Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 12h

Der Vollständigkeit halber sei erwähnt, dass geschlechterinklusive Sprache nicht per se verboten, sondern zur Nutzung z.B. von neutralen Formulierungen oder der weiblichen und männlichen Form angeregt wurde. Aber all diese Varianten haben eines gemein: Sie machen nicht-binäre Menschen unsichtbar.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 12h

...sehe ich hier einen Widerspruch zwischen internen Abläufen und Außenkommunikation.
Immerhin konnte ich die Nutzung des Sternchens für meine Kurzbiografie durchsetzen, aber den Einwand, dass selbiges gerade bei einem Beitrag über Diversität angebracht wäre, ließen die Herausgeber nicht gelten.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 12h

...mitherausgegeben von Zimmermann bzw. dem Kulturrat, war die Nutzung des Gendersternchens und des Gender Gaps ausdrücklich untersagt.

Ja, es Ist nicht unüblich, die Sprache in Büchern zu vereinheitlichen und ja, staatliche Verbote sind eine ganz andere Dimension, aber dennoch...

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 12h

„Künstlerinnen, Künstler und Kulturinstitutionen sind frei in der Entscheidung, ob und wie sie gendergerechte Sprache anwenden."

Dieses klare Statement für sprachliche Vielfalt begrüße ich, bin aber auch etwas verwundert, denn: Für Beiträge zum erst kürzlich aktualisierten Handbuch Gameskultur...

Sprache: Kulturrat spricht sich gegen Gender-Verbot aus

Der Kulturstaatsminister positioniert sich offen gegen Binnen-I und Gendersternchen. Nun kontert der Deutsche Kulturrat: Ein Gender-Verbot in Kunst und Kultur dürfe es nicht geben.

www.tagesspiegel.de

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 15h

Most recently, #CollectiveShout made this particular claim — without proving empirical evidence — to deplatform adult games.

So: Let's have a look at research from different fields to find out if there's actually any evidence for these claims and why sexual violence seems to be so popular in porn.

A modified version of the Thursday, what a concept meme, depicting a red-haired woman holding a cigarette in her right hand. This version shows the following text at the bottom: Doing proper research before discussing a complex topic. What a concept.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 15h

@ghmanderfeld.bsky.social and I always take great care in doing proper research, but in this case it's particularly important, as fictional depictions of sexualised violence have been the source of major controversies and often held responsible for real-world crimes.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 15h

Today I'm starting my deep dive into the complex topic we've picked for the next episode of Random Encounters: Sexualised violence in (interactive) pornography.

A photo showing a book and several academic papers on a wooden table. The publications are titled Sex and Sexuality in Game Studies, Pornographie Games on Steam, Sexual fantasy research, and Sexual Violence as a Sexual Script in Mainstream Pornography.

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Reposted by Nina Kiel

GamesMarket @gamesmarkt.bsky.social · 20h

UK Gouvernment: Payment Processors Can Ban NSFW Content
According to the UK treasury, payment processors are in the right and the gouvernment has no plans to step in. This puts it in direct contrast to what artists and the UK games industry have asked for.
www.gamesmarket.global/en/business/...

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Reposted by Nina Kiel

Jess O'Thomson @jessothomson.co.uk · 1d

It cannot be made clearer.

If you continue to support the Harry Potter franchise in any way, you are directly funding the removal of trans people's human rights in the UK.

JK Rowling pledges to keep up fight against SNP trans policies

Author vows to bankroll campaigners after Scottish government fails to pay group's legal fees in Supreme Court equality case

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 1d

"The center of gravity in gaming is shifting from market dynamics to geopolitical power plays."

Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 1d

'Gaming is the new oil:' How the EA buyout 'diverges from the traditional playbook'

Analysts explain how the high-risk leveraged buyout will impact Electronic Arts and the video game industry.

www.gamedeveloper.com

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Reposted by Nina Kiel

Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 3d

Our news editor @kerrblimey.bsky.social has some advice for developers and PR reps looking to navigate the press slalom:

A quote from an article discussing how to engage with journalists that reads:

"No matter how cordial our correspondence, there might come a time when I have to report on you, your product, or your company in a way you no longer find beneficial or flattering. That is the job. Reporters are not an extension of your marketing department. We are not there to promote you, your product, or tailor headlines to meet your specific needs.

"Acknowledge this before you agree to an interview. Let the truth wash over you like a salve. You'll be better off for it."

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 3d

...wiederholt Röcheln und Schniefen zu vernehmen und ich die einzige Person mit Maske war. Aber davon ging natürlich keine Gefahr aus.

Ich hoffe das beste für die Oma.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 3d

... dramatisch zur Seite. Nachdem sie einige Sekunden lang mit angsterfülltem Blick Abstand gehalten hatte, fragte sie, ob ich denn krank sei. Sie habe eine immunschwache Großmutter Daheim und dürfe auf keinen Fall krank werden.

All das passierte in einem komplett überfüllten Café, in dem...

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 3d

Es ist alles so absurd.

Ich suchte am Wochenende ein Café auf, um ein Getränk zum mitnehmen zu kaufen - selbstverständlich mit Maske, denn ich hatte zwar keinerlei Symptome, aber auch wenig Ambitionen, das zu ändern. Als ich Richtung Tresen ging, sprang eine Person mittleren Alters...

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Reposted by Nina Kiel

Jean Ketterling @jeanketterling.bsky.social · 8d

I really enjoyed talking to Chris about the histories that shape the current deplatforming efforts affecting NSFW video games! Grateful for him taking this issue seriously. I wanted to share links to some of my colleagues’ work that I mention here:

Chris Plante @plante.bsky.social · 11d

Give me 45-minutes and I'll make you an expert on NSFW video game censorship (and the growing threat to your favorite hobby)

Why NSFW games aren't doomed (for now)

Sex games researcher Jean Ketterling puts the summer of censorship into context

postgame.substack.com

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 8d

It has been recorded, but as far as I know the video will only be shared among participants. Feel free to reach out to the panelists and ask, though!

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 8d

This was easily one of the best panels I've ever seen.

Great insights from different professional perspectives, a very active audience in the chat, lots of new contacts... I'm really glad I got to join, because these two hours have given me so, so much inspiration and hope for the future.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 8d

GAConf requires people attending in person to do a Covid test and present the negative result. But it's an accessibility-focused event, and testing honestly seems like the bare minimum (I wish more people wore masks to protect each other).

I'm not familiar with other events doing anything similar.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 8d

Today at 12 pm EST (6 pm CEST)!

If you'd like to listen to experts talk about the deplatforming of adult games, you can still sign up.

Val Webber @publicpubics.bsky.social · 21d

Save the date! 🗓️
Oct 2, 12-2pm EST
💳 🎮 🍆 💻 👾 🫦

Panel on payment processors, deplatforming, and sexual censorship in games w/ @jeanketterling.bsky.social @acvalens.net @kenzitronic.bsky.social Ashley Guajardo Caroline Bem & myself - info and registration here:

irdl.info.yorku.ca/event/smc-pa...

Sex, Money, and Censorship: Battles Over the Deplatforming of Sexual Expression in Games (2025-10-02)

In July 2025, following a campaign by the Australian anti-pornography organization Collective Shout and ensuing pressure from payment processors including Mastercard, Visa, PayPal and Stripe, videogam...

irdl.info.yorku.ca

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 8d

Hurrah! Ich hoffe, Du hast viel Spaß damit.

Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 9d

Despite still being in development and not nearly finished, "Scarlet Hollow" is one of my favourite games ever - so obviously, I highly recommend it. It has a ridiculous amount of depth in terms of both narrative and gameplay, and the art is just gorgeous.

Black Tabby Games (This is Tony) - Slay the Princess @blacktabbygames.com · 11d

For us, an ideal choice in a game twists your form and holds you up against a mirror, reflecting a part of your person that you haven't seen in the light of day.

There are no right choices. No wrong choices. Only fresh perspectives.

Scarlet Hollow and Slay the Princess are a combined 35% off.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 9d

Here's the full stream of day 1 if you're interested:

www.youtube.com/live/wvR1bT7...

The first talks have also already been uploaded individually to the GASIG channel.

GAConf Online

YouTube video by IGDA GASIG

www.youtube.com

Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 9d

While it's a pity I missed out on most of the social experience of #GAConf this time due to time zone differences, being able to watch the talks now, at my own pace, is also great.

#Gaming #Accessibility

A photo of my laptop standing on my office desk. On the screen, there are four people's webcam feeds. I've activated automated captions, which say: Hello everybody. Um this is our...

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 10d

In diesem Monat sprechen wir in "Random Encounters" über sexuelle Aufklärung und das in Deutschland entwickelte Adventure "Sibel's Journey":

insertmoin.de/sibels-journ...

(Patreon-exklusiver Inhalt)

#Podcast #RandomEncounters #SeriousGames #EduGames

Eine Illustration im westlichen Comic-Stil, die zwei weiblich gelesene Figuren unter einer Brücke zeigt. Die beiden sind gerade dabei, Selfies zu machen.

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Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 10d

Haha, same! I really struggle to take this game seriously now and I'm wondering if the devs didn't notice.

bsky.app/profile/beur...

Nina Kiel @beurkeek.bsky.social · 16d

"Mlem", or:

Cursed be my brain for seeing faces in absolutely everything.

#SilentHillF

screenshot from the game Silent Hill f, showing a close-up of a teenage girl from behind. She's wearing a traditional Japanese school uniform. The tip of a red scarf is peeking out of a blue collar. On the collar, there are two white sigils, one on the far left and one on the far right corner. Combined, these pieces of clothing look a bit like a face sticking out its tongue.

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