Games
Must I Say Goodbye?: Leaving Behind jRPGs
The idea of Japanese RPGs vs. Western RPGs seems like a false dichotomy. Rather, it’s just jRPGs vs. everything else.
09 Apr 2012
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Games
How Could He?: Exploring Social Issues Through 'Dragon Age II'
No one is implying that the LGBT community turn into blood magicians and that the religious march out to cage and murder them, but this conflict still echoes the tensions felt in the lives of real people.
13 Feb 2012
Games
Narrative Is a Game Mechanic
If game mechanics are meant to provide players with experiences such as fun and anxiety, then narrative actually is a game mechanic, as much as game mechanics can also be narrative elements.
30 Jan 2012
Games
Mass Appeal vs. Accessibility in Video Games
Video games reflect themes and skills found in boys’ styles of play as children, and any introduction of qualities that are different from that (especially if tagged as feminine) are cast out as inferior “casual” games.
16 Jan 2012
Games
Those Games Left Off of the "Game of the Year" Lists
Why can't free-to-play games or extremely niche titles be featured on end of the year lists?
02 Jan 2012
Games
Storyline? In 'Skyrim'? No Thanks!
The narrative rests in the relationship between the environment and the items found in it, specifically placed for the player to find and create an explanation.
12 Dec 2011
Games
On Men’s Sexualization in Video Games
Because pornography typically has straight male consumption in mind, its politics leak into games by highlighting how they look at women and other men in porn. We would have to look to pornography made for women and gay men and apply how the camera looks at the performers for a holistic approach to sexualizing characters.
Mattie Brice
28 Nov 2011
Games
Speaking in Accents and the American Ethnocentrism in Video Games
The cultural politics that voice acting implies often escape analysis.
Mattie Brice
14 Nov 2011
Games
Why You Should Give 'Dragon Age II' a Second Chance
It’s possible that gamers haven’t figured out a use for criticism. But one of its uses is the possibility for encouraging new perspectives and second chances.
Mattie Brice
31 Oct 2011
Games
Wikiocracy, or We're All Doomed... Citation Needed
Forget trying to read Wikipedia for the articles. The real story of the human condition is found in their behind-the-scenes creation.
31 May 2011
Games
Locked Content: The Wrong Approach to a Pre-Order Bonus
Why would a game's developer choose to rub in its audience's face the presence of a no-longer-available pre-order bonus?
28 May 2009
Games
Video Game Connection to Tragedy
A look at some of the responses and coverage to the recent school shooting in Germany.
17 Mar 2009
Games
What's Barack Doing In My Burnout?
Ryan Smith takes a look at the sudden onset of political ads in video games.
28 Oct 2008
Games
Jack Thompson Finds Rock Bottom
Jack Thompson has finally ticked off enough people to get disbarred. The final step on the way to that disbarment was just kind of sad.
11 Jun 2008
Games
The Power of the Meta
Is it wrong to be a little bit uneasy about the use of Metacritic as part of the criteria with which to cleanse Xbox Live?
22 May 2008
Games
A Four-Leaf Clover Goes Platinum
Clover Studio has returned as PlatinumGames, complete with a publishing deal with Sega. It's time to celebrate, people.
15 May 2008
Games
Why We Can't All Just Get Along
The parallels between those taking sides in the battle over the merit of Grand Theft Auto and the battle over the merit of blogs as journalistic devices are striking.
01 May 2008
Games
A Bucket of Chicken With a Side of Guilt
Google unwittingly sent me to PETA this week. I have to admit -- I was surprised at what I found...
11 Apr 2008
Games
£s of Flesh
The release of Rock Band in Europe has finally been announced, but the price announced with it has some recoiling in horror.
Arun Subramanian
09 Apr 2008
Games
Analyzing State of Massachusetts House Bill 1423
What would the so-called Massachusetts "Games-as-Porn" bill really mean?
18 Mar 2008
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