Addicted to Death: More Thoughts on Gaming and Masochism
Maybe I'm addicted to critique, to learning through failure, or maybe I'm just addicted to the simple, clear reminder that video games give me sometimes: “Pay more attention, stupid!”
the binding of isaac
‘The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth’: Our Ongoing Love Affair with the Twisted Mind of Edmund McMillen
The evolution of this game corresponds to the core idea of Isaac himself, a steadily growing monstrosity that becomes continually more twisted and more interesting with each gross addition to itself.
Returning to Isaac’s Body: The Metastasis of the Monstrous
In The Binding of Isaac, the monstrous body may be ugly and awful, but it is unique, free from established rules and stricture, free to continue to grow into something other than what others desire it to be.
‘Darkest Dungeon’, a Masochist’s Dream
For as much as you level up in Darkest Dungeon, you will also level down. This is not power fantasy. This is a fantasy of cruelty and self inflicted pain.
Every Blade of Grass: The Pros and Cons of Photorealism in Video Games
The dream of creating photorealistic video games seems odd to me when considering the medium itself, especially in contrast to other artistic mediums.
‘The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth’ and the Transformative Power of the Monstrous Body
In The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, the body is wrecked and made ugly for the sake of freedom from fear. Instead, it becomes something fearful in its own right.
‘The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth’: More Grotesque, More Fun
Grotesque, strange, and difficult, Rebirth offers a fantastic vision of what might be the ideal roguelike.
Six Little Horror Games That Would Like to Play With You This Halloween
Here are a few little games to put you in the spirit of the spooky season. How you will come out of the other side is up to you.
Dead at Last: Notes on the Consequences of Death on the Virtual Body
In games that feature perma death, by melding narrative consequence to mechanical consequence, a great deal of meaning is added to even the most routine of skirmishes. Death makes play matter.
‘Runers’: What’s My Motivation?
Shoot better and better and better. Then, shoot some more.
The Pleasures of the Apocalypse, Fantasies of Pain
We don't want utopia. We already have that. We need dystopia, something less familiar, something challenging, something painful.