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
Well, if there's no CC-licensed or public domain material I can use for our presentations, I'll just make my own!
Might choose the same approach for the Hands Free Controller in case none of the people and institutions I've reached out to responds.
Might choose the same approach for the Hands Free Controller in case none of the people and institutions I've reached out to responds.
January 14, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Well, if there's no CC-licensed or public domain material I can use for our presentations, I'll just make my own!
Might choose the same approach for the Hands Free Controller in case none of the people and institutions I've reached out to responds.
Might choose the same approach for the Hands Free Controller in case none of the people and institutions I've reached out to responds.
This is an incredibly specific request, but let's try it:
Does anyone here own a Nintendo Hands Free Controller AND could take a photo of it for a CC-BY-SA 4.0 licensed OER project?
Any help would be much appreciated, boosts included!
#Accessibility #GameAccessibility #RetroGaming
Does anyone here own a Nintendo Hands Free Controller AND could take a photo of it for a CC-BY-SA 4.0 licensed OER project?
Any help would be much appreciated, boosts included!
#Accessibility #GameAccessibility #RetroGaming
January 13, 2026 at 12:25 PM
This is an incredibly specific request, but let's try it:
Does anyone here own a Nintendo Hands Free Controller AND could take a photo of it for a CC-BY-SA 4.0 licensed OER project?
Any help would be much appreciated, boosts included!
#Accessibility #GameAccessibility #RetroGaming
Does anyone here own a Nintendo Hands Free Controller AND could take a photo of it for a CC-BY-SA 4.0 licensed OER project?
Any help would be much appreciated, boosts included!
#Accessibility #GameAccessibility #RetroGaming
Not even bothering to write full sentences is a new level of laziness, even for a predatory journal. I'm wondering if anyone actually falls for this?
#Academia #PredatoryJournal #Scam
#Academia #PredatoryJournal #Scam
January 13, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Not even bothering to write full sentences is a new level of laziness, even for a predatory journal. I'm wondering if anyone actually falls for this?
#Academia #PredatoryJournal #Scam
#Academia #PredatoryJournal #Scam
Enchoi Games arbeiten derzeit an einem explorativem Spiel, in dem die Navigation hauptsächlich über Echoortung funktioniert.
In diesem Zuge bitten die Devs im Rahmen einer Umfrage um Rückmeldungen von Gamer*innen, insbesondere solchen mit Sehbeeinträchtigungen.
#GameDev #Barrierefreiheit
In diesem Zuge bitten die Devs im Rahmen einer Umfrage um Rückmeldungen von Gamer*innen, insbesondere solchen mit Sehbeeinträchtigungen.
#GameDev #Barrierefreiheit
Barrierefreie-3D-Navigation-in-Videospielen (LamaPoll - Online surveys)
survey.lamapoll.de
January 12, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Enchoi Games arbeiten derzeit an einem explorativem Spiel, in dem die Navigation hauptsächlich über Echoortung funktioniert.
In diesem Zuge bitten die Devs im Rahmen einer Umfrage um Rückmeldungen von Gamer*innen, insbesondere solchen mit Sehbeeinträchtigungen.
#GameDev #Barrierefreiheit
In diesem Zuge bitten die Devs im Rahmen einer Umfrage um Rückmeldungen von Gamer*innen, insbesondere solchen mit Sehbeeinträchtigungen.
#GameDev #Barrierefreiheit
Please watch this video. And then, I you haven't done it yet, delete your X/Twitter account.
Now We're Undressing Minors With AI for the lols:
"[I]f you're still on Twitter, you are actively benefiting a platform that is generating child sexual abuse content."
CW: sexual harassment, non-consent
Now We're Undressing Minors With AI for the lols:
"[I]f you're still on Twitter, you are actively benefiting a platform that is generating child sexual abuse content."
CW: sexual harassment, non-consent
January 12, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Please watch this video. And then, I you haven't done it yet, delete your X/Twitter account.
Now We're Undressing Minors With AI for the lols:
"[I]f you're still on Twitter, you are actively benefiting a platform that is generating child sexual abuse content."
CW: sexual harassment, non-consent
Now We're Undressing Minors With AI for the lols:
"[I]f you're still on Twitter, you are actively benefiting a platform that is generating child sexual abuse content."
CW: sexual harassment, non-consent
What keeps me going despite the daily struggles and terrible news is the kindness and sense of community I get to experience almost on a daily basis.
Today I met several strangers who obviously care about others and try to make the world a little bit better with small gestures...
Today I met several strangers who obviously care about others and try to make the world a little bit better with small gestures...
January 11, 2026 at 1:03 PM
What keeps me going despite the daily struggles and terrible news is the kindness and sense of community I get to experience almost on a daily basis.
Today I met several strangers who obviously care about others and try to make the world a little bit better with small gestures...
Today I met several strangers who obviously care about others and try to make the world a little bit better with small gestures...
Reposted by Nina Kiel
Any of my developer friends, or developers in general, please get in contact with Geoffrey! Steam's poor moderation needs to be discussed, and I'm glad Geoffrey is addressing this!
I am looking into this, I've reached out to Steam directly, and I'm actively pitching stories on this subject of the platform's shaky moderation. If any other devs have experienced something similar with reviews and moderation, do reach out.
the Steam team responded to my support request and said they will not remove the review calling me a liar and ridiculing my sexual assault because of censorship concerns.
steamcommunity.com/profiles/765...
if Steam refuses to enforce their community guidelines and allows harassment, what can i do?
steamcommunity.com/profiles/765...
if Steam refuses to enforce their community guidelines and allows harassment, what can i do?
January 10, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Any of my developer friends, or developers in general, please get in contact with Geoffrey! Steam's poor moderation needs to be discussed, and I'm glad Geoffrey is addressing this!
Reposted by Nina Kiel
You know what victims of child sexual abuse never say?
"Adults took advantage of me knowing *too much* about sex."
In fact, a frequent refrain is "I didn't know enough to recognize what they were doing as wrong. Nobody had ever explained these things to me."
You could give abusers no greater gift.
"Adults took advantage of me knowing *too much* about sex."
In fact, a frequent refrain is "I didn't know enough to recognize what they were doing as wrong. Nobody had ever explained these things to me."
You could give abusers no greater gift.
A new Florida bill would pave the way for schools to remove any book that mentions sex, from the Brave New World to The Bluest Eye.
Literary, scientific, artistic merit would be stripped from consideration when deciding if a book should be accessible to someone younger than 18.
Literary, scientific, artistic merit would be stripped from consideration when deciding if a book should be accessible to someone younger than 18.
Florida lawmaker says literary merit doesn’t matter if books mention sex
The big story: The Florida Legislature’s years-long push to add restrictions to school library books hit a bump in 2025, when the Senate rejected a measure to delete consideration of “literary merit” ...
www.yahoo.com
January 10, 2026 at 11:56 AM
You know what victims of child sexual abuse never say?
"Adults took advantage of me knowing *too much* about sex."
In fact, a frequent refrain is "I didn't know enough to recognize what they were doing as wrong. Nobody had ever explained these things to me."
You could give abusers no greater gift.
"Adults took advantage of me knowing *too much* about sex."
In fact, a frequent refrain is "I didn't know enough to recognize what they were doing as wrong. Nobody had ever explained these things to me."
You could give abusers no greater gift.
Reposted by Nina Kiel
Discord wants to know how you feel about AI.
Go tell them: discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Go tell them: discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com
January 10, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Discord wants to know how you feel about AI.
Go tell them: discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Go tell them: discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Nina Kiel
Sometimes all you can do is make the world 0.0000000000001% less awful by being a good person and it feels very meaningless but it’s also the only thing that really matters
January 7, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Sometimes all you can do is make the world 0.0000000000001% less awful by being a good person and it feels very meaningless but it’s also the only thing that really matters
January 6, 2026 at 10:47 AM
We did it, we've reached 30.000 signatures!
A huge thanks to everyone who supported this petition so far, but please keep sharing it to clearly show that many people care about trans rights and are willing to defend them.
A huge thanks to everyone who supported this petition so far, but please keep sharing it to clearly show that many people care about trans rights and are willing to defend them.
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 5, 2026 at 9:17 PM
We did it, we've reached 30.000 signatures!
A huge thanks to everyone who supported this petition so far, but please keep sharing it to clearly show that many people care about trans rights and are willing to defend them.
A huge thanks to everyone who supported this petition so far, but please keep sharing it to clearly show that many people care about trans rights and are willing to defend them.
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