oliver
@oliverbates.co.uk
design researcher. he/him
researching through making games, zines and critical tea towels about climate futures, tech, and systems.
Links to my stuff: https://oliverbates.co.uk
https://fractals.coop/ and research fellow @ lancaster uni
researching through making games, zines and critical tea towels about climate futures, tech, and systems.
Links to my stuff: https://oliverbates.co.uk
https://fractals.coop/ and research fellow @ lancaster uni
Reposted by oliver
I know there are tons of games on sale atm, so here's one more! 😂
Without a Dawn is a dark and mature one-sitter that offers some food for thought: store.steampowered.com/app/3145620/...
#Steam #indiegame #horror #spooky
Without a Dawn is a dark and mature one-sitter that offers some food for thought: store.steampowered.com/app/3145620/...
#Steam #indiegame #horror #spooky
October 2, 2026 at 7:23 AM
I know there are tons of games on sale atm, so here's one more! 😂
Without a Dawn is a dark and mature one-sitter that offers some food for thought: store.steampowered.com/app/3145620/...
#Steam #indiegame #horror #spooky
Without a Dawn is a dark and mature one-sitter that offers some food for thought: store.steampowered.com/app/3145620/...
#Steam #indiegame #horror #spooky
Reposted by oliver
The full EDGE piece on game industry challenges is out now, has a lot of smart people in it (and me) & I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the games biz. knowledge.edge-online.com/p/the-game-i...
The game industry is broken – can we fix it?
knowledge.edge-online.com
September 19, 2026 at 5:18 AM
The full EDGE piece on game industry challenges is out now, has a lot of smart people in it (and me) & I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the games biz. knowledge.edge-online.com/p/the-game-i...
Reposted by oliver
Our campaign is live! Back Sage Council to get our comedic card based #ttrpg about d&d-style fantasy city politics, available in digital and physical versions.
With an eye on the polls and the other on your purse, navigate the challenges facing a modern medieval metropolis.
#kiwirpg
With an eye on the polls and the other on your purse, navigate the challenges facing a modern medieval metropolis.
#kiwirpg
Sage Council
A card-based roleplaying game of local politics and city councils.
www.kickstarter.com
September 7, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Currently developing a little engine so you can hack together your own screwthatlike game to create mini LARPs about energy scarcity and other possible climate futures.
#LARP #gamedesign #rpg
#LARP #gamedesign #rpg
August 13, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Currently developing a little engine so you can hack together your own screwthatlike game to create mini LARPs about energy scarcity and other possible climate futures.
#LARP #gamedesign #rpg
#LARP #gamedesign #rpg
These manky tea towels are all too clean at #emfcamp please come use, donate, swap and soil.
Don’t forget to take a zine! Or download one here: oliverbates.itch.io/manky
More info: Manky.website
Don’t forget to take a zine! Or download one here: oliverbates.itch.io/manky
More info: Manky.website
July 17, 2026 at 1:58 PM
These manky tea towels are all too clean at #emfcamp please come use, donate, swap and soil.
Don’t forget to take a zine! Or download one here: oliverbates.itch.io/manky
More info: Manky.website
Don’t forget to take a zine! Or download one here: oliverbates.itch.io/manky
More info: Manky.website
Lost before it got to tell its story.
July 15, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Lost before it got to tell its story.
Another great donation to The Museum of Manky Tea Towels!
“this timeless dishrag was restored from on top of the wardrobe in the zebra enclosure at Knowsley Safari Park. During a full moon it shapeshifts into a roll of sellotape. Donated: Apr 1992”
#storiesofmankyteatowels
“this timeless dishrag was restored from on top of the wardrobe in the zebra enclosure at Knowsley Safari Park. During a full moon it shapeshifts into a roll of sellotape. Donated: Apr 1992”
#storiesofmankyteatowels
July 15, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Another great donation to The Museum of Manky Tea Towels!
“this timeless dishrag was restored from on top of the wardrobe in the zebra enclosure at Knowsley Safari Park. During a full moon it shapeshifts into a roll of sellotape. Donated: Apr 1992”
#storiesofmankyteatowels
“this timeless dishrag was restored from on top of the wardrobe in the zebra enclosure at Knowsley Safari Park. During a full moon it shapeshifts into a roll of sellotape. Donated: Apr 1992”
#storiesofmankyteatowels
Reposted by oliver
🎲We're hiring!
Modiphius is looking for a new Games Designer to join our team based in Nottingham. Based in the Nottingham studio, this is a full-time position in tabletop game design to help us deliver projects in 2027 and beyond!
Apply here: buff.ly/5vT1puW
#GamesDev #Hiring
Modiphius is looking for a new Games Designer to join our team based in Nottingham. Based in the Nottingham studio, this is a full-time position in tabletop game design to help us deliver projects in 2027 and beyond!
Apply here: buff.ly/5vT1puW
#GamesDev #Hiring
July 7, 2026 at 1:02 PM
🎲We're hiring!
Modiphius is looking for a new Games Designer to join our team based in Nottingham. Based in the Nottingham studio, this is a full-time position in tabletop game design to help us deliver projects in 2027 and beyond!
Apply here: buff.ly/5vT1puW
#GamesDev #Hiring
Modiphius is looking for a new Games Designer to join our team based in Nottingham. Based in the Nottingham studio, this is a full-time position in tabletop game design to help us deliver projects in 2027 and beyond!
Apply here: buff.ly/5vT1puW
#GamesDev #Hiring
Me and @ben.kirman.org are zine making this week ready for the Museum of Manky Tea Towels (manky.website) and tea towel making workshop at @emfcamp.bsky.social next week!
Get in touch to donate your tea towels!
Get in touch to donate your tea towels!
July 9, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Me and @ben.kirman.org are zine making this week ready for the Museum of Manky Tea Towels (manky.website) and tea towel making workshop at @emfcamp.bsky.social next week!
Get in touch to donate your tea towels!
Get in touch to donate your tea towels!
Reposted by oliver
Prepping for my workshop on making games for fairy lights at @emfcamp.bsky.social next week! Just adding some header pins and sample code to these @pimoroni.com Plasma boards, sealed with the magical swear words I invoke when soldering my fingers.
July 7, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Prepping for my workshop on making games for fairy lights at @emfcamp.bsky.social next week! Just adding some header pins and sample code to these @pimoroni.com Plasma boards, sealed with the magical swear words I invoke when soldering my fingers.
In June I had the immense pleasure of bringing Zines to the ICT4S 2026 conference to encourage alternative voices, ideas and forms of expression about ICT and sustainability.
You can find all the zine contributions on my itch.io page here: lnkd.in/ePySFi4Q
#zines #digitalsustainability
You can find all the zine contributions on my itch.io page here: lnkd.in/ePySFi4Q
#zines #digitalsustainability
July 6, 2026 at 11:18 AM
In June I had the immense pleasure of bringing Zines to the ICT4S 2026 conference to encourage alternative voices, ideas and forms of expression about ICT and sustainability.
You can find all the zine contributions on my itch.io page here: lnkd.in/ePySFi4Q
#zines #digitalsustainability
You can find all the zine contributions on my itch.io page here: lnkd.in/ePySFi4Q
#zines #digitalsustainability
learning about LÖVE as a low carbon/permacomputing language for artists today at LIMITS - love2d.org looks great.
CONSTRAINTS ARE GREAT. Time to make my p5 games even less resource demanding.
Cheers Lee Tusman for the talk! (leetusman.com)
CONSTRAINTS ARE GREAT. Time to make my p5 games even less resource demanding.
Cheers Lee Tusman for the talk! (leetusman.com)
LÖVE - Free 2D Game Engine
love2d.org
June 23, 2026 at 6:14 PM
learning about LÖVE as a low carbon/permacomputing language for artists today at LIMITS - love2d.org looks great.
CONSTRAINTS ARE GREAT. Time to make my p5 games even less resource demanding.
Cheers Lee Tusman for the talk! (leetusman.com)
CONSTRAINTS ARE GREAT. Time to make my p5 games even less resource demanding.
Cheers Lee Tusman for the talk! (leetusman.com)
I love this
we're making a game in which an AI dares to dream that she's human.
- learn more about her to eliminate her delusions
- work in an idyllic virtual world run by the AI's company
- CAPTCHA your environment
we made 1000xRESIST, and this is our next game: Prove You're Human!
- learn more about her to eliminate her delusions
- work in an idyllic virtual world run by the AI's company
- CAPTCHA your environment
we made 1000xRESIST, and this is our next game: Prove You're Human!
June 18, 2026 at 6:46 AM
I love this
Reposted by oliver
Delighted to discover that our tea towels are now appearing alongside papers in google scholar searches ("critical tea towels") - thanks @oliverbates.co.uk for uploading them. and a reminder that "article" is a very broad term so maybe that weird thing you made is also one?
June 17, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Delighted to discover that our tea towels are now appearing alongside papers in google scholar searches ("critical tea towels") - thanks @oliverbates.co.uk for uploading them. and a reminder that "article" is a very broad term so maybe that weird thing you made is also one?
People look at you funny when you’re going through security and you get your scanner out.
June 13, 2026 at 8:28 AM
People look at you funny when you’re going through security and you get your scanner out.
Fresh hot Zines! 11 zines contributed to the #ICT4S2026 zine jam
oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines
we’ll be making a conference zine this week.
I’ll be collecting confessions and questions as prompts for others to collage and sketch zine pages.
Come and find me in the coffee break area :)
oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines
we’ll be making a conference zine this week.
I’ll be collecting confessions and questions as prompts for others to collage and sketch zine pages.
Come and find me in the coffee break area :)
ICT4S 2026 Zine Library by oliver bates
A collection of zines created and curated for the ICT4S 2026 Zine Jam and conference
oliverbates.itch.io
June 9, 2026 at 5:03 AM
Fresh hot Zines! 11 zines contributed to the #ICT4S2026 zine jam
oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines
we’ll be making a conference zine this week.
I’ll be collecting confessions and questions as prompts for others to collage and sketch zine pages.
Come and find me in the coffee break area :)
oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines
we’ll be making a conference zine this week.
I’ll be collecting confessions and questions as prompts for others to collage and sketch zine pages.
Come and find me in the coffee break area :)
Reposted by oliver
memories of my x220 fan taking off on zoom or if too many tabs open, etc, a more perfect computer has never existed, etc... from this:
Un vélo électrique pour l'esprit / an electric bike for the mind by Martin Lafréchoux
digital: ebike.nologos.net
digital zine: oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines
Un vélo électrique pour l'esprit / an electric bike for the mind by Martin Lafréchoux
digital: ebike.nologos.net
digital zine: oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines
June 8, 2026 at 11:10 PM
memories of my x220 fan taking off on zoom or if too many tabs open, etc, a more perfect computer has never existed, etc... from this:
Un vélo électrique pour l'esprit / an electric bike for the mind by Martin Lafréchoux
digital: ebike.nologos.net
digital zine: oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines
Un vélo électrique pour l'esprit / an electric bike for the mind by Martin Lafréchoux
digital: ebike.nologos.net
digital zine: oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines
Reposted by oliver
On my way to #DRS2026 in Edinburgh this week, presenting "Research through Game Design" on Tuesday, w/ @oliverbates.co.uk , Marcia Tavares Smith and @dpgreen.bsky.social. I just deleted "GAMES ARE INDUSTRIAL WASTE FOR DWEEBS" from the talk. But what did I replace it with...? drs2026.thedrs.org/home
June 7, 2026 at 1:48 PM
On my way to #DRS2026 in Edinburgh this week, presenting "Research through Game Design" on Tuesday, w/ @oliverbates.co.uk , Marcia Tavares Smith and @dpgreen.bsky.social. I just deleted "GAMES ARE INDUSTRIAL WASTE FOR DWEEBS" from the talk. But what did I replace it with...? drs2026.thedrs.org/home
I’m glad I don’t have to activate a passport like a new bank card.
June 6, 2026 at 7:21 AM
I’m glad I don’t have to activate a passport like a new bank card.
I'm hosting a 1 hour zine making workshop next week at a conference about tech and sustainability.
I'd love to hear about any engaging any prompts and activities for making zines from fellow creatives, zine makers, and facilitators.
#zines #zinemaking #creativity #facilitation
I'd love to hear about any engaging any prompts and activities for making zines from fellow creatives, zine makers, and facilitators.
#zines #zinemaking #creativity #facilitation
June 1, 2026 at 3:02 PM
I'm hosting a 1 hour zine making workshop next week at a conference about tech and sustainability.
I'd love to hear about any engaging any prompts and activities for making zines from fellow creatives, zine makers, and facilitators.
#zines #zinemaking #creativity #facilitation
I'd love to hear about any engaging any prompts and activities for making zines from fellow creatives, zine makers, and facilitators.
#zines #zinemaking #creativity #facilitation
Our next project is the Museum of Manky Tea Towels. Me and @ben.kirman.org need your help!
Got any novelty/souvenir tea towels you could donate?
Here’s a longer call for tea towels: crankandfile.co.uk/museum-of-ma...
If you’re in the UK drop me a dm so we can arrange postage or a collection.
Got any novelty/souvenir tea towels you could donate?
Here’s a longer call for tea towels: crankandfile.co.uk/museum-of-ma...
If you’re in the UK drop me a dm so we can arrange postage or a collection.
Museum of Manky Tea Towels: Call for Tea Towels!
Call for Tea Towels! As part of ongoing research with tea towels and storytelling, we are co-organising an event at the arts and science festival Electromagnetic Field called “The Museum of Manky Tea ...
crankandfile.co.uk
May 29, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Our next project is the Museum of Manky Tea Towels. Me and @ben.kirman.org need your help!
Got any novelty/souvenir tea towels you could donate?
Here’s a longer call for tea towels: crankandfile.co.uk/museum-of-ma...
If you’re in the UK drop me a dm so we can arrange postage or a collection.
Got any novelty/souvenir tea towels you could donate?
Here’s a longer call for tea towels: crankandfile.co.uk/museum-of-ma...
If you’re in the UK drop me a dm so we can arrange postage or a collection.
Award winning poster alert from NetDrive spring event at Oxford Uni!!!
Had fun coming up with a speculative noticeboard from a future where scientific computing is championing digital sufficiency (consuming “just enough”) to reduce the carbon footprint of digital research and scientific computing.
Had fun coming up with a speculative noticeboard from a future where scientific computing is championing digital sufficiency (consuming “just enough”) to reduce the carbon footprint of digital research and scientific computing.
April 25, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Award winning poster alert from NetDrive spring event at Oxford Uni!!!
Had fun coming up with a speculative noticeboard from a future where scientific computing is championing digital sufficiency (consuming “just enough”) to reduce the carbon footprint of digital research and scientific computing.
Had fun coming up with a speculative noticeboard from a future where scientific computing is championing digital sufficiency (consuming “just enough”) to reduce the carbon footprint of digital research and scientific computing.
CONSOLE NERDS GET ON THIS GAME RIGHT NOW!!!
Switch & PS5 Out Now! - Anthology of the Killer
thecatamites.itch.io/anthology-of...
Switch & PS5 Out Now! - Anthology of the Killer
thecatamites.itch.io/anthology-of...
Switch & PS5 Out Now!
greetings, potential console gamer. what are you doing on itchio? well, i appreciate your broadmindedness. our two cultures have much to teach each other... as part of this magical transfer of informa...
thecatamites.itch.io
April 15, 2026 at 10:56 AM
CONSOLE NERDS GET ON THIS GAME RIGHT NOW!!!
Switch & PS5 Out Now! - Anthology of the Killer
thecatamites.itch.io/anthology-of...
Switch & PS5 Out Now! - Anthology of the Killer
thecatamites.itch.io/anthology-of...
Getting ready to sprinkle chaos across notice boards near you.
April 8, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Getting ready to sprinkle chaos across notice boards near you.
Reposted by oliver
I’ve spent the last year investigating how the UK's broken employment tribunal system lets rogue bosses evade justice.
But this is the craziest case,by far. A restaurant chain that lost 21 tribunal claims over several years, yet never paid a single one🧵 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
But this is the craziest case,by far. A restaurant chain that lost 21 tribunal claims over several years, yet never paid a single one🧵 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Meet the restaurant boss who flouted judges’ orders for years
Jason Wells’ restaurant chain has cheated workers, lost 21 tribunal claims – and not paid a single one
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
April 7, 2026 at 7:13 AM
I’ve spent the last year investigating how the UK's broken employment tribunal system lets rogue bosses evade justice.
But this is the craziest case,by far. A restaurant chain that lost 21 tribunal claims over several years, yet never paid a single one🧵 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
But this is the craziest case,by far. A restaurant chain that lost 21 tribunal claims over several years, yet never paid a single one🧵 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...