Originally written for VN Game Den in December 2021 Oh no. You’ve done it.The conversation had been pleasant enough when you all sat down for a holiday dinner with the family. Then Aunt Sheryl (because isn’t it always Aunt Sheryl?) turns to you and asks what seems like an innocent question. “What have you been… Continue reading How to Talk to Your Family About Visual Novels
Tag: video games
Media is More Fun When You Don’t Waste Time Hating It
It’s a very weird time to be a Venom fan with the current All-New Venom run. I’m genuinely enjoying it, curious to see where it goes, and think there’s some very clever use of language. Two of my favorite symbiotes, Toxin and Sleeper, got some panel time, and there’s clearly something happening there with SCAR.… Continue reading Media is More Fun When You Don’t Waste Time Hating It
Surprise! The Patriarchy is the Reason You and Your Wife Fight Over Your Comic Book Collection
I’m an AFAB person with a handful of “traditionally masculine” hobbies. Basically I’m woman-adjacent in a few men-heavy fields. So I get to live both sides of conversations like the one below. Let me tell y’all: if this what your relationship looks like in terms of hobbies, you’ve got it more fucked up than you… Continue reading Surprise! The Patriarchy is the Reason You and Your Wife Fight Over Your Comic Book Collection
Video Game Metas and the Logic of Failure
Check out the end for book sales and deals from indie authors. There’s a style of online game called a “Hero Shooter.” Think Overwatch, Team Fortress 2, or my recent time sink, Marvel Rivals. For the uninitiated, the gameplay loop is two teams of six fight each other for an objective. Either domination of a… Continue reading Video Game Metas and the Logic of Failure
Cultural Conservatism and the Collapse of Media Critique
Last week, the next installment in the Dragon Age franchise released, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. I'm a huge fan of the series and the studio that makes the franchise. Now the video game community, as a whole, has a really high capacity for what really comes down to just…idiocy, honestly. It's been a problem pretty… Continue reading Cultural Conservatism and the Collapse of Media Critique
Ludonarrative Scramble July 27th-Yaoijam+
This week’s theme: Yaoijam+ entries. Yaoijam is an annual visual novel game jam focusing on games that feature mlm or bxb relationships. This years's Yaoijam+ was a way for developers to finish games they had already started.
Pixels and Pins Studio 