Mike Laidlaw
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mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Mike Laidlaw
@mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
10K followers 2K following 1.9K posts
Currently: CCO Yellow Brick Games, working on Eternal Strands (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1491410/Eternal_Strands/ ). Formerly: Lead Writer for Jade Empire; Creative Director for Dragon Age. Always: dog lover.
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mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
The Modern Prometheus:
Agent K, a Blade Runner, from the sublime Blade Runner 2049 staring down after having just finished his baseline test, which is him challenged in a call and response from Pale Fire, which is the point of the reference. Also, let's be real, while this is a modern movie, the real Modern Prometheus is Frankenstein (doctor, not creature) who also suffered for being a big jerkus. I think that's what he did, anyway. Probably wasn't too fun at parties either. K looks like he would be, though. If he was allowed at parties, but the grafitti on his door suggests he's not invited often. Poor dude.
December 6, 2025 at 1:12 AM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
How about...no.
A google prompt from Chrome saying "press Tab then enter to ask AI Mode" I'd rather not. I'd prefer not to. I'm going full Bartleby. Prefer-pilled. I'm Scrivener maxxing.
November 27, 2025 at 9:51 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Farthest Frontier rolling out one of those excellent "only in games" patch notes.
The note reads: "Child happiness no longer factors in shoes and beer availability. The Pub is checking IDs." The lack of shoes factoring into happiness, I believe, technically qualifies these kids as "winsome" should they be orphaned. (I swear, I thought I had got rid of that wolf den, I'm sorry!)
November 24, 2025 at 11:55 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Helpful instructional video.
November 2, 2025 at 7:28 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
A heavily edited still from The Lighthouse, which is a lovely film if you’re in a mood for a descent into mercury-poisoned madness, to look like Willem Defoe is a commissar from the Imperium of Man from Warhammer 40K. It’s captioned, in reference to the original scene but again edited, “Look at ye. Postin’ Heresy.”
October 31, 2025 at 5:49 AM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Sorry, I'm sorry, I'm trying to stop.
Another Dune Screencap, this time of Thifur "Big Fur, Big Heart" Hawat calculating the cost of sending the Emperor's emissary for Duke Leto who really needed that number for a trivia night he was planning as a get-to-know-you event after landing in Arakeen. The image is captioned "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica." in reference to Jim impersonating Dwight in the US version of The Office.
October 22, 2025 at 10:21 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Random thought. I imagine the material is highly resistant to it, but if Star Trek can get a Lower Decks, there's a non-zero chance we get a zany Office Space or The Office-esque series about the endless bureaucracy of the Dune universe.
A screenshot from the recent Dune movies, of Stilgar meeting with Duke Atriedes, Duncan and Thifur "Say Ha Whaaat?" Hawat. It's captioned "What, would you say, you Dune here?" which references Office Space, a movie featuring a desperately bored office worker who enjoys considerable success by ceasing to care in a way that impresses two consultants named "Bob" (aka The Bobs). The Bobs memorably asked this same question of the lead character's co-worker after an exposition that made it so deliciously clear that he does not, in fact, DO things. Or Dune them, one presumes. Also pictured is a screencap of The Bobs from Office space. They have been clumsily edited in MS Paint to have the blue "Eyes of Ibad" that come from prolonged spice exposure and which are considered a hallmark of the Indiginous Fremen population. They also have stillsuit tubes leaving their noses to capture their exhalations, which, somewhat terribly implies a series of intense catheters and thigh pads for processing waste under their business clothes which, I guess, would still be called Stilsuits, just putting more emphasis on the "suits" part.
October 22, 2025 at 9:59 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
This is one of my favorite random interactions on Reddit in some time.
A commenter in Reddit notes that his neighbor has a sweet snuggly “pet bull” named Rahim. A reply assume autocorrect shenanigans and talks about how pitbulls get a bad rap, and shares a story about how a “mutt” or mixed doggo attacked his friend, as a point that it’s not just pitbulls, and probably just crappy owners. The original commenter agrees re pitbull dogs, but clarifies that, no, he really meant a pet bull and posts a majestic photo of Rahim who does indeed appear to be a very good boy. (Possibly a Black Angus? I was never great at the beefier breeds. Dad would be so disappointed.)
September 20, 2025 at 12:19 AM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
What will the venture capitalists reinvent next? Why not ACTUAL CAPITAL?!?!?
Ube introduces a NEW WAY TO PAY: Cash. Jesus fuckin' christ.
September 3, 2025 at 8:04 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
It's important to know the difference!
Alt text provided for the confused.

What will NOT become clear is how my brain free-associated this whole nonsense.
A purchasable image featuring Bombay Gin from Temu.com Ghengis Khan, founder and first Khan of the Mongol Empire. Born with the given name Temüjin.
September 3, 2025 at 4:32 AM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Nothing like walking in downtown Quebec City and suddenly feeling like some literature.
A photo of a window of a local sound/recording studio labeled Doki Doki
August 29, 2025 at 5:32 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Entering my Denethor era.
A bowl of cherry tomatoes. Not pictured: Pippin singing a dirge in the background while my people pray for proper leadership. Both go unheard because I have been mainlining a Palantir and have already succumbed to a despair too deep to be named. It’s a lot like watching Fox News, really.
August 23, 2025 at 7:58 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
For those familiar with the Reddit thing about how, after years of coming home to a loving wife and kids a guy realizes the lamp doesn’t look right: well…
A lamp with a red shade. The sunlight casts through it in a way that looks like an upset monster eye. This is, of course, not a sign I’m about to wake up from a dream, but it is a pretty cool lamp-based visual effect, and how often do those come up in your life, really? You miss 100 lamp-based percent of the lamp-based shots you never take, after all.
August 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
One other, non-anime ref would be Lt. Joshi from Blade Runner 2049. Maybe not grey enough.
Blade Runner 2049 Lt. Joshi
August 13, 2025 at 10:22 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Might not count as slicked back enough but otherwise Francisca Von Karma from Ace attorney fits that bill, if that helps
August 13, 2025 at 9:37 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Dune Awakening is having a little glitch where you can't accept their privacy policy right now. Clicking the button just...does nothing. So, of course, it is time to lovingly meme!
The Myth of Consensual Sex Meme, where a man and woman say "I consent! I Consent!" and then Jesus says "I don't!" Consensual Sex has been replaced with "The Myth of Dreaming of It," which is the first line from every time you open Dune Awakening, so, you know, you hear it a lot. Like A LOT. And Jesus has been replaced by the European GDPR logo because they take privacy seriously in the Europes and I approve. Except when I can't get ganked in Dune, which happens more than I wish it did, but that's the risks when you go to PVP baby!
August 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Dune Awakening: "We're going to make it harder to get Flour Sand."

Me: "But how will you do so, when I have already compacted all of it?"
Snipped screenshot from Dune Awakening showing 69,766 units of flour sand in storage. That's more than a bunch, and by a -lot-.
July 31, 2025 at 12:55 AM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Yeah, it’s promoted Reddit, so an attack ad and safely ignored. But I still laughed at the mental image of a CEO putting on his robe and wizard hat.
A Reddit ad saying “The Untold Story of HP’s 160 Million ERP Disaster”
July 15, 2025 at 9:42 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Film cover of the Blues Brothers, a film in which several problematic things happen, but they're firmly against Nazis, so I'm willing to forgive a lot.
July 5, 2025 at 1:44 AM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
That's, my friends, when we pull out THE BIG GUNS.
The same corner again, this time with lights making up a crudely drawn arrow pointing at the boxes. are they DELIBERATELY crude in their placement, or is Mike just kinda shit at the build tools? It's a mystery.
June 30, 2025 at 10:36 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
But you can spice it up. It's an old level design trick to catch the attention of others! A simple bit of light always catches the eye.
The same corner, now with a floating light! OOhHHhhHHH! VISUALLY ARRESTING.
June 30, 2025 at 10:34 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
The key, I think, to any game development success is iteration. Take, for instance, this "dropoff" corner in Dune. Created so guildies (who are game devs) can leave stuff for processing. Pretty drab, right?
A corner of a room from Dune Awakening with stacked chests
June 30, 2025 at 10:33 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
Our debut game, Eternal Strands is sitting pretty at 50% off for the Steam Summer Sale. Use magical powers, fight colossus-sized beasts, uncover the mystery of the Enclave, maybe even do some smoochin’!

People seem to like it! We sure loved building it.
The Eternal Strands logo. Steam Reviews showing 89% positive reviews both recent and all time.
June 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
So, you have to run this feedback through the “ya boy is a giant Herbert nerd” filter, but so far Dune Awakening is making me very happy.

I have a sand bike, a utilitarian base, an improved blood processor, and baby, the spice is flowing, as the Maker intended.
Dune movie poster with every face replaced by Matt Leblanc (famed as Joey from Friends) and the title changed to “How you Dune?” In reference to his “How you doin?” pick up line.
June 8, 2025 at 7:34 PM
mikelaidlaw.bsky.social
I'm glad for everyone excited to get their Switch 2, but I'm going to be trying to find out if I'm the Kwiswitch Hadtworach.

(I like Dune enough to torture that pun like I was testing its worth with the box of pain and the gom jabbar)
Dune Awakening Banner Art from Steam
June 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM