Tommy Thompson
@tommy.aiandgames.com
That Scottish AI and games guy...
__
Founder of @aiandgames.com
Game AI Programmer & Consultant
Public speaker, educator, nuisance
BAFTA Connect
He-Him, PhD
--
Weekly Newsletter: aiandgames.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@aiandgames
__
Founder of @aiandgames.com
Game AI Programmer & Consultant
Public speaker, educator, nuisance
BAFTA Connect
He-Him, PhD
--
Weekly Newsletter: aiandgames.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@aiandgames
New header image perhaps?
November 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
New header image perhaps?
We have tons of official photos to share. They'll all be going up next week but I have a batch of stuff on my phone and it just makes me smile every time.
November 8, 2025 at 10:01 AM
We have tons of official photos to share. They'll all be going up next week but I have a batch of stuff on my phone and it just makes me smile every time.
Still just buzzing from running the @conference.aiandgames.com this week. Bringing our community together to learn from each other and just have a good time is so rewarding - and so much work!!! 😅
November 8, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Still just buzzing from running the @conference.aiandgames.com this week. Bringing our community together to learn from each other and just have a good time is so rewarding - and so much work!!! 😅
Good lord am I tired.
I did the big thank you over on LinkedIn, but we did it.
2025 @conference.aiandgames.com is in the bag.
The only way to combat the hype that plagues AI in game dev is to fight back with knowledge, experience, compassion, and community.
And we're just getting started...
I did the big thank you over on LinkedIn, but we did it.
2025 @conference.aiandgames.com is in the bag.
The only way to combat the hype that plagues AI in game dev is to fight back with knowledge, experience, compassion, and community.
And we're just getting started...
November 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Good lord am I tired.
I did the big thank you over on LinkedIn, but we did it.
2025 @conference.aiandgames.com is in the bag.
The only way to combat the hype that plagues AI in game dev is to fight back with knowledge, experience, compassion, and community.
And we're just getting started...
I did the big thank you over on LinkedIn, but we did it.
2025 @conference.aiandgames.com is in the bag.
The only way to combat the hype that plagues AI in game dev is to fight back with knowledge, experience, compassion, and community.
And we're just getting started...
And as I say toward the end, generative AI is not the solution to game AI's challenges. More often than not, game AI is the solution to generative AI's failings.
But equally, generative AI could be useful in very specific cases if we used it in meaningful ways.
But equally, generative AI could be useful in very specific cases if we used it in meaningful ways.
October 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
And as I say toward the end, generative AI is not the solution to game AI's challenges. More often than not, game AI is the solution to generative AI's failings.
But equally, generative AI could be useful in very specific cases if we used it in meaningful ways.
But equally, generative AI could be useful in very specific cases if we used it in meaningful ways.
This situation is through no fault of the amazing game devs who I work with, and whose work I report on and disseminate. Far from it. I'm always amazed by the innovation occurring in the scene.
But as I describe, I feel that innovation is stymied by commercial reality.
But as I describe, I feel that innovation is stymied by commercial reality.
October 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
This situation is through no fault of the amazing game devs who I work with, and whose work I report on and disseminate. Far from it. I'm always amazed by the innovation occurring in the scene.
But as I describe, I feel that innovation is stymied by commercial reality.
But as I describe, I feel that innovation is stymied by commercial reality.
As I state from the top, this is not a rant about generative AI, but it is a symptom of an ecosystem that has failed to address its broader challenges.
We need to be having a bigger conversation about how game AI R&D has largely stagnated while money is piled into shiny new AI hotness.
We need to be having a bigger conversation about how game AI R&D has largely stagnated while money is piled into shiny new AI hotness.
October 29, 2025 at 6:08 PM
As I state from the top, this is not a rant about generative AI, but it is a symptom of an ecosystem that has failed to address its broader challenges.
We need to be having a bigger conversation about how game AI R&D has largely stagnated while money is piled into shiny new AI hotness.
We need to be having a bigger conversation about how game AI R&D has largely stagnated while money is piled into shiny new AI hotness.
Given our conference is ran via a non-profit organisation, @aiandgames.com foot the bill for manufacturing these wee guys. All profits made from their sale go directly to Game AI Events CIC, and help support our conference into 2026 and beyond.
BTW, their name is 'Crit', and I love'em dearly.
BTW, their name is 'Crit', and I love'em dearly.
October 29, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Given our conference is ran via a non-profit organisation, @aiandgames.com foot the bill for manufacturing these wee guys. All profits made from their sale go directly to Game AI Events CIC, and help support our conference into 2026 and beyond.
BTW, their name is 'Crit', and I love'em dearly.
BTW, their name is 'Crit', and I love'em dearly.
I was a big fan of Streets of Rage 4 by Dotemu, Guard Crush Games and Lizardcube.
So having Absolum (by Guard Crush) and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (by Lizardcube) come out within weeks of each other has been a real treat.
Loving both of these games right now. Snappy crunchy fun, and gorgeous.
So having Absolum (by Guard Crush) and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (by Lizardcube) come out within weeks of each other has been a real treat.
Loving both of these games right now. Snappy crunchy fun, and gorgeous.
October 26, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I was a big fan of Streets of Rage 4 by Dotemu, Guard Crush Games and Lizardcube.
So having Absolum (by Guard Crush) and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (by Lizardcube) come out within weeks of each other has been a real treat.
Loving both of these games right now. Snappy crunchy fun, and gorgeous.
So having Absolum (by Guard Crush) and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (by Lizardcube) come out within weeks of each other has been a real treat.
Loving both of these games right now. Snappy crunchy fun, and gorgeous.
I do play games that are NOT based on the Alien IP you know!
*stares at Steam home page...*
Mostly...
*stares at Steam home page...*
Mostly...
October 14, 2025 at 8:29 AM
I do play games that are NOT based on the Alien IP you know!
*stares at Steam home page...*
Mostly...
*stares at Steam home page...*
Mostly...
I feel like this is going to be an evergreen meme for the next few years.
(Props to @elbi.bsky.social who posted this in the @aiandgames.com Discord server)
(Props to @elbi.bsky.social who posted this in the @aiandgames.com Discord server)
October 14, 2025 at 8:23 AM
I feel like this is going to be an evergreen meme for the next few years.
(Props to @elbi.bsky.social who posted this in the @aiandgames.com Discord server)
(Props to @elbi.bsky.social who posted this in the @aiandgames.com Discord server)
Happy 40th birthday Super Mario Bros.
September 13, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Happy 40th birthday Super Mario Bros.
So officially in the camp of the "what were they thinking" crowd after taking my partner to see "Thursday Murder Club" in the cinema before it's out on Netflix.
They were super excited to see it - and I was too having only just started reading the series. Only it starts well and then just... Ugh.
They were super excited to see it - and I was too having only just started reading the series. Only it starts well and then just... Ugh.
August 26, 2025 at 6:54 AM
So officially in the camp of the "what were they thinking" crowd after taking my partner to see "Thursday Murder Club" in the cinema before it's out on Netflix.
They were super excited to see it - and I was too having only just started reading the series. Only it starts well and then just... Ugh.
They were super excited to see it - and I was too having only just started reading the series. Only it starts well and then just... Ugh.
Oh, a good point to raise is that you should really click on the 'view license and product key activations'. Given most of my earlier Steam library came from Humble Bundles.
Not a huge change, but it does show I had a Steam account for two years and didn't use it.
Not a huge change, but it does show I had a Steam account for two years and didn't use it.
August 15, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Oh, a good point to raise is that you should really click on the 'view license and product key activations'. Given most of my earlier Steam library came from Humble Bundles.
Not a huge change, but it does show I had a Steam account for two years and didn't use it.
Not a huge change, but it does show I had a Steam account for two years and didn't use it.
I gave up on PC gaming in grad school because I was broke and relied on shitty laptops I'd destroy by training AI models on them.
---
Post a screenshot of your first 5 Steam purchases
Open the Steam client, click your name in the top right -> account details -> View purchase history and scroll down
---
Post a screenshot of your first 5 Steam purchases
Open the Steam client, click your name in the top right -> account details -> View purchase history and scroll down
August 15, 2025 at 11:06 AM
I gave up on PC gaming in grad school because I was broke and relied on shitty laptops I'd destroy by training AI models on them.
---
Post a screenshot of your first 5 Steam purchases
Open the Steam client, click your name in the top right -> account details -> View purchase history and scroll down
---
Post a screenshot of your first 5 Steam purchases
Open the Steam client, click your name in the top right -> account details -> View purchase history and scroll down
The subscriber drive is running until October 1st, bringing down monthly support to £4 / $5 / €5.
That gives you early access to new videos, our monthly updates, plus the researcher/industry digest issues of the newsletter.
You can find out more at:
www.aiandgames.com/subscribe
That gives you early access to new videos, our monthly updates, plus the researcher/industry digest issues of the newsletter.
You can find out more at:
www.aiandgames.com/subscribe
August 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The subscriber drive is running until October 1st, bringing down monthly support to £4 / $5 / €5.
That gives you early access to new videos, our monthly updates, plus the researcher/industry digest issues of the newsletter.
You can find out more at:
www.aiandgames.com/subscribe
That gives you early access to new videos, our monthly updates, plus the researcher/industry digest issues of the newsletter.
You can find out more at:
www.aiandgames.com/subscribe
Meanwhile we'd love for more folks to sign up to support us, which will mean...
- More reports, insights, case studies more frequently
- Hiring diverse voices to come in and report for us
- More proper journalism
- Plus @shraddhagupta.bsky.social wants a new podcast!
- More reports, insights, case studies more frequently
- Hiring diverse voices to come in and report for us
- More proper journalism
- Plus @shraddhagupta.bsky.social wants a new podcast!
August 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Meanwhile we'd love for more folks to sign up to support us, which will mean...
- More reports, insights, case studies more frequently
- Hiring diverse voices to come in and report for us
- More proper journalism
- Plus @shraddhagupta.bsky.social wants a new podcast!
- More reports, insights, case studies more frequently
- Hiring diverse voices to come in and report for us
- More proper journalism
- Plus @shraddhagupta.bsky.social wants a new podcast!
The more subscribers who sign up to our newsletter, the more options we give to the audience to influence the content we make.
After all you're turning up every week on the website, and every month on YouTube. You should have a hand in what we're doing.
After all you're turning up every week on the website, and every month on YouTube. You should have a hand in what we're doing.
August 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The more subscribers who sign up to our newsletter, the more options we give to the audience to influence the content we make.
After all you're turning up every week on the website, and every month on YouTube. You should have a hand in what we're doing.
After all you're turning up every week on the website, and every month on YouTube. You should have a hand in what we're doing.
Plus I helped start a non-profit that runs events, and sold the rights to our brand for @conference.aiandgames.com - for £1.
Making new events? Hard
Making them profitable? Even harder.
I make little money from being lead organiser, but I'm so excited to bring it all back to London in November!
Making new events? Hard
Making them profitable? Even harder.
I make little money from being lead organiser, but I'm so excited to bring it all back to London in November!
August 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Plus I helped start a non-profit that runs events, and sold the rights to our brand for @conference.aiandgames.com - for £1.
Making new events? Hard
Making them profitable? Even harder.
I make little money from being lead organiser, but I'm so excited to bring it all back to London in November!
Making new events? Hard
Making them profitable? Even harder.
I make little money from being lead organiser, but I'm so excited to bring it all back to London in November!
What's the obnoxious LinkedIn post you could write to accompany this?
August 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
What's the obnoxious LinkedIn post you could write to accompany this?
Wait wait wait, are you telling me that I can enjoy playing games on an Xbox *without* having to listen to sweaty little nerds speak of my mothers and my lineage?
And all I have to do is NOT verify my age with the platform?
That's not a threat mate, that's a feature.
And all I have to do is NOT verify my age with the platform?
That's not a threat mate, that's a feature.
July 29, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Wait wait wait, are you telling me that I can enjoy playing games on an Xbox *without* having to listen to sweaty little nerds speak of my mothers and my lineage?
And all I have to do is NOT verify my age with the platform?
That's not a threat mate, that's a feature.
And all I have to do is NOT verify my age with the platform?
That's not a threat mate, that's a feature.
We all know the US administration is happy to peddle lies in service of its broader agenda. It's a given.
But to insist their new AI policy is to ensure generative models do not "sacrifice truthfulness and accuracy to ideological agendas" is absolute horseshit.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
But to insist their new AI policy is to ensure generative models do not "sacrifice truthfulness and accuracy to ideological agendas" is absolute horseshit.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
July 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
We all know the US administration is happy to peddle lies in service of its broader agenda. It's a given.
But to insist their new AI policy is to ensure generative models do not "sacrifice truthfulness and accuracy to ideological agendas" is absolute horseshit.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
But to insist their new AI policy is to ensure generative models do not "sacrifice truthfulness and accuracy to ideological agendas" is absolute horseshit.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I love that when Glasgow needed a mascot for hosting the commonwealth games in 2026, they're like "fuck it, a purple-haired unicorn with a traffic cone for a horn and we'll name her 'Finnie'.
Let's make her colourful, progressive, but still clearly tough enough to kick yer head in if needed.
Let's make her colourful, progressive, but still clearly tough enough to kick yer head in if needed.
July 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
I love that when Glasgow needed a mascot for hosting the commonwealth games in 2026, they're like "fuck it, a purple-haired unicorn with a traffic cone for a horn and we'll name her 'Finnie'.
Let's make her colourful, progressive, but still clearly tough enough to kick yer head in if needed.
Let's make her colourful, progressive, but still clearly tough enough to kick yer head in if needed.
Found this classic from @galaxykate.bsky.social hiding in my saved screenshots and realised we can now replace PCG with gen AI.
We will never be free.
We will never be free.
July 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Found this classic from @galaxykate.bsky.social hiding in my saved screenshots and realised we can now replace PCG with gen AI.
We will never be free.
We will never be free.