André Almo 👻

I've recently concluded my research placement at @UniGraz, as part of my PhD at @WeAreTUDublin! 🇮🇪🇦🇹 I was hosted by Manuel Ninaus at the Digital Psychology Lab, which focuses on developing digital learning technologies, including video games, as well as evaluating them.

Me and @MairaAmaral_edu will be in @DublinMaker 2025 bringing the Living Beeings game to one more venue in Ireland! 🐝🇮🇪 Join us on the 30th and 31st of August in Leopardstown to play a board game about creating a bee-friendly garden. 🪴🌼 #DublinMaker dublinmaker.ie/makers/living-…

Just published an interview with comfiedev (Samuli Pietikäinen) on experimental game design, spoken word pacing, and building digital split EPs. We talked about his recent game releases and what it means to make small, strange games. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/andrealmo/…

After being introduced to the concept of game poems, I've been neck deep in this small, niche space. I've recently had a conversation with Brendan Allen, writer and game developer, discussing his work and how constrained engines can bring out creativity. open.substack.com/pub/andrealmo/…

Me and @MairaAmaral_edu recently presented the 'Living Beeings: Pollination Adventure' game again, at the 2nd Geogames Symposium, hosted at the @MoLI_Museum! 🐝🌸♟️ It was really enriching to show and talk about our game with fellow educators, researchers and game designers!

mobOS isn’t just a game — it’s a full-blown operating system that brings that 2000s internet back: desktop pets, dodgy downloads, and a programming language you can use to build games inside the game. Read my full interview with @palmondu: open.substack.com/pub/andrealmo/…

I’ve played games all my life, studied them in my PhD, and always thought about how many possibilities there were in game design — and Jordan Magnuson’s concept of "game poems" makes that range even greater. Full piece here 👉 open.substack.com/pub/andrealmo/…

Phasmophobia is a superb game, and a few years ago, I went digital ghost hunting with two friends. We were a good team – a coward, a daredevil, and a runner. But one of us didn't make it. 👻 open.substack.com/pub/andrealmo/…

Before the days of digital subscription services, the best way to get access to movies and games was paying a visit to your local video rental store. 🕹 🎮 I've wrote about my experiences during this short moment in history in this week's 'LudoSpectre': open.substack.com/pub/andrealmo/…

I grew up being obsessed with Tamagotchi, Digimon, and Mega Man (maybe this all led me to a PhD in Computer Science). Looking back now more than ever, these stories offered more than nostalgia. Check my full piece about these fictional digital companions: open.substack.com/pub/andrealmo/…

Me in academia

Stardew Valley is a cosy farming sim, but why does Pelican Town rely so much on one farmer’s generosity? In LudoSpectre’s first guest post, @vppbm explores the game’s hidden economic themes! 🔗 open.substack.com/pub/andrealmo/… #StardewValley #GameAnalysis #LudoSpectre #IndieGames

A great thread that should be food for thought regarding LLM use in Computer Science!

🌾 What makes farm life sims so captivating? In my latest text for LudoSpectre, I explore the genre’s roots, its biggest hits, and the latest buzz! 📖 Read here: open.substack.com/pub/andrealmo/… #LudoSpectre #FarmLifeSim #StardewValley #FieldsOfMistria #GameAnalysis

🎮✨ LudoSpectre’s first Cultural Séance is here! ✨🎮 I explored Dodgeball Academia, an over-the-top, super-powered sports RPG, through its cultural ties. Check it out: andrealmo.substack.com/p/brpg-ball-in… What other games capture their cultural essence in a unique way? Let me know! 👀

I'm thrilled to announce LudoSpectre! 🎮👻 A newsletter exploring the spooky crossroads of games, comics, animation, culture & storytelling. Expect game analyses, personal tales, and eerie pop culture insights. Subscribe if you dare: andrealmo.substack.com 🎮✨

📢 Non-EU PhD researchers in Ireland, we need your input! The Postgraduate Workers Organisation is collecting responses to understand your experiences and challenges. Help us make Ireland more competitive for international research talent. 🔗 docs.google.com/forms/d/13g3DF…

So excited to be sharing this paper! ✨📄 We're digging deeper and analysing specific features in serious games and how these impact student experience. 🎮📚

I had a blast last week presenting the Seven Spells game from @HappyMathsIE as part of the U First Programme at @DCU! 🧮🇮🇪 Secondary school students participated in several events and saw the university up close. They also got to play for a bit, as well as see some code! 🎮👾

So glad to see 'Seven Spells' has been played so many times! 'Seven Spells' is the flagship game of the Happy Maths project, used in most of our research and engagement initiatives. I also use it in my PhD research. Here's to 100,000 more matches!