
if youre Canadian, please sign it. if youre not Canadian, please share it.
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
December 20, 2025 at 3:20 AM
this is a Canadian petition to uphold charter rights for transgender and minority communities
if youre Canadian, please sign it. if youre not Canadian, please share it.
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
if youre Canadian, please sign it. if youre not Canadian, please share it.
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
Reposted by G.D. Annin
The federal fucking government is trying to stop companies from selling products that allow people to make their breasts less prominent.
There is no freedom of expression, no freedom of gender nonconformity, no bodily autonomy for any of us if they win.
There is no freedom of expression, no freedom of gender nonconformity, no bodily autonomy for any of us if they win.
December 19, 2025 at 2:28 AM
The federal fucking government is trying to stop companies from selling products that allow people to make their breasts less prominent.
There is no freedom of expression, no freedom of gender nonconformity, no bodily autonomy for any of us if they win.
There is no freedom of expression, no freedom of gender nonconformity, no bodily autonomy for any of us if they win.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
In addition to this administration trying to kill kids, and they're also coming for our binders? OUR BINDERS.
December 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
In addition to this administration trying to kill kids, and they're also coming for our binders? OUR BINDERS.
Shaky first-person camera and misogyny are not "immersion" when playing a medieval sword combat game. No. Immersion is wearing a blanket like a cloak while you play it and eating a hunk of rustic bread and cheddar cheese.
December 18, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Shaky first-person camera and misogyny are not "immersion" when playing a medieval sword combat game. No. Immersion is wearing a blanket like a cloak while you play it and eating a hunk of rustic bread and cheddar cheese.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
There’s a direct line from ‘just asking questions about women’s sports’ to criminalizing our health care, we warned you it was coming, you said it would be fine and you just had a few more questions.
December 18, 2025 at 4:25 AM
There’s a direct line from ‘just asking questions about women’s sports’ to criminalizing our health care, we warned you it was coming, you said it would be fine and you just had a few more questions.
TEN YEAR PRISON SENTENCES, for providing children medical care that has been proven over and over to vastly increase their quality of life and reduce suicidality.
Just now, a national trans healthcare felony ban for youth has passed the US House, with 10 year prison terms.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
December 18, 2025 at 5:43 AM
TEN YEAR PRISON SENTENCES, for providing children medical care that has been proven over and over to vastly increase their quality of life and reduce suicidality.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
he was good at his job, his job was explicitly to destroy things so they'd be acquired and shareholders would make a bunch of money
this isn't an incompetent getting a payday, it's the guy who planned the heist getting the biggest cut
this isn't an incompetent getting a payday, it's the guy who planned the heist getting the biggest cut
"Zaslav will receive $30 million in "Golden Parachute' compensation along with $537 million in equity for a total of $567 million in a transaction-associated pay."
half a billion dollars for being terrible at your job
half a billion dollars for being terrible at your job
Warner Bros. Golden Parachutes Revealed: What David Zaslav and C-Suite Will Get In a Deal
The CEO stands to gain $567 million if a deal is sealed to sell the WB empire while longtime lieutenant Gunnar Wiedenfels will see $144 million in cash and stock considerations if a transaction close...
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
he was good at his job, his job was explicitly to destroy things so they'd be acquired and shareholders would make a bunch of money
this isn't an incompetent getting a payday, it's the guy who planned the heist getting the biggest cut
this isn't an incompetent getting a payday, it's the guy who planned the heist getting the biggest cut
Reposted by G.D. Annin
Larian's CEO says they "don't see it as a replacement for developers". How?? If you're using AI to generate ANY artwork, even internally, that's replacing human labour. You can't claim to not be replacing anyone when you're using a tool that's literally doing the work of an artist. Gross.
Larian is using generative AI, confirms CEO, but Divinity won't contain anything AI-generated
www.eurogamer.net/larian-is-us...
www.eurogamer.net/larian-is-us...
December 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Larian's CEO says they "don't see it as a replacement for developers". How?? If you're using AI to generate ANY artwork, even internally, that's replacing human labour. You can't claim to not be replacing anyone when you're using a tool that's literally doing the work of an artist. Gross.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
So many times, the entire nature of what I'm working on has changed because of things I've discovered during the "tedious" work that they claim AI will save me from. It's in fact extremely common that I don't know what a thing really is until I start trying to do the hard stuff and then I find out
Also just tapping the sign again — A.I. eliminates the opportunity for creative discovery on your way to the destination you *thought* you wanted. You’re making art, process is everything.
placeholder art is supposed to look like this. you're supposed to make it in 5 seconds.
it's a crucial part of the process because a placeholder will often be remarkably similar to the final art/text, because you were unburdened by bigger details when you made it.
it's a crucial part of the process because a placeholder will often be remarkably similar to the final art/text, because you were unburdened by bigger details when you made it.
December 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
So many times, the entire nature of what I'm working on has changed because of things I've discovered during the "tedious" work that they claim AI will save me from. It's in fact extremely common that I don't know what a thing really is until I start trying to do the hard stuff and then I find out
Reposted by G.D. Annin
Going into 2026, a reminder for everyone who's fallen off the creative wagon, game dev, writing, art, music, whatever, no matter how long:
December 16, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Going into 2026, a reminder for everyone who's fallen off the creative wagon, game dev, writing, art, music, whatever, no matter how long:
Reposted by G.D. Annin
Reposted by G.D. Annin
one of us only tells the truth, and the other tells only lies. except for this little explainer. this part's true regardless of who's saying it
December 15, 2025 at 9:05 PM
one of us only tells the truth, and the other tells only lies. except for this little explainer. this part's true regardless of who's saying it
Reposted by G.D. Annin
The older I get, the more my politics mature from childish, naïve beliefs like "the world is complicated and leaders have to make hard decisions" to more serious, adult principles like "hurting people is bad and helping people is good."
December 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The older I get, the more my politics mature from childish, naïve beliefs like "the world is complicated and leaders have to make hard decisions" to more serious, adult principles like "hurting people is bad and helping people is good."
Reposted by G.D. Annin
Information from NWS Seattle:
In coordination with King County, we have issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for a levee breach in Tukwila WA near Todd, Blvd. Water is likely moving north towards I-405. In addition, an evacuation notice is now in effect from King County.
In coordination with King County, we have issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for a levee breach in Tukwila WA near Todd, Blvd. Water is likely moving north towards I-405. In addition, an evacuation notice is now in effect from King County.
December 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Information from NWS Seattle:
In coordination with King County, we have issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for a levee breach in Tukwila WA near Todd, Blvd. Water is likely moving north towards I-405. In addition, an evacuation notice is now in effect from King County.
In coordination with King County, we have issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for a levee breach in Tukwila WA near Todd, Blvd. Water is likely moving north towards I-405. In addition, an evacuation notice is now in effect from King County.
Reposted by G.D. Annin
we can kill them all if we just work together and ✨believe💫
December 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
we can kill them all if we just work together and ✨believe💫
Reposted by G.D. Annin
New: When the Washington Post ran tests on its AI personalized podcasts, the paper found that between 68% and 84% (!!) of the pods had potential issues.
Still, the paper decided to release the product anyway, saying it would “iterate through the remaining issues”
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
Still, the paper decided to release the product anyway, saying it would “iterate through the remaining issues”
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
December 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
New: When the Washington Post ran tests on its AI personalized podcasts, the paper found that between 68% and 84% (!!) of the pods had potential issues.
Still, the paper decided to release the product anyway, saying it would “iterate through the remaining issues”
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
Still, the paper decided to release the product anyway, saying it would “iterate through the remaining issues”
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...