Ben Taels
@bentaels.bsky.social
Kiwi, Dad, Human Factors Psychology PhD, & Games User Experience Research.
Formerly Epic Games, Player Research, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Te Manatū Waka, & Hamilton Zoo.
Formerly Epic Games, Player Research, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Te Manatū Waka, & Hamilton Zoo.
Pinned
Ben Taels
@bentaels.bsky.social
· Jan 3
Throwing Out the Dopamine Shots: Reward Psychology Without the Neurotrash
YouTube video by GDC 2025
youtu.be
Some talks that I have given:
Reward in games (without the dopamine neurotrash): youtu.be/xkg9ocYDLr8?...
Human Error and game design: youtu.be/JyuR2fKvQ20?...
What road safety can teach us about reducing toxicity in games: youtu.be/WMYoCuZ3Fa8?...
Reward in games (without the dopamine neurotrash): youtu.be/xkg9ocYDLr8?...
Human Error and game design: youtu.be/JyuR2fKvQ20?...
What road safety can teach us about reducing toxicity in games: youtu.be/WMYoCuZ3Fa8?...
Reposted by Ben Taels
The extra layer to this tragedy is that the Wang Fuk towers were built under a public housing scheme established in the 1950s after a devastating shanty town fire in nearby Shek Kip Mei.
What caused the SKM fire? Wealth inequity. What caused the Wang Fuk fire? Wealth inequity.💔
What caused the SKM fire? Wealth inequity. What caused the Wang Fuk fire? Wealth inequity.💔
Hong Kong fire kills 55, hundreds missing as police blame ‘grossly negligent’ construction firm
A huge fire still burning in a Hong Kong apartment complex that has killed at least 55 people and left nearly 300 missing may have been caused by a "grossly negligent" construction firm using unsafe m...
www.reuters.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
The extra layer to this tragedy is that the Wang Fuk towers were built under a public housing scheme established in the 1950s after a devastating shanty town fire in nearby Shek Kip Mei.
What caused the SKM fire? Wealth inequity. What caused the Wang Fuk fire? Wealth inequity.💔
What caused the SKM fire? Wealth inequity. What caused the Wang Fuk fire? Wealth inequity.💔
Reposted by Ben Taels
International media, you can do better than this.
"Bamboo" is maybe exotic and a compelling hook but it is too easy. The real story here is the growing culture of corruption, including a lack of accountability and oversight, that enabled a chain of human errors that led to this disaster.
"Bamboo" is maybe exotic and a compelling hook but it is too easy. The real story here is the growing culture of corruption, including a lack of accountability and oversight, that enabled a chain of human errors that led to this disaster.
November 27, 2025 at 9:17 AM
International media, you can do better than this.
"Bamboo" is maybe exotic and a compelling hook but it is too easy. The real story here is the growing culture of corruption, including a lack of accountability and oversight, that enabled a chain of human errors that led to this disaster.
"Bamboo" is maybe exotic and a compelling hook but it is too easy. The real story here is the growing culture of corruption, including a lack of accountability and oversight, that enabled a chain of human errors that led to this disaster.
Reposted by Ben Taels
today on webworm, former members of a cult allege that what would become best friends (america's largest animal rescue, bringing in over $100 million annually) was built, in part, by child labour: www.webworm.co/bestfriendsc... (please RT)
The Cult of America’s Largest Animal Rescue
David Farrier talks to former members of a cult that allege what would become "Best Friends Animal Sanctuary" was built, in part, by child labour.
www.webworm.co
November 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
today on webworm, former members of a cult allege that what would become best friends (america's largest animal rescue, bringing in over $100 million annually) was built, in part, by child labour: www.webworm.co/bestfriendsc... (please RT)
Reposted by Ben Taels
A few years back @friends-table.bsky.social brought me on to illustrate a series of in-universe pulp novel covers for their mecha season ‘Palisade’. Initially these shipped out as postcards to their patreon subs. Excited to be sharing these. heres the first..
‘Key Roseate by Alise Breka’
‘Key Roseate by Alise Breka’
November 19, 2025 at 4:13 AM
A few years back @friends-table.bsky.social brought me on to illustrate a series of in-universe pulp novel covers for their mecha season ‘Palisade’. Initially these shipped out as postcards to their patreon subs. Excited to be sharing these. heres the first..
‘Key Roseate by Alise Breka’
‘Key Roseate by Alise Breka’
Reposted by Ben Taels
my second in-universe novel cover for @friends-table.bsky.social’s patreon postcards that they shipped during their mecha season ‘Palisade’
‘The Shadows on the Grass by Alise Breka’
‘The Shadows on the Grass by Alise Breka’
November 26, 2025 at 3:47 AM
my second in-universe novel cover for @friends-table.bsky.social’s patreon postcards that they shipped during their mecha season ‘Palisade’
‘The Shadows on the Grass by Alise Breka’
‘The Shadows on the Grass by Alise Breka’
Error messages (for bugs and game states) are worth spending some time on from a UX Research perspective
Is the language clear in them or is expert tech speak?
Do they provide information that the error happened, why it happened, and how to fix it?
Is the language clear in them or is expert tech speak?
Do they provide information that the error happened, why it happened, and how to fix it?
November 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Error messages (for bugs and game states) are worth spending some time on from a UX Research perspective
Is the language clear in them or is expert tech speak?
Do they provide information that the error happened, why it happened, and how to fix it?
Is the language clear in them or is expert tech speak?
Do they provide information that the error happened, why it happened, and how to fix it?
Reposted by Ben Taels
This actually happened, when Nanaia Mahuta appointed commissioners to the completely dysfunctional Tauranga City Council in 2021. Lots of ominous talk about creeping government control, including ...
If Labour/Greens had tried to pull a stunt like this it would have been all dancing cossacks and reds under your beds again. This looks pretty bad.
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 AM
This actually happened, when Nanaia Mahuta appointed commissioners to the completely dysfunctional Tauranga City Council in 2021. Lots of ominous talk about creeping government control, including ...
I saw a post from a Dad saying that his child (10-11) was pleasant and focused & then suddenly swapped to being unfocused, grumpy, & distracted
He & everyone in the thread concluded it was due to short form video
It is truly mind blowing that apparently some people don't know what puberty is
He & everyone in the thread concluded it was due to short form video
It is truly mind blowing that apparently some people don't know what puberty is
November 26, 2025 at 6:08 AM
I saw a post from a Dad saying that his child (10-11) was pleasant and focused & then suddenly swapped to being unfocused, grumpy, & distracted
He & everyone in the thread concluded it was due to short form video
It is truly mind blowing that apparently some people don't know what puberty is
He & everyone in the thread concluded it was due to short form video
It is truly mind blowing that apparently some people don't know what puberty is
I finished reading my Kickstarter copy of Mythic Bastionland by @bastionland.bsky.social
It has some lovely UX touches in it, such as the multifunctional Knight & Myth pages, & the sparks
I want to highlight one UX feature in particular though; the examples of play in the Oddpocrypha
#ttrpg
It has some lovely UX touches in it, such as the multifunctional Knight & Myth pages, & the sparks
I want to highlight one UX feature in particular though; the examples of play in the Oddpocrypha
#ttrpg
November 25, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I finished reading my Kickstarter copy of Mythic Bastionland by @bastionland.bsky.social
It has some lovely UX touches in it, such as the multifunctional Knight & Myth pages, & the sparks
I want to highlight one UX feature in particular though; the examples of play in the Oddpocrypha
#ttrpg
It has some lovely UX touches in it, such as the multifunctional Knight & Myth pages, & the sparks
I want to highlight one UX feature in particular though; the examples of play in the Oddpocrypha
#ttrpg
While it is also annoying to accidentally click on ads and promoted posts usually my first thought is "oh no I am messing up their metrics and they might actually think this works!" as I rapidly try to cancel out of any action being taken
November 25, 2025 at 6:24 PM
While it is also annoying to accidentally click on ads and promoted posts usually my first thought is "oh no I am messing up their metrics and they might actually think this works!" as I rapidly try to cancel out of any action being taken
Metrics are very powerful in games, but it is important to pick and filter them correctly
You can easily get data overload, which can be both expensive and of limited use
So much like with UX Research it's good to start with finding out what the design intent is & what questions are important
You can easily get data overload, which can be both expensive and of limited use
So much like with UX Research it's good to start with finding out what the design intent is & what questions are important
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Metrics are very powerful in games, but it is important to pick and filter them correctly
You can easily get data overload, which can be both expensive and of limited use
So much like with UX Research it's good to start with finding out what the design intent is & what questions are important
You can easily get data overload, which can be both expensive and of limited use
So much like with UX Research it's good to start with finding out what the design intent is & what questions are important
Reposted by Ben Taels
Regardless of kayfabe comms and Nat equivocation in media, ACT always says the thing to its red-faced griefer audience
November 25, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Regardless of kayfabe comms and Nat equivocation in media, ACT always says the thing to its red-faced griefer audience
Reposted by Ben Taels
To read more on this announcement, check out our full Reddit post here: ninja.kiwi/ffovd3
Discord: discord.com/invite/cP4jfRu
Wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/1589820/...
Discord: discord.com/invite/cP4jfRu
Wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/1589820/...
November 24, 2025 at 10:41 PM
To read more on this announcement, check out our full Reddit post here: ninja.kiwi/ffovd3
Discord: discord.com/invite/cP4jfRu
Wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/1589820/...
Discord: discord.com/invite/cP4jfRu
Wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/1589820/...
Reposted by Ben Taels
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
The Messages Rockstar Saw Before Firing 34 Union Members
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
Reposted by Ben Taels
If you are a parent, and your kids' school is not on the list, email the board of trustees and ask them to join it.
Great interactive resource here from Tania Waikato / Chris Abercrombie of schools that have publicly committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Locally, I'm disappointed Fairfield Intermediate, Fairfield Primary & Woodstock aren't listed yet.
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/v...
Locally, I'm disappointed Fairfield Intermediate, Fairfield Primary & Woodstock aren't listed yet.
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/v...
Schools TOW - Google My Maps
Schools TOW
www.google.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:09 PM
If you are a parent, and your kids' school is not on the list, email the board of trustees and ask them to join it.
I recommend checking out www.gamesur.com & the associated Discord if you want to get into Games UX Research, but I also want to point out that if you are already in the industry (even if you have been there for years) there is still immense value in networking & talking with others in your field!
Games User Research Community | Shaping Gameplay With User Research
www.gamesur.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I recommend checking out www.gamesur.com & the associated Discord if you want to get into Games UX Research, but I also want to point out that if you are already in the industry (even if you have been there for years) there is still immense value in networking & talking with others in your field!
Well designed randomized representative surveys are a good way to avoid this impact and get a more representative picture of your player base
If you can build the surveys directly into the game (rather than relying on email) it is even more effective
If you can build the surveys directly into the game (rather than relying on email) it is even more effective
One of the producers on Guilty Gear Strive said it was basically impossible to source player feedback on balance changes online because nobody had original opinions and would just parrot what the most popular content creators said and so they had to rely on data and I think about that every day.
November 24, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Well designed randomized representative surveys are a good way to avoid this impact and get a more representative picture of your player base
If you can build the surveys directly into the game (rather than relying on email) it is even more effective
If you can build the surveys directly into the game (rather than relying on email) it is even more effective
Reposted by Ben Taels
people whose job it is to play a game for stream income will invariably give you advice on how to make their job easier.
this is NOT HEALTHY for the game
this is NOT HEALTHY for the game
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 AM
people whose job it is to play a game for stream income will invariably give you advice on how to make their job easier.
this is NOT HEALTHY for the game
this is NOT HEALTHY for the game
If you are a game company that uses Twitter as a measure of your "community" and for "player sentiment" you are marinating in a disinformation campaign
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
November 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM
If you are a game company that uses Twitter as a measure of your "community" and for "player sentiment" you are marinating in a disinformation campaign
I finished a full run of Star Renegades yesterday
It's a tactical rogue like with nice pixel graphics and deterministic puzzle like combat
A fun experience!
store.steampowered.com/app/651670/S...
It's a tactical rogue like with nice pixel graphics and deterministic puzzle like combat
A fun experience!
store.steampowered.com/app/651670/S...
Star Renegades on Steam
Star Renegades is a dimension spanning rogue-lite strategy RPG. Outsmart uniquely generated adversaries, forge bonds between heroes and end the cycle!
store.steampowered.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I finished a full run of Star Renegades yesterday
It's a tactical rogue like with nice pixel graphics and deterministic puzzle like combat
A fun experience!
store.steampowered.com/app/651670/S...
It's a tactical rogue like with nice pixel graphics and deterministic puzzle like combat
A fun experience!
store.steampowered.com/app/651670/S...
Two of the benefits of running remote UX Research are:
- You can widen your recruitment pool
- People are playing in more naturalistic environments
Security is obviously a concern, however, proper screening and procedures can reduce these risks to close to the same level as a lab test
- You can widen your recruitment pool
- People are playing in more naturalistic environments
Security is obviously a concern, however, proper screening and procedures can reduce these risks to close to the same level as a lab test
November 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Two of the benefits of running remote UX Research are:
- You can widen your recruitment pool
- People are playing in more naturalistic environments
Security is obviously a concern, however, proper screening and procedures can reduce these risks to close to the same level as a lab test
- You can widen your recruitment pool
- People are playing in more naturalistic environments
Security is obviously a concern, however, proper screening and procedures can reduce these risks to close to the same level as a lab test
Reposted by Ben Taels
You know, Labour could completely take the wind out of National's sails on Kiwisaver (which isn't altogether a bad idea) by saying "Yes we do agree Kiwisaver contributions need to increase, we agree to do the same."
November 22, 2025 at 11:24 PM
You know, Labour could completely take the wind out of National's sails on Kiwisaver (which isn't altogether a bad idea) by saying "Yes we do agree Kiwisaver contributions need to increase, we agree to do the same."
Reposted by Ben Taels
IYKYK.
SEVERED IS THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN.
death to the wizard kings!
SEVERED IS THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN.
death to the wizard kings!
November 23, 2025 at 3:09 AM
IYKYK.
SEVERED IS THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN.
death to the wizard kings!
SEVERED IS THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN.
death to the wizard kings!
When I was working as a Zookeeper I was inspired by Sam Charlton, a Human Factors professor (and went on to get my PhD in the subject).
After my Masters I guessed that what I knew could also be applied to games.
I then found out that people like @johnhopson.bsky.social were already doing so.
After my Masters I guessed that what I knew could also be applied to games.
I then found out that people like @johnhopson.bsky.social were already doing so.
November 23, 2025 at 3:00 AM
When I was working as a Zookeeper I was inspired by Sam Charlton, a Human Factors professor (and went on to get my PhD in the subject).
After my Masters I guessed that what I knew could also be applied to games.
I then found out that people like @johnhopson.bsky.social were already doing so.
After my Masters I guessed that what I knew could also be applied to games.
I then found out that people like @johnhopson.bsky.social were already doing so.
Reposted by Ben Taels
at 10.06pm, new zealand's largest news site "stuff" made an amendment to one of its stories. this fascinated me, just about what it says about the trust we place in our sources: www.webworm.co/robertpurcha...
The Curious Case of Robert Purchase
David Farrier's Webworm looks at Stuff's reporting on Robert Purchase, a man applying for 8000 jobs and not telling reporters he'd served 25 years for kidnapping.
www.webworm.co
November 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
at 10.06pm, new zealand's largest news site "stuff" made an amendment to one of its stories. this fascinated me, just about what it says about the trust we place in our sources: www.webworm.co/robertpurcha...