Ben Taels
@bentaels.bsky.social
Kiwi, Dad, Human Factors Psychology PhD, & Games User Experience Research.
Formerly Epic Games, Player Research, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Te Manatū Waka, & Hamilton Zoo.
Formerly Epic Games, Player Research, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Te Manatū Waka, & Hamilton Zoo.
Pinned
Ben Taels
@bentaels.bsky.social
· Jan 3
Throwing Out the Dopamine Shots: Reward Psychology Without the Neurotrash
YouTube video by GDC 2025
youtu.be
Some talks that I have given:
Reward in games (without the dopamine neurotrash): youtu.be/xkg9ocYDLr8?...
Human Error and game design: youtu.be/JyuR2fKvQ20?...
What road safety can teach us about reducing toxicity in games: youtu.be/WMYoCuZ3Fa8?...
Reward in games (without the dopamine neurotrash): youtu.be/xkg9ocYDLr8?...
Human Error and game design: youtu.be/JyuR2fKvQ20?...
What road safety can teach us about reducing toxicity in games: youtu.be/WMYoCuZ3Fa8?...
Retrospective methods, where a player talks over video of their play for example, have very significant biases that can be hard to avoid.
December 19, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Retrospective methods, where a player talks over video of their play for example, have very significant biases that can be hard to avoid.
Reposted by Ben Taels
Crunch time is always a failure of management.
NEW: For the last seven weeks, Naughty Dog has enacted mandatory overtime for staff to finish an internal demo of their next game, Intergalactic. The game won't be out until 2027, leaving some staff wondering: If they're crunching now, what will next year be like? www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Naughty Dog Studio Orders Employee Overtime for ‘Intergalactic’
The Sony-owned gamemakers have been racing to hit a December deadline
www.bloomberg.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Crunch time is always a failure of management.
Scientifically conspiracy theories are fueled by various cognitive biases that everyone has (availability heuristic, representativeness heuristic, thinking in casual series, etc), so yeah, basically
I think everyone has approximately the same amount of conspiracy energy, and if you don’t dissipate it decoding taylor swift lyrics or debugging linux drivers, it inevitably comes out as beliefs about faked moon landings
December 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Scientifically conspiracy theories are fueled by various cognitive biases that everyone has (availability heuristic, representativeness heuristic, thinking in casual series, etc), so yeah, basically
Be very careful when changing things that players are used to
That UI may look dated, or that button combo isn't efficient/isn't great for new players, but if your audience is used to it then it may hurt more than it helps to change
It may be worth it though! You should test and be sure.
That UI may look dated, or that button combo isn't efficient/isn't great for new players, but if your audience is used to it then it may hurt more than it helps to change
It may be worth it though! You should test and be sure.
December 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Be very careful when changing things that players are used to
That UI may look dated, or that button combo isn't efficient/isn't great for new players, but if your audience is used to it then it may hurt more than it helps to change
It may be worth it though! You should test and be sure.
That UI may look dated, or that button combo isn't efficient/isn't great for new players, but if your audience is used to it then it may hurt more than it helps to change
It may be worth it though! You should test and be sure.
Reposted by Ben Taels
I love max payne but what if he played like oni
December 19, 2025 at 9:06 AM
I love max payne but what if he played like oni
Reposted by Ben Taels
‘An overwhelmingly negative and demoralizing force’: What it’s like working for a company that’s forcing AI on its artists and developers:
aftermath.site/ai-video-game-...
aftermath.site/ai-video-game-...
December 18, 2025 at 9:19 PM
‘An overwhelmingly negative and demoralizing force’: What it’s like working for a company that’s forcing AI on its artists and developers:
aftermath.site/ai-video-game-...
aftermath.site/ai-video-game-...
It being fun to learn shit, and good actually to do research, is why GenAI suck in User Experience Research as well!
I want to do the actual hands on research stuff!
I want to do the actual hands on research stuff!
This is such a misunderstanding of why writers, artists, and designers do research to begin with, which is to find something unexpected, not capture the average or find reference for the default.
And, as always, the biggest misapprehension: We don’t want to NOT do this part. It’s fun to learn shit
And, as always, the biggest misapprehension: We don’t want to NOT do this part. It’s fun to learn shit
Anyone who supports this is an embarrassment. "Instead of typing it out they'll generate their idea"? Are you insane?
Call yourself whatever you want but you aren't creatives, that's for sure.
Call yourself whatever you want but you aren't creatives, that's for sure.
December 19, 2025 at 6:39 AM
It being fun to learn shit, and good actually to do research, is why GenAI suck in User Experience Research as well!
I want to do the actual hands on research stuff!
I want to do the actual hands on research stuff!
Every single person that has ever played a tabletop RPG should be backing this!
Have you ever played a tabletop RPG? Are you backing this? Yes? Good! No? Back it!
Have you ever played a tabletop RPG? Are you backing this? Yes? Good! No? Back it!
Here it is. The final 24 hours. You've helped coax banked embers into a steady flame. Tell me, what is one thing you'll bring with you into What-Comes-Next? Seeds? Thread? A good kitchen knife? What will you make of what's left? Together, let's light up the world.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Every single person that has ever played a tabletop RPG should be backing this!
Have you ever played a tabletop RPG? Are you backing this? Yes? Good! No? Back it!
Have you ever played a tabletop RPG? Are you backing this? Yes? Good! No? Back it!
Reposted by Ben Taels
It honestly doesn't seem that hard to get - investment in public infrastructure and resources empowers private productivity.
People who are more stable can do more and spend more.
It's endlessly frustrating that modern governments are, regardless of party, captured by neocon anti-spending ideas
People who are more stable can do more and spend more.
It's endlessly frustrating that modern governments are, regardless of party, captured by neocon anti-spending ideas
Post-war period fascinates me - we built *loads* of infra and houses but public debt levels fell. There must be things we can take from that era to inform what we do next.
Also fascinates me that the 1980 to 2008 period is considered a success - we maxed out our private debt, and what did we build?
Also fascinates me that the 1980 to 2008 period is considered a success - we maxed out our private debt, and what did we build?
December 18, 2025 at 9:43 PM
It honestly doesn't seem that hard to get - investment in public infrastructure and resources empowers private productivity.
People who are more stable can do more and spend more.
It's endlessly frustrating that modern governments are, regardless of party, captured by neocon anti-spending ideas
People who are more stable can do more and spend more.
It's endlessly frustrating that modern governments are, regardless of party, captured by neocon anti-spending ideas
This was the year my family & I decided to move back to Aotearoa! It was something we had discussed for years & finally decided it was time. That was around 6 months ago, so has it gone?
Well, it has been wonderful in all the ways we hoped it would be! And difficult in the ways we expected as well
Well, it has been wonderful in all the ways we hoped it would be! And difficult in the ways we expected as well
December 18, 2025 at 10:27 PM
This was the year my family & I decided to move back to Aotearoa! It was something we had discussed for years & finally decided it was time. That was around 6 months ago, so has it gone?
Well, it has been wonderful in all the ways we hoped it would be! And difficult in the ways we expected as well
Well, it has been wonderful in all the ways we hoped it would be! And difficult in the ways we expected as well
Every single time I open LinkedIn online my phone I get this full screen take over.
It appears to be an ad for LinkedIn Premium, but it never loads past this state, doesn't seem to be interactive in any way, and I have to dismiss it every time. Weird.
It appears to be an ad for LinkedIn Premium, but it never loads past this state, doesn't seem to be interactive in any way, and I have to dismiss it every time. Weird.
December 18, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Every single time I open LinkedIn online my phone I get this full screen take over.
It appears to be an ad for LinkedIn Premium, but it never loads past this state, doesn't seem to be interactive in any way, and I have to dismiss it every time. Weird.
It appears to be an ad for LinkedIn Premium, but it never loads past this state, doesn't seem to be interactive in any way, and I have to dismiss it every time. Weird.
Reposted by Ben Taels
DREDGE Complete Collector's Edition (Switch) is $65 US Dollars at VGP (free shipping) buff.ly/j0Qjthy
Deals to add w/ free shipping (sorted by lowest) buff.ly/UrAC7jl #ad
Deals to add w/ free shipping (sorted by lowest) buff.ly/UrAC7jl #ad
December 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
DREDGE Complete Collector's Edition (Switch) is $65 US Dollars at VGP (free shipping) buff.ly/j0Qjthy
Deals to add w/ free shipping (sorted by lowest) buff.ly/UrAC7jl #ad
Deals to add w/ free shipping (sorted by lowest) buff.ly/UrAC7jl #ad
Reposted by Ben Taels
NEW from me on @gamedeveloper.bsky.social: I wasn’t going to write about the Larian AI backlash. Then I woke up at 5:30 this morning with a whole dang blog in my head.
How can you know if your workers are “okay” with using genAI tools if you have so much power over them should they push back?
How can you know if your workers are “okay” with using genAI tools if you have so much power over them should they push back?
December 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM
NEW from me on @gamedeveloper.bsky.social: I wasn’t going to write about the Larian AI backlash. Then I woke up at 5:30 this morning with a whole dang blog in my head.
How can you know if your workers are “okay” with using genAI tools if you have so much power over them should they push back?
How can you know if your workers are “okay” with using genAI tools if you have so much power over them should they push back?
Reposted by Ben Taels
It appears we ARE that drink
December 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
It appears we ARE that drink
If you work in User Research at a large organization consider setting up a regular company wide message that summarizes:
- Recent research outcomes (with links to full reports)
- Important team changes and announcements
- Upcoming research between now and the next summary message
- Recent research outcomes (with links to full reports)
- Important team changes and announcements
- Upcoming research between now and the next summary message
December 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
If you work in User Research at a large organization consider setting up a regular company wide message that summarizes:
- Recent research outcomes (with links to full reports)
- Important team changes and announcements
- Upcoming research between now and the next summary message
- Recent research outcomes (with links to full reports)
- Important team changes and announcements
- Upcoming research between now and the next summary message
Reposted by Ben Taels
I don’t know why I’m getting new followers - have they even seen this shit?
December 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM
I don’t know why I’m getting new followers - have they even seen this shit?
Reposted by Ben Taels
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
December 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
I am really happy with how this turned out so I am going to repost it damnit!
My fan edit of the song Rohirrim by Feuerschwanz
I made this for my son Rohan!
This is my first time trying to make a video edit like this and I made a few stylistic choices with the English translation. I hope y'all enjoy it.
youtu.be/9ysGwmBmBCs
I made this for my son Rohan!
This is my first time trying to make a video edit like this and I made a few stylistic choices with the English translation. I hope y'all enjoy it.
youtu.be/9ysGwmBmBCs
Feuerschwanz - Rohirrim - Taels of LotR Edit
YouTube video by Ben Taels
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I am really happy with how this turned out so I am going to repost it damnit!
Reposted by Ben Taels
Hey, new announcement for DIE RPG. Next year, @rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social will be crowdfunding DIE RPG: THE METADUNGEON - a huge dungeon where each level is explicitly about a different period of RPG history.
@mytholder.bsky.social has gone berserk. Sign up!
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
@mytholder.bsky.social has gone berserk. Sign up!
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
Get Ready for DIE: Metadungeon
From Rowan, Rook and Decard - Get Ready for DIE: Metadungeon
www.backerkit.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Hey, new announcement for DIE RPG. Next year, @rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social will be crowdfunding DIE RPG: THE METADUNGEON - a huge dungeon where each level is explicitly about a different period of RPG history.
@mytholder.bsky.social has gone berserk. Sign up!
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
@mytholder.bsky.social has gone berserk. Sign up!
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
Some activities I tried as a manager for team culture & my thoughts:
- Regular playtests as a team: Very effective in terms of building team culture & connecting with the game. It took time & could cause frustration if the builds were bad/if they perceived they were not performing well in the game.
- Regular playtests as a team: Very effective in terms of building team culture & connecting with the game. It took time & could cause frustration if the builds were bad/if they perceived they were not performing well in the game.
December 17, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Some activities I tried as a manager for team culture & my thoughts:
- Regular playtests as a team: Very effective in terms of building team culture & connecting with the game. It took time & could cause frustration if the builds were bad/if they perceived they were not performing well in the game.
- Regular playtests as a team: Very effective in terms of building team culture & connecting with the game. It took time & could cause frustration if the builds were bad/if they perceived they were not performing well in the game.
Reposted by Ben Taels
is it morally okay to use the orphan crushing machine in game development if you can't tell it was used in the final product?
December 17, 2025 at 8:23 AM
is it morally okay to use the orphan crushing machine in game development if you can't tell it was used in the final product?
Reposted by Ben Taels
The thing thats so insidious about using AI this way is that one of the main ways artists get hired are studios looking for art references and they find us and reach out.
This is removing a major avenue to get work if they can just generate nameless derivations of our ideas.
This is removing a major avenue to get work if they can just generate nameless derivations of our ideas.
December 17, 2025 at 12:32 AM
The thing thats so insidious about using AI this way is that one of the main ways artists get hired are studios looking for art references and they find us and reach out.
This is removing a major avenue to get work if they can just generate nameless derivations of our ideas.
This is removing a major avenue to get work if they can just generate nameless derivations of our ideas.
Reposted by Ben Taels
Families fight to put food on the table. Meanwhile the ACT Party and Coalition Government spent $150,000 on a 'Road Cone hotline'.
Closing after 6 months & 200 cones removed, costing Kiwis ~$750 per cone (and they gutted Worksafe - putting real lives at risk!)
We too wish this was satire ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Closing after 6 months & 200 cones removed, costing Kiwis ~$750 per cone (and they gutted Worksafe - putting real lives at risk!)
We too wish this was satire ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
December 17, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Families fight to put food on the table. Meanwhile the ACT Party and Coalition Government spent $150,000 on a 'Road Cone hotline'.
Closing after 6 months & 200 cones removed, costing Kiwis ~$750 per cone (and they gutted Worksafe - putting real lives at risk!)
We too wish this was satire ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Closing after 6 months & 200 cones removed, costing Kiwis ~$750 per cone (and they gutted Worksafe - putting real lives at risk!)
We too wish this was satire ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Reposted by Ben Taels
More stupid theatre being quietly closed down amid the Christmas rush. The road cone hotline is to end, having achieved basically nothing. What was the cost per cone removed? www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
The Government's 'Road Cone Hotline' to close
The Government will close its “Road Cone Hotline” at the end of this week, after just six months in operation.
www.stuff.co.nz
December 16, 2025 at 11:18 PM
More stupid theatre being quietly closed down amid the Christmas rush. The road cone hotline is to end, having achieved basically nothing. What was the cost per cone removed? www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Reposted by Ben Taels
BREAKING: The High Court of New Zealand has granted PATHA’s application for interim relief, declaring that the Crown should not take any steps to enforce the incoming ban on new prescriptions of puberty blockers to transgender children and young people. More to come:
www.courtsofnz.govt.nz
December 16, 2025 at 10:20 PM
BREAKING: The High Court of New Zealand has granted PATHA’s application for interim relief, declaring that the Crown should not take any steps to enforce the incoming ban on new prescriptions of puberty blockers to transgender children and young people. More to come: