Brandon Craw
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social
Review bylines on startmenu.co.uk | Also made a podcast about video games and psychology called Mind Controllers 🧠 🎮 | MA Clinical Psychology
linktr.ee/MindControllers
linktr.ee/MindControllers
Pinned
Brandon Craw
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social
· Dec 12
Yo! We're Mind Controllers, a podcast focusing on doing deep dives of some of our favorite games and video game characters. We also do a weekly general games chat on the side. Come listen and hang out with us! 🔗 to the pod in bio!
No quote has ever made more sense than this one from @smashynick.bsky.social
"8 bucks is still 5 bucks, it doesn't become 10 bucks."
That's just math!
That's just math!
January 14, 2026 at 11:39 PM
No quote has ever made more sense than this one from @smashynick.bsky.social
Reposted by Brandon Craw
A slightly delayed (sorry) Update Patch is up now, courtesy of @bigbovy.bsky.social, featuring updates on the Rockstar firings and questionable "answers" from Larian on AI.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Update Patch News Roundup (14/01/26) | startmenu
Get more from startmenu on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:55 PM
A slightly delayed (sorry) Update Patch is up now, courtesy of @bigbovy.bsky.social, featuring updates on the Rockstar firings and questionable "answers" from Larian on AI.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Stop Caring will make its triumphant return this Friday with a very special essay from a very special writer. If all goes well, it will be followed by my first piece of the year (on Pathologic 3) next week, and a returning guest's piece the week after that.
get pumped
get pumped
January 14, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Stop Caring will make its triumphant return this Friday with a very special essay from a very special writer. If all goes well, it will be followed by my first piece of the year (on Pathologic 3) next week, and a returning guest's piece the week after that.
get pumped
get pumped
It's Monday night, so you know what that means... Megabonk Monday! Come hang while I try to unlock some new characters and weapons!
www.twitch.tv/mindcontroll...
Streaming until roughly 10pm pst
www.twitch.tv/mindcontroll...
Streaming until roughly 10pm pst
Twitch
Twitch is the world
www.twitch.tv
January 13, 2026 at 4:23 AM
It's Monday night, so you know what that means... Megabonk Monday! Come hang while I try to unlock some new characters and weapons!
www.twitch.tv/mindcontroll...
Streaming until roughly 10pm pst
www.twitch.tv/mindcontroll...
Streaming until roughly 10pm pst
Bored at work on a Monday? Let us make your day a liiittle more interesting by chatting about some video games!
It's the Oops all Brandon episode of Scatterbrained this week. Starting off 2026 on the right foot!!! Come hang out with us while we catch up on what we've been playing over the winter break! Use link to listen on your favorite podcast app.
linktr.ee/MindControll...
linktr.ee/MindControll...
MindControllers | Instagram, TikTok, Twitch | Linktree
A podcast about shining the light on the psychological aspects of video games
linktr.ee
January 12, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Bored at work on a Monday? Let us make your day a liiittle more interesting by chatting about some video games!
Damn, I thought these sets seemed really fun until I saw that price point 👀
I get that Lego is for adult collectors at this point but Jesus Christ
January 12, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Damn, I thought these sets seemed really fun until I saw that price point 👀
Check out this awesome review from @brawler1993.bsky.social for Big Hops! Definitely has me interested in trying out the game
Big Hops might not have the polish of bigger 3D platformers but its fundamentals and its heart make it near impossible not to cheer for this lil guy and his big adventure.
@brawler1993.bsky.social reviews.
@brawler1993.bsky.social reviews.
Review | Big Hops – Let’s Do the Frog-dyssey — startmenu
Big Hops might not have the polish of bigger 3D platformers but its fundamentals and its heart make it near impossible not to cheer for this lil guy and his big adventure. Michael Beckwith reviews.
www.startmenu.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Check out this awesome review from @brawler1993.bsky.social for Big Hops! Definitely has me interested in trying out the game
So much has happened this past month. Leave it up to startmenu to tell you all about it!
January 10, 2026 at 10:07 PM
So much has happened this past month. Leave it up to startmenu to tell you all about it!
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Larian Studios CEO says they will stop using generative AI for concept art development in 'Divinity' ⚔️
Gen-AI was previously used in the exploration phase, with all final concept art made by artists — and that will no longer happen so 'there is no discussion about the origin of the art'
Gen-AI was previously used in the exploration phase, with all final concept art made by artists — and that will no longer happen so 'there is no discussion about the origin of the art'
January 9, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Larian Studios CEO says they will stop using generative AI for concept art development in 'Divinity' ⚔️
Gen-AI was previously used in the exploration phase, with all final concept art made by artists — and that will no longer happen so 'there is no discussion about the origin of the art'
Gen-AI was previously used in the exploration phase, with all final concept art made by artists — and that will no longer happen so 'there is no discussion about the origin of the art'
It's the Oops all Brandon episode of Scatterbrained this week. Starting off 2026 on the right foot!!! Come hang out with us while we catch up on what we've been playing over the winter break! Use link to listen on your favorite podcast app.
linktr.ee/MindControll...
linktr.ee/MindControll...
MindControllers | Instagram, TikTok, Twitch | Linktree
A podcast about shining the light on the psychological aspects of video games
linktr.ee
January 9, 2026 at 4:24 PM
It's the Oops all Brandon episode of Scatterbrained this week. Starting off 2026 on the right foot!!! Come hang out with us while we catch up on what we've been playing over the winter break! Use link to listen on your favorite podcast app.
linktr.ee/MindControll...
linktr.ee/MindControll...
It's so hard to have the motivation to do something creative. It's been bad news for weeks and I can't stop thinking about all of it. I want to write more but damn it's been a struggle
January 8, 2026 at 6:42 AM
It's so hard to have the motivation to do something creative. It's been bad news for weeks and I can't stop thinking about all of it. I want to write more but damn it's been a struggle
Reposted by Brandon Craw
are you ever just SO sleepy?
January 6, 2026 at 10:58 PM
are you ever just SO sleepy?
Reposted by Brandon Craw
might as well post on here...
I am still looking for housing in Chicago. Last year, I was a victim of domestic violence so had to leave my apartment.
My budget is flexible, I cook, I clean, I work full-time and like to leave the house on weekends. (1/2)
I am still looking for housing in Chicago. Last year, I was a victim of domestic violence so had to leave my apartment.
My budget is flexible, I cook, I clean, I work full-time and like to leave the house on weekends. (1/2)
January 6, 2026 at 8:13 PM
might as well post on here...
I am still looking for housing in Chicago. Last year, I was a victim of domestic violence so had to leave my apartment.
My budget is flexible, I cook, I clean, I work full-time and like to leave the house on weekends. (1/2)
I am still looking for housing in Chicago. Last year, I was a victim of domestic violence so had to leave my apartment.
My budget is flexible, I cook, I clean, I work full-time and like to leave the house on weekends. (1/2)
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Update Patch is back with Scott Nowbaveh rounding up everything from the price of RAM skyrocketing, to the price of GPUs skyrocketing, to the price of Star Wars Racer Revenge skyrocketing...
Wait, what was that last one?
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Wait, what was that last one?
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Update Patch News Roundup (30/12/25) | startmenu
Get more from startmenu on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Update Patch is back with Scott Nowbaveh rounding up everything from the price of RAM skyrocketing, to the price of GPUs skyrocketing, to the price of Star Wars Racer Revenge skyrocketing...
Wait, what was that last one?
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Wait, what was that last one?
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Reposted by Brandon Craw
I'm going to be live over on www.twitch.tv/giantbomb in about ten minutes for the first Game Mess Mornings of the year!
GiantBomb - Twitch
Game Mess Mornings 01/05/26
www.twitch.tv
January 5, 2026 at 3:49 PM
I'm going to be live over on www.twitch.tv/giantbomb in about ten minutes for the first Game Mess Mornings of the year!
Reposted by Brandon Craw
As you read the news today, watch who phrases the news as an "illegal invasion and regime change" versus "bringing democracy". It'll tell you everything you need to know about the news source you're reading, and frankly should decide whether you ever read them seriously again.
January 3, 2026 at 1:05 PM
As you read the news today, watch who phrases the news as an "illegal invasion and regime change" versus "bringing democracy". It'll tell you everything you need to know about the news source you're reading, and frankly should decide whether you ever read them seriously again.
Such a beautiful piece. Thank you @robinbombus.bsky.social !
The games that had the biggest impact on @robinbombus.bsky.social in 2025 were about bringing people together.
Human Connection Was At The Heart Of Robin Bea’s Favourite Games This Year | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
The games that had the biggest impact on Robin Bea in 2025 were about bringing people together.
www.startmenu.co.uk
January 4, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Such a beautiful piece. Thank you @robinbombus.bsky.social !
Oh my god Ghost of Yotei is stunning! It's impossible to take a bad screenshot here. This was just on a regular ps5 (not pro). If I had played this before GOTY, this easily would have been in my top 5.
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Oh my god Ghost of Yotei is stunning! It's impossible to take a bad screenshot here. This was just on a regular ps5 (not pro). If I had played this before GOTY, this easily would have been in my top 5.
Reposted by Brandon Craw
And with this list from @packbenpack.bsky.social that brings us to an end of editing and posting over 60(!) Guest Lists on Giant Bomb.
Huge shout out to @marinov1.bsky.social for heading this up with me and the whole @giantbomb.bsky.social team for asking me to help.
giantbomb.com/articles/ben...
Huge shout out to @marinov1.bsky.social for heading this up with me and the whole @giantbomb.bsky.social team for asking me to help.
giantbomb.com/articles/ben...
Ben Pack's Top Games of 2025 | Giant Bomb
Ben Pack's Top Games of 2025 -- A guest list for GiantBomb.com's 2025 Game of the Year extravaganza.
giantbomb.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:09 PM
And with this list from @packbenpack.bsky.social that brings us to an end of editing and posting over 60(!) Guest Lists on Giant Bomb.
Huge shout out to @marinov1.bsky.social for heading this up with me and the whole @giantbomb.bsky.social team for asking me to help.
giantbomb.com/articles/ben...
Huge shout out to @marinov1.bsky.social for heading this up with me and the whole @giantbomb.bsky.social team for asking me to help.
giantbomb.com/articles/ben...
Mind Controller's GOTY episode is out! Last year we had tons of overlap, but this year, not so much.
If you got some time, come hang out with us as we go through our 10 favorite games this year!
Use the link below to find and listen on your favorite app:
linktr.ee/MindControllers
If you got some time, come hang out with us as we go through our 10 favorite games this year!
Use the link below to find and listen on your favorite app:
linktr.ee/MindControllers
MindControllers | Instagram, TikTok, Twitch | Linktree
A podcast about shining the light on the psychological aspects of video games
linktr.ee
January 2, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Mind Controller's GOTY episode is out! Last year we had tons of overlap, but this year, not so much.
If you got some time, come hang out with us as we go through our 10 favorite games this year!
Use the link below to find and listen on your favorite app:
linktr.ee/MindControllers
If you got some time, come hang out with us as we go through our 10 favorite games this year!
Use the link below to find and listen on your favorite app:
linktr.ee/MindControllers
Reposted by Brandon Craw
2025 was a great year for people who stand for nothing and believe in nothing too. So with that in mind, @edgarallanbro.bsky.social is here to beg you to believe in SOMETHING, and stand for SOMETHING.
www.startmenu.co.uk/home/will-bo...
www.startmenu.co.uk/home/will-bo...
Will Borger Is Begging You to Believe in Something | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
2025 was a great year for people who stand for nothing and believe in nothing too. So with that in mind, Will Borger is here to beg you to believe in SOMETHING, and stand for SOMETHING.
www.startmenu.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 2:15 PM
2025 was a great year for people who stand for nothing and believe in nothing too. So with that in mind, @edgarallanbro.bsky.social is here to beg you to believe in SOMETHING, and stand for SOMETHING.
www.startmenu.co.uk/home/will-bo...
www.startmenu.co.uk/home/will-bo...
Quick! What are some good Karaoke song recs for tonight?
January 1, 2026 at 3:40 AM
Quick! What are some good Karaoke song recs for tonight?
IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! I awarded a few awards for @startmenu.bsky.social, and you can check them out and more here!! And peak that site wide GOTY while you're at it 👀
This was such a fun and bright moment in a dark month. So glad to have contributed and worked alongside so many amazing writers!
This was such a fun and bright moment in a dark month. So glad to have contributed and worked alongside so many amazing writers!
The startmenu Awards return for another year with the debut of the first site-wide vote for startmenu’s Game of the Year! But before that, we’ve got a selection of critics’ choice awards highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2025.
The startmenu Awards 2025 | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
The startmenu Awards return for another year with the debut of the first site-wide vote for startmenu’s Game of the Year! But before that, we’ve got a selection of critics’ choice awards highlighting ...
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 4:24 PM
IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! I awarded a few awards for @startmenu.bsky.social, and you can check them out and more here!! And peak that site wide GOTY while you're at it 👀
This was such a fun and bright moment in a dark month. So glad to have contributed and worked alongside so many amazing writers!
This was such a fun and bright moment in a dark month. So glad to have contributed and worked alongside so many amazing writers!
Reposted by Brandon Craw
The startmenu Awards return for another year with the debut of the first site-wide vote for startmenu’s Game of the Year! But before that, we’ve got a selection of critics’ choice awards highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2025.
The startmenu Awards 2025 | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
The startmenu Awards return for another year with the debut of the first site-wide vote for startmenu’s Game of the Year! But before that, we’ve got a selection of critics’ choice awards highlighting ...
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The startmenu Awards return for another year with the debut of the first site-wide vote for startmenu’s Game of the Year! But before that, we’ve got a selection of critics’ choice awards highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2025.
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Despite the winter break, last week saw a lot of video game news, including the tragic passing of Vince Zampella.
@wendeego.bsky.social rounds up everything from the last seven days in the latest Update Patch.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
@wendeego.bsky.social rounds up everything from the last seven days in the latest Update Patch.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Update Patch News Roundup (30/12/25) | startmenu
Get more from startmenu on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Despite the winter break, last week saw a lot of video game news, including the tragic passing of Vince Zampella.
@wendeego.bsky.social rounds up everything from the last seven days in the latest Update Patch.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
@wendeego.bsky.social rounds up everything from the last seven days in the latest Update Patch.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...