Alan Au
@alanau.bsky.social
Trickster disciple. 🦊 Game developer. 🎲️✂ Emeritus data generalist. 📊 Delightfully imperfect. ☁️ Not that kind of doctor. 🎓 [E] Itsatrap 🎮 He/Him
Pinned
Alan Au
@alanau.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Days since uttering "what the actual fuck?": 0
I'm not normally into American football, but I appreciate the Super Bowl as a cultural event.
And right now, it's also the fantasy of having rules that are enforced. 😎
And right now, it's also the fantasy of having rules that are enforced. 😎
February 8, 2026 at 3:42 PM
I'm not normally into American football, but I appreciate the Super Bowl as a cultural event.
And right now, it's also the fantasy of having rules that are enforced. 😎
And right now, it's also the fantasy of having rules that are enforced. 😎
Reposted by Alan Au
Sometimes I wonder if it's a superpower or a curse to be able to look beyond people's titles and see who they are as a person.
July 27, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Sometimes I wonder if it's a superpower or a curse to be able to look beyond people's titles and see who they are as a person.
The Muppet Show (2026)
i wonder if the famous guest actor is the murderer
February 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
The Muppet Show (2026)
Reposted by Alan Au
the magic of the Muppets is that there are two fourth walls. they constantly break the one that reminds the audience they are performers. they NEVER break the one that reminds the audience they are puppets. this dynamic is the key to their entire comedy style
MY KIDS: so why are there muppets in the AUDIENCE
ME: THE CONCEIT!! IS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON A VARIETY SHOW!!! IN A WORLD WHERE MUPPET AND HUMAN COEXIST!!! YOU ARE WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY!! FILMED!! IN REAL TIME!!!
ME: THE CONCEIT!! IS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON A VARIETY SHOW!!! IN A WORLD WHERE MUPPET AND HUMAN COEXIST!!! YOU ARE WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY!! FILMED!! IN REAL TIME!!!
February 8, 2026 at 6:22 AM
the magic of the Muppets is that there are two fourth walls. they constantly break the one that reminds the audience they are performers. they NEVER break the one that reminds the audience they are puppets. this dynamic is the key to their entire comedy style
Reposted by Alan Au
I think that the best way to build an audience for your writing is to write interesting things that people will want to read.
February 8, 2026 at 1:46 AM
I think that the best way to build an audience for your writing is to write interesting things that people will want to read.
So here's the thing: if you're using AI slop in your ads, I will think less of your company. Because if you can't be bothered to put in the work yourself, I can't be bothered to spend my money on it.
February 7, 2026 at 11:38 PM
So here's the thing: if you're using AI slop in your ads, I will think less of your company. Because if you can't be bothered to put in the work yourself, I can't be bothered to spend my money on it.
Reposted by Alan Au
Reposted by Alan Au
I typically only celebrate trickster holidays and food holidays. And the Super Bowl counts as a "food holiday."
February 7, 2026 at 8:59 AM
I typically only celebrate trickster holidays and food holidays. And the Super Bowl counts as a "food holiday."
Reposted by Alan Au
Reposted by Alan Au
*taps mic* dating apps are just gatchas.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your time.
February 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM
*taps mic* dating apps are just gatchas.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your time.
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"Remember, correlation is not causation ..."
"Remember, correlation is not causation ..."
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"I have a few notes..."
"I have a few notes..."
"Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work."
Stop. Back up. You just came through that door. No don't look at that, you know that's there. Look at the ground. They always look at the ground. Now, what does the player see? What do they understand right now?
Stop. Back up. You just came through that door. No don't look at that, you know that's there. Look at the ground. They always look at the ground. Now, what does the player see? What do they understand right now?
February 7, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"Remember, correlation is not causation ..."
"Remember, correlation is not causation ..."
I typically only celebrate trickster holidays and food holidays. And the Super Bowl counts as a "food holiday."
February 7, 2026 at 8:59 AM
I typically only celebrate trickster holidays and food holidays. And the Super Bowl counts as a "food holiday."
Oh yay! @selmaleh.bsky.social's character is back in Helldivers 2 and sounding very cheerful! Welcome back! 🫡
February 7, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Oh yay! @selmaleh.bsky.social's character is back in Helldivers 2 and sounding very cheerful! Welcome back! 🫡
The topic of self-driving cars is weird. And yes, the tech sort of works, but it doesn't work so well that I would trust it on public roads.
So really, they're overselling something that kind of works by saying it fully works, which is still a form of deception.
So really, they're overselling something that kind of works by saying it fully works, which is still a form of deception.
Once again, it turns out “fully autonomous” means “a guy in the Philippines.”
It Turns Out Waymos Are Being Controlled by Workers in the Philippines
During a Congressional hearing, Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, was grilled over the company's reliance on overseas workers.
futurism.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:38 PM
The topic of self-driving cars is weird. And yes, the tech sort of works, but it doesn't work so well that I would trust it on public roads.
So really, they're overselling something that kind of works by saying it fully works, which is still a form of deception.
So really, they're overselling something that kind of works by saying it fully works, which is still a form of deception.
"Be kind. Bring joy. Repeat." ❤️
I took the Colbert Questionert!
Watch the full interview here: youtu.be/HPONVyNiWsU?...
Watch the full interview here: youtu.be/HPONVyNiWsU?...
February 6, 2026 at 7:02 PM
"Be kind. Bring joy. Repeat." ❤️
Economics are magic, and part of me thinks I should get better at understanding it. But some parts of it are definitely cursed. And I wonder if it's possible to recognize which parts those are.
February 6, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Economics are magic, and part of me thinks I should get better at understanding it. But some parts of it are definitely cursed. And I wonder if it's possible to recognize which parts those are.
Fun fact: "whole milk" contains a little over 3% fat on average. So 2% milk is really more like "2/3 fat" milk.
People sometimes tell me that my "fun facts" aren't actually fun. Whatever.
People sometimes tell me that my "fun facts" aren't actually fun. Whatever.
February 6, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Fun fact: "whole milk" contains a little over 3% fat on average. So 2% milk is really more like "2/3 fat" milk.
People sometimes tell me that my "fun facts" aren't actually fun. Whatever.
People sometimes tell me that my "fun facts" aren't actually fun. Whatever.
I sometimes reflect back on early influences, like "Calvin & Hobbes" and ST:TNG. But also, I read a lot of Heinlein, and I wonder how much that might have poisoned my world view.
But even "good" influences aren't perfect; nothing ever is. I wonder if I've internalized biases I don't recognize? 🤔
But even "good" influences aren't perfect; nothing ever is. I wonder if I've internalized biases I don't recognize? 🤔
February 6, 2026 at 9:12 AM
I sometimes reflect back on early influences, like "Calvin & Hobbes" and ST:TNG. But also, I read a lot of Heinlein, and I wonder how much that might have poisoned my world view.
But even "good" influences aren't perfect; nothing ever is. I wonder if I've internalized biases I don't recognize? 🤔
But even "good" influences aren't perfect; nothing ever is. I wonder if I've internalized biases I don't recognize? 🤔
Happy Thursday, friends.
Every time I repost this, it's because I was gonna post something else but posted this instead. 🫠
New personal policy: no doomposting. I can get plenty of high-quality doomposts elsewhere and dont need to manufacture them in-house.
February 5, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Happy Thursday, friends.
Sometimes I wonder about certain events in my life, the people I only know because I was in a specific place at at a specific time, and how that might all be different if I had made different choices. And how much was because of my choices, or because of luck, or something else?
February 5, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Sometimes I wonder about certain events in my life, the people I only know because I was in a specific place at at a specific time, and how that might all be different if I had made different choices. And how much was because of my choices, or because of luck, or something else?
4 AM pee break: because going to bed hydrated is still better than going to bed dehydrated. 🤔
February 5, 2026 at 11:51 AM
4 AM pee break: because going to bed hydrated is still better than going to bed dehydrated. 🤔
Reposted by Alan Au
I'm thrilled to announce that the 2nd edition of my book #TheGamersBrain is now available for pre-order on your favorite platform!!
The book contains 2 new chapters (incl. one on #ethics) & is getting a new format inside and out (I love the new cover) ☺️.
#gamedev #ux
www.amazon.com/Gamers-Brain...
The book contains 2 new chapters (incl. one on #ethics) & is getting a new format inside and out (I love the new cover) ☺️.
#gamedev #ux
www.amazon.com/Gamers-Brain...
The Gamer's Brain: How Neuroscience and UX Can Impact Video Game Design
The Gamer's Brain: How Neuroscience and UX Can Impact Video Game Design - Kindle edition by Hodent, Celia. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Gamer's Brain: How Neuroscience and UX Can Impact Video Game Design.
www.amazon.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:39 AM
I'm thrilled to announce that the 2nd edition of my book #TheGamersBrain is now available for pre-order on your favorite platform!!
The book contains 2 new chapters (incl. one on #ethics) & is getting a new format inside and out (I love the new cover) ☺️.
#gamedev #ux
www.amazon.com/Gamers-Brain...
The book contains 2 new chapters (incl. one on #ethics) & is getting a new format inside and out (I love the new cover) ☺️.
#gamedev #ux
www.amazon.com/Gamers-Brain...
Reposted by Alan Au
Remote roles for:
Narrative Designer
UI/UX Artist
Technical Artist
spotted over at robotentertainment.com/careers - must be within a two-hour range of US Central time, so that does limit the range a bit
Narrative Designer
UI/UX Artist
Technical Artist
spotted over at robotentertainment.com/careers - must be within a two-hour range of US Central time, so that does limit the range a bit
Careers — ROBOT ENTERTAINMENT
robotentertainment.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Remote roles for:
Narrative Designer
UI/UX Artist
Technical Artist
spotted over at robotentertainment.com/careers - must be within a two-hour range of US Central time, so that does limit the range a bit
Narrative Designer
UI/UX Artist
Technical Artist
spotted over at robotentertainment.com/careers - must be within a two-hour range of US Central time, so that does limit the range a bit