Mike Cook
@mtrc.bsky.social
AI, creativity and procedural generation researcher. No, not that kind of AI. I write and make games and take photographs of cities. Senior Lecturer at King's College London.
A prototype for a much larger system
http://www.possibilityspace.org | he/they
A prototype for a much larger system
http://www.possibilityspace.org | he/they
Pinned
Mike Cook
@mtrc.bsky.social
· 27d
New Post: Magpie (Part One) 🐦⬛
Magpie is my tool for livecoding visuals, made inside #picotron! This post explains what livecoding is (briefly), what Picotron is (also briefly), and shows a bit of what Magpie can do.
www.possibilityspace.org/blog/posts/m...
Magpie is my tool for livecoding visuals, made inside #picotron! This post explains what livecoding is (briefly), what Picotron is (also briefly), and shows a bit of what Magpie can do.
www.possibilityspace.org/blog/posts/m...
Reposted by Mike Cook
if i were running a social media tool in the first week of 2026, I probably would not be asking if my audience is excited for AI tools that can generate images. i would probably read at least one news article.
Discord wants to know how you feel about AI.
Go tell them: discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Go tell them: discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com
January 10, 2026 at 8:20 AM
if i were running a social media tool in the first week of 2026, I probably would not be asking if my audience is excited for AI tools that can generate images. i would probably read at least one news article.
Reposted by Mike Cook
Skin Deep is nominated for the IGF EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN award!
I'm so proud of what we made. Skin Deep's designers:
- Suzanne Will @binarypartitioned.space
- Tynan Wales
- Brendon Chung @blendogames.bsky.social
Skin Deep credits:
blendogames.com/skindeep/cre...
IGF noms:
tinyurl.com/2zzt8sw4
I'm so proud of what we made. Skin Deep's designers:
- Suzanne Will @binarypartitioned.space
- Tynan Wales
- Brendon Chung @blendogames.bsky.social
Skin Deep credits:
blendogames.com/skindeep/cre...
IGF noms:
tinyurl.com/2zzt8sw4
January 9, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Skin Deep is nominated for the IGF EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN award!
I'm so proud of what we made. Skin Deep's designers:
- Suzanne Will @binarypartitioned.space
- Tynan Wales
- Brendon Chung @blendogames.bsky.social
Skin Deep credits:
blendogames.com/skindeep/cre...
IGF noms:
tinyurl.com/2zzt8sw4
I'm so proud of what we made. Skin Deep's designers:
- Suzanne Will @binarypartitioned.space
- Tynan Wales
- Brendon Chung @blendogames.bsky.social
Skin Deep credits:
blendogames.com/skindeep/cre...
IGF noms:
tinyurl.com/2zzt8sw4
Reposted by Mike Cook
one of the best to ever do it
I've been running an indie games studio for 15 years now, and it felt like a good time to boil down what I've learned into 4 pieces of advice:
www.pentadact.com/2026-01-08-1...
I hope it's of use, not least because goddamn I forgot how long blog posts take to write.
www.pentadact.com/2026-01-08-1...
I hope it's of use, not least because goddamn I forgot how long blog posts take to write.
January 9, 2026 at 1:35 PM
one of the best to ever do it
Reposted by Mike Cook
Congratulations to @strikemap.org on five years 🥳
They made an excellent book revisiting some of the strikes and telling the story so far 📖✊
Get a copy here bit.ly/SM5yearhardb... and support the project for many years to come!
They made an excellent book revisiting some of the strikes and telling the story so far 📖✊
Get a copy here bit.ly/SM5yearhardb... and support the project for many years to come!
January 9, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Congratulations to @strikemap.org on five years 🥳
They made an excellent book revisiting some of the strikes and telling the story so far 📖✊
Get a copy here bit.ly/SM5yearhardb... and support the project for many years to come!
They made an excellent book revisiting some of the strikes and telling the story so far 📖✊
Get a copy here bit.ly/SM5yearhardb... and support the project for many years to come!
Reposted by Mike Cook
January 8, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Mike Cook
Hi! If you'd like to start with the easier ones, i'd suggest looking at Scriddles #2, #3 and #15. If you'd like to see how someone can solve a Scriddle, check out these solving videos:
▶️ @weeble.bsky.social's (www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...)
▶️ @mtrc.bsky.social's (youtube.com/playlist?lis...)
▶️ @weeble.bsky.social's (www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...)
▶️ @mtrc.bsky.social's (youtube.com/playlist?lis...)
Scriddle - YouTube
Solving puzzles where we don't know the rules.
www.youtube.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Hi! If you'd like to start with the easier ones, i'd suggest looking at Scriddles #2, #3 and #15. If you'd like to see how someone can solve a Scriddle, check out these solving videos:
▶️ @weeble.bsky.social's (www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...)
▶️ @mtrc.bsky.social's (youtube.com/playlist?lis...)
▶️ @weeble.bsky.social's (www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...)
▶️ @mtrc.bsky.social's (youtube.com/playlist?lis...)
@tomwalker.bsky.social I assume you're asleep maybe but this Truck Simulator race looks like it's gonna be good bsky.app/profile/game...
Big Ranch and Heavy Chevy are hitting the stage to bring us the rootinest tootinest truck drive you've ever seen! #AGDQ2026
gdq.gg/live / youtube.com/c/gamesdonequick
gdq.gg/live / youtube.com/c/gamesdonequick
January 7, 2026 at 6:55 PM
@tomwalker.bsky.social I assume you're asleep maybe but this Truck Simulator race looks like it's gonna be good bsky.app/profile/game...
Reposted by Mike Cook
Hey Canadians! Your taxes subsidize these big game companies and you should be furious about this.
Ubisoft closes Halifax studio weeks after workers vote to unionize
Ubisoft closes Halifax studio weeks after workers vote to unionize
Workers at the Canadian studio voted to unionize in December in search of security in an era of 'studio closures, layoffs, and increasing instability.'
www.gamedeveloper.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Hey Canadians! Your taxes subsidize these big game companies and you should be furious about this.
Reposted by Mike Cook
The Academic Work Tracker spreadsheet is now updated with 2026 dates! If you don't already, 2026 is a great time to start treating your academic work like the wage job where you are paid to work a certain amount of hours that it actually is: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Academic Work Tracker Template v2.3 (2026)
docs.google.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:24 AM
The Academic Work Tracker spreadsheet is now updated with 2026 dates! If you don't already, 2026 is a great time to start treating your academic work like the wage job where you are paid to work a certain amount of hours that it actually is: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
really would like Things to stop happening in close proximity to me. surely 2026 cannot be a non-stop series of Things. surely at some point there has to be a gap in the Things.
January 5, 2026 at 10:44 PM
really would like Things to stop happening in close proximity to me. surely 2026 cannot be a non-stop series of Things. surely at some point there has to be a gap in the Things.
Reposted by Mike Cook
happy 85th birthday to Hayao Miyazaki
January 5, 2026 at 10:12 PM
happy 85th birthday to Hayao Miyazaki
Reposted by Mike Cook
my dentist’s office is playing nightreign lore videos in the lobby??????
January 5, 2026 at 2:29 PM
my dentist’s office is playing nightreign lore videos in the lobby??????
I'm still working through my Scriddle backlog. I have 19 and 20 ready to upload, but they're all going into this playlist here if you want to watch me torture myself trying to be good at @pyrofoux.bsky.social's amazing game. I did something different for 21:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNaV...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNaV...
Scriddle #21
YouTube video by Ill Omens
www.youtube.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:41 PM
I'm still working through my Scriddle backlog. I have 19 and 20 ready to upload, but they're all going into this playlist here if you want to watch me torture myself trying to be good at @pyrofoux.bsky.social's amazing game. I did something different for 21:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNaV...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNaV...
One of the best shirts GDQ have ever done. theyetee.com/collections/...
January 4, 2026 at 7:26 PM
One of the best shirts GDQ have ever done. theyetee.com/collections/...
Reposted by Mike Cook
Reposted by Mike Cook
Reposted by Mike Cook
https://gacha.o0o0.jp/gp/archives/25365
『TAMA-KYU 運命のコイン』4月再販予定。自分で決めたくない貴方へ…
"TAMA-KYU Coin of Destiny" will be re-released in April. For those who don't want to decide for themselves...
#ガチャポン #gachapon
『TAMA-KYU 運命のコイン』4月再販予定。自分で決めたくない貴方へ…
"TAMA-KYU Coin of Destiny" will be re-released in April. For those who don't want to decide for themselves...
#ガチャポン #gachapon
January 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM
https://gacha.o0o0.jp/gp/archives/25365
『TAMA-KYU 運命のコイン』4月再販予定。自分で決めたくない貴方へ…
"TAMA-KYU Coin of Destiny" will be re-released in April. For those who don't want to decide for themselves...
#ガチャポン #gachapon
『TAMA-KYU 運命のコイン』4月再販予定。自分で決めたくない貴方へ…
"TAMA-KYU Coin of Destiny" will be re-released in April. For those who don't want to decide for themselves...
#ガチャポン #gachapon
Reposted by Mike Cook
Do you want to solve a puzzle without being told its rules? Try Scriddle, an (experimental) daily puzzle game where the rules are kept secret. I'll share one here each day this week!
🟡 SCRIDDLE #26
▶️ scriddle.net?d=MDMtMDEtMj...
🔽 source of the original puzzle in reply
🟡 SCRIDDLE #26
▶️ scriddle.net?d=MDMtMDEtMj...
🔽 source of the original puzzle in reply
January 4, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Do you want to solve a puzzle without being told its rules? Try Scriddle, an (experimental) daily puzzle game where the rules are kept secret. I'll share one here each day this week!
🟡 SCRIDDLE #26
▶️ scriddle.net?d=MDMtMDEtMj...
🔽 source of the original puzzle in reply
🟡 SCRIDDLE #26
▶️ scriddle.net?d=MDMtMDEtMj...
🔽 source of the original puzzle in reply
Reposted by Mike Cook
Hey buddy, you stop making it and I'll stop saying it www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/mi...
Microsoft's Satya Nadella wants you to stop saying AI "slop" in 2026
In closing comments of 2025, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella shared an update on the company's mindset for 2026 — shocker, it's all about AI.
www.windowscentral.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Hey buddy, you stop making it and I'll stop saying it www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/mi...
Reposted by Mike Cook
SCRIDDLE #24 (5⨯ - 26:28)
Solve video: youtu.be/L-R_z_wcjBc
I think I was a bit slow on this one and confused myself with some counting mistakes, but I'm happy with this result. I think I'd be a fair bit quicker if I weren't trying to articulate all my thought processes.
Solve video: youtu.be/L-R_z_wcjBc
I think I was a bit slow on this one and confused myself with some counting mistakes, but I'm happy with this result. I think I'd be a fair bit quicker if I weren't trying to articulate all my thought processes.
January 1, 2026 at 7:38 PM
SCRIDDLE #24 (5⨯ - 26:28)
Solve video: youtu.be/L-R_z_wcjBc
I think I was a bit slow on this one and confused myself with some counting mistakes, but I'm happy with this result. I think I'd be a fair bit quicker if I weren't trying to articulate all my thought processes.
Solve video: youtu.be/L-R_z_wcjBc
I think I was a bit slow on this one and confused myself with some counting mistakes, but I'm happy with this result. I think I'd be a fair bit quicker if I weren't trying to articulate all my thought processes.
Reposted by Mike Cook
Happy New Year everyone! Presenting, a really awesome prototype of Spore! Dated a full six months before the final release, this has been famed for its lengthy development and the many iterations it went.
hiddenpalace.org/Spore_(Feb_1...
Enjoy!
hiddenpalace.org/Spore_(Feb_1...
Enjoy!
January 2, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Happy New Year everyone! Presenting, a really awesome prototype of Spore! Dated a full six months before the final release, this has been famed for its lengthy development and the many iterations it went.
hiddenpalace.org/Spore_(Feb_1...
Enjoy!
hiddenpalace.org/Spore_(Feb_1...
Enjoy!
Reposted by Mike Cook
Though sad and uncomfortable, winter - and death - are often necessary to prevent game worlds from feeling stagnant.
In our first article on Seasons, @hollynielsen.bsky.social explores how winter provides vital friction in the Harvest Moon series:
vist.ly/4kb34
In our first article on Seasons, @hollynielsen.bsky.social explores how winter provides vital friction in the Harvest Moon series:
vist.ly/4kb34
Winter and Death in Harvest Moon
While letting go of a beloved pet is hard, death plays an essential role in preventing farming sims from feeling stagnant.
vist.ly
January 1, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Though sad and uncomfortable, winter - and death - are often necessary to prevent game worlds from feeling stagnant.
In our first article on Seasons, @hollynielsen.bsky.social explores how winter provides vital friction in the Harvest Moon series:
vist.ly/4kb34
In our first article on Seasons, @hollynielsen.bsky.social explores how winter provides vital friction in the Harvest Moon series:
vist.ly/4kb34
Reposted by Mike Cook
I uh, made this. It was supposed to be a joke / concept-art thing that scrolls through the torrent of new AI/ML arXiv uploads too fast to read. But I think I iterated too much and made it almost usable.
arXiv AI/ML Catch-Up
Was your New Year's resolution to keep up with arXiv AI/ML preprints? Browse the past week's new uploads in 30 mins.
www.kmjn.org
January 1, 2026 at 11:45 PM
I uh, made this. It was supposed to be a joke / concept-art thing that scrolls through the torrent of new AI/ML arXiv uploads too fast to read. But I think I iterated too much and made it almost usable.