Ben Swithen, a person
@benjamilian.bsky.social
I make computer games, music, videos and audio drama. New game Trans Theft Horso is coming July 15th.
If the chicken crows at the crack of dawn to wake everyone up, what wakes the chicken? Do they just have more efficient body-clocks, or do they just get a sensible bedtime?
November 11, 2025 at 10:42 AM
If the chicken crows at the crack of dawn to wake everyone up, what wakes the chicken? Do they just have more efficient body-clocks, or do they just get a sensible bedtime?
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
halloween has the right idea being on the 31st. you can look forward to it for the month, then move on. i propose we move bonfire night to the end of november, christmas to the end of december, and delay new year's eve until the end of january so it's not such a bust
November 1, 2024 at 11:24 AM
halloween has the right idea being on the 31st. you can look forward to it for the month, then move on. i propose we move bonfire night to the end of november, christmas to the end of december, and delay new year's eve until the end of january so it's not such a bust
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
I write middle-grade whodunnits, so you might want to dismiss my opinion out of hand. But I think cosy games/crime sometimes miss the fact that blankets are only cosy when it's cold outside. A world without conflict / a story without stakes isn't cosy, it's just safe.
We need to talk about the cozyfication of games because it’s a serious disease, possibly as bad as the edgyfication of the 90s and the grittyfication of the 00s.
October 27, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I write middle-grade whodunnits, so you might want to dismiss my opinion out of hand. But I think cosy games/crime sometimes miss the fact that blankets are only cosy when it's cold outside. A world without conflict / a story without stakes isn't cosy, it's just safe.
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
Doctor Who is back.... next year.
October 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Doctor Who is back.... next year.
Bring it all back now!
October 26, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Bring it all back now!
I'm sorry to hear Patricia Routledge has died. She was one of my very favourite performers. Great gusto! Amazing at character work, and a powerful singing voice too.
October 3, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I'm sorry to hear Patricia Routledge has died. She was one of my very favourite performers. Great gusto! Amazing at character work, and a powerful singing voice too.
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
All transgender art should be this joyous and weird. Thumbs up for loins!
Happy New Loin! A free EP which celebrates gender-affirming surgery. swithen.bandcamp.com/album/happy-...
I have a few friends who have new loins or refurbished torsos this year, so here is a joyful noise to mark the occasion.
I have a few friends who have new loins or refurbished torsos this year, so here is a joyful noise to mark the occasion.
Happy New Loin!, by Ben Swithen
11 track album
swithen.bandcamp.com
October 1, 2025 at 10:57 AM
All transgender art should be this joyous and weird. Thumbs up for loins!
Happy New Loin! A free EP which celebrates gender-affirming surgery. swithen.bandcamp.com/album/happy-...
I have a few friends who have new loins or refurbished torsos this year, so here is a joyful noise to mark the occasion.
I have a few friends who have new loins or refurbished torsos this year, so here is a joyful noise to mark the occasion.
Happy New Loin!, by Ben Swithen
11 track album
swithen.bandcamp.com
October 1, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Happy New Loin! A free EP which celebrates gender-affirming surgery. swithen.bandcamp.com/album/happy-...
I have a few friends who have new loins or refurbished torsos this year, so here is a joyful noise to mark the occasion.
I have a few friends who have new loins or refurbished torsos this year, so here is a joyful noise to mark the occasion.
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
BBC News captures Doctor Who himself Sylvester McCoy at the Trump protest seemingly unaware of who they're interviewing.
September 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
BBC News captures Doctor Who himself Sylvester McCoy at the Trump protest seemingly unaware of who they're interviewing.
Trans Theft Horso's September patch is out.
Small tweaks pertaining to fishes, bees, a duck, fish and chips and a battenberg cake.
store.steampowered.com/app/2268550/...
Small tweaks pertaining to fishes, bees, a duck, fish and chips and a battenberg cake.
store.steampowered.com/app/2268550/...
Trans Theft Horso on Steam
A colourful western fantasy adventure, to save trans joy! Adric Belfonte embarks on a happy nightmare into the wild and bewaffling West. Explore the maddening desert, defy the admirals, ride the anima...
store.steampowered.com
September 16, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Trans Theft Horso's September patch is out.
Small tweaks pertaining to fishes, bees, a duck, fish and chips and a battenberg cake.
store.steampowered.com/app/2268550/...
Small tweaks pertaining to fishes, bees, a duck, fish and chips and a battenberg cake.
store.steampowered.com/app/2268550/...
I was interviewed for an article on the indie game dev scene here, games as an art-form, and Trans Theft Horso: nowthenmagazine.com/articles/doe...
Does Sheffield have an indie games scene?
Video games are mega – both very good and economically gigantic – but we have very little awareness of where they come from. Sean Morley speaks with local indie developers and asks why games aren’t co...
nowthenmagazine.com
September 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I was interviewed for an article on the indie game dev scene here, games as an art-form, and Trans Theft Horso: nowthenmagazine.com/articles/doe...
Buzz buzz, boop boop!
September 7, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Buzz buzz, boop boop!
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
Meet Ben (@benjamilian.bsky.social), a person with a tale of transphobia, excommunication, lost hope, and the secret joy of failure. How does all this lead to gender gladness, to hyacinths, and to a game called Trans Theft Horso?
gfsc.community/hope-then-ex...
gfsc.community/hope-then-ex...
Hope, then Excommunication, and then Hope Again
Meet Ben, a person with a tale of transphobia, excommunication, lost hope, and the secret joy of failure. How does all this lead to gender gladness, to hyacinths, and to a game called Trans Theft Hors...
gfsc.community
September 4, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Meet Ben (@benjamilian.bsky.social), a person with a tale of transphobia, excommunication, lost hope, and the secret joy of failure. How does all this lead to gender gladness, to hyacinths, and to a game called Trans Theft Horso?
gfsc.community/hope-then-ex...
gfsc.community/hope-then-ex...
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
Less than 1/3rd of all tickets left!
#AdvX25 is back on 22-23 November in Central London with a stacked lineup of games and talks.
Tickets are selling out fast, so secure yours before it’s too late! adventurexpo.org
Regular 1-day tickets & weekend concession tickets are almost entirely gone... 😱
#AdvX25 is back on 22-23 November in Central London with a stacked lineup of games and talks.
Tickets are selling out fast, so secure yours before it’s too late! adventurexpo.org
Regular 1-day tickets & weekend concession tickets are almost entirely gone... 😱
September 1, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Less than 1/3rd of all tickets left!
#AdvX25 is back on 22-23 November in Central London with a stacked lineup of games and talks.
Tickets are selling out fast, so secure yours before it’s too late! adventurexpo.org
Regular 1-day tickets & weekend concession tickets are almost entirely gone... 😱
#AdvX25 is back on 22-23 November in Central London with a stacked lineup of games and talks.
Tickets are selling out fast, so secure yours before it’s too late! adventurexpo.org
Regular 1-day tickets & weekend concession tickets are almost entirely gone... 😱
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
“Trans people being denied the very same medication that cis people are given without question. Many of the refusals are for people that are already on HRT"
✅ Restricting legal recognition
✅ Restricting freedoms
✅ Restricting health care
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
✅ Restricting legal recognition
✅ Restricting freedoms
✅ Restricting health care
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Campaigners warn of ‘staggering increase’ in GPs denying trans care
Mr Lyon had been receiving testosterone treatment for a decade until he moved to a new practice, as more GPs are halting trans care
www.independent.co.uk
August 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
“Trans people being denied the very same medication that cis people are given without question. Many of the refusals are for people that are already on HRT"
✅ Restricting legal recognition
✅ Restricting freedoms
✅ Restricting health care
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
✅ Restricting legal recognition
✅ Restricting freedoms
✅ Restricting health care
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Skunkus Amunkus! Music for when you're being pursued by inquisitive skunks - from the Trans Theft Horso soundtrack.
Skunkus Amunkus
Music to listen to while being chased by energetic skunks, from the Trans Theft Horso soundtrack.
on.soundcloud.com
August 30, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Skunkus Amunkus! Music for when you're being pursued by inquisitive skunks - from the Trans Theft Horso soundtrack.
Amazing verb choice in Young's Literal Translation.
August 28, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Amazing verb choice in Young's Literal Translation.
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
hi this is my favorite writing advice, it's from former simpsons writer john swartzwelder (i think about the crappy little elf all the time) www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
August 16, 2025 at 8:43 PM
hi this is my favorite writing advice, it's from former simpsons writer john swartzwelder (i think about the crappy little elf all the time) www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
August 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
THAT'S MY GIRL!!!!!!!
Sam Nicoresti has won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for the best show on the Fringe http://dlvr.it/TMf92d
August 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
THAT'S MY GIRL!!!!!!!
Delighted to see @samnicoresti.bsky.social has prospered, winning the Edinburgh Prize. Her show is a delight, as are the many astonishing works she's involved with.
Truly, an agent of chaos.
Truly, an agent of chaos.
August 23, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Delighted to see @samnicoresti.bsky.social has prospered, winning the Edinburgh Prize. Her show is a delight, as are the many astonishing works she's involved with.
Truly, an agent of chaos.
Truly, an agent of chaos.
Very excited to announce that I'll be taking my game Trans Theft Horso to AdventureX, a narrative games convention in November!
They've just announced their official selection, and it's a list of astonishing games, and I'm delighted to be among 'em: www.adventurexpo.org/exhibitors #AdventureX
They've just announced their official selection, and it's a list of astonishing games, and I'm delighted to be among 'em: www.adventurexpo.org/exhibitors #AdventureX
AdventureX | Exhibitors
Discover the games exhibiting at AdventureX this year.
www.adventurexpo.org
August 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Very excited to announce that I'll be taking my game Trans Theft Horso to AdventureX, a narrative games convention in November!
They've just announced their official selection, and it's a list of astonishing games, and I'm delighted to be among 'em: www.adventurexpo.org/exhibitors #AdventureX
They've just announced their official selection, and it's a list of astonishing games, and I'm delighted to be among 'em: www.adventurexpo.org/exhibitors #AdventureX
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
I'm enjoying all the trailers for AdventureX2025 @adventurex.bsky.social like a kid in a candy store, but the trailer for Trans Theft Horso is something else 👏 @benjamilian.bsky.social 👏
www.youtube.com/watch?v=22mG...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=22mG...
Trans Theft Horso gameplay trailer
YouTube video by Ben Swithen
www.youtube.com
August 22, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I'm enjoying all the trailers for AdventureX2025 @adventurex.bsky.social like a kid in a candy store, but the trailer for Trans Theft Horso is something else 👏 @benjamilian.bsky.social 👏
www.youtube.com/watch?v=22mG...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=22mG...
I dreamed his holiness the pope ascended the holy mountain -- I thought to catch and condemn me, but actually he wanted to try my game Trans Theft Horso. He mainly just played the pancake mini-game.
Sadly, I never got a photo with him.
Sadly, I never got a photo with him.
August 21, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I dreamed his holiness the pope ascended the holy mountain -- I thought to catch and condemn me, but actually he wanted to try my game Trans Theft Horso. He mainly just played the pancake mini-game.
Sadly, I never got a photo with him.
Sadly, I never got a photo with him.
Reposted by Ben Swithen, a person
do you like this pig? Y/N?
August 21, 2025 at 1:25 PM
do you like this pig? Y/N?