Feature

Latent Intricacy

Multum in parvo. It’s a Latin phrase that I feel encapsulates the concept of emergence. Complexity borne of the combination of simple things. Linearity in games can offer the benefits of structure and focus, but it comes with a loss

/ Comments Off on Latent Intricacy

Latent Intricacy

Multum in parvo. It’s a Latin phrase that I feel encapsulates the concept of emergence. Complexity borne of the combination of simple things. Linearity in games can offer the benefits of structure and focus, but it comes with a loss

/ Comments Off on Latent Intricacy

Toys, Simulations and Stories III: Stories

It is 2011. We’re a stone’s throw from a hypothetical apocalypse, video games are virtually everywhere and most of them attempt to tell us stories. This approach has progressed much further than digital toys and has much broader appeal than

/ Comments Off on Toys, Simulations and Stories III: Stories

Toys, Simulations and Stories III: Stories

It is 2011. We’re a stone’s throw from a hypothetical apocalypse, video games are virtually everywhere and most of them attempt to tell us stories. This approach has progressed much further than digital toys and has much broader appeal than

/ Comments Off on Toys, Simulations and Stories III: Stories

Jamestown Review

Jamestown in an inde shoot-em-up developed and published by Final Form games for the PC. When I first heard the title Jamestown, I am not sure what I thought, but I can assure you it was not shmup set on

/ Comments Off on Jamestown Review

Jamestown Review

Jamestown in an inde shoot-em-up developed and published by Final Form games for the PC. When I first heard the title Jamestown, I am not sure what I thought, but I can assure you it was not shmup set on

/ Comments Off on Jamestown Review

Space Pirates and Zombies: Impressions Part III

Man, that Space Pirates and Zombies game is something else, right? What? You don’t know what I’m talking about? Sounds like you better read PART 1 and PART 2 of my time with SPAZ then! When last we met, I

/ One Comment

Space Pirates and Zombies: Impressions Part III

Man, that Space Pirates and Zombies game is something else, right? What? You don’t know what I’m talking about? Sounds like you better read PART 1 and PART 2 of my time with SPAZ then! When last we met, I

/ One Comment

This Terrarian Life Part 2

  Death is an ever present force in our lives. The specter of death is enough to keep us from doing stupid, life threatening things. It’s the reason we don’t walk out into traffic, drink from the funny shaped bottles

/ Comments Off on This Terrarian Life Part 2

This Terrarian Life Part 2

  Death is an ever present force in our lives. The specter of death is enough to keep us from doing stupid, life threatening things. It’s the reason we don’t walk out into traffic, drink from the funny shaped bottles

/ Comments Off on This Terrarian Life Part 2

Interview With Zack Finfrock of Fallout: Nuka Break

A couple of days ago I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the minds behind the fan film Fallout: Nuka Break, Zack Finfrock. Nuka Break is a love letter to the Fallout series, a definite labor of

/ Comments Off on Interview With Zack Finfrock of Fallout: Nuka Break

Interview With Zack Finfrock of Fallout: Nuka Break

A couple of days ago I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the minds behind the fan film Fallout: Nuka Break, Zack Finfrock. Nuka Break is a love letter to the Fallout series, a definite labor of

/ Comments Off on Interview With Zack Finfrock of Fallout: Nuka Break

Bonding with a Garden Gnome

The “Little Rocket Man” achievement in Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is a unique affair rarely seen in games. Released in 2007, Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is the rush to White Forest to launch a missile into space to stop the

/ One Comment

Bonding with a Garden Gnome

The “Little Rocket Man” achievement in Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is a unique affair rarely seen in games. Released in 2007, Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is the rush to White Forest to launch a missile into space to stop the

/ One Comment

Telling Your Story Despite the Gamers

The most fascinating article of last week was journalist Tom Bissell’s piece on L.A. Noire for The Sports Guy Bill Simmons’ new sports slash pop culture venture Grantland. It’s a site I’ve been following independent of games due to my

/ 7 Comments

Telling Your Story Despite the Gamers

The most fascinating article of last week was journalist Tom Bissell’s piece on L.A. Noire for The Sports Guy Bill Simmons’ new sports slash pop culture venture Grantland. It’s a site I’ve been following independent of games due to my

/ 7 Comments

Review: Frozen Synapse

Frozen Synapse is best described as a top-down turn-based tactical shooter….yeah. Kinda like a mix between Rainbow Six and Counter-Strike. It was produced by a small British indie developer, Mode 7 Games, whose only previous escapade in the video games

/ 3 Comments

Review: Frozen Synapse

Frozen Synapse is best described as a top-down turn-based tactical shooter….yeah. Kinda like a mix between Rainbow Six and Counter-Strike. It was produced by a small British indie developer, Mode 7 Games, whose only previous escapade in the video games

/ 3 Comments

Dead Space 2 and the value of multiple simultaneous perspectives

By integrating choice and multiple user-controlled view-points into the game, Dead Space 2 provides a refreshing alternative to traditional video game cutscenes. In the extraordinarily crowded field of video games, many seek attention through cutscenes of increasing complexity or realism.

/ Comments Off on Dead Space 2 and the value of multiple simultaneous perspectives

Dead Space 2 and the value of multiple simultaneous perspectives

By integrating choice and multiple user-controlled view-points into the game, Dead Space 2 provides a refreshing alternative to traditional video game cutscenes. In the extraordinarily crowded field of video games, many seek attention through cutscenes of increasing complexity or realism.

/ Comments Off on Dead Space 2 and the value of multiple simultaneous perspectives