Daniel Vella
@danielvella.bsky.social
Director & Senior Lecturer at Institute of Digital Games, University of Malta // Narrative designer with Mighty Boards (Posthuman Saga, Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan) // Debut novel out 2026
Reposted by Daniel Vella
Can finally talk about this book! @domford.bsky.social @gua-le-ni.com @nelevdm.bsky.social & I have been on this journey for a while with a great team of contributors, and it's amazing to see what T&F have done with it. Certainly the most gorgeous book I've ever been involved with.
We’re excited to announce Scholar’s Codex – a new anthology where academia explores the games of FromSoftware.
Beautifully produced as a premium hardcover and illustrated by acclaimed artist @nicodelort.bsky.social.
#eldenring #darksouls #bloodborne 💙📚
www.tuneandfairweather.com/products/sch...
Beautifully produced as a premium hardcover and illustrated by acclaimed artist @nicodelort.bsky.social.
#eldenring #darksouls #bloodborne 💙📚
www.tuneandfairweather.com/products/sch...
January 28, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Can finally talk about this book! @domford.bsky.social @gua-le-ni.com @nelevdm.bsky.social & I have been on this journey for a while with a great team of contributors, and it's amazing to see what T&F have done with it. Certainly the most gorgeous book I've ever been involved with.
Can finally talk about this book! @domford.bsky.social @gua-le-ni.com @nelevdm.bsky.social & I have been on this journey for a while with a great team of contributors, and it's amazing to see what T&F have done with it. Certainly the most gorgeous book I've ever been involved with.
We’re excited to announce Scholar’s Codex – a new anthology where academia explores the games of FromSoftware.
Beautifully produced as a premium hardcover and illustrated by acclaimed artist @nicodelort.bsky.social.
#eldenring #darksouls #bloodborne 💙📚
www.tuneandfairweather.com/products/sch...
Beautifully produced as a premium hardcover and illustrated by acclaimed artist @nicodelort.bsky.social.
#eldenring #darksouls #bloodborne 💙📚
www.tuneandfairweather.com/products/sch...
January 28, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Can finally talk about this book! @domford.bsky.social @gua-le-ni.com @nelevdm.bsky.social & I have been on this journey for a while with a great team of contributors, and it's amazing to see what T&F have done with it. Certainly the most gorgeous book I've ever been involved with.
Reposted by Daniel Vella
Between the fog and the flame, a truth lies buried in ash.
January 26, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Between the fog and the flame, a truth lies buried in ash.
Amazing item ahead. Watch this space!
When the month comes to a close, a new page will be turned.
January 23, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Amazing item ahead. Watch this space!
Reposted by Daniel Vella
Last month The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Games, ed. by @add-hawk.bsky.social & John Richard Sageng, was also out! I've got a chapter on the idea of 'beauty' in the aesthetic philosophy of Kant & Schiller and how it applies to play & games, and it's in great company in this huge collection.
January 20, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Last month The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Games, ed. by @add-hawk.bsky.social & John Richard Sageng, was also out! I've got a chapter on the idea of 'beauty' in the aesthetic philosophy of Kant & Schiller and how it applies to play & games, and it's in great company in this huge collection.
Reposted by Daniel Vella
And it's out!
Widely available in the US.
Ask your favourite bookshop if outside of the US.
Digital version open access (any minute).
Hope you all enjoy it!
Widely available in the US.
Ask your favourite bookshop if outside of the US.
Digital version open access (any minute).
Hope you all enjoy it!
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
And it's out!
Widely available in the US.
Ask your favourite bookshop if outside of the US.
Digital version open access (any minute).
Hope you all enjoy it!
Widely available in the US.
Ask your favourite bookshop if outside of the US.
Digital version open access (any minute).
Hope you all enjoy it!
Reposted by Daniel Vella
ah well at least we restructured the entire contemporary university, the product of many centuries of slowly accumulating human ingenuity, to boost this
“One notable MIT study found that 95 percent of companies that integrated AI saw zero meaningful growth in revenue. For coding tasks, one of AI’s most widely hyped applications, another study showed that programmers who used AI coding tools actually became slower at their jobs.”
AI Completely Failing to Boost Productivity, Says Top Analyst
AI may or may not excel at a lot of things, but from an economic standpoint, it's definitely not making us more productive.
futurism.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:24 AM
ah well at least we restructured the entire contemporary university, the product of many centuries of slowly accumulating human ingenuity, to boost this
Reposted by Daniel Vella
I also wrote a piece in the issue about ruins in occupied Palestine - from post-1948 attempts to erase the ruins memorialising centuries of Palestinian presence, to post-2023 (ab)use of images of the ruins of Gaza to foreground, rather than obscure, the violence and cruelty of the Zionist project.
January 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM
I also wrote a piece in the issue about ruins in occupied Palestine - from post-1948 attempts to erase the ruins memorialising centuries of Palestinian presence, to post-2023 (ab)use of images of the ruins of Gaza to foreground, rather than obscure, the violence and cruelty of the Zionist project.
Reposted by Daniel Vella
I haven't been great at sharing my recent work on here. Time to fix that! First up: with Mathias Fuchs, I co-edited a special issue of Digital Culture & Society on Ruins and the Contemporary, exploring images and imaginaries of ruin in contemporary culture. www.degruyterbrill.com/journal/key/...
January 15, 2026 at 6:21 PM
I haven't been great at sharing my recent work on here. Time to fix that! First up: with Mathias Fuchs, I co-edited a special issue of Digital Culture & Society on Ruins and the Contemporary, exploring images and imaginaries of ruin in contemporary culture. www.degruyterbrill.com/journal/key/...
I haven't been great at sharing my recent work on here. Time to fix that! First up: with Mathias Fuchs, I co-edited a special issue of Digital Culture & Society on Ruins and the Contemporary, exploring images and imaginaries of ruin in contemporary culture. www.degruyterbrill.com/journal/key/...
January 15, 2026 at 6:21 PM
I haven't been great at sharing my recent work on here. Time to fix that! First up: with Mathias Fuchs, I co-edited a special issue of Digital Culture & Society on Ruins and the Contemporary, exploring images and imaginaries of ruin in contemporary culture. www.degruyterbrill.com/journal/key/...
Reposted by Daniel Vella
One thing you will never think after reading a great book or listening to a great album or seeing a great piece of art is, “I’m really glad this person remained cautious while they were making this and guarded against being perceived as weird.”
December 13, 2025 at 7:29 AM
One thing you will never think after reading a great book or listening to a great album or seeing a great piece of art is, “I’m really glad this person remained cautious while they were making this and guarded against being perceived as weird.”
Honoured that PlayLab! Magazine picked this 2015 paper of mine to revisit! www.tuni.fi/playlab/the-...
The Ludic Sublime from Dark Souls to Animal Well – PlayLab! Magazine
www.tuni.fi
January 9, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Honoured that PlayLab! Magazine picked this 2015 paper of mine to revisit! www.tuni.fi/playlab/the-...
Birzeit University is the leading university in Palestine. I've taught some incredible exchange students from there. Israel has already obliterated all universities in Gaza, but it was never going to stop there: it's about making Palestinian life just as impossible in the West Bank, and everywhere.
BREAKING 🇵🇸 Israeli regime forces have stormed Birzeit University campus in the Occupied West Bank, injuring 41 students, including 9 with live bullets.
January 6, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Birzeit University is the leading university in Palestine. I've taught some incredible exchange students from there. Israel has already obliterated all universities in Gaza, but it was never going to stop there: it's about making Palestinian life just as impossible in the West Bank, and everywhere.
US imperialism & aggression is hardly news - it's just been more mask-off recently. But as academics the question we need to ask is how we can act in relation to it, & at least part of the answer is to interrogate the default centering of US institutions, viewpoints & agendas in global research.
January 4, 2026 at 9:09 AM
US imperialism & aggression is hardly news - it's just been more mask-off recently. But as academics the question we need to ask is how we can act in relation to it, & at least part of the answer is to interrogate the default centering of US institutions, viewpoints & agendas in global research.
Reposted by Daniel Vella
We just dropped our latest regular issue of Eludamos! With an editorial, 12(!) articles, 4(!) book reviews and a commentary, it's a big boi, and I'm really pleased to see all this excellent work out in the wild.
December 19, 2025 at 9:51 AM
We just dropped our latest regular issue of Eludamos! With an editorial, 12(!) articles, 4(!) book reviews and a commentary, it's a big boi, and I'm really pleased to see all this excellent work out in the wild.
Reposted by Daniel Vella
🚨 My new article 'Antagonistic Game Design: the Author as a Player' is out on #Eludamos (Journal for Computer Game Culture)! 🚨
>> septentrio.uit.no/index.php/el... <<
WARNING: might contains traces of @cloobot.bsky.social @doougle.net @jzagal.bsky.social @foddy.net and @add-hawk.bsky.social XD
>> septentrio.uit.no/index.php/el... <<
WARNING: might contains traces of @cloobot.bsky.social @doougle.net @jzagal.bsky.social @foddy.net and @add-hawk.bsky.social XD
December 19, 2025 at 9:36 AM
🚨 My new article 'Antagonistic Game Design: the Author as a Player' is out on #Eludamos (Journal for Computer Game Culture)! 🚨
>> septentrio.uit.no/index.php/el... <<
WARNING: might contains traces of @cloobot.bsky.social @doougle.net @jzagal.bsky.social @foddy.net and @add-hawk.bsky.social XD
>> septentrio.uit.no/index.php/el... <<
WARNING: might contains traces of @cloobot.bsky.social @doougle.net @jzagal.bsky.social @foddy.net and @add-hawk.bsky.social XD
Reposted by Daniel Vella
The Center for Digital Play at the IT University of Copenhagen is organizing a new conference: Playing Futures. The conference will take place from May 20th to 22nd at the IT University of Copenhagen. You can read more about it here: playingfutures.today
Playing Futures
Playing Futures is a conference about the role of games and play during and after the impending climate and energy catastrophes. The goal of the conference is to serve as a meeting point for the commu...
playingfutures.today
December 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The Center for Digital Play at the IT University of Copenhagen is organizing a new conference: Playing Futures. The conference will take place from May 20th to 22nd at the IT University of Copenhagen. You can read more about it here: playingfutures.today
Reposted by Daniel Vella
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
November 30, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Reposted by Daniel Vella
I'm delighted to announce that my new book, Artgames after Gamergate, is out now with Palgrave: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Artgames after GamerGate
This book explores how artgame designers respond to Gamergate, challenging perceptions of gaming and its place in culture and politics
link.springer.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I'm delighted to announce that my new book, Artgames after Gamergate, is out now with Palgrave: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
I'm hardly championing an obscure artist or anything, but I finally listened to the new Rosalía album in full yesterday (was waiting to get the record in my hands) and I had a full-body emotional experience. My maximalist soul loves it when an artist goes all the way out. youtu.be/htQBS2Ikz6c?...
ROSALÍA - Berghain (Official Video) feat. Björk & Yves Tumor
YouTube video by RosaliaVEVO
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I'm hardly championing an obscure artist or anything, but I finally listened to the new Rosalía album in full yesterday (was waiting to get the record in my hands) and I had a full-body emotional experience. My maximalist soul loves it when an artist goes all the way out. youtu.be/htQBS2Ikz6c?...
Already laying out my meditation mat and lighting my scented candles in preparation.
For the past decade, I've been slowly cooking a small and humble book.
Part (alternative) history, part analysis, and part social critique, this is a look at what games also are and have always been.
ZEN AND SLOW GAMES
Out 20/1/2026 by MIT Press
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255356...
Part (alternative) history, part analysis, and part social critique, this is a look at what games also are and have always been.
ZEN AND SLOW GAMES
Out 20/1/2026 by MIT Press
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255356...
November 5, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Already laying out my meditation mat and lighting my scented candles in preparation.
Reposted by Daniel Vella
When Elden Ring had been announced but not yet released, its subreddit started collectively pretending the game was already out.
I spent far too many hours reading strategies to defeat the (completely made-up) Glaive Master Hodir. For research.
This is the result: doi.org/10.1093/aest...
I spent far too many hours reading strategies to defeat the (completely made-up) Glaive Master Hodir. For research.
This is the result: doi.org/10.1093/aest...
Fictional Game Spectatorship: On Pretend-Play and Collective Imagination in Gaming Communities
Abstract. Fictional games are games that do not actually exist, but that are presented within works of fiction. They are thus not appreciated through play,
doi.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:42 AM
When Elden Ring had been announced but not yet released, its subreddit started collectively pretending the game was already out.
I spent far too many hours reading strategies to defeat the (completely made-up) Glaive Master Hodir. For research.
This is the result: doi.org/10.1093/aest...
I spent far too many hours reading strategies to defeat the (completely made-up) Glaive Master Hodir. For research.
This is the result: doi.org/10.1093/aest...
Reposted by Daniel Vella
New stream of "A LIft Home." Premium Passenger Dr. Joleen Blom. Live on November 19, 2025. From Lublin (EPLB) to Helsinki (EFHK). Inflight menu: Transmedia storytelling and the dynamic game character. Departure 7pm (CET)/8pm (EET).
#gamestudies
#transmedia
#mediastudies
wp.me/p5EI1K-1tC
#gamestudies
#transmedia
#mediastudies
wp.me/p5EI1K-1tC
A Lift Home (S1:E3) for Dr. Joleen Blom - Sebastian Möring, PhD
A Lift Home is back and ready to take off, soon! In the next episode (S1:E3), live on November 19, 2025, we will take premium passenger Dr. Joleen Blom from Lublin-Świdnik (EPLB), where our plane was ...
wp.me
October 24, 2025 at 11:32 AM
New stream of "A LIft Home." Premium Passenger Dr. Joleen Blom. Live on November 19, 2025. From Lublin (EPLB) to Helsinki (EFHK). Inflight menu: Transmedia storytelling and the dynamic game character. Departure 7pm (CET)/8pm (EET).
#gamestudies
#transmedia
#mediastudies
wp.me/p5EI1K-1tC
#gamestudies
#transmedia
#mediastudies
wp.me/p5EI1K-1tC
As always it was a pleasure to be at Essen Spiel with @mightyboards.bsky.social! Got to show off our new Fateforge expansion, caught up with friends, made new ones, played some excellent new games (special shout out to the Yōtei team, who made one of the most delightful games I've played in a while)
October 28, 2025 at 11:20 PM
As always it was a pleasure to be at Essen Spiel with @mightyboards.bsky.social! Got to show off our new Fateforge expansion, caught up with friends, made new ones, played some excellent new games (special shout out to the Yōtei team, who made one of the most delightful games I've played in a while)
Okay, at this point, if I want to publish an academic book, which publisher can I work with that means my intellectual labour isn't being fed into an LLM wood chipper to make money for someone else? Asking for a friend.
Nigel Newton, CEO of Bloomsbury, telling us why AI is good for publishing with this fun caveat: “We are programmed deep in our DNA to be comforted by the authority and the reliability of big brand names, & that applies more than ever to the names of big writers."
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
AI can help authors beat writer’s block, says Bloomsbury chief
Publisher last week reported jump in revenue in academic and professional arm thanks to AI licensing deal
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Okay, at this point, if I want to publish an academic book, which publisher can I work with that means my intellectual labour isn't being fed into an LLM wood chipper to make money for someone else? Asking for a friend.