Jess Morrissette
@decafjedi.com
I'm a professor who studies politics, games, and pop culture. I stream retro adventure games every Wednesday night at twitch.tv/decafjedi. Co-host of the Quest Quest podcast. Links to all my other stuff at decafjedi.com!
Sometimes I think about how, long after Trump is gone, his portrait will still be included on those posters that hang in elementary school classrooms with all the American presidents, and it bums me out.
January 11, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Sometimes I think about how, long after Trump is gone, his portrait will still be included on those posters that hang in elementary school classrooms with all the American presidents, and it bums me out.
I happen to know a guy who's at his limit.
(me)
(me)
January 11, 2026 at 4:32 PM
I happen to know a guy who's at his limit.
(me)
(me)
AI should only be used for one thing: making bad guys in video games take cover behind crates while firing at the player.
January 11, 2026 at 12:09 AM
AI should only be used for one thing: making bad guys in video games take cover behind crates while firing at the player.
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
Without revealing your actual age, what's an oath you've broken that rendered you temporarily mortal?
January 10, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Without revealing your actual age, what's an oath you've broken that rendered you temporarily mortal?
If I was on The Traitors, I would simply say "spoken like a true traitor" in response to literally anything anyone says at roundtable and then collect my $250,000 at the end.
January 10, 2026 at 10:44 PM
If I was on The Traitors, I would simply say "spoken like a true traitor" in response to literally anything anyone says at roundtable and then collect my $250,000 at the end.
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
Let's make 2026 the year we induct Caper in the Castro (1989) into the Video Game Hall of Fame.
January 7, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Let's make 2026 the year we induct Caper in the Castro (1989) into the Video Game Hall of Fame.
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
Unused "Fatality" sprites from WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game.
January 10, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Unused "Fatality" sprites from WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game.
I'm live on Twitch with a little ranked Overwatch 2, trying to make the climb to platinum. Drop by and cheer me on! twitch.tv/decafjedi
January 10, 2026 at 2:38 AM
I'm live on Twitch with a little ranked Overwatch 2, trying to make the climb to platinum. Drop by and cheer me on! twitch.tv/decafjedi
My university is eliminating our travel funding, but they're saying if we get accepted to a conference and don't attend, we can still count it toward tenure and promotion.
I'm sure conference organizers will appreciate that.
I'm sure conference organizers will appreciate that.
January 10, 2026 at 12:14 AM
My university is eliminating our travel funding, but they're saying if we get accepted to a conference and don't attend, we can still count it toward tenure and promotion.
I'm sure conference organizers will appreciate that.
I'm sure conference organizers will appreciate that.
Denied the ability to sit.
In 2D Mario platformers, Mario can either crouch or slide, but is denied the ability to sit in place. However, with a specific setup in Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario will come to rest in a sliding animation, finally allowing him to simply sit.
January 9, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Denied the ability to sit.
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
hi! i'm co-founding a new gaming website with my former polygon colleague @zoehhannah.com. it's called mothership.blog. i made it for someone like me... the kind of website i always wished we had in our space. watch the video to learn more :D
It's time to board the Mothership.
www.youtube.com/shorts/iEw90...
www.youtube.com/shorts/iEw90...
Board the Mothership.
YouTube video by Mothership Media LLC
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:04 PM
hi! i'm co-founding a new gaming website with my former polygon colleague @zoehhannah.com. it's called mothership.blog. i made it for someone like me... the kind of website i always wished we had in our space. watch the video to learn more :D
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
My university is all in on AI at this point, and it's easier to make my students write their essays by hand in the classroom than it is to justify to admin why I'm giving them zeroes for turning in ChatGPT slop.
January 9, 2026 at 5:08 AM
My university is all in on AI at this point, and it's easier to make my students write their essays by hand in the classroom than it is to justify to admin why I'm giving them zeroes for turning in ChatGPT slop.
It breaks my heart to do it, but I'm switching entirely to in-class writing this semester.
January 9, 2026 at 5:03 AM
It breaks my heart to do it, but I'm switching entirely to in-class writing this semester.
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
I need a distraction from everything, so I'm live with Voodoo Detective, the 2022 point-and-click adventure. If you need a distraction too, come join me on Twitch. twitch.tv/decafjedi
January 8, 2026 at 2:15 AM
I need a distraction from everything, so I'm live with Voodoo Detective, the 2022 point-and-click adventure. If you need a distraction too, come join me on Twitch. twitch.tv/decafjedi
I was already having nightly stress dreams about returning to the classroom next week. What am I even supposed to say about political science at this point?
January 7, 2026 at 11:48 PM
I was already having nightly stress dreams about returning to the classroom next week. What am I even supposed to say about political science at this point?
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
Just received this announcement from the president of my university:
"Today, I am pleased to share that we are moving from exploration to execution. AI is no longer just a pilot at [redacted] — it’s a strategic tool for student success, research advancement and institutional efficiency."
"Today, I am pleased to share that we are moving from exploration to execution. AI is no longer just a pilot at [redacted] — it’s a strategic tool for student success, research advancement and institutional efficiency."
January 7, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Just received this announcement from the president of my university:
"Today, I am pleased to share that we are moving from exploration to execution. AI is no longer just a pilot at [redacted] — it’s a strategic tool for student success, research advancement and institutional efficiency."
"Today, I am pleased to share that we are moving from exploration to execution. AI is no longer just a pilot at [redacted] — it’s a strategic tool for student success, research advancement and institutional efficiency."
Just received this announcement from the president of my university:
"Today, I am pleased to share that we are moving from exploration to execution. AI is no longer just a pilot at [redacted] — it’s a strategic tool for student success, research advancement and institutional efficiency."
"Today, I am pleased to share that we are moving from exploration to execution. AI is no longer just a pilot at [redacted] — it’s a strategic tool for student success, research advancement and institutional efficiency."
January 7, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Just received this announcement from the president of my university:
"Today, I am pleased to share that we are moving from exploration to execution. AI is no longer just a pilot at [redacted] — it’s a strategic tool for student success, research advancement and institutional efficiency."
"Today, I am pleased to share that we are moving from exploration to execution. AI is no longer just a pilot at [redacted] — it’s a strategic tool for student success, research advancement and institutional efficiency."
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
the finale of Rugrats where Tommy sacrifices himself to destroy Angelica once and for all
Given that apparently the Stranger Things finale was meh (idk, didn't watch it, just the scuttlebutt) and we're not that far removed from the disastrous GOT finale that retroactively made everyone have never cared about the show:
What's the *best* ending to a show you've ever seen? Quote/reply etc
What's the *best* ending to a show you've ever seen? Quote/reply etc
January 7, 2026 at 2:57 PM
the finale of Rugrats where Tommy sacrifices himself to destroy Angelica once and for all
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
Apparently this game was briefly considered lost, but the author found some old floppies in 2017, they were resuscitated by a curator at the Strong National Museum of Play, and now you can play it online — museums rock.
January 7, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Apparently this game was briefly considered lost, but the author found some old floppies in 2017, they were resuscitated by a curator at the Strong National Museum of Play, and now you can play it online — museums rock.
Let's make 2026 the year we induct Caper in the Castro (1989) into the Video Game Hall of Fame.
January 7, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Let's make 2026 the year we induct Caper in the Castro (1989) into the Video Game Hall of Fame.
I assume this 1992 print ad is for Street Fighter II, but honestly, I'm not sure. It's odd that they didn't include the usual small-print trademark and copyright info.
"Will you ever reach the end?" is also a fascinating tagline for the SNES' UK marketing campaign. Very Dreamcast-coded.
"Will you ever reach the end?" is also a fascinating tagline for the SNES' UK marketing campaign. Very Dreamcast-coded.
January 7, 2026 at 1:06 PM
I assume this 1992 print ad is for Street Fighter II, but honestly, I'm not sure. It's odd that they didn't include the usual small-print trademark and copyright info.
"Will you ever reach the end?" is also a fascinating tagline for the SNES' UK marketing campaign. Very Dreamcast-coded.
"Will you ever reach the end?" is also a fascinating tagline for the SNES' UK marketing campaign. Very Dreamcast-coded.
Nintendo Magazine System is an incredible name, tbh.
January 7, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Nintendo Magazine System is an incredible name, tbh.
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
Amusing to think that magazines spent nearly four years (the game came out Oct 85) talking about Deja Vu as an adventure filled with pointing and clicking, or played with a "Mac interface", before someone finally wrote "point-and-click adventure". We did get close a couple of times, though.
January 7, 2026 at 12:42 AM
Amusing to think that magazines spent nearly four years (the game came out Oct 85) talking about Deja Vu as an adventure filled with pointing and clicking, or played with a "Mac interface", before someone finally wrote "point-and-click adventure". We did get close a couple of times, though.
Reposted by Jess Morrissette
I think we can all agree it would be pretty awesome to see some rockin' slam dunks in 2026. Just slam-a-lam those tasty dunk-a-roos right through the ol' hoop, basket boys!
January 5, 2026 at 9:15 PM
I think we can all agree it would be pretty awesome to see some rockin' slam dunks in 2026. Just slam-a-lam those tasty dunk-a-roos right through the ol' hoop, basket boys!