Jack Orchard
@jarona7.bsky.social
Content Editor @ Electronic Enlightenment
- Game Studies Events @ Centre for Digital Scholarship, Bodleian Libraries
- Researching Video Games and Historical Emotions
- PhD on Reading in C18th Women's Letters @ Swansea
- Editorial Board @ Multiplay
- Game Studies Events @ Centre for Digital Scholarship, Bodleian Libraries
- Researching Video Games and Historical Emotions
- PhD on Reading in C18th Women's Letters @ Swansea
- Editorial Board @ Multiplay
Pinned
Came back from Xmas break to a wonderful surprise on the doorstep - my first piece of bona fide #gamestudies writing in print - my chapter on Kind Words (2019) in The #18thCentury Today - edited by @maddypelling.bsky.social and Emrys Jones
www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph-de...
www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph-de...
Also works for games:
January 4, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Also works for games:
Reposted by Jack Orchard
Announcing: "Northanger Abbey: Rewritten!"
A remastered version of the original adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, with all new art and three new mini-routes. Choose your gender, your love, and your own path! spiralatlas.itch.io/northanger-a...
A remastered version of the original adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, with all new art and three new mini-routes. Choose your gender, your love, and your own path! spiralatlas.itch.io/northanger-a...
Northanger Abbey: Remastered by Spiral Atlas
Experience Jane Austen's classic satirical romance in a whole new way
spiralatlas.itch.io
January 2, 2026 at 4:28 AM
Announcing: "Northanger Abbey: Rewritten!"
A remastered version of the original adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, with all new art and three new mini-routes. Choose your gender, your love, and your own path! spiralatlas.itch.io/northanger-a...
A remastered version of the original adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, with all new art and three new mini-routes. Choose your gender, your love, and your own path! spiralatlas.itch.io/northanger-a...
Does anyone have access to a digital copy of Ludmilla Jordanova's History in Practice they wouldn't mind sharing? #Booksky #HistorySky #Acwri
December 31, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Does anyone have access to a digital copy of Ludmilla Jordanova's History in Practice they wouldn't mind sharing? #Booksky #HistorySky #Acwri
Came back from Xmas break to a wonderful surprise on the doorstep - my first piece of bona fide #gamestudies writing in print - my chapter on Kind Words (2019) in The #18thCentury Today - edited by @maddypelling.bsky.social and Emrys Jones
www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph-de...
www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph-de...
December 30, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Came back from Xmas break to a wonderful surprise on the doorstep - my first piece of bona fide #gamestudies writing in print - my chapter on Kind Words (2019) in The #18thCentury Today - edited by @maddypelling.bsky.social and Emrys Jones
www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph-de...
www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph-de...
Reposted by Jack Orchard
I'm glad you asked!
docseuss.medium.com/lore-is-a-tr...
(also if anyone reads this essay and likes it, I'd like to pay my internet bill and buy some food, so tips would be appreciated)
docseuss.medium.com/lore-is-a-tr...
(also if anyone reads this essay and likes it, I'd like to pay my internet bill and buy some food, so tips would be appreciated)
December 23, 2025 at 11:47 PM
I'm glad you asked!
docseuss.medium.com/lore-is-a-tr...
(also if anyone reads this essay and likes it, I'd like to pay my internet bill and buy some food, so tips would be appreciated)
docseuss.medium.com/lore-is-a-tr...
(also if anyone reads this essay and likes it, I'd like to pay my internet bill and buy some food, so tips would be appreciated)
Reposted by Jack Orchard
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
May this be a time of reflection, consolidation, inspiration, & the start of a year of radical love for your community, class, & the wretched of the Earth!
May this be a time of reflection, consolidation, inspiration, & the start of a year of radical love for your community, class, & the wretched of the Earth!
December 24, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
May this be a time of reflection, consolidation, inspiration, & the start of a year of radical love for your community, class, & the wretched of the Earth!
May this be a time of reflection, consolidation, inspiration, & the start of a year of radical love for your community, class, & the wretched of the Earth!
Reposted by Jack Orchard
Reposted by Jack Orchard
Who coined "Metroidvania"? It wasn't @jparish.bsky.social, and he'll be the first to tell you. Besides, there are far more interesting questions, like: How did it spread? Evolve? And what's it got to do with rickrolling?
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
The History Of The Word "Metroidvania" And How It Spread
YouTube video by Critical Kate (of A Critical Hit!)
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Who coined "Metroidvania"? It wasn't @jparish.bsky.social, and he'll be the first to tell you. Besides, there are far more interesting questions, like: How did it spread? Evolve? And what's it got to do with rickrolling?
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
Reposted by Jack Orchard
Reposted by Jack Orchard
The British Library have a searchable interim Archives & Manuscripts Catalogues up & running: searcharchives.bl.uk
(posting for all the folks who, like me, had somehow managed to miss this important development)
(posting for all the folks who, like me, had somehow managed to miss this important development)
British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue
searcharchives.bl.uk
December 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM
The British Library have a searchable interim Archives & Manuscripts Catalogues up & running: searcharchives.bl.uk
(posting for all the folks who, like me, had somehow managed to miss this important development)
(posting for all the folks who, like me, had somehow managed to miss this important development)
Reposted by Jack Orchard
We have two vacancies on the Council of the *British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies*:
1. Postgraduate Representative
2. Communications Officer
Happy to answer any questions about @bsecs.bsky.social Council life!
More info here: www.bsecs.org.uk/the-society/...
1. Postgraduate Representative
2. Communications Officer
Happy to answer any questions about @bsecs.bsky.social Council life!
More info here: www.bsecs.org.uk/the-society/...
Vacancies - BSECS
Vacancies on the Council This page gives details of any current vacancies on the BSECS Council. Vacancies are normally advertised in the autumn of the year and appointments are made or elections held ...
www.bsecs.org.uk
December 12, 2025 at 10:07 AM
We have two vacancies on the Council of the *British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies*:
1. Postgraduate Representative
2. Communications Officer
Happy to answer any questions about @bsecs.bsky.social Council life!
More info here: www.bsecs.org.uk/the-society/...
1. Postgraduate Representative
2. Communications Officer
Happy to answer any questions about @bsecs.bsky.social Council life!
More info here: www.bsecs.org.uk/the-society/...
Couldn't sleep so watched a bunch of YouTube video essays - really taken by this reading of LOTR orcs as symbols of what mechanised warfare does to individual soldiers - i could see fascinating dialogue between Tolkien and Robert Graves' Goodbye to All That - youtu.be/2e6M6ed_skg?...
Orcs and the Industry of War | LOTR Monsters Pt. 1
YouTube video by The Morbid Zoo
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Couldn't sleep so watched a bunch of YouTube video essays - really taken by this reading of LOTR orcs as symbols of what mechanised warfare does to individual soldiers - i could see fascinating dialogue between Tolkien and Robert Graves' Goodbye to All That - youtu.be/2e6M6ed_skg?...
Clowns as horror reflect the mistranslation of critiques of bourgeois straight-laced subjectivity aimed at adults into a form of entertainment aimed at children who have no frame of reference for the trauma of alienated labour to which the clown responds - youtu.be/qJn2PZKzV7g?... - or idk, lore?
December 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Clowns as horror reflect the mistranslation of critiques of bourgeois straight-laced subjectivity aimed at adults into a form of entertainment aimed at children who have no frame of reference for the trauma of alienated labour to which the clown responds - youtu.be/qJn2PZKzV7g?... - or idk, lore?
Reposted by Jack Orchard
I will go to my grave screaming about how Pennywise being a clown hits completely different for anyone under 40 or 50, because the original intent was that Pennywise LOOKED HARMLESS, because “IT” predates scary clowns, & if the story were modern, Pennywise would manifest as a ninja turtle or Luffy
Welcome to Derry reveals why It loves to use the form of Pennywise the Clown so much.
Why Did IT Choose its Pennywise the Clown Form? WELCOME TO DERRY Reveals the Answer
nerdist.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I will go to my grave screaming about how Pennywise being a clown hits completely different for anyone under 40 or 50, because the original intent was that Pennywise LOOKED HARMLESS, because “IT” predates scary clowns, & if the story were modern, Pennywise would manifest as a ninja turtle or Luffy
Actual bluesky challenge: post your favourite work of art from fifty years before you were born
December 9, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Actual bluesky challenge: post your favourite work of art from fifty years before you were born
Reposted by Jack Orchard
Several teams of female gamers have dropped out of the Dead by Daylight Women's World Cup after trans women were banned.
Women gamers boycott global esports tournament over trans ban
Several teams of female gamers have dropped out of the Dead by Daylight Women's World Cup after trans women were banned.
bit.ly
December 5, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Several teams of female gamers have dropped out of the Dead by Daylight Women's World Cup after trans women were banned.
Reposted by Jack Orchard
Another December marks another @npr.org best games of the year list. Indies ruled 2025. Our list is the most eclectic you will find on the internet. 🧵
www.npr.org/2025/12/03/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/03/n...
The best games of 2025, picked by NPR's staff
From indies like Blue Prince to big console exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, NPR staff members and contributors round up their favorite games of 2025.
www.npr.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Another December marks another @npr.org best games of the year list. Indies ruled 2025. Our list is the most eclectic you will find on the internet. 🧵
www.npr.org/2025/12/03/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/03/n...
I have nintendo thumb :/ how can I have nintendo thumb, I still haven't even finished act 2 of Silksong 🤔
December 3, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I have nintendo thumb :/ how can I have nintendo thumb, I still haven't even finished act 2 of Silksong 🤔
Reposted by Jack Orchard
December 3, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Jack Orchard
A good meditation on why just "recreating" an historic structure architecturally without the everyday lived context ends up with a sterile result.
Also why thoughtful environmental storytelling is so powerful
Also why thoughtful environmental storytelling is so powerful
For this weekend's PC Gamer column, I went for a walk through Kowloon Walled City
(in Minecraft).
www.pcgamer.com/games/surviv...
(in Minecraft).
www.pcgamer.com/games/surviv...
This Minecraft map that recreates one of history's most notorious slums made me reconsider what's important in 3D level design
Kowloon Walled City in Minecraft is a feat of virtual architecture, but it's missing one crucial ingredient.
www.pcgamer.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
A good meditation on why just "recreating" an historic structure architecturally without the everyday lived context ends up with a sterile result.
Also why thoughtful environmental storytelling is so powerful
Also why thoughtful environmental storytelling is so powerful
Not what you expect to be searching for (and getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of good results), while researching a fun little essay about vampires:
November 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Not what you expect to be searching for (and getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of good results), while researching a fun little essay about vampires:
Reposted by Jack Orchard
Cluedo inventor's daughter hands over archives to Birmingham museum - BBC News share.google/7Qv94t3X2q9K...
Cluedo inventor's daughter hands over archives to Birmingham museum
Anthony Pratt's daughter explains how evenings performing at country hotels inspired the murder-mystery game.
share.google
November 24, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Cluedo inventor's daughter hands over archives to Birmingham museum - BBC News share.google/7Qv94t3X2q9K...
Reposted by Jack Orchard
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Prepping for daughter's party this weekend - this is what sandwich prep for 60 looks like 😲😲
November 21, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Prepping for daughter's party this weekend - this is what sandwich prep for 60 looks like 😲😲