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Ben Swithen

Ben Swithen

Sheffield

Benjamilian Swithen (they/them) is GFSC's editor and social media manager. They are a writer and award-winning indie game developer, winning the Most Amazing Game Award for 'Trans Theft Horso' at A MAZE 2026.

A pixel art image of a Japanese man riding on the back of a lobster in a colourful desert. This is overlaid with snippets of code, showing character moves.

How To Make a Game and Win and Award (Without Spending or Making a Lot of Money)

This summer, my game Trans Theft Horso won an award. Here's how you could make a game and prosper magnificently without spending much money. A practical and philosophical guide, looking mainly at RPG Maker (but other options are equally valid).

BOARC: Community Spotlight

BOARC: Community Spotlight

Ben caught up with Angelina and Ed from the Bidston Observatory, a hub of creative and technological arts

Pixel art of a police officer raising his fist in anger, with various speech-bubbles showing 'Just doin' my job mate', 'You are resisting an attack', 'I attack you in the name of the law'

Between Solitaire and Monopoly: Finding Community in the Games Industry

The games industry is a big one, and it's easy to feel like an intruder. How'd I get in? In truder window! In actuality, I got in by making the games I wished existed and meeting a community of other people in the same situation. Here's a story of impostor syndrome, and of Trans Theft Horso.

EMF Camp: Community Spotlight

Electromagnetic Field is a non-profit camping festival for those with an inquisitive mind or an interest in making things. Ben caught up with Sam Cook, one of the organisers of this ‘hacker camp’ which will next be held in July 2026.

A photograph of penguins standing together, walking right to left, with mountains in the background

Wanna Get Involved in Running GFSC?

Collective meetings are beginning again on Tuesday 7th April at 4pm. Find out more about what we're looking for and come and get involved in running Geeks for Social Change!

A screenshot of The Sims 4 featuring two horses and two women in a throne room, one black woman in a tuxedo and tiara, the other a green Frankenstein's-creature type in peasant garb.

Pick Your Battles: a Shame Story

In which we wrestle with the guilt of ‘no ethical consumption under capitalism‘, and hopefully resolve to cut everyone a bit of slack.

A seventeenth century painting on ceramic tiles, depicting four women in Islamic garb and a male merchant in a European hat, meeting in a colourful garden

What’s Been Happening at Our Drop-ins?

We launched our four community drop-ins at the start of the year, and we’re now a couple of months in. Here's some of what we've learnt – and when you can drop in and join us next.