Ben Kirman
@ben.kirman.org
Postdisciplinary games academic: Make/study/teach the playful, weird, wonderful and radical. (he/him)
#criticaldesign #speculativedesign #designfiction #gamedesign
Projects:
https://ben.kirman.org
#criticaldesign #speculativedesign #designfiction #gamedesign
Projects:
https://ben.kirman.org
Reposted by Ben Kirman
This made me think of the next level for your mean dice: carving them out of cheese.
November 14, 2025 at 2:20 PM
This made me think of the next level for your mean dice: carving them out of cheese.
Reposted by Ben Kirman
That sinking feeling when you are reading an interesting article and then the screen fades to the popup and you realise that it is on the newsletter platform that hosts and promotes nazis.
No, I won't even continue reading for free.
No, I won't even continue reading for free.
November 12, 2025 at 7:32 PM
That sinking feeling when you are reading an interesting article and then the screen fades to the popup and you realise that it is on the newsletter platform that hosts and promotes nazis.
No, I won't even continue reading for free.
No, I won't even continue reading for free.
Reposted by Ben Kirman
🚀 NEW MAGAZINE ⌨️
Back in the ’80s there were printed mags of BASIC programs to type in, we’ve brought that back but for web pages!
10 amazing games, toys, puzzles and utilities, no coding knowledge needed
vole.wtf/doctype/
Back in the ’80s there were printed mags of BASIC programs to type in, we’ve brought that back but for web pages!
10 amazing games, toys, puzzles and utilities, no coding knowledge needed
vole.wtf/doctype/
DOCTYPE magazine 🚀⌨️
’80s BASIC type-in mags are back, but this time for HTML!
vole.wtf
November 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
🚀 NEW MAGAZINE ⌨️
Back in the ’80s there were printed mags of BASIC programs to type in, we’ve brought that back but for web pages!
10 amazing games, toys, puzzles and utilities, no coding knowledge needed
vole.wtf/doctype/
Back in the ’80s there were printed mags of BASIC programs to type in, we’ve brought that back but for web pages!
10 amazing games, toys, puzzles and utilities, no coding knowledge needed
vole.wtf/doctype/
Just had to ssh into a pumpkin because it was playing amen break too frequently
October 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Just had to ssh into a pumpkin because it was playing amen break too frequently
Decolonisers of Catan (with dice that only roll 7s) #boardgames #catan
October 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Decolonisers of Catan (with dice that only roll 7s) #boardgames #catan
Reposted by Ben Kirman
I zine-ified Screw That: A Resource Scarcity game this morning.
oliverbates.itch.io/screw-that
It's a (very) small frustrating game/LARP sort of thing about a future where your plumbing stops working for some reason.
#zines #games #indie
oliverbates.itch.io/screw-that
It's a (very) small frustrating game/LARP sort of thing about a future where your plumbing stops working for some reason.
#zines #games #indie
SCREW THAT! A resource scarcity game by oliver bates
A little resource scarcity game, exploring possible futures and systems
oliverbates.itch.io
October 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I zine-ified Screw That: A Resource Scarcity game this morning.
oliverbates.itch.io/screw-that
It's a (very) small frustrating game/LARP sort of thing about a future where your plumbing stops working for some reason.
#zines #games #indie
oliverbates.itch.io/screw-that
It's a (very) small frustrating game/LARP sort of thing about a future where your plumbing stops working for some reason.
#zines #games #indie
Reposted by Ben Kirman
Casual Games for Protesters
Simple games for marches, rallies, and occupations.
www.protestgames.org
October 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
from the Dog Internet archives. WHAT DO THEY KNOW?
October 9, 2025 at 4:12 PM
from the Dog Internet archives. WHAT DO THEY KNOW?
Sometimes dice in tabletop games are a bit "swing-y". I designed and made this full set of dice for people who prefer more consistent results. I call them Mean Dice.
benkirman.itch.io/mean-dice
#ttrpg #boardgames #dice #gamedesign #statistilols
benkirman.itch.io/mean-dice
#ttrpg #boardgames #dice #gamedesign #statistilols
Mean Dice by benkirman
For tabletop game players who don't like how
benkirman.itch.io
October 8, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Sometimes dice in tabletop games are a bit "swing-y". I designed and made this full set of dice for people who prefer more consistent results. I call them Mean Dice.
benkirman.itch.io/mean-dice
#ttrpg #boardgames #dice #gamedesign #statistilols
benkirman.itch.io/mean-dice
#ttrpg #boardgames #dice #gamedesign #statistilols
Reposted by Ben Kirman
@boardgamegeek.com was kind enough to let me publish a designer diary for #crossbronxexpressway
boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp...
@gmtgames.bsky.social
boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp...
@gmtgames.bsky.social
Designer Diary: Cross Bronx Expressway, or Presenting a History on the Table | BoardGameGeek News
boardgamegeek.com
September 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
@boardgamegeek.com was kind enough to let me publish a designer diary for #crossbronxexpressway
boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp...
@gmtgames.bsky.social
boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp...
@gmtgames.bsky.social
Hunting a vampire in Tragic Castle Obsession, unfortunately my wooden crucifix caught vampirism and enthralled me. Theres a lesson here somewhere. #morkborg #solitarydefilement #solorpg 1d105.itch.io/tragic-castl...
Tragic Castle Obsession by 1d10+5
Vampires! Vampires! Vampires!
1d105.itch.io
October 5, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Hunting a vampire in Tragic Castle Obsession, unfortunately my wooden crucifix caught vampirism and enthralled me. Theres a lesson here somewhere. #morkborg #solitarydefilement #solorpg 1d105.itch.io/tragic-castl...
Reposted by Ben Kirman
Three (3) new postdoctoral game studies positions are now open for applications. These are related to the exit phase (2026-27) of the CoE-GameCult, and positions will situated in the Tampere University Game Research Lab, COMS/ITC, Tampere University.
tuni.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index...
tuni.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index...
3 Postdoctoral Researchers (cultural game studies) / 3 tutkijatohtoria (kulttuurinen pelitutkimus)
tuni.rekrytointi.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Three (3) new postdoctoral game studies positions are now open for applications. These are related to the exit phase (2026-27) of the CoE-GameCult, and positions will situated in the Tampere University Game Research Lab, COMS/ITC, Tampere University.
tuni.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index...
tuni.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index...
Looking forward to this event on social justice in tabletop games. Come see/play some games (inc Billionaires and Guillotines, Daybreak, Molly House) and explore the topic, it would be cool to see you there (London 14/11) www.tickettailor.com/events/kings... #gamedesign #gamesresearch
Select tickets – Gaming Social Justice – REACH Space
Gaming Social Justice – REACH Space, Fri 14 Nov 2025 -
‘Let the children once see clearly the gross injustice of our present land system and when they grow up, if they are allowed to develop naturall...
www.tickettailor.com
September 26, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Looking forward to this event on social justice in tabletop games. Come see/play some games (inc Billionaires and Guillotines, Daybreak, Molly House) and explore the topic, it would be cool to see you there (London 14/11) www.tickettailor.com/events/kings... #gamedesign #gamesresearch
Reposted by Ben Kirman
i did it you can stop thinking about it, i just solved The Male Loneliness Epidemic downpour.games/~doruk/solut...
" Solutions To The Male Loneliness Epidemic" by doruk
A Downpour game by doruk
downpour.games
September 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
i did it you can stop thinking about it, i just solved The Male Loneliness Epidemic downpour.games/~doruk/solut...
Walked past a bunch of film students on their way to a lecture, and thought it was cute how many of them were wearing movie t shirts. Dune, Jaws, etc. Chuckled to myself and then realised I'm wearing my "Escape the Dark Sector" board game shirt on the way to my teaching...
September 23, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Walked past a bunch of film students on their way to a lecture, and thought it was cute how many of them were wearing movie t shirts. Dune, Jaws, etc. Chuckled to myself and then realised I'm wearing my "Escape the Dark Sector" board game shirt on the way to my teaching...
CÖRK BØRD is "a MÖRK BORG compatible game of police procedural horror". (I don't know much about it, but what a name!) www.kickstarter.com/projects/all...
Cörk Bord: a Nordic Noir investigative Role-Playing Game
A MÖRK BORG compatible game of police procedural horror where every clue cuts deep and success lies beneath the baggage of broken lives
www.kickstarter.com
September 11, 2025 at 7:05 PM
CÖRK BØRD is "a MÖRK BORG compatible game of police procedural horror". (I don't know much about it, but what a name!) www.kickstarter.com/projects/all...
Reposted by Ben Kirman
Next Thursday (September 11th), join @florencesn.bsky.social & myself in discussing #game archaeology and speculative #fiction in relation to my latest novel!
The presentation starts at 6 PM at Village Bookstore in Leeds (UK):
>> villagebooks.co/blogs/blog/w... <<
The presentation starts at 6 PM at Village Bookstore in Leeds (UK):
>> villagebooks.co/blogs/blog/w... <<
September 8, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Next Thursday (September 11th), join @florencesn.bsky.social & myself in discussing #game archaeology and speculative #fiction in relation to my latest novel!
The presentation starts at 6 PM at Village Bookstore in Leeds (UK):
>> villagebooks.co/blogs/blog/w... <<
The presentation starts at 6 PM at Village Bookstore in Leeds (UK):
>> villagebooks.co/blogs/blog/w... <<
Age caught up with me and I've joined glasses gang. I wasn't prepared for the weird pageantry vibes of the opticians. Like a medical coronation.
August 8, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Age caught up with me and I've joined glasses gang. I wasn't prepared for the weird pageantry vibes of the opticians. Like a medical coronation.
Reposted by Ben Kirman
york folks, i'm starting to run weekly workshops about alternative, low-tech digital tools. running the first, trial session monday next week. come by, play and make a zine!!
sign-up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/make-and-b...
sign-up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/make-and-b...
August 6, 2025 at 12:52 PM
york folks, i'm starting to run weekly workshops about alternative, low-tech digital tools. running the first, trial session monday next week. come by, play and make a zine!!
sign-up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/make-and-b...
sign-up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/make-and-b...
The compulsory scam-awareness training uses as an example phishing email of "You are getting a raise", and assures me that my employers would never ever send me such an email.
July 24, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The compulsory scam-awareness training uses as an example phishing email of "You are getting a raise", and assures me that my employers would never ever send me such an email.
Reposted by Ben Kirman
This week at fractals.coop we’re launching our new service: Games for research, engagement, and impact.
Want to turn your research into an engaging and impactful experience?
We bring games design, play and immersion.
You bring the research.
fractals.coop/blog/games-f...
Want to turn your research into an engaging and impactful experience?
We bring games design, play and immersion.
You bring the research.
fractals.coop/blog/games-f...
Games for research, engagement, and impact
We’re launching our games for research, engagement, and impact service. It’s a result of conversations with academics, hearing that academics want to do fun activities to communicate their research, a...
fractals.coop
July 16, 2025 at 3:08 PM
This week at fractals.coop we’re launching our new service: Games for research, engagement, and impact.
Want to turn your research into an engaging and impactful experience?
We bring games design, play and immersion.
You bring the research.
fractals.coop/blog/games-f...
Want to turn your research into an engaging and impactful experience?
We bring games design, play and immersion.
You bring the research.
fractals.coop/blog/games-f...
Reposted by Ben Kirman
Me, Caleb, and @kierancutting.bsky.social have been working to evolve Meal Deal from research through design artefact to a something we might sell.
Find Caleb and enjoy the latest(ish) version! Sadly kieran and I can’t be there this year.
Og version is here: oliverbates.itch.io/meal-deal
Find Caleb and enjoy the latest(ish) version! Sadly kieran and I can’t be there this year.
Og version is here: oliverbates.itch.io/meal-deal
July 12, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Me, Caleb, and @kierancutting.bsky.social have been working to evolve Meal Deal from research through design artefact to a something we might sell.
Find Caleb and enjoy the latest(ish) version! Sadly kieran and I can’t be there this year.
Og version is here: oliverbates.itch.io/meal-deal
Find Caleb and enjoy the latest(ish) version! Sadly kieran and I can’t be there this year.
Og version is here: oliverbates.itch.io/meal-deal
I feel like you could replace "AI coding tools" with a lot of things and the graph would look the same - "Refactoring Codebase", "Using new Javascript framework", "Switching IDE to Dark Mode", "Making your own Mechanical Keyboard"
We ran a randomized controlled trial to see how much AI coding tools speed up experienced open-source developers.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
July 11, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I feel like you could replace "AI coding tools" with a lot of things and the graph would look the same - "Refactoring Codebase", "Using new Javascript framework", "Switching IDE to Dark Mode", "Making your own Mechanical Keyboard"