wordsmaybe.bsky.social

critical-distance.comSeptember 22ndWelcome back readers. In deference to some travel commitments I have coming up this weekend, I’m anticipating that this is going to be the first of two consecutive Monday Mulligains. But fear…

24 Sept 2024

My Boku no Natsuyasumi piece is featured here!

Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?@critdistance.bsky.social

This week: industry interviews, summer nostalgia, the greatest console to ever do it, and more: critical-distance.com/2024/09/23/s...

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i’m just ken

@shepardcdr.bsky.social

18h

I appreciate that people want a new Mass Effect, but the future where fans advocate for the work itself and not the people who make it is the one the vultures at EA want. If you'll take it however you get it, they can keep treating people who make what you love as expendable.

kotaku.comWhat Does It Even Mean To ‘Save’ Mass Effect? - KotakuThousands of fans are rallying around a campaign to save the series after BioWare's shutdown, but what does that look like?

13h

The post to the save mass effect petition is pretty silly tbh. I mean, I dont think a change dot org petition is going to mean anything more than people collectively shouting at EA. To be fair, shout away, but the larger conversation highlights how little people understand what goes into game dev

Caitie@ghildirthalen.bsky.social

sorry i need to publicly be a hater for a second but what do you mean the giant 230k+ signature save mass effect petition is only about the IP and not the devs that were laid off

13h

There is such a naive assumption that EA can just say whoops and hire the team back or license it out to a new developer and that'll fix things right up. The toothpaste isn't simply out of the tube, it fell into the grimey sink that hasn't been cleaned in months.

I too am with the times. I kept to mostly games I played for the first time over 10 years ago.

Baxter@cosmicspooks.bsky.social

On top of the trends! Did the games that made me thing -- first five ended up being childhood brain altering classics and the rest more recent bc it turns out dumb computer toys are still rewriting me constantly

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Age of Empires- A few times a year my dad would have to bring us into work with him. At this musty old HVAC building his boss would sit in his office and play games from time to time. Wolfenstein was one of them, and Age of Empires the other. One day he gave us a burnt CD with AoE on it.

patreon.comUpdate Patch News Roundup (26/10/2026) | startmenuUpdate Patch News Roundup (26/10/2026) by startmenu on Patreon. Join startmenu's community for exclusive content and updates.

16h

Star Fox 64 is, alongside Star Wars, why I like plane games. It’s also one of the earliest examples of true cinematic aspects that really grabbed me. And the kicker? It's the first choice driven narrative I ever touched. You can thank this game for me being unable to shut up about agency.

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Andes Chucky

@wendeego.bsky.social

21h

wrote some words about bioware's closure for update patch this week.....

startmenu@startmenu.bsky.social

Cancelled concerts, shuttered studios, massive data breaches? Just another week in the paradise that is the video game industry in 2026. @wendeego.bsky.social rounds everything up for Update Patch.

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Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?

critical-distance.comOctober 25thWelcome back readers. I am putting this article together a couple of days early so I can watch Desert Bus for Hope this weekend, but we’ve still got a packed issue for your reading pleasure. …

This week: Authorial intent, trans survival, and the Forbidden Grav-Bong: critical-distance.com/2026/10/25/o...

I too am with the times. I kept to mostly games I played for the first time over 10 years ago.

Baxter@cosmicspooks.bsky.social

Gorillas is maybe my first game, certainly one of the oldest I remember touching while it was contemporary. Around 1995 my mom came home with the first family computer and we found this game on it. Fascinated by the machine, we gathered around it for some time...yes this makes me sound old.

Maaaaaaaaan... This seems real fucking neat.

Mass Effect News@masseffectnews.bsky.social

Figured the Bioware news was coming. Its been a slow bleeding for years now, but shit still fucking sucks. Those ousted over the years deserve better. Those who remained do. One second of a Bioware game is 100× more valuable than anything Andrew Wilson and his ilk have ever done.

Its been nice sitting on the couch with my partner this year as they playtrough the Mass Effect trilogy for the first time. Sharing something that has had such a hand in shaping me with them has been a joy.

I dream of the day a hot woman will say such about me while I'm face down in some shoddy old castle.

startmenu.co.ukReview | Penguin Colony - Foul Men and Noble Birds — startmenuArtemis Octavio professes her love for flightless birds, as well as morbid curiosity for esoteric mysteries, in her review of Penguin Colony.

A new video related to this image will appear...soon-ish.

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

startmenu

@startmenu.bsky.social

@stopcar.ing professes her love for flightless birds, as well as morbid curiosity for esoteric mysteries, in her review of Penguin Colony.

Working my way trough the Gamecube port of Ocarina of Time. I maintain that the Water Temple is good, actually.

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

startmenu.co.ukReview | Sovereign Tower - Knights of the Branching Narrative — startmenuSovereign Tower is a game about choices — and remaking them when the outcomes don’t suit your desires. WordsMaybe reviews.

Speaking of being more productive in my time off from the day job, I did this!

startmenu@startmenu.bsky.social

Sovereign Tower is a game about choices — and remaking them when the outcomes don’t suit your desires. @wordsmaybe.bsky.social reviews.

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Naika Video

@naikavideo.bsky.social

This year's Halloween Special is up on YouTube and it's a spoiler-free video essay on the underrated MESSIAH OF EVIL! Big thanks to @timessqkungfu.bsky.social for introducing this gem to me. Check it out, and go see this film! 👻🎃👻🎃 LINK: youtu.be/7P0l5dwUT4M

Speaking of being more productive in my time off from the day job, I did this!

startmenu@startmenu.bsky.social

Sovereign Tower is a game about choices — and remaking them when the outcomes don’t suit your desires. @wordsmaybe.bsky.social reviews.

Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?

Its that time of year where the day job has ended for the next few months, which means more writing. Hopefully, now that I'm in a better place to actually do said work, I'll be more productive then ever...hopefully.

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critical-distance.comOctober 11thWelcome back readers. It’s a long weekend here in my country, and to that end I’m getting the issue out to you a few hours early so I can take it easy and enjoy some of it with my partn…

This week: labour, genre, physical media, and something called "CeX": critical-distance.com/2026/10/11/o...

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

ko-fi.comBuy WordsMaybe a CoffeeBecome a supporter of WordsMaybe today!

27 May

Replying to @wordsmaybe.bsky.social

If you enjoy this video, or any other work of mine, please consider donating to my ko-fi. ko-fi.com/wordsmaybe

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

Ephemeral Enigmas

@ephemeralenigmas.bsky.social

New blog post time! This week's game is Battle Monsters, a fighting game that sometimes gets mistaken as a "Mortal Kombat clone", but is actually much different and far more interesting. Silly characters, grimy aesthetics, and even a bit of platforming made this a pleasant surprise: #blog #gaming

ephemeralenigmascom.wordpress.comBattle MonstersI’m often a sucker for a janky fighting game, but I gotta say, Battle Monsters impressed me! It’s jank, for sure, but there’s a lot more going on under the hood than at first glance. Once you reali…

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

InnerSpiral (the scary version)

@innerspiral.lol

Games inherit the lives their creators have outside of their work. What happens to an artform when the industry depends on those experiences while leaving people less time to have them? #blog #gaming #dreamcast

innerspiral.lolDo you see those Blue skies?

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Baxter

@cosmicspooks.bsky.social

New post! Join me as I gush about the iconic shmup Gradius, psychedelic sci-fi, and the importance of never listening to the internet (except for me, listen to me). Oh and moai. Lots and lots of moai. 🗿🗿🗿 Give it a read, punk!!

tsundokudiving.comTalking games | GradiusI got Gradius Syndrome (can't stop thinking about Gradius)

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

Baxter

@cosmicspooks.bsky.social

If you like what I do on the net -- essays, subs, archival stuff, bad posts on Bluesky dot com -- and have the means, think about sending a dollar or two my way via ko-fi! Every cent is always beyond appreciated :^) And if you don't like the stuff I do....idk send me a dollar anyway

ko-fi.comSupport BaxterSupport Baxter

Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?

I'm just a ways into Ace 8 and god damn, what a wonderful start.

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

critical-distance.comSeptember 27thWelcome back readers. As we move into the back quarter of the year, it’s time for us to start thinking about our annual Year In Videogames Blogging recap. This is always a major undertaking, …

This week: Ace Combat, Resident Evil, Sonic CD, and lots more: critical-distance.com/2026/09/27/s...

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

Mer

@drowwpoison.bsky.social

Wrote an opinion piece about @exodusgameofficial.bsky.social for @gameobserver.bsky.social and its seemingly inescapable comparison to Mass Effect. I had to speak my truth, sorry!! gameobserver.com/opinion-let-...

gameobserver.comOpinion: Let Exodus Be Exodus | GameObserverExodus is already being compared to Mass Effect, and those comparisons risk shaping expectations before the game has a chance to prove itself.

Maybe the most immediately noticeable thing of Control Resonant is because the camera is zoomed out for melee combat, you dont get the intimacy like in the first game. Both Control and Alan Wake 2 are technical marvels that really work aesthically because terrific visual direction.

@ephemeralenigmas.bsky.social

Remedy is a vibes heavy developer in every regard, and for me the first Control is an aesthtic shooter. The environmental destruction, careful lighting, little details in every uneasy office space, and the effects around projectiles all make it pop despite it not being a conventionally great shooter

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Ephemeral Enigmas

New blog post time! This week's game is Janggun-ui Adeul, a beat 'em up for the Sega Master System and one of two games based on the influential South Korean movie General's Son. The game does little with that, but it's a fascinatingly janky experience with a solid presentation: #blog #gaming

ephemeralenigmascom.wordpress.comJanggun-ui AdeulThat’s kinda the thing with Janggun-ui Adeul. It’s hard to fully express through words, but it’s the kind of game that seems like janky fun at first, but if you take it seriously and try to get bet…

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?

critical-distance.comSeptember 20thWelcome back readers. I’m going to keep opening our issues with mini Patreon updates for the next little bit, because as I’ve been talking about recently, we need a bit more wiggle room…

20 Sept

This week: Trails, Control, aesthetic experiences, and the International Phonetic Alphabet: critical-distance.com/2026/09/20/s...

kotaku.comEA Tells Devs Its Saudi Arabia Owners Won’t Make Creative Decisions, Queer Fans Don’t Buy It - KotakuBioWare, Sims, and Apex Legends fans found belonging in games they feel they can no longer support

17 Sept

Once again I have said words about Bioware, and Kenneth was nice enough to listen.

Kotaku@kotaku.com

EA belongs partially to the Saudi Public Investment Fund. The company tells employees its new "partners" won't make creative decisions, but queer BioWare, Apex Legends, and Sims fans aren't convinced. https://kotaku.com/electronic-arts-saudi-arabia-acquisition-lgbtqia-mass-effect-sims-2000735185

17 Sept

Wrapped up Zero Company. One of those good games that a sequel could really refine on but given that state of things...

14 Sept

Now that I'm nearly done with Star Wars: Zero Company, I can confidently say its a Bioware-lite and not a Bioware-like. A very important distinction that matters to a great many people.

12 Sept

I'd know Star Wars: Company was made by the XCOM devs simply by having multiple instances where my crew had a 85% chance to hit while there gun clips trough the targeted enemy, and they've also missed multiple 100% opportunities.

12 Sept

Game is good. A for the sickos thing for sure. It engages with Clone Wars in particular in a way that I hope still works for folks not familiar with it, but also very much works for people who do the Leo pointing meme at mere mention of Pong Krell.

@cosmicspooks.bsky.social

12 Sept

I get a little prickly when a wider audience says "finally, good Star Wars." This happened a lot with Andor. My thing is that good Star Wars is happening multiple times a year when you engage with more than films, TV, and whatever games bubble up to your notice.

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Baxter

11 Sept

New post! Today I’m discussing dolls, mountains, and cats with the little seen anime classic, Licca-chan to Yamaneko: Hoshi no Tabi! Come for brand integration art, stay for the profound intermingling of tradition, faith, and life. Read it here!!

tsundokudiving.comTalking anime | Licca-chan to Yamaneko: Hoshi no TabiYou can (not) sell a mountain.

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Ephemeral Enigmas

@ephemeralenigmas.bsky.social

8 Sept

New blog post time! This week's game is Warriors of Might and Magic... for the Game Boy Color! This unique take brought to you by the developer of Sudeki offers a different story and 2D gameplay closer to that of Zelda. Weak combat and instant death pits do ruin the fun, though #blog #gaming

ephemeralenigmascom.wordpress.comWarriors of Might and Magic (GBC)I wish the rest of the game was more compelling so I could at least try to make a case for pushing through, but I just can’t. Seriously, it’s extremely rough out there and I can’t in good conscienc…

Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?

6 Sept

Love to make the rounds in my spaceship so I can talk to all of my digital friends.

wordsmaybe.bsky.social reposted

patreon.comGet more from Critical Distance on PatreonGet more from Critical Distance on Patreon. Join for free or become a member for just $5/month. Critical Distance promo video from Zoya Street on Vimeo.…

6 Sept

Critical Distance is the equivalent of a fulltime job split across a small team, and Patreon support is how we keep it going. Help us keep the lights on, run events like our Friendslop Essay Jam, and continue our project to build a living time capsule of games criticism. www.patreon.com/critdistance

6 Sept

And the suicide mission is a really good idea with middling execution.

rhodeath || READ RIVERINE@rhodezero.bsky.social

The "mass effect 2 is the weakest entry in the trilogy" truther has logged on

3 Sept

I started Star Wars: Zero Company last night, and a tactics game set in this universe with some Bioware-esque stuff going on is unsurprisingly my jam.

3 Sept

My Hawks.

3 Sept

The tension between Hawks and multiple people by hour 3 of the game makes me wish they had some romance options, because I feel like a little hate fucking could make the workplace of this merc crew a tad bit healthier.

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