Perfect Video Games

Tags

gamer, games, gaming, hardspace shipbreaker, list, listicle, lists, mega man x, mixolumia, perfect game, perfect games, splatoon, xexyz

Today’s post was inspired by a question tweeted out by Eric Bailey, a Christian gamer (though I suspect he’d prefer the former be put more far forward than the latter) and… I guess I can also call him an accidental satirist? Honestly, his Twitter content is equal parts wholesome and random. He should be in your social feed if he’s not already. And don’t let his faith scare you off: He’s actually one of the good guys.

Anyway, back to the post’s point. Bailey had tweeted out for examples of the perfect video game, citing Contra and Tetris as examples. This prompted one response out of me, but the more I think about it, the more I kind of pondered other video games that I would think fit the bill. Mostly because the question is so complex yet simple. It asks not about favorite game or favorite game story or favorite genre; it asks you to consider a video game condensed into its “purest” form. To consider gaming as perfect means it fits its function and executes its idea so flawlessly and so brilliantly that you don’t even have to think about it. At least, that’s my interpretation. So, I decided to write about it.

Early Access Games That Aren’t Trash

Tags

craftopia, early access, fps, hardspace shipbreaker, multiplayer, online gaming, online multiplayer, sandbox, steam early access, survival sandbox

With all of the itchy, uncomfortable, and downright exploitative ways game dev studios are trying to monetize their game, it’s easy to pass off anything other than “gold product” as nothing more than a scam. And for the most part, you’re right. Even I can admit that crowdfunding a game is a whole lot riskier and possibly more scam-adjacent than not, when previously I had foolishly hoped that it would open up a lot more doors and ideas.

One of the most recent and proliferous forms of “alternative” game monetization schemes is the early access launch, which asks folks to buy an incomplete game, provide feedback, and watch it evolve into a fully-launched product. It’s, at the brass tacks level (and grossly oversimplified), spending money to be a tester instead of letting professionals do that and get paid for it. However, as vile as that sounds, there are a few games that I’ve come across that actually are worth the buy-in cost in my opinion, and so I wanted to take a moment to highlight them with today’s post.

Hardspace: Shipbreaker and the impact of visual storytelling

Tags

audio storytelling, blackbird interactive, design, early access, focus interactive, game design, hardspace, hardspace shipbreaker, narrative, single player, steam early access, story, storytelling, visual storytelling

I’ve got a new gaming obsession. It’s Hardspace: Shipbreaker, a game where you play the role of a Cutter that chops up derelict spaceship and repurposes the various components, either by refinement or straight-up salvage. It’s already a brilliant and unique bit of gaming and is only just in early access, meaning that its already impressive gameplay can only grow from here on out.

I could write up plenty of effusive praise on this game as it is, but I’m not really here to write a review on the title as a whole. Instead, I want to focus on one aspect of this one that it absolutely nails: telling a story without outright writing one out.