Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
@baroness.bsky.social
Petting cats, herding cats, vacuuming cats. Certified narrative tool.
🕵 Indie Dev
🖋 Freelance Game Designer and Writer
🎮 Worked on Old Skies, Stellaris, At Eve's Wake and more
✨DGA Board Member - Consultant VAF
🕸 www.lostagain.nl - DM open
...
she/zij
🕵 Indie Dev
🖋 Freelance Game Designer and Writer
🎮 Worked on Old Skies, Stellaris, At Eve's Wake and more
✨DGA Board Member - Consultant VAF
🕸 www.lostagain.nl - DM open
...
she/zij
Pinned
Man, I just want to make video games and then
*gestures at the world*
yknow. Stuff.
*gestures at the world*
yknow. Stuff.
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
There is something so wild about this assumed understanding that you *have* to spoonfeed mechanics and narrative to meet a broader audience (something anyone who has ever expo'd a game would probably agree with!) when faced with the way the biggest games in the world all extremely Do Not Do This.
I'll be honest: dunno that I'm willing to buy a "we HAVE to force tutorialization down players' throats" argument in a period where games like counterstrike, dota, minecraft, roblox et al are some of the most popular games in the world
November 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
There is something so wild about this assumed understanding that you *have* to spoonfeed mechanics and narrative to meet a broader audience (something anyone who has ever expo'd a game would probably agree with!) when faced with the way the biggest games in the world all extremely Do Not Do This.
ah yes, when i play a kickass lady of few words, the one thing I want most in games is to be nagged around by a guy
this better be restricted to the first section
this better be restricted to the first section
HANDS-ON: "So far, Metroid Prime 4 doesn’t feel much like Metroid at all – and I’m worried."
www.videogameschronicle.com/features/so-...
www.videogameschronicle.com/features/so-...
So far, Metroid Prime 4 doesn’t feel much like Metroid at all – and I’m worried | VGC
As a Metroid fan, Nintendo’s hands-on demo left me cold…
www.videogameschronicle.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:35 PM
ah yes, when i play a kickass lady of few words, the one thing I want most in games is to be nagged around by a guy
this better be restricted to the first section
this better be restricted to the first section
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
I love that every new games publisher is like "we're looking for high quality games" yea no shit girl I too am looking for a man in finance, trust fund, 6'5", blue eyes
November 13, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I love that every new games publisher is like "we're looking for high quality games" yea no shit girl I too am looking for a man in finance, trust fund, 6'5", blue eyes
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
I mean if you're still reading The New York Times at this point you're reading the paper that quietly shielded the largest pedophile conspiracy of our time.
It's still hard for me to fathom that the New York Times *had* proof of Epstein's pedophile ring on their servers since 2016 and just chose not to do anything with it.
I've known for a while that the press was corrupt, but I didn't know to this extent.
I've known for a while that the press was corrupt, but I didn't know to this extent.
November 14, 2025 at 3:43 AM
I mean if you're still reading The New York Times at this point you're reading the paper that quietly shielded the largest pedophile conspiracy of our time.
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
New app that matches publishers with indies where indies engage first based on what the publisher is offering.
Call that the Indie Humble Bumble.
Call that the Indie Humble Bumble.
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 PM
New app that matches publishers with indies where indies engage first based on what the publisher is offering.
Call that the Indie Humble Bumble.
Call that the Indie Humble Bumble.
I love that every new games publisher is like "we're looking for high quality games" yea no shit girl I too am looking for a man in finance, trust fund, 6'5", blue eyes
November 13, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I love that every new games publisher is like "we're looking for high quality games" yea no shit girl I too am looking for a man in finance, trust fund, 6'5", blue eyes
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
it's been hard to put this feeling into words, but we've spent the past couple of decades being lectured to and patronized by an elite class that spent its free time joshing with jeffrey epstein about his little sex abuse empire while lecturing us about how out of touch we are
November 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
it's been hard to put this feeling into words, but we've spent the past couple of decades being lectured to and patronized by an elite class that spent its free time joshing with jeffrey epstein about his little sex abuse empire while lecturing us about how out of touch we are
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
As all this disgusting Epstein shit starts surfacing more and more, I hope we don't lose sight of the fact that apparently every major media outlet knew everything and instead spent their time money and energy attacking the trans community.
November 13, 2025 at 1:07 AM
As all this disgusting Epstein shit starts surfacing more and more, I hope we don't lose sight of the fact that apparently every major media outlet knew everything and instead spent their time money and energy attacking the trans community.
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
appreciate this article breaking down a taxonomy of knowledge games (also, unfortunately, known as metroidbrainias)
azhdarchid.com/against-metr...
azhdarchid.com/against-metr...
Against 'Metroidbrania': a Landscape of Knowledge Games
What are knowledge games? How do we relate them to each other? What sub-genres exist – and which ones might be implied?
azhdarchid.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:17 AM
appreciate this article breaking down a taxonomy of knowledge games (also, unfortunately, known as metroidbrainias)
azhdarchid.com/against-metr...
azhdarchid.com/against-metr...
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
Oh shit I've just realised I've worked on games professionally for 20ish years now
November 12, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Oh shit I've just realised I've worked on games professionally for 20ish years now
Oh shit I've just realised I've worked on games professionally for 20ish years now
November 12, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Oh shit I've just realised I've worked on games professionally for 20ish years now
one half of the xbox team is having an aneurysm, the other half is considering torching the ms main office
Steam Machine has been announced 🎮
It’s a new SteamOS hardware that lets you connect to any TV or monitor and play Steam games
It’s a new SteamOS hardware that lets you connect to any TV or monitor and play Steam games
November 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
one half of the xbox team is having an aneurysm, the other half is considering torching the ms main office
Let met tell you a bit about Live RP design :D
Last VTM larp session we had a super heavy and emotional session. Players were possessed for 10 minutes by victims of other players and had to role-play them. They did a stellar job, just incredible play. But this is risky because of Bleed.
1/5
Last VTM larp session we had a super heavy and emotional session. Players were possessed for 10 minutes by victims of other players and had to role-play them. They did a stellar job, just incredible play. But this is risky because of Bleed.
1/5
November 12, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Let met tell you a bit about Live RP design :D
Last VTM larp session we had a super heavy and emotional session. Players were possessed for 10 minutes by victims of other players and had to role-play them. They did a stellar job, just incredible play. But this is risky because of Bleed.
1/5
Last VTM larp session we had a super heavy and emotional session. Players were possessed for 10 minutes by victims of other players and had to role-play them. They did a stellar job, just incredible play. But this is risky because of Bleed.
1/5
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
"geoff's a bad person? who woulda known!!"
yeah well that snark doesn't help the marginalized folks who wanted to give him a chance, and who wanted to give this program the benefit of the doubt :)
yeah well that snark doesn't help the marginalized folks who wanted to give him a chance, and who wanted to give this program the benefit of the doubt :)
if speaking out and being loud about TGA and its gross mishandling of the Future Class makes me less employable, that says more about our industry and the people in positions of power than it does me. i have a platform, i'm privileged that i feel safe to speak up. think about folks who might not.
November 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
"geoff's a bad person? who woulda known!!"
yeah well that snark doesn't help the marginalized folks who wanted to give him a chance, and who wanted to give this program the benefit of the doubt :)
yeah well that snark doesn't help the marginalized folks who wanted to give him a chance, and who wanted to give this program the benefit of the doubt :)
It has occurred to me that a lot of things genAI is supposed to magically fix is really all down to bad planning and budgeting
And seeing how often bad project management comes down to directors thinking they should just be able to pivot by snapping their fingers, I don't think I'm entirely wrong >
And seeing how often bad project management comes down to directors thinking they should just be able to pivot by snapping their fingers, I don't think I'm entirely wrong >
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
It has occurred to me that a lot of things genAI is supposed to magically fix is really all down to bad planning and budgeting
And seeing how often bad project management comes down to directors thinking they should just be able to pivot by snapping their fingers, I don't think I'm entirely wrong >
And seeing how often bad project management comes down to directors thinking they should just be able to pivot by snapping their fingers, I don't think I'm entirely wrong >
Horowitz' skills and imagination truly took a nosedive as soon as he stopped writing kids books
His early work broke and rebuilt my understanding of what a story could be as a kid/teen. Such a shame, honestly.
His early work broke and rebuilt my understanding of what a story could be as a kid/teen. Such a shame, honestly.
James Bond’s death in No Time to Die is causing a nightmare for the next film. Writers are stuck because Bond “was blown to pieces.”
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
November 11, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Horowitz' skills and imagination truly took a nosedive as soon as he stopped writing kids books
His early work broke and rebuilt my understanding of what a story could be as a kid/teen. Such a shame, honestly.
His early work broke and rebuilt my understanding of what a story could be as a kid/teen. Such a shame, honestly.
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
okay, seriously: if we were to corral this, would anyone be interested in contributing? Here is the google form:
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
November 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
okay, seriously: if we were to corral this, would anyone be interested in contributing? Here is the google form:
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
I'm not a political genius, nor is it my country but
I think if people gain extreme joy over a political success one week and you cause anger the next, they won't feel demotivated like they'd be if all they knew was dread - they'll feel galvanized because they know a better feeling is possible
I think if people gain extreme joy over a political success one week and you cause anger the next, they won't feel demotivated like they'd be if all they knew was dread - they'll feel galvanized because they know a better feeling is possible
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I'm not a political genius, nor is it my country but
I think if people gain extreme joy over a political success one week and you cause anger the next, they won't feel demotivated like they'd be if all they knew was dread - they'll feel galvanized because they know a better feeling is possible
I think if people gain extreme joy over a political success one week and you cause anger the next, they won't feel demotivated like they'd be if all they knew was dread - they'll feel galvanized because they know a better feeling is possible
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
I will be in Munich / München for @godotfest.com the next 3 days, and I am wondering:
Are there any great buttondown shirt shops in München? I'd love to add to my collection, especially if there are particularly crazy German patterns on them.
Are there any great buttondown shirt shops in München? I'd love to add to my collection, especially if there are particularly crazy German patterns on them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I will be in Munich / München for @godotfest.com the next 3 days, and I am wondering:
Are there any great buttondown shirt shops in München? I'd love to add to my collection, especially if there are particularly crazy German patterns on them.
Are there any great buttondown shirt shops in München? I'd love to add to my collection, especially if there are particularly crazy German patterns on them.
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
I’m trying to pass portfolios of other artists to clients I can’t take and the amount of you that don’t have your contact details readily available! I want to give you woooorrrkk!
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 PM
I’m trying to pass portfolios of other artists to clients I can’t take and the amount of you that don’t have your contact details readily available! I want to give you woooorrrkk!
After the nazi occupation, the Netherlands experienced something referred to as a 'Bijltjesdag'; an eruption of 'good dutch' taking revenge against dutch nazi collaborators. The government only started prosecuting collaborators in order to stop the mass vigilantism
Trials are the moderate position.
Trials are the moderate position.
and once again, for those who don't realize, the nuremberg trials were the moderate position back then too.
November 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
After the nazi occupation, the Netherlands experienced something referred to as a 'Bijltjesdag'; an eruption of 'good dutch' taking revenge against dutch nazi collaborators. The government only started prosecuting collaborators in order to stop the mass vigilantism
Trials are the moderate position.
Trials are the moderate position.
I suffer psychic damage when someone compares the genAI bubble to the 3d printing craze. Because people don't realise just how groundbreaking consumer level 3d printing was for rapid prototyping. So many qol products, medical tech, toys and tools exist because of the 3d printing boom. Incomparable.
November 9, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I suffer psychic damage when someone compares the genAI bubble to the 3d printing craze. Because people don't realise just how groundbreaking consumer level 3d printing was for rapid prototyping. So many qol products, medical tech, toys and tools exist because of the 3d printing boom. Incomparable.
I don't really disagree with the effect of metoo on the level they're talking about
but on ground level metoo has had serious effects. The talks with guys I've had, both personally and professionally, were significantly more inclusive after
It takes time & repetition unless you go full suffragette
but on ground level metoo has had serious effects. The talks with guys I've had, both personally and professionally, were significantly more inclusive after
It takes time & repetition unless you go full suffragette
When people talk about the excesses of MeToo, they have to lie, because the reality is that there was no massive social reckoning forcing people to believe survivors or hold perpetrators accountable. In fact, there has been a significant backsliding and new punishments in rejection of MeToo
November 7, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I don't really disagree with the effect of metoo on the level they're talking about
but on ground level metoo has had serious effects. The talks with guys I've had, both personally and professionally, were significantly more inclusive after
It takes time & repetition unless you go full suffragette
but on ground level metoo has had serious effects. The talks with guys I've had, both personally and professionally, were significantly more inclusive after
It takes time & repetition unless you go full suffragette
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🚂 AdventureX
succubus - female demon that seduces men
incubus - male demon that seduces women
vengabus - non-binary demon that likes to party
incubus - male demon that seduces women
vengabus - non-binary demon that likes to party
November 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
succubus - female demon that seduces men
incubus - male demon that seduces women
vengabus - non-binary demon that likes to party
incubus - male demon that seduces women
vengabus - non-binary demon that likes to party
I do think bsky lists are very cool, but sometimes I get followed by a person I'm like "cool, let's interact!" and then it just turns out they started following me because I'm on a list, and not because they're interested in me interacting with them 😅
November 6, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I do think bsky lists are very cool, but sometimes I get followed by a person I'm like "cool, let's interact!" and then it just turns out they started following me because I'm on a list, and not because they're interested in me interacting with them 😅