This post contains spoilers for Horizon Forbidden West. I am more or less rushing through Horizon Forbidden West because I enjoy it so much. The storytelling is sublime. I can't help but think that it is one of the strongest narrative games I have ever played. And there are moments. So many in fact that... Continue Reading →
Gaming Culture Confuses Me
Here’s a thing I will never understand with gaming culture. I don’t understand why we have to wholeheartedly throw ourselves over a game and praise all aspects of it. At some point we have to be able to say “I loved this part, this expression, but I didn’t like that part.” Doing that, both in... Continue Reading →
AC: Valhalla’s Ambivalent Message
First off, I had a really hard time naming this blog post. What the heck does one name something that is so amorphous as the tone of voice in a game wobbling all over the place? Secondly, a lot of the stuff I talk about in this post is based on feelings and much if... Continue Reading →
Ethics as a first resort
I'm sort of surprised that we don't speak more about ethics in game development. I know there are pockets of discussion here and there, but not to the level I have been expecting. Perhaps it's because I'm trying to follow more accessibility focused individuals, perhaps it's because I'm naïve and trusting (there's definitely a part... Continue Reading →
The House in Your Favor
What happens if you discover that the “even playing field” you thought you were playing on was tilted heavily in your favour? Would you feel proud of your accomplishments, still, or would you maybe deny your privilege? Would you feel uncomfortable knowing that everything you took for granted perhaps wasn’t really something everyone had access... Continue Reading →
Tales from the Trenches – A Balancing Act
When I first started out as a UX designer, I did a little bit of everything. We’re just like any other designer. Our workload is uneven and in some cases it is heaviest at the start of production and in pre-production and gradually drops off as the game is nearing completion. Despite having been a... Continue Reading →