Robin-Yann Storm

https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@RYStorm

Tool Design Director, Workflow Consultant @ https://rystorm.com/

Previously Hytale, Apple, Guerrilla, IO-Interactive, and more. Organizes the Tool Design Roundtables at GDC.

Gets really excited about tool design and workflows.

Website: https://www.rystorm.com
Tool Design Resources: https://www.rystorm.com/blog

Public Key

npub18w0znh4jc8a5xesejasvvzsd2ad424ax4vph4akln078sn77ta2spctxd8

NIP-05 Address

rystorm_at_mastodon.gamedev.place@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsrh83fm6evr76rvcvewcxxpgx4wk6427n2kqm67m0ehlrcfl0974gpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dscxw2xm

Publishing to

saltivka.org

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub18w0znh4jc8a5xesejasvvzsd2ad424ax4vph4akln078sn77ta2spctxd8

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Last Notes

2026-07-11 07:09:42 UTC

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Topography of Terror https://maps.app.goo.gl/eMSLQwvDkPX2HPWSA?g_st=ac

2026-06-22 13:24:47 UTC

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The amount of “Just don’t use YouTube!” replies are really reinforcing the Mastodon vibe of ‘But actually!’ which isn’t exactly friendly to new users.
I could be off the grid with my own power source, only cooking homegrown food, weld together my own two cans for a telephone to my neighbour, and compile my own Linux kernel, but that isn’t helpful to the situation at hand and unrealistic for most folks, as annoying as you may find that.

2026-06-22 09:36:02 UTC

You may have received DMs on YouTube for no particular reason, or even seen DMs being sent without you sending any.
This is because YouTube started adding your account information to any links you send.
If you find this really annoying and awful like I do, you can disable it in Settings -> Privacy
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/116/793/077/494/419/120/original/0dbf8be2e0e4037a.png
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/116/793/077/786/017/834/original/89dbde582a3a32b7.png

2026-06-13 15:45:12 UTC

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We have heard enough of "Let's park that discussion" and "Let's circle back to that", let's bring in some new phrases like "That's not very 4 dimensional of you." and "We're sharpening the tip of the cone."

2026-06-13 09:25:07 UTC

The square eisenhower matrix
The round venn diagram
The project management triangle
The double diamond
Boring. We have all seen these so many times. Why can't we invent some new ones, like:
The torus of timelines
The tesseract of accountability
The octagon of alignment
The cone of product

2026-05-21 21:33:14 UTC

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One thing I am getting the most sick of though: People saying to 'get on the AI train or be left behind'
Does anyone who missed out on metaverse housing feel left behind?
It's an exact echo of the NFT argument, and anyone who uses it just shows complete ignorance of history, not even 10 years old.

2026-05-21 20:04:50 UTC

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On one hand: Hey, I was right all along!
On the other hand: It hasn't helped much!

2026-05-21 20:01:51 UTC

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It took me 3 years to then finally write a blog, and record a video, about the echos of AI, in reflection of blockchain and the metaverse. Similar patterns: https://rystorm.com/blog/this-is-why-game-developers-skeptical-of-blockchain-the-metaverse-and-ai
So many bits in here I also brought up in the above blog from 2022. And I still could too. Not much has changed.

2026-05-21 19:57:32 UTC

Today someone brought up my old 2022 blog about AI workflows, and I really like how accurate it still is. I was correct, 4 years ago! https://rystorm.com/blog/thoughts-on-ai
And AI workflows still have these exact same problems, most of the time!
(Though I was also very naive about the bad side of it)

2026-05-13 23:12:58 UTC

I am at Amaze Berlin 2026!
And I am already seeing the crazy things that Amaze is known for
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/116/569/798/259/558/062/original/e8ab33a9b46ed990.jpeg

2026-04-20 19:37:44 UTC

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Yes, and critically engage to see what it really is. A façade is easily made, and at a glance most promises in the modern LLM space are quickly broken. My assumption being that it’s an LLM, and not something more worthwhile.
It really matters what it is. The definition of the word is inescapable to the discussion.

2026-04-20 19:03:37 UTC

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It depends on what kind of AI you mean: https://rystorm.com/blog/this-is-why-game-developers-skeptical-of-blockchain-the-metaverse-and-ai
There are so many kinds, some of which have been used for decades, ML being a good example of that, so it really depends on what it actually is and what it does.

2026-03-30 17:33:19 UTC

“Hey look at that kitty.”
“Wait you saw a cat? I didn't see a cat.”
"Yeah, I saw a cat twice."
“Shit, we’re being A/B tested!”
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/116/319/320/621/197/669/original/7af752d725f41669.mp4

2026-01-23 11:52:17 UTC

Amsterdam is installing more LGBT
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/115/944/267/129/876/858/original/5c1a2aab2ec88d73.jpeg

2025-09-28 10:32:29 UTC

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This is the only kind of Data driven development I support.
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/115/281/463/571/232/675/original/e2e6fe8b754cced2.mp4

2025-09-27 16:22:41 UTC

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It is much healthier to admit you do not know if something is a good idea, and you want to try it out to see if it's any good.
That is the way to innovation. You can check along the way if it is working out or not, instead of being tied down to figments of 'previously established' data points.

2025-09-27 13:48:58 UTC

Oh yes, data driven, data driven! If only everything could be measured with a number, in all cases! When everyone just calculates their data correctly, every project would be a success, right? Which is why big successes are so common!
...more like data driving off a cliff.

2025-09-08 23:16:11 UTC

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Correction: Apparently I booked the clownworld backrooms horror hotel
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/115/171/220/633/916/427/original/a6b4c86a0e2b48a5.jpg

2025-09-07 22:32:35 UTC

Apparently I booked the clownworld backrooms hotel
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/115/165/385/882/457/330/original/09ff2cadbbee8800.jpg

2025-09-05 11:37:52 UTC

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Also, what is the difference between a shader and a material?

2025-09-04 10:26:02 UTC

Someday I want to open a game awards show with the Abbott and Costello comedy routine “Who’s on first?” but instead it’s an engineer and an artist confused between an Asset, Object, Entity, Actor, Prefab, and Model.

2025-08-24 17:38:48 UTC

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Remember how ridiculously hard it was to convince so many companies to quit using ozone destroying material?
Remember how ridiculously unpopular it was to ban smoking by law in every bar, train, event arena, and even planes?
You can just do things. It requires actual leadership though!

2025-08-24 17:38:36 UTC

As a millennial there are two things I haven't heard about in a long while: The ozone layer, and second hand smoke.
I think it's good to remember those, and know that problems are solvable.
It just takes leadership to do so. If any leader tells you it's not possible, they're willingly incompetent.

2025-02-13 09:11:19 UTC

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No recording sadly, but I do this one in various places so it’ll happen again sometime!

2025-02-13 09:06:37 UTC

Are your tools frustrating to use? You can fix that, and I'll show you how.
Today at the Arcade Hotel in Amsterdam at 18:00, I'll show the basics of Tool Design: What it is, how to research your tools, where Tool Design is used, and how to know what to build when.
https://www.arcadehotel.nl/events/arcade-talks-tool-design-the-user-experience

2024-11-17 19:33:17 UTC

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Of course the actual problem is that they do not clean up their inputs.
Which is why in many cases, in databases around the world, I am known by a much different name. A more mysterious name. A name you see so often, yet rarely say:
Syntax Error.
Mr Error, if you'd prefer.
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/113/499/963/110/552/497/original/0552ab497a2f3068.png

2024-11-17 19:11:57 UTC

They'd love to hear from you. Unless you're called Robin-Yann Storm.
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/113/499/879/101/885/884/original/694ceebd69bd4e40.png

2024-09-09 14:41:54 UTC

This is what happens when your geometry tools don’t allow for easy UV alignment and smoothing groups.
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/113/108/117/811/687/393/original/dd728cceae06a394.jpeg