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

/ 13 Comments

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

/ 13 Comments

Dust: An Elysian Tail Makes Hack’n Slash Feel So Right, Even When It’s Not

Dust: An Elysian Tail opens to a narrator describing the world of Falana as a lone, insurgent fighter takes on an army of opposing foes. Here, the shrouded combatant is mine to control, even though his fate is not. Beyond

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Dust: An Elysian Tail Makes Hack’n Slash Feel So Right, Even When It’s Not

Dust: An Elysian Tail opens to a narrator describing the world of Falana as a lone, insurgent fighter takes on an army of opposing foes. Here, the shrouded combatant is mine to control, even though his fate is not. Beyond

/ 4 Comments

Helm's Deep With Friends: Swapping Slaps in Hero Academy (Steam)

In turn-based strategy the next move is always the most important. If you’re not thinking ahead then chances are you’ve already lost. This is especially true in Hero Academy, an iOS strategy affair recently released for PC through Steam. As

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Helm's Deep With Friends: Swapping Slaps in Hero Academy (Steam)

In turn-based strategy the next move is always the most important. If you’re not thinking ahead then chances are you’ve already lost. This is especially true in Hero Academy, an iOS strategy affair recently released for PC through Steam. As

/ Comments Off on Helm's Deep With Friends: Swapping Slaps in Hero Academy (Steam)

Reality Check: Murder We Wrote

I am a murderer. Well, maybe I’m more co-conspirator or an accessory, but the details don’t matter as much as the crime: killing games journalism. Whether you’re reading this on Split Screen or Nightmare Mode, no one asked for your

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Reality Check: Murder We Wrote

I am a murderer. Well, maybe I’m more co-conspirator or an accessory, but the details don’t matter as much as the crime: killing games journalism. Whether you’re reading this on Split Screen or Nightmare Mode, no one asked for your

/ 38 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

Soundscapes – Back to Basics with Visual Novels

Like indie games, visual novels are a frontier where experiments in story telling can be done in ways a AAA title wouldn’t dare or have the resources to do. The Witcher 2 for example might have been a breakthrough in

/ 14 Comments

Soundscapes – Back to Basics with Visual Novels

Like indie games, visual novels are a frontier where experiments in story telling can be done in ways a AAA title wouldn’t dare or have the resources to do. The Witcher 2 for example might have been a breakthrough in

/ 14 Comments

How to Shep a Shepard – A cosplay help guide

(Cosplayer: Elizabeth DeLoria) This isn’t a step-by-step tutorial. Partly I didn’t leave a good paper trail, partly because I found it’s next to impossible to replicate a cosplay armour because of the lack of standardisation. Instead, I hope this works

/ 14 Comments

How to Shep a Shepard – A cosplay help guide

(Cosplayer: Elizabeth DeLoria) This isn’t a step-by-step tutorial. Partly I didn’t leave a good paper trail, partly because I found it’s next to impossible to replicate a cosplay armour because of the lack of standardisation. Instead, I hope this works

/ 14 Comments

Contact: A Lesson In Free Will

What makes the video game medium truly great is the way in which it is able to make the audience a part of that story. To watch something happen is an entirely different experience from being involved in it happening.

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Contact: A Lesson In Free Will

What makes the video game medium truly great is the way in which it is able to make the audience a part of that story. To watch something happen is an entirely different experience from being involved in it happening.

/ 10 Comments

Ten Characters I'd Like to See In Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!!

My kids will probably hate me when it comes to TV time. Not only will I be ruling our future space console with an iron fist, but the cartoons that take centre stage on the Holo-Viewer 4000 will be under

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Ten Characters I'd Like to See In Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!!

My kids will probably hate me when it comes to TV time. Not only will I be ruling our future space console with an iron fist, but the cartoons that take centre stage on the Holo-Viewer 4000 will be under

/ Comments Off on Ten Characters I'd Like to See In Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!!

I Am The Virus: Prototype As A Trans Narrative

Prototype is a game about a monster. It’s a game about science run amok. It’s a game about a nightmarish virus that wipes out most of New York City. And I can’t help but feel that it’s also a game

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I Am The Virus: Prototype As A Trans Narrative

Prototype is a game about a monster. It’s a game about science run amok. It’s a game about a nightmarish virus that wipes out most of New York City. And I can’t help but feel that it’s also a game

/ 3 Comments