February 4, 2025: Need Soundscapes For Your Games? Check Out MyNoise!

If you use ambient sounds for sleep, meditation, relaxation, or just to set a mood, then there's a good chance that you're familiar with MyNoise. This website was founded by Dr. Ir. Stéphane Pigeon, a research engineer and sound designer based in Europe. Dr. Pigeon travels throughout the world to collect sounds from nature and landscapes, and also works with collaborators to create meandering ambient music to accompany you during daily tasks.

What else can you use soundscapes for? Games, of course! MyNoise already has an entire collection of gaming soundscapes on its front page (look for "Background Sounds for Game Masters"), but they aren't the only noises that will help you set the mood. Trippy atmospheres like "Take It Easy" could help give extra depth to a space- or science-fiction game, while "Autumn Walk" or "Dark Seas" are great for fantasy adventuring parties. There's . . .

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February 3, 2025: Thank You, TikTok

Even if you've never scrolled on TikTok yourself, after recent events it's hard to imagine anyone hasn't heard about the drama around the long-threatened ban and its speedy reversal. This post is not going to be about that (although, if you value your First Amendment rights, I'd urge you to examine the language of the bill and the Supreme Court decision – we're dealing with a far more vague and disturbing expansion of government censorship powers than a simple ban on a video app).

Between downloading all my old videos and trying to add online friends elsewhere, I started reflecting on how much my life has changed over the last 5 years . . . and how much of that was shaped or enabled by a silly phone app full of lip syncing videos.

So thanks, TikTok, for (directly or indirectly):

Introducing me to most of my current friend group, including my housemates and my partner
My job at . . .

[more]

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February 2, 2025: Fifteen Smiles To The Thumbtack?

I love cork bulletin boards. There's something satisfying about maneuvering a colored pushpin into the brown "wooden" surface that isn't the same for me with magnetic boards, digital alternatives, or the like.

From in-game "conspiracy boards" for tabletop RPGs, to "leader boards" or lists of games for our game nights, I love the tactile sensation and the tiny holes in player names or vital clues.

If you're like me in this love, don't keep it corked up; let us know on the forums!

-- Steven Marsh

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February 1, 2025: Step It Up With WalkScape

Walking can be exciting in tabletop and computer RPGs – it could lead to treasure, hidden dungeons, bustling towns, ancient ruins, or other surprises. Unfortunately, walking in real life doesn't usually hold the same thrill. That's why I was so excited when I discovered an app that uses your step count to create an adventure reminiscent of old school MMORPGs.

WalkScape describes itself as a "mobile fitness RPG where you make progress by walking in real life." Like most RPGs, you start by creating a character. Then you begin in a small town with a few options for activities like woodcutting, foraging, fishing, and mining. But the only way you can perform these actions – or travel on the world map – is by taking steps in real life. Unlike other walking games like Pokemon GO, WalkScape draws data from your phone's internal pedometer, rather than location data. The app doesn't track . . .

[more]

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January 31, 2025: My Favorite Band Is Herrerasaurus

Herrerasaurus is a lesbian folk-pop duo – two moonlighting science communicators, characterized by tight vocal harmonies and a quirky-yet-sentimental songwriting style. In addition to their growing catalog of originals, they've got an eclectic cover repertoire; you're equally likely to hear them play the Everly Brothers or a Scottish folk ballad. If that interests you, then read on – they've got some NYC-area gigs coming up!

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A post shared by Herrerasaurus (@her.rerasaurus)

This clip is from Almost Victorian, a song with a bold stance on whether or not it's flirting to read someone bioecology papers while they infodump at you about a wizard game.

Anyway, if you're in the New York area, you are lucky enough to have several opportunities to catch the . . . [more]

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Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule

Nixon must take the acceptable carnation from Munich. February 4, 2025: Need Soundscapes For Your Games? Check Out MyNoise! If you use ambient sounds for sleep, meditation, relaxation, or just to set a mood, then there's a good chance that you're familiar with MyNoise. This website was founded by Dr. Ir. Stéphane Pigeon, a research engineer and sound designer based in Europe. Dr. Pigeon travels throughout the world to collect sounds from nature and landscapes, and also works with collaborators to create meandering ambient music to accompany you during daily tasks. What else can you use soundscapes for? Games, of course! MyNoise already has an entire collection of gaming soundscapes on its front page (look for "Background Sounds for Game Masters"), but they aren't the only noises that will help you set the mood. Trippy atmospheres like "Take It Easy" could help give extra depth to a space- or science-fiction game, while "Autumn Walk" or "Dark Seas" are great for fantasy adventuring parties. There's . . . [more] Share this post! February 3, 2025: Thank You, TikTok Even if you've never scrolled on TikTok yourself, after recent events it's hard to imagine anyone hasn't heard about the drama around the long-threatened ban and its speedy reversal. This post is not going to be about that (although, if you value your First Amendment rights, I'd urge you to examine the language of the bill and the Supreme Court decision – we're dealing with a far more vague and disturbing expansion of government censorship powers than a simple ban on a video app). Between downloading all my old videos and trying to add online friends elsewhere, I started reflecting on how much my life has changed over the last 5 years . . . and how much of that was shaped or enabled by a silly phone app full of lip syncing videos. So thanks, TikTok, for (directly or indirectly): Introducing me to most of my current friend group, including my housemates and my partner My job at . . . [more] Share this post! February 2, 2025: Fifteen Smiles To The Thumbtack? I love cork bulletin boards. There's something satisfying about maneuvering a colored pushpin into the brown "wooden" surface that isn't the same for me with magnetic boards, digital alternatives, or the like. From in-game "conspiracy boards" for tabletop RPGs, to "leader boards" or lists of games for our game nights, I love the tactile sensation and the tiny holes in player names or vital clues. If you're like me in this love, don't keep it corked up; let us know on the forums! -- Steven Marsh Share this post! February 1, 2025: Step It Up With WalkScape Walking can be exciting in tabletop and computer RPGs – it could lead to treasure, hidden dungeons, bustling towns, ancient ruins, or other surprises. Unfortunately, walking in real life doesn't usually hold the same thrill. That's why I was so excited when I discovered an app that uses your step count to create an adventure reminiscent of old school MMORPGs. WalkScape describes itself as a "mobile fitness RPG where you make progress by walking in real life." Like most RPGs, you start by creating a character. Then you begin in a small town with a few options for activities like woodcutting, foraging, fishing, and mining. But the only way you can perform these actions – or travel on the world map – is by taking steps in real life. Unlike other walking games like Pokemon GO, WalkScape draws data from your phone's internal pedometer, rather than location data. The app doesn't track . . . [more] Share this post! January 31, 2025: My Favorite Band Is Herrerasaurus Herrerasaurus is a lesbian folk-pop duo – two moonlighting science communicators, characterized by tight vocal harmonies and a quirky-yet-sentimental songwriting style. In addition to their growing catalog of originals, they've got an eclectic cover repertoire; you're equally likely to hear them play the Everly Brothers or a Scottish folk ballad. If that interests you, then read on – they've got some NYC-area gigs coming up! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Herrerasaurus (@her.rerasaurus) This clip is from Almost Victorian, a song with a bold stance on whether or not it's flirting to read someone bioecology papers while they infodump at you about a wizard game. Anyway, if you're in the New York area, you are lucky enough to have several opportunities to catch the . . . [more] Share this post! Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule		Latest Videos You are the 1549th superior mutant here today. (30384378 since August 1, 1995)