Ben McKenzie's Interesting Times

I'm an actor, comedian, game designer and writer from Melbourne, Australia. So no, not the one from Gotham.

[wandering-pokemon]

Caves in Pokemon games set my teeth on edge. Unlike regular routes, where you encounter wild Pokemon in tall grass, you can find Pokemon anywhere.

Every step is a potential encounter. And Kanto caves are pretty big - or perhaps they only feel that way when you generally make progress less than 10 steps at a time.

It's not just me, either. Everyone in this cave seems a bit jumpy.

But we soon find out it's not just the natural charm of the cave.

I know this is probably just a translation hiccup, but I can't stop thinking about this line.

What's the bug catcher actually asking? Am I in the cave? Am I suspicious? Am I suspicious of the men in the cave?

Alone in this dark cave, would I choose to encounter a man or a bloodsucking zubat?

What do you think the bug catcher is asking?

Are you in the cave?

Are you suspicious?

Are you suspicious of the men in the cave?

Would you choose a man or a zubat?

Voting ended onMay 10

[wandering-pokemon]

Pokemon has changed my brain.

When Stanford researchers showed pictures of Pokemon to adults who had played a lot of Pokemon as children, their brains lit up. The brains of other adults didn’t respond in the same way.

Pokemon links me to community.

A Bibarel plushie appeared in my next-door neighbour’s window one day. “Game on,” I thought, and piled Pumpkaboo, Rowlet and Goomy onto my windowsill. It’s nice to be among friends.

Pokemon takes me back.

There were few things to do at my grandparents’ cottage over the long Finnish summer holidays. My sister and I swam in the lake. We explored the woods or we played pretend. And in the evening, we played Pokemon together. To this day, that’s my happy place.

For Pokemon’s 30th anniversary, I’m travelling from Kanto, through Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola and Galar, to Paldea.

I’m not doing a Nuzlocke or Professor Oak’s challenge. I’m not spending 100 days in each region. I’m not setting any rules. I’m here to wander the worlds that captured my heart.

Follow #Wandering Pokemon to join me on a cozy journey to recapture the magic of Pokemon.

[ben-mckenzie]

Machine Yearning by Ben McKenzie

A micro-RPG about domestic robots overcoming their programming to enter and win a band competition.

I’m getting back into making one-page micro #RPGs and other small games!

Here’s one about domestic robots trying to work within (or transcend) their ethical programming to win a band competition; it’s called Machine Yearning.

[ben-mckenzie]

Started a third play through #PandemicLegacy: Season 1 on the weekend, with a new crew. It’s been many years since the last one (though I do still have a season 2 in progress), so some things will surprise me. Up to February so far and loving it. #boardgames #tabletop #pandemic #pandemiclegacyseason1 https://www.instagram.com/p/CqT5pyRyJEo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

Might have gone a little overboard marking up my copy of I Shall Wear Midnight for the next episode of @pratchatpodcast, #Pratchat66. But then again there’s something great on every page… (You have one day to send in your questions if you’ve got any!) #Discworld #TerryPratchett #shelfie #TiffanyAching #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CqSrDcKyMyc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

We’re excited to welcome back @amiekaufmanauthor and #TiffanyAching as we discuss the 2010 #Discworld novel, I Shall Wear Midnight. That’s for our next episode, #Pratchat66. Send us your questions in the next week if you want us to answer them on the podcast! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_FK2NBjVZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

Exciting delivery today! It’s #SteamUp, the debut game from Canadian indie designers Pauline Kong, Marie Wong and Haymen Lee, aka @hotbananagame. I’ve been looking forward to this one for a long time. (I love that the squishy bun came labelled “not real food” as well as “do not eat”.) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp1UgbQSIHV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

Had a lovely time staying with friends and running a rare in-person session of our D&D game this weekend. The party are currently crossing a mysterious lake and were lucky to survive their encounters with the creatures in it... #tabletop #roleplaying https://www.instagram.com/p/CprJFqsSids/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

For #Pratchat65, we’re discussing a selection of #Pratchett non-fiction from A Slip of the Keyboard, with guest @petermball! Send us your questions this week about about the following pieces from the “A Scribbling Intruder” section: “Kevins”, “Wyrd Ideas”, “Let There Be Dragons”, “Notes From a Successful Fantasy Author”, “Neil Gaiman: Amazing Master Conjurer” - plus the Foreword by Neil Gaiman. https://www.instagram.com/p/Co0uGu_BIRO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

Quiet day at home playing the solo #boardgame #NemosWar, designed by Chris Taylor for @victorypointgames. This is the third printing of the second edition, from 2019. I have a much better handle on it this second time around. I’m about a third through and Nemo the explorer has seen the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait, intervened in the Selangor Civil War, sunk a few ships and - at the cost of Ned Land - seen a sea monster up close! So far, so good. But I need to sink some more ships or I’ll be overrun before I can reach the end… #tabletop https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn8YxlBSyW8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

Managed to squeeze in a few last games before the end of the year, though I didn’t make my goal of playing 100 times in 2022. I’ll try again next year, because the joy is in the attempt. Pictured are, clockwise from bottom left: * The Fuzzies by Alex Hague, Justin Vickers and Wolfgang Warsch (modelled by Anna) * Splendor by Marc André * P for Pizza by Doruk Kicikoglu * Majesty: diene Krone, dein Königreich - also by Marc André! And in the centre: * The Search for Planet X by Matthew O'Malley and Ben Rosset #boardgames #tabletop https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm0Kgy_SEhb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

Where's my cow? Is that my cow? It goes, "Hi, I'm @elizabethflux…” “And I'm Ben McKenzie." It is #Pratchat62, with special guests, @thetruthshallmakeyefret’s Joanna Hagan and Francine Carrel, and a very special #Discworld book! That's not my cow! Our December episode is out now in your podcast directory of choice, or visit our website to listen there. #MakeYeChat https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl5erQUreTI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

Gross freaks. (at The Merri Creek Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf0dbW8PpeI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

Today’s #GoingOutsideBadge is more of a going-outside-and-voting badge. I find wearing one like this makes it easier to refuse how to vote cards since you get offered fewer of them. #AusVotes2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/CdzDIcKvJrj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

Started on this genius build with my partner tonight. Even just building the base has reminded me how clever #Lego designers are! Plus tiny Eloy and Watcher are amazing! #HorizonForbiddenWest https://www.instagram.com/p/CdsrqGFPKBz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

The #HoneyHeist bear joins me as an early morning #GoingOutsideBadge, as I visit a school for only the second time this year. (I’m still freshly recovered enough that I feel relatively safe from being reinfected, but it’s hard to judge how long that’ll last.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdohY1XhhbI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-mckenzie]

An oldie but a goodie for this #GoingOutsideBadge. (From a couple of days ago.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdeyQmOP4k9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=