Commentary

08/07/2012

Exploring Scarcity

Metro 2033 is about surviving in scarcity. Something I've never done before.

By: James Hawkins

Filed Under: Criticism Life

The term “escapism” implies a destination of fantasy. A place that is favorable compared to reality. We so often brand the video game medium with the term, citing the unlimited capability video games have to offer what doesn’t exist here. The ability to fly. To assume the role of a different person – oftentimes created by our own hands and imaginations. The ability to make a difference in people’s lives, and be important to the world. We escape mundanity by soaking in digital worlds for a few hours at a time.

I don’t need to escape from much. I have a pretty nice life. A good job, a place of my own, plenty of food and instantaneous access to clean water. I live in a cloistered world without scarcity. Any shortcomings or weaknesses that draw me back, I compensate with a deliberate workaholism to regain control.

I play video games to be told a story, and I struggle to feel that I’m ever a participant. I don’t enjoy role-playing games, choosing what my character is going to say or how he or she will look. To me, that’s micromanagement. Some find an enviable beauty there, and they’re able to fly away with their creation. I sense that I am just comfortable where I am, and video games are largely a way for me to enjoy a spectacle.

In the months leading up to the launch of Bit Creature, I played one game that wasn’t for review. Between working forty-plus hours a week at my day job and forty-plus hours a week in my office drafting writer contracts and scoping business plans, I was more drawn to nimble poetry and Raymond Carver than lengthy video games to occupy my leisure. Leisure became a few minutes of conscious peace before I fell asleep, and I filled those minutes with art.

I downloaded Metro 2033 during an Xbox Live sale a while back and never played it. I watched its review scores tumble from perceptions of poor shooting mechanics and naive design. I began playing it on impulse – a tired, workless Friday night with a few free hours to myself and absolutely zero motivation to leave my apartment and drive to the store and pick up something new.

____

In Metro 2033, you can’t actually see much. From your first-person perspective, you are either discerning small measures of tunnel with a faulty flashlight and vague candles, or standing in the flurrying ash and grayscale winter of nuclear fallout. You’re in apocalypse-torn Moscow, traversing through an unknit society and poisoned air. If you want to stand in the glaze of natural light, you must wear a chipped-up old gas mask that becomes incrementally shattered as you fight to survive. For twelve hours, you sit on your chair and your eyes are squinted. You control Artyom, a young man under threat from mysterious creatures of the apocalypse, through the soggy shambles of the Moscow underground transit system. You miss plenty that the game has to offer. And when you ascend the tunnels and spill out onto the city’s cobblestone boulevards, you are not guided toward a particular goal, though the game requires you to find many of them on your quest. You feel for progress with a blind hand, like searching for spiderwebs at night.

It is intentionally disgusting and uncomfortable. 4A Games has eschewed the conventionally agreeable apocalypses we explore in Fallout 3 and Half-Life 2 and instead designed a ruinous wasteland world governed by  the consequences of the catastrophe. Gameplay mechanisms are ferocious in their realism, and feel informed by the place in which they reside, not by competing titles that fall superficially under the same “first-person shooter” umbrella. In an apocalypse, there would be no infrastructure to generate electricity, and weapons would never benefit from replaceable parts. Progress would simply stop, and survivors would be forced to make due. To have it otherwise would be disingenuous.

If you want light, you must create it for yourself. A small hand-pumped rechargeable battery will power your flashlight for moments at a time before the bulb fades.

If you need to kill something, expect your spray of shoddy homemade bullets to careen in the wind, or become superficially embedded in your aggressor. Take aim, and miss by meters.

If you come across other survivors, they will delight in your presence. Not because you are a hero, but because in every beating heart there lies the blessing of hope.

If your objective lies within a dilapidated tenement, you will inch toward what looks like project housing. Lines of carbon-copy structures, and no distinction between them. You will get lost.

And if you’re ever standing along a broken street, large winged monsters will come from above and kill you.

____

I escaped to a world of scarcity. For days, I left a world of ease and glimpsed a world without luxury. My eyes became red with my inability to process the dimness of the destroyed world, and the incessant heaving breaths ran through a gas mask filter stayed ringing in my ears. Sure, the fiction of the game was clear enough, but the Moscow of Metro 2033 is the vision of a culture who watched its mothers and fathers shake off a few crippling apocalypses.

I discovered a small notion of struggle there, something that I have only ever observed in passing, and certainly never in a video game. The stories I’ve experienced in my time as a video game player, no matter how bleak, have always been tempered by my ability to control my environment. Take that away, and all those little things we take for granted suddenly become important.

I’m not privy to strife, and by playing a video game, I haven’t been magically imbued with the requisite knowledge of hard-earned survival on anything more than a cosmetic level. I am no less privileged than I have been for the twenty-six years of my life. Just more aware of it, and more aware of the things I’ve been given all these years.

[art credit]

Filed Under: Criticism Life

About the Author:
James Hawkins is the founder of Bit Creature. He's a published poet, dabbling sportswriter, and former Senior Editor of Village Voice Media's Joystick Division.

10,135 Responses to “Exploring Scarcity”

  1. JMZoss

    This is one of those games I’ve been meaning to play for years, for the reasons you mentioned. It sounds truly different, something I have said about far too few games in the last several years.

  2. Michael

    It’s good to hear that there’s someone else out there who doesn’t think that the “Choose Your Own Response” type games aren’t necessarily the games of the future.
    I felt a pretty strong impact from Metro 2033 as well, and was surprised that not as many people seemed to notice the ingenuity of the world on display there.
    It also sounds like the way you generally approach video games is very similar to mine. It’s a serious sort of affair, but one that you can only seem to engage in on impulse.

    In short, great article. I can’t wait to see more from you.

  3. drugs used to threat Headache

    Thanks for your tips. One thing we have noticed is always that banks and also financial institutions have in mind the spending behavior of consumers and also understand that a lot of people max out there their own credit cards around the holiday seasons. They prudently take advantage of this kind of fact and begin flooding the inbox and also snail-mail box together with hundreds of Zero APR card offers immediately after the holiday season comes to an end. Knowing that in case you are like 98% of all American open public, you’ll hop at the possiblity to consolidate personal credit card debt and move balances for 0 interest rates credit cards. hgggfil https://headachemedi.com – drugs used to threat Headache

  4. hyperactive thyroid treatment

    Thanks for your thoughts. One thing I’ve got noticed is the fact banks in addition to financial institutions understand the spending behaviors of consumers and as well understand that the majority of people max out and about their real credit cards around the breaks. They smartly take advantage of that fact and commence flooding ones inbox in addition to snail-mail box having hundreds of no-interest APR credit cards offers shortly after the holiday season concludes. Knowing that for anyone who is like 98% of American community, you’ll soar at the possible opportunity to consolidate consumer credit card debt and shift balances towards 0 interest rate credit cards. kkkjiln https://thyroidmedi.com – hyperactive thyroid treatment

  5. stomach medications for acid reflux

    Thanks for your thoughts. One thing I’ve got noticed is the fact banks in addition to financial institutions understand the spending behaviors of consumers and as well understand that the majority of people max out and about their real credit cards around the breaks. They smartly take advantage of that fact and commence flooding ones inbox in addition to snail-mail box having hundreds of no-interest APR credit cards offers shortly after the holiday season concludes. Knowing that for anyone who is like 98% of American community, you’ll soar at the possible opportunity to consolidate consumer credit card debt and shift balances towards 0 interest rate credit cards. lkkjjln https://stomachmedi.com – stomach medications for acid reflux

  6. generic stomach medicine

    Thanks for your concepts. One thing we’ve noticed is banks along with financial institutions are aware of the spending practices of consumers while also understand that most of the people max out there their real credit cards around the getaways. They properly take advantage of this specific fact and commence flooding your current inbox along with snail-mail box using hundreds of no-interest APR card offers just after the holiday season comes to an end. Knowing that should you be like 98% of American community, you’ll rush at the possiblity to consolidate card debt and shift balances for 0 apr interest rates credit cards. ihhhgjl https://pancreasmedi.com – generic stomach medicine

  9. impotence meds

    Today, considering the fast life-style that everyone leads, credit cards have a big demand throughout the economy. Persons throughout every area of life are using the credit card and people who aren’t using the credit cards have made up their minds to apply for even one. Thanks for revealing your ideas about credit cards. https://impotencemedi.com impotence meds

  13. scalp psoriasis

    Today, with the fast lifestyle that everyone leads, credit cards have a huge demand in the economy. Persons from every field are using the credit card and people who are not using the card have lined up to apply for one. Thanks for sharing your ideas on credit cards. https://psoriasismedi.com scalp psoriasis

  20. hemorrhoid medication

    Today, with the fast lifestyle that everyone leads, credit cards have a huge demand in the economy. Persons from every field are using the credit card and people who are not using the card have lined up to apply for one. Thanks for sharing your ideas on credit cards. https://hemorrhoidsmedi.com hemorrhoid medication

  22. best medicine for varicose veins

    Today, with all the fast life style that everyone is having, credit cards have a big demand throughout the economy. Persons coming from every discipline are using credit card and people who aren’t using the credit cards have made arrangements to apply for one in particular. Thanks for expressing your ideas about credit cards. https://varicoseveinsmedi.com best medicine for varicose veins

  24. varicose veins meds for sale

    Today, with all the fast life style that everyone is having, credit cards have a big demand throughout the economy. Persons coming from every area of life are using credit card and people who aren’t using the credit cards have made up their minds to apply for even one. Thanks for expressing your ideas about credit cards. https://varicoseveinsmedi.com varicose veins meds for sale

  30. high blood pressure

    Today, with the fast lifestyle that everyone leads, credit cards have a huge demand in the economy. Persons from every field are using the credit card and people who are not using the card have lined up to apply for one. Thanks for sharing your ideas on credit cards. https://hypertensionmedi.com high blood pressure

  32. medication for hypertension

    Today, considering the fast way of life that everyone leads, credit cards have a huge demand in the economy. Persons throughout every area are using the credit card and people who are not using the card have arranged to apply for 1. Thanks for discussing your ideas on credit cards. https://hypertensionmedi.com medication for hypertension

  33. blood pressure medication

    Today, with the fast way of life that everyone leads, credit cards have a huge demand in the economy. Persons from every field are using the credit card and people who are not using the card have lined up to apply for one. Thanks for discussing your ideas on credit cards. https://hypertensionmedi.com blood pressure medication

  37. multiple sclerosis medication

    Today, with all the fast way of living that everyone is having, credit cards get this amazing demand throughout the market. Persons coming from every discipline are using credit card and people who not using the credit card have made arrangements to apply for one in particular. Thanks for giving your ideas in credit cards. https://multiplesclerosismed.com multiple sclerosis medication

  59. buy osteoporosis meds

    I figured out more a new challenge on this weight-loss issue. A single issue is a good nutrition is especially vital any time dieting. A massive reduction in junk food, sugary food, fried foods, sweet foods, beef, and white-colored flour products could possibly be necessary. Having wastes organisms, and harmful toxins may prevent ambitions for fat-loss. While selected drugs for the short term solve the challenge, the horrible side effects are certainly not worth it, and they also never present more than a non permanent solution. It is just a known idea that 95% of celebrity diets fail. Many thanks for sharing your thinking on this blog site. https://osteoporosismedi.com buy osteoporosis meds

  63. bronchitis for sale

    I just wanted to make a quick note so as to express gratitude to you for some of the nice points you are posting here. My particularly long internet lookup has at the end of the day been paid with incredibly good information to share with my friends. I ‘d express that most of us site visitors actually are truly endowed to dwell in a notable place with so many marvellous people with insightful points. I feel really grateful to have encountered your weblog and look forward to really more entertaining moments reading here. Thanks once again for all the details. https://bronchitismed.com bronchitis for sale

  64. osteoporosis medications

    I realized more something totally new on this fat loss issue. 1 issue is that good nutrition is very vital whenever dieting. An enormous reduction in junk food, sugary food items, fried foods, sugary foods, beef, and whitened flour products could be necessary. Keeping wastes parasitic organisms, and toxic compounds may prevent targets for fat loss. While specific drugs in the short term solve the situation, the awful side effects usually are not worth it, and so they never offer you more than a momentary solution. This is a known undeniable fact that 95% of dietary fads fail. Thank you for sharing your opinions on this website. https://osteoporosismedi.com osteoporosis medications

  66. how to treat bronchitis at home

    I really wanted to send a simple remark to say thanks to you for the precious steps you are sharing on this site. My prolonged internet research has finally been recognized with really good know-how to talk about with my good friends. I would point out that most of us visitors are undoubtedly fortunate to exist in a really good site with so many perfect people with useful solutions. I feel somewhat happy to have seen your webpage and look forward to so many more exciting moments reading here. Thanks once again for all the details. https://bronchitismed.com how to treat bronchitis at home

  67. bronchitis medications list

    I truly wanted to write a small word to be able to thank you for those superb tips and hints you are writing on this website. My time consuming internet search has now been rewarded with sensible suggestions to write about with my partners. I would suppose that we website visitors are very lucky to live in a very good website with very many special professionals with very beneficial tips. I feel very privileged to have used your entire website and look forward to tons of more pleasurable times reading here. Thanks a lot once more for everything. https://bronchitismed.com bronchitis medications list

  74. termometry bezkontaktowe

    Dzięki za zaleceń dotyczących naprawy kredytu na temat tego niesamowitego witryny. Kilka rzeczy i chciałbym powiedzieć ludziom zawsze zrezygnować z konkretnej mentalności mogą dzisiaj i wypłać później. Like a as be a} społeczeństwo {my|my wszyscy|my wszyscy|wielu z nas|większość z nas|większość ludzi} ma tendencję do {robienia tego|robienia tamtego|próbowania tego|zdarzyć się|powtórz to} dla wielu {rzeczy|problemów|czynników}. Obejmuje to {wakacje|wakacje|wypady|wyjazdy wakacyjne|wycieczki|rodzinne wakacje}, meble, {i|jak również|a także|wraz z|oprócz|plus} przedmiotów {chcemy|chcielibyśmy|życzymy|chcielibyśmy|naprawdę chcielibyśmy to mieć}. Jednak {musisz|musisz|powinieneś|powinieneś chcieć|wskazane jest, aby|musisz} oddzielić {swoje|swoje|to|twoje obecne|swoje|osoby} chcą {od wszystkich|z potrzeb|z}. {Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Jeśli jesteś|Tak długo, jak jesteś|Kiedy} pracujesz, aby {poprawić swój kredyt|poprawić swoją zdolność kredytową|zwiększyć swój kredyt|zwiększyć swój kredyt|podnieś swój ranking kredytowy|popraw swój kredyt} wynik {musisz zrobić|zrobić|faktycznie potrzebujesz|naprawdę musisz} dokonać kilku {poświęceń|kompromisów}. Na przykład {możesz|możesz|możesz|możesz|będziesz mógł|| możesz|prawdopodobnie możesz} robić zakupy online {aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić} lub {możesz przejść do|może się zwrócić|może odwiedzić|może obejrzeć|może sprawdzić|może kliknąć} używane {sklepy|sklepy|detaliści|sprzedawcy|punkty sprzedaży|dostawcy} zamiast {drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogich} domów towarowych {dla|w odniesieniu do|dotyczących|odnoszących się do|przeznaczonych dla|do zdobycia} odzieży {termometr bezdotykowy|termometry bezdotykowe|termometry bezdotykowe ranking|termometr do czoła|termometry do czoła|termometr bezkontaktowy|termometry bezkontaktowe|termometr koronawirus|termometr|termometr na podczerwień|termometry na podczerwień|termometr lekarski|termometry lekarskie|szybki termometr medyczny|szybkie termometry medyczne}.

  77. strzykawki

    Dzięki za wskazówek dotyczących naprawy kredytu na temat tego blogu. Rzeczy i chciałbym rada ludziom byłoby, aby zrezygnować z rzeczywistej mentalności że będą teraz i wypłać później. As a as be a} społeczeństwo {my|my wszyscy|my wszyscy|wielu z nas|większość z nas|większość ludzi} ma tendencję do {robienia tego|robienia tamtego|próbowania tego|zdarzyć się|powtórz to} dla wielu {rzeczy|problemów|czynników}. Obejmuje to {wakacje|wakacje|wypady|wyjazdy wakacyjne|wycieczki|rodzinne wakacje}, meble, {i|jak również|a także|wraz z|oprócz|plus} przedmiotów {chcemy|chcielibyśmy|życzymy|chcielibyśmy|naprawdę chcielibyśmy to mieć}. Jednak {musisz|musisz|powinieneś|powinieneś chcieć|wskazane jest, aby|musisz} oddzielić {swoje|swoje|to|twoje obecne|swoje|osoby} chcą {od wszystkich|z potrzeb|z}. {Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Jeśli jesteś|Tak długo, jak jesteś|Kiedy} pracujesz, aby {poprawić swój kredyt|poprawić swoją zdolność kredytową|zwiększyć swój kredyt|zwiększyć swój kredyt|podnieś swój ranking kredytowy|popraw swój kredyt} wynik {musisz zrobić|zrobić|faktycznie potrzebujesz|naprawdę musisz} dokonać kilku {poświęceń|kompromisów}. Na przykład {możesz|możesz|możesz|możesz|będziesz mógł|| możesz|prawdopodobnie możesz} robić zakupy online {aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić} lub {możesz przejść do|może się zwrócić|może odwiedzić|może obejrzeć|może sprawdzić|może kliknąć} używane {sklepy|sklepy|detaliści|sprzedawcy|punkty sprzedaży|dostawcy} zamiast {drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogich} domów towarowych {dla|w odniesieniu do|dotyczących|odnoszących się do|przeznaczonych dla|do zdobycia} odzieży {strzykawki insulinowe 1ml|strzykawki tuberkulinowe|strzykawki|strzykawka|strzykawki insulinowe|strzykawki do insuliny|strzykawki trzyczęściowe tuberkulinowe|strzykawka tuberkulinowa|strzykawka insulinowa|strzykawka do insuliny|strzykawka trzyczęściowe tuberkulinowa}.

  78. strzykawki insulinowe 1ml

    Dzięki za wskazówki dotyczące naprawy kredytu na temat tego wszystkiego blogu. Co ja chciałbym rada ludziom jest zrezygnować z tej mentalności że mogą teraz i zapłać później. As a as be a} społeczeństwo {my|my wszyscy|my wszyscy|wielu z nas|większość z nas|większość ludzi} ma tendencję do {robienia tego|robienia tamtego|próbowania tego|zdarzyć się|powtórz to} dla wielu {rzeczy|problemów|czynników}. Obejmuje to {wakacje|wakacje|wypady|wyjazdy wakacyjne|wycieczki|rodzinne wakacje}, meble, {i|jak również|a także|wraz z|oprócz|plus} przedmiotów {chcemy|chcielibyśmy|życzymy|chcielibyśmy|naprawdę chcielibyśmy to mieć}. Jednak {musisz|musisz|powinieneś|powinieneś chcieć|wskazane jest, aby|musisz} oddzielić {swoje|swoje|to|twoje obecne|swoje|osoby} chcą {od wszystkich|z potrzeb|z}. {Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Jeśli jesteś|Tak długo, jak jesteś|Kiedy} pracujesz, aby {poprawić swój kredyt|poprawić swoją zdolność kredytową|zwiększyć swój kredyt|zwiększyć swój kredyt|podnieś swój ranking kredytowy|popraw swój kredyt} wynik {musisz zrobić|zrobić|faktycznie potrzebujesz|naprawdę musisz} dokonać kilku {poświęceń|kompromisów}. Na przykład {możesz|możesz|możesz|możesz|będziesz mógł|| możesz|prawdopodobnie możesz} robić zakupy online {aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić} lub {możesz przejść do|może się zwrócić|może odwiedzić|może obejrzeć|może sprawdzić|może kliknąć} używane {sklepy|sklepy|detaliści|sprzedawcy|punkty sprzedaży|dostawcy} zamiast {drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogich} domów towarowych {dla|w odniesieniu do|dotyczących|odnoszących się do|przeznaczonych dla|do zdobycia} odzieży {strzykawki insulinowe 1ml|strzykawki tuberkulinowe|strzykawki|strzykawka|strzykawki insulinowe|strzykawki do insuliny|strzykawki trzyczęściowe tuberkulinowe|strzykawka tuberkulinowa|strzykawka insulinowa|strzykawka do insuliny|strzykawka trzyczęściowe tuberkulinowa}.

  79. strzykawka tuberkulinowa

    Dzięki za porad dotyczących naprawy kredytu na temat tego wspaniałego witryny. Kilka wskazówek i chciałbym powiedzieć ludziom powinno być to zrezygnować z tej mentalności że mogą obecnie i rozwidź później. Being a as be a} społeczeństwo {my|my wszyscy|my wszyscy|wielu z nas|większość z nas|większość ludzi} ma tendencję do {robienia tego|robienia tamtego|próbowania tego|zdarzyć się|powtórz to} dla wielu {rzeczy|problemów|czynników}. Obejmuje to {wakacje|wakacje|wypady|wyjazdy wakacyjne|wycieczki|rodzinne wakacje}, meble, {i|jak również|a także|wraz z|oprócz|plus} przedmiotów {chcemy|chcielibyśmy|życzymy|chcielibyśmy|naprawdę chcielibyśmy to mieć}. Jednak {musisz|musisz|powinieneś|powinieneś chcieć|wskazane jest, aby|musisz} oddzielić {swoje|swoje|to|twoje obecne|swoje|osoby} chcą {od wszystkich|z potrzeb|z}. {Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Jeśli jesteś|Tak długo, jak jesteś|Kiedy} pracujesz, aby {poprawić swój kredyt|poprawić swoją zdolność kredytową|zwiększyć swój kredyt|zwiększyć swój kredyt|podnieś swój ranking kredytowy|popraw swój kredyt} wynik {musisz zrobić|zrobić|faktycznie potrzebujesz|naprawdę musisz} dokonać kilku {poświęceń|kompromisów}. Na przykład {możesz|możesz|możesz|możesz|będziesz mógł|| możesz|prawdopodobnie możesz} robić zakupy online {aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić} lub {możesz przejść do|może się zwrócić|może odwiedzić|może obejrzeć|może sprawdzić|może kliknąć} używane {sklepy|sklepy|detaliści|sprzedawcy|punkty sprzedaży|dostawcy} zamiast {drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogich} domów towarowych {dla|w odniesieniu do|dotyczących|odnoszących się do|przeznaczonych dla|do zdobycia} odzieży {strzykawki insulinowe 1ml|strzykawki tuberkulinowe|strzykawki|strzykawka|strzykawki insulinowe|strzykawki do insuliny|strzykawki trzyczęściowe tuberkulinowe|strzykawka tuberkulinowa|strzykawka insulinowa|strzykawka do insuliny|strzykawka trzyczęściowe tuberkulinowa} {strzykawki insulinowe 1ml|strzykawki tuberkulinowe|strzykawki|strzykawka|strzykawki insulinowe|strzykawki do insuliny|strzykawki trzyczęściowe tuberkulinowe|strzykawka tuberkulinowa|strzykawka insulinowa|strzykawka do insuliny|strzykawka trzyczęściowe tuberkulinowa}.

  102. RV Slide Out California

    Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you, However I am going through troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody else getting similar RSS issues? Anyone who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  103. rv parts and service near my location

    Greetings, There’s no doubt that your website could be having web browser compatibility problems. When I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Aside from that, excellent blog!

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

The Latest:

  • Originals

    Swan Song

    This is a tough one to write. For those of you who know me, in person, by my writing, or…


  • Originals

    The Fool and the Villain, Part II

    (Warning: In Second Life, pixelated tits and dicks abound. Abandon all hope, all ye who enter this article at work.)…


  • Commentary

    The Edge Of The Ocean

    The problem is to plot the map. My sense of geography is spotted with black holes. There’s the Chinatown and…


  • Originals

    Play Everything

    Play everything. No, I’m serious, play everything. Play that game of hopscotch those kids drew up on the sidewalk with…


  • Commentary

    Genre In Question

    Why are there so few video game comedies? At least twice in the past year I’ve bumped into conversations trying…