Author: Aidan Roy

  • 5 New Year’s Resolutions for the Video Games Industry in 2019

    5 New Year’s Resolutions for the Video Games Industry in 2019

    In case you’ve missed the news, 2019 has finally arrived. Since 2018 was a fairly turbulent year for gaming, 2019 provides a fresh start for the industry. Here’s hoping that somebody important takes notice. Bring About the Death of Lootboxes Lootboxes, Microtransactions and assorted shadiness permeated most AAA games in 2018 such as Assassin’s Creed:…

  • IWGB Opening Union Branch For Video Game Workers Could Be A Big Step Forwards

    IWGB Opening Union Branch For Video Game Workers Could Be A Big Step Forwards

    The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, or IWGB, have recently announced a new branch for workers in the UK’s video games industry. Given the prevalence of issues in the workplace, this is surely a massive step forwards for workers in the UK. The IWGB’s main branch deals with “gig economies”, jobs such as Uber…

  • Halloweegee Time: Playing Horror Games as a Complete Wuss

    Halloweegee Time: Playing Horror Games as a Complete Wuss

    I relate to Luigi a lot. He’s the sensible brother, sensing that the odds are against him and wisely retreating. Some may say that this is cowardice but I, for one, see the benefits of being scared shitless of anything remotely threatening. This applies to video games too so this year for Halloween, I set out…

  • Valve’s New Stance on Gamedev Trolls : Censorship, or Step Forward?

    Valve’s New Stance on Gamedev Trolls : Censorship, or Step Forward?

    In a new blog post released on Steam, Valve have vowed to cut down the numbers of ‘troll’ games. This most likely refers to games such as Active Shooter, AKA Standoff, a school shooter simulator and one of the most controversial and downright distasteful games to ever be released. Free speech dictates that these developers…

  • The Best of the Worst Accents in Gaming History

    The Best of the Worst Accents in Gaming History

    Voice acting, like many aspects of a video game, can go horribly wrong. Since the days of PC adventure games right through to today’s big budget AAA games, developers have sometimes skimped on voice actors to save money. These are some of the most entertainingly terrible accents ever let out of the recording studio. Spoilers…

  • Prepare to Die: Gaming with ADHD

    Prepare to Die: Gaming with ADHD

    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a common behavioural disorder that is often overlooked. It is usually noticed at a young age, between 6 and 12 years old. The symptoms come in two main categories, ‘inattentiveness’ and ‘hyperactivity and impulsiveness’. Inattentiveness includes symptoms such as having a short attention span, making careless mistakes, being…

  • Why Konami Avoided Religious Hatred With PES 2019

    Why Konami Avoided Religious Hatred With PES 2019

    The Old Firm is one of the most exciting, passionate and downright dangerous rivalries in world football. Celtic and Rangers, the two largest clubs in both Glasgow and Scotland, regularly play this fixture. Their rivalry doesn’t just extend to football however, it permeates the entire religious culture of Glasgow. Celtic have a primarily Irish Catholic…

  • Hitler the Great: Alternative History with Europa Universalis IV

    Hitler the Great: Alternative History with Europa Universalis IV

    Europa Universalis IV is a complex beast of a game. It has endless possibilities, made even more impressive thanks to the modding community. The Extended Timeline mod, one of the most popular, adds in a massive amount of content by making the game playable from 58 AD all the way through to the present day.…

  • Zero Suit Samus: From Sexist to Strong

    Zero Suit Samus: From Sexist to Strong

    Zero Suit Samus is as old as Metroid itself. Since her introduction, she has become a character in her own right. Originally, she was an unlockable ‘reward’ in the first Metroid game. The closing sequence would see Samus remove her suit to reveal more skin the faster your time. The 1980s clearly have not aged…