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e536 — Can we skip all AI this time?

DEC 22, 2025

e536 — Can we skip all AI this time?

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5041" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=225%2C150&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alexander-grigoryev-YSEp8dLK8K8-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@alex__grig?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Alexander Grigoryev</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/black-and-gray-computer-keyboard-YSEp8dLK8K8?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Published 22 December 2025</p> <p>e536 with Andy, Michael R, and guest host newly-retired <a href="https://www.feedingedge.co.uk/blog/2025/12/18/i-have-retired-wahoooo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Ian “Epredator” Hughes</a> – a dive into gaming in 2025, retro computing and games, how to fix old paintings, and what’s coming to the public domain on January 1st.</p> <p>The show kicks off with a number of gaming topics, discussing what the hosts have been playing lately, including the results of the Steam Replay for 2025. There’s also a chat about Commodore (joysticks, and the new Commodore 64 Ultimate), ZX Spectrum, and other retro machines. Netflix has been making acquisitions in the gaming space, where will they lead?</p> <p>Michael is fascinated by the process of restoring old paintings; Andy and Ian have seen a lot more of this on TV in the UK!</p> <p>In the wrap, the hosts cover an incident of apparent smart glasses-induced rage on the subway; and briefly talk about what’s coming into the Public Domain on January 1st 2026.</p> <p>Wishing all our listeners a happy and peaceful break to close out 2025, and we’ll be back with new episodes in 2026.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Selected Links</h2> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">Gaming</h2> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://openfodder.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Open Source Cannon Fodder Engine </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.tweaktown.com/news/109388/steam-replay-2025-shows-that-only-14-percent-of-all-user-playtime-was-spent-playing-new-pc-games/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Steam Replay shows high interest in older games</a> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://s.team/y25/jqfcrch?l=english" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Andy’s Steam year in review</a> </li> <li><a href="https://s.team/y25/ftvngtb?l=english" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Michael’s Year in review </a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/snl-spoofed-uber-eats-wrapped-youber-did-it-for-real-2025-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Uber Eats spoofed</a> by SNL</li> <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/845447/retro-games-the-quickshot-ii-joystick-controller-commodore-64" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Old new Commodore 64 Joystick</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.hackster.io/news/keeping-up-with-the-commodore-a-hands-on-review-of-the-commodore-64-ultimate-235da0c5e23a" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Hackster review of Commodore 64 Ultimate</a></li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.esp32rainbow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">ESP32 Rainbow</a> (ZX Spectrum Re-created)</li> <li><a href="https://picocomputer.github.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Picocomputer</a> 6502 board</li> <li><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/19/netflix-acquires-gaming-avatar-maker-ready-player-me/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Netflix buys Ready Player Me</a></li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">Makers</h2> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/12/baumgartner-restoration-portrait-painting-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">A satisfying painting restoration on YouTube </a></li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>UK alternatives: <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001lttx" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Hidden Treasures of the National Trust</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b08l581p/the-repair-shop" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">The Repair Shop</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">Media</h2> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://futurism.com/future-society/woman-hero-smashing-meta-smart-glasses-subway" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Smashed smart glasses</a></li> <li><a href="https://pluralistic.net/2025/12/17/boop-oop-a-doop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Public Domain Day 2026</a></li> </ul>

36 MIN

e535 — The Poetry of DOOM

DEC 15, 2025

e535 — The Poetry of DOOM

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="Writing poetry on a typewriter" class="wp-image-5021" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash.jpg?resize=150%2C100&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash.jpg?resize=225%2C150&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/david-klein-94oJK3PDQw-unsplash.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@diklein?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">David Klein</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/person-typing-using-typewriter--94oJK3PDQw?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Published 15 December 2025</p> <p>e535 with Michael M and Andy – adversarial poetry to jailbreak LLMs, iFixit’s FixBot, power of digital twins, putting the breaks on Rewind, Nintendo Virtual Boy and a whole lot more.</p> <p>Michael M and Andy start things off with a most intriguing concept – adversarial poetry. By using ‘memetic language’, researchers formulated prompts with imagery and metaphor instead of direct operational phrasing to trick LLMs into providing unsafe responses. Michael makes the point that AI prompts are becoming more and more like spells or incantations. See the show notes below for a link to the paper for any budding AI poet laureate wannabes. Perhaps Jabberwocky can be used in a snicker snack way. </p> <p>Switching to another AI use case, Andy and Michael discuss the iFixit FixBot.  The FixBot provides expert advice and guidance for repairs, by talking to the human who likely needs both hands to effect the repair.  <br />Next up are a couple of stories on digital twins, and how they leverage game technology.  By taking sufficient data points to create a digital twin, multiple attempts can be made virtually to see the improvement before applying the capability to the non-digital twin.  Andy is reminded of an article that outlines the affinity between the metaverse and digital twin concepts.  Nvidia has a concept of this in their Omniverse capability.  Another example of a digital twin with a game overlay is the Job Simulator Game.  This game is written as a 2050 historical virtual reality environment allowing the player to experience what it was like to have a job in 2020.  This fun VR historical reenactment experience is one of the stories that Tobi Lütke discussed in his recent interview with the Acquired team.</p> <p>Staying on the VR simulation theme, Andy and Michael take a look at the Rats Play Doom game which trains rats in an immersive way to play Doom.  </p> <p>In the last section of the episode, the team takes a look at some metaverse news.  Meta has acquired <a href="http://limitless.ai">limitless.ai</a> and is shutting down Rewind on the Mac, and is also shifting more investment from the metaverse to AI.  Wrapping up the episode, Michael and Andy look at the Nintendo Virtual Boy and Xteink 4.</p> <p>What poetry would you write to prompt an LLM? Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @[email protected] (our home for now) and let us know! </p> <p>These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.  All rights reserved.  That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Selected Links</strong></h2> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>AI</strong></h2> <p>PC Gamer article: <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/poets-are-now-cybersecurity-threats-researchers-used-adversarial-poetry-to-jailbreak-ai-and-it-worked-62-percent-of-the-time/">Poets are now cybersecurity threats: Researchers used ‘adversarial poetry’ to trick AI into ignoring its safety guard rails and it worked 62% of the time</a></p> <p>arXiv paper: <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.15304">Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models</a></p> <p>Gilbert & Sullivan: <a href="http://gilbertandsullivanvictoria.ca/VGASImg/Docs/D381_Pirates%20-%20Hail%20Poetry.pdf">Hail Poetry</a></p> <p>The Verge article: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/840570/ifixit-app-android-ios-fixbot-ai">iFixit’s FixBot helps with repairs ‘the way a master technician would’</a></p> <p>iFixit: <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/114700/introducing-fixbot">Introducing FixBot: We Built an AI That Actually Knows How to Fix Things</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Digital Twins</strong></h2> <p>ComputerWorld article: <a href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/4101262/digital-twin-tech-is-a-double-edged-sword.html">Digital twin tech is a double-edged sword</a></p> <p>ComputerWorld article: <a href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/1619032/digital-twin-tech-is-twice-as-great-as-the-metaverse.html">‘Digital twin’ tech is twice as great as the metaverse</a></p> <p>Nvidia <a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/omniverse/">Omniverse</a></p> <p><a href="https://jobsimulatorgame.com">Job Simulator Game</a></p> <p><a href="http://acquired.fm">acquired.fm</a> AC2 interview: <a href="https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/how-to-live-in-everyone-elses-future-with-shopify-ceo-tobi-lutke">How to Live in Everyone Else’s Future (with Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke)</a></p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2024/11/18/e490-codename-amelia/">e490: Codename – “Amelia”</a> (for digital twins)</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Doom</strong></h2> <p>Reddit post: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/itrunsdoom/comments/1pe7t40/opensource_vr_framework_for_training_rats_to_play/?share_id=KgK5IzupKhRAqbYD-uLMR&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=4">Open-source VR framework for training rats to play DOOM</a></p> <p><a href="https://ratsplaydoom.com">Rats Play Doom</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Metaverse</strong></h2> <p>9 to 5 Mac article: <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2025/12/05/rewind-limitless-meta-acquisition/">Rewind Mac app shutting down following Meta’s acquisition of Limitless</a></p> <p><a href="http://limitless.ai">limitless.ai</a> </p> <p>WSJ article: <a href="https://archive.is/2025.12.05-214624/https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/meta-plans-to-shift-spending-away-from-the-metaverse-d0ac3b7f#selection-543.0-543.52">Meta Plans to Shift Spending Away From the Metaverse</a></p> <p>Retrododo article: <a href="https://retrododo.com/virtual-boy-accessory-for-nintendo-switch-switch-2-is-available-for-pre-order/">Virtual Boy Accessory For Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 Is Available For Pre-Order</a></p> <p>My Nintendo Store: <a href="https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/virtual-boy-for-nintendo-switch-2nintendo-switch-000000000010015881?ref=retrododo.com">Virtual Boy for Nintendo Switch 2/Nintendo Switch</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Tech</strong></h2> <p>The Verge article: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/838885/xteink-x4-e-reader-magnetic-apple-iphone-google-pixel">This tiny magnetic e-reader sticks to the back of your iPhone</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4">Xteink x4</a></p> <div class="wp-block-post-author"> <div class="wp-block-post-author__avatar"><img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=48&d=retro&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=96&d=retro&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' decoding='async'/></div> <div class="wp-block-post-author__content"> <p class="wp-block-post-author__byline">Web 11.0 mashup junkie, and co-founder / co-host of the GamesAtWork.biz podcast. My views are my own.</p> <p class="wp-block-post-author__name">Michael Martine</p> </div> </div>

36 MIN

e534 — Hiding in Plain Sight

NOV 24, 2025

e534 — Hiding in Plain Sight

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-768x1024.jpg" alt="facade of the Musée du Louvre" class="wp-image-5007" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1152%2C1536&ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C2048&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=113%2C150&ssl=1 113w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@timwildsmith?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Tim Wildsmith</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-building-with-a-sign-on-it-VBtJ7w1sH1o?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Published 24 November 2025</p> <p>e534 with Michael, Andy and Michael – AI and ML training data, camouflage, ppen source Zork, Deadpool VR, NPH movies and a whole lot more.</p> <p>Michael, Andy and Michael start things off with with an intriguing AI analysis of the heist from the Louvre.  The Ars Technica article takes the examples of mathematical machine learning and human psychology to show how both were defeated what was considered to be ordinary versus suspicious.  This is a terrific reminder on the importance of the training data sets used for AI models and how the “performance of normality became the perfect camouflage”.  Michael R highlights the On Intelligence book, and Michael M brings up visual pattern recognition of the human form which ghillie suits help disguise.</p> <p>Switching to a <a href="http://hackster.io">hackster.io</a> article, the die is cast – or rather the die is 3d printed.  Andy shares his thoughts on this bluetooth enabled die, and mentions how dice have featured prominently in the the podcast over the years.  E132 from 2016 appears to be the earliest reference to dice in the show notes.</p> <p>Next up is Microsoft’s announcement to open source the Zork family of text based adventure games from Infocom.  Zork is another favorite of the podcast, and e78 from 2014 is the earliest reference!  Then the team discusses the Deadpool VR game.  The Kotaku article mentions that  Neil Patrick Harris does the Deadpool voice acting in the game.  This leads the cohosts down the rabbit hole of NPH acting with a number of movies and TV shows.</p> <p>Oh, and the reason for the “I don’t want a McRib” part of the show title was because the Kotaku article kept serving up McDonalds McRib ads to Michael M, while Michael R with his PiHole does not get such ads.</p> <p>What is your favorite NPH movie or tv show?  Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @[email protected] (our home for now) and let us know! </p> <p>These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.  All rights reserved.  That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Selected Links</strong></h2> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>AI</strong></h2> <p>Ars Technica article: <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/how-louvre-thieves-exploited-human-psychology-to-avoid-suspicion-and-what-it-reveals-about-ai/">How Louvre thieves exploited human psychology to avoid suspicion—and what it reveals about AI</a></p> <p>Wikipedia article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Intelligence">On Intelligence: How a New Understanding of the Brain will Lead to the Creation of Truly Intelligent Machines by Jeff Hawkins</a></p> <p>IMDb: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4712810/">Now You See Me: Now You Don’t 2025 movie</a></p> <p>Wikipedia article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghillie_suit">Ghillie Suit</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Bluetooth Dice</strong></h2> <p><a href="http://hackter.io">hackter.io</a> article: <a href="https://www.hackster.io/news/travis-bumgarner-s-dice-of-sending-are-bluetooth-connected-dice-for-fairer-digital-roleplays-96425ea46f81">Travis Bumgarner’s Dice of Sending Are Bluetooth-Connected Dice for Fairer Digital Roleplays</a></p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2016/02/07/episode-132-wake-up/">e132: Wake Up!</a> (For earliest description of dice)</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Games and NPH</strong></h2> <p>The Verge article: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/824881/zork-open-source-microsoft-xbox-activision">Microsoft makes Zork open-source</a></p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2014/03/09/episode-78-the-show-is-already-in-progress/">e78: The Show is Already in Progress</a> (for earliest reference to Zork)</p> <p>Kotaku article: <a href="https://kotaku.com/deadpool-vr-is-a-game-for-deadpool-fans-and-nobody-else-2000645514">Deadpool VR Is A Game For Deadpool Fans And Nobody Else</a></p> <p><a href="http://marvel.Fandom.com">marvel.Fandom.com</a> : <a href="https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Wade_Wilson_(Earth-616)">Wade Wilson (Earth-616)</a></p> <p>IMDb: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1268799/">A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas</a></p> <p>IMDb: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120201/">Starship Troopers</a></p> <p>IMDb: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096569/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_6_nm_2_in_0_q_dougie%2520houser">Doogie Howser, M.D.</a></p> <p>IMDb: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401143">Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale</a></p> <div class="wp-block-post-author"> <div class="wp-block-post-author__avatar"><img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=48&d=retro&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=96&d=retro&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/></div> <div class="wp-block-post-author__content"> <p class="wp-block-post-author__byline">Web 11.0 mashup junkie, and co-founder / co-host of the GamesAtWork.biz podcast. My views are my own.</p> <p class="wp-block-post-author__name">Michael Martine</p> </div> </div>

29 MIN

e533 — Rings of Power

NOV 17, 2025

e533 — Rings of Power

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-683x1024.jpg" alt="Powerful rings on asphalt each seeming to emit columns of light" class="wp-image-4984" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&ssl=1 1365w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C150&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1707&ssl=1 1707w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@fallonmichaeltx?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Fallon Michael</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/three-silver-colored-rings-CftMCV3XMJE?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Published 17 November 2025</p> <p>e533 with Andy, Michael and Michael – rings to chart the heavens and control your home, repurposing smart TVs, retro La Machine and Vectrex hardware made newly available, new Valve Steam hardware and a whole lot more.</p> <p>Andy, Michael and Michael start things off with a 400 year old ring that unfolds into an astronomy tool.  Check out this amazing technology in the show notes below.  If you want to have such a ring of your own, the design team from <a href="https://www.blackadept.com/collections/all/rings">Black Adept</a> have them available for sale!  Sticking with the theme, the next powerful ring follows the Tron Master Control Disk concept.  This interesting design expression reminded Michael M of the Mini circular dashboard display.</p> <p>Next up is a great way to repurpose an old TV.  The team explores an article with instructions for making a smart mirror using two way glass and a Raspberry Pi.  You may want to ensure that the TV has the automatic content recognition features turned off.  Andy remarks on the continuing evolution over the years of the Magic Mirror software that enables this to work.  After talking about the bright idea of using the circuity of a smart lightbulb to serve as a Minecraft server, the cohosts look La Machine.</p> <p>Then the team takes a look at the recent announcements from Valve.  New Steam hardware has captured their imagination.  The Steam Machine, Steam Frame and a new Steam controller provides great excitement for the platform.  Wrapping up the episode, Michael R takes a look at the World of Warcraft new in game currency used for building houses.  The blog post announcing this from Blizzard has 2,817 replies when these show notes were written!  </p> <p>What legacy hardware would you most like to have again?  Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @[email protected] (our home for now) and let us know! </p> <p>These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.  All rights reserved.  That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Selected Links</strong></h2> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Maker</strong></h2> <blockquote data-instance="mastodon.green" data-post-id="115502701611360359" class="ftf-fediverse-post-embed"> <p>A 400-Year-Old Ring that Unfolds to Track the Movements of the Heavens<br /><a href="https://www.openculture.com/2025/11/a-400-year-old-ring-that-unfolds-to-track-movements-of-the-heavens.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">openculture.com/2025/11/a-400-</span><span class="invisible">year-old-ring-that-unfolds-to-track-movements-of-the-heavens.html</span></a></p> <p class="ftf-fediverse-post-embed-author"> — Ronan (@[email protected])<br /> <a class="ftf-fediverse-post-embed-link" href="https://mastodon.green/@ronanmcd/115502701611360359">2025-11-06T12:16:00.036Z</a> </p> </blockquote> <p><script data-allowed-prefixes="https://mastodon.green/" async src=“https://mastodon.green/embed.js"></script></p> <p>Open Culture article: <a href="https://www.openculture.com/2025/11/a-400-year-old-ring-that-unfolds-to-track-movements-of-the-heavens.html">A 400-Year-Old Ring that Unfolds to Track the Movements of the Heavens</a></p> <p><iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" height="150" style="width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" src="https://embed.music.apple.com/us/album/single-ladies-put-a-ring-on-it/296016891?i=296016899"></iframe></p> <p><a href="http://hackster.io">hackster.io</a> article: <a href="https://www.hackster.io/news/welcome-to-the-grid-84c830155172">Welcome to the Grid</a></p> <p>IMDb post: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/list/ls058948070/">Tron movies and tv shows</a></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-683x1024.jpg" alt="Mini car circular dashboard display" class="wp-image-4989" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&ssl=1 1365w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C150&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1707&ssl=1 1707w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nicoletarasuk?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Nicole Logan</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/the-dashboard-of-a-car-with-a-gps-device-R1gvm6OagZU?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Boy Genius Report article: <a href="https://www.bgr.com/2014813/how-to-turn-old-tv-into-smart-mirror-raspberry-pi-guide/">You Can Use Your Old TV As A Smart Mirror – Here’s How</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.raspberrypi.com">Raspberry Pi</a></p> <p><a href="https://docs.magicmirror.builders/getting-started/installation.html">Magic Mirror^2 documentation</a></p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2024/09/02/e479-listen-up-outlaws/">e479: Listen Up Outlaws!</a> for smart tv automatic content recognition</p> <p>Tom’s Hardware article: <a href="https://www.tomshardware.com/maker-stem/microcontrollers/hardware-hacker-installs-minecraft-server-on-a-cheap-smart-lightbulb-single-192-mhz-risc-v-core-with-276kb-of-ram-enough-to-run-tiny-90k-byte-world">Hardware hacker installs Minecraft server on a cheap smart lightbulb — single 192 MHz RISC-V core with 276KB of RAM, enough to run tiny 90K byte world</a></p> <p><a href="https://la-machine.fr/us">La Machine</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Gaming Hardware (and Software)</strong></h2> <p>Games Industry article: <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-announces-3-new-steam-hardware-devices-steam-machine-vr-headset-steam-frame-and-a-new-steam-controller">Valve announces 3 new Steam hardware devices: Steam Machine, VR headset Steam Frame, and a new Steam controller</a></p> <p>PC Gamer article: <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/steam-frame-specs-availability/">Valve announces the Steam Frame: ‘a new way to play your entire Steam library’</a></p> <p>Eurogamer article: <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/tech-how-did-valve-design-the-steam-machine-it-started-with-the-fan-of-course">How did Valve design its new Steam Machine? It started with the fan, of course</a></p> <p>Kickstarter: <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1852390947/vectrex-mini">Vectrex Mini</a></p> <p>The Verge article: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/816714/world-of-warcraft-player-housing-hearthsteel-currency">World of Warcraft is getting a new kind of fake money</a></p> <p>Blizzard blog post: <a href="https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24242736/developer-insight-hearthsteel-virtual-currency-and-housing-in-midnight">Developer Insight: Hearthsteel Virtual Currency and Housing in Midnight</a></p> <div class="wp-block-post-author"> <div class="wp-block-post-author__avatar"><img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=48&d=retro&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=96&d=retro&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/></div> <div class="wp-block-post-author__content"> <p class="wp-block-post-author__byline">Web 11.0 mashup junkie, and co-founder / co-host of the GamesAtWork.biz podcast. My views are my own.</p> <p class="wp-block-post-author__name">Michael Martine</p> </div> </div>

32 MIN

e532 — Spooky Scary Tech Skeletons

NOV 3, 2025

e532 — Spooky Scary Tech Skeletons

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="Spooky skeletons sitting on a mantle that see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil" class="wp-image-4972" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1025&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=225%2C150&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@002chrischarles?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Chris Charles</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/skeleton-on-rack-wallpaper-vGhGPpRo2ZI?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Published 3 November 2025</p> <p>e532 with Michael and Michael – Halloween Spooktacular edition with AI whale communications & implications, robotic vacuums that phone home, ad supported TVs and a whole lot more.</p> <p>For the Halloween spooktacular edition of Games at Work, Michael and Michael start things off with an article about AI decoding whale’s communications, and the potential for the recognition of whales’ rights.  There have been multiple discussions about the promise of understanding non-human communications over the years on Games at Work, and a couple of these are included in the show notes links below.</p> <p>Next up is a series of articles the benefits and challenges of internet of things powered hardware, and the challenges they present.  First, a discussion on the remote software feature removal, in the case of the Futurism article, when the owner blocked the transmissions from his IoT vacuum, that the software running the bot was changed to make it stop working.  Then, there is a story about free TV hardware that requires an ELUA to run a second screen of advertising.  After considering this free, ad supported TV, the co-hosts muse what other hardware might be made available at no cost, and with an advertising stream.  Changes to streaming television to insert more advertising has become more common.  Michael and Michael explore the idea of an IoT refrigerator with a screen might become an ad supported platform, and that to access certain functionality, the screen may require the user to watch an advertising video.  After the cloud outage from last week, there have been articles that discuss how the hardware behaves without the constant internet connection.  An example of this is the malfunctions from an internet connected bed.</p> <p>Sticking with the robot and advertising theme, Michael R highlights Sandwich’s immersive commercial making use of the new Blackmagic camera to capture an immersive video for Robot.com.  After touching on Apple’s Family Sharing and CarPlay capabilities and Windows 11 immersive ultra wide mode, Michael M wraps up the show with a quick point on The Simulation Hypothesis book and the LEGO Arcade Machine that opens up to have a minifig’s gamer room inside the cabinet.</p> <p>What ad supported free hardware would you accept? What data streams would you not allow your IoT devices to hear / see / say? Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @[email protected] (our home for now) and let us know! </p> <p>These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.  All rights reserved.  That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Selected Links</strong></h2> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>AI</strong></h2> <p>Inside Climate News article: <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/29102025/ai-sperm-whale-communications-legal-rights/">AI Is Decoding Whales’ Communications. Could That Be a Turning Point in the Push for Their Rights?</a></p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2024/05/20/e466-ais-perfect-vacation/">e466: AI’s Perfect Vacation</a> from May 2024 for machine learning decoding the sperm whale alphabet</p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2024/12/30/e495-personal-planetarium/">e495: Personal Planetarium</a> from December 2024 for talking with animals via AI, Sandwich Vision</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">Technology</h2> <p>Futurism article: <a href="https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/robot-vacuum-broadcasting">Man Alarmed to Discover His Smart Vacuum Was Broadcasting a Secret Map of His House</a></p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2019/06/03/episode-235-bots-on-batuu/">e235: Bots on Batuu</a> from June 2019 for discussion on vacuum bots</p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2020/02/10/episode-260-1984-tesla-for-sale/">e260: 1984 Tesla for Sale</a> from February 2020 for discussion on remote software feature removal</p> <p>Creative Bloq article: <a href="https://www.creativebloq.com/tech/you-can-now-get-a-tv-for-free-and-im-worried-this-is-the-future-of-tech">You can now get a TV for free… and I’m worried this is the future of tech</a></p> <p>Ars Technica article: <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/samsung-makes-ads-on-3499-smart-fridges-official-with-upcoming-software-update/">Samsung makes ads on $3,499 smart fridges official with upcoming software update</a></p> <p>Ars Technica article: <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/smart-beds-leave-sleepers-hot-and-bothered-during-aws-outage/">AWS outage reminds us why $2,449 Internet-dependent beds are a bad idea</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">More Technology</h2> <p>Six Colors article: <a href="https://sixcolors.com/post/2025/10/hello-robot-sandwich-launches-immersive-commercial/">Hello, Robot: Sandwich launches “immersive commercial”</a></p> <p>9 to 5 Mac article: <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2025/10/29/mother-describes-the-dark-side-of-apples-family-sharing-when-a-relationship-ends/">Mother describes the dark side of Apple’s Family Sharing when a relationship ends</a></p> <p>Daring Fireball article:  <a href="https://daringfireball.net/linked/2025/10/30/rosensteel-carplay-gm">CarPlay Seems Essential for Rental Fleets</a></p> <p>The Verge article: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/810576/microsoft-windows-11-mixed-reality-link-meta-quest-3-vr">Windows 11’s Vision Pro-like remote desktop is now widely available on Quest 3</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Two More Things</strong></h2> <p><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/774523/the-simulation-hypothesis-by-rizwan-virk/#">The Simulation Hypothesis 2nd Edition</a> by Rizwan Virk</p> <p>LEGO <a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/arcade-machine-40805">Arcade Machine 40805</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Two Bonus Game Things</strong></h2> <p>The Register article: <a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/28/doom_running_in_space/">This is Doom, running headless, on Ubuntu Arm… on a satellite</a></p> <p>Engadget article: <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/board-is-a-500-board-game-console-with-12-original-titles-223313978.html">Board is a $500 board game console with 12 original titles</a></p> <div class="wp-block-post-author"> <div class="wp-block-post-author__avatar"><img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=48&d=retro&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=96&d=retro&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/></div> <div class="wp-block-post-author__content"> <p class="wp-block-post-author__byline">Web 11.0 mashup junkie, and co-founder / co-host of the GamesAtWork.biz podcast. My views are my own.</p> <p class="wp-block-post-author__name">Michael Martine</p> </div> </div>

34 MIN