Aaron Poppleton is currently calling himself a freelance writer because it sounds better than what his paying job is. He holds an MA from Aberystwyth University in Postmodern Fictions and will one day hold a PhD once he figures out how to pay for it. He is stalkable via Twitter @forddent, if you really want to see him talk about sandwiches and swear a lot.
Reviews
Friday, May 18 2012
The Walking Dead: Episode One
Another game with zombies in it displays a surprisingly satisfying conversation system.
Friday, April 20 2012
MLB 12: The Show
The best baseball game that you can get returns for another assignment.
Wednesday, February 29 2012
'Shank 2' Is More Or Less a Retread
In which some multiplayer is tossed on and we call it a day.
Monday, December 12 2011
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Is a graphical overhaul enough of a reason to buy a ten year old game? Maybe.
Wednesday, November 9 2011
Pro Evolution Soccer 2012
In a world where FIFA 12 exists, you have to be really good to be worth it. This is not.
Blogs
Tuesday, September 20 2011
Giving Death Weight: Hardcore Mode in 'Diablo II'
The threat of permanent demise adds a certain zest to the proceedings, which gives the game legs that it would not have otherwise.
Tuesday, August 16 2011
Even Winning Feels Bad: Agency in 'The Stanley Parable'
The Stanley Parable demonstrates that the Author isn't dead at all.
Tuesday, July 5 2011
Control Yourself (More): Agency in 'Dragon Age'
What's more freeing -- exploring a world or creating a character?
Tuesday, June 21 2011
Control Yourself: Agency and Narrative in Open World Games
One world's too open, and one world is not open enough. Is there a middle ground, and if there is, should we even use it?
Monday, June 6 2011
Press X to Read the Article: Tutorials and Beginning Games
The beginning of a game has to convince the player that it's worth playing, draw the player into the game's world, explain the game's mechanics, and do it all in a way that's not so slow and plodding that players give up before even getting to the meat of the game.
