Thomas Nickel
@tapirfortuna.bsky.social
Writer, teaching game design & history. M!- & book-author, occasional Retronaut and dabbling in localization. Also somewhat making games - http://coria.itch.io/coria! Fck nazis, fck bigots. he/him
Pinned
So many new people here! So... who am I and what do I do? Well, my name´s Thomas and I´ve been writing about games since the late 90s in English and German. I localized various cool games, supported and worked on a few projects and I´ve also been teaching game-design and history for many years now!
NOT. COOL. @koeitecmo.bsky.social - Credit your Localizers!!
Nioh 3, developed by Koei Tecmo and localized in 11 languages, does NOT feature any #TranslatorsInTheCredits. A few members of Localization staff are included in the LQA credits, but none of the actual translators are credited. Source: GamersPrey
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
NOT. COOL. @koeitecmo.bsky.social - Credit your Localizers!!
Sooo... Japan is getting a ton of Goemon while we get sloppy seconds from Bethesda? Nice, nice...
February 5, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Sooo... Japan is getting a ton of Goemon while we get sloppy seconds from Bethesda? Nice, nice...
There's a new issue of AnimaniA in stores now. I wrote some nice paragraphs about Monster Hunter Stories 3 and the pretty fun Code Vein II - so have a look, if you're interested!
February 4, 2026 at 2:54 PM
There's a new issue of AnimaniA in stores now. I wrote some nice paragraphs about Monster Hunter Stories 3 and the pretty fun Code Vein II - so have a look, if you're interested!
The discourse on DQ7R is quite interesting. Yes, the game is very easy and frictionless on default settings, especially the bosses. But then... in my opinion, DQ was never known for being especially hard. I don't go into these games for the challenge. These games are very much about the journey
February 3, 2026 at 8:29 AM
The discourse on DQ7R is quite interesting. Yes, the game is very easy and frictionless on default settings, especially the bosses. But then... in my opinion, DQ was never known for being especially hard. I don't go into these games for the challenge. These games are very much about the journey
Protect Minmo at all costs!
We will never get another AAA MINMO or GODLLA: Size Is Problem because this type of work is first on the chopping block in the genAI era. Was checking about RE9, and found an interview with Capcom about using it to concept background/environmental objects. This is my favorite shit so it's tragic
February 3, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Protect Minmo at all costs!
The embargo for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is over and while my review will be in the next issue of M! Games, I want to share some impressions here. First: The game is often unbelievably beautiful. Many scenes remind of of Fantasian - but it's all realtime 3D here.
February 2, 2026 at 3:12 PM
The embargo for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is over and while my review will be in the next issue of M! Games, I want to share some impressions here. First: The game is often unbelievably beautiful. Many scenes remind of of Fantasian - but it's all realtime 3D here.
My attachment to each #SEGA franchise
💚⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️ Alex Kidd
💚💚💚💚💚 Sakura Wars
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Virtua Fighter
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Sonic
💚💚💚💚💚 Phantasy Star
💚💚💚⭕️⭕️ Bayonetta
💚💚💚💚💚 Shining
💚💚⭕️⭕️⭕️ Persona
💚💚💚⭕️⭕️ Shin Megami Tensei
💚💚💚💚💚 Valkyria Chronicles
💚💚💚💚💚 Shinobi
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Golden Axe
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Streets of Rage
💚💚⭕️⭕️⭕️ Puyo Puyo
💚💚💚⭕⭕ LAD
💚⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️ Alex Kidd
💚💚💚💚💚 Sakura Wars
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Virtua Fighter
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Sonic
💚💚💚💚💚 Phantasy Star
💚💚💚⭕️⭕️ Bayonetta
💚💚💚💚💚 Shining
💚💚⭕️⭕️⭕️ Persona
💚💚💚⭕️⭕️ Shin Megami Tensei
💚💚💚💚💚 Valkyria Chronicles
💚💚💚💚💚 Shinobi
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Golden Axe
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Streets of Rage
💚💚⭕️⭕️⭕️ Puyo Puyo
💚💚💚⭕⭕ LAD
February 2, 2026 at 7:51 AM
My attachment to each #SEGA franchise
💚⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️ Alex Kidd
💚💚💚💚💚 Sakura Wars
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Virtua Fighter
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Sonic
💚💚💚💚💚 Phantasy Star
💚💚💚⭕️⭕️ Bayonetta
💚💚💚💚💚 Shining
💚💚⭕️⭕️⭕️ Persona
💚💚💚⭕️⭕️ Shin Megami Tensei
💚💚💚💚💚 Valkyria Chronicles
💚💚💚💚💚 Shinobi
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Golden Axe
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Streets of Rage
💚💚⭕️⭕️⭕️ Puyo Puyo
💚💚💚⭕⭕ LAD
💚⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️ Alex Kidd
💚💚💚💚💚 Sakura Wars
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Virtua Fighter
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Sonic
💚💚💚💚💚 Phantasy Star
💚💚💚⭕️⭕️ Bayonetta
💚💚💚💚💚 Shining
💚💚⭕️⭕️⭕️ Persona
💚💚💚⭕️⭕️ Shin Megami Tensei
💚💚💚💚💚 Valkyria Chronicles
💚💚💚💚💚 Shinobi
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Golden Axe
💚💚💚💚⭕️ Streets of Rage
💚💚⭕️⭕️⭕️ Puyo Puyo
💚💚💚⭕⭕ LAD
After three fun days, #globalgamejam2026 has come to an end. Our team of three made a game about masking, cutting and pasting the environment to finish the stages. I took on the role of the pixel-artist this time and had lots of fun in aseprite! www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1Kg...
Kiritori Hīrō Gameplay Video
YouTube video by Thomas Nickel
www.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:05 PM
After three fun days, #globalgamejam2026 has come to an end. Our team of three made a game about masking, cutting and pasting the environment to finish the stages. I took on the role of the pixel-artist this time and had lots of fun in aseprite! www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1Kg...
It's Konami's Ninja Cop for #randomgamesaturday! I bought the game for 5€ back when a local store sold off the GBA-inventory. Fun fact: If you look at the EU-boxart in the modern rerelease, it's indeed a scan of my box that found its way into the extras!
January 31, 2026 at 2:03 PM
It's Konami's Ninja Cop for #randomgamesaturday! I bought the game for 5€ back when a local store sold off the GBA-inventory. Fun fact: If you look at the EU-boxart in the modern rerelease, it's indeed a scan of my box that found its way into the extras!
Reposted by Thomas Nickel
A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games
Created in collaboration with author and founder of Hardcore Gaming 101, Kurt Kalata, this monumental book is a must buy!
Reprints available 1st May, get a stock alert here: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks #jrpg #booksky @hg101.bsky.social
Created in collaboration with author and founder of Hardcore Gaming 101, Kurt Kalata, this monumental book is a must buy!
Reprints available 1st May, get a stock alert here: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks #jrpg #booksky @hg101.bsky.social
January 30, 2026 at 8:04 AM
A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games
Created in collaboration with author and founder of Hardcore Gaming 101, Kurt Kalata, this monumental book is a must buy!
Reprints available 1st May, get a stock alert here: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks #jrpg #booksky @hg101.bsky.social
Created in collaboration with author and founder of Hardcore Gaming 101, Kurt Kalata, this monumental book is a must buy!
Reprints available 1st May, get a stock alert here: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks #jrpg #booksky @hg101.bsky.social
Virtual Boy reflections... I bought my Nintendo Virtual Boy in the late 90s for something like 100DM - about ther price of a new PlayStation-game. It worked fine, but the stand was already pretty damaged. I played it for a bit and over time, I pretty much forgot about it.
January 30, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Virtual Boy reflections... I bought my Nintendo Virtual Boy in the late 90s for something like 100DM - about ther price of a new PlayStation-game. It worked fine, but the stand was already pretty damaged. I played it for a bit and over time, I pretty much forgot about it.
I never expected Telenet's two Tenchi no Uta games on PC-Engine Super CD-Rom² to get an official release and localization in the west... but here we are! Edia released both games for the Switch a short while ago and I´m very much looking forward to properly trying them out!
January 29, 2026 at 9:18 AM
I never expected Telenet's two Tenchi no Uta games on PC-Engine Super CD-Rom² to get an official release and localization in the west... but here we are! Edia released both games for the Switch a short while ago and I´m very much looking forward to properly trying them out!
The new M! Games issue is in stores! I once again made some fun contributions. I talked to Mike Tucker from @bitmapbureau.com about the amazing Terminator 2D and also took a look at older T2-adaptations some of which are quite bad, some are suprisingly good - but the new one is the best by far!
January 28, 2026 at 10:17 AM
The new M! Games issue is in stores! I once again made some fun contributions. I talked to Mike Tucker from @bitmapbureau.com about the amazing Terminator 2D and also took a look at older T2-adaptations some of which are quite bad, some are suprisingly good - but the new one is the best by far!
Quote this post with a game that you Like but (pretty much) everyone else hates.
January 27, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Quote this post with a game that you Like but (pretty much) everyone else hates.
Wow, The Last Story came out 15 years ago in Japan. I remember how relieved I was when it was FINALLY announced for localization. This game deserves a port to current systems SO MUCH... It's still an absolutely unique Game my some real masters oder their craft.
January 27, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Wow, The Last Story came out 15 years ago in Japan. I remember how relieved I was when it was FINALLY announced for localization. This game deserves a port to current systems SO MUCH... It's still an absolutely unique Game my some real masters oder their craft.
Happy birthday, Guardian Heroes. This Saturn-gem was released 30 years ago and is one of Treasure'a finest, I think.
January 26, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Happy birthday, Guardian Heroes. This Saturn-gem was released 30 years ago and is one of Treasure'a finest, I think.
Guess we had some snow overnight?
January 26, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Guess we had some snow overnight?
Gerd Knebel ist tot... Und ich weiß nicht, was ich sagen soll. Badesalz hat mich über die Jahre begleitet, sein Humor hat meinen maßgeblich geprägt. Ruhe in Frieden, Gerd. Dabrauchemergarnetdrüberredde. Dakönntichgradverrücktwern.
January 25, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Gerd Knebel ist tot... Und ich weiß nicht, was ich sagen soll. Badesalz hat mich über die Jahre begleitet, sein Humor hat meinen maßgeblich geprägt. Ruhe in Frieden, Gerd. Dabrauchemergarnetdrüberredde. Dakönntichgradverrücktwern.
A bit of PS3 for for #randomgamesaturday. Back then, there was a trend for games where you had an AI-partner and this game by Yoshiki Okamoto's Game Republic was one of the more interesting and charming ones. Still nobody bought it - probably not enough guns and military jargon?
January 24, 2026 at 1:06 PM
A bit of PS3 for for #randomgamesaturday. Back then, there was a trend for games where you had an AI-partner and this game by Yoshiki Okamoto's Game Republic was one of the more interesting and charming ones. Still nobody bought it - probably not enough guns and military jargon?
After 13 sessions, my elective "The Mechanics of Love: From Angelique to Hunie Pop" ended yesterday and it was quite a ride! We went through the years and the genres: Otome Games, Dating Sims, RPGs, Strategy, Adventures and Puzzlers... up the the dreaded Master-Love games of today.
January 23, 2026 at 8:59 AM
After 13 sessions, my elective "The Mechanics of Love: From Angelique to Hunie Pop" ended yesterday and it was quite a ride! We went through the years and the genres: Otome Games, Dating Sims, RPGs, Strategy, Adventures and Puzzlers... up the the dreaded Master-Love games of today.
The Ramen-situation in Frankfurt is amazing
- so many great places to chose from. The last I´ve tried were Earth Tokyo and Kitakata Ramen Bannai. The latter made a wonderfully light shoyu-broth and great chashu, while Earth Tokyo makes some fantastic tsukemen. Good times!
- so many great places to chose from. The last I´ve tried were Earth Tokyo and Kitakata Ramen Bannai. The latter made a wonderfully light shoyu-broth and great chashu, while Earth Tokyo makes some fantastic tsukemen. Good times!
January 22, 2026 at 8:15 AM
The Ramen-situation in Frankfurt is amazing
- so many great places to chose from. The last I´ve tried were Earth Tokyo and Kitakata Ramen Bannai. The latter made a wonderfully light shoyu-broth and great chashu, while Earth Tokyo makes some fantastic tsukemen. Good times!
- so many great places to chose from. The last I´ve tried were Earth Tokyo and Kitakata Ramen Bannai. The latter made a wonderfully light shoyu-broth and great chashu, while Earth Tokyo makes some fantastic tsukemen. Good times!
A fun encounter with the book-cat in Bücherinsel in Dieburg yesterday - I sat down on one of the couches for a bit and right away, this massive unit of cat plops down next to me and demands attention. Until he decided it's enough and he attacked my hand. But hey - worth it! #cat
January 21, 2026 at 9:43 AM
A fun encounter with the book-cat in Bücherinsel in Dieburg yesterday - I sat down on one of the couches for a bit and right away, this massive unit of cat plops down next to me and demands attention. Until he decided it's enough and he attacked my hand. But hey - worth it! #cat