Harel Eilam (Marvin Dreams of Destroying the Earth)
@marvindestroyearth.bsky.social
Game designer, writer, lover of numbers big and small, doer-of-science-y-stuff, trekkie, and professional doofus. Channeling both Marvins at the same time. Economy designer on Dragon Age. He/Him
Have Lego, will travel.
July 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Have Lego, will travel.
May 11, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Finished building the Lego Concorde. Both a truly frustrating build (since I needed to rip it out and rebuild it half-way because of an issue with the main cog), but also one of the most fun #lego builds I've built so far. No stickers too, huge plus. Thanks @kaieta.bsky.social for the rec!
May 8, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Finished building the Lego Concorde. Both a truly frustrating build (since I needed to rip it out and rebuild it half-way because of an issue with the main cog), but also one of the most fun #lego builds I've built so far. No stickers too, huge plus. Thanks @kaieta.bsky.social for the rec!
Playing (the wonderful, so far, just started) #SouthByMidnight, yep, that certainly looks like the blight.... Having enough fun so far to allow it.
#veilguard
#veilguard
May 4, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Playing (the wonderful, so far, just started) #SouthByMidnight, yep, that certainly looks like the blight.... Having enough fun so far to allow it.
#veilguard
#veilguard
You know what really grinds my gears? Cultural warriors that attack #ACShadows for the (now patched) issue of shrine desecration. Yes, it was very bad this issue slipped by QA and designers, but the people attacking Ubisoft for this are the last people who care about cultural sensitivity.
April 28, 2025 at 6:49 AM
You know what really grinds my gears? Cultural warriors that attack #ACShadows for the (now patched) issue of shrine desecration. Yes, it was very bad this issue slipped by QA and designers, but the people attacking Ubisoft for this are the last people who care about cultural sensitivity.
I grew up on Paul Kidby's highly colorful renditions of the #discworld, but I have to say I am digging the style of David Benzal's illustrations for the new Discworld RPG.
I've been thinking a lot about Pratchett and Banks, my favorite authors, now gone. I'm glad I'm getting a bit more Discworld.
I've been thinking a lot about Pratchett and Banks, my favorite authors, now gone. I'm glad I'm getting a bit more Discworld.
April 17, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I grew up on Paul Kidby's highly colorful renditions of the #discworld, but I have to say I am digging the style of David Benzal's illustrations for the new Discworld RPG.
I've been thinking a lot about Pratchett and Banks, my favorite authors, now gone. I'm glad I'm getting a bit more Discworld.
I've been thinking a lot about Pratchett and Banks, my favorite authors, now gone. I'm glad I'm getting a bit more Discworld.
Watching Rand Paul talking about tariffs on CNBC is like
April 9, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Watching Rand Paul talking about tariffs on CNBC is like
This is one of the best #XKCD comics I've ever seen in the last twenty years, and that is truly saying something.
In related news - twenty years. My goodness, I'm feeling old.
In related news - twenty years. My goodness, I'm feeling old.
April 8, 2025 at 7:09 PM
This is one of the best #XKCD comics I've ever seen in the last twenty years, and that is truly saying something.
In related news - twenty years. My goodness, I'm feeling old.
In related news - twenty years. My goodness, I'm feeling old.
A new sci-fi book helped me discover one of the best soups I ever had - Lohikeitto. It is a warm feeling in a bowl. Instant food coma inducer.
Thanks, Sean Fenian.
#soupislife
Thanks, Sean Fenian.
#soupislife
April 5, 2025 at 4:30 AM
A new sci-fi book helped me discover one of the best soups I ever had - Lohikeitto. It is a warm feeling in a bowl. Instant food coma inducer.
Thanks, Sean Fenian.
#soupislife
Thanks, Sean Fenian.
#soupislife
I'm watching season 1 of Severance again with the wife, and all I can think of was going and making this meme.
#veilguard
#veilguard
March 30, 2025 at 4:16 AM
I'm watching season 1 of Severance again with the wife, and all I can think of was going and making this meme.
#veilguard
#veilguard
Me, reading @scalzi.com latest book: "Oh, this is wonderful! Funny, silly, smart, scientific, deals with astronomy in a digestable way, my son would absolutely adore this! It was made for him!"
An hour later, reading episode "day twelve" and the very graphic activities there: Nope. Nope. Nope.
An hour later, reading episode "day twelve" and the very graphic activities there: Nope. Nope. Nope.
March 29, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Me, reading @scalzi.com latest book: "Oh, this is wonderful! Funny, silly, smart, scientific, deals with astronomy in a digestable way, my son would absolutely adore this! It was made for him!"
An hour later, reading episode "day twelve" and the very graphic activities there: Nope. Nope. Nope.
An hour later, reading episode "day twelve" and the very graphic activities there: Nope. Nope. Nope.
Yes, Mr. Line, I feel the same.
March 26, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Yes, Mr. Line, I feel the same.
AC as a series always takes one step forward, two steps back. Always reinventing systems needlessly. Why make a great player hub system in Valhalla and then simplify it too much in Shadows? Same with crafting or gear.They get it very close to right, but then they go back to the drawing board.
March 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
AC as a series always takes one step forward, two steps back. Always reinventing systems needlessly. Why make a great player hub system in Valhalla and then simplify it too much in Shadows? Same with crafting or gear.They get it very close to right, but then they go back to the drawing board.
The AC Shadows meditation minigames are utterly beautiful, a brilliant design decision, but also - incredibly calming. I find myself wanting this as a centering tool for my daily meditation. Superb UX work all around. Ubisoft nailed this one.
#ACshadows
#ACshadows
March 21, 2025 at 7:15 AM
The AC Shadows meditation minigames are utterly beautiful, a brilliant design decision, but also - incredibly calming. I find myself wanting this as a centering tool for my daily meditation. Superb UX work all around. Ubisoft nailed this one.
#ACshadows
#ACshadows
March 20, 2025 at 10:27 PM
March 20, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Blue knives for the general public, red knives for the dev team. I wonder if this means we're on the side of the Evanuris....
#veilguard
#veilguard
March 20, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Blue knives for the general public, red knives for the dev team. I wonder if this means we're on the side of the Evanuris....
#veilguard
#veilguard
Jean Luc Picard.
March 16, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Jean Luc Picard.
I love cities. To me, they are the expression of humanity's wisdom, creativity, and beauty. Few books have managed to trap that feeling for me. The words of Faramir, speaking of Minas Tirith, rang true to me even when I was seven. Now, I have another book that strikes a cord.
March 16, 2025 at 5:31 AM
I love cities. To me, they are the expression of humanity's wisdom, creativity, and beauty. Few books have managed to trap that feeling for me. The words of Faramir, speaking of Minas Tirith, rang true to me even when I was seven. Now, I have another book that strikes a cord.
"I, Starship" has such perfectly encapsulating examples of imposter syndrome, social anxiety, and the alienating, isolating nature of working under a... certain type of leadership that it is triggering me in all the ways a novel can.
Maybe the author was a game designer in another life?
Maybe the author was a game designer in another life?
March 13, 2025 at 7:15 AM
"I, Starship" has such perfectly encapsulating examples of imposter syndrome, social anxiety, and the alienating, isolating nature of working under a... certain type of leadership that it is triggering me in all the ways a novel can.
Maybe the author was a game designer in another life?
Maybe the author was a game designer in another life?
The post-Veilguard era has been rather traumatic for me (and sadly, many of my friends and coworkers), full of uncertainty and periods of ennui. I can't explain just how much simple pleasure there is in simply doing good work again. Excelling my Excel. Wrangling all the numbers. I missed you, data.
March 13, 2025 at 2:47 AM
The post-Veilguard era has been rather traumatic for me (and sadly, many of my friends and coworkers), full of uncertainty and periods of ennui. I can't explain just how much simple pleasure there is in simply doing good work again. Excelling my Excel. Wrangling all the numbers. I missed you, data.
Speaking of novels I'm enjoying, the arc of a scythe sci-fi book trilogy (by Neal Shusterman) provides such a novel, optimistic, refreshing take on AI (similar to the wonderful Culture series) that I have to give it a huge thumbs up. A bit pulpy at times, but I am enjoying myself quite a bit.
March 4, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Speaking of novels I'm enjoying, the arc of a scythe sci-fi book trilogy (by Neal Shusterman) provides such a novel, optimistic, refreshing take on AI (similar to the wonderful Culture series) that I have to give it a huge thumbs up. A bit pulpy at times, but I am enjoying myself quite a bit.
Since I've mentioned him in my previous post - @scalzi.com is a brilliant author, and his books always bring a smile to my face, even when things are very dark. As a Star Trek content creator, I especially appreciated Redshirts. If you have never read books by John Scalzi, give him a try.
March 3, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Since I've mentioned him in my previous post - @scalzi.com is a brilliant author, and his books always bring a smile to my face, even when things are very dark. As a Star Trek content creator, I especially appreciated Redshirts. If you have never read books by John Scalzi, give him a try.
In Kaiju Preservation Society, Scalzi taught me the literary term "reverse lampshade" - calling attention to something impossible, saying it's impossible, then moving on.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is maybe the most perfect personification of this. 11/10 on the WTF scale. Delightful.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is maybe the most perfect personification of this. 11/10 on the WTF scale. Delightful.
March 2, 2025 at 9:51 PM
In Kaiju Preservation Society, Scalzi taught me the literary term "reverse lampshade" - calling attention to something impossible, saying it's impossible, then moving on.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is maybe the most perfect personification of this. 11/10 on the WTF scale. Delightful.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is maybe the most perfect personification of this. 11/10 on the WTF scale. Delightful.
Missy'Nain? Mistress Ghilly? Is the lighthouse a type of TARDIS since its bigger on the inside? Would Solas looks good with bowties?
All this and more, in the greatest mash-up ever.
Also, this makes Elgar'nan the master and I'm here for it.
All this and more, in the greatest mash-up ever.
Also, this makes Elgar'nan the master and I'm here for it.
February 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Missy'Nain? Mistress Ghilly? Is the lighthouse a type of TARDIS since its bigger on the inside? Would Solas looks good with bowties?
All this and more, in the greatest mash-up ever.
Also, this makes Elgar'nan the master and I'm here for it.
All this and more, in the greatest mash-up ever.
Also, this makes Elgar'nan the master and I'm here for it.