Author Archives: Patrick Lindsey
Games as Medium, not as Art: Performative Beauty in Videogames
Have you ever watched someone play a videogame? I don’t mean in the way that a partner or spouse of a hardened “gamer” watches him or her trawl around Liberty City ad nauseum until 9:00 mercifully rolls around and it’s
Games as Medium, not as Art: Performative Beauty in Videogames
Have you ever watched someone play a videogame? I don’t mean in the way that a partner or spouse of a hardened “gamer” watches him or her trawl around Liberty City ad nauseum until 9:00 mercifully rolls around and it’s
Orcs Must Die! 2 as Mousetrap
I have a distinct childhood memory of the board game Mousetrap. I had a set that I inherited, like many of my youthful amusements, from my older sister. It was well-worn and woefully incomplete; many of the titular “trap” components
Orcs Must Die! 2 as Mousetrap
I have a distinct childhood memory of the board game Mousetrap. I had a set that I inherited, like many of my youthful amusements, from my older sister. It was well-worn and woefully incomplete; many of the titular “trap” components
After Pressing Start: On the Docks of Shadow Moses
The Metal Gear Solid series is widely known for two things: its excessively convoluted storylines and themes, and presenting those themes in incredibly obtuse ways. Its longwinded, feature film-length cutscenes and often overwrought dialogue are frequently lampooned for being far
After Pressing Start: On the Docks of Shadow Moses
The Metal Gear Solid series is widely known for two things: its excessively convoluted storylines and themes, and presenting those themes in incredibly obtuse ways. Its longwinded, feature film-length cutscenes and often overwrought dialogue are frequently lampooned for being far
Losing Your Stride in rComplex
rComplex is a game of running. It’s not about running, it simply is running. Along the way you will jump, and slide, and occasionally shoot, but all these things are extraneous. This is a game of pure drive, where loss
Losing Your Stride in rComplex
rComplex is a game of running. It’s not about running, it simply is running. Along the way you will jump, and slide, and occasionally shoot, but all these things are extraneous. This is a game of pure drive, where loss
The Grind: An MMORPG Tragedy
This is a story about a girl. No, not in the way you’re thinking. Not really, anyway. I’m not talking about the girl next door or the redhead behind the counter at the coffee shop. The girl this story is
The Grind: An MMORPG Tragedy
This is a story about a girl. No, not in the way you’re thinking. Not really, anyway. I’m not talking about the girl next door or the redhead behind the counter at the coffee shop. The girl this story is
The Value of Games: Why You Really Can't Put a Price on Art
Price (n) – The quantity of one thing that is exchanged or demanded in barter or sale for another; the cost at which something is obtained. Value (n) – A fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for
The Value of Games: Why You Really Can't Put a Price on Art
Price (n) – The quantity of one thing that is exchanged or demanded in barter or sale for another; the cost at which something is obtained. Value (n) – A fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for
Killing the Character
The moon is high over the Nibenay Basin in the province of Cyrodiil. I am being chased from a cave by an angry Minotaur because I stole an enchanted claymore. I am Raffen Valnyd, a Wood Elf archer with a
Killing the Character
The moon is high over the Nibenay Basin in the province of Cyrodiil. I am being chased from a cave by an angry Minotaur because I stole an enchanted claymore. I am Raffen Valnyd, a Wood Elf archer with a
Where Have All The Genres Gone?
Games have changed a lot over the past few years. And I’m not just talking about that whole motion controls Kinect bullshit. I’m still hoping that fad fizzles out fairly soon. No, the change I’m talking about is certainly more
Where Have All The Genres Gone?
Games have changed a lot over the past few years. And I’m not just talking about that whole motion controls Kinect bullshit. I’m still hoping that fad fizzles out fairly soon. No, the change I’m talking about is certainly more
The Developer's Moral Imperative, Or Why It's OK For Anders To Be Gay
A while back, I was pouring over the forums for the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic. I’m easy to pick out – I’m the one usually bitching about canonical representation of blaster bolt physics and petitioning for the inclusion
The Developer's Moral Imperative, Or Why It's OK For Anders To Be Gay
A while back, I was pouring over the forums for the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic. I’m easy to pick out – I’m the one usually bitching about canonical representation of blaster bolt physics and petitioning for the inclusion