If you were an average nobody framed for a high-profile assassination, how would you clear your name? Would you let the police arrest you, then pray that your legal defense pulls through? Maybe you’d lay low and hire a hacker, certain that the true culprit left a trail of crumbs leading straight to your salvation! …
By now, you’re probably familiar with Battle Royale or one of its many derivatives: a group of young people are stranded across a massive, inescapable zone littered with weapons, and are charged with killing the rest if they hope to survive. As their numbers are whittled down, friend turns against friend, unexpected romance blooms, and …
Yesterday, Ian Bogost published a piece on The Atlantic suggesting that games should drop storytelling altogether. It’s a baffling argument that talks down to the medium and its audience, suggesting that targeting teenage audiences precludes depth and excellence can only be achieved through repackaging classic ideas in novel ways. I could ask why he thinks …
Another April 1st, another Snackline Media! Jen struck out with every item she chose, but her pain is your gain. Bai: Tanzania Lemonade Tea I honestly can’t think of a drink with a more obnoxious presentation. Before you even open the cap, you’re pelted with phrases like “Antioxidant Supertea,” “Nature’s Caffeine” and “Fan-favored flavor that …
Writers are often prone to hyperbole, but I don’t think anyone will object that 2016 was one of the wildest years I’ve ever experienced. At the tail end of September, I finally came out as a woman to the rest of the world, and the positive response wiped away one decade of fear that I …
In one of the grislier Grand Theft Auto V missions, you infiltrate LifeInvader, a “clever” clone of Facebook where employees air-guitar near their cubicles and admonish folks who can’t sit in beanbag chairs for not fitting the company vision. After tampering with a prototype phone and driving home, you’re treated to fake Mark Zuckerberg blowing …
After a lengthy hiatus and several technical difficulties, Colin and I are back with another playthrough! This time, we took a look at Virginia, a short adventure that mixes the small-town charm of Twin Peaks with the quick jump cuts of Thirty Flights of Loving. Though we both came away with mixed feelings, this expedient game has its charms, …
Out of all the “auteur” game developers that have bounced around over the last few decades, Suda51 (Goichi Suda) felt like he stood out. Sure, his latest work is more focused on titillation than anything else (how else do you explain a repeating minigame dedicated to ogling your character’s companions?), but back when Killer7 and …
Today marks a significant change for me. Effective immediately, I am transitioning from Joseph Benjamin Unkle III to Jennifer Unkle, or Jen for short, and will be assuming she/her pronouns. My article bylines, as well as all future video/podcast content, will reflect this transition. This change will undoubtedly be surprising to some, while others have …