Off Duty Peach

What if Princess Peach just went on to live her own life? What if, after all the drama of escaping the baddies and pressure of saving the kingdom and all that, she got to put her feet up and drink a peach mojito (or espresso martini) or whatever? I suppose it wouldn’t make a very […]

Alternate Universe Self

Do you ever wonder what the alternate universe version of yourself is up to? In an alternate universe, where you made slightly different decisions — or others did — that changed your trajectory only slightly, or altered the course of your life in more major ways… where you’d be now, what you’d be doing, who […]

COMIC: That Magical Extra Hour

It’s been a week since Daylight Savings and I’m no closer to being well-rested. I am a little closer to saving the world though. How did you spend your magical extra hour last week?

Here There Be Dinosaurs

I have found a surprising new addiction. Surprising probably to me alone – as I know a lot of people addicted to it – because I didn’t think I’d ever be susceptible to something as silly as this.

To Be Male Or To Be Female, That Is The Question

If you could start over, start from the very beginning, recreate yourself in entirety, which would you choose: male or female? Part of what I love so much about video games, RPGs in particular, is the opportunity to take on a new persona. Become someone new. Someone different. Someone bolder, braver, more heroic… or less […]

GTA V: When Almost Perfect Isn’t Good Enough

The Grand Theft Auto franchise is no stranger to controversy. So when the fifth installment came out a couple of weeks ago, it was almost daring the public to come up with something new to trump the tired, old criticisms with an innovative line of attack. The “public” did not disappoint, but it wasn’t what […]

Is “Nerd Girl” An Oxymoron?

It has recently come to my attention that my status as a nerd may be in question. Apparently, according to some of my fellow humans, my inherent female-ness exempts me from certifiable nerddom. Where were these authority figures while I was withering away in nerdy, socially-awkward seventh-grade misery? Where were they in high school while I was desperately […]

“The Noble Hero Complex” Discussion Highlights: How You Play

Many thanks to everyone who read and commented on my Freshly Pressed post “You Are What You Play… Or Are You? – Experimenting With Morality In Video Games.” You all shared a lot of honest and interesting perspectives on morality in games and the “Noble Hero Complex,” and I greatly enjoyed hearing from so many thoughtful […]

You Are What You Play… Or Are You? – Experimenting With Morality In Video Games

The lock clicks open and the door opens softly. I withdraw my lock pick and slide inside undetected, one with the shadows. He’s in here somewhere. It’s past midnight and he should be sleeping. There are no voices, no movements save my own muffled footsteps. I remind myself not to get distracted by the chest […]

Why I’m Not Supposed To Like Video Games

There is no shortage of people in this world with opinions about what you should be, or do, or like, or believe. Or, almost more prevalent, what you shouldn’t. They may not always say it explicitly, but it’s pretty easy to get the hint. I, for example, shouldn’t like video games. Why not? Well, because […]