bigtallwords

Jun 11, 2013Apr 13, 2015

Gaming the Dice: How Randomness Contributes to Game Experiences

[Originally posted on PopMatters] There’s a story to Risk and Settlers of Catan and Monopoly but not in the games themselves. Sure, there’s an identifiable setting that makes them more than flat pieces of cardboard—the unconquered world, the geological absurdity that is Catan island, Britain street(?)—and the point of these games is to become emotionally engaged … Continue reading Gaming the Dice: How Randomness Contributes to Game Experiences

May 25, 2013Apr 25, 2015

Further Thoughts on Exit Fate

There are some things I wanted to say about Exit Fate that got left behind when I wrote about it and then wrote about it again and kinda wrote about it that one other time (“The Perspective of Privilege.” The Border House. May 1 2013; “On the Difference Between ‘J’ and ‘W’.” bigtallwords. May 5 … Continue reading Further Thoughts on Exit Fate

May 21, 2013Apr 13, 2015

The Power of Friendship While Being an Asshole, or the Doormat NPC

[Originally posted on PopMatters] For the last few weeks, I’ve been absorbed in Persona 3. The fourth in the Persona series is usually credited as the one that left the biggest impact on its players (Leigh Alexander, “High School Memories,” Polygon, 4 April 2013), but, though I’ve only played halfway through its predecessor, I can’t imagine any … Continue reading The Power of Friendship While Being an Asshole, or the Doormat NPC

May 15, 2013Feb 2, 2015

Plural Protagonism Part 4: Chrono Trigger

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 4: Chrono Trigger

May 15, 2013Apr 13, 2015

Review: Eador: Masters of the Broken World

[Originally posted on PopMatters] Eador: Masters of the Broken World is Snowbird Games’s HD remake of their 2009 fantasy strategy title, Eador: Genesis. The Masters remake benefits from a new coat of paint, but they’re otherwise the same game. Eador is a fantasy universe composed of several “shards” of land floating through space. The player takes on … Continue reading Review: Eador: Masters of the Broken World