René Martin
@talkandplay.substack.com
He/him writer/game dev. culture/political posting, politics are in all aspects of life, including creative pursuits. #NAFO appreciator #BLM
Writing sporadically @ https://talkandplay.substack.com
Writing sporadically @ https://talkandplay.substack.com
Pinned
René Martin
@talkandplay.substack.com
· Oct 23
I just realized I should be clear, since I have AI art in my banner, I am aggressively against GenAI in the creative professions. It’s a plagiarism engine and leads to objectively lesser creations. Actual humans do better work than the word-association machine.
Reposted by René Martin
"Whatever tepid objections were first raised by the few men and women of conscience within the Protestant and Catholic establishments were eventually nullified by the much more striking and growing commentary of outspoken religious genocidaires." www.liberalcurrents.com/the-devils-b...
The Devil's Bargain
Nazism and the moral collapse of German Christendom.
www.liberalcurrents.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:04 AM
"Whatever tepid objections were first raised by the few men and women of conscience within the Protestant and Catholic establishments were eventually nullified by the much more striking and growing commentary of outspoken religious genocidaires." www.liberalcurrents.com/the-devils-b...
Reposted by René Martin
anyways you can tip my ko-fi at ko-fi.com/stompsite and support my writing, which is all posted for free at docseuss.medium.com, whenever you'd like
if someone wants to cover my $360 doctor's bill from earlier this week that'd be swell
if someone wants to cover my $360 doctor's bill from earlier this week that'd be swell
Buy Doc Burford a Coffee
Become a supporter of Doc Burford today!
ko-fi.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:01 AM
anyways you can tip my ko-fi at ko-fi.com/stompsite and support my writing, which is all posted for free at docseuss.medium.com, whenever you'd like
if someone wants to cover my $360 doctor's bill from earlier this week that'd be swell
if someone wants to cover my $360 doctor's bill from earlier this week that'd be swell
Reposted by René Martin
Re-upping this, since it's only available for two days:
A brief return of the Murderbot Humble Bundle! The charity is still World Central Kitchen.
Unlock and upgrade in the Return to Metroidvania rebundle, read up on exciting Sci-Fi with Matha Wells’ Murderbot & more, and add character to your game environments with the Best of Synty 4 Game Dev Assets rebundles! https://bit.ly/4oxXmjd
December 11, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Re-upping this, since it's only available for two days:
Reposted by René Martin
I'm hoping for more articles on this situation, because we cannot stay quiet: www.gamesradar.com/games/simula...
Publisher says Valve rejected complaint about hateful Steam review: "'Has Muslims, not recommended' is literal racism, so there should be no conversation needed"
"I just don't know what to do about this"
www.gamesradar.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I'm hoping for more articles on this situation, because we cannot stay quiet: www.gamesradar.com/games/simula...
Reposted by René Martin
Too many good ones to choose from. Help us meet our goal so we can fund more work like theirs. gofund.me/9cdcc23a6
December 11, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Too many good ones to choose from. Help us meet our goal so we can fund more work like theirs. gofund.me/9cdcc23a6
Reposted by René Martin
Reposted by René Martin
The Devil's Bargain
Nazism and the moral collapse of German Christendom.
www.liberalcurrents.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Reposted by René Martin
Reposted by René Martin
The New Gender Synthesis
To be only masculine or only feminine is to be half a human being.
www.liberalcurrents.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Reposted by René Martin
It goes to fund great work like @quinnae.com's www.liberalcurrents.com/trans-panic-...
Trans Panic? More Like Trans Apathetic
2025 shows trans rights aren't electoral poison. The truth? Most people just don't care that much.
www.liberalcurrents.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
It goes to fund great work like @quinnae.com's www.liberalcurrents.com/trans-panic-...
Reposted by René Martin
You can also give the gift of Liberal Currents www.patreon.com/liberalcurre...
Gift a membership for Liberal Currents on Patreon
Bring the world of Liberal Currents to your friends and family.
www.patreon.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:06 AM
You can also give the gift of Liberal Currents www.patreon.com/liberalcurre...
Reposted by René Martin
A reminder that we've got a discount going on our Supporting Patron tier, which is also a good way to chip in $96 that gets counted towards our fundraiser www.liberalcurrents.com/new-subscrib...
December 11, 2025 at 2:05 AM
A reminder that we've got a discount going on our Supporting Patron tier, which is also a good way to chip in $96 that gets counted towards our fundraiser www.liberalcurrents.com/new-subscrib...
Reposted by René Martin
Something I have to reiterate is that you are being straight up lied to about trans people and our healthcare on an unfathomable scale, this instance reporting is already being torn to shreds by other people commenting, but the frequency of this kind of reporting is astonishing, it's neverending.
You might think from the headline that this is a story about a trans kid suffering medical consequences from a large drug dose but nope! It is just an interview with an estranged father who is angry that his child happily transitioned.
archive.ph/Tmthz
archive.ph/Tmthz
December 11, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Something I have to reiterate is that you are being straight up lied to about trans people and our healthcare on an unfathomable scale, this instance reporting is already being torn to shreds by other people commenting, but the frequency of this kind of reporting is astonishing, it's neverending.
Reposted by René Martin
boat lore update just dropped
Islands of Steel Lost in a Sea of Time
The Ships of the Composite Testing Force / TF 11 (BOAT LORE)
www.victoryvignettes.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:09 AM
boat lore update just dropped
Reposted by René Martin
Special hell
Banned words list has real consequences.
A Head Start program operated by a tribe on a Native American reservation was told not to prioritize tribal kids, in clear violation of Head Start Act. The program director also can’t do training on trauma-informed instruction, or to support kids with autism.
A Head Start program operated by a tribe on a Native American reservation was told not to prioritize tribal kids, in clear violation of Head Start Act. The program director also can’t do training on trauma-informed instruction, or to support kids with autism.
December 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Special hell
Reposted by René Martin
the dev can't flag this review anymore, but other users can.
link to the review: steamcommunity.com/id/breakzora...
cite Steam's policy back to them: help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view... "Do not direct abuse or insults at other players, developers, or groups."
link to the review: steamcommunity.com/id/breakzora...
cite Steam's policy back to them: help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view... "Do not direct abuse or insults at other players, developers, or groups."
Since I posted this yesterday:
- The writer of the "I hate muslims" review has doubled down, and added that they also hate transgender people
- Valve removed my flag from the review, with nothing done about it. The review remains up and on our Steam page
I say again: Is this what Steam is now?
- The writer of the "I hate muslims" review has doubled down, and added that they also hate transgender people
- Valve removed my flag from the review, with nothing done about it. The review remains up and on our Steam page
I say again: Is this what Steam is now?
December 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
the dev can't flag this review anymore, but other users can.
link to the review: steamcommunity.com/id/breakzora...
cite Steam's policy back to them: help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view... "Do not direct abuse or insults at other players, developers, or groups."
link to the review: steamcommunity.com/id/breakzora...
cite Steam's policy back to them: help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view... "Do not direct abuse or insults at other players, developers, or groups."
Reposted by René Martin
this excellent review of oral arguments in trump v. slaughter gets to the profound dishonesty of the conservative majority — the refusal to own the consequences of their actions
SlaughterHouse 9
The Unitary Executive Theory Ascendant – Sort of
harrylitman.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:01 PM
this excellent review of oral arguments in trump v. slaughter gets to the profound dishonesty of the conservative majority — the refusal to own the consequences of their actions
Reposted by René Martin
me to immigration officer: no no no you need to go find the brokedick elon stephen miller cuck jokes
Imagine the poor immigration officer who has to read 5 whole years of your social media posts. You may not kill them but surely you've diminished their capacity to truly love again
December 10, 2025 at 10:59 PM
me to immigration officer: no no no you need to go find the brokedick elon stephen miller cuck jokes
Reposted by René Martin
Repost if you're tired
December 10, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Repost if you're tired
Reposted by René Martin
Tune into the Hard Drive Game Awards this Friday at 7PM EST on twitch.tv/harddrivemag!
Fabulous guests, including:
@hbomberguy.bsky.social
@mikedrucker.bsky.social
@charalanahzard.bsky.social
@airbagged.bsky.social
@emmakidwell.bsky.social
@benstarr.bsky.social
@alyssamerc.bsky.social
Fabulous guests, including:
@hbomberguy.bsky.social
@mikedrucker.bsky.social
@charalanahzard.bsky.social
@airbagged.bsky.social
@emmakidwell.bsky.social
@benstarr.bsky.social
@alyssamerc.bsky.social
December 10, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Reposted by René Martin
A 3 minute trailer at the The Game Awards costs millions of dollars, but a 3 minute trailer at the Hard Drive Game Awards presented by Call of Duty Black Ops 7 only costs a few feet pics
The Game Awards is bigger and more expensive than ever. Even some nominated developers are getting priced out. Our report: https://kotaku.com/game-awards-geoff-keighley-tickets-trailers-clair-obscur-2000652243
The Game Awards Is Bigger Than Ever But Doesn't Come Cheap
The annual awards ceremony tries to celebrate game developers and hype up fans, to varying degrees of success
kotaku.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:47 PM
A 3 minute trailer at the The Game Awards costs millions of dollars, but a 3 minute trailer at the Hard Drive Game Awards presented by Call of Duty Black Ops 7 only costs a few feet pics
Reposted by René Martin
Everybody's like "Platner's cooked" or "Mills is cooked" and the real takeaway is that this is the best poll that Susan Collins will have for the rest of her life
2026 Maine Senate General
Collins vs. Mills
🔵 Mills 43%
🔴 Collins 43%
Collins vs. Platner
🔵 Platner 43%
🔴 Collins 42%
Collins vs. Mills
🔵 Mills 43%
🔴 Collins 43%
Collins vs. Platner
🔵 Platner 43%
🔴 Collins 42%
December 10, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Everybody's like "Platner's cooked" or "Mills is cooked" and the real takeaway is that this is the best poll that Susan Collins will have for the rest of her life
Reposted by René Martin
Minnesotans face off against ICE as they target Somalis.
December 10, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Minnesotans face off against ICE as they target Somalis.
Reposted by René Martin
Gaming is a republic. No kings.
Saudi Arabia's latest overture to the games industry is a new conference, produced by GDC parent Informa, taking place in December 2026
www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia...
www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia...
Saudi Arabia to host Kingdom of Gaming conference in 2026
Organisers hope for 20,000 attendees, 500 studios and 200 investors to be in attendance next December
www.gamesindustry.biz
December 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Gaming is a republic. No kings.
Reposted by René Martin
Anyone who goes to this willingly should be publicly and eternally mocked, derided, and called out for being human rights abuse enabling cowards
Saudi Arabia's latest overture to the games industry is a new conference, produced by GDC parent Informa, taking place in December 2026
www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia...
www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia...
Saudi Arabia to host Kingdom of Gaming conference in 2026
Organisers hope for 20,000 attendees, 500 studios and 200 investors to be in attendance next December
www.gamesindustry.biz
December 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Anyone who goes to this willingly should be publicly and eternally mocked, derided, and called out for being human rights abuse enabling cowards