Published in SUPERJUMP·Feb 4, 2021Bugs as Features in Video GamesA brief history of happy accidents that became celebrated by fans — For all of the mechanics game developers painstakingly build into their games, there are a not-so-insignificant number that were originally glitches. Is it a bug or a feature? Why not both? They don’t need to be removed Some bugs are game-breaking, ruining the enjoyment of the medium and must be removed. Others are worse still, crashing…Gaming6 min read
Dec 24, 2020Why do I long for Minecraft version 1?As a gamer I’m glad I had the opportunity to witness the release, rise in popularity, and success that is Minecraft. I remember fondly spending countless hours playing the Classic, Indev, Infdev, Alpha, and Beta versions. …Minecraft9 min read
Feb 20, 2020Serious vs Ridiculous Video GamesThere is a theme, or feel to some video games — or some parts of some video games — that lend to a serious tone. You’re a soldier in a war, or a surgeon at an operating table. Perhaps you’re…Gaming8 min read
Sep 21, 2019What is a Looter Shooter?A Looter Shooter is a genre of video games that fluidly mix RPG elements with a point-and-click style shooting game. RPG Elements In my post What is the MMO Holy Trinity I gave a short primer on what an RPG is, with focus on games in a high fantasy setting (think elves…Gaming8 min read
Aug 10, 2019Power Pacing in Video GamesAs I’ve written before, video games often server up a power fantasy. Be it an amazing space marine or a medieval knight of justice — you can find a world that is distinctly not our own. One enjoyable part of a power fantasy comes from a feeling of growth. If…Gaming9 min read
Jun 28, 2019RPG Dialogue SystemsRole-playing games (RPGs) are one of the greatest genres of games this world has to offer. It’s also a broad category, which leaves a lot open to interpretation. My experience with them is digital, but their origins are on the tabletop. Board games (you may have heard of Dungeons &…Gaming9 min read
May 28, 2019Resources and CooldownsThough they can be subtle, every video game has some sort of resource that the player must manage. Resources are designed to constrain the player, to limit what they can do. Anyone that has spent any time in Minecraft’s creative mode, then got bored of it can attest to how…Gaming8 min read
May 12, 2019Video Game Skill/Tech TreesAs you play through a video game you get a very clear sense of progression from beginning to end. Sometimes this is like an arcade game, where you progress to the next level, and you are challenged even more. Here I will talk about skill and tech trees, those video…Gaming9 min read
Apr 23, 2019Procedural Content in Video GamesContent. The vague term for how a player spends his or her time in a game world before they get bored. It is burnt like fuel, and what a precious resource it is. …Videogames9 min read
Apr 5, 2019Chill GamesI love chill games, but before I tell you why let me explain the difference between a chill game, and a casual game. Casual Gaming The casual gaming experience is a phrase used to describe games played by those either new to gaming or that have little time to dedicate to a…Gaming6 min read
