Category Archives: games

A Playable Idea: The Critical Gamer Initiative

by admin Posted on February 1, 2010

It has become completely impossible to ignore the massive social, economic, and cultural implications of video games. It is an industry that has outsold cinema and publishing for years. Its myths and characters have escaped consoles and computers for popular … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, culture studies, free culture, games, ideas, Internet, lifestyle | Tagged 2010, gamer theory, video games | 3 Comments

In Praise of the Goal

by admin Posted on January 15, 2010

At a recent Philadelphia Flyers game, in which I saw no less then eight goals (and no more than four fights) I came to the conclusion that not all sports are created equal. In some, scoring is something routine and … Continue reading →

Posted in boston, Culture, culture studies, games, hockey, Sports | Tagged hockey, nhl, soccer | 1 Comment

Is Myst a Mythology of the Hyperlink?

by admin Posted on January 11, 2010

In 1993, Cyan published a game called Myst marooning the nascent gaming world onto a mysterious island whose parts interacted like some sinister engine waiting to re-stoked after countless years un-used. The cover featured a perspectival overview of the island, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, culture studies, games, media, semiotics, Uncategorized | Tagged myst, video games | 2 Comments

assassin’s creed for ds: adventure as a medieval flea circus

by admin Posted on August 25, 2009

my dream of assassin’s creed when my a good friend of mine first got assassin’s creed, i was enchanted by its premise. as a serious lover of medieval history, particularly the crusades, the concept of gaming a 12th century jerusalem … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, culture studies, games, lifestyle, semiotics | Tagged assassin's creed, criticism, dsi, nintendo, violence | Leave a comment

the tastemaker’s broadcast #1

by admin Posted on August 18, 2009

the five coolest things from last week this is rundown of the coolest things i came across last week. it includes a remix, a video game, two trailers, and an essay. i am going to try to do this more … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, film, games, Internet, music, remix, tastemakers, techno | Tagged Culture, film, tastemakers | Leave a comment

when games play you: professor layton & the curious village

by admin Posted on August 18, 2009

when i decided to buy a nintendo dsi (see previous post for a re-cap of my logic) i knew i needed a killer app, to make me feel that the purchase was justified. thoroughly, conscientiously, i researched the available games, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, culture studies, games, providence | Tagged dsi, review, video games | 2 Comments

Game/Theory Decisions: Why I am getting a Nintendo DSi

by admin Posted on July 14, 2009

i’ve been missing my gaming fix lately. this time last year, i was rock band-ing daily a la berkman center, and even exercising my gamer theory with monthly mit-harvard game design meetings hosted by the ever brilliant gene koo. anyway, … Continue reading →

Posted in culture studies, games, lifestyle, technology, travel | Tagged berkman, dsi, nintendo | 1 Comment

monty phython as gatorade commercial

by admin Posted on February 5, 2009

this is the most insane advertising campaign i’ve ever seen: kevin garnett cast as a king arthur, wearing an abstracted celtics jersey, and “questing” for gatorade. but in order to find this “holy g” he must face kareem abdul jabbar … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, culture studies, funny, games, Internet, semiotics | Tagged advertising, funny, kevin garnett, monty phyton | 1 Comment

the gamer-scholar: mckenzie wark @ brown

by admin Posted on November 24, 2008

mckenzie wark was at brown this morning, talking about his recent gamer theory project. for those who haven’t read it, gamer theory is a rather indirect assessment of what we might call the gamic experience. i mean this in the … Continue reading →

Posted in brown university, Culture, culture studies, games, new york, providence, rhode island, semiotics, technology | Tagged gamer theory, games, video games | Leave a comment