gril
@funambulism.com
Narratives, philosophies, arts.
Currently: (Unannounced x 2), Tides of Tomorrow, Min/Max
Previously: ZEPHON, Nightingale, RimWorld, Total War: Warhammer III, Endless Dungeon, Warhammer 40K: Gladius, Absolver...
https://linktr.ee/griddleoctopus
Currently: (Unannounced x 2), Tides of Tomorrow, Min/Max
Previously: ZEPHON, Nightingale, RimWorld, Total War: Warhammer III, Endless Dungeon, Warhammer 40K: Gladius, Absolver...
https://linktr.ee/griddleoctopus
Pinned
gril
@funambulism.com
· Apr 28
Babysteps in Belief-Building
"The richness an enshrined contradiction gives to a belief system and world cannot be understated."
funambulism.com
My article for Worldbuilding Magazine on using philosophy to create believable settings.
Reposted by gril
A little rollercoaster of emotions that we, freelancers, have experienced one too many times!
Happy Friday and weekend!
Happy Friday and weekend!
November 14, 2025 at 5:39 PM
A little rollercoaster of emotions that we, freelancers, have experienced one too many times!
Happy Friday and weekend!
Happy Friday and weekend!
Reposted by gril
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says that the British Medical Association, which represents Britain's doctors, is a threat to the NHS. Streeting took a record £225k from private healthcare-related donors in just two years.
British Medical Association ‘threat to future of NHS’, says Streeting ahead of doctors’ strike
Health secretary accuses doctors’ union of ‘cartel-like behaviour’ and tells it to ‘get real’ over pay demands
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says that the British Medical Association, which represents Britain's doctors, is a threat to the NHS. Streeting took a record £225k from private healthcare-related donors in just two years.
Reposted by gril
ahhhh my book is published today, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
this one is a real labour of passion - I think it is genuinely important to understand the information crisis that we're living through and how and why it makes us all feel anxious and angry
www.penguin.co.uk/books/469677...
this one is a real labour of passion - I think it is genuinely important to understand the information crisis that we're living through and how and why it makes us all feel anxious and angry
www.penguin.co.uk/books/469677...
Don’t Burn Anyone at the Stake Today
What’s the most useful thing you could know about your own life?
In this era-defining book, developed from her groundbreaking Radio 4 essay series, Naomi Alderman turns her boundless curiosity and in...
www.penguin.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:51 PM
ahhhh my book is published today, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
this one is a real labour of passion - I think it is genuinely important to understand the information crisis that we're living through and how and why it makes us all feel anxious and angry
www.penguin.co.uk/books/469677...
this one is a real labour of passion - I think it is genuinely important to understand the information crisis that we're living through and how and why it makes us all feel anxious and angry
www.penguin.co.uk/books/469677...
TIL, the word “coffee“ comes from a thirteenth-century poetic Yemeni name for wine...
November 13, 2025 at 5:50 PM
TIL, the word “coffee“ comes from a thirteenth-century poetic Yemeni name for wine...
Reposted by gril
Further games played - more Superfight and 7 Wonders, Halfling Feast, Sushi Go.
Games played so far at the writers’ retreat: Codenames, Superfight, Dixit, Once Upon a Time, 7 Wonders, Apples to Apples. Also some writing done.
November 11, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Further games played - more Superfight and 7 Wonders, Halfling Feast, Sushi Go.
A woman I dated a couple of times keeps winning comedy awards and I'm increasingly paranoid that I might be used as material.
Especially as I just noticed she's blocked me. JFC.
Especially as I just noticed she's blocked me. JFC.
November 11, 2025 at 2:22 PM
A woman I dated a couple of times keeps winning comedy awards and I'm increasingly paranoid that I might be used as material.
Especially as I just noticed she's blocked me. JFC.
Especially as I just noticed she's blocked me. JFC.
Reposted by gril
Everyone forgets the 1967 Casino Royale where there are multiple Bonds including David Niven, Woody Allen and Peter Sellers... (I mean, it is awful, but even so.)
a man wearing a tuxedo and bow tie has the year 2023 on the bottom right
ALT: a man wearing a tuxedo and bow tie has the year 2023 on the bottom right
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Everyone forgets the 1967 Casino Royale where there are multiple Bonds including David Niven, Woody Allen and Peter Sellers... (I mean, it is awful, but even so.)
Reposted by gril
future Bond wakes up, looks at his cobbled-together body of blown up bits and Maplins electronics, mumbles “i never asked for this”
November 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
future Bond wakes up, looks at his cobbled-together body of blown up bits and Maplins electronics, mumbles “i never asked for this”
Reposted by gril
JFC, the things you learn en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...
British pet massacre - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:54 PM
JFC, the things you learn en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...
Reposted by gril
yes. being a leftwing ex-Orthodox Jew, I maybe straddle a wider range of views among my friends and family than some (than many?)
it may be shocking to learn that: every bias I have ever seen the BBC accused of, I have also heard someone else say they have the precise opposite one
it may be shocking to learn that: every bias I have ever seen the BBC accused of, I have also heard someone else say they have the precise opposite one
In response to some of the comments:
If you agree with *all* the reporting of a news organisation that is both independent *and* non-partisan, then it's very unlikely to be independent and non-partisan.
This is true regardless of your politics.
Agreeing with all its reporting is the wrong test
If you agree with *all* the reporting of a news organisation that is both independent *and* non-partisan, then it's very unlikely to be independent and non-partisan.
This is true regardless of your politics.
Agreeing with all its reporting is the wrong test
Information underpins democracy and the BBC is a key part of that.
We need to protect our institutions
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
We need to protect our institutions
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
November 11, 2025 at 10:47 AM
yes. being a leftwing ex-Orthodox Jew, I maybe straddle a wider range of views among my friends and family than some (than many?)
it may be shocking to learn that: every bias I have ever seen the BBC accused of, I have also heard someone else say they have the precise opposite one
it may be shocking to learn that: every bias I have ever seen the BBC accused of, I have also heard someone else say they have the precise opposite one
Reposted by gril
“Dialogue is a perfect opportunity for this kind of play; every time we speak, there is a moment of uncertainty — will our intention be understood, rebuffed, accepted, acknowledged? If we are lying, we will persuade, confuse, or offend?”
A brief defence of dialogue choices (286 words):
A brief defence of dialogue choices
In games, the player needs to have something to do.
medium.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
“Dialogue is a perfect opportunity for this kind of play; every time we speak, there is a moment of uncertainty — will our intention be understood, rebuffed, accepted, acknowledged? If we are lying, we will persuade, confuse, or offend?”
Reposted by gril
Deus Ex (Ion Storm, 2000)
AI could end scarcity, end humanity - or boost trend growth by 0.2 percentage points
November 7, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Deus Ex (Ion Storm, 2000)
Reposted by gril
the children year for the mines. let them do what they already know will make them happy, and save the town from financial ruin
November 6, 2025 at 7:26 PM
the children year for the mines. let them do what they already know will make them happy, and save the town from financial ruin
Reminiscent of my hometown...
November 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reminiscent of my hometown...
Went down a Tunicate rabbit hole. Look at this beauty! The 'Gold-mouth sea squirt'. What a good person's heart should look like, just lovely inside.
November 6, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Went down a Tunicate rabbit hole. Look at this beauty! The 'Gold-mouth sea squirt'. What a good person's heart should look like, just lovely inside.
Reposted by gril
PRINCE: what's that sound?
ME: Just the tide going out.
P: You mean ... the water leaving that little cove?
M: Exactly. Revealing a little sandy beach.
P: So *this* is what it sounds like ... when coves dry.
ME: Just the tide going out.
P: You mean ... the water leaving that little cove?
M: Exactly. Revealing a little sandy beach.
P: So *this* is what it sounds like ... when coves dry.
November 5, 2025 at 6:35 AM
PRINCE: what's that sound?
ME: Just the tide going out.
P: You mean ... the water leaving that little cove?
M: Exactly. Revealing a little sandy beach.
P: So *this* is what it sounds like ... when coves dry.
ME: Just the tide going out.
P: You mean ... the water leaving that little cove?
M: Exactly. Revealing a little sandy beach.
P: So *this* is what it sounds like ... when coves dry.
Reposted by gril
be pug-ressive 🇺🇸
be, be pug-ressive 🇺🇸
be, be pug-ressive 🇺🇸
November 4, 2025 at 7:50 PM
be pug-ressive 🇺🇸
be, be pug-ressive 🇺🇸
be, be pug-ressive 🇺🇸
Reposted by gril
It's cool how we keep proving over and over and over again that there's a significant market for narrative-heavy, character-driven, single-player experiences in video games and publishers just categorically refuse to believe us
Dispatch has sold 1 million copies in under two weeks
Dispatch has sold 1 million copies in under two weeks
The episodic superhero comedy features big-name actors like Aaron Paul and Jeffrey Wright.
www.gamedeveloper.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:57 PM
It's cool how we keep proving over and over and over again that there's a significant market for narrative-heavy, character-driven, single-player experiences in video games and publishers just categorically refuse to believe us
Reposted by gril
i owe so many video game designers an apology
November 3, 2025 at 6:49 PM
i owe so many video game designers an apology
Reposted by gril
okay, update: i have had this question answered, and I am now looking to speak to game QA testers ON the record about the weirdest, silliest-sounding things they've had to do to make sure games work. the wackier the better. happy to keep folks anon if they prefer. DMs open, email/Signal in bio
would anyone who works in or adjacent to game testing/QA be willing to answer a couple questions for me? off the record, not to be quoted - just need some background info on automations to know whether a scenario someone described in a talk is common or unusual.
October 31, 2025 at 3:57 PM
okay, update: i have had this question answered, and I am now looking to speak to game QA testers ON the record about the weirdest, silliest-sounding things they've had to do to make sure games work. the wackier the better. happy to keep folks anon if they prefer. DMs open, email/Signal in bio
Reposted by gril
fig 1 - a producer in release mode
November 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
fig 1 - a producer in release mode
Reposted by gril
Well, tone of the ttrpg writing/designing contract gigs I was on just went up in smoke for reasons outside of my control. So, yeah if anyone has leads on a full time job; HMU in DM's?
In the meantime throwing means of support out. Again. JFC
In the meantime throwing means of support out. Again. JFC
November 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Well, tone of the ttrpg writing/designing contract gigs I was on just went up in smoke for reasons outside of my control. So, yeah if anyone has leads on a full time job; HMU in DM's?
In the meantime throwing means of support out. Again. JFC
In the meantime throwing means of support out. Again. JFC
Reposted by gril
I see you enjoyed my allegorical story about Venice. Would you like me to generate 54 more?
November 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I see you enjoyed my allegorical story about Venice. Would you like me to generate 54 more?
Reposted by gril
