Celia Hodent
@celiahodent.com
Author #TheGamersBrain & more books on games / cog science • Indie consultant, ex-dir. #UX @ EpicGames Fortnite, LucasArts, Ubi • Phd psych • She/Her 🇫🇷 🇺🇸
celiahodent.com
celiahodent.com
La 2e édition de mon livre Dans le cerveau du gamer est tout chaud sortie de la presse et est en coup de coeur à la Fnac ! Vous pouvez le trouver dans votre librairie préférée (ou en ligne). Version mise à jour et nouveau chapitre (dont une grosse section sur l’IA, incontournable…).
#TheGamersBrain
#TheGamersBrain
December 19, 2025 at 10:46 AM
La 2e édition de mon livre Dans le cerveau du gamer est tout chaud sortie de la presse et est en coup de coeur à la Fnac ! Vous pouvez le trouver dans votre librairie préférée (ou en ligne). Version mise à jour et nouveau chapitre (dont une grosse section sur l’IA, incontournable…).
#TheGamersBrain
#TheGamersBrain
Reposted by Celia Hodent
Mark Zuckerberg earned just $1 at Meta in 2024. Elon Musk made $0 at Tesla. They're not alone. A tax law professor explains how the ultrawealthy legally avoid income taxes while their wealth grows by billions annually.
Billionaires with $1 salaries – and other legal tax dodges the ultrawealthy use to keep their riches
The richest Americans can largely avoid paying income and other taxes. A new book explains the history.
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Mark Zuckerberg earned just $1 at Meta in 2024. Elon Musk made $0 at Tesla. They're not alone. A tax law professor explains how the ultrawealthy legally avoid income taxes while their wealth grows by billions annually.
Reposted by Celia Hodent
Well, this is an utter disaster for science.
This gutting of peer review is very likely driven by Project 2025/OMB/Vought, very likely is about funding junk science, and very likely is coming for #NIH and biomedical research next.
🧪
This gutting of peer review is very likely driven by Project 2025/OMB/Vought, very likely is about funding junk science, and very likely is coming for #NIH and biomedical research next.
🧪
December 16, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Well, this is an utter disaster for science.
This gutting of peer review is very likely driven by Project 2025/OMB/Vought, very likely is about funding junk science, and very likely is coming for #NIH and biomedical research next.
🧪
This gutting of peer review is very likely driven by Project 2025/OMB/Vought, very likely is about funding junk science, and very likely is coming for #NIH and biomedical research next.
🧪
It’s hard to lose such a talented, humble, and kind person like Rob Reiner because the world needs more people like him. But you know what? Those people exist. It may be you already (you rock! 🤘🏼) or it could be. We all have this power to identify our talent & use it to do good around us. Let’s go. ❤️
a man with a beard wearing a uss seal sea hat
Alt: A young Rob Reiner in the movie Spinal Tap looking at the camera and saying: “What do you say?”
media.tenor.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:36 PM
It’s hard to lose such a talented, humble, and kind person like Rob Reiner because the world needs more people like him. But you know what? Those people exist. It may be you already (you rock! 🤘🏼) or it could be. We all have this power to identify our talent & use it to do good around us. Let’s go. ❤️
Last month I visited El Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos in Santiago de Chile. It’s so important to remember that our hard-earned rights are fragile & are worth resisting & fighting for. I understand that many are impacted by injustice & a poor economy but solidarity is how we can strive.
December 15, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Last month I visited El Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos in Santiago de Chile. It’s so important to remember that our hard-earned rights are fragile & are worth resisting & fighting for. I understand that many are impacted by injustice & a poor economy but solidarity is how we can strive.
That was a gruesome and horrifying weekend for many communities. Particularly for the Jewish community. And it’s ending by the brutal murder of Rob Reiner. What a world we live in…
Let’s be kind to ourselves and to each others, friends. We are stronger together 🌸
Let’s be kind to ourselves and to each others, friends. We are stronger together 🌸
December 15, 2025 at 8:03 AM
That was a gruesome and horrifying weekend for many communities. Particularly for the Jewish community. And it’s ending by the brutal murder of Rob Reiner. What a world we live in…
Let’s be kind to ourselves and to each others, friends. We are stronger together 🌸
Let’s be kind to ourselves and to each others, friends. We are stronger together 🌸
Spinal Tap had a considerable influence in my life… What a tragic way to roll the credits on Rob Reiner’s life…
Rob Reiner, who directed such beloved Hollywood classics as 'This Is Spinal Tap,' 'Stand by Me' and 'When Harry Met Sally' after starring in the trailblazing sitcom 'All in the Family,' died Sunday along with his wife, Michele, in their Brentwood home. bit.ly/48UWXSi
December 15, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Spinal Tap had a considerable influence in my life… What a tragic way to roll the credits on Rob Reiner’s life…
Turns out, indie human-made games are not irrelevant after all, surprise! 😉 Huge congrats to Sandfall for this amazing feat!
‘CLAIR OBSCUR - EXPEDITION 33’ has won 9 awards at #TheGameAwards, the most for any game ever
• Game of the Year
• Best RPG
• Best Narrative
• Best Art Direction
• Best Score & Music
• Best Game Direction
• Best Debut Indie Game
• Best Independent Game
• Best Performance (Jennifer English)
• Game of the Year
• Best RPG
• Best Narrative
• Best Art Direction
• Best Score & Music
• Best Game Direction
• Best Debut Indie Game
• Best Independent Game
• Best Performance (Jennifer English)
December 12, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Turns out, indie human-made games are not irrelevant after all, surprise! 😉 Huge congrats to Sandfall for this amazing feat!
This is fucking brilliant (excuse my French). Huge congrats to the team!
After Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Game of the Year at #TheGameAwards, Sandfall Interactive revealed that its previously-announced DLC for the game is out...now. Right now! https://bit.ly/3MBRTKX
December 12, 2025 at 9:19 PM
This is fucking brilliant (excuse my French). Huge congrats to the team!
Reposted by Celia Hodent
BTW, Spirit Crossing is coming to Steam. The goal is to create a major Cozy MMO with a huge population of folks making friends in a safe and welcoming space.
I deeply believe we can make the world a better place.
If this interests you, please wishlist!
store.steampowered.com/app/2321960/...
I deeply believe we can make the world a better place.
If this interests you, please wishlist!
store.steampowered.com/app/2321960/...
Spirit Crossing on Steam
Befriend bears, aid lost spirits, ride fluffalo, and build a thriving village with other players in this multiplayer life-sim from the creators of "Cozy Grove." Find endless opportunities to...
store.steampowered.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:34 PM
BTW, Spirit Crossing is coming to Steam. The goal is to create a major Cozy MMO with a huge population of folks making friends in a safe and welcoming space.
I deeply believe we can make the world a better place.
If this interests you, please wishlist!
store.steampowered.com/app/2321960/...
I deeply believe we can make the world a better place.
If this interests you, please wishlist!
store.steampowered.com/app/2321960/...
Reposted by Celia Hodent
An incredibly important document. Please consider signing this letter against the uncritical adoption of AI tech in academia, now available in multiple languages
As stated, this is a translation of my Dutch colleagues’ letter- so if you need an English version, follow the link and you can still sign theirs, too. Thx again to @olivia.science for letting me use their words & for everyone’s efforts! @irisvanrooij.bsky.social
openletter.earth/open-letter-...
openletter.earth/open-letter-...
Open Letter: Stop the Uncritical Adoption of AI Technologies in Academia
openletter.earth
November 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
An incredibly important document. Please consider signing this letter against the uncritical adoption of AI tech in academia, now available in multiple languages
Um.. it’s now 109 usd to get a ETA visa for the UK as a French citizen??!
December 5, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Um.. it’s now 109 usd to get a ETA visa for the UK as a French citizen??!
En janvier je donne ma masterclass #gameUX à Paris en 2 parties pour bien approfondir les concepts de #psychologie et #ux appliqués au #gamedev. Infos sur cette masterclasse et les autres proposées par Gamaste ci-dessous 👇🏼
🚨Nouveau programme de formations Janvier - Février 2026🚨
#UX, #SciencesCognitives, #WolrdBuilding, #Créativité, #GameDesign, #PrendrelaParole, #GameTrailer, #Leadership.
Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant !👇
tinyurl.com/2zahyr9b
@celiahodent.com @willshen101.bsky.social @andycoley.bsky.social
#UX, #SciencesCognitives, #WolrdBuilding, #Créativité, #GameDesign, #PrendrelaParole, #GameTrailer, #Leadership.
Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant !👇
tinyurl.com/2zahyr9b
@celiahodent.com @willshen101.bsky.social @andycoley.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 3:33 PM
En janvier je donne ma masterclass #gameUX à Paris en 2 parties pour bien approfondir les concepts de #psychologie et #ux appliqués au #gamedev. Infos sur cette masterclasse et les autres proposées par Gamaste ci-dessous 👇🏼
Pour les francophones, je parle des #jeuxvidéo & des #darkpatterns dans l'émission Découverte de Radio-Canada ce dimanche 30/11 à 18h30 EST, en direct sur ici.tou.tv/en-direct?le...
Maude Bonenfant a également participé à l'émission qui, je pense, devrait être de bonne qualité.
#ux #ethics #gamedev
Maude Bonenfant a également participé à l'émission qui, je pense, devrait être de bonne qualité.
#ux #ethics #gamedev
Regardez ICI Radio-Canada Télé en direct | Montréal | ICI TOU.TV
Ne manquez pas les émissions d'ICI Télé en direct comme les téléjournaux régionaux, le Bye bye, Tout le monde en parle, et plus encore. Consultez l'horaire.
ici.tou.tv
November 30, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Pour les francophones, je parle des #jeuxvidéo & des #darkpatterns dans l'émission Découverte de Radio-Canada ce dimanche 30/11 à 18h30 EST, en direct sur ici.tou.tv/en-direct?le...
Maude Bonenfant a également participé à l'émission qui, je pense, devrait être de bonne qualité.
#ux #ethics #gamedev
Maude Bonenfant a également participé à l'émission qui, je pense, devrait être de bonne qualité.
#ux #ethics #gamedev
Rest in power, Viola Fletcher, and may your story never be buried.
Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, has died. She was 111.
"I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot," she told Congress in 2021.
Geoff Bennett has more.
"I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot," she told Congress in 2021.
Geoff Bennett has more.
November 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Rest in power, Viola Fletcher, and may your story never be buried.
Reposted by Celia Hodent
Le fichier TES centralise les photos et empreintes digitales que nous donnons pour faire nos titres d'identité. Nous révélons que la police se sert allègrement dans cette base de données pour identifier des personnes lors de ses enquêtes, en violation du droit. www.laquadrature.net/2025/11/24/l...
La police détourne le fichier des passeports et des cartes d’identité
Fournir sa photographie et ses empreintes quand on demande son passeport ou sa carte d’identité est plus lourd de conséquence que ce qu’on imagine. Ces données, qui sont enregistrées dans le fichier…
www.laquadrature.net
November 24, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Le fichier TES centralise les photos et empreintes digitales que nous donnons pour faire nos titres d'identité. Nous révélons que la police se sert allègrement dans cette base de données pour identifier des personnes lors de ses enquêtes, en violation du droit. www.laquadrature.net/2025/11/24/l...
Reposted by Celia Hodent
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
That MAGA Account Might Be a Troll From Pakistan
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
Reposted by Celia Hodent
If you know #gamedev folks in London (or UK) I would be very thankful if you could share the post below about my #ux masterclass on Dec 12. My reach on social media is not what it used to be (ty, Elon..) and people don’t seem to get the info so reposts are much appreciated, thanks a bunch! 🙏🏼
Hi, Londoners! I'll be giving an in-person full day #gameUX masterclass on Friday Dec 12th in #London.
You can sign up here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/game-ux-co...
Let me know if you have any questions. Please share and I hope to see you there!
#UX #gamedev #training #masterclass
You can sign up here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/game-ux-co...
Let me know if you have any questions. Please share and I hope to see you there!
#UX #gamedev #training #masterclass
Game UX & Cognitive Science Masterclass (London,UK Dec 12)
Learn the cognitive science and UX practices behind successful games like Fortnite, from former Director of UX at Epic Games.
www.eventbrite.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
So… in case that wasn’t clear, women rights and LGBTQ rights are not human rights…
www.forbes.com/sites/maryro...
www.forbes.com/sites/maryro...
Abortion And DEI Policies Now Considered Violations Of Human Rights, U.S. Says
The Trump administration has overhauled how the State Department conducts its annual Human Rights Report.
www.forbes.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:50 PM
So… in case that wasn’t clear, women rights and LGBTQ rights are not human rights…
www.forbes.com/sites/maryro...
www.forbes.com/sites/maryro...
Reposted by Celia Hodent
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
A few months ago, Alan Shen, Alister Lee and I answered entry-level questions from junior and aspiring #gameUX folks. The video is now live on youtube:
youtu.be/ZrW0mIYMxh0
Apologies for the delay, those past months have been extremely hectic!
#ux #gamedev
youtu.be/ZrW0mIYMxh0
Apologies for the delay, those past months have been extremely hectic!
#ux #gamedev
Game UX online meetup - April 25, 2025
YouTube video by Celia Hodent
youtu.be
November 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
A few months ago, Alan Shen, Alister Lee and I answered entry-level questions from junior and aspiring #gameUX folks. The video is now live on youtube:
youtu.be/ZrW0mIYMxh0
Apologies for the delay, those past months have been extremely hectic!
#ux #gamedev
youtu.be/ZrW0mIYMxh0
Apologies for the delay, those past months have been extremely hectic!
#ux #gamedev
Alright, fellow authors, let’s do this.
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Alright, fellow authors, let’s do this.
I enjoyed chatting about #UX in #gamedev and explaining that it’s a strategy that needs to be considered early in the development process. Also, game developers are under a lot of pressure and always have to make difficult decisions and tradeoffs. In a nutshell: making good games is hard.
When Football Manager 26 launched after a year-long delay, players immediately noticed its unpolished frontend UI and confusing design.
Now, it sits alongside Civilization 7 as another catastrophic example of user experience (UX) gone wrong in 2025.
So, we asked an expert: How could this happen?
Now, it sits alongside Civilization 7 as another catastrophic example of user experience (UX) gone wrong in 2025.
So, we asked an expert: How could this happen?
Football Manager 26 and When User Experience Goes Wrong
At launch, Football Manager 26 players discovered the UX was only just warming up. We asked an expert: why do devs leave UX until extra time?
thisweekinvideogames.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Celia Hodent
When UX is done right, you hardly notice. But players sure noticed Football Manager 26 and Civ VII's many issues at launch.
UX expert @celiahodent.com explained why, despite the clear harm to first impressions, game UX is too often left to post-launch fixes.
UX expert @celiahodent.com explained why, despite the clear harm to first impressions, game UX is too often left to post-launch fixes.
When Football Manager 26 launched after a year-long delay, players immediately noticed its unpolished frontend UI and confusing design.
Now, it sits alongside Civilization 7 as another catastrophic example of user experience (UX) gone wrong in 2025.
So, we asked an expert: How could this happen?
Now, it sits alongside Civilization 7 as another catastrophic example of user experience (UX) gone wrong in 2025.
So, we asked an expert: How could this happen?
Football Manager 26 and When User Experience Goes Wrong
At launch, Football Manager 26 players discovered the UX was only just warming up. We asked an expert: why do devs leave UX until extra time?
thisweekinvideogames.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
When UX is done right, you hardly notice. But players sure noticed Football Manager 26 and Civ VII's many issues at launch.
UX expert @celiahodent.com explained why, despite the clear harm to first impressions, game UX is too often left to post-launch fixes.
UX expert @celiahodent.com explained why, despite the clear harm to first impressions, game UX is too often left to post-launch fixes.
Ten years ago I was on my way to MIGS as the heart wrenching terror attacks in Paris, my hometown, were unfolding. I’m thinking about all the victims & their loved ones on this hard day. I’m also thinking about the solidarity & resistance to fear & hatred at the wake of the tragedy. We need this.
November 13, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Ten years ago I was on my way to MIGS as the heart wrenching terror attacks in Paris, my hometown, were unfolding. I’m thinking about all the victims & their loved ones on this hard day. I’m also thinking about the solidarity & resistance to fear & hatred at the wake of the tragedy. We need this.