Games At Work dot Biz
Games At Work dot Biz

Games At Work dot Biz

Michael Rowe, Michael Martine, Andy Piper

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Recent Episodes

e534 — Hiding in Plain Sight
NOV 24, 2025
e534 — Hiding in Plain Sight
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" 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&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=113%2C150&amp;ssl=1 113w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tim-wildsmith-VBtJ7w1sH1o-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@timwildsmith?utm_source=unsplash&#038;utm_medium=referral&#038;utm_content=creditCopyText">Tim Wildsmith</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-building-with-a-sign-on-it-VBtJ7w1sH1o?utm_source=unsplash&#038;utm_medium=referral&#038;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Published 24 November 2025</p> <p>e534 with Michael, Andy and Michael &#8211; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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”.&nbsp; 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 &#8211; or rather the die is 3d printed.&nbsp; Andy shares his thoughts on this bluetooth enabled die, and mentions how dice have featured prominently in the the podcast over the years.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Zork is another favorite of the podcast, and e78 from 2014 is the earliest reference!&nbsp; Then the team discusses the Deadpool VR game.&nbsp; The Kotaku article mentions that&nbsp; Neil Patrick Harris does the Deadpool voice acting in the game.&nbsp; 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?&nbsp; Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @[email protected] (our home for now) and let us know!&nbsp;</p> <p>These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.&nbsp; All rights reserved.&nbsp; 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&nbsp;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&#8217;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 &amp; 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&#038;d=retro&#038;r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=96&#038;d=retro&#038;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>
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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&amp;ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1365w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C150&amp;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1707&amp;ssl=1 1707w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/fallon-michael-CftMCV3XMJE-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;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&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Fallon Michael</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/three-silver-colored-rings-CftMCV3XMJE?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Published 17 November 2025</p> <p>e533 with Andy, Michael and Michael &#8211; 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.&nbsp; Check out this amazing technology in the show notes below.&nbsp; 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!&nbsp; Sticking with the theme, the next powerful ring follows the Tron Master Control Disk concept.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; The team explores an article with instructions for making a smart mirror using two way glass and a Raspberry Pi.&nbsp; You may want to ensure that the TV has the automatic content recognition features turned off.&nbsp; Andy remarks on the continuing evolution over the years of the Magic Mirror software that enables this to work.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; New Steam hardware has captured their imagination.&nbsp; The Steam Machine, Steam Frame and a new Steam controller provides great excitement for the platform.&nbsp; Wrapping up the episode, Michael R takes a look at the World of Warcraft new in game currency used for building houses.&nbsp; The blog post announcing this from Blizzard has 2,817 replies when these show notes were written! &nbsp;</p> <p>What legacy hardware would you most like to have again?&nbsp; Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @[email protected] (our home for now) and let us know!&nbsp;</p> <p>These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.&nbsp; All rights reserved.&nbsp; 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"> &mdash; 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&amp;ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1365w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C150&amp;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1707&amp;ssl=1 1707w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nicole-logan-R1gvm6OagZU-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;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&#038;utm_medium=referral&#038;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&#038;utm_medium=referral&#038;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 &#8211; Here&#8217;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: &#8216;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&#038;d=retro&#038;r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=96&#038;d=retro&#038;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>
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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&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1025&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?resize=225%2C150&amp;ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chris-charles-vGhGPpRo2ZI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;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&#038;utm_medium=referral&#038;utm_content=creditCopyText">Chris Charles</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/skeleton-on-rack-wallpaper-vGhGPpRo2ZI?utm_source=unsplash&#038;utm_medium=referral&#038;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Published 3 November 2025</p> <p>e532 with Michael and Michael &#8211; Halloween Spooktacular edition with AI whale communications &amp; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Then, there is a story about free TV hardware that requires an ELUA to run a second screen of advertising.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Changes to streaming television to insert more advertising has become more common.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; After the cloud outage from last week, there have been articles that discuss how the hardware behaves without the constant internet connection.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; All rights reserved.&nbsp; 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&#8230; and I&#8217;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:&nbsp; <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&#038;d=retro&#038;r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=96&#038;d=retro&#038;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>
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34 MIN
e531 – Games and Such
OCT 20, 2025
e531 – Games and Such
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="796" src="https://gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_5396-1024x796.png" alt="A cyber wizard holding a clock " class="wp-image-4961" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_5396.png?resize=1024%2C796&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_5396.png?resize=300%2C233&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_5396.png?resize=768%2C597&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_5396.png?resize=1536%2C1195&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_5396.png?resize=2048%2C1593&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_5396.png?resize=150%2C117&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_5396.png?resize=193%2C150&amp;ssl=1 193w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_5396.png?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em><a href="https://www.feedingedge.co.uk/blog/2025/08/14/celebrating-35-years-of-full-time-tech-though-really-about-people-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Epredator created AI Generated image</a></em></figcaption></figure> <p>Michael R and Ian &#8220;Epredator&#8221; Hughes get together for a chat about #gaming, #VR, and #technology. We talk about some of our favorite comfort games, how they are procedurally generated, and how the gaming business model has bifurcated between ongoing money grabs and lovingly created indie games.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Show Links</h3> <p><strong>Games:</strong></p> <p>Battlemarked </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://battlemarked.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">https://battlemarked.com</a></li> <li>On Steam &#8211; <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3124340/Demeo_x_Dungeons__Dragons_Battlemarked">https://store.steampowered.com/app/3124340/Demeo_x_Dungeons__Dragons_Battlemarked</a></li> </ul> <p>No Man&#8217;s Sky</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.nomanssky.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">https://www.nomanssky.com</a></li> <li>Where to buy &#8211; <a href="https://www.nomanssky.com/buy-now/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">https://www.nomanssky.com/buy-now/</a> </li> </ul> <p>Return to the Mines of Moria</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.returntomoria.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">https://www.returntomoria.com </a></li> <li>Where to buy &#8211; <a href="https://www.returntomoria.com/buynow" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">https://www.returntomoria.com/buynow</a> </li> </ul> <p><strong>AI:</strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://thedatacommunity.org/2025/09/07/ai-in-gaming-how-artificial-intelligence-is-powering-game-production-and-player-experience/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">AI in Gaming: How Artificial Intelligence is Powering Game Production and Player Experience </a></li> <li><a href="https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/gaming/games-start-ups-developers-partners-innovating-with-gen-ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">The AI-Powered shift to &#8220;living games&#8221;</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwerner/2025/09/06/ai-simulation-and-the-generative-adversarial-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">AI, Simulation, and The Generative Adversarial Network</a></li> </ul>
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32 MIN
e530 — Vibe It! - Ready Player Chum
SEP 29, 2025
e530 — Vibe It! - Ready Player Chum
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-kindelmedia-9026299-768x1024.jpg" alt="Friendly bipedal robot strolling down a path" class="wp-image-4851" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-kindelmedia-9026299-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-kindelmedia-9026299-scaled.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-kindelmedia-9026299-scaled.jpg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-kindelmedia-9026299-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-kindelmedia-9026299-scaled.jpg?resize=113%2C150&amp;ssl=1 113w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-kindelmedia-9026299-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/gamesatwork.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-kindelmedia-9026299-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-robot-toy-on-gray-concrete-floor-9026299/</figcaption></figure> <p>Published 29 September 2025</p> <p>e530 with Michael and Michael &#8211; an AI extravaganza with vibe coding, AI gaming chums, rating LLMs via Infocom games, robots for construction, self assembling space habitats and a whole lot more.</p> <p>Michael and Michael get things moving this episode with an AI extravaganza while Andy is away.&nbsp; The co hosts start things off with a vibe coding assistant to help you with your QBasic programming needs.&nbsp; Next up, the pair consider a couple of stories dealing with assistants who can help users be more effective in playing games.&nbsp; There is a real Goldilocks zone for the assistant to help the player remain in a state of flow, where the game is neither too easy due to the assistant’s help, nor too frustrating to play.&nbsp; Michael R gives an example of his trying to get to Orc Town to progress in Mines of Moria.&nbsp; Continuing on the theme of AIs playing games, Michael and Michael take a look at TextQuests, where a variety of LLMs take up the challenge of playing Infocom text based games.&nbsp; With all the discussion on AI slop in the news, the article from Computerworld about the mathematical inevitability of hallucinations is particularly timely.</p> <p>Michael and Michael move from AI to robotics and take a look at the construction bot from Dusty Robotics, which prints out a life size blueprint directly on the floor.&nbsp; Michael M shares a space habitat construction solution from Aurelia that uses magnets to self assemble in orbit.&nbsp; Michael R shares a story about the engineering feat of moving a viking ship without damaging it, which reminded Michael M of the challenge of moving the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.&nbsp; Check out the links below for all the details.</p> <p>What would your ideal game chum be like?&nbsp; What do you think about the current state of AI chum?&nbsp; Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @[email protected] (our home for now) and let us know!&nbsp;</p> <p>These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.&nbsp; All rights reserved.&nbsp; 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><a href="http://hackaday.io">hackaday.io</a> <a href="https://hackaday.io/project/203972-ai-coding-assistant-for-microsoft-qbasic">AI Coding Assistant for Microsoft QBasic</a></p> <p>Engadget article: <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/google-is-turning-gemini-into-a-gaming-sidekick-with-a-new-android-overlay-130052048.html">Google is turning Gemini into a gaming sidekick with a new Android overlay</a></p> <p>PC Gamer article: <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/microsofts-new-gaming-copilot-ai-tool-promises-to-be-your-personal-gaming-sidekick-but-it-mostly-seems-to-do-the-work-of-a-google-search-with-the-potential-for-hallucinations/">Microsoft&#8217;s new Gaming Copilot AI tool promises to be &#8216;your personal gaming sidekick&#8217; but it mostly seems to do the work of a Google search, with the potential for ‘hallucinations&#8217;</a></p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2024/11/04/e488-fight-for-your-right-to-pla-aaay/">e488: Fight. For Your Right. To Pla-aaay!</a> for Jane McGonigal and flow&nbsp;</p> <p>The Gamer article: <a href="https://www.thegamer.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-return-to-moria-lotr-orc-town-location/">How To Find Orc Town In The Lord Of The Rings: Return To Moria</a></p> <p>404 Media article: <a href="https://www.404media.co/ai-powered-animal-crossing-villagers-begin-organizing-against-tom-nook/">AI-Powered Animal Crossing Villagers Begin Organizing Against Tom Nook</a></p> <p><a href="http://TextQuests.ai">TextQuests.ai</a>&nbsp;</p> <p>Wikipedia article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infocom">Infocom</a></p> <blockquote data-instance="wandering.shop" data-post-id="115243409249133768" class="ftf-fediverse-post-embed"> <p>OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws<br /><a href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/4059383/openai-admits-ai-hallucinations-are-mathematically-inevitable-not-just-engineering-flaws.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">computerworld.com/article/4059</span><span class="invisible">383/openai-admits-ai-hallucinations-are-mathematically-inevitable-not-just-engineering-flaws.html</span></a></p> <p class="ftf-fediverse-post-embed-author"> &mdash; Charlie Stross (@[email protected])<br /> <a class="ftf-fediverse-post-embed-link" href="https://wandering.shop/@cstross/115243409249133768">2025-09-21T17:14:32.576Z</a> </p> </blockquote> <p><script data-allowed-prefixes="https://wandering.shop/" async src=“https://wandering.shop/embed.js"></script></p> <p>Computerworld article: <a href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/4059383/openai-admits-ai-hallucinations-are-mathematically-inevitable-not-just-engineering-flaws.html">OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws</a></p> <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_34_(novel)">Rule 34</a> by Charles Stross</p> <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerando">Accelerando</a> by Charles Stross</p> <p>Games at Work <a href="https://gamesatwork.biz/2021/02/01/episode-306-weak-ties/">e306: Weak Ties</a> for Accelerando&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://hitchhikers.Fandom.Com">hitchhikers.fandom.com</a>: <a href="https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Infinite_Improbability_Drive">Infinite Improbability Drive</a></p> <p>Washington Post article: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/09/16/deepseek-ai-security/">AI firm Deepseek writes less secure code for groups China disfavors</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Robots</strong></h2> <p><a href="https://www.dustyrobotics.com">Dusty Robotics</a></p> <p>Aurelia: <a href="https://www.aureliainstitute.org/tesserae">Tesserae: Self-Assembling Prototypes</a></p> <p><a href="https://magnatiles.com">Magnatiles</a></p> <p>This is Colossal article: <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/09/oseberg-viking-ship-museum-of-viking-age-oslo/">A Feat of Engineering Transports the World’s Best-Preserved Viking Ship to Its New Home</a></p> <p>National Park Service article: <a href="https://www.nps.gov/caha/learn/historyculture/movingthelighthouse.htm">Moving the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size"><strong>Two More Things</strong></h2> <p>Six Colors article: <a href="https://sixcolors.com/link/2025/09/apple-announces-a-new-set-of-immersive-film-releases/">Apple Announces a New Set of Immersive Film Releases</a></p> <p>Random Thoughts post: <a href="https://michaelrowe01.com/index.php/blog/my-airpods-review/">My AirPods Review</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&#038;d=retro&#038;r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/413b204bea2a9cb455940cdcb1580892e0777e4b07485d1ebbdf43db70375711?s=96&#038;d=retro&#038;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>
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31 MIN