Oliver Brandt
@chocobalt.bsky.social
Deputy editor @ Vooks
▫️Previous bylines @ DBLTAP, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, The Sun, Men’s Journal, Parade, USA Today, NCA
▫️DM or email me hot tips
▫️ (they/he)
[email protected]
▫️Previous bylines @ DBLTAP, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, The Sun, Men’s Journal, Parade, USA Today, NCA
▫️DM or email me hot tips
▫️ (they/he)
[email protected]
Pinned
I find myself in the unenviable position of needing to find work so
Hiya. I’m a writer with a decade of experience writing about video games, tech, film and TV, and more.
News reporting, interviews, guides, reviews, features — you name it, I can do and have done it.
Please hire me 🙏
Hiya. I’m a writer with a decade of experience writing about video games, tech, film and TV, and more.
News reporting, interviews, guides, reviews, features — you name it, I can do and have done it.
Please hire me 🙏
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
Bandai Namco Singapore to become Nintendo Studios Singapore in shares acquisition www.vooks.net/bandai...
November 27, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Bandai Namco Singapore to become Nintendo Studios Singapore in shares acquisition www.vooks.net/bandai...
Okay nobody send me any more emails, I just landed on a perfect, round, clean number
November 26, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Okay nobody send me any more emails, I just landed on a perfect, round, clean number
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
Game Boy Classics latest update has hidden Boot Screen Easter Egg www.vooks.net/game-b...
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Game Boy Classics latest update has hidden Boot Screen Easter Egg www.vooks.net/game-b...
I cannot stress enough how much my life has been positively impacted by wanting to block somebody and then suddenly deciding not to at the last second. Not just in this case either lmao
Fun fact, my first real interaction with Vooks was seeing @vook64.bsky.social pop up on the twitter algo often and getting annoyed by him. I don’t really know why, something about him just rubbed me the wrong way.
One day, I went to block him, but clicked on his site instead and loved it.
One day, I went to block him, but clicked on his site instead and loved it.
November 23, 2025 at 10:10 AM
I cannot stress enough how much my life has been positively impacted by wanting to block somebody and then suddenly deciding not to at the last second. Not just in this case either lmao
Fucked my knee up, couldn’t do my old job anymore, spent a lot of time on twitter and got annoyed by low effort SEO-bait games journalism, decided to put my university degree to good use.
And here we are almost a decade later.
And here we are almost a decade later.
November 23, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Fucked my knee up, couldn’t do my old job anymore, spent a lot of time on twitter and got annoyed by low effort SEO-bait games journalism, decided to put my university degree to good use.
And here we are almost a decade later.
And here we are almost a decade later.
Job searching is exhausting. LinkedIn is a hell platform, cover letters are draining af, and there just aren’t enough jobs out there.
I’ll be glad when this is all behind me.
I’ll be glad when this is all behind me.
November 23, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Job searching is exhausting. LinkedIn is a hell platform, cover letters are draining af, and there just aren’t enough jobs out there.
I’ll be glad when this is all behind me.
I’ll be glad when this is all behind me.
When I visited the NetEase campus in Hangzhou earlier this year, every single PC monitor I walked past had ChatGPT, deepseek, or some other AI tool open. Staff wouldn’t comment on how much gen AI makes it into the company’s games, but it was very clear everyone was using it in some capacity.
China is arguably adopting GenAI at a faster pace across all facets.
Sure, it’s not putting all its eggs into one basket and the space has greater regulation and direction. But it’s very much adopting the tech in ways that are also seen as negative here.
Sure, it’s not putting all its eggs into one basket and the space has greater regulation and direction. But it’s very much adopting the tech in ways that are also seen as negative here.
America putting most of its eggs in the generative AI basket, China going hard into green tech. When history looks back on this period, someone is going to look awfully stupid.
November 23, 2025 at 12:25 AM
When I visited the NetEase campus in Hangzhou earlier this year, every single PC monitor I walked past had ChatGPT, deepseek, or some other AI tool open. Staff wouldn’t comment on how much gen AI makes it into the company’s games, but it was very clear everyone was using it in some capacity.
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
What do the critics say about Kirby Air Riders?
Here’s a round-up featuring quotes from @loganjplant.bsky.social, @jmariye.bsky.social, @solfleet.bsky.social, @chocobalt.bsky.social and @scully1888.bsky.social.
➡️ youtu.be/Z1lmAMYS7Bk?...
Here’s a round-up featuring quotes from @loganjplant.bsky.social, @jmariye.bsky.social, @solfleet.bsky.social, @chocobalt.bsky.social and @scully1888.bsky.social.
➡️ youtu.be/Z1lmAMYS7Bk?...
Kirby Air Riders: BETTER than Mario Kart?
YouTube video by Hanafuda Report
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 11:20 AM
What do the critics say about Kirby Air Riders?
Here’s a round-up featuring quotes from @loganjplant.bsky.social, @jmariye.bsky.social, @solfleet.bsky.social, @chocobalt.bsky.social and @scully1888.bsky.social.
➡️ youtu.be/Z1lmAMYS7Bk?...
Here’s a round-up featuring quotes from @loganjplant.bsky.social, @jmariye.bsky.social, @solfleet.bsky.social, @chocobalt.bsky.social and @scully1888.bsky.social.
➡️ youtu.be/Z1lmAMYS7Bk?...
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
In this economy???
November 22, 2025 at 3:59 AM
In this economy???
They finally updated the KFC app for Australia
November 21, 2025 at 4:30 AM
They finally updated the KFC app for Australia
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
A Christmas Gift Guide for the Nintendo Fan www.vooks.net/a-chri...
November 21, 2025 at 1:51 AM
A Christmas Gift Guide for the Nintendo Fan www.vooks.net/a-chri...
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
Hi everyone, check this out.
January 21, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Hi everyone, check this out.
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
Kirby Air Riders is superb. The kart racer of the year isn't Mario Kart World or Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, it's the one with the adorable blob and an incredibly out there and charming story mode.
The wonderful secret thinking mans' kart racer.
The wonderful secret thinking mans' kart racer.
REVIEW: Kirby Air Riders
"...this title has a clear vision: letting players control cute little guys at breakneck speeds, travelling vibrant courses and battlefields to come out on top."
checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2025...
"...this title has a clear vision: letting players control cute little guys at breakneck speeds, travelling vibrant courses and battlefields to come out on top."
checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2025...
Kirby Air Riders Review - What dreams are made of
Kirby Air Riders is a gorgeous and dazzling kart racer that is a must-play for Switch 2 owners looking for some breakneck speed racing fun.
checkpointgaming.net
November 19, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Kirby Air Riders is superb. The kart racer of the year isn't Mario Kart World or Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, it's the one with the adorable blob and an incredibly out there and charming story mode.
The wonderful secret thinking mans' kart racer.
The wonderful secret thinking mans' kart racer.
Kirby Air Rider’s story mode ties together an otherwise jumbled, chaotic mess of Stuff To Do, and I liked it a lot.
“Kirby Air Riders is a fascinating game that walks the line between being a chaotic, unfocused mess and one of the most enjoyable party games and single-player campaigns on the Switch 2.” Find out more in our review 💫 www.vooks.net/kirby-...
November 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Kirby Air Rider’s story mode ties together an otherwise jumbled, chaotic mess of Stuff To Do, and I liked it a lot.
I’ve been saying this since day one. Cutting off marginalised youth from their support networks is dangerous and neglectful. It’s fucked to even consider doing so.
'There will be deaths'
That's the fear of a youth worker thinking about the consequences of Australia's teen social media ban.
I wrote about their concerns for their clients, some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged teens, and about their ability to work with them.
www.crikey.com.au/20...
That's the fear of a youth worker thinking about the consequences of Australia's teen social media ban.
I wrote about their concerns for their clients, some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged teens, and about their ability to work with them.
www.crikey.com.au/20...
November 18, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I’ve been saying this since day one. Cutting off marginalised youth from their support networks is dangerous and neglectful. It’s fucked to even consider doing so.
Hell yeah, go play the best version of the best point-and-click game ever made
Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged gets 4K graphics, mouse controls with Switch 2 edition (and its out now) www.vooks.net/broken...
November 12, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Hell yeah, go play the best version of the best point-and-click game ever made
November 11, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
Just a silly doodle comic of my brother @chocobalt.bsky.social and his coworkers playing @rvthereyetgame.com bc they made me cry laughing 😂 #comic #RVthereyet #digitalart #videogameart #practise
November 10, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Just a silly doodle comic of my brother @chocobalt.bsky.social and his coworkers playing @rvthereyetgame.com bc they made me cry laughing 😂 #comic #RVthereyet #digitalart #videogameart #practise
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
I need to share this accidentally amazing screenshot I took in Pokemon ZA.
November 7, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I need to share this accidentally amazing screenshot I took in Pokemon ZA.
Reposted by Oliver Brandt
I find myself in the unenviable position of needing to find work so
Hiya. I’m a writer with a decade of experience writing about video games, tech, film and TV, and more.
News reporting, interviews, guides, reviews, features — you name it, I can do and have done it.
Please hire me 🙏
Hiya. I’m a writer with a decade of experience writing about video games, tech, film and TV, and more.
News reporting, interviews, guides, reviews, features — you name it, I can do and have done it.
Please hire me 🙏
November 5, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I find myself in the unenviable position of needing to find work so
Hiya. I’m a writer with a decade of experience writing about video games, tech, film and TV, and more.
News reporting, interviews, guides, reviews, features — you name it, I can do and have done it.
Please hire me 🙏
Hiya. I’m a writer with a decade of experience writing about video games, tech, film and TV, and more.
News reporting, interviews, guides, reviews, features — you name it, I can do and have done it.
Please hire me 🙏
Damn Sonic Dream Team actually is the best 3D Sonic game in years, maybe even ever?
Hopefully not stuck on Apple Arcade forever.
Hopefully not stuck on Apple Arcade forever.
November 6, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Damn Sonic Dream Team actually is the best 3D Sonic game in years, maybe even ever?
Hopefully not stuck on Apple Arcade forever.
Hopefully not stuck on Apple Arcade forever.
If it helps seal the deal I’m also quite good at yugioh
I find myself in the unenviable position of needing to find work so
Hiya. I’m a writer with a decade of experience writing about video games, tech, film and TV, and more.
News reporting, interviews, guides, reviews, features — you name it, I can do and have done it.
Please hire me 🙏
Hiya. I’m a writer with a decade of experience writing about video games, tech, film and TV, and more.
News reporting, interviews, guides, reviews, features — you name it, I can do and have done it.
Please hire me 🙏
November 5, 2025 at 2:34 AM
If it helps seal the deal I’m also quite good at yugioh