e517 — Where Every AI Knows Your Name

e517 — Where Every AI Knows Your Name

Author: Michael Rowe, Michael Martine, Andy Piper June 9, 2025 Duration: 34:07
neon sign for a Boston restaurant
Photo by Hasnain Sikora on Unsplash

Published 9 June 2025

e517 with Michael, Michael and Andy – stories about Atarino microcomputing, AI through movie and television metaphor, AR running, screens and zombies, Skyrim Grandma, and a whole lot more.

Michael, Michael and Andy start off with another teeny tiny computer after last week’s Pico Mac Nano.  This coin-sized “Atarino” computer is the size of a postage stamp! 

Next, the co-hosts take a look at a Wall Street Journal article on the current state of AI through movie and television metaphor.  Then, they consider an IGN article predicting AI prompting providing the capability of creating a game like Breath of the Wild with a small development team.

The Sightful Spacetop AR display prompts an interesting discussion about how cramped spaces like airline coach seats could actually be made productive.  A Runner’s World article continues the AR crossover, using examples such as Can You See Me Now and Zombies, Run! 

The team turns the crank to wrap up this episode with i-Zombie, Skyrim Grandma and the excitement of the new Playdate games.

What do you think the next micro computer might be?  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

Microcomputing Hardware

Ars Technica article: Polish engineer creates postage stamp-sized 1980s Atari computer

Retrododo article: Polish Engineer Creates Atari Computer The Size Of A Coin

Wikipedia entry: Atari 8-bit computers

AI

Wall Street Journal article: The AI Experience Is Going From ‘50 First Dates’ to ‘Cheers’

IMDb entry: 50 First Dates

IMDb entry: Cheers

Wikipedia entry: grok

Dextero article: AI company files for bankruptcy after being exposed as 700 Indian engineers

IGN article: AI Prompts Will Soon Let a 10-Person Team Build a Game Like Breath of the Wild Where the AI Is Doing All the Dialogue and You Just Write Character Synopsis, Tim Sweeney Predicts

Games at Work e515: Seeing Through Walls for AI NPCs

AR

PC World article: Sightful Spacetop review: Impressive AR display… until the bugs show up

Sightfult

Runner’s World (Apple News Link) article: Adventures in the Running Metaverse

Blast Theory post: Can You See Me Now?

Zombies, Run!

Games

Novelty Automation

Tim Hunkin post: i-Zombie

Tim Hunkin post: Making i-Zombie

GameSpot post: Skyrim Grandma Ends Streaming Retirement To Play Oblivion Remastered

Playdate post: Season Two, OUT NOW.


The weekly conversation hosted by Michael Rowe, Michael Martine, and Andy Piper, Games At Work dot Biz, explores the intersection where our digital play and professional lives collide. This isn't just a review show; it's a deep dive into the technology that powers our hobbies, the business behind the leisure, and the cultural news shaping both worlds. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair with three friends who are as passionate about the craft of game development and the evolution of hardware as they are about the pure joy of finding a great new title. You'll hear specific discussions on everything from the latest graphics card impacting performance to the narrative design of an indie darling, all filtered through the lens of professionals who live in the tech space. The Games At Work dot Biz podcast operates on the belief that the games we play and the tools we use are inextricably linked, offering listeners a consistently thoughtful and engaging analysis that goes far beyond a simple score. Tune in for a regular dose of insightful commentary where the serious business of technology meets the serious fun of games.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Games At Work dot Biz
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