Where is the Leonard Part 6 of gaming? An emerging medium can prove it’s validity only when held up to the standards of similar works in more established mediums.
Obvious Exits The reason games like Rocket Mania and Bejeweled took off isn’t because of some gameplay mechanic that reach a previously untapped market; they became successful because the games became accessible with minimal effort.
The Failings of Braid There doesn’t seem to be any external critique process for games aside from focus groups, and those are there to ensure the game will profit, not to test a title’s emotional resonance or thematic effectiveness.
Mythos, Ethos, Invisible Airplane The evolution of a superhero story is almost like a fugue: interpretations drift around the central theme, borrowing various elements, but each iteration is distinct.
Alone in the Dark and Recapitulatory Moments I miss the sense of closure I get from watching one-dimensional characters rescue anatomically improbable females after conquering an ambiguous, underdeveloped evil.
Really: Summons of the Ideal Realism with a capital R. Unembellished portrayal of life and all that. Odes to the unexceptional and the ordinary.
On the Moderation of User Generated Content I’m wondering where the balance is. The point where user created content is considered part of the package rather than something for the consumer to seek out if they feel the need.
Bit Tripping And The Art Of SD Card Maintenance There’s no way to win. Or, at the very least, I can’t win.
And here is some more writing.
