Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
@halfrobot.com
Game Designer (Consentacle +37 others)
Chair / Director, NYU Game Center ( https://gamecenter.nyu.edu/ )
Founding Collective, Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Formerly: Gamelab, LEGO, strap-on.org etc.
https://metasynthie.itch.io/
Opinions are only my own!
Chair / Director, NYU Game Center ( https://gamecenter.nyu.edu/ )
Founding Collective, Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Formerly: Gamelab, LEGO, strap-on.org etc.
https://metasynthie.itch.io/
Opinions are only my own!
OMG Spider & Web
January 11, 2026 at 4:21 AM
OMG Spider & Web
If you read the first panel and thought "wait, there's one extra" then (rings bell) you've won the no-prize! It's a typo, Namor is actually repeating it wrong. He was told to say one less "O."
January 10, 2026 at 2:22 AM
If you read the first panel and thought "wait, there's one extra" then (rings bell) you've won the no-prize! It's a typo, Namor is actually repeating it wrong. He was told to say one less "O."
The author (Bob Denatale) left comics not long after to focus on butoh, the avant-garde Japanese dance form bobdenatale.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:17 AM
The author (Bob Denatale) left comics not long after to focus on butoh, the avant-garde Japanese dance form bobdenatale.com
[x salvage]
An odd moment in 1990: apropos of nothing the Sub-Mariner chants an anagram of "Abortion Rights Womens Choice" to calm angry fish-creatures.
An odd moment in 1990: apropos of nothing the Sub-Mariner chants an anagram of "Abortion Rights Womens Choice" to calm angry fish-creatures.
January 10, 2026 at 2:10 AM
[x salvage]
An odd moment in 1990: apropos of nothing the Sub-Mariner chants an anagram of "Abortion Rights Womens Choice" to calm angry fish-creatures.
An odd moment in 1990: apropos of nothing the Sub-Mariner chants an anagram of "Abortion Rights Womens Choice" to calm angry fish-creatures.
X salvage continued, somehow in May 2023 I found that someone had made an AI chatbot based on @foddy.net and never was able to locate it again
January 10, 2026 at 1:55 AM
X salvage continued, somehow in May 2023 I found that someone had made an AI chatbot based on @foddy.net and never was able to locate it again
X salvage continued, had to save this banger from @molleindustria.org
January 10, 2026 at 1:49 AM
X salvage continued, had to save this banger from @molleindustria.org
Still, Barnes v. Felix did establish that whether use of force is reasonable depends on the “totality of the circumstances” including what the officer did prior to the use of force (like standing in front of a car) not just the “moment of threat” (a moving car)
January 9, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Still, Barnes v. Felix did establish that whether use of force is reasonable depends on the “totality of the circumstances” including what the officer did prior to the use of force (like standing in front of a car) not just the “moment of threat” (a moving car)
This happens so often that many law enforcement agencies have guidelines about “officer-created jeopardy” that very commonly say not to approach a car from the front or stand there, since that could lead to this. But in May SCOTUS declined to enshrine office-created jeopardy as a firm standard.
January 9, 2026 at 10:20 PM
This happens so often that many law enforcement agencies have guidelines about “officer-created jeopardy” that very commonly say not to approach a car from the front or stand there, since that could lead to this. But in May SCOTUS declined to enshrine office-created jeopardy as a firm standard.
People who believe in authoritarian violence are clear on two things others aren’t:
1. if you stand near a cop vehicle and the corner brushes you as it’s pulling out, that’s your fault
2. if a cop stands near your vehicle and the corner brushes him as you pull out, he gets to shoot you dead
1. if you stand near a cop vehicle and the corner brushes you as it’s pulling out, that’s your fault
2. if a cop stands near your vehicle and the corner brushes him as you pull out, he gets to shoot you dead
January 9, 2026 at 10:12 PM
People who believe in authoritarian violence are clear on two things others aren’t:
1. if you stand near a cop vehicle and the corner brushes you as it’s pulling out, that’s your fault
2. if a cop stands near your vehicle and the corner brushes him as you pull out, he gets to shoot you dead
1. if you stand near a cop vehicle and the corner brushes you as it’s pulling out, that’s your fault
2. if a cop stands near your vehicle and the corner brushes him as you pull out, he gets to shoot you dead
No matter how they try, it's never possible to completely eliminate game journalists... because new game journalists are born every second of every day.
Also, old game journalists know how to reanimate each other from the dead. Sketchy but useful.
Also, old game journalists know how to reanimate each other from the dead. Sketchy but useful.
January 9, 2026 at 8:29 PM
No matter how they try, it's never possible to completely eliminate game journalists... because new game journalists are born every second of every day.
Also, old game journalists know how to reanimate each other from the dead. Sketchy but useful.
Also, old game journalists know how to reanimate each other from the dead. Sketchy but useful.
Reposted by Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
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
Big congrats to IGF nominees including the controversial Horses, plus many home-grown crops from these parts like Baby Steps, Ball X Pit, Kiloton by @jackmorehart.bsky.social and AP's mystery-shrouded recently-unwrapped Titanium Court which you can now wishlist
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
Titanium Court on Steam
A surreal strategy game for clowns and criminals.
store.steampowered.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Big congrats to IGF nominees including the controversial Horses, plus many home-grown crops from these parts like Baby Steps, Ball X Pit, Kiloton by @jackmorehart.bsky.social and AP's mystery-shrouded recently-unwrapped Titanium Court which you can now wishlist
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
grats on IGF noms too!
January 9, 2026 at 5:48 PM
grats on IGF noms too!
Reposted by Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
The IGFs are the most important award show imo, and while you've probably seen a lot of the nominees listed here, you should really check out the honorable mentions. Lots of cool stuff that I've never heard of - and also games that aren't even out yet!
Baby Steps leads 28th annual IGF Awards nominations
Baby Steps leads 28th annual IGF Awards nominations
Blippo+, Titanium Court, and Horses have also received multiple nods.
www.gamedeveloper.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:29 PM
The IGFs are the most important award show imo, and while you've probably seen a lot of the nominees listed here, you should really check out the honorable mentions. Lots of cool stuff that I've never heard of - and also games that aren't even out yet!
Refactoring a branching narrative's structure and effects on persistent values due to ripple effects of a late-breaking change. It's mind-numbing and stressful which IMO is the worst kind of boring. Also nobody should ever do this kind of nightmare-boring.
January 9, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Refactoring a branching narrative's structure and effects on persistent values due to ripple effects of a late-breaking change. It's mind-numbing and stressful which IMO is the worst kind of boring. Also nobody should ever do this kind of nightmare-boring.
Reposted by Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
Quite precise: We are more positive about AI generation in areas outside our own expertise; we worry more about our own jobs.
the discourse on what jobs are acceptable to replace with generative AI reveals a lot about what we think of other people's jobs
January 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Quite precise: We are more positive about AI generation in areas outside our own expertise; we worry more about our own jobs.
funny how things bend towards money
January 9, 2026 at 4:22 AM
funny how things bend towards money
"Sexualizing" prompts seem to be disregarded by Grok on X now -- although other kinds, like "making women dress more modestly" are not, which is notable since it's not a rate-limit or something.
Anyway, that makes it easy for Apple & Google to do jack squat, for UK govt to do jack squat, etc etc
Anyway, that makes it easy for Apple & Google to do jack squat, for UK govt to do jack squat, etc etc
January 9, 2026 at 3:57 AM
"Sexualizing" prompts seem to be disregarded by Grok on X now -- although other kinds, like "making women dress more modestly" are not, which is notable since it's not a rate-limit or something.
Anyway, that makes it easy for Apple & Google to do jack squat, for UK govt to do jack squat, etc etc
Anyway, that makes it easy for Apple & Google to do jack squat, for UK govt to do jack squat, etc etc
Reposted by Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美
Our almost 4-hour GOTY 2025 special is live now!
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners.
secretlives.games/151-games-of...
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners.
secretlives.games/151-games-of...
The Secret Lives of Games: 151: Games of the Year 2025
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners. Happy new year! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Our GOTY Pic...
secretlives.games
January 8, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Our almost 4-hour GOTY 2025 special is live now!
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners.
secretlives.games/151-games-of...
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners.
secretlives.games/151-games-of...
Should go without saying:
Game devs working in mobile (could be you, colleagues, friends etc?) should check on what kind of permissions your app asks for vs. truly needs.
Don't let someone in your company casually decide to sell player locations to authoritarian governments... for a few bucks!
Game devs working in mobile (could be you, colleagues, friends etc?) should check on what kind of permissions your app asks for vs. truly needs.
Don't let someone in your company casually decide to sell player locations to authoritarian governments... for a few bucks!
I should follow this up with another facet since it's related to games.
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
January 8, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Should go without saying:
Game devs working in mobile (could be you, colleagues, friends etc?) should check on what kind of permissions your app asks for vs. truly needs.
Don't let someone in your company casually decide to sell player locations to authoritarian governments... for a few bucks!
Game devs working in mobile (could be you, colleagues, friends etc?) should check on what kind of permissions your app asks for vs. truly needs.
Don't let someone in your company casually decide to sell player locations to authoritarian governments... for a few bucks!
The systems discussed in the linked 404 media article are also using this kind of "wifi location data" to pinpoint and follow devices -- so also check your "Local Network" privacy/security permissions. Beyond media-casting apps these are almost never needed for anything but reselling your data.
January 8, 2026 at 8:26 PM
The systems discussed in the linked 404 media article are also using this kind of "wifi location data" to pinpoint and follow devices -- so also check your "Local Network" privacy/security permissions. Beyond media-casting apps these are almost never needed for anything but reselling your data.
I should follow this up with another facet since it's related to games.
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
January 8, 2026 at 8:24 PM
I should follow this up with another facet since it's related to games.
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
Unity's ad system (+ its 2022 acquisition Iron Source) can & will report your rough location (~zipcode granularity) if you allow a game to "communicate w/ devices on local network."
Breakdown: timsh.org/tracking-mys...
Also: this sort of location-dragnet policing frequently scoops up people who are just passing through an area & then are investigated, harassed, arrested, deported, etc.
We saw this happen to random Columbia students in '24-25.
So even if you're NOT protesting at all, don't give apps location data
We saw this happen to random Columbia students in '24-25.
So even if you're NOT protesting at all, don't give apps location data
January 8, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Also: this sort of location-dragnet policing frequently scoops up people who are just passing through an area & then are investigated, harassed, arrested, deported, etc.
We saw this happen to random Columbia students in '24-25.
So even if you're NOT protesting at all, don't give apps location data
We saw this happen to random Columbia students in '24-25.
So even if you're NOT protesting at all, don't give apps location data
Of course, with cell tower data via subpoena to a service provider, or Palantir, FLOCk etc there are plenty of other ways to surveil and track you!
But look: they're doing THIS one because it's so easy with few legal hurdles. You shouldn't make it easy for them. Don't give apps location permission.
But look: they're doing THIS one because it's so easy with few legal hurdles. You shouldn't make it easy for them. Don't give apps location permission.
January 8, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Of course, with cell tower data via subpoena to a service provider, or Palantir, FLOCk etc there are plenty of other ways to surveil and track you!
But look: they're doing THIS one because it's so easy with few legal hurdles. You shouldn't make it easy for them. Don't give apps location permission.
But look: they're doing THIS one because it's so easy with few legal hurdles. You shouldn't make it easy for them. Don't give apps location permission.
ICE is able to track any phone without a warrant or subpoena because this system does not rely on cell-tower signals, but on "voluntarily disclosed" information from all sorts of apps you've given location permissions to. Ever wondered why an app needs your location? To sell it, of course.
New: we've obtained material explaining how an ICE surveillance system, called Webloc, works. Draw shape on a map, see all phones available there, follow them home. All without warrant
“This is a very dangerous tool in the hands of an out-of-control agency.” www.404media.co/inside-ices-...
“This is a very dangerous tool in the hands of an out-of-control agency.” www.404media.co/inside-ices-...
Inside ICE’s Tool to Monitor Phones in Entire Neighborhoods
404 Media has obtained material that explains how Tangles and Webloc, two surveillance systems ICE recently purchased, work. Webloc can track phones without a warrant and follow their owners home or t...
www.404media.co
January 8, 2026 at 7:51 PM
ICE is able to track any phone without a warrant or subpoena because this system does not rely on cell-tower signals, but on "voluntarily disclosed" information from all sorts of apps you've given location permissions to. Ever wondered why an app needs your location? To sell it, of course.