Friday, April 17, 2015

News & Views
4/11/15-4/17/15

It’s weekend time! I know I’m excited. Going to have a fun time tonight celebrating four years together with Justine! That, and messing around with the PS VITA she got me as an anniversary gift (!!!!!!!). I have a cool selection of stuff for you guys to read this week. I found some neat pieces talking about how games helped to prepare someone for dealing with an incurable illness, the future of video games in classroom education, and of course more Bloodborne talk. If you’ve read my review, you’ll know just how amazing I think that game is. I can’t read enough about it! See you all here again soon. Keep an eye out for something a little special next week.

Spotlight
Christian Donlan, Eurogamer

Worth Reading
Mike Krahulik, Penny Arcade

Peter Qumsieh, Gamasutra

Ray Porreca, Wizard of Radical

Aevee Bee, The GIA

Leigh Alexander, Offworld

And the rest!
Brian Crimmins, KillScreen
The PlayStation had so many small and obscure games that were released for it. One of those is Boku no Natsuyasumi. Crimmins goes into great depth about this hidden gem, and how its open world and loose mechanics created a compelling, structured gaming experience.

Chris Kohler, Wired
This is a question I think to myself constantly. Games are no longer a static product. With patches and DLC, games are constantly evolving after release. Reviews are then presented with an enormous challenge, as release day analyses can have limited relevance to a product even a month or two out. Do you constantly re-review games? Review each patch or DLC? It’s tough and each site is finding their own way to tackle this issue.

Laura Hudson, Offworld
Bloodborne is a game that really spoke to me. Apparently, it’s had that same effect on so many others. Bloodborne is brutal and dark but, like Hudson, I really found myself at home in its terrifying world. Do yourself a favor and give Bloodborne a shot.

Brian Crecente, Polygon
Finally! Video games offer tremendous new ways to learn. Students can interact with material in interesting ways, and prolonged engagement with lessons can reinforce material. At least here in San Francisco, iPad gaming is used to supplement classroom learning. I’d love to see educational games proliferation throughout the U.S. in the next couple of years.

Patrick Klepek, Kotaku
Yes! As soon as I read this story, I downloaded the app. It is so much fun going through the Souls games to see what messages other users have left, warning the player of danger ahead (or, tricking them into dying). It will be fun to leave my Soapstone messages around San Francisco.

Patrick Stafford, Polygon
I love that games can explore such complex emotions. Stafford’s excellent look into the upcoming game That Dragon, Cancer explores some of the developer’s ambitions in tackling the experiences and emotions of a father who lost his four-year-old son to cancer.

No comments:

Post a Comment