Nina Kiel
@beurkeek.bsky.social
Game developer, journalist, researcher, diversity and inclusion advocate, IGF finalist
Research fellow at TH Köln/Cologne Game Lab, promoting accessibility in games and developing Open Educational Resources
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ they/them, sier/sien
Research fellow at TH Köln/Cologne Game Lab, promoting accessibility in games and developing Open Educational Resources
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ they/them, sier/sien
URGENT:
#Trans people in Germany need your help. Our government is seriously considering to create a list of people who changed their name/gender under the recent self-identification law. This is obviously a terrible idea, especially considering the increasing popularity of the far-right party.
#Trans people in Germany need your help. Our government is seriously considering to create a list of people who changed their name/gender under the recent self-identification law. This is obviously a terrible idea, especially considering the increasing popularity of the far-right party.
January 2, 2026 at 1:27 PM
URGENT:
#Trans people in Germany need your help. Our government is seriously considering to create a list of people who changed their name/gender under the recent self-identification law. This is obviously a terrible idea, especially considering the increasing popularity of the far-right party.
#Trans people in Germany need your help. Our government is seriously considering to create a list of people who changed their name/gender under the recent self-identification law. This is obviously a terrible idea, especially considering the increasing popularity of the far-right party.
I'm not great at self-promotion and highlighting achievements. So instead, I'll just share that 2025 has been a year of significant personal growth and healing for me, and I'm deeply grateful for the continued support and patience of my loved ones.
See you next year!
See you next year!
December 31, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I'm not great at self-promotion and highlighting achievements. So instead, I'll just share that 2025 has been a year of significant personal growth and healing for me, and I'm deeply grateful for the continued support and patience of my loved ones.
See you next year!
See you next year!
Rather than hyperfocusing on public holidays, I prefer giving gifts - both to myself and others - whenever I feel like it (and find something suitable). Today, I treated myself to some of the albums I particularly enjoyed this year.
Not shown below: Several records by Altus and Hania Rani.
Not shown below: Several records by Altus and Hania Rani.
December 31, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Rather than hyperfocusing on public holidays, I prefer giving gifts - both to myself and others - whenever I feel like it (and find something suitable). Today, I treated myself to some of the albums I particularly enjoyed this year.
Not shown below: Several records by Altus and Hania Rani.
Not shown below: Several records by Altus and Hania Rani.
It's really simple: Don't just perceive (and treat) people as a means to an end. Be kind and show genuine interest, not because you might benefit from an interaction, but because the person in front of you is worth it.
Just gonna say this again for games sphere cus we get the same question:
Networking doesn't mean schmoozing up to famous people, it means making friends with your peers. Then in 10 years, 20, one of you might be famous? And sure you're still helping each other cus well yeah friends.
Make. Friends.
Networking doesn't mean schmoozing up to famous people, it means making friends with your peers. Then in 10 years, 20, one of you might be famous? And sure you're still helping each other cus well yeah friends.
Make. Friends.
Talking to one of these types at a con who asked how I 'got in' with so many 'famous writers' who I'd been talking to and I said "we made friends before anyone knew who we were decades ago by striking up interesting conversations and enjoying each other's company" and he kept re-asking the question.
December 27, 2025 at 8:39 AM
It's really simple: Don't just perceive (and treat) people as a means to an end. Be kind and show genuine interest, not because you might benefit from an interaction, but because the person in front of you is worth it.
"In a recent survey, we explored gamers’ attitudes towards the use of Gen #AI in video games and whether those attitudes varied by demographics and gaming motivations. The overwhelmingly negative attitude stood out compared to other surveys we’ve run over the past decade."
#GamesIndustry #GenAI
#GamesIndustry #GenAI
Gamers Are Overwhelmingly Negative About Gen AI in Video Games, but Attitudes Vary by Gender, Age, and Gaming Motivations.
Learn about how gender, age, and gaming motivations shape the perception of Gen AI in video games.
quanticfoundry.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:53 AM
"In a recent survey, we explored gamers’ attitudes towards the use of Gen #AI in video games and whether those attitudes varied by demographics and gaming motivations. The overwhelmingly negative attitude stood out compared to other surveys we’ve run over the past decade."
#GamesIndustry #GenAI
#GamesIndustry #GenAI
"Warum sollte man sich selbst um seine Verwirklichung betrügen und einen Automaten für die Umsetzung der eigenen Idee beauftragen? Ist einem diese Idee derart wenig wert, dass man ihr nicht selbst Gestalt verleihen will?"
Künstliche Intelligenz: Für euch reicht’s
youtu.be/kUuwvJfQfIk?...
Künstliche Intelligenz: Für euch reicht’s
youtu.be/kUuwvJfQfIk?...
Künstliche Intelligenz: Für euch reicht’s
YouTube video by Ultralativ
youtu.be
December 22, 2025 at 8:12 PM
"Warum sollte man sich selbst um seine Verwirklichung betrügen und einen Automaten für die Umsetzung der eigenen Idee beauftragen? Ist einem diese Idee derart wenig wert, dass man ihr nicht selbst Gestalt verleihen will?"
Künstliche Intelligenz: Für euch reicht’s
youtu.be/kUuwvJfQfIk?...
Künstliche Intelligenz: Für euch reicht’s
youtu.be/kUuwvJfQfIk?...
Reposted by Nina Kiel
Yes hello, former senior dev here:
Every time someone says “AI does [useful thing]” you can place a safe bet that what they actually mean is “a machine learning algorithm trained on very specific high quality data does [useful thing]”
Every time someone says “AI does [useful thing]” you can place a safe bet that what they actually mean is “a machine learning algorithm trained on very specific high quality data does [useful thing]”
This is specifically about AI use in humanities disciplines within academia, which is clear from context- this crap is extremely harmful in that setting. Inevitably, people show up to be like "AI finds cancer cells tho".
NOT THE SUBJECT, and that conflation has been inflicted upon us intentionally.
NOT THE SUBJECT, and that conflation has been inflicted upon us intentionally.
You absolutely will not convince a bunch of historians and sociologists and whoever else is in this thread that you know more than we do about this and we should use it. I wish you AI enthusiasts would stop wading into our conversations. You have nothing helpful to contribute and are snarky.
December 21, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Yes hello, former senior dev here:
Every time someone says “AI does [useful thing]” you can place a safe bet that what they actually mean is “a machine learning algorithm trained on very specific high quality data does [useful thing]”
Every time someone says “AI does [useful thing]” you can place a safe bet that what they actually mean is “a machine learning algorithm trained on very specific high quality data does [useful thing]”
Die neue Version des "Handbuch Gameskultur" ist heute erschienen. Ich habe dafür meinen Text über Diversität in Spielen und der Industrie komplett überarbeitet, um die jüngsten Entwicklungen in diesem Bereich zu berücksichtigen.
www.kulturrat-shop.de/Handbuch-Gam...
www.kulturrat-shop.de/Handbuch-Gam...
Handbuch Gameskultur 2.0
Das erfolgreiche Handbuch Gameskultur 2020 bekommt ein Update. Im Dezember erscheint die vollständig überarbeite und stark erweiterte zweite Auflage: Das Handbuch Gameskultur 2.0
Alle Beiträge aus de...
www.kulturrat-shop.de
December 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Die neue Version des "Handbuch Gameskultur" ist heute erschienen. Ich habe dafür meinen Text über Diversität in Spielen und der Industrie komplett überarbeitet, um die jüngsten Entwicklungen in diesem Bereich zu berücksichtigen.
www.kulturrat-shop.de/Handbuch-Gam...
www.kulturrat-shop.de/Handbuch-Gam...
Die neue Folge von Random Encounters ist online!
Wir haben uns eines sehr komplexen Themas angenommen, zahlreiche Interviews geführt, Studien gewälzt, und intensiv über unsere eigenen Moralvorstellungen nachgedacht.
insertmoin.de/random-encou...
CW: Sexismus, sexualisierte Gewalt, Mord, Inzest
Wir haben uns eines sehr komplexen Themas angenommen, zahlreiche Interviews geführt, Studien gewälzt, und intensiv über unsere eigenen Moralvorstellungen nachgedacht.
insertmoin.de/random-encou...
CW: Sexismus, sexualisierte Gewalt, Mord, Inzest
December 12, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Die neue Folge von Random Encounters ist online!
Wir haben uns eines sehr komplexen Themas angenommen, zahlreiche Interviews geführt, Studien gewälzt, und intensiv über unsere eigenen Moralvorstellungen nachgedacht.
insertmoin.de/random-encou...
CW: Sexismus, sexualisierte Gewalt, Mord, Inzest
Wir haben uns eines sehr komplexen Themas angenommen, zahlreiche Interviews geführt, Studien gewälzt, und intensiv über unsere eigenen Moralvorstellungen nachgedacht.
insertmoin.de/random-encou...
CW: Sexismus, sexualisierte Gewalt, Mord, Inzest
"The Game Awards, like the video game industry itself, represent the chasm between the studios that [...] can shell out for a million-dollar ad slot [...] without hesitation, and the people who work on them, who struggle to afford a ticket to the ceremony meant to honor their work."
The Game Awards is bigger and more expensive than ever. Even some nominated developers are getting priced out. Our report: https://kotaku.com/game-awards-geoff-keighley-tickets-trailers-clair-obscur-2000652243
The Game Awards Is Bigger Than Ever But Doesn't Come Cheap
The annual awards ceremony tries to celebrate game developers and hype up fans, to varying degrees of success
kotaku.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:27 AM
"The Game Awards, like the video game industry itself, represent the chasm between the studios that [...] can shell out for a million-dollar ad slot [...] without hesitation, and the people who work on them, who struggle to afford a ticket to the ceremony meant to honor their work."
GDC organiser Informa had a chance to remove access barriers and improve safety for conference participants with their new industry event.
Instead, they decided to move to a(nother) country known for human rights violations and criminalising queerness.
Instead, they decided to move to a(nother) country known for human rights violations and criminalising queerness.
Saudi Arabia's latest overture to the games industry is a new conference, produced by GDC parent Informa, taking place in December 2026
www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia...
www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia...
Saudi Arabia to host Kingdom of Gaming conference in 2026
Organisers hope for 20,000 attendees, 500 studios and 200 investors to be in attendance next December
www.gamesindustry.biz
December 11, 2025 at 11:14 AM
GDC organiser Informa had a chance to remove access barriers and improve safety for conference participants with their new industry event.
Instead, they decided to move to a(nother) country known for human rights violations and criminalising queerness.
Instead, they decided to move to a(nother) country known for human rights violations and criminalising queerness.
Reposted by Nina Kiel
One of the many reasons AI can't produce good writing is it can't hate its own writing. It can't think to itself "Maybe I'm illiterate" during the writing process. And that's essential
December 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
One of the many reasons AI can't produce good writing is it can't hate its own writing. It can't think to itself "Maybe I'm illiterate" during the writing process. And that's essential
Reposted by Nina Kiel
@adriendittrick.bsky.social posted that his *entire itch page* is blocked for people in the UK: theunderscore.xyz/t/the-uk-onl...
his guess it's that he made one 18+ game, so now his whole page is blocked despite it being 1 game out of literally 100s
he's looking for advice on fixing this
his guess it's that he made one 18+ game, so now his whole page is blocked despite it being 1 game out of literally 100s
he's looking for advice on fixing this
the UK online child safety act is so annoying right now
Today I learned that my itch page is blocked in the UK. But not in all the UK, only specific people noticed it and when I asked other British folks to check it seems highly inconsistent. I know why m...
theunderscore.xyz
December 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
@adriendittrick.bsky.social posted that his *entire itch page* is blocked for people in the UK: theunderscore.xyz/t/the-uk-onl...
his guess it's that he made one 18+ game, so now his whole page is blocked despite it being 1 game out of literally 100s
he's looking for advice on fixing this
his guess it's that he made one 18+ game, so now his whole page is blocked despite it being 1 game out of literally 100s
he's looking for advice on fixing this
Today we recorded one of our longest #RandomEncounters episodes to date, but the complex topic of sexualised violence in (adult) games simply required it.
We discussed studies, sexual health, kinks, politics, and quoted the experts who kindly gave us interviews.
#AdultGames #Gaming #Podcast
We discussed studies, sexual health, kinks, politics, and quoted the experts who kindly gave us interviews.
#AdultGames #Gaming #Podcast
December 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Today we recorded one of our longest #RandomEncounters episodes to date, but the complex topic of sexualised violence in (adult) games simply required it.
We discussed studies, sexual health, kinks, politics, and quoted the experts who kindly gave us interviews.
#AdultGames #Gaming #Podcast
We discussed studies, sexual health, kinks, politics, and quoted the experts who kindly gave us interviews.
#AdultGames #Gaming #Podcast
Reposted by Nina Kiel
We are recruiting game makers affected by the 'NSFW' policy changes on Steam and itch.io for a survey. This survey is part of a broader project on the factors that shape the production, distribution, and consumption of porn games. More info about the project and survey at www.pppproject.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
We are recruiting game makers affected by the 'NSFW' policy changes on Steam and itch.io for a survey. This survey is part of a broader project on the factors that shape the production, distribution, and consumption of porn games. More info about the project and survey at www.pppproject.com
Reposted by Nina Kiel
This is a good take, and I’d also like to note that games journalism basically did fail all of those adult game devs. Emphasis on the industry over individuals, although there are outlets out there today that are *still* ignoring this issue overall
I am a little disappointed when the conversation is focused around "it's art not porn!" because the adult games devs get very little support but have been dealing with this for far longer, and they've been sounding the alarm for that deplatforming coming for other games (such as LGBTQ+ content).
December 3, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This is a good take, and I’d also like to note that games journalism basically did fail all of those adult game devs. Emphasis on the industry over individuals, although there are outlets out there today that are *still* ignoring this issue overall
Am 18.12. darf ich die "Diversity Gaming"-Veranstaltungsreihe der Universität Konstanz mit einem Vortrag zum Thema #Barrierefreiheit und Inklusion im #Gaming eröffnen.
Los geht's um 15:30. Weitere Informationen und die Zoom-Zugangsdaten findet ihr unter:
Los geht's um 15:30. Weitere Informationen und die Zoom-Zugangsdaten findet ihr unter:
Veranstaltungsreihe Winter 2025/26: Diversity Gaming
www.gamelab.uni-konstanz.de
December 3, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Am 18.12. darf ich die "Diversity Gaming"-Veranstaltungsreihe der Universität Konstanz mit einem Vortrag zum Thema #Barrierefreiheit und Inklusion im #Gaming eröffnen.
Los geht's um 15:30. Weitere Informationen und die Zoom-Zugangsdaten findet ihr unter:
Los geht's um 15:30. Weitere Informationen und die Zoom-Zugangsdaten findet ihr unter:
"I've seen some comments [...] of people saying [...] 'well, nothing of value was lost". Again, even if you weren't going to play the game, the value is not in your personal player experience. It's about the fact that somebody is making something different."
– @charalanahzard.bsky.social
– @charalanahzard.bsky.social
why is anyone ok with this
YouTube video by Charalanahzard
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
"I've seen some comments [...] of people saying [...] 'well, nothing of value was lost". Again, even if you weren't going to play the game, the value is not in your personal player experience. It's about the fact that somebody is making something different."
– @charalanahzard.bsky.social
– @charalanahzard.bsky.social
Reposted by Nina Kiel
Been doing a bit more tinkering on this. Does anyone have any accessibility data examples not listed here? Perhaps usage data from your own game that you haven't shared yet?
ian-hamilton.com/game-accessi...
#gamedev #indiedev
ian-hamilton.com/game-accessi...
#gamedev #indiedev
Game accessibility data [WIP]
A frequent ask when working in game accessibility is data. Prevalence data, usage data – this post shares some examples, and some reasons why they [...]
ian-hamilton.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Been doing a bit more tinkering on this. Does anyone have any accessibility data examples not listed here? Perhaps usage data from your own game that you haven't shared yet?
ian-hamilton.com/game-accessi...
#gamedev #indiedev
ian-hamilton.com/game-accessi...
#gamedev #indiedev
Reposted by Nina Kiel
I'm looking for participants for my master's study about transmasc/trans men fans of manga and anime! Please fill out my 10-minute survey:
form.jotform.com/253308772919...
#transmasc #t4t #ftm #nonbinary #transresearch #transsurvey #nonbinarysurvey #transresearchbytransrsearchers
form.jotform.com/253308772919...
#transmasc #t4t #ftm #nonbinary #transresearch #transsurvey #nonbinarysurvey #transresearchbytransrsearchers
December 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM
I'm looking for participants for my master's study about transmasc/trans men fans of manga and anime! Please fill out my 10-minute survey:
form.jotform.com/253308772919...
#transmasc #t4t #ftm #nonbinary #transresearch #transsurvey #nonbinarysurvey #transresearchbytransrsearchers
form.jotform.com/253308772919...
#transmasc #t4t #ftm #nonbinary #transresearch #transsurvey #nonbinarysurvey #transresearchbytransrsearchers
My dear friend @phasenmensch.bsky.social is opening his very first exhibition today! Join us at the A44 in #düsseldorf to check out selected works from his hoodie-core series: instagram.com/hoodie_core/
December 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
My dear friend @phasenmensch.bsky.social is opening his very first exhibition today! Join us at the A44 in #düsseldorf to check out selected works from his hoodie-core series: instagram.com/hoodie_core/
Reposted by Nina Kiel
I am researching for a feature: what do your children play that's NOT Roblox? (And if you've banned it, what did they gravitate towards afterwards?)
December 1, 2025 at 11:13 AM
I am researching for a feature: what do your children play that's NOT Roblox? (And if you've banned it, what did they gravitate towards afterwards?)
Corporate greed
November 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Corporate greed
Reposted by Nina Kiel
November 26, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Morgen Abend könnt ihr im Berliner Computerspielemuseum live erleben, wie ich ein für sich stehend völlig nichtssagendes Textsegment als "Quote of the Year" nominiere und damit entweder für Stirnrunzeln oder begeistertes Staunen sorge.
Einige wenige (kostenlose) Karten sind noch verfügbar!
Einige wenige (kostenlose) Karten sind noch verfügbar!
Quote of the Year 2025
Mit dem Indie Fresse Podcast
www.eventbrite.de
November 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Morgen Abend könnt ihr im Berliner Computerspielemuseum live erleben, wie ich ein für sich stehend völlig nichtssagendes Textsegment als "Quote of the Year" nominiere und damit entweder für Stirnrunzeln oder begeistertes Staunen sorge.
Einige wenige (kostenlose) Karten sind noch verfügbar!
Einige wenige (kostenlose) Karten sind noch verfügbar!