Settler-colonialism depends on the fiction of barren land to be claimed, and this fiction can only be created through scorched-earth violence. It's no accident this is in keeping with the practice of erasing Palestinian villages from the map. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
Posts by Daniel Vella
Play HAMM-3R! 🚀
FREE + SHORT (5-10 mins.)
>> hammer.gua-le-ni.com <<
An experimental game about tools and technologies made with @amidos2006.bsky.social, @demigiant.com and other friends at the @indigitalgames.bsky.social! 🔨
🌍 Worldwide game studies research connections!
Find out what Matija Vigato, PhD student & research assistant University of Zagreb, thought about her research stay working with @gua-le-ni.com and @danielvella.bsky.social at the intersection of philosophy and games.
📰 www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/li...
Seconded!
"Oh, we created the Kill Chain long ago, but there were too many links between that sudden impulse to kill some people in the Middle East and actual children's blood in the dirt, so we've now shortened the Kill Chain to be 'faster than the speed of thought.' Efficiency, you know?"
It's obvious, we're lethalitymaxxing. Get with the program!
*taps the sign with increasing weariness*
Sure Europe might have had some reservations about the US with the whole Greenland thing, but there's nothing like some good old-fashioned imperialism in the Middle East to bring old friends together.
To understand what's happening in Iran today, you have to know about the history of Western intervention in the country.
In the early 1900s, the British secured oil rights in the country until 1993, where they only agreed to pay Iran 16% of the total profits.
This was seen as an unfair deal. 🧵
A journalist asked me today if the war would make the middle east more safe, given the Iranian regime's belligerence.
I explained that until the root causes of conflict - Israeli warfare & occupation, and Arab authoritarianism - are addressed, even (unlikely) regime change in Iran won't do much.
If the idea of pursuing a Masters in game studies in Malta, with analysis, design and tech streams, sounds good to you, join our online info session later today!
A simple question leads MSc student Paul down a #gamestudies rabbit hole.
✨Hunicke, LeBlanc, @rzubek.bsky.social ▶️ @miguelsicart.bsky.social ▶️ Swink ▶️Adams & @jorisdormans.bsky.social
#gamedev #gamedesign
youtu.be/MFgTpQUbHZA?...
I do! My novel is out on UK-based Praspar Press later this year. I'll share their words on it, which feels slightly less self-aggrandizing than trying to talk it up myself.
Finished @inkle.co's new TR-49 and it's predictably excellent, but I'm now fascinated by the distinct genre of scientific mysticism blended with interpersonal tragedy that characterizes so much of the British indie game writing scene (see also: Dear Esther, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture...).
The gorgeous soundstage landscapes of The Jade Raksha (Ho Meng-Hua, 1968)
Academics from around the world have come together to explore the themes and lore of classics like #Bloodborne, #DarkSouls and #EldenRing in "𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐗"
...and pre-orders are open!
ONE DAY...I will have all the @tuneandfairweather.bsky.social collection on our shelves....ONE DAY... ❤️
Thank you for sharing this! We're really proud of the work that has gone into this, and can't wait for it to reach readers :-)
I don't willingly use AI for anything, but the fact that every app insists on shoving it into my face means I keep seeing things like this which remind me why I don't willingly use AI for anything.
And our CfP is out!
History of Games 2026: The Ages of Games. Epochs and Periodisations
25-27th June, City University of Hong Kong, School of Creative
www.history-of-games.com/2026-hong-ko...
Please share and hope to see you there!
The Scholar’s Codex is available for pre-purchase, published by @tuneandfairweather.bsky.social ! I’m so amazed to be part of such a well-crafted collection (the illustrations are gorgeous) edited by @domford.bsky.social, @gua-le-ni.com, @nelevdm.bsky.social and @danielvella.bsky.social.
Can finally talk about this book! @domford.bsky.social @gua-le-ni.com @nelevdm.bsky.social & I have been on this journey for a while with a great team of contributors, and it's amazing to see what T&F have done with it. Certainly the most gorgeous book I've ever been involved with.
Can finally talk about this book! @domford.bsky.social @gua-le-ni.com @nelevdm.bsky.social & I have been on this journey for a while with a great team of contributors, and it's amazing to see what T&F have done with it. Certainly the most gorgeous book I've ever been involved with.
Writing game studies papers so good they echo back into the past.
#mystery #booksky 💙📚
Between the fog and the flame, a truth lies buried in ash.
Amazing item ahead. Watch this space!
One of those 'no rhyme or reason' kind of weeks. #LastFourWatched #LetterboxdFriday
Last month The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Games, ed. by @add-hawk.bsky.social & John Richard Sageng, was also out! I've got a chapter on the idea of 'beauty' in the aesthetic philosophy of Kant & Schiller and how it applies to play & games, and it's in great company in this huge collection.
And it's out!
Widely available in the US.
Ask your favourite bookshop if outside of the US.
Digital version open access (any minute).
Hope you all enjoy it!
ah well at least we restructured the entire contemporary university, the product of many centuries of slowly accumulating human ingenuity, to boost this
As always, the usual note applies: these texts are not open access (booo the academic publishing industry), but those who ask will not be turned away.