Free-range thoughts about design, writing, and play
A few days ago, I received shipping notifications for the releases of Tesla vs. Edison and Evolution: Flight. My first thought was “yay!” And my second thought was, “I hope I can keep up with all my new games?” And my third thought was “What’s with all these game releases happening all at once?”
If a short family member you love has been wanting to hear Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” over and over (and over) again, then boy, has Apple Music got a deal for you.
My four-year-old sets off lab fires. Fortunately, it’s only in the context of Compounded, a clever little chemistry game from Dice Hate Me Games.
After seven years of working in free-to-play games, I’m a little jaded. Endless clones of Clash of Clans or Game of War bore me, which is why a goofy new game like Alphabear is so refreshing.
Like all parents, I think my kids are brilliant. So I was excited when my elder daughter and her friends got into Duolingo, and surprised when it all went wrong.
With the new Splendor app enjoying good reviews and 7 Wonders launching an open beta, publishers are falling over themselves to convert board games into apps. But there are a few games out there that might not work so well. Here are our top 5 games that probably shouldn’t be licensed just yet:
If you’re a game history weirdo nerd buff, you know about Monopoly: created as social criticism, became a folk game, stolen by Charles Darrow, etc. Old top hat, really, but Mary Pilon’s recent book The Monopolists is a good read that brings this history to life.
The most interesting thing about Hearthstone’s new Tavern Brawl feature is the loot. It’s the dog that barks quietly once per week, and that tells us a story about engagement and player motivation.
Gamers love gadgets. Gamers love games. It should be no surprise that gamers want to combine these loves, and a new product just launched on Kickstarter to do that. But is the ePawn Arena for real, or is it just another tabletop white elephant?
I recently watched Sense8 and have been trying absorb it. This Netflix original about blending consciousness was exciting, gorgeous, frustrating, and messy. It may also point to the future of entertainment.