Ben McKenzie
@benmckenzie.com.au
Performer, writer, educator, game designer and ginger on Wurundjeri Country (aka Melbourne, Australia). He/him.
I make the Pratchat book club podcast, time travel radio comedy Night Terrace, and other things.
Not the actor that wrote the book on crypto.
I make the Pratchat book club podcast, time travel radio comedy Night Terrace, and other things.
Not the actor that wrote the book on crypto.
We really needed a good news story in games, and this is great news!
just incredibly thrilled to announce that after months and months of uncertainty over the future of the game, and several I have bought Zombies, Run!, the game I co-created and have been making for the past 12 years:
zombiesrungame.com
observer.co.uk/the-critics/...
zombiesrungame.com
observer.co.uk/the-critics/...
I’m a novelist who’s just bought a video games company. Here’s why you should care about games writing | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 AM
We really needed a good news story in games, and this is great news!
Finally got around to starting #GhostsAustralia, and it’s a bloody delight. Lovely positive but cheeky tone, and it really feels authentically Australian, rather than a carbon copy of the original. Plus the cast are all wonderful - @michellebrasier.bsky.social, you’re killing it! I recommend.
November 19, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Finally got around to starting #GhostsAustralia, and it’s a bloody delight. Lovely positive but cheeky tone, and it really feels authentically Australian, rather than a carbon copy of the original. Plus the cast are all wonderful - @michellebrasier.bsky.social, you’re killing it! I recommend.
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Me: Hey Gemini, what is the absolute worst possible example for an AI prompt to encourage people to use you?
Gemini: How about outsourcing human connection and gratitude, while abrogating involvement in a child's education?
Me: Nailed it.
Gemini: How about outsourcing human connection and gratitude, while abrogating involvement in a child's education?
Me: Nailed it.
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Me: Hey Gemini, what is the absolute worst possible example for an AI prompt to encourage people to use you?
Gemini: How about outsourcing human connection and gratitude, while abrogating involvement in a child's education?
Me: Nailed it.
Gemini: How about outsourcing human connection and gratitude, while abrogating involvement in a child's education?
Me: Nailed it.
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Screen Australia is doing a massive research project on the current state of the screen and games industries in Australia. Local devs, please consider taking the time to complete their survey survey.alchemer.com/s3/8573365/S...
Screen Currency 2025 — Screen and Games Industry Survey
survey.alchemer.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Screen Australia is doing a massive research project on the current state of the screen and games industries in Australia. Local devs, please consider taking the time to complete their survey survey.alchemer.com/s3/8573365/S...
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
I went to meet the 'Rockstar 31', the developers who were suddenly fired from their work on GTA 6 for what the studio has described as gross misconduct.
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
The Rockstar Workers Fired Before They Could Finish GTA 6
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I went to meet the 'Rockstar 31', the developers who were suddenly fired from their work on GTA 6 for what the studio has described as gross misconduct.
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
I’m going down Peel Street on the tram and there’s so much dandelion in the air! It’s like the pollen count has become visible! I’ve never seen this before. Most visible around Queensberry and Victoria Streets.
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I’m going down Peel Street on the tram and there’s so much dandelion in the air! It’s like the pollen count has become visible! I’ve never seen this before. Most visible around Queensberry and Victoria Streets.
No Pun Included is one of my favourite channels for game criticism and thinking. Efka and Elaine make some outstanding videos which get deeper than just reviews. For example, for Blood on the Clocktower, Efka digs into the history of social deduction games. You won’t regret subscribing.
November 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM
No Pun Included is one of my favourite channels for game criticism and thinking. Efka and Elaine make some outstanding videos which get deeper than just reviews. For example, for Blood on the Clocktower, Efka digs into the history of social deduction games. You won’t regret subscribing.
It’s out! Get yourself to Steam and pick up your copy!
store.steampowered.com/app/1166940/...
Now to make it run on my ancient games PC - or get some play time on my partner’s around her current return to Skyrim. (The backup plan is to get it on XBox! It’s on GamePass if you have it.)
store.steampowered.com/app/1166940/...
Now to make it run on my ancient games PC - or get some play time on my partner’s around her current return to Skyrim. (The backup plan is to get it on XBox! It’s on GamePass if you have it.)
November 5, 2025 at 12:22 AM
It’s out! Get yourself to Steam and pick up your copy!
store.steampowered.com/app/1166940/...
Now to make it run on my ancient games PC - or get some play time on my partner’s around her current return to Skyrim. (The backup plan is to get it on XBox! It’s on GamePass if you have it.)
store.steampowered.com/app/1166940/...
Now to make it run on my ancient games PC - or get some play time on my partner’s around her current return to Skyrim. (The backup plan is to get it on XBox! It’s on GamePass if you have it.)
Today is the day for @deadstaticdrive.com!
I have to go to work, but I’ll probably still sneak in a little bit of refreshing Steam until the launch time comes around.
(This game was made in Melbourne by some of the best people, including one of my all-time faves. I can’t wait!)
I have to go to work, but I’ll probably still sneak in a little bit of refreshing Steam until the launch time comes around.
(This game was made in Melbourne by some of the best people, including one of my all-time faves. I can’t wait!)
November 4, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Today is the day for @deadstaticdrive.com!
I have to go to work, but I’ll probably still sneak in a little bit of refreshing Steam until the launch time comes around.
(This game was made in Melbourne by some of the best people, including one of my all-time faves. I can’t wait!)
I have to go to work, but I’ll probably still sneak in a little bit of refreshing Steam until the launch time comes around.
(This game was made in Melbourne by some of the best people, including one of my all-time faves. I can’t wait!)
Been a while since I had a #DoctorWho take, but I have a wish for the Christmas special for next year: that Billie gets one big amazing adventure and then regenerates, showing off the best consequence of the Timeless Child arc: that the occasional short-run Doctor is now possible with big names.
October 29, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Been a while since I had a #DoctorWho take, but I have a wish for the Christmas special for next year: that Billie gets one big amazing adventure and then regenerates, showing off the best consequence of the Timeless Child arc: that the occasional short-run Doctor is now possible with big names.
Does anyone know who I might contact at #PAXAus about getting copies of footage of performances I did for them in past years which are no longer available on Twitch?
October 27, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Does anyone know who I might contact at #PAXAus about getting copies of footage of performances I did for them in past years which are no longer available on Twitch?
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Our next episode, #Pratchat89, is recording this weekend - and we’re discussing the #Discworld point and click adventure game from 1995! Ben may have lost the box and the disc but he still has his original manual… If you have questions, get them in ASAP!
October 23, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Our next episode, #Pratchat89, is recording this weekend - and we’re discussing the #Discworld point and click adventure game from 1995! Ben may have lost the box and the disc but he still has his original manual… If you have questions, get them in ASAP!
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
I need a poster for a scripted podcast made, please reply with portfolios!!!!
October 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I need a poster for a scripted podcast made, please reply with portfolios!!!!
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Join us (finally) for a new episode as @brendanbarnett.bsky.social chats with Ben* about how one man can draw so many wizards, witches, dragons, guards, goblins and other denizen of the Disc, as we read Paul Kidby’s Designing Terry Pratchett’s #Discworld! #Pratchat88
* Liz will be back next month!
* Liz will be back next month!
#Pratchat88 – They’re All Good Dragons, Bront
Illustrator, game designer and educator Brendan Barnett joins Ben to discuss art, ideas, inspiration, creative process, dragons, wizards and goblins (oh my!) as we leaf through Paul Kidby’s 2…
pratchatpodcast.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Join us (finally) for a new episode as @brendanbarnett.bsky.social chats with Ben* about how one man can draw so many wizards, witches, dragons, guards, goblins and other denizen of the Disc, as we read Paul Kidby’s Designing Terry Pratchett’s #Discworld! #Pratchat88
* Liz will be back next month!
* Liz will be back next month!
I hate the weasel phrase “going away”.
No feature or service “goes away” - it doesn’t have legs and a will of its own. Its owner is removing, cancelling or discontinuing it.
Use a verb; take responsibility. Don’t pretend you’re helplessly subject to the whim of an inanimate object or concept.
No feature or service “goes away” - it doesn’t have legs and a will of its own. Its owner is removing, cancelling or discontinuing it.
Use a verb; take responsibility. Don’t pretend you’re helplessly subject to the whim of an inanimate object or concept.
October 15, 2025 at 6:18 AM
I hate the weasel phrase “going away”.
No feature or service “goes away” - it doesn’t have legs and a will of its own. Its owner is removing, cancelling or discontinuing it.
Use a verb; take responsibility. Don’t pretend you’re helplessly subject to the whim of an inanimate object or concept.
No feature or service “goes away” - it doesn’t have legs and a will of its own. Its owner is removing, cancelling or discontinuing it.
Use a verb; take responsibility. Don’t pretend you’re helplessly subject to the whim of an inanimate object or concept.
“We realise this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems” is a wild way to start a sentence about a system that encouraged young people to hide suicidal thoughts from their loved ones.
Surely “make the friend you want” is likely to have worse outcomes?
Surely “make the friend you want” is likely to have worse outcomes?
Sam Altman went from “AI will cure cancer" to "ChatGPT porn" in less than a month
October 15, 2025 at 12:14 AM
“We realise this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems” is a wild way to start a sentence about a system that encouraged young people to hide suicidal thoughts from their loved ones.
Surely “make the friend you want” is likely to have worse outcomes?
Surely “make the friend you want” is likely to have worse outcomes?
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
October 14, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Australians, please raid your Uncle's old PC in his shed, and help me find a copy of this to archive.
#Australia #AFL #DOSGaming #Wolfenstein #RetroGaming #MSDOS #RetroComputing
#Australia #AFL #DOSGaming #Wolfenstein #RetroGaming #MSDOS #RetroComputing
October 4, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Australians, please raid your Uncle's old PC in his shed, and help me find a copy of this to archive.
#Australia #AFL #DOSGaming #Wolfenstein #RetroGaming #MSDOS #RetroComputing
#Australia #AFL #DOSGaming #Wolfenstein #RetroGaming #MSDOS #RetroComputing
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
Great list! Some more excellent Australian artists on Bandcamp:
davidbridie.bandcamp.com
allindiaradio.bandcamp.com
jefflang.bandcamp.com
jakflute.bandcamp.com
davegraney1.bandcamp.com
davesteel.bandcamp.com
mickthomas.bandcamp.com
notdrowningwaving.bandcamp.com
desmonddoom.bandcamp.com
#AusMusic
davidbridie.bandcamp.com
allindiaradio.bandcamp.com
jefflang.bandcamp.com
jakflute.bandcamp.com
davegraney1.bandcamp.com
davesteel.bandcamp.com
mickthomas.bandcamp.com
notdrowningwaving.bandcamp.com
desmonddoom.bandcamp.com
#AusMusic
Desmond Doom
Post-Punk / Surf-Goth from Melbourne, Australia.
Think Joy Divison meets The Smiths in Eastern Europe.
Business contact:
desmonddoommusic@gmail.com
desmonddoom.bandcamp.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Great list! Some more excellent Australian artists on Bandcamp:
davidbridie.bandcamp.com
allindiaradio.bandcamp.com
jefflang.bandcamp.com
jakflute.bandcamp.com
davegraney1.bandcamp.com
davesteel.bandcamp.com
mickthomas.bandcamp.com
notdrowningwaving.bandcamp.com
desmonddoom.bandcamp.com
#AusMusic
davidbridie.bandcamp.com
allindiaradio.bandcamp.com
jefflang.bandcamp.com
jakflute.bandcamp.com
davegraney1.bandcamp.com
davesteel.bandcamp.com
mickthomas.bandcamp.com
notdrowningwaving.bandcamp.com
desmonddoom.bandcamp.com
#AusMusic
On #BandcampFriday, Bandcamp waives its cut; the artists get more of your money. It ends 5 PM AEST.
Australian artists on Bandcamp include:
geraldinequinn.bandcamp.com
georgiafields.bandcamp.com
3pod.bandcamp.com
thetwoks.bandcamp.com
pickup.bandcamp.com
judeperl.bandcamp.com
tomcardy.bandcamp.com
Australian artists on Bandcamp include:
geraldinequinn.bandcamp.com
georgiafields.bandcamp.com
3pod.bandcamp.com
thetwoks.bandcamp.com
pickup.bandcamp.com
judeperl.bandcamp.com
tomcardy.bandcamp.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:28 AM
On #BandcampFriday, Bandcamp waives its cut; the artists get more of your money. It ends 5 PM AEST.
Australian artists on Bandcamp include:
geraldinequinn.bandcamp.com
georgiafields.bandcamp.com
3pod.bandcamp.com
thetwoks.bandcamp.com
pickup.bandcamp.com
judeperl.bandcamp.com
tomcardy.bandcamp.com
Australian artists on Bandcamp include:
geraldinequinn.bandcamp.com
georgiafields.bandcamp.com
3pod.bandcamp.com
thetwoks.bandcamp.com
pickup.bandcamp.com
judeperl.bandcamp.com
tomcardy.bandcamp.com
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
💛 TRACES OF PLAY 💛 is a participatory installation that celebrates the folk, playground, and street games we used to play. Created with @chadtoprak.bsky.social, come subvert these humble everyday objects into magnificent playthings of joy! 🪨🥜🥄✏️🪢
September 24, 2025 at 7:42 AM
💛 TRACES OF PLAY 💛 is a participatory installation that celebrates the folk, playground, and street games we used to play. Created with @chadtoprak.bsky.social, come subvert these humble everyday objects into magnificent playthings of joy! 🪨🥜🥄✏️🪢
Reposted by Ben McKenzie
And here we go! Shadow of the Weird Wizard is available on Bundle of Holding! If you've been waiting to check it out, now's your chance! bundleofholding.com/presents/Wei...
Shadow of the Weird Wizard Bundle
Adventurer! This all-new Shadow of the Weird Wizard Bundle presents Shadow of the Weird Wizard, the tabletop fantasy roleplaying game from Robert J. Schwalb of Schwalb Entertainment based on his bests...
bundleofholding.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:02 PM
And here we go! Shadow of the Weird Wizard is available on Bundle of Holding! If you've been waiting to check it out, now's your chance! bundleofholding.com/presents/Wei...
I enjoy subtle, metaphorical, deep art.
But sometimes I also like a banger which just straight up says a thing out loud.
youtu.be/GOQFWGiJqWI
Jeangu’s been on my radar since his Eurovision entry from a few years back, “Birth of a New Age”. Nice to see he’s still kicking it!
But sometimes I also like a banger which just straight up says a thing out loud.
youtu.be/GOQFWGiJqWI
Jeangu’s been on my radar since his Eurovision entry from a few years back, “Birth of a New Age”. Nice to see he’s still kicking it!
Jeangu Macrooy - Independent Girls & Nasty Evil Gays (official video)
YouTube video by Jeangu Macrooy
youtu.be
September 7, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I enjoy subtle, metaphorical, deep art.
But sometimes I also like a banger which just straight up says a thing out loud.
youtu.be/GOQFWGiJqWI
Jeangu’s been on my radar since his Eurovision entry from a few years back, “Birth of a New Age”. Nice to see he’s still kicking it!
But sometimes I also like a banger which just straight up says a thing out loud.
youtu.be/GOQFWGiJqWI
Jeangu’s been on my radar since his Eurovision entry from a few years back, “Birth of a New Age”. Nice to see he’s still kicking it!
If you don’t know @horrornonna.com, she is one of the best horror film critics and academics out there. But film criticism, even the really good stuff, doesn’t pay enough to fight the aged care business machine. Please help out Alex if you can!
September 6, 2025 at 5:39 AM
If you don’t know @horrornonna.com, she is one of the best horror film critics and academics out there. But film criticism, even the really good stuff, doesn’t pay enough to fight the aged care business machine. Please help out Alex if you can!