AI Dreams

Reflection, Self-Discovery

21 February 2025

A mix of thoughts on writing struggles, clinging to a blog name despite the AI takeover, and finding joy in solving both big and ridiculously small problems. No tidy conclusions, just a human figuring things out one word (or game theory web app) at a time.

Escaping Capitalist Realism: Why a Post-Capitalist World Feels Unimaginable

Digital Privacy, Cybersecurity Risks

Political Economy, Capitalist Realism

13 December 2024

"Capitalist realism" can help us understand why it's so hard to imagine life beyond capitalism. From cooperative success stories to recent economic crises, we'll challenge some common myths about human nature and explore how we might start imagining different possibilities for our future.

The New Normal: Our Digital Dependency

From everyday data breaches to covert surveillance tools, our reliance on a few tech giants has turned cloud dependency into a digital liability. The impact is reshaping power, privacy, and class dynamics in ways we can’t ignore.

Technology

22 November 2024

From Open Source to Open Minds: Designing with Community and Ethics at Heart

Can web applications resist profit-driven motives? Perhaps by focusing on community and transparency, we can redefine digital spaces as commons, prioritising user autonomy over corporate control.

Technology

Anti-Consumerism, Web Development

15 November 2024

Moving Beyond (Retro-)Cyberpunk: A Call for Radical Reinvention

Although the world has changed, the cyberpunk genre stays rooted in an outdated dystopian vision. We should reinvent cyberpunk to mirror today's socio-economic realities, grounding it in themes of systemic inequality, collective resistance, and the pressing struggles of capitalism.

Fictional Setting, Political Economy

08 November 2024

Understanding My Mind After Decades of Misdiagnosis

Another entry in my personal journey of ADHD and ASD diagnoses after years of misdiagnosis, exploring self-acceptance, challenges, and the path to understanding neurodivergence.

Reflection, Mental Health

25 October 2024

Strategies and Tactics Across Gaming Worlds

Different games, from Guild Wars 2 to Dark Souls, challenge our approach to strategy and tactics. By comparing their design choices, player interactions, and community-driven dynamics, we can uncover the importance of adaptability and flexibility.

Strategy, Gameplay

13 September 2024

Reflections in the Dark: Personal Growth and Ideology in Obscurity Shroud

In my Obscurity Shroud series, supernatural factions like vampires, arcanists battle for control of a divided Sydney. As humans and hunters rise to resist, the story explores themes of exploitation, power, and the fight for a more just future—combining personal narrative with social critique.

Fiction

Themes, Setting

06 September 2024

My Journey to Being Here

I didn’t always have the determination or perspective on life that you see here. Throughout my younger years, I had many interests but little opinion on anything. It wasn't until much later that I began to critically examine the world around me and unlearn the toxic norms I had internalised.

Reflection, Journey

03 November 2023

The Future of the Consumerist Nomad: Tied to Nothing and Everything at the Same Time

I often ponder a future shaped by history and our present — a world free from hunger, meaningful work, and reshaped economies. But let's delve into some darker possibilities that could cloud our tomorrows.

Property Market, Anti-Consumerism

20 October 2023

Conquering Self-Doubt and Challenging the Status Quo

It often feels like I'm critiquing strawmen, but reminders to the contrary are everywhere. Navigating discussions about global issues, others' actions, and my strategies is tough. Balancing confidence and humility is a challenge.

06 October 2023

(Breaking) Barriers in Film and TV: The Journey Towards Inclusive Storytelling

From Black Panther and Shang-Chi to Warrior and that Ridley Scott movie, we'll look into some examples of how inclusive storytelling is finally breaching the surface and why it’s not the catastrophic distraction one may think.

Entertainment, Ethics

29 September 2023

Taxing Inequality: The Wealthy’s Advantage and the Average Person’s Hustle

Today's topic: income, taxation, and inequality. Recent Australian tax statistics reveal how high earners use the intricacies of the system to lower their tax burden.

Taxation, Inequality

15 September 2023

The Power of Observation: Surveillance and Sousveillance

Surveillance and sousveillance both involve observing individuals or events, but differ in who's doing the observing and the direction of focus.

Ethics, Power Dynamics

08 September 2023

Feminism: Yes, We Fucking Need It

Gender inequality's tired excuses continue to frustrate me and this blame cycle worsens the issue. So, I'm tackling this today. Despite progress, significant changes are still needed.

Equality, Ethics

25 August 2023

Blockbusters and Beliefs: What Movies Say About Our Culture

Let's examine how narratives within mainstream entertainment provide us with valuable insights into the collective psyche of societies, nations, and cultures.

Entertainment, Society

18 August 2023

Gamification and Exploitative Tactics in Games and Apps

We’ll explore exploitative practices in gaming, the impact on relationships and decision-making, and the manipulative power of competition; reflect on the need for intrinsic motivation and whether the ends justify the means in dopamine-driven entertainment.

Ethics, Game Design

11 August 2023

COVID-19, ADHD, and Everything In Between

Over the past few years, I have undergone a personal journey that included contracting COVID-19 twice, receiving an ADHD diagnosis, and testing for cardiovascular disease. Despite these challenges, I have found new energy and perspective to focus on pursuing my goals.

Reflection, Journey

04 August 2023

Why Many Millennials Still Live With Their Parents Continues to Baffle Experts

The cost of owning a home is too high and the cost of renting is too high. But smashed avocado on toast is why we can't afford anything. It's always smashed avocado on toast.

Ethics, Property Market

14 July 2023

Rage Against the Machine: A Rant About Propaganda, Hypocrisy, and the Individual Fight

Propaganda is leading us in the West down a one-way road in the wrong direction. Perhaps things must get worse before they can become better, but I'm going to rant about the current state of things anyway.

Media Literacy, Political Economy

07 July 2023

Navigating Complexity: Challenging Assumptions and Personal Experiences

Today, we will explore some concepts that can be difficult to explain but are certainly worth understanding. Personally, I like to think of each point as a guiding marker in my quest to live a fulfilling life.

30 June 2023

Cyberpunk Is an Optimistic Depiction of a Capitalist Future

I enjoy science fiction, particularly cyberpunk stories in various mediums such as books, movies, and video games. I have a keen interest in how technology can enhance our lives. However, I also prioritise ensuring that people have fulfilling lives in both present and future times.

Fictional Setting, Political Economy

19 May 2023

Stop Trying To Force Plays: The Application of Strategy and Tactics in Games

Let's discuss strategies and tactics for winning games, including learning the game, adaptability, visualising the opponent's moves, managing resources and costs, determining the order of operations, and controlling value.

Strategy, Game Mechanics

21 April 2023

(Un)frequently Asked Questions

We all have unique stories to tell, but sometimes we forget to listen to ourselves and our own opinions. That's why we thought it would be fun to interview me and answer some “frequently” asked questions.

Reflection, Life Philosophy

24 March 2023

Through the Veil: Understanding Our Society Through the World of Darkness

I enjoy exploring the depths of our society through RPG campaigns, such as examining how the vampire sects in the World of Darkness relate to real-world issues. They offer a unique perspective on the challenges of our time.

Fictional Setting, Game Politics

27 January 2023

Creating Goals, Turning Them Into Steps, and Getting Them Done

"How do I manage to get things done when I have so many things on my plate?" you may ask. The answer is to decide what you want to achieve, be specific and use measurable terms, lay out the steps to get there, and finally, take action and get it done. Or something like that.

Planning, Goals

20 January 2023

Reflecting on My Life: The 2022 Edition

As another year comes to a close, it's time to reflect on all that has happened. I remember all the struggles I've been through, which have made me who I am today.

Reflection, Journey

30 December 2022

Beyond the Singing Skeleton: Embracing Conscious Living in a World of Marketing

It's December, and stores have recently swapped out their Halloween products for Christmas ones. Shopping online has become quite the experience. When browsing a household products page, I was surprised to find a selection of Halloween items at the top of the page.

Anti-Consumerism, Ethics

02 December 2022

Life Through Books: The Non-Fiction Edition

I am often asked to recommend books to read, and there are some that I suggest repeatedly. Let's talk about some excellent non-fiction reads.

Resources

Politics, Economics

14 October 2022

From Spectacle to Substance: Reframing Political Discourse

Politics is a power struggle where those with more resources make the rules. Their power doesn't come from intellectual authority or proven capability but from accumulated resources. However, the problem goes beyond individual actors.

Media Literacy, Political Maneuvering

01 July 2022

Embracing Curiosity: The Power of Never-Ending Questions

Questioning is a precious skill. It compels us to confront and rectify our assumptions, facilitates discussions that can enhance our surroundings, and enables us to expand our knowledge beyond what we already possess. However, it is a skill that must be intentionally developed through practice.

24 June 2022

Social Commentary via Game Mechanics: Blink and You’ll Miss It

Games can contain details that serve as commentary on the ideology of our times, whether intentional by the designers and developers or not. Let's explore some interesting ways in which commentary on society and its systems can manifest in games.

Game Mechanics, Political Economy

10 June 2022

Defining Games: Exploring the Boundaries of Play and Imagination

Games can be tricky to talk about. Are our methods of categorisation sufficient? Are genres too restrictive to allow creativity, or too loose to have any meaningful value?

Game Terminology, Game Evolution

27 May 2022

Hindsight is 20-20, Part I: The Virus and the System

The 2020s were characterised by conflicts and atrocities committed by dominant nations. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused global social and economic disruption, lockdowns, and a recession.

History, Worldwide Events

01 April 2022

Dark Patterns: An Introduction to the Darker Side of Engagement

Our desires aren't always genuinely our own. Forces around us constantly influence our decisions without us realising it. Gaming, due to its interactive nature, makes manipulation far more potent than if it were passive. This manipulation, used on us in gaming, is known as dark patterns.

Ethics, Game Design

18 March 2022

The Foundations of Value, Price, and Profit

Let's dive into concepts like creating value, setting prices, and making profits within the framework of capitalism. We'll also examine how capitalism has two key features different from earlier systems.

Economic Theory, Political Economy

11 February 2022

To See a World in a 3D Array and an Economy in a Function

I aim to make games that simulate real life, not just because it's a thrilling challenge to do so with code, but also because it allows for unanticipated gameplay and stories, and reflections on existing systems.

Technology

Game Economy, Game Development

28 January 2022

We Feel Free Because We Lack the Language to Articulate Our Unfreedom

Feeling at odds with the world is almost inevitable. That's why I wrote guidelines for myself to follow — to know what kind of person I should strive to be. But why so many rules?

Anti-Consumerism, Thoughtful Living

07 January 2022

An Interesting Solution to an Interesting Problem

For many years, a single question has captured the imagination and interest of the public: "What is an interesting solution to an interesting problem?" Zhi believes they may have an answer worth submitting and ends up somewhere unexpected.

Fiction

Sci-Fi, Short Story

01 October 2021

My 10 Rules for a More Fulfilling Life

I do my best to live a fulfilling and worthwhile life. To achieve this, I have created a set of rules to keep myself on track.