Eben
@ebenmyers.bsky.social
Game designer, erstwhile blacksmith (he/him)
Trans rights are human rights, and Black lives matter.
Trans rights are human rights, and Black lives matter.
Reposted by Eben
31 December 1995. Still the perfect goodbye.
December 31, 2024 at 12:21 PM
31 December 1995. Still the perfect goodbye.
Reposted by Eben
The Polaris List is out! Top 100 most personally influential games as listed by senior game designers.
Fascinating trove that is at the root of most modern game designs. What inspires us and why? Spoiler: It ain't all Call of Duty
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
Fascinating trove that is at the root of most modern game designs. What inspires us and why? Spoiler: It ain't all Call of Duty
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
The Polaris List
Polaris is a non-profit committed to improving and refining the art and craft of game design. In order to get a snapshot of current game design thinking and reference points, we wondered — what do wor...
polarisgamedesign.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:15 AM
The Polaris List is out! Top 100 most personally influential games as listed by senior game designers.
Fascinating trove that is at the root of most modern game designs. What inspires us and why? Spoiler: It ain't all Call of Duty
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
Fascinating trove that is at the root of most modern game designs. What inspires us and why? Spoiler: It ain't all Call of Duty
polarisgamedesign.com/the-polaris-...
Only 50% of the 10 games I submitted made it onto the top 100, which strikes me as about right.
One interesting pattern was that a huge portion of designers had a game on their list that no one else had.
Which speaks to both the vast diversity of niche games that inspire us. And the uniqueness of our inspirations.
What informs my games isn't going to be what informs the designer next to me.
Which speaks to both the vast diversity of niche games that inspire us. And the uniqueness of our inspirations.
What informs my games isn't going to be what informs the designer next to me.
December 20, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Only 50% of the 10 games I submitted made it onto the top 100, which strikes me as about right.
Reposted by Eben
Indie Dev discovers the game they're making basically already exists, worried of being deemed a ripoff. Original dev responds.
December 18, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Indie Dev discovers the game they're making basically already exists, worried of being deemed a ripoff. Original dev responds.
Reposted by Eben
I did not expect this excellent analysis of Tolkien’s writing to both give me new insight and then make me tear up in this doctor’s waiting room, yet here we are
This essay by the author of a recent well-reviewed book about Tolkien starts modestly and then stabs you with a Morgul-blade halfway through, where you are pinioned by a twist in the telling. You may never recover. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/o...
Opinion | Why I Keep Returning to Middle-Earth
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I did not expect this excellent analysis of Tolkien’s writing to both give me new insight and then make me tear up in this doctor’s waiting room, yet here we are
Reposted by Eben
Top: Sunset on Mars (Curiosity rover, April 2015)
Bottom: Sunset on LV-426 (Alien, 1979)
Bottom: Sunset on LV-426 (Alien, 1979)
December 12, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Top: Sunset on Mars (Curiosity rover, April 2015)
Bottom: Sunset on LV-426 (Alien, 1979)
Bottom: Sunset on LV-426 (Alien, 1979)
Excellent selections (all four). Looking at my bookshelf, I’d be hard pressed to pick something better!
If I was held at gunpoint and forced to recommend just one book for prospective game designers, I would recommend these two books before death took me
December 10, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Excellent selections (all four). Looking at my bookshelf, I’d be hard pressed to pick something better!
Reposted by Eben
I played Horses this weekend and I wrote down some messy thoughts not only on the game but especially on the specter of formalism that emerged to haunt us all for a moment.
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8023277...
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8023277...
I Hope You Get To Live Your Entire Life As A Human
I thought this was going to be a review of my time with Santa Ragione's Horses, the controversial art game recently banned from Steam and the Epic Store. To some extent, this will be that but after...
transgamerthoughts.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I played Horses this weekend and I wrote down some messy thoughts not only on the game but especially on the specter of formalism that emerged to haunt us all for a moment.
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8023277...
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8023277...
Reposted by Eben
Post your favorite "Lord of the Rings" character. Wrong answers only.
November 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Post your favorite "Lord of the Rings" character. Wrong answers only.
Reposted by Eben
This is why Kentucky Route Zero and 1000xResist are the goats
There should be more games inspired by avant-garde stage design.
November 26, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This is why Kentucky Route Zero and 1000xResist are the goats
On the other end of things, there was the time I was starting a playtest of WASD+mouse (first person) game and the tester asked me how to use a mouse. There was a lot of soul searching (on my part) after that one…
stuff you always want to hear as the playtest starts, "I really hope my latest changes are not in this build."
November 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
On the other end of things, there was the time I was starting a playtest of WASD+mouse (first person) game and the tester asked me how to use a mouse. There was a lot of soul searching (on my part) after that one…
That image of the Horned King is lodged deep in my subconscious!
I have said before and will say again that it is such a loss that we no longer get covers of this caliber for fantasy books.
This art is by Jean-Léon Huens. These covers are for the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. They lit my imagination on fire as a kid.
This art is by Jean-Léon Huens. These covers are for the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. They lit my imagination on fire as a kid.
November 25, 2025 at 5:22 PM
That image of the Horned King is lodged deep in my subconscious!
Reposted by Eben
Return to Moria's Expansion - Durin's Folk is live now! All new story, NPCs, outdoor areas, trading.. go get it now on Steam, Xbox, PS5 and Epic! www.returntomoria.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Return to Moria's Expansion - Durin's Folk is live now! All new story, NPCs, outdoor areas, trading.. go get it now on Steam, Xbox, PS5 and Epic! www.returntomoria.com
This whole series is fantastic, but it’s hard to top the octopus samurai helmet!
Part 9 of 200 in historically interesting things to inspire your ttrpg
Samurai helmet (kabuko) shaped like an octopus. 1700s
Samurai helmet (kabuko) shaped like an octopus. 1700s
November 15, 2025 at 3:36 AM
This whole series is fantastic, but it’s hard to top the octopus samurai helmet!
Reposted by Eben
"babies are born worshipping unknown gods" is one of the most incredible dwarf fortress bugs i have heard of. its poetry.
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
"babies are born worshipping unknown gods" is one of the most incredible dwarf fortress bugs i have heard of. its poetry.
The art vs the artist’s hand
November 11, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The art vs the artist’s hand
Reposted by Eben
Carnegie and Mellon's forebears would have grown up in a world where fairies were real...
The Ohio Valley's Scots-Irish population was steeped in the occult - Pittsburgh City Paper | News, Dining, Music, Best Of, Arts, Film
The predecessors to Pittsburgh’s industrial forbearers were “born in a rural Ireland steeped in fairy lore.”
www.pghcitypaper.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Carnegie and Mellon's forebears would have grown up in a world where fairies were real...
Reposted by Eben
"Studios build teams; teams build games"
That's it, that's the skeet. I'm gonna be yelling this for years.
That's it, that's the skeet. I'm gonna be yelling this for years.
I think smaller teams make better games. I think happy people make better games.
I think every studio should be thinking of the team as their #1 product and strength, and the games are the OUTPUT of that team.
People should be trained, given opportunities, given reasons to WANT to be there
I think every studio should be thinking of the team as their #1 product and strength, and the games are the OUTPUT of that team.
People should be trained, given opportunities, given reasons to WANT to be there
October 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM
"Studios build teams; teams build games"
That's it, that's the skeet. I'm gonna be yelling this for years.
That's it, that's the skeet. I'm gonna be yelling this for years.
Here’s a blade I almost finished this Summer. I’ve been having fun figuring out how to finish it in my home shop (which is not equipped for blade smithing).
September 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Here’s a blade I almost finished this Summer. I’ve been having fun figuring out how to finish it in my home shop (which is not equipped for blade smithing).
Reposted by Eben
January 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Eben
This entire thread is amazing, but when I got to this one I thought it was a good place to repost the pointer to the thread, because this song is one of the most triumphant ones I know. And the story about saving a life is true -- Bob Cusick. It's in the Wikipedia article for thems as are curious.
56. Stan Rogers (R.I.P.) - The Mary Ellen Carter
The legend cannot possibly be missing from this list, and there's only one real choice for a tune - the song that saved a life. Beautiful beyond words, and filled with Stan's eternal cheer and zest for life.
The legend cannot possibly be missing from this list, and there's only one real choice for a tune - the song that saved a life. Beautiful beyond words, and filled with Stan's eternal cheer and zest for life.
The Mary Ellen Carter
YouTube video by Stan Rogers - Topic
www.youtube.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
This entire thread is amazing, but when I got to this one I thought it was a good place to repost the pointer to the thread, because this song is one of the most triumphant ones I know. And the story about saving a life is true -- Bob Cusick. It's in the Wikipedia article for thems as are curious.
Reposted by Eben
I always love those lists of "35 under 35," but as I get older, I find that I would love to know about innovations/art from people over 65. "65 over 65" please. Elders have incredible ideas that are the result of having seen the full lifecycle of previous ideas and learned from it.
September 8, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I always love those lists of "35 under 35," but as I get older, I find that I would love to know about innovations/art from people over 65. "65 over 65" please. Elders have incredible ideas that are the result of having seen the full lifecycle of previous ideas and learned from it.
Reposted by Eben
Inside you there are two wolves. One is active, the other one is on hot standby and becomes active if the first one fails or is taken down for maintenance. Add more wolves as necessary for increased redundancy load balancing. A quorum badger can be added for environments with multiple active wolves.
May 4, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Inside you there are two wolves. One is active, the other one is on hot standby and becomes active if the first one fails or is taken down for maintenance. Add more wolves as necessary for increased redundancy load balancing. A quorum badger can be added for environments with multiple active wolves.
Reposted by Eben
Maybe it’s time for a reread…
According to my notes, it's been eighteen years since I'd read Top Ten, which is probably why I only noticed on this weekend's reread that this book may be more prescient of the present political reality than V For Vendetta.
August 26, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Maybe it’s time for a reread…