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
Reposted by Alan Au
clothing sizes for kids are unhinged what do you mean 10 11.5 13 ONE???
February 4, 2026 at 11:19 PM
clothing sizes for kids are unhinged what do you mean 10 11.5 13 ONE???
Reposted by Alan Au
While I can understand why they're dropping the "2" from the name, I fully expect that this is the first step in trying to turn everything into a single "Overwatch Universe" type setup that will live forever in live-service limbo.
February 4, 2026 at 7:52 PM
While I can understand why they're dropping the "2" from the name, I fully expect that this is the first step in trying to turn everything into a single "Overwatch Universe" type setup that will live forever in live-service limbo.
Reposted by Alan Au
✋: impostor syndrome
👉: impostor mastery
👉: impostor mastery
August 14, 2025 at 5:24 AM
✋: impostor syndrome
👉: impostor mastery
👉: impostor mastery
Reposted by Alan Au
ICE at the polls! Bannon is basically yelling “fire” in a crowded theater here. His objective is to cause chaos (and suppress votes on the left). And it’s already working.
This threat works on multiple levels and doesn’t have to be “real” to serve its purpose.
Let me explain & offer some advice.
This threat works on multiple levels and doesn’t have to be “real” to serve its purpose.
Let me explain & offer some advice.
Steve Bannon says the federal government is planning to send ICE officers to patrol polling stations during the midterms.
"We're going to have ICE surround the polls come November."
"We're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again." www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
"We're going to have ICE surround the polls come November."
"We're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again." www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Steve Bannon says ICE will ‘surround the polls’ as Trump doubles down on taking over elections
Trump doubled down on his comments to nationalize voting Tuesday during an Oval Office press conference. “If you think about it, a state is an agent for the federal government in elections,” Trump sai...
www.democracydocket.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:13 PM
ICE at the polls! Bannon is basically yelling “fire” in a crowded theater here. His objective is to cause chaos (and suppress votes on the left). And it’s already working.
This threat works on multiple levels and doesn’t have to be “real” to serve its purpose.
Let me explain & offer some advice.
This threat works on multiple levels and doesn’t have to be “real” to serve its purpose.
Let me explain & offer some advice.
Reposted by Alan Au
Calling all artists, designers, retailers, authors and others to vend at the Future of Games! This we are expanding to a new venue with a 5,000 square foot Expo Hall. Info and registration here: www.tabletopgamealliance.org/product/futu...
February 4, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Calling all artists, designers, retailers, authors and others to vend at the Future of Games! This we are expanding to a new venue with a 5,000 square foot Expo Hall. Info and registration here: www.tabletopgamealliance.org/product/futu...
While I can understand why they're dropping the "2" from the name, I fully expect that this is the first step in trying to turn everything into a single "Overwatch Universe" type setup that will live forever in live-service limbo.
February 4, 2026 at 7:52 PM
While I can understand why they're dropping the "2" from the name, I fully expect that this is the first step in trying to turn everything into a single "Overwatch Universe" type setup that will live forever in live-service limbo.
Today feels like an "I want pizza" day.
Bleah. I have no wisdom to dispense today, instead only a fun memory of that time I encountered a group of pigeons in downtown Seattle who had scored themselves several slices of pizza.
February 4, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Today feels like an "I want pizza" day.
Reposted by Alan Au
❄️ Update: The GAME NARRATIVE KALEIDOSCOPE ❄️ will be published soon - we just sent a proof to the authors.
400 pages - 100k+ words - 118 authors - including the writers from several well-beloved games and major franchises.
If you want to be notified when it releases, you can add your name below!
400 pages - 100k+ words - 118 authors - including the writers from several well-beloved games and major franchises.
If you want to be notified when it releases, you can add your name below!
Sign up for news about the Game Writing Kaleidoscope
In early 2026 we’ll be publishing The Game Narrative Kaleidoscope, a collection of over 100 short essays by game writers about writing.
Featuring some very famous names, some highly experienced free...
forms.gle
February 4, 2026 at 3:10 PM
❄️ Update: The GAME NARRATIVE KALEIDOSCOPE ❄️ will be published soon - we just sent a proof to the authors.
400 pages - 100k+ words - 118 authors - including the writers from several well-beloved games and major franchises.
If you want to be notified when it releases, you can add your name below!
400 pages - 100k+ words - 118 authors - including the writers from several well-beloved games and major franchises.
If you want to be notified when it releases, you can add your name below!
Reposted by Alan Au
LiveSkeeting my first watch of The Muppet Show reboot because I have insomnia and i was a teenage Muppet and this is A MOMENT IN TIME
February 4, 2026 at 2:12 PM
LiveSkeeting my first watch of The Muppet Show reboot because I have insomnia and i was a teenage Muppet and this is A MOMENT IN TIME
Reposted by Alan Au
I still refuse to play Fortnite, but hot damn.
February 3, 2026 at 8:51 PM
I still refuse to play Fortnite, but hot damn.
Happy Tuesday, friends. 15 minutes. More is better, but every little bit helps. Just start with 15 minutes and see where it goes from there. 😎
Note to self: you don't need to finish everything today. But you should try and make a little bit of forward progress. Just 15 minutes. You can do it. 🥹
February 3, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Happy Tuesday, friends. 15 minutes. More is better, but every little bit helps. Just start with 15 minutes and see where it goes from there. 😎
I still refuse to play Fortnite, but hot damn.
February 3, 2026 at 8:51 PM
I still refuse to play Fortnite, but hot damn.
Reposted by Alan Au
I'm a judge for Cardboard Edison this year. After every 5 entries that I review, I'll post an observation. Here's the first:
Get specific with your theme. Set your game in a particular time, place, and/or culture (which may be fictional) and give it an overarching tone.
Get specific with your theme. Set your game in a particular time, place, and/or culture (which may be fictional) and give it an overarching tone.
February 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I'm a judge for Cardboard Edison this year. After every 5 entries that I review, I'll post an observation. Here's the first:
Get specific with your theme. Set your game in a particular time, place, and/or culture (which may be fictional) and give it an overarching tone.
Get specific with your theme. Set your game in a particular time, place, and/or culture (which may be fictional) and give it an overarching tone.
Oh, hello Helldivers 2. What's this? A TANK DESTROYER? Why yes, of course I'll use this responsibly. 😏
February 3, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Oh, hello Helldivers 2. What's this? A TANK DESTROYER? Why yes, of course I'll use this responsibly. 😏
Reposted by Alan Au
This week on Counting Stuff, a bit of reflection on a mistake I still catch myself making, where I take a shortcut and jump directly to metrics and measurement without pausing to ask what construct we're interested in, esp for more novel problems
#dataBS
www.counting-stuff.com/avoid-the-lu...
#dataBS
www.counting-stuff.com/avoid-the-lu...
Avoid the lure of working on metrics over constructs
I should know better, but even I catch myself doing this.
www.counting-stuff.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:25 PM
This week on Counting Stuff, a bit of reflection on a mistake I still catch myself making, where I take a shortcut and jump directly to metrics and measurement without pausing to ask what construct we're interested in, esp for more novel problems
#dataBS
www.counting-stuff.com/avoid-the-lu...
#dataBS
www.counting-stuff.com/avoid-the-lu...
Reposted by Alan Au
I don't need a computer to do art or writing for me. What I need is a computer that alerts me thirty minutes before I'm about to die so I can log on and delete my browser history
February 3, 2026 at 4:11 PM
I don't need a computer to do art or writing for me. What I need is a computer that alerts me thirty minutes before I'm about to die so I can log on and delete my browser history
Reposted by Alan Au
It's my birthday.
I've been out of work since July '24 so it'd be huge if you could check out my patreon and see if there's anything I do that you might be interested in supporting. Got a bunch of projects lined up for 2026 if you're into narrative games, retrogaming, or interactive fiction.
I've been out of work since July '24 so it'd be huge if you could check out my patreon and see if there's anything I do that you might be interested in supporting. Got a bunch of projects lined up for 2026 if you're into narrative games, retrogaming, or interactive fiction.
Michael Coorlim | Patreon
video games, fiction, retrogaming videos
www.patreon.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:57 PM
It's my birthday.
I've been out of work since July '24 so it'd be huge if you could check out my patreon and see if there's anything I do that you might be interested in supporting. Got a bunch of projects lined up for 2026 if you're into narrative games, retrogaming, or interactive fiction.
I've been out of work since July '24 so it'd be huge if you could check out my patreon and see if there's anything I do that you might be interested in supporting. Got a bunch of projects lined up for 2026 if you're into narrative games, retrogaming, or interactive fiction.
Is it even really a Sam Raimi movie unless there's a Bruce Campbell cameo?
February 3, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Is it even really a Sam Raimi movie unless there's a Bruce Campbell cameo?
Reposted by Alan Au
February 2, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Today's "I should be sleeping" thought is about whether my romantic crushes are intentionally a proper subset of my professional crushes or if that's just a weird coincidence. 🤔
February 3, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Today's "I should be sleeping" thought is about whether my romantic crushes are intentionally a proper subset of my professional crushes or if that's just a weird coincidence. 🤔
Reposted by Alan Au
Six degrees of freedom? In *this* economy?
Anyway, TIL that translational movement has specific terminology: surge (forward/back), heave (up/down), and sway (left/right).
Anyway, TIL that translational movement has specific terminology: surge (forward/back), heave (up/down), and sway (left/right).
February 2, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Six degrees of freedom? In *this* economy?
Anyway, TIL that translational movement has specific terminology: surge (forward/back), heave (up/down), and sway (left/right).
Anyway, TIL that translational movement has specific terminology: surge (forward/back), heave (up/down), and sway (left/right).
My list of classes is weird and not terribly exciting until you consider that I started out trying to double-major in Computer Science and Biology.
In my senior year, I decided I didn't want to work so hard and opted for a minor in Biology.
In my senior year, I decided I didn't want to work so hard and opted for a minor in Biology.
You pair these with all the stuff I took for computer engineering (which I ended up not majoring in) and music history and theory and yeah friends… I think there might have been signs I had ADHD 😅
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
I’m limiting to undergrad:
1. Text Games & New Media (prob responsible for my career path)
2. Cross-media narrative adaptations
3. Introduction to dinosaurs
4. Human sexuality across cultures
5. Business applications of calculus
I’m limiting to undergrad:
1. Text Games & New Media (prob responsible for my career path)
2. Cross-media narrative adaptations
3. Introduction to dinosaurs
4. Human sexuality across cultures
5. Business applications of calculus
February 3, 2026 at 4:55 AM
My list of classes is weird and not terribly exciting until you consider that I started out trying to double-major in Computer Science and Biology.
In my senior year, I decided I didn't want to work so hard and opted for a minor in Biology.
In my senior year, I decided I didn't want to work so hard and opted for a minor in Biology.
I have never seen a convincing CGI "de-aging" attempt that didn't look like shit.
Xfinity has just released its Jurassic Park-themed Super Bowl ad that features a digitally de-aged Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. https://bit.ly/4rmRhrK
February 3, 2026 at 4:21 AM
I have never seen a convincing CGI "de-aging" attempt that didn't look like shit.
Reposted by Alan Au
Bought this painting at goodwill today and I’m gonna fill it with animal crossing villagers. Donate at least $50 to the campaign below and put your favorite villager in the “dedicated to” field and I’ll add it to the painting until I run out of room.
February 2, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Bought this painting at goodwill today and I’m gonna fill it with animal crossing villagers. Donate at least $50 to the campaign below and put your favorite villager in the “dedicated to” field and I’ll add it to the painting until I run out of room.
Reposted by Alan Au
I had the pleasure of working with [REDACTED] on these 12 portraits over the last few months of 2025, and it was a fantastic technical and artistic challenge.
I have permission to talk about some of the technical process, so I'll post a bit about that below!
I have permission to talk about some of the technical process, so I'll post a bit about that below!
February 2, 2026 at 9:17 PM
I had the pleasure of working with [REDACTED] on these 12 portraits over the last few months of 2025, and it was a fantastic technical and artistic challenge.
I have permission to talk about some of the technical process, so I'll post a bit about that below!
I have permission to talk about some of the technical process, so I'll post a bit about that below!