T w e n t y S i d e d
This week I am still playing a bit of Risk of Rain 2 but I’m now also playing a bit of Terraria and Phasmophobia while waiting for Phasmaphobia to update and Risk of Rain returns to release.
What are you guys up to?
Wednesday Action Log 7-26-23
An Experiment in Retrogaming
Let’s pretend you know me, already. It’s possible a handful of you do, at least a little; I’ve been around here before. Although not actively for quite a while. But all that will be taken care of in a different post. Probably. But as far as intros, the important thing is that I am approaching this from a Gen-X POV, because I’m Gen-X. I’m from that meaty part of Gen-X born right before the “greed is good” era when families still trended closer to two kids, down from the Baby Boom peak of three kids, but well before the drop reached the “less than one kid” point. So yeah. But anyway…RETROGAMING.
To borrow a phrase from the “Well There’s Your Problem” Podcast, first we must ask ourselves, “What is Retrogaming?”
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “An Experiment in Retrogaming”
DM of the Rings Remaster XXIX: Organizational Skills a Plus!
– Shamus, Monday Nov 13, 2006
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “DM of the Rings Remaster XXIX: Organizational Skills a Plus!”
Sims 4 Overthinking: Lottie’s BookNook
Time gets the better of our couple for a good while. The year they renovate the new entryway, ‘taking a month off’ turns into six months, turns into a year, turns into things just feeling normal. Logan hits double digits, the big one-zero, ten years old, and it’s like Michael and Kelly blink in unison, and realize all at once how much time has passed. The ‘bookstore’ portion of their house has turned into an accidental playroom. The weird open floor plan upstairs just became a big living room, and they’ve forgotten to do the next steps.
The year is now 2010, and the question of if a bookstore is a good idea crosses both Kelly and Michael’s minds. The conversation they have about it is awkward and clunky, because each thinks the other is going to shoot the idea down. Surely, their intelligent and loving partner isn’t going to swing for the idea of a bookstore when the demographic is clearly turning to digital media…
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Sims 4 Overthinking: Lottie’s BookNook”
The Game Store
I’ve taken a year to think about this, because it’s a huge topic with too much nuance for one person.
Guys, it’s time I tell you.
I disagreed with my dad’s moderation style.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “The Game Store”
Wednesday Action Log 7-19-23
This week I am still playing Risk of Rain 2. I’m currently trying to beat eclipse level 8 as artificer, other than that I’ve not played a whole lot.
What are you guys up to?
DM of the Rings Remaster XXVIII: More Magical Topography
Oh look. Another secluded place of secret enchantment and arcane mystery.
– Shamus, Friday Nov 10, 2006
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “DM of the Rings Remaster XXVIII: More Magical Topography”
From The Archives:
Civilization VI
I'm a very casual fan of the series, but I gave Civilization VI a look to see what was up with this nuclear war simulator.
Final Fantasy X
A game about the ghost of an underwater football player who travels through time to save the world from a tick that controls kaiju satan. Really.
Autoblography
The story of me. If you're looking for a picture of what it was like growing up in the seventies, then this is for you.
Object-Oriented Debate
There are two major schools of thought about how you should write software. Here's what they are and why people argue about it.
Punishing The Internet for Sharing
Why make millions on your video game when you could be making HUNDREDS on frivolous copyright claims?
Steam Summer Blues
This mess of dross, confusion, and terrible UI design is the storefront the big publishers couldn't beat? Amazing.
Wolfenstein II
This is a massive step down in story, gameplay, and art design when compared to the 2014 soft reboot. Yet critics rated this one much higher. What's going on here?
Quakecon 2011 Keynote Annotated
An interesting but technically dense talk about gaming technology. I translate it for the non-coders.
Deus Ex and The Treachery of Labels
Deus Ex Mankind Divided was a clumsy, tone-deaf allegory that thought it was clever, and it managed to annoy people of all political stripes.
The Gameplay is the Story
Some advice to game developers on how to stop ruining good stories with bad cutscenes.