Opening the Door: Exploring “The Closet” in Games
The first queer character I remember encountering in a videogame was Baron in the 1998 N64 platformer Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon. Baron wore blue lipstick and eye-shadow, a single bright red...
View ArticleGamer Profiles: The Hardcore Dad
I have a problem. I’m 31 years old and I no longer have enough time to play games. In recent years gaming has eclipsed cinema, literature and music as my favoured medium, so I’m a little perturbed by...
View ArticleDishonored, Kickstarter, and the Nostalgia Delusion
I’m tempted to think this is all Tim Schafer’s fault. At the beginning of 2012, “indie” meant the same thing that it did with Kyle’s article in April, just after the release of FEZ: 8-to-16-bit...
View ArticleBethesda and the Infinite Sadness: Playing Beyond The End
Desert island video game. Just one, but any system. Don’t worry about electricity or internet connection. This is a hypothetical,...
View ArticleWalking the Soundscape: Gatekeeper’s Exo
With heavyweights like Trent Reznor being conscripted to score triple-A titles (albeit not an entirely new occurrence) and swarms of musicians of all stripes clamoring to upload their tunes for play...
View ArticleMechanics and Mystery in The Last Express: Or, A Love Letter to the Manuals I...
I remember a glorious day in the formative years of my gaming life: my Dad called me over to the computer, and he laid out Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail on the desk. He said, “Son, I know you like...
View ArticlePutting the “Role” in Role Playing Games
by Vivienne Chan By definition, Role Playing Games feature gameplay that involves individuals who are each designated a specific role or function within a group. Whether you’re playing a tabletop RPG...
View ArticleThe Mind’s Eye: In Defence of Subjectivity
by Alan Williamson I learned the joy of owning a ZX Spectrum this week, but I’ve never played one. I felt the connection between Dear Esther and the end of a relationship I never had. I understood the...
View ArticleWhat If the Double Fine Adventure Sucks?
by Joshua Dennison Let’s just get this out of the way: There’s no reason for it to suck. Double Fine are moving into production of their new adventure title, invigorated by the success of their...
View Article