Topher Gerkey
@topherg.bsky.social
Gaming, witchery, queerness, parenting, pop music, mental health, disability, whatever. He/him/his.
Every time I realize I'm about to say something unkind about "true crime" fans, I have to metaphorically sit myself down and point out that I have seen every episode of Fascinating Horror, which is basically disaster porn, and I have zero room to point fingers.
December 18, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Every time I realize I'm about to say something unkind about "true crime" fans, I have to metaphorically sit myself down and point out that I have seen every episode of Fascinating Horror, which is basically disaster porn, and I have zero room to point fingers.
It’s been wild watching so many of these K-Pop kids waking up to the fact that imperfect but amazing genuine live singing is preferable to “perfect” lip-syncing in the wake of the ACON 2025 performances.
December 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
It’s been wild watching so many of these K-Pop kids waking up to the fact that imperfect but amazing genuine live singing is preferable to “perfect” lip-syncing in the wake of the ACON 2025 performances.
Reminded this morning that evangelical atheists are just the worst. Aside from the drive to convert, they inevitably never manage to shed the childish idea that every religion is actually just evangelical Christianity wearing a funny hat.
The instant you say "all religions..." you've gone wrong.
The instant you say "all religions..." you've gone wrong.
December 14, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reminded this morning that evangelical atheists are just the worst. Aside from the drive to convert, they inevitably never manage to shed the childish idea that every religion is actually just evangelical Christianity wearing a funny hat.
The instant you say "all religions..." you've gone wrong.
The instant you say "all religions..." you've gone wrong.
Just got reminded of the excellent little horror film Triangle, and that it's very probably never going to be as well known or liked as it ought to be because most people are stupid.
December 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Just got reminded of the excellent little horror film Triangle, and that it's very probably never going to be as well known or liked as it ought to be because most people are stupid.
So the beta test for the next major Stellaris update went live today, and it's a giant nerf to practically every player-facing system in the game.
And 99% of the comments I've seen, including mine, are "oh, thank goodness, finally."
It's like living on Bizarro World. But in a good way.
And 99% of the comments I've seen, including mine, are "oh, thank goodness, finally."
It's like living on Bizarro World. But in a good way.
December 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
So the beta test for the next major Stellaris update went live today, and it's a giant nerf to practically every player-facing system in the game.
And 99% of the comments I've seen, including mine, are "oh, thank goodness, finally."
It's like living on Bizarro World. But in a good way.
And 99% of the comments I've seen, including mine, are "oh, thank goodness, finally."
It's like living on Bizarro World. But in a good way.
Developing a stye in my left eye.
Dammit.
Dammit.
December 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Developing a stye in my left eye.
Dammit.
Dammit.
I thought I had become immune to excitement about upcoming films. *Especially* horror sequels. But here we are, I guess.
December 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I thought I had become immune to excitement about upcoming films. *Especially* horror sequels. But here we are, I guess.
Advice for MMO developers:
PC factions are fine. Good, even.
Factions who compete with one another in some way are fine.
Factions in total war, segregating the player base against each other, is unsustainable and limiting in the long run.
Different game genres support different stories.
PC factions are fine. Good, even.
Factions who compete with one another in some way are fine.
Factions in total war, segregating the player base against each other, is unsustainable and limiting in the long run.
Different game genres support different stories.
December 4, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Advice for MMO developers:
PC factions are fine. Good, even.
Factions who compete with one another in some way are fine.
Factions in total war, segregating the player base against each other, is unsustainable and limiting in the long run.
Different game genres support different stories.
PC factions are fine. Good, even.
Factions who compete with one another in some way are fine.
Factions in total war, segregating the player base against each other, is unsustainable and limiting in the long run.
Different game genres support different stories.
Super happy at the surprise Coral Island update today.
NON STACKING COWS. I've been complaining about ranch animal collision detection since the game was in alpha testing.
NON STACKING COWS. I've been complaining about ranch animal collision detection since the game was in alpha testing.
December 4, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Super happy at the surprise Coral Island update today.
NON STACKING COWS. I've been complaining about ranch animal collision detection since the game was in alpha testing.
NON STACKING COWS. I've been complaining about ranch animal collision detection since the game was in alpha testing.
It makes me really sad that the voices some video game developers cater to are of people who don't actually like the game and want to spend as little time as possible actually playing it. There's a type of gamer who wants to "solve" a game, not play it, and they ruin games for everyone else.
December 3, 2025 at 10:51 AM
It makes me really sad that the voices some video game developers cater to are of people who don't actually like the game and want to spend as little time as possible actually playing it. There's a type of gamer who wants to "solve" a game, not play it, and they ruin games for everyone else.
I just got accidentally reminded of one of my favorite movies, "Plan B" (2009, Argentina). Extremely imperfect yet charming characters, scenes that somehow manage to be slow/relaxed yet emotionally tense at the same time, and ultimately an embrace of bisexuality that's still rare in movies.
November 29, 2025 at 11:18 PM
I just got accidentally reminded of one of my favorite movies, "Plan B" (2009, Argentina). Extremely imperfect yet charming characters, scenes that somehow manage to be slow/relaxed yet emotionally tense at the same time, and ultimately an embrace of bisexuality that's still rare in movies.
Every time I see a new D&D5 adaptation of another property, I think "a zillion people will buy this and nobody will play it, and the people making it *know that and don't care.*
November 27, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Every time I see a new D&D5 adaptation of another property, I think "a zillion people will buy this and nobody will play it, and the people making it *know that and don't care.*
A video got me thinking about which version of Godzilla is scariest.
I eventually settled on the Minus One version as scariest, but the one from GMK is a close second.
(Shin Godzilla, bless its heart for trying, is a wonderful movie but too funny to be scary for me.)
I eventually settled on the Minus One version as scariest, but the one from GMK is a close second.
(Shin Godzilla, bless its heart for trying, is a wonderful movie but too funny to be scary for me.)
November 23, 2025 at 2:26 AM
A video got me thinking about which version of Godzilla is scariest.
I eventually settled on the Minus One version as scariest, but the one from GMK is a close second.
(Shin Godzilla, bless its heart for trying, is a wonderful movie but too funny to be scary for me.)
I eventually settled on the Minus One version as scariest, but the one from GMK is a close second.
(Shin Godzilla, bless its heart for trying, is a wonderful movie but too funny to be scary for me.)
I like Filipino food but there is no-one on the planet who could ever convince me to eat balut.
November 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I like Filipino food but there is no-one on the planet who could ever convince me to eat balut.
I love Stellaris.
But holy *shit* are a lot of Stellaris players disturbing.
But holy *shit* are a lot of Stellaris players disturbing.
November 18, 2025 at 9:46 PM
I love Stellaris.
But holy *shit* are a lot of Stellaris players disturbing.
But holy *shit* are a lot of Stellaris players disturbing.
Randomly: does anyone remember the early 1980s game "Dragonmaster"?
Simple trick-taking card game largely based on Guillotine, with a completely bespoke deck of cards featuring original fantasy characters with amazing-for-the-time art.
Simple trick-taking card game largely based on Guillotine, with a completely bespoke deck of cards featuring original fantasy characters with amazing-for-the-time art.
November 18, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Randomly: does anyone remember the early 1980s game "Dragonmaster"?
Simple trick-taking card game largely based on Guillotine, with a completely bespoke deck of cards featuring original fantasy characters with amazing-for-the-time art.
Simple trick-taking card game largely based on Guillotine, with a completely bespoke deck of cards featuring original fantasy characters with amazing-for-the-time art.
I have a bunch of issues with Pete Buttigieg but I just saw a clip of him pointing out why the electoral college is a stupid, harmful relic, and I wish that was something more politicians were willing to do.
November 17, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I have a bunch of issues with Pete Buttigieg but I just saw a clip of him pointing out why the electoral college is a stupid, harmful relic, and I wish that was something more politicians were willing to do.
I think everybody has heard me rant about Shopping Scenes in ttrpg play at least once, and it's true that is very probably my least favorite thing to experience in a game (not counting people being assholes, obvs).
But a close second has to be Planning Scenes.
But a close second has to be Planning Scenes.
November 17, 2025 at 4:30 AM
I think everybody has heard me rant about Shopping Scenes in ttrpg play at least once, and it's true that is very probably my least favorite thing to experience in a game (not counting people being assholes, obvs).
But a close second has to be Planning Scenes.
But a close second has to be Planning Scenes.
Kid called. "Dad, I started playing this game and then it seemed really familiar and then I realized you told me about it. Do you remember telling me about Life Is Strange?"
Short call, she was absorbed in her game and kept ignoring me so I ended it. :)
Short call, she was absorbed in her game and kept ignoring me so I ended it. :)
November 16, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Kid called. "Dad, I started playing this game and then it seemed really familiar and then I realized you told me about it. Do you remember telling me about Life Is Strange?"
Short call, she was absorbed in her game and kept ignoring me so I ended it. :)
Short call, she was absorbed in her game and kept ignoring me so I ended it. :)
My kid is excitedly texting me about going on her first date and WHAT THE HELL, I AM OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE A TEENAGED KID GOING ON A DATE.
(No, I've been old for a long time; we had her in our 40s. Still!)
(No, I've been old for a long time; we had her in our 40s. Still!)
November 15, 2025 at 7:02 PM
My kid is excitedly texting me about going on her first date and WHAT THE HELL, I AM OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE A TEENAGED KID GOING ON A DATE.
(No, I've been old for a long time; we had her in our 40s. Still!)
(No, I've been old for a long time; we had her in our 40s. Still!)
"Dropbear" is gonna be one of those movies where now that I've watched the trailer, I have zero need to actually watch the movie, I think.
November 15, 2025 at 3:25 AM
"Dropbear" is gonna be one of those movies where now that I've watched the trailer, I have zero need to actually watch the movie, I think.
Stellaris dorks: "The game has been unplayable for months!"
Me: can't respond, too busy playing Stellaris
Me: can't respond, too busy playing Stellaris
November 13, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Stellaris dorks: "The game has been unplayable for months!"
Me: can't respond, too busy playing Stellaris
Me: can't respond, too busy playing Stellaris
Not me having to explain to an adult that "K-Pop" does not, in fact, work as a generic term covering all Asian music.
November 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Not me having to explain to an adult that "K-Pop" does not, in fact, work as a generic term covering all Asian music.
Well, we're all fucked.
Clearly the so-called "blue wave" panicked a bunch of do-nothing "centrist" Dems.
("Centrist" is always and only code for "Rightist, but, like, not in your face about it.")
Clearly the so-called "blue wave" panicked a bunch of do-nothing "centrist" Dems.
("Centrist" is always and only code for "Rightist, but, like, not in your face about it.")
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Well, we're all fucked.
Clearly the so-called "blue wave" panicked a bunch of do-nothing "centrist" Dems.
("Centrist" is always and only code for "Rightist, but, like, not in your face about it.")
Clearly the so-called "blue wave" panicked a bunch of do-nothing "centrist" Dems.
("Centrist" is always and only code for "Rightist, but, like, not in your face about it.")
I swear if the democrats drop the ball and kiss the ring after *that* election, my brain might explode.
November 10, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I swear if the democrats drop the ball and kiss the ring after *that* election, my brain might explode.