This week, Mike Joffe at Video Games of the Oppressed has been proposing a number of games to play within other games. A number of his games have been based in retro console RPGs like Pokemon and Earthbound. The proposed games make for interesting opportunities to personalize experiences that are generally pretty consistent from player … Continue reading Meta-Game Fan Fiction
[Originally posted on PopMatters] Early this month, Ben Serviss wrote about the effective subtext inParticle Mace (”Particle Mace: The Space Game About Selflessness.” Dash Jump. Jan 9 2014.). In his article, Serviss argues that in being simplified to a single mechanic (avoid environmental dangers), Particle Mace emphasizes an awareness of the game’s environment, not on the player’s avatar, and … Continue reading Mechanical Marrow: The Strength of Simple Games
For those new to the series, plural protagonism is based on this article I wrote for PopMatters. Plural protagonism occurs in a game when there is no individual main protagonist leading a group: the group itself becomes the hero. Each individual maintains their identity while contributing to the narrative in equal measure. Moreover, they are … Continue reading Plural Protagonism Part 8: Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
[Originally posted on Game Church] In 1732, Jonathan Swift published a poem called “The Lady’s Dressing Room” about man named Strephon snooping through his lover Celia’s room. Swift opens the poem by telling the reader that after five hours of preparation Celia’s beauty is equal to a goddess’s. Understandably, the love-struck Strephon is excited to take … Continue reading The Gamer’s Dressing Room
[Originally posted on PopMatters] Every time that I try to sit down and write this review of Savant – Ascent, I stop, so that I can instead play Savant – Ascent. Savant is a $2 bullet hell game that is worth playing even for those that don’t particularly like bullet hell games. It’s flashy and exciting … Continue reading Review: Savant – Ascent
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