Author Archives: Alois Wittwer

To speak for the "…"

Have you ever noticed how we criticize The Silent Protagonist? We compare them to ourselves. “They’re not like me. I wouldn’t wear that. I wouldn’t do that. Why can’t I speak for myself?” Despite popular consensus, The Silent Protagonist is someone.

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To speak for the "…"

Have you ever noticed how we criticize The Silent Protagonist? We compare them to ourselves. “They’re not like me. I wouldn’t wear that. I wouldn’t do that. Why can’t I speak for myself?” Despite popular consensus, The Silent Protagonist is someone.

/ 4 Comments

The cold science of Pokémon

On the fifth of July, 1996, Dolly was born–the world’s first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell. While Dolly was not the first cloned animal in the world, she quickly became a media darling and a cultural

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The cold science of Pokémon

On the fifth of July, 1996, Dolly was born–the world’s first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell. While Dolly was not the first cloned animal in the world, she quickly became a media darling and a cultural

/ 23 Comments

Let games be as challenging as they need to be

In a terrifying piece on the future of video games, Steve Fulton describes the rise of the hardcore and how developers are reconstructing the challenge of yesteryear to make games that matter. It’s a piece that scares and confuses me.

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Let games be as challenging as they need to be

In a terrifying piece on the future of video games, Steve Fulton describes the rise of the hardcore and how developers are reconstructing the challenge of yesteryear to make games that matter. It’s a piece that scares and confuses me.

/ 14 Comments

Colonialism under the guise of the dungeon crawl: Etrian Odyssey and the invasion

If the dungeon crawl can be likened to anything, it’s colonialism. Remember how Britain used to own the world? They did so through power, education, and money, supplanting the cultural practices of indigenous people with their own ideologies. The Romans

/ Comments Off on Colonialism under the guise of the dungeon crawl: Etrian Odyssey and the invasion

Colonialism under the guise of the dungeon crawl: Etrian Odyssey and the invasion

If the dungeon crawl can be likened to anything, it’s colonialism. Remember how Britain used to own the world? They did so through power, education, and money, supplanting the cultural practices of indigenous people with their own ideologies. The Romans

/ Comments Off on Colonialism under the guise of the dungeon crawl: Etrian Odyssey and the invasion

Beating up God in Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth

In a laborious 45 minute cutscene (you have been warned), Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth reiterates that we have no control in our lives. Circumstance and directives rule this universe and you better get used to it, otherwise you’ll be spending an awful

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Beating up God in Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth

In a laborious 45 minute cutscene (you have been warned), Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth reiterates that we have no control in our lives. Circumstance and directives rule this universe and you better get used to it, otherwise you’ll be spending an awful

/ 4 Comments

Feedback Loop: Why video games should drag us kicking and screaming

Two weeks ago I went to a panel with Warren Spector at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne. The conversation between Spector and Paul Callaghan, director of Melbourne’s Freeplay festival, was a fascinating look into the creative

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Feedback Loop: Why video games should drag us kicking and screaming

Two weeks ago I went to a panel with Warren Spector at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne. The conversation between Spector and Paul Callaghan, director of Melbourne’s Freeplay festival, was a fascinating look into the creative

/ 3 Comments

Learning how to fly in video games

I was fascinated by flight before hand, but it was Astro Boy that solidified what flight was in my mind. Here was a boy capable of the most improbable thing in the world accomplishing it with a minimum of fuss.

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Learning how to fly in video games

I was fascinated by flight before hand, but it was Astro Boy that solidified what flight was in my mind. Here was a boy capable of the most improbable thing in the world accomplishing it with a minimum of fuss.

/ 11 Comments

The Campfire: A nightmare in Hyrule

The Campfire is a column where we regale you with tales of our video game adventures. This is a tale of a young boy and an overclocked imagination…. The wonderful thing about childhood is that moments of fear, surprise, and

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The Campfire: A nightmare in Hyrule

The Campfire is a column where we regale you with tales of our video game adventures. This is a tale of a young boy and an overclocked imagination…. The wonderful thing about childhood is that moments of fear, surprise, and

/ 4 Comments

Mega Man: An Outlaw in an Asimovian World

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First

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Mega Man: An Outlaw in an Asimovian World

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First

/ 10 Comments

After Pressing Start: Animal Crossing

Who needs someone telling you what to do all the time? You can do what you want, when you want, where you want. Yeah, living on your own, being free. It feels great. You can’t help but giggle at first.

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After Pressing Start: Animal Crossing

Who needs someone telling you what to do all the time? You can do what you want, when you want, where you want. Yeah, living on your own, being free. It feels great. You can’t help but giggle at first.

/ 6 Comments