Monthly Archives: January 2016

A Universal Critique of All Games

Posted on 01/30/2016 by kunzelman

ok, let's see some shit. — BooDoo (@BooDooPerson) January 30, 2016

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A Magic Ad From 1997

Posted on 01/29/2016 by kunzelman

I have nothing to say about this wonderful Magic: The Gathering ad other than it is perfect in all ways. “Like the magic of life, you can’t win if you don’t play.”

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Andrew Pilsch on Pour-Over Coffee

Posted on 01/28/2016 by kunzelman

To choose pour-over coffee instead of Keurig, then, isn’t entirely a choice of human craft over machine labor. It’s more an issue of priorities—craft depends on processes that are beholden to people, creating an intimate relationship in which the human … Continue reading →

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On The Last Door: Season 1

Posted on 01/27/2016 by kunzelman

The Last Door is a strange little point and click horror game that is (I believe) going to stretch over two seasons. It has a lot to love in it, and it has a familiar aesthetic for anyone who has played … Continue reading →

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Left 4 Dead 2, 7 Years On

Posted on 01/26/2016 by kunzelman

John Walker’s original review of Left 4 Dead 2 goes hard for talking about what that game does that other games don’t. He flags it as being a brand-new experience that does something completely unique, and reading it these many years later … Continue reading →

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Donald Rumsfeld Made A Videogame

Posted on 01/25/2016 by kunzelman

Known for quips about such things as “known knowns” and “known unknowns,” Mr. Rumsfeld says the game will sharpen the mind and help improve concentration. Whether it counteracts the effects of aging, he won’t precisely say. “It is helpful to know … Continue reading →

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Let’s Play Rollercoaster Tycoon – Leafy Lake

Posted on 01/15/2016 by kunzelman

Leafy Lake is a weird level of Rollercoaster Tycoon, but I think that I really hit my stride in this set of videos. I do some custom rollercoastering, and I think that the designs for the “uncustomizable” rides that I do … Continue reading →

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Dark Souls’ Relationship To Its Concept Art

Posted on 01/14/2016 by kunzelman

This is a fascinating piece on the concept art of Dark Souls. I don’t know if I buy the argument about micro/macro focalization (in that I don’t see to experience the games in the way that the designers clearly intend you … Continue reading →

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On Fargo – Season 1

Posted on 01/13/2016 by kunzelman

1. The use of the pastiche or the remix or the mashup in contemporary “prestige television” is everywhere. I can see it working on a couple different levels. On one level, it does the same work that stock plots have … Continue reading →

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I Went To The Smite World Championships

Posted on 01/12/2016 by kunzelman

It’s disarming and strange, but there’s no artifice to it. There’s production, but I don’t get the feeling that any of the emotions are crafted in a PR laboratory somewhere. You know what I mean; you can tell when a … Continue reading →

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