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
New Paper: Game Design is Generative Design. Designing a procedural generator and designing a game share a lot of skills, problems and philosophies, even if we think of them as distinct. I try to connect them here, for good!
Read here: ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI...
Read here: ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI...
📌 Three new papers at #aiide25 from me:
1. A 'vision' paper about why game design is like procedural design bsky.app/profile/mtrc...
2. A new system for generating mechanics called Pixie bsky.app/profile/mtrc...
3. A big group paper about speedrunning as an AI challenge bsky.app/profile/mtrc...
1. A 'vision' paper about why game design is like procedural design bsky.app/profile/mtrc...
2. A new system for generating mechanics called Pixie bsky.app/profile/mtrc...
3. A big group paper about speedrunning as an AI challenge bsky.app/profile/mtrc...
Alright, a little late for Monday's lunch hour in most parts of the world, but here's the first part of a five-part video series about making a text-generating bluesky bot. It's quick, assumes almost no knowledge, and is (hopefully) fun. #procjam
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvPJ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvPJ...
Make A Bot In Your Lunch Hour - Part 1/5
YouTube video by Ill Omens
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Alright, a little late for Monday's lunch hour in most parts of the world, but here's the first part of a five-part video series about making a text-generating bluesky bot. It's quick, assumes almost no knowledge, and is (hopefully) fun. #procjam
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvPJ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvPJ...
Reposted by Mike Cook
Anyway, this is our game, which is pretty cool. Please take a look and wishlist if it's your thing:
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Forbidden Solitaire on Steam
Forbidden Solitaire is a card-slashing horror game about unearthing the contents of a cryptic 1995 CD-ROM that should have never existed. From the creators of Ancient Enemy and Home Safety Hotline.
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Anyway, this is our game, which is pretty cool. Please take a look and wishlist if it's your thing:
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Reposted by Mike Cook
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
The Messages Rockstar Saw Before Firing 34 Union Members
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
Reposted by Mike Cook
I finally started doing some stuff for #procjam It's slight revamp of an unfinished SCP bunker generator I started years ago.. As with most things pcg it started with a dungeon generator.!
You can read about it here, and try out the WebGL version
www.nullpointer.co.uk/procjam-25-d...
You can read about it here, and try out the WebGL version
www.nullpointer.co.uk/procjam-25-d...
November 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I finally started doing some stuff for #procjam It's slight revamp of an unfinished SCP bunker generator I started years ago.. As with most things pcg it started with a dungeon generator.!
You can read about it here, and try out the WebGL version
www.nullpointer.co.uk/procjam-25-d...
You can read about it here, and try out the WebGL version
www.nullpointer.co.uk/procjam-25-d...
Reposted by Mike Cook
The world is weird and I'm reviving my youtube channel!
I miss recording actual progress, failures and just some random thoughts. I'm going back to that!
I miss recording actual progress, failures and just some random thoughts. I'm going back to that!
Cause I'm not sure.
Support and follow: https://vis.social/@bleeptrack https://www.instagram.com/bleeptrack/ https://bsky.app/profile/bleeptrack.de https://www.linkedin.com/in/bleeptrack/ https://www.patreon.com/Bleeptrack Shoutout to @MattGrayYES @galaxykate @WHY2025NL and @roguelikecelebration ! Ki und Koffein: https://www.tiktok.com/@ki.und.koffein https://ard.social/@ki_und_koffein Roguelike Celebration Talk: https://www.youtube.com/live/kBfytrnK4NM?si=az7INg1CvjK8D1Jl&t=10885 interlaced generator: https://interlaced.bleeptrack.de/ #proceduralgeneration #whycamp #artistlife
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The world is weird and I'm reviving my youtube channel!
I miss recording actual progress, failures and just some random thoughts. I'm going back to that!
I miss recording actual progress, failures and just some random thoughts. I'm going back to that!
It’s gonna be awkward if something kicks off in the Mediterranean in the next week but that’s a risk I’m willing to take.
November 24, 2025 at 1:57 AM
It’s gonna be awkward if something kicks off in the Mediterranean in the next week but that’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Reposted by Mike Cook
Making a Snowglobe for this year's ProcJam theme "Cold Places"
November 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Making a Snowglobe for this year's ProcJam theme "Cold Places"
Reposted by Mike Cook
Working on a #PROCJAM 2025 entry. Reusing a bunch of my Archipelago of Monsters code to create a polar expedition game. Gonna get weird with it and take a lot of inspiration from The Iron Coral from Into the Odd.
November 23, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Working on a #PROCJAM 2025 entry. Reusing a bunch of my Archipelago of Monsters code to create a polar expedition game. Gonna get weird with it and take a lot of inspiration from The Iron Coral from Into the Odd.
Reposted by Mike Cook
ATTENTION SPEEDRUN FANS‼️
I accidentally bought AGDQ tickets on the same day I'm supposed to get married & they cost me $2,000 (plane, registration, hotel, etc.) If anyone wants to go take my place for FREE it's going to be at the St. Marys church his name is John he's 5'10 super nice guy
I accidentally bought AGDQ tickets on the same day I'm supposed to get married & they cost me $2,000 (plane, registration, hotel, etc.) If anyone wants to go take my place for FREE it's going to be at the St. Marys church his name is John he's 5'10 super nice guy
November 21, 2025 at 5:02 PM
ATTENTION SPEEDRUN FANS‼️
I accidentally bought AGDQ tickets on the same day I'm supposed to get married & they cost me $2,000 (plane, registration, hotel, etc.) If anyone wants to go take my place for FREE it's going to be at the St. Marys church his name is John he's 5'10 super nice guy
I accidentally bought AGDQ tickets on the same day I'm supposed to get married & they cost me $2,000 (plane, registration, hotel, etc.) If anyone wants to go take my place for FREE it's going to be at the St. Marys church his name is John he's 5'10 super nice guy
Reposted by Mike Cook
"Keith are you really going to make another iteration of the fractal world generator... again?"
"Yes but this time in hexagon form"
Might need help with how best to place patterns of hexes, especially as when you go for even sized patterns they look real weird and have weird symmetries
#procgen
"Yes but this time in hexagon form"
Might need help with how best to place patterns of hexes, especially as when you go for even sized patterns they look real weird and have weird symmetries
#procgen
November 19, 2025 at 9:59 AM
"Keith are you really going to make another iteration of the fractal world generator... again?"
"Yes but this time in hexagon form"
Might need help with how best to place patterns of hexes, especially as when you go for even sized patterns they look real weird and have weird symmetries
#procgen
"Yes but this time in hexagon form"
Might need help with how best to place patterns of hexes, especially as when you go for even sized patterns they look real weird and have weird symmetries
#procgen
Reposted by Mike Cook
It's #procjam season, and I made this a few weeks ago, anticipating I wouldn't have time to do the jam live: irskep.itch.io/talk-to-trn5...
iPhone users must disable silent mode to get audio output! iOS web audio is a disaster and other platforms don't have to deal with the same limitations.
iPhone users must disable silent mode to get audio output! iOS web audio is a disaster and other platforms don't have to deal with the same limitations.
TALK TO TRN5-F0RMR by irskep
It makes robot noises.
irskep.itch.io
November 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM
It's #procjam season, and I made this a few weeks ago, anticipating I wouldn't have time to do the jam live: irskep.itch.io/talk-to-trn5...
iPhone users must disable silent mode to get audio output! iOS web audio is a disaster and other platforms don't have to deal with the same limitations.
iPhone users must disable silent mode to get audio output! iOS web audio is a disaster and other platforms don't have to deal with the same limitations.
Reposted by Mike Cook
Hi new followers! I do research on (oldschool symbolic) AI for interactive stories that need to rewrite themselves as you play. We use them for games and training simulations.
November 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Hi new followers! I do research on (oldschool symbolic) AI for interactive stories that need to rewrite themselves as you play. We use them for games and training simulations.
people are always like oh isn't javascript funny, it thinks a string is a number, meanwhile lua appears to have been designed by six of the world's most powerful and nefarious evil wizards to specifically torment humankind (me)
November 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
people are always like oh isn't javascript funny, it thinks a string is a number, meanwhile lua appears to have been designed by six of the world's most powerful and nefarious evil wizards to specifically torment humankind (me)
1000xResist (Sunset Visitor, 2024)
November 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM
1000xResist (Sunset Visitor, 2024)
Reposted by Mike Cook
If you don't live in France, it's hard to really grasp how deeply islamophobic and racist its institutions still are, to this day. They're happy to let you work for them or to consume your cultural goods, but they don't like it when you're *too* arab.
We were invited to screen Still Playing at Amiens Jail in France as part of the cultural activity
They asked me to take off my Kufiya claming its religious symbol
I explained it’s part of my culture worn by people regardless of their religion
I refused to take it off & the screening was cancelled
They asked me to take off my Kufiya claming its religious symbol
I explained it’s part of my culture worn by people regardless of their religion
I refused to take it off & the screening was cancelled
November 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
If you don't live in France, it's hard to really grasp how deeply islamophobic and racist its institutions still are, to this day. They're happy to let you work for them or to consume your cultural goods, but they don't like it when you're *too* arab.
Reposted by Mike Cook
The theme for #PROCJAM 2025 is:
❄️ ☃️ COLD PLACES ☃️ ❄️
Brr! We selected this theme using a new method: I asked community members to send in theme suggestions, then we turned them into word vectors, found the average, and looked at the words nearest to that! A little bit of unpredictability. 🔮
❄️ ☃️ COLD PLACES ☃️ ❄️
Brr! We selected this theme using a new method: I asked community members to send in theme suggestions, then we turned them into word vectors, found the average, and looked at the words nearest to that! A little bit of unpredictability. 🔮
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM
The theme for #PROCJAM 2025 is:
❄️ ☃️ COLD PLACES ☃️ ❄️
Brr! We selected this theme using a new method: I asked community members to send in theme suggestions, then we turned them into word vectors, found the average, and looked at the words nearest to that! A little bit of unpredictability. 🔮
❄️ ☃️ COLD PLACES ☃️ ❄️
Brr! We selected this theme using a new method: I asked community members to send in theme suggestions, then we turned them into word vectors, found the average, and looked at the words nearest to that! A little bit of unpredictability. 🔮
Reposted by Mike Cook
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
The theme for #PROCJAM 2025 is:
❄️ ☃️ COLD PLACES ☃️ ❄️
Brr! We selected this theme using a new method: I asked community members to send in theme suggestions, then we turned them into word vectors, found the average, and looked at the words nearest to that! A little bit of unpredictability. 🔮
❄️ ☃️ COLD PLACES ☃️ ❄️
Brr! We selected this theme using a new method: I asked community members to send in theme suggestions, then we turned them into word vectors, found the average, and looked at the words nearest to that! A little bit of unpredictability. 🔮
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM
The theme for #PROCJAM 2025 is:
❄️ ☃️ COLD PLACES ☃️ ❄️
Brr! We selected this theme using a new method: I asked community members to send in theme suggestions, then we turned them into word vectors, found the average, and looked at the words nearest to that! A little bit of unpredictability. 🔮
❄️ ☃️ COLD PLACES ☃️ ❄️
Brr! We selected this theme using a new method: I asked community members to send in theme suggestions, then we turned them into word vectors, found the average, and looked at the words nearest to that! A little bit of unpredictability. 🔮
Absolutely absurd shot in the dark but: do I know anyone who could get me in touch with Dara Ó Briain or someone in his general vicinity?
November 21, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Absolutely absurd shot in the dark but: do I know anyone who could get me in touch with Dara Ó Briain or someone in his general vicinity?
Reposted by Mike Cook
November 21, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Pretty interesting stuff! Notably this is testing the situation where people are shown the same information (ie the LLM provides web links as citations etc). It also looks at how original the subsequent synthesis is by the human participant.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Pretty interesting stuff! Notably this is testing the situation where people are shown the same information (ie the LLM provides web links as citations etc). It also looks at how original the subsequent synthesis is by the human participant.
Reposted by Mike Cook
We're almost there! If you've not voted you can still order a replacement ballot today!
November 21, 2025 at 9:41 AM
We're almost there! If you've not voted you can still order a replacement ballot today!
Reposted by Mike Cook
London ! I'll be playing at the last ever @algorave.com at Corsica Studios this Wednesday 26th Nov before they close the doors for good, amongst a top multi-generational line-up of live coders + co. Come down if you're nearby!
ra.co/events/2280905
ra.co/events/2280905
November 20, 2025 at 11:10 PM
London ! I'll be playing at the last ever @algorave.com at Corsica Studios this Wednesday 26th Nov before they close the doors for good, amongst a top multi-generational line-up of live coders + co. Come down if you're nearby!
ra.co/events/2280905
ra.co/events/2280905
Well Tom, good news for those who aren't sure what to do: I'm going to be recording a little series of videos this weekend to guide people through making their first generator in Tracery next week, in five quick lunch-hour-sized sessions - no experience required!
November 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Well Tom, good news for those who aren't sure what to do: I'm going to be recording a little series of videos this weekend to guide people through making their first generator in Tracery next week, in five quick lunch-hour-sized sessions - no experience required!
#procjam starts tomorrow! As a reminder: you can bring an old project, you can start early, you can finish late, you can do whatever you want (except use generative AI). Come make something that makes something, and make new friends in our wonderful community too.
PROCJAM - the Procedural Generation Jam - is back for another year! Join us on itch.io this November for another week of making something that makes something - a bskybot, a videogame, a digital artwork, a dice table or something else!
🗓️ Nov 21st - Dec 1st
🔮 itch.io/jam/procjam
🗓️ Nov 21st - Dec 1st
🔮 itch.io/jam/procjam
PROCJAM - The Procedural Generation Jam
A game jam from 2025-11-21 to 2025-12-01 hosted by PROCJAM. Let's Make Something! PROCJAM - the Procedural Generation Jam - is a creative coding jam about making things that make things. This normally...
itch.io
November 20, 2025 at 3:50 PM
#procjam starts tomorrow! As a reminder: you can bring an old project, you can start early, you can finish late, you can do whatever you want (except use generative AI). Come make something that makes something, and make new friends in our wonderful community too.