Matt Freeman
@redmoleghost.bsky.social
Long-time nerd, gamer, and geeky enthusiast. He/him.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
While I think this is often true, it also elides another critical point: professional designers often don't realize how smart and capable people are, espeically people who don't play games. 🧵
It cannot be overstated how much hobby gamers underestimate how unintuitive and difficult hobby games are to non-gamers.
This is perhaps even more true of professional game designers, publishers and reviewers/pundits, broadly speaking.
This is perhaps even more true of professional game designers, publishers and reviewers/pundits, broadly speaking.
February 13, 2026 at 3:03 PM
While I think this is often true, it also elides another critical point: professional designers often don't realize how smart and capable people are, espeically people who don't play games. 🧵
Reposted by Matt Freeman
Reposted by Matt Freeman
no, it simply isnt.
People are talking about capital using gAI as an excuse to conduct mass lay-offs, about students losing learning because theyre being lied to about gAI in education, about the mass theft of the work of artists and authors to train LLMs, about CSAM and nonconsensual sexual images.
People are talking about capital using gAI as an excuse to conduct mass lay-offs, about students losing learning because theyre being lied to about gAI in education, about the mass theft of the work of artists and authors to train LLMs, about CSAM and nonconsensual sexual images.
The predominent anti-AI position on bsky is that AI is useless, fake, shit and basically the same as NFTs, destined to collapse in months once everyone sees how poor it is. So anyone who suggests that it could improve or be useful to any boss in any situation in the future must be evil.
February 12, 2026 at 1:19 PM
no, it simply isnt.
People are talking about capital using gAI as an excuse to conduct mass lay-offs, about students losing learning because theyre being lied to about gAI in education, about the mass theft of the work of artists and authors to train LLMs, about CSAM and nonconsensual sexual images.
People are talking about capital using gAI as an excuse to conduct mass lay-offs, about students losing learning because theyre being lied to about gAI in education, about the mass theft of the work of artists and authors to train LLMs, about CSAM and nonconsensual sexual images.
Really good read from friends in the RPG space. I take it RRD are towards the lower end, or are they in the same area as C7 and possibly Pelgrane?
A good article over at Cannibal Halfling, looking at the tiers of TTRPG publisher, and the difference between them. It basically goes from annual turnover of 400 million to 40 million to 4 million to 400,000 to (er) less than that.
Five Tiers of RPG Publishing
Hasbro’s annual earnings came out this week, so I took a look. It is truly staggering how much Wizards of the Coast has changed the company since they were acquired; when looking at unadjusted earn…
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Really good read from friends in the RPG space. I take it RRD are towards the lower end, or are they in the same area as C7 and possibly Pelgrane?
Reposted by Matt Freeman
Last night, my Mythic Bastionland Knights were trying to deal with a famine in their domain, and discovered that the eternally regenerating troll tasted absolutely delicious. The ethical dilemma: "Is this a troll flaying game?"
This actually happened. It's a pun, but not a joke.
This actually happened. It's a pun, but not a joke.
February 11, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Last night, my Mythic Bastionland Knights were trying to deal with a famine in their domain, and discovered that the eternally regenerating troll tasted absolutely delicious. The ethical dilemma: "Is this a troll flaying game?"
This actually happened. It's a pun, but not a joke.
This actually happened. It's a pun, but not a joke.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
Reminder that the Luddites were not opposed to technology, they were opposed to technology being used by the wealthy to oppress the poor. They only went after factories where advancing technology was used as an excuse to lower workers' wages. So I'm PROUD to be called a Luddite when it comes to AI.
Amazing.
Amazing. This is the framing
Ah yes, it is authoritarian to say "I am not spending a cent here if this direction remains"
Can't even fucking vote with your wallet huh
Amazing. This is the framing
Ah yes, it is authoritarian to say "I am not spending a cent here if this direction remains"
Can't even fucking vote with your wallet huh
February 8, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Reminder that the Luddites were not opposed to technology, they were opposed to technology being used by the wealthy to oppress the poor. They only went after factories where advancing technology was used as an excuse to lower workers' wages. So I'm PROUD to be called a Luddite when it comes to AI.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
I’ve been saying for years that an AP with Brennan Lee Mulligan as the GM and all the players as muppets would be an absolute riot.
Okay.
My first thought was:
Muppets doing an RPG actual play.
Then…
What about an actual Muppets RPG?
Character creation alone would be a hoot.
My first thought was:
Muppets doing an RPG actual play.
Then…
What about an actual Muppets RPG?
Character creation alone would be a hoot.
February 8, 2026 at 11:42 AM
I’ve been saying for years that an AP with Brennan Lee Mulligan as the GM and all the players as muppets would be an absolute riot.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
As someone who edits 1-2 publishing agreements a week, whenever a funding agreement from a successful developer trying to share the wealth passes my desk they tend to include some of the best and most equitable terms I have ever seen. An unseen positive trend in the industry at the indie level!
Meet the unconventional publishers trying to unfuck the games industry: aftermath.site/indie-game-pub...
February 6, 2026 at 6:18 PM
As someone who edits 1-2 publishing agreements a week, whenever a funding agreement from a successful developer trying to share the wealth passes my desk they tend to include some of the best and most equitable terms I have ever seen. An unseen positive trend in the industry at the indie level!
This is such a basic and simple good piece of guidance.
1. As I've noted before, I have this thing called the Krissy Test, which is, if there's something I was thinking of doing and I wouldn't want tell my spouse about it*, then I don't do that. It keeps the closet skeletons down to a dull rattle. I think I'm fine.
*Surprise birthday parties excepted.
*Surprise birthday parties excepted.
I'm really hoping the skeletons in your closet turn out to be just that you've been lying about the burritos all these years and eat nothing more adventurous than steak and potatoes.
February 7, 2026 at 7:43 AM
This is such a basic and simple good piece of guidance.
Reposting this because it made someone mad.
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Reposting this because it made someone mad.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
Wisdom. Being upset that people remember your favorite writer/musician/artist as a creep is on the creepy artist, not on the people who note, through voluminous evidence and/or personal experience, that the artist was a creep.
(If you don’t want to be remembered as a sex pest, maybe DON’T BE A SEX PEST. It’s NOT HARD, lots of people manage it.)
February 6, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Wisdom. Being upset that people remember your favorite writer/musician/artist as a creep is on the creepy artist, not on the people who note, through voluminous evidence and/or personal experience, that the artist was a creep.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
Also, "underage women" isn't a thing. If they're under age, they're not women. That's what under age literally means.
February 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Also, "underage women" isn't a thing. If they're under age, they're not women. That's what under age literally means.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
Unrelated, how do you go about arranging the translation of scientific research publications to English from Brazilian Portuguese? Do you need to gain rights to the work?
This seems like the sort of thing that Bluesky could crowd source, if someone with reach pushed it
This seems like the sort of thing that Bluesky could crowd source, if someone with reach pushed it
February 4, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Unrelated, how do you go about arranging the translation of scientific research publications to English from Brazilian Portuguese? Do you need to gain rights to the work?
This seems like the sort of thing that Bluesky could crowd source, if someone with reach pushed it
This seems like the sort of thing that Bluesky could crowd source, if someone with reach pushed it
Reposted by Matt Freeman
What's that you say!
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
Trans athletes may not have fitness advantage in women’s sport, landmark study finds
Findings suggest physical performance in trans women converges toward that of cis women over time
www.independent.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 8:44 AM
What's that you say!
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
Reposted by Matt Freeman
Discworld QOTD, from I Shall Wear Midnight
February 2, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Discworld QOTD, from I Shall Wear Midnight
Reposted by Matt Freeman
Ok, let’s do this🙄
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
February 1, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Ok, let’s do this🙄
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
Reposted by Matt Freeman
I love when my translators have questions. The splendid Mikael Cabon in France needs to know if a river in Written on the Dark flows into the sea or into another river: his word choice will be different.
When translators are careful it is a gift to an author AND a reminder to protect them from AI.
When translators are careful it is a gift to an author AND a reminder to protect them from AI.
January 29, 2026 at 1:28 PM
I love when my translators have questions. The splendid Mikael Cabon in France needs to know if a river in Written on the Dark flows into the sea or into another river: his word choice will be different.
When translators are careful it is a gift to an author AND a reminder to protect them from AI.
When translators are careful it is a gift to an author AND a reminder to protect them from AI.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
Worth remembering that this is how companies force disabled workers out of their workforce. If any disabled workers impacted by this want to discuss, you can reach me at [email protected] and on signal: gabunting.89. Anonymity guaranteed.
Ubisoft to ask all staff to return to office five days a week to "boost collective performance for AAAs" www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-aski...
Ubisoft asking all staff to return to office full-time to "boost the collective performance for AAA"
Change is "to enhance collective efficiency, to drive the dynamics, the creativity, the sense of belonging"
www.gamesindustry.biz
January 22, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Worth remembering that this is how companies force disabled workers out of their workforce. If any disabled workers impacted by this want to discuss, you can reach me at [email protected] and on signal: gabunting.89. Anonymity guaranteed.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
This is a good lesson, no matter how you come to learn it
January 18, 2026 at 3:11 PM
This is a good lesson, no matter how you come to learn it
Reposted by Matt Freeman
January 17, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Reposted by Matt Freeman
It's a stressful day with trans sports bans at the Supreme Court, but we have counterprogramming in the form of a lovely story about trans people playing games with little painted figurines.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
Trans People are Wargamers Whether the Fandom Likes it or Not — Assigned
Wargaming, a traditionally masculine-coded hobby, has, in recent years, become a home to many trans and queer players.
www.assignedmedia.org
January 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM
It's a stressful day with trans sports bans at the Supreme Court, but we have counterprogramming in the form of a lovely story about trans people playing games with little painted figurines.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
Reposted by Matt Freeman
I’ve never had a tab of ChatGPT open, period…
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'
January 15, 2026 at 7:37 AM
I’ve never had a tab of ChatGPT open, period…
Reposted by Matt Freeman
I don't use LLMs. They're just stochastic parrots that deliver a string of text that looks like the most likely response to a question that a consensus-human would emit. It's not an answer, it's an answer-shaped object that's wrong 25-75% of the time. Utterly useless to me.
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'
January 14, 2026 at 12:59 PM
I don't use LLMs. They're just stochastic parrots that deliver a string of text that looks like the most likely response to a question that a consensus-human would emit. It's not an answer, it's an answer-shaped object that's wrong 25-75% of the time. Utterly useless to me.
Reposted by Matt Freeman
More MPs are coming off X and I assume that means they will be posting more on here
@politicshome.bsky.social has a handy list of all the MPs on Bluesky
Please point out anyone who is missing!
@politicshome.bsky.social has a handy list of all the MPs on Bluesky
Please point out anyone who is missing!
January 9, 2026 at 9:21 PM
More MPs are coming off X and I assume that means they will be posting more on here
@politicshome.bsky.social has a handy list of all the MPs on Bluesky
Please point out anyone who is missing!
@politicshome.bsky.social has a handy list of all the MPs on Bluesky
Please point out anyone who is missing!
Reposted by Matt Freeman
From game design legend Greg Costikyan:
"The map is of Greenland, overlain by the flag of Greenland, in response a recent meme overlying the US flag on Greenland."
(From LinkedIn)
"The map is of Greenland, overlain by the flag of Greenland, in response a recent meme overlying the US flag on Greenland."
(From LinkedIn)
January 8, 2026 at 11:25 PM
From game design legend Greg Costikyan:
"The map is of Greenland, overlain by the flag of Greenland, in response a recent meme overlying the US flag on Greenland."
(From LinkedIn)
"The map is of Greenland, overlain by the flag of Greenland, in response a recent meme overlying the US flag on Greenland."
(From LinkedIn)