News & Views
8/29/15-9/4/15
Hey
everyone! It’s been a fun week for The Impact Factor. First and foremost, I’m
trying to stream more. Gaming has always been a pretty insular experience for
me, so it’s still so strange to be broadcasting my thoughts and gameplay on
Twitch. But I think I like it? All stream archives will be posted here on the
blog! You can watch live (and I would LOVE if you did) at Twitch.tv/megalodonphd.
As always,
News & Views compiles the best written pieces about video games from around
the web each week. I know I write this a lot, but I found a ton of good stuff this week. From how
R. Mika is a force for women in games, to how we are all Mario, and to how gamification is the new nihilism, you can
find a bit of everything below. Let me know your thoughts!
And of
course you can check out the brand new episode of The Impact Factor podcast
that was podcasted today! You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, or if you prefer other methods,
check out our SoundCloud. We’re on YouTube too!
Spotlight
Andrew Goldfarb, IGN
Worth Reading
Zach Budgor
and Jess Joho, KillScreen
Will
Partin, KillScreen
Brian
Taylor, Paste
Cheap Drunk
Games, Vimeo
Nadia
Oxford, US Gamer
With Comments
Pietro
Polsinelli, Gamasutra
This is an issue that comes up all
the time for me, not just for smartphone games (the main culprits) but also
with larger console games. It felt hard to put into words exactly why playing 90 hours of Bloodborne felt
worth my time but 10 minutes with Fallout Shelter felt like a waste. According to Polsinelli it comes down to three
things: if a game tell you a story, progressively trains you, or links to your
social life in some way the time feels worthwhile. Interesting. I don’t
disagree, but wonder if there are other factors that determine the gradation of
the worthwhileà time wasted spectrum.
Marty
Sliva, IGN
Ah, Final Fantasy XV. A game that’s been off and on my mind for
the past, what, 8 years? Crazy. Square Enix has been incredibly honest with
their development process in the past year or so, and it’s so refreshing to
finally feel like we’re getting even a little bit closer to the game’s release.
Here’s looking at you, 2016.
Patrick
Klepek, Kotaku
Not specifically games related, but
I had to include it. I was stunned to learn of Wes Craven’s passing earlier
this week. Patrick Klepek, a games writer I deeply respect and who shares my
passion for horror films, posted a great reaction and reflection of Craven’s
legacy. Rest in peace.
Josh Bycer,
Gamasutra
Blizzard’s cross game marketing
strategy is hugely significant. It was the leading factor in getting me to try
out Heroes of the
Storm. I did it all for a stupid card
back in Hearthstone. Josh Bycer
writes what I’m trying to say far more eloquently in his piece on Gamasutra.
Blizzard has created a gaming dynasty, its own shared universe, that has the
capacity to dig its tendrils into fans deeper and more anchored than anything
before it. I know they’ve got me good.
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