Category: Read

  • One of Stardew Valley’s Bachelorettes is Emotionally Abusive and that’s not Okay

    One of Stardew Valley’s Bachelorettes is Emotionally Abusive and that’s not Okay

    Abigail’s plotline in Stardew Valley begins rather innocuously. Abigail is nice and quirky. As you befriend her you play video games together, and play instruments in the afternoon rain. She’s never written as mean or controlling in these scenes. She’s painted as the edgy 20-year-old at odds with her parents. She’s, initially, an interesting character…

  • Ninja Theory’s Mental Health Day Support Matters

    Ninja Theory’s Mental Health Day Support Matters

    Earlier this week, developer Ninja Theory released this heartfelt trailer for the PS4 and PC action adventure game Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. I could attempt to sum it up for you, but I’d be doing it a disservice, so it’s best you just watch it. It’s cool, I’ll go get a coffee or something. Yeah. Me…

  • Middle Earth: Shadow of War goes full Gollum with Exploitative Lootboxes

    Middle Earth: Shadow of War goes full Gollum with Exploitative Lootboxes

    Clearly not satisfied with the dank cave dwellings and raw fish for dinner that comes with being a corporate board member of a huge entertainment conglomerate, WB Games have decided to ask players exactly what else they’ve got in their pocketses, going full Gollum with lootboxes in Monolith Productions’ Middle Earth: Shadow of War. Prices for the…

  • What Can We Do About Dev Crunch?

    What Can We Do About Dev Crunch?

    Blizzard’s Jeff Kaplan recently made a forum post talking about the dedication of the Overwatch team. Most read it (correctly) as a statement of enthusiasm or a discussion of the entitled mentality of a segment of the fanbase. But Kaplan also mentioned that “Overwatch is a 24/7, 365 day year affair for us…[it] doesn’t stop…

  • Tropico’s Glorification of Dictatorships and Banana Republics

    Tropico’s Glorification of Dictatorships and Banana Republics

    Anyone that’s versed in Socialist/Communist thinking will understand that any transition that takes place within a ‘people’s republic’ also includes a removal of the old system to be exchanged with an era of Authoritarianism otherwise known as ‘The Dictatorship of the Proletariat‘ for the final stages. But as history shows, this yields horrific results. The…

  • Sex In The Raccoon City

    Sex In The Raccoon City

    If you’ve played the Resident Evil games, you’ll notice the hallmark of the franchise has always been zombies trying to eat you thanks to the virus du jour. Now, when fighting bio-weapons in these games, you need to be prepared. This is obvious in the first couple of games. It’s important to follow the Raccoon City Zombie Survival…

  • Overwatch’s Play Nice, Play Fair Update Misses the Point

    Overwatch’s Play Nice, Play Fair Update Misses the Point

    Recently, Blizzard released a developer update titled Play Nice, Play Fair, which attempted to address Overwatch’s fundamental problems with toxicity. Game developer Jeff Kaplan described the issue as a “rising tide,” and promised future improvements to the reporting system (which was just added to the console versions of the game, more than a full year…

  • Mercy’s Rework is a Bad Direction for Overwatch

    Mercy’s Rework is a Bad Direction for Overwatch

    In a recent developer update, Overwatch’s game director Jeff Kaplan announced a substantial rework of the playstyle of healer Mercy. In between repeatedly telling players not to worry, he outlined a new set of abilities that seemed, well, worrying. Mercy is – or was – one of Overwatch’s most popular heroes. She was also one…

  • Of White Samurai and Internalized Racism

    Of White Samurai and Internalized Racism

    Flat nose. “Pinch your nose,” your family said to you, when you were a child. “Your nose is too flat. If you pinch it everyday, it’ll grow tall and pretty.” One of your Filipina classmates confirms this story, citing a cousin of hers whose nose really did lose its roundness after being subjected to daily…

  • Though Flawed, Fortnite Promotes Teamwork, Not Toxicity

    Though Flawed, Fortnite Promotes Teamwork, Not Toxicity

    Compared to a lot of multiplayer games, Fortnite doesn’t have a lot of toxicity. In fact, in my experience, most players are wanting to help you out. There is the odd duck every now and again saying “lulz dis game is ded,” but the response is overwhelmingly civil. “Remember, it’s still early release.” “Some people…

  • Tacoma is Hopeful, and That’s Important

    Tacoma is Hopeful, and That’s Important

    Tacoma opens with an empty space station; deserted by its crew in mysterious circumstances. Yet it doesn’t feel isolated. Protagonist Amy rarely speaks, but regularly receives messages from her corporate handlers and AI companion, and is constantly immersed in the colourful imprints of the ship’s previous inhabitants. The game is often tense, and sometimes things…

  • PSA: Making Video Games is Hard, Don’t Be a Dillweed

    PSA: Making Video Games is Hard, Don’t Be a Dillweed

    This just in: making video games is hard. Breaking news, I know! Each year thousands upon thousands of games, big and small, hit the physical and digital store shelves, promising to entertain, move and infuriate us. The amount of games released and their varying price points may lead you to think otherwise, but let it…

  • Gone Home: A Four Year Retrospective

    Gone Home: A Four Year Retrospective

    I never find myself at home in the horror genre; in fact, I actively stay away from it. Game trailers embroiled with slinky, dark hallways, creepy attics and clues found behind barely open doors are all pointers for me to stay the hell away. So, naturally, I was a bit amiss when I found that…

  • “No Skill” Heroes: Ableism With a Side of Misogyny in Overwatch

    “No Skill” Heroes: Ableism With a Side of Misogyny in Overwatch

     Overwatch is full of heroes with a variety of abilities, including those who don’t require traditional first person shooter skills like aiming and twitch reflexes in order to be played well. Heroes like Winston and Symmetra have beam attacks that will lock onto nearby enemies; Torbjörn can set up an auto-aiming turret; and Mercy doesn’t even…

  • Summer Games Done Quick Champions Accessibility

    Summer Games Done Quick Champions Accessibility

    Summer Games Done Quick is running all of this week; a 24/7 marathon of speedruns raising money for Doctors Without Borders. And this time around, raising awareness of the need for accessibility in gaming, too. The marathon’s first slot is traditionally coveted for its high viewership, and this time around it went to halfcoordinated, who…

  • Steam is a Nightmare for Marginalised Game Developers

    Steam is a Nightmare for Marginalised Game Developers

    Steam is undoubtedly the biggest storefront on the PC gaming block. Over 125 million people use Steam and its games market is worth over $3.5 billion a year. Steam offers so many game developers a chance at breakout success and gives players the opportunity to find hidden gems, nestled right alongside free to play juggernauts…