Jesse Vigil
@jessev.bsky.social
Writer, Game Designer, sometimes authority figure.
I’ve been a journalist, a publisher, a producer, a designer, and more. Attractions, alt controllers, audio games, films, etc. These days I teach at USC Games.
Stop me before I podcast again.
I’ve been a journalist, a publisher, a producer, a designer, and more. Attractions, alt controllers, audio games, films, etc. These days I teach at USC Games.
Stop me before I podcast again.
I wore my new shirt today while I taught video games in these hallowed halls today. Thank you @secretgalaxy.bsky.social and @danlarson.bsky.social for the attire while I did a deep dive into the Ducktales NES game the youths only know as the game with the music from “The Moon.”
October 22, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I wore my new shirt today while I taught video games in these hallowed halls today. Thank you @secretgalaxy.bsky.social and @danlarson.bsky.social for the attire while I did a deep dive into the Ducktales NES game the youths only know as the game with the music from “The Moon.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“You think we need a few more guys.”
“Actually, Rusty, I was thinking we need a ladder.”
“You think we need a few more guys.”
“Actually, Rusty, I was thinking we need a ladder.”
October 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“You think we need a few more guys.”
“Actually, Rusty, I was thinking we need a ladder.”
“You think we need a few more guys.”
“Actually, Rusty, I was thinking we need a ladder.”
It’s a place called Monster Arcade. I have some decor notes in general but an amazing mix of retro, indie, and Japanese cabinets. Also there was this room.
October 10, 2025 at 2:36 AM
It’s a place called Monster Arcade. I have some decor notes in general but an amazing mix of retro, indie, and Japanese cabinets. Also there was this room.
I feel like Y2K appreciator @maxkriegervg.bsky.social would appreciate this find.
October 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I feel like Y2K appreciator @maxkriegervg.bsky.social would appreciate this find.
I have a new Waffle House Index for how bad things are getting and it’s called “How Many Different Frog and Toad shirts is Target offering”
September 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I have a new Waffle House Index for how bad things are getting and it’s called “How Many Different Frog and Toad shirts is Target offering”
I found it. The most basic object of the season. I bought it. I’m in a Wine Mom era anyway
September 18, 2025 at 1:24 AM
I found it. The most basic object of the season. I bought it. I’m in a Wine Mom era anyway
Hell yeah! I’m a cool dad who fixes broken consoles!!!
September 14, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Hell yeah! I’m a cool dad who fixes broken consoles!!!
Oh lord have mercy I sure did decide to get some major dad points tonight. Praying I’m not in over mah head
September 14, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Oh lord have mercy I sure did decide to get some major dad points tonight. Praying I’m not in over mah head
Starbucks barista has been giving some real “popular girl signing my yearbook” energy the last few days.
September 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Starbucks barista has been giving some real “popular girl signing my yearbook” energy the last few days.
Today sucked.
I am in a Starbucks writing my new thing and it’s such a tangible relief to listen to my music and be with my new friends, the adventurers you all get to meet very, very soon.
I am in a Starbucks writing my new thing and it’s such a tangible relief to listen to my music and be with my new friends, the adventurers you all get to meet very, very soon.
September 11, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Today sucked.
I am in a Starbucks writing my new thing and it’s such a tangible relief to listen to my music and be with my new friends, the adventurers you all get to meet very, very soon.
I am in a Starbucks writing my new thing and it’s such a tangible relief to listen to my music and be with my new friends, the adventurers you all get to meet very, very soon.
Ten years ago I talked the school into letting me buy a 3d printer for my office and look at this mini snes with
an RPI inside that I made from an open sourced design I found online.
It worked but MAN. Guess I got better at a thing.
an RPI inside that I made from an open sourced design I found online.
It worked but MAN. Guess I got better at a thing.
September 5, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Ten years ago I talked the school into letting me buy a 3d printer for my office and look at this mini snes with
an RPI inside that I made from an open sourced design I found online.
It worked but MAN. Guess I got better at a thing.
an RPI inside that I made from an open sourced design I found online.
It worked but MAN. Guess I got better at a thing.
Okay two versions later (not bad for a guy with no engineering degree) I have adapted said model train tech in service of a pretty good ILLUSION. #basicWitchesProject
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Okay two versions later (not bad for a guy with no engineering degree) I have adapted said model train tech in service of a pretty good ILLUSION. #basicWitchesProject
Sometimes I take a few shots at “model train guys” specifically the gatekeeping pricks at Allied Model Trains in Culver City. But if this trick I am borrowing from model railroading works, I’ll lay off for a while.
July 31, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Sometimes I take a few shots at “model train guys” specifically the gatekeeping pricks at Allied Model Trains in Culver City. But if this trick I am borrowing from model railroading works, I’ll lay off for a while.
It’s been a long two weeks in China and it makes me appreciate Los Angeles and the rich variety of food options we have. My hosts have generously given us a ton of hotel credit so we eat in the hotel restaurant a lot, but we are a bit done with the menu. But I invented Chinese asada fries today.
July 23, 2025 at 11:15 AM
It’s been a long two weeks in China and it makes me appreciate Los Angeles and the rich variety of food options we have. My hosts have generously given us a ton of hotel credit so we eat in the hotel restaurant a lot, but we are a bit done with the menu. But I invented Chinese asada fries today.
Brief pause here because I need this.
You know. For research. I might have to watch the guy pull a few of these in order to get a sense for how to translate that mechanic
You know. For research. I might have to watch the guy pull a few of these in order to get a sense for how to translate that mechanic
July 23, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Brief pause here because I need this.
You know. For research. I might have to watch the guy pull a few of these in order to get a sense for how to translate that mechanic
You know. For research. I might have to watch the guy pull a few of these in order to get a sense for how to translate that mechanic
Idea one here is I’m going to use a physical pint glass to control the bartender’s position. So you’ll put the glass down where you want to work. I’m using an ultrasonic sensor to detect position. Nothing fancy. Just distance from the sensor/controller.
(Note, I have 24 hours to do this)
(Note, I have 24 hours to do this)
July 23, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Idea one here is I’m going to use a physical pint glass to control the bartender’s position. So you’ll put the glass down where you want to work. I’m using an ultrasonic sensor to detect position. Nothing fancy. Just distance from the sensor/controller.
(Note, I have 24 hours to do this)
(Note, I have 24 hours to do this)
Constraints for this: build 30 seconds of arcade game. You can use only 3 controls. You must make the game a job or a chore and find the fun. Physicality is encouraged.
I am not going to be TERRIBLY inventive, but I am gonna riff on TAPPER based on the scraps they left me.
I am not going to be TERRIBLY inventive, but I am gonna riff on TAPPER based on the scraps they left me.
July 23, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Constraints for this: build 30 seconds of arcade game. You can use only 3 controls. You must make the game a job or a chore and find the fun. Physicality is encouraged.
I am not going to be TERRIBLY inventive, but I am gonna riff on TAPPER based on the scraps they left me.
I am not going to be TERRIBLY inventive, but I am gonna riff on TAPPER based on the scraps they left me.
My Chinese students are skeptical of the do-ability of my project (build a small alt control project in 11 days, with nothing else to do but live in a 5 star hotel and work on this, all materials bought) so time to fucking levitate an x-wing out a swamp and show the kids some do or do not
July 23, 2025 at 8:20 AM
My Chinese students are skeptical of the do-ability of my project (build a small alt control project in 11 days, with nothing else to do but live in a 5 star hotel and work on this, all materials bought) so time to fucking levitate an x-wing out a swamp and show the kids some do or do not
Okay. Shut it down. We found the worst movie tie-in of all time. Shut it down.
July 16, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Okay. Shut it down. We found the worst movie tie-in of all time. Shut it down.
I basically got an art student version of an apple on my desk this morning.
July 15, 2025 at 1:01 AM
I basically got an art student version of an apple on my desk this morning.
Absolutely incredible “special rule” hexes out here.
July 14, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Absolutely incredible “special rule” hexes out here.
These are the tiles outside the game design workshop I’m teaching in Beijing and ASK me how tempted I am to throw out my assignment and tell them they have to build a game to play on this concourse.
July 14, 2025 at 4:15 AM
These are the tiles outside the game design workshop I’m teaching in Beijing and ASK me how tempted I am to throw out my assignment and tell them they have to build a game to play on this concourse.
Well I sure did come across a discarded and possibly magical mask. It might have contained a god of mischief? I did not take the mask or try it on. My fourteen year old self is of course furious with me.
July 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Well I sure did come across a discarded and possibly magical mask. It might have contained a god of mischief? I did not take the mask or try it on. My fourteen year old self is of course furious with me.
The place I profess at places a lot of stock in flow theory, but the lab I used to be associated with did a lot of work in education and I felt myself bump up against this a LOT without this brilliant analysis to help articulate.
July 3, 2025 at 1:58 AM
The place I profess at places a lot of stock in flow theory, but the lab I used to be associated with did a lot of work in education and I felt myself bump up against this a LOT without this brilliant analysis to help articulate.