Ben Johnson
@gamedesignerben.bsky.social
Best of the Web. Game Designer on [unannounced] at Double Fine. Previously: Psychonauts 2, Dead Space (2008), Babycastles. He/him.
Pearl Jamboni www.startribune.com/pearl-jam-za...
What do you call an ice-resurfacing machine partly funded by a ’90s grunge band? A Pearl Jamboni, of course.
Seattle grunge band Pearl Jam helped pay for the Two Harbors Youth Hockey Association’s new Zamboni.
www.startribune.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Pearl Jamboni www.startribune.com/pearl-jam-za...
Reposted by Ben Johnson
This month marks 23 years in the game industry for me. I've been INCREDIBLY fortunate to have worked with all of the amazing folks that I've worked with, the games that I got to work on and to have had made some life long friends along the way. Truly grateful.
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM
This month marks 23 years in the game industry for me. I've been INCREDIBLY fortunate to have worked with all of the amazing folks that I've worked with, the games that I got to work on and to have had made some life long friends along the way. Truly grateful.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Happy 37th birthday to the best TV show, Mystery Science Theater 3000.
November 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Happy 37th birthday to the best TV show, Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
I tested a machine learning model designed to detect NSFW content. It marked this image as unsafe, because of Tim Allen's breasts (marked in blue) and my hand-penis (marked in green)
November 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I tested a machine learning model designed to detect NSFW content. It marked this image as unsafe, because of Tim Allen's breasts (marked in blue) and my hand-penis (marked in green)
I got an angry inch, Charlie Brown
Forget it, Chuck. It’s Chinatown.
Stay out of Malibu, Charlie Brown! Stay out of Malibu, deadbeat! Keep your ugly fuckin' goldbrickin' ass out of my beach community.
November 24, 2025 at 4:05 AM
I got an angry inch, Charlie Brown
Reposted by Ben Johnson
I played @doublefine.com's Keeper over the weekend and it's absolutely one of my favourites of the year.
The art direction and visual inventiveness is insane. Not unusual for Double Fine but man, they really cooked on this one.
store.steampowered.com/app/3043580/...
The art direction and visual inventiveness is insane. Not unusual for Double Fine but man, they really cooked on this one.
store.steampowered.com/app/3043580/...
Keeper on Steam
From Lee Petty and Double Fine Productions, Keeper is an atmospheric puzzle adventure in which a long-forgotten lighthouse is awakened and, joined by a spirited seabird, it embarks upon a heartening t...
store.steampowered.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:41 PM
I played @doublefine.com's Keeper over the weekend and it's absolutely one of my favourites of the year.
The art direction and visual inventiveness is insane. Not unusual for Double Fine but man, they really cooked on this one.
store.steampowered.com/app/3043580/...
The art direction and visual inventiveness is insane. Not unusual for Double Fine but man, they really cooked on this one.
store.steampowered.com/app/3043580/...
The reason you used to dress up to go to the airport is that airlines literally gave out free upgrades at the discretion of the gate agents, and you were more likely to get one if you dressed up.
Duffy: "Trump talks about the golden age of transportation. But the golden age in transportation truly begins with you ... People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly ... so we want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season: Help people out, be in a good mood, dress up"
November 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The reason you used to dress up to go to the airport is that airlines literally gave out free upgrades at the discretion of the gate agents, and you were more likely to get one if you dressed up.
Despite many interruptions, I just finished reading Nalo Hopkinson’s Brown Girl In The Ring.
November 23, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Despite many interruptions, I just finished reading Nalo Hopkinson’s Brown Girl In The Ring.
Obi’s recent collab with Black Market Brass is pretty great blackmarketbrass.bandcamp.com/album/battle...
November 22, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Obi’s recent collab with Black Market Brass is pretty great blackmarketbrass.bandcamp.com/album/battle...
Reposted by Ben Johnson
and 3) please be wary of anything that seems to invite the response "ah, of course [American government institution] is secretly run by Israel!"
that Twitter screenshot allegedly revealing the DHS account is operated from Tel Aviv is probably fake because 1) it originated from an anime shitposter on Twitter, 2) the formatting does not align with other accounts subject to the feature [it revealed only countries, not specific cities]
November 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
and 3) please be wary of anything that seems to invite the response "ah, of course [American government institution] is secretly run by Israel!"
CORRECTION: A *third* potato has been named after Prince.
November 22, 2025 at 6:29 PM
CORRECTION: A *third* potato has been named after Prince.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
you were 100% milk.
November 22, 2025 at 3:50 AM
you were 100% milk.
A news story constructed entirely out of unreportable details, like a castle in the air. The words seem to shimmer and fade as you turn your head.
November 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A news story constructed entirely out of unreportable details, like a castle in the air. The words seem to shimmer and fade as you turn your head.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Demonschool: Is OUT. It's out. Finally it is out. We hope you enjoy it.
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
store.playstation.com/en-us/concep...
www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro...
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
store.playstation.com/en-us/concep...
www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro...
November 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Demonschool: Is OUT. It's out. Finally it is out. We hope you enjoy it.
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
store.playstation.com/en-us/concep...
www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro...
store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/...
store.playstation.com/en-us/concep...
www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro...
Fishing minigame where you're the lake. #DoNotSteal
November 19, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Fishing minigame where you're the lake. #DoNotSteal
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Demonschool's out! Here's a launch trailer www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ehw...
Demonschool animated launch trailer
YouTube video by Necrosoft Games
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Demonschool's out! Here's a launch trailer www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ehw...
Reposted by Ben Johnson
this is today! we'll be approximately here. look for the rainbow parachutes.
some reminders:
- wear warm clothes, it's 47F at best! we're outside for 3 hours, sometimes standing still
- bring a mug / cup of some sort for tea
- if you want, bring a toy / prop of some kind to play with
some reminders:
- wear warm clothes, it's 47F at best! we're outside for 3 hours, sometimes standing still
- bring a mug / cup of some sort for tea
- if you want, bring a toy / prop of some kind to play with
November 18, 2025 at 12:54 PM
this is today! we'll be approximately here. look for the rainbow parachutes.
some reminders:
- wear warm clothes, it's 47F at best! we're outside for 3 hours, sometimes standing still
- bring a mug / cup of some sort for tea
- if you want, bring a toy / prop of some kind to play with
some reminders:
- wear warm clothes, it's 47F at best! we're outside for 3 hours, sometimes standing still
- bring a mug / cup of some sort for tea
- if you want, bring a toy / prop of some kind to play with
Reposted by Ben Johnson
evergreen
Terrible day to be literate
November 18, 2025 at 3:29 AM
evergreen
Dedication to the bit is such that I am ordering a shirt from France and we're just going to see if it gets here on time.
November 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Dedication to the bit is such that I am ordering a shirt from France and we're just going to see if it gets here on time.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
was listening to Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" while drawing the lineart haha
August 4, 2025 at 2:08 AM
was listening to Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" while drawing the lineart haha
Reposted by Ben Johnson
happy “maybe if I switch my mouthpiece I can play good instead of bad” day to all who celebrate
November 15, 2025 at 9:36 PM
happy “maybe if I switch my mouthpiece I can play good instead of bad” day to all who celebrate
Reposted by Ben Johnson
3 years ago today, Riot Games offered me a job making more money than I ever thought I’d make in my life. I had 19 interviews over 2.5 months to get it. Partner and I were moving to LA for it. I put in notice at my job and apartment.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
November 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
3 years ago today, Riot Games offered me a job making more money than I ever thought I’d make in my life. I had 19 interviews over 2.5 months to get it. Partner and I were moving to LA for it. I put in notice at my job and apartment.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Wednesday 11/19: Commemorate 100th Anniversary Of Murder Of Joe Hill
Wednesday 11/19: Commemorate 100th Anniversary Of Murder Of Joe Hill
Grassroots House
2022 Blake St.
Berkeley
www.indybay.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Wednesday 11/19: Commemorate 100th Anniversary Of Murder Of Joe Hill
When a Nintendo character says more than 2 words at a time
November 14, 2025 at 5:49 PM
When a Nintendo character says more than 2 words at a time