e571 – Rando Blocko

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Photo by Nigel Hoare on Unsplash

Published 12 October 2026

e571 with Andy and Michael R: lots of bricks and blocks (LEGO, and Minecraft), podracing, and random typefaces.

We kick off with a look at the just-announced LEGO Marvel City Skyline set (due January 2027). Andy wants it for his home office shelf.

Next, a discussion of Apple’s “Welcome Home” event and the rumoured hook-up with the privacy disaster that is LG Electronics.

One man has built a gigantic city in Minecraft, after years coaching in the NFL. Well, that’s one retirement plan! Another idea might be to prompt your next game into life using Google Playground (it’s a playground, not a graveyard – yet).

Both Michael and Andy get a little bit excited about the new Star Wars Galactic Racers game, bringing podracing to a new generation, and even streamed via a browser in Amazon’s Luna platform.

Finally, Michael gets freaked out by a monospaced font that MOVES.

What game would you prompt into life? Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @gamesatwork_biz@mastodon.social (our home for now) and let us know! 

These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot. All rights reserved. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.

Selected Links

Marvel LEGO: https://www.slashfilm.com/2281558/lego-marvel-universe-city-skyline-set/

Apple comes home: https://sixcolors.com/link/2026/10/apple-sets-homecoming-for-oc

NFL Minecrafting: https://onefoottsunami.com/2026/10/08/mike-tomlin-has-been-minecrafting/

Google games (and it’s not Stadia) https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/ai/playground-experimental-gaming-platform/

Podracers: https://kotaku.com/star-wars-galactic-racer-is-out-today-and-amazon-prime-members-can-check-it-out-for-free-2000740982 and https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/1002887/star-wars-galactic-racer-review

Rando Mono by Beau: https://beau.land/rando_mono/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:32 — 14.6MB) | Embed

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e570 – Tiny Concrete Fish

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Manta ray, sawtooth shark and other fish swimming in a massive tank. Photo by Michael Martine, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia April 2018
Photo by Michael Martine, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia April 2018

Published 5 October 2026

e570 with Andy and Michael R: stories about AI brain for fish, crowdsourced fishing for map updates, inebriated AI, virtual Brutalism architecture, a Minecraft themed hotel and a whole lot more!

Have you ever heard the phrase “fish for brains”?  Well in this episode, Michael R and Andy start things of for what kind of AI model is needed to be the brain for fish.  Pocket Tank is a tiny, yet sophisticated AI model for how fish interact in the smallest of fish tanks.  Andy shares a game about digging a hole which reminded Michael M (while crafting the show notes) of the Wind Rose Diggy Diggy Hole song – which will nicely connect to the Minecraft hotel discussion at the end of the episode.

A longtime focus of this podcast is maps, mapping and improving them, going all the way back to the very first episode of Games at Work.  A superb example of this is StreetComplete, which is on android, and newly available via TestFlight for iOS which allows the user to contribute to OpenStreetMap in a gamified, quest driven way, such as detailing the kind of pedestrian crossings are available at a particular intersection. 

A Sony Walkman skeuomorphic user experience takes advantage of the new iPhone Duo folding screen to replicate opening up the Walkman and inserting a cassette tape.  Check out other examples of what Bitrig is envisioning with the iPhone Duo’s multiple screens.

Michael and Andy both express their appreciation for an impressive full desk set up to charge a qi device wherever the device is placed on the desk.  If you are looking for something to buy right now, check out the (no affiliates link) Wirecutter collection below.

Minecraft hotel in Chessington is being crafted / constructed, which will have a potions bar in addition to themed guest rooms.  Have to wonder if they will provide the ability of guests to come dig a hole either virtually or on the premises!

Could Dou-Man be the “killer app” for the new iPhone Duo?  What do you think the killer app will be?  Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @gamesatwork_biz (our home for now) and let us know! 

These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.  All rights reserved.  That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.

Selected Links

A Plethora of Posts

Stratobuilds article: Pocket Tank: A Tiny AI Fish Tank

Wikipedia article: Tamagotchi

Wikipedia article: Little Computer People

Games at Work e366: MetaMoney (for Little Computer People discussion)

Gaming on Linux article: A Game About Digging A Hole Together announced

Maps & Mapping

Kottke post: Map of the Lighthouses of the World

StreetComplete

OpenStreetMap

Hacker News post: StreetComplete on iOS is now in public beta

Games at Work e00001: Wouldn’t You Like to Be a Mayor Too? (For gamified mapping with Waze)

More Treasures from the Internet

The Verge article: Amazon’s delivery driver smart glasses will reportedly take photos ‘almost constantly’

9 to 5 Mac article: Duo-Man turns your 2026 iPhone Duo into a 1980s Sony Walkman

https://viditb.com

Bitrig post: Bitrig Now Builds iPhone Duo Apps

RE: circumstances.run/@davidgerard

Congrats on inventing Drunk Clippy.

— Kevin Beaumont (@GossiTheDog)2026-09-29T21:59:41.627Z

Well — this is awesome!

youtube.com/watch?v=KvLWuK2TU-

— Benjamin Han (@BenjaminHan)2026-09-28T01:47:09.526Z

https://www.youtube.com/@HTXStudio

Wirecutter article (updated September 23, 2026): The Best Apple Wireless Charging Stations for Multiple Devices

The Guardian article: World’s first Minecraft hotel to open in the UK – here’s what we know so far

Tiny Brutalism

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:34 — 16.9MB) | Embed

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e569 — Vice City or ASCII City

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a 3D visualization reminiscent of the Matrix - Photo by Logan Voss on Unsplash
Photo by Logan Voss on Unsplash

Published 28 September 2026

e569 with Andy, Michael and Michael explore flight and world simulators, VR glasses that burn temples, sideburns, ice printing, a camera robot, audio optimized venues and a whole lot more!

The Game at Work cohosts Andy, Michael and Michael are back together for a whirlwind review of the latest in technology.  They start off with a flight simulator, which is not from the perspective of a pilot – rather from the perspective of a passenger.  The familiar sights and sounds or jet travel can be yours from the browser-based InFlightSimulator.  Then, zooming out a bit, the cohosts consider God’s Eye View, where the user can experience a photorealistic digital twin of the planet.  After briefly touching (down) on Geoscape, Andy has an opportunity to share the ASCII City experience.  This is not your 1980s ASCII art, rather a very Matrix-esque view of a city, with cars, pedestrians and buildings.

Switching gears, the team takes a look at several VR stories, including the new VR glasses from Meta and the Inmo Air3.  The Inmo glasses have had a recall for overheating, which opened a etymology discussion on the origin of sideburns.  And an article from heise.de details challenges stemming from GDPR requirements.  

In the last part of the episode, there are several cool stories.  One details how it is possible to 3D print ice by removing air.  Another is an interactive art exhibit.  A third is a kickstarter for flat dice.  After looking at Beni, a camera robot designed to follow or race ahead of you to film you, the team wraps up with the new Apple Music Hall venue in London, which looks to be a fantastic place to hear performances. 

What city would you like to experience in ASCII?  Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @gamesatwork_biz (our home for now) and let us know! 

These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.  All rights reserved.  That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.

Selected Links

World Simulations

In Flight Simulator

@gamesatwork_biz
If you happen to know any flight simulator enthusiasts/delightful nerds… why not offer them a God-like-vista to keep them busy exploring forever…

youtu.be/o_FJ1NIH9yw


— 𝓛𝔁𝓼 / 𝔸𝕝𝕖𝕩𝕚𝕤 🏵🇪🇺💫 (@lxs)2026-09-15T17:44:24.510Z

God’s Eye View on GitHub

Geoscape

ASCII City

Grow Now! Games (for ASCII City)

ASCII Art Archive

AR/VR Glasses

IGN article: Meta’s New VR Glasses to Entice Casual Viewers With 3D and Full-Frame IMAX

The Verge article: These smart glasses have been recalled for overheating temples causing burns

Wikipedia article: Ambrose Burnside (for the etymology of “sideburns”)

heise.de article: GDPR trap Smart Glasses: Why Ray-Ban Meta wearers can be held liable

Ice Ice Printing

Fabbaloo article: A 3D Printer That Makes Ice By Removing Air

PNAS article: Three-dimensional printing of ice structures via evaporative cooling in vacuum

More Cool Stuff

Ink and Switch

Ink and Switch Ambsheets

Kickstarter: HEXFORME DICE: Ultra-Thin Modular Magnetic Spinner Dice

Mondo Robotics

Games at Work e171: Jelly Jelly Bo Belly (for the selfie taking wrist drone)

Apple Newsroom: Apple opens Apple Music Hall, a brand‑new state‑of‑the‑art live music venue in London

Berliner Philharmoniker

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:02 — 13.0MB) | Embed

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e568 — LEGO ThunderCats Ho!

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time lapse lightning storm over a river at night (augmented with a grey and a black cat by Michael M) photo by Gabriel Lopez
photo by Gabriel Lopez (augmented with a grey and a black cat by Michael M): https://www.pexels.com/photo/spectacular-lightning-storm-over-a-river-at-night-37895958/

Published 14 September 2026

e568 Michael and Michael discuss AI Vision invisibility techniques, set flavors to stun with Le Creuset’s Star Trek inspired cookware, enjoy LEGO Ideas projects, review Audio Intelligence features and a whole lot more!

Michael and Michael get together while Andy is away and kick things off with a story about making cars invisible to AI.  This discussion reminds Michael R of other examples such as clothing or glasses that aid in obscuring visual algorithms.  Michael M is reminded of a story the Games at Work team covered about Duke University’s work on an “invisibility cloak”.

The next dish on the menu deals with a fun mashup between cookware maker Le Creuset and Star Trek.  A wonderful article from Wired chock full of puns boldly goes where the cohosts did not dare.  I’m a chef, not an away team member, Jim!  How they missed a saucer separation is really beyond us.  In the attached show notes, you can delve into the differences between a Trekker and a Trekkie – but consider yourself warned.  

Then, a couple of pieces about LEGO, specifically the LEGO Ideas that have reached 10,000 community votes, and are up for consideration to be made available for purchase.  Michael M highlights his favorites from the recent batch of contenders, focusing on Lion-O and his ThunderCats team.  The 1950s diner with it’s lighting kit for all the neon decor is also fantastic.

This was the week for new announcements from Cupertino – and the cohosts picked up on two interesting pieces.  First, a set of cases for the new iPhone Duo that hearken back to the color language of the iBook.  And second, a take on the privacy for the Audio Intelligence features for the new Apple Watches.

The team wraps things up with the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and a sidescroller game celebrating the 900th anniversary since the last time the Bayeux tapestry was in England.  

Who is your favorite ThunderCat?  Have your bots 🤖 drop our bots 🤖 a line at @gamesatwork_biz (our home for now) and let us know! 

These show notes were lovingly hand crafted by a real human, and not by a bot.  All rights reserved.  That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.

Selected Links

Hiding in Plain Sight

Bitdefender article: An “invisible” car? Researcher uses machine learning to hide vehicles from Flock cameras

Games at Work e541: Invisible Llamas (for stories on invisibility)

Games at Work e396: GAN vs GAN (for details on the Duke invisibility cloak, Daniel Suarez Kill Decision)

Le Creuset x Star Trek

Wired article:  To Boldly Dough! Le Creuset Sent Its New Star Trek Cooking Collection Into Space

Le Creuset x Star Trek

The Trek BBS thread: The difference between Trekkie and Trekker?  (Remember, you’ve been warned)

LEGO Ideas

ThunderCats

IMDb ThunderCats TV Series 1985-1989

Emergency Kit

1950s American Drive-In Diner

LeLightGo LEGO Light Kits

Not An Apple Podcast

MacWorld article: The perfect iPhone Duo case doesn’t exis (sic)…

iBook Clamshell: iBook Colors

MacRumors article: Apple Explains What Happens to Conversations Siri Recap Hears

Apple article: About Audio Intelligence features on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4

Anniversaries and Games

https://bayeuxgo.live

The British Museum: The Bayeux Tapestry

NPR article: After 900 years, the Bayeux Tapestry returns to England and goes on display in London

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:42 — 24.2MB) | Embed

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