Bertine van Hövell 🛝 Gamescom
@baroness.bsky.social
Petting cats, herding cats, vacuuming cats. Certified narrative tool.
🕵 Indie Dev
🖋 Freelance Game Designer and Writer
🎮 Worked on Old Skies, Stellaris, At Eve's Wake and more
✨DGA Board Member - Consultant VAF
🕸 www.lostagain.nl - DM open
...
she/zij 🇳🇱🇪🇺
🕵 Indie Dev
🖋 Freelance Game Designer and Writer
🎮 Worked on Old Skies, Stellaris, At Eve's Wake and more
✨DGA Board Member - Consultant VAF
🕸 www.lostagain.nl - DM open
...
she/zij 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Pinned
Man, I just want to make video games and then
*gestures at the world*
yknow. Stuff.
*gestures at the world*
yknow. Stuff.
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🛝 Gamescom
Through the grapevine of the very small game industry, I heard that originally people who got interviewed were told Bulkhead was a 4 day workweek studio.
So I checked the wayback machine, and yeah. They used to advertise a 4 day workweek: web.archive.org/web/20250408...
I wonder what happened.
So I checked the wayback machine, and yeah. They used to advertise a 4 day workweek: web.archive.org/web/20250408...
I wonder what happened.
September 16, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Through the grapevine of the very small game industry, I heard that originally people who got interviewed were told Bulkhead was a 4 day workweek studio.
So I checked the wayback machine, and yeah. They used to advertise a 4 day workweek: web.archive.org/web/20250408...
I wonder what happened.
So I checked the wayback machine, and yeah. They used to advertise a 4 day workweek: web.archive.org/web/20250408...
I wonder what happened.
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🛝 Gamescom
Everyone who calls the games industry 'gaming industry' is unwittingly adopting the successful strategy of the gambling industry to make it seems digital games and gambling are the same; with the intent to fall under more lax regulations
Stop them from piggybacking on our medium. We're making games
Stop them from piggybacking on our medium. We're making games
September 16, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Everyone who calls the games industry 'gaming industry' is unwittingly adopting the successful strategy of the gambling industry to make it seems digital games and gambling are the same; with the intent to fall under more lax regulations
Stop them from piggybacking on our medium. We're making games
Stop them from piggybacking on our medium. We're making games
Everyone who calls the games industry 'gaming industry' is unwittingly adopting the successful strategy of the gambling industry to make it seems digital games and gambling are the same; with the intent to fall under more lax regulations
Stop them from piggybacking on our medium. We're making games
Stop them from piggybacking on our medium. We're making games
September 16, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Everyone who calls the games industry 'gaming industry' is unwittingly adopting the successful strategy of the gambling industry to make it seems digital games and gambling are the same; with the intent to fall under more lax regulations
Stop them from piggybacking on our medium. We're making games
Stop them from piggybacking on our medium. We're making games
He's a birthday boy, it's just his birthday would you hold a birthday boy complicit???
Ed Sheeran has released a statement on Macklemore being removed from his tour for speaking up for Palestine:
“I am not complicit. […] Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have [my own opinions], and it doesn't mean I don't care.”
“I am not complicit. […] Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have [my own opinions], and it doesn't mean I don't care.”
September 15, 2026 at 6:03 PM
He's a birthday boy, it's just his birthday would you hold a birthday boy complicit???
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🛝 Gamescom
This is a great example of why you should disable Steam's dumb language filters. Most people are only seeing a random visual novel they never heard about with a couple of reviews.
It has over 10,000 reviews.
These filters do nothing except lock you in inside a bubble.
It has over 10,000 reviews.
These filters do nothing except lock you in inside a bubble.
September 9, 2026 at 9:45 AM
This is a great example of why you should disable Steam's dumb language filters. Most people are only seeing a random visual novel they never heard about with a couple of reviews.
It has over 10,000 reviews.
These filters do nothing except lock you in inside a bubble.
It has over 10,000 reviews.
These filters do nothing except lock you in inside a bubble.
Request for all you tool designers out there: reduce the amount of clicks it takes to do something
No, reduce it more
If I'm clicking, I'm not writing or designing and it disrupts my flow. Plz, I beg of you, fewer clicks. You can do it. I believe in you
No, reduce it more
If I'm clicking, I'm not writing or designing and it disrupts my flow. Plz, I beg of you, fewer clicks. You can do it. I believe in you
September 9, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Request for all you tool designers out there: reduce the amount of clicks it takes to do something
No, reduce it more
If I'm clicking, I'm not writing or designing and it disrupts my flow. Plz, I beg of you, fewer clicks. You can do it. I believe in you
No, reduce it more
If I'm clicking, I'm not writing or designing and it disrupts my flow. Plz, I beg of you, fewer clicks. You can do it. I believe in you
Finally home
Gamescom is so so so much more tolerable if you don't need to pitch anything
Gamescom is so so so much more tolerable if you don't need to pitch anything
August 30, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Finally home
Gamescom is so so so much more tolerable if you don't need to pitch anything
Gamescom is so so so much more tolerable if you don't need to pitch anything
Gamescom done, spa day time
August 29, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Gamescom done, spa day time
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🛝 Gamescom
I see your carefully balanced skillpoint-based roleplay game and I will be looking up guides to build a character that is able to enjoy all the narrative content in a single playthrough
August 27, 2026 at 10:53 PM
I see your carefully balanced skillpoint-based roleplay game and I will be looking up guides to build a character that is able to enjoy all the narrative content in a single playthrough
Ok this might be a hot take, but if you run an international convention that is the second biggest in the world for its type, maybe communicate important updates (like, I dunno, an entrance is closed) in more than just German
August 28, 2026 at 7:57 AM
Ok this might be a hot take, but if you run an international convention that is the second biggest in the world for its type, maybe communicate important updates (like, I dunno, an entrance is closed) in more than just German
I see your carefully balanced skillpoint-based roleplay game and I will be looking up guides to build a character that is able to enjoy all the narrative content in a single playthrough
August 27, 2026 at 10:53 PM
I see your carefully balanced skillpoint-based roleplay game and I will be looking up guides to build a character that is able to enjoy all the narrative content in a single playthrough
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🛝 Gamescom
I'm not at Gamescom, but here's a photo of me & my friends I like a lot & over half of us have shipped titles so #whatagamedevlookslike
I'm Ian & I've been collecting paychecks in games for a decade now predominantly as a marketing producer. Right now I'm working on [NDA] for [NDA].
I'm Ian & I've been collecting paychecks in games for a decade now predominantly as a marketing producer. Right now I'm working on [NDA] for [NDA].
August 27, 2026 at 8:37 PM
I'm not at Gamescom, but here's a photo of me & my friends I like a lot & over half of us have shipped titles so #whatagamedevlookslike
I'm Ian & I've been collecting paychecks in games for a decade now predominantly as a marketing producer. Right now I'm working on [NDA] for [NDA].
I'm Ian & I've been collecting paychecks in games for a decade now predominantly as a marketing producer. Right now I'm working on [NDA] for [NDA].
In honor of the gdc tradition and with blessings from @drjclau.bsky.social : #whatagamedevlookslike euro edition!
I'm Berine and this is my 20th year meaning games professionally! I'm a narrative freelancer and I've worked on all sizes of games. I really like designing puzzles.
I'm Berine and this is my 20th year meaning games professionally! I'm a narrative freelancer and I've worked on all sizes of games. I really like designing puzzles.
August 27, 2026 at 8:05 AM
In honor of the gdc tradition and with blessings from @drjclau.bsky.social : #whatagamedevlookslike euro edition!
I'm Berine and this is my 20th year meaning games professionally! I'm a narrative freelancer and I've worked on all sizes of games. I really like designing puzzles.
I'm Berine and this is my 20th year meaning games professionally! I'm a narrative freelancer and I've worked on all sizes of games. I really like designing puzzles.
The organisers have now been informed and were horrified. They've taken the right actions and hopefully will be able to keep future events safer 🎉
Cool. The wonen in games event at gamescom just didn't vet anyone huh. Any dude can just walk in and pretend to be any ally regardless of their history and behaviour
As long as WiG events are just there to polish cis guys' reputations and provide indulgences, you're making us all unsafe.
Fuck off
As long as WiG events are just there to polish cis guys' reputations and provide indulgences, you're making us all unsafe.
Fuck off
August 26, 2026 at 10:59 AM
The organisers have now been informed and were horrified. They've taken the right actions and hopefully will be able to keep future events safer 🎉
Join me at gamescom dev at 13.15 at stage 10 for my talk about applying for public game grants
It's going to be thick with info but I've tried to make it a bit entertaining too just to make things nicely digestible
It's going to be thick with info but I've tried to make it a bit entertaining too just to make things nicely digestible
August 25, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Join me at gamescom dev at 13.15 at stage 10 for my talk about applying for public game grants
It's going to be thick with info but I've tried to make it a bit entertaining too just to make things nicely digestible
It's going to be thick with info but I've tried to make it a bit entertaining too just to make things nicely digestible
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🛝 Gamescom
I really enjoy when I’m at a women in games event and a man, who is also at the women in games event, comes up to me and asks me why I’m at a women in games event 🫠
August 24, 2026 at 7:46 PM
I really enjoy when I’m at a women in games event and a man, who is also at the women in games event, comes up to me and asks me why I’m at a women in games event 🫠
Cool. The wonen in games event at gamescom just didn't vet anyone huh. Any dude can just walk in and pretend to be any ally regardless of their history and behaviour
As long as WiG events are just there to polish cis guys' reputations and provide indulgences, you're making us all unsafe.
Fuck off
As long as WiG events are just there to polish cis guys' reputations and provide indulgences, you're making us all unsafe.
Fuck off
August 24, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Cool. The wonen in games event at gamescom just didn't vet anyone huh. Any dude can just walk in and pretend to be any ally regardless of their history and behaviour
As long as WiG events are just there to polish cis guys' reputations and provide indulgences, you're making us all unsafe.
Fuck off
As long as WiG events are just there to polish cis guys' reputations and provide indulgences, you're making us all unsafe.
Fuck off
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🛝 Gamescom
Love this news but hate the "surprise comeback" framing. Teams around the globe worked incredibly hard to protect & expand mangrove forests & it worked! Please just say, "We tried and we succeeded! Go team Earth!" We must admit our victories to give people the heart to keep trying! #ShareGoodNewsToo
'a new study shows that since 2010 the world has been gaining more mangroves than it has been losing - driven by stronger legal protections and increased public awareness of their importance, sparked by disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.' 1/2
Mangrove forests are healing after decades of human destruction
Swampy mangrove forests are staging a surprise comeback - which is good news for coastal communities and the climate.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 6, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Love this news but hate the "surprise comeback" framing. Teams around the globe worked incredibly hard to protect & expand mangrove forests & it worked! Please just say, "We tried and we succeeded! Go team Earth!" We must admit our victories to give people the heart to keep trying! #ShareGoodNewsToo
Gamescom time!
August 23, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Gamescom time!
Has anyone ever tried game promotion on Rednote/xiaohongshu? Is that a thing?
August 23, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Has anyone ever tried game promotion on Rednote/xiaohongshu? Is that a thing?
Didn't JKR used to work for Amnesty International?
I recall reading about that.
I think there's something else going on besides a legal threat
I recall reading about that.
I think there's something else going on besides a legal threat
I've never seen such an effort to censor a document as I have the Amnesty International report on gender critical groups because of JK Rowling.
They removed the report from the Wayback Machine and now I got a DMCA strike on my Google Drive for having it. It was deleted and removed from my account.
They removed the report from the Wayback Machine and now I got a DMCA strike on my Google Drive for having it. It was deleted and removed from my account.
August 21, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Didn't JKR used to work for Amnesty International?
I recall reading about that.
I think there's something else going on besides a legal threat
I recall reading about that.
I think there's something else going on besides a legal threat
I'm quite amused by the number of service providers who contact me to "get feedback" on their product and'd like to book an appointment at gamescom
Can't believe they're using the indies-promoting-their-game-on-Reddit trick
Can't believe they're using the indies-promoting-their-game-on-Reddit trick
August 20, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I'm quite amused by the number of service providers who contact me to "get feedback" on their product and'd like to book an appointment at gamescom
Can't believe they're using the indies-promoting-their-game-on-Reddit trick
Can't believe they're using the indies-promoting-their-game-on-Reddit trick
I know I'm preaching to the choir but it's kind of wild that of all neurological development discrepancies, they single out ADHD as 'nonsense' considering it's the one we know exactly the underlying mechanics of, and with 10% of the population affected it's by far the most prevalent
August 20, 2026 at 1:06 PM
I know I'm preaching to the choir but it's kind of wild that of all neurological development discrepancies, they single out ADHD as 'nonsense' considering it's the one we know exactly the underlying mechanics of, and with 10% of the population affected it's by far the most prevalent
Reposted by Bertine van Hövell 🛝 Gamescom
I just put in an order for Rancho Gordo cassoulet beans and a bag of polenta. "Beans so tasty they've featured in multiple messy divorces" is not a culinary experience I can pass up.
This is the most incredible divorce article I have ever read
Cole Harry found himself in the midst of a sudden divorce. His ex took the apartment, the furniture — and his Rancho Gordo Bean Club subscription. When heirloom beans are caught in the middle of a messy divorce, who should get custody? @soleilho.com asks Bay Area food club leaders to chime in.
August 18, 2026 at 3:07 PM
I just put in an order for Rancho Gordo cassoulet beans and a bag of polenta. "Beans so tasty they've featured in multiple messy divorces" is not a culinary experience I can pass up.
A casual reminder to backup your work
Not just work-work, but
also emails, photos, contacts
Not just in the cloud but
also on a physical medium
Perhaps even
also in a physical spot
Ty for listening
also
Not just work-work, but
also emails, photos, contacts
Not just in the cloud but
also on a physical medium
Perhaps even
also in a physical spot
Ty for listening
also
August 18, 2026 at 1:40 PM
A casual reminder to backup your work
Not just work-work, but
also emails, photos, contacts
Not just in the cloud but
also on a physical medium
Perhaps even
also in a physical spot
Ty for listening
also
Not just work-work, but
also emails, photos, contacts
Not just in the cloud but
also on a physical medium
Perhaps even
also in a physical spot
Ty for listening
also