Ballad of the Blue Bomber
A musical history of the Mega Man X and other spinoff franchises.
Fandom: Arcadia
Some have called these lands the Oasys. Some the Matrix. Others the ‘grid. Where players gather and the sprites live and die, this is where it’s written.
Whip Cracks and Bloody Tear-Tracks
An analysis on the soundscapes that shaped the Castlevania franchise.
A Hymn to the Golden Goddesses
A musical history of The Legend of Zelda Franchise; the impact of Koji Kondo and the audio legacy of the series.
Culture and Gender Norms
Revisiting the topic of gaming once more, today we look into the evolving tribalism of gaming, gatekeeping and accessibility on multiple fronts. “Power to the Players” should be and is more than just a slogan.
What’s Changed About Video Games
As we delve anew into our survey of games, society and their effects upon one another, it behooves to have a current “State of Play”. A snapshot of where we are, where we’ve been, and how precisely we got here.
Firmware Updated – Series Conspectus
A journey into the nuances, culture and development of the video-game industry and its various practices. Join us on an anthropological examination of the impact the medium has had on business, modern society and its various communities, as guided by one who regularly partakes in its many facets.
Where Are They Now—Series Conspectus
An introduction to a slipstream meta-commentary on the evolution and current status of video game franchise icons and how they’ve mutated and grown across multiple platforms! Time is kinder to some than others, and some of these… well, clearly came from a different era. An enthusiast invites our readers on a somewhat more visceral examination than most.
‘Super Mario, this is your Extra Life!’
Nintendo and its mustachioed plumber stood alone atop the video game console mountain in the ’80s. Then came an upstart, spiky-haired blue hedgehog leading the charge for Sega and its console. In this installment of Where Are They Now? we explore the beginnings of the console war between Nintendo and Sega.
From Quill to Quest Item—Series Conspectus
There’s more to your favorite interactive entertainment than meets the eye! Join us for an examination of video games as a reimagined presentation of tropes from classical theater and text as seen and interpreted through the eyes of an enthusiast of all three.
Mushroom Melodies – It’s a Mario!
An analysis and introspect on the audio and musical design behind the Super Mario franchise.