Month: October 2018

Making A Statement: Political And Social Commentary In Video Games

October 29, 2018

Video games are often a form of escapist entertainment. We play to have fun, lead lives that are different from our own, and forget our real world problems for a little while. But what happens when you combine fictional stories with today’s commentary about current events? Can we still view these games as pure fun and escapism when these messages, subtle or overt, become unabashed in their intention to drive a point home?

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Life Is Strange – Before The Storm: An Intimate Portrait Of Teen Angst, Love, and Tragedy

October 22, 2018

When Dontnod Entertainment released Life Is Strange back in 2015, it became the unexpected hit that invited gamers to get swept up in the friendship between Max Caulfield and Chloe Price, while helping them uncover the mystery behind popular girl Rachel Amber’s disappearance. However you choose to end Max and Chloe’s story, Life Is Strange is a complete game. But for developer Deck Nine, there’s still another story that hasn’t been told—the story of Chloe and Rachel.

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Anime Review: Steins;Gate 0

October 15, 2018

The long arduous journey of Okabe Rintaro and the dire consequences of time travel has been the focal point of the original Steins;Gate, and later revisited in this year’s Steins;Gate 0. Through the exploration of the beta world line, where Okabe fails to save Kurisu Makise from death, the latest anime goes to deep, dark places before a ray of hope emerges for our tortured hero. It has been quite the trip in Steins;Gate 0, which recently aired its final episode for the series.

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New York Comic Con 2018: One Whole Day Of Geeky Goodness

October 8, 2018

The start of October immediately calls to mind a number of fall related events and things—Halloween, pumpkin spice, Oktober Fest, fall foliage, and much more. But in New York City, especially for the comic book enthusiasts, it also means Comic Con is back in town at the Javits Center. I continue my annual tradition of attending New York Comic Con on a single Saturday pass. Here’s a recap of what I saw, did, and bought at the largest attraction in the Big Apple.

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End Of An Era: Reflecting On The Sudden Shutdown Of Telltale Games

October 1, 2018

Video games are memorable experiences and it’s often tied to the staff who have made these games possible for thousands of gamers to enjoy. But when a studio makes the decision to abruptly close and lay off their staff without warning, what settles in is shock, confusion, and uncertainty for those involved and the projects now in limbo. This is the situation Telltale Games has found itself in.

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