Pinned
THE TOMCAST - YouTube
Tomcast is a podcast featuring Tom talking about (or relating things to) videogames.
www.youtube.com
I'm a software developer by day; game developer (UE5) by night. [TODO: write a better pinned post]
TODO: personal-website/space-vampire page
I'm sincerely making a podcast as a joke. Nobody should listen to it.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
TODO: personal-website/space-vampire page
I'm sincerely making a podcast as a joke. Nobody should listen to it.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
I got lucky and bought a few indie games right before the steam sale.
I find these days that Steam sales are when I buy AAA games, and *avoid* buying indies until the sale is over so I can pay the little guys a reasonable amount.
December 19, 2025 at 7:06 AM
I got lucky and bought a few indie games right before the steam sale.
UGUISUDANISTA?
Mobile Police Patlabor: The Early Days
Episode 1
Second Unit, Move Out!
Episode 1
Second Unit, Move Out!
December 18, 2025 at 6:43 AM
UGUISUDANISTA?
For the first time in a long time I'm going to have some time to play videogames over the next few weeks
What are some Walking Sims, FPS/RPGs, First-Person Immersive Sims, or experimental FPS games I should play?
What are some Walking Sims, FPS/RPGs, First-Person Immersive Sims, or experimental FPS games I should play?
December 18, 2025 at 2:23 AM
For the first time in a long time I'm going to have some time to play videogames over the next few weeks
What are some Walking Sims, FPS/RPGs, First-Person Immersive Sims, or experimental FPS games I should play?
What are some Walking Sims, FPS/RPGs, First-Person Immersive Sims, or experimental FPS games I should play?
I don't know who the video editor is but they are not getting paid enough.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6Lw...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6Lw...
The downfall of traditional media and the post-literate society
YouTube video by Alice Cappelle
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:20 AM
I don't know who the video editor is but they are not getting paid enough.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6Lw...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6Lw...
Reposted
This is… um… in the middle of the Seattle area. Not some in the country on the east side thing… flooding fields…
komonews.com/news/local/f...
komonews.com/news/local/f...
GO NOW: Flash flood evacuation issued for Tukwila area after Green River levee failure
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a flash flood warning for west central King County, Washington, following the failure of the Green River Leve
komonews.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:26 PM
This is… um… in the middle of the Seattle area. Not some in the country on the east side thing… flooding fields…
komonews.com/news/local/f...
komonews.com/news/local/f...
Reposted
Oh, OK.
December 11, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Oh, OK.
Is VTMB2 better than Avowed?
(The real headline is that this is an actual category)
(The real headline is that this is an actual category)
VTM: Bloodlines 2 wins the 'Game That Is Actually Good When You Don't Have A Bitch In Your Ear Telling You It's Bad' award for me, but I think Dynasty Warriors: Origins wins GOTY award.
I'm sure Silent Hill f will win an award from me once I can afford it too!
I'm sure Silent Hill f will win an award from me once I can afford it too!
December 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Is VTMB2 better than Avowed?
(The real headline is that this is an actual category)
(The real headline is that this is an actual category)
Every once in a while I find myself thinking about pigeons in William Shatner's TekWar. The books and the games have pigeons but the TV movie doesn't (but one of them does have birds).
I'm never really sure where I'm going with that.
I'm never really sure where I'm going with that.
December 11, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Every once in a while I find myself thinking about pigeons in William Shatner's TekWar. The books and the games have pigeons but the TV movie doesn't (but one of them does have birds).
I'm never really sure where I'm going with that.
I'm never really sure where I'm going with that.
The mecha fans on this website are so cooked.
liquid immersion cockpit mech pilot looking at a sous vide steak and starting to cry a little bit
December 10, 2025 at 1:46 AM
The mecha fans on this website are so cooked.
As much as cozy mech game would be cool, it would necessitate moving most of the power lines below ground. Or having certain places where mecha can't go since they could damage infrastructure.
I'm fun at parties.
I'm fun at parties.
It wouldn't surprise me if the military supplier knew this and sold civilian level replacement parts.
For the soldiers being a pilot would also garuntee them a civilian job. At least initially.
For the soldiers being a pilot would also garuntee them a civilian job. At least initially.
December 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
As much as cozy mech game would be cool, it would necessitate moving most of the power lines below ground. Or having certain places where mecha can't go since they could damage infrastructure.
I'm fun at parties.
I'm fun at parties.
I'm all for questionable choices in facial hair; But we really need to stop centering things on lonely single men.
December 6, 2025 at 4:27 AM
I'm all for questionable choices in facial hair; But we really need to stop centering things on lonely single men.
Reposted
Fun Fact: 2026 is the year the original 1998 Riven Wall calendar can be used again. Try hanging up both to double your Riven experience!
December 3, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Fun Fact: 2026 is the year the original 1998 Riven Wall calendar can be used again. Try hanging up both to double your Riven experience!
I do in fact call it "biskie" in my own head.
If you don't pronounce "bsky.app" as "biskie dot apeepee," don't talk to me.
December 2, 2025 at 7:10 AM
I do in fact call it "biskie" in my own head.
Reposted
The real scary thing is how many AAA games are already doing this. Aim assist, the sticky crosshairs, auto crouch, taking control of the camera... The dotted line, the cinematic walk and talk. The follower who solves the puzzle for you.
(In the context of FPS and third person action games)
(In the context of FPS and third person action games)
that would go scary hard from a game design standpoint.
a game with a lot of assistance, and a model monitoring how you execute on tactics, and then it starts performing actions ahead of you without telling you.
a game with a lot of assistance, and a model monitoring how you execute on tactics, and then it starts performing actions ahead of you without telling you.
November 29, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The real scary thing is how many AAA games are already doing this. Aim assist, the sticky crosshairs, auto crouch, taking control of the camera... The dotted line, the cinematic walk and talk. The follower who solves the puzzle for you.
(In the context of FPS and third person action games)
(In the context of FPS and third person action games)
There's no way hospitals with burn wards can go out of business with posts like this.
“Like the polar ice caps, we have witnessed Your Mom shrinking from outer space,” Dr. Sykes said. “Unfortunately, there were some downsides, too: Several grocery stores went out of business, and next year’s congressional maps are in flux now that Your Mom fits in a single zip code.”
Novo Nordisk Unveils New, Stronger Ozempic for Your Mom: tinyurl.com/bddhnv5p
November 27, 2025 at 10:53 PM
There's no way hospitals with burn wards can go out of business with posts like this.
The weirdest problem I have is the Unreal Engine keeps better implementing things I've spent months working on.
Its not a bad problem to have. But its making me want to continually update the engine.
Its not a bad problem to have. But its making me want to continually update the engine.
Spent the morning having a quick look at the ultra early new Substrate Toon BSDF / Toon Profiles added to UE5-Main Branch this past week, looking cool, although no specular stuff is implemented, just diffuse but promsising!
#UE5 #UnrealEngine #GameDev #TechArt #Stylised
#UE5 #UnrealEngine #GameDev #TechArt #Stylised
November 24, 2025 at 2:32 AM
The weirdest problem I have is the Unreal Engine keeps better implementing things I've spent months working on.
Its not a bad problem to have. But its making me want to continually update the engine.
Its not a bad problem to have. But its making me want to continually update the engine.
The further irony is that gold recently tested all time highs.
shovel sales off the chart. great news for gold rush no end in sight!
JUST IN: Nvidia's strong earnings beat Wall Street estimates, a positive signal for the AI boom and economy.
November 20, 2025 at 2:08 AM
The further irony is that gold recently tested all time highs.
As a player, killing myself* is my prerogative. You used to be able to have a key bound that would kill yourself (last game that had this was Nier Automata and that game was good). If the player wants to die the game should let them.
*this should only be in videogames. Do not actually kill yourself.
*this should only be in videogames. Do not actually kill yourself.
So you could really hurt yourself by double-jumping on a lift that's descending. Even worse is the edge case: There's one specific armor that lets your double-jump turn into a HOVER. I'll wager that's a fatal fall.
Yes, the player did it themselves, but it feels bad man. No reason to jump on lifts.
Yes, the player did it themselves, but it feels bad man. No reason to jump on lifts.
November 19, 2025 at 8:44 AM
As a player, killing myself* is my prerogative. You used to be able to have a key bound that would kill yourself (last game that had this was Nier Automata and that game was good). If the player wants to die the game should let them.
*this should only be in videogames. Do not actually kill yourself.
*this should only be in videogames. Do not actually kill yourself.
There is a whole element of agency (clear determinant feedback and player control) and intentionality (the gameplay dynamic where players can form and execute plans) that is important to mention.
Grinding for gold with an optimized plan is different than grinding a slot machine.
Grinding for gold with an optimized plan is different than grinding a slot machine.
This concept is often hard for devs to grasp too, not just players. I put it as "the joy of doing" vs. "the joy of being".
Why does some grind or hard challenge feel joyful in game A, but a chore in game B? You enjoy *existing* in game A. The "thing to do" serves that joy.
Pet the dog. Enjoy being
Why does some grind or hard challenge feel joyful in game A, but a chore in game B? You enjoy *existing* in game A. The "thing to do" serves that joy.
Pet the dog. Enjoy being
November 19, 2025 at 1:59 AM
There is a whole element of agency (clear determinant feedback and player control) and intentionality (the gameplay dynamic where players can form and execute plans) that is important to mention.
Grinding for gold with an optimized plan is different than grinding a slot machine.
Grinding for gold with an optimized plan is different than grinding a slot machine.
This might seem like the melodramatic climax of an entire arc. But actually it's just the first episode.
November 16, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This might seem like the melodramatic climax of an entire arc. But actually it's just the first episode.
With all the layoffs there are now only 505 people in the game industry.
This is the GDC salary survey breakdown
1) approximately 5 people answered that they make over $1,000,000
2) the percentages add up to 103% lol
1) approximately 5 people answered that they make over $1,000,000
2) the percentages add up to 103% lol
November 15, 2025 at 4:17 AM
With all the layoffs there are now only 505 people in the game industry.
You heard Cleopatra lived closer to the iPhone than the building of the pyramids but have you heard...
In about a year, I think it is, maybe a little more, we will be as far away from Alien: Isolation as Alien: Isolation is from GTA3
November 13, 2025 at 7:52 AM
You heard Cleopatra lived closer to the iPhone than the building of the pyramids but have you heard...
Reposted
Hey, all you tech savvy motherfuckers that I love so much, if I were to want to upgrade to a 3rd party controller for PC, (contemplating moving away from standard Xbox One controllers due to drift & noise), what would you recommend?
Price range preferably sub-$100, but can maybe fiddle with $150~.
Price range preferably sub-$100, but can maybe fiddle with $150~.
November 10, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Hey, all you tech savvy motherfuckers that I love so much, if I were to want to upgrade to a 3rd party controller for PC, (contemplating moving away from standard Xbox One controllers due to drift & noise), what would you recommend?
Price range preferably sub-$100, but can maybe fiddle with $150~.
Price range preferably sub-$100, but can maybe fiddle with $150~.