Can we learn from Destiny and patch “free speech?”
We patch games to balance the environment and prevent cheaters from exploiting the system. Why do some people seem so resistant to patching our real-world systems?
Happy Fourth of July, Intelligamers.
This Fourth of July provides a chance to appreciate friends, family, and good memories for a moment, even with the current political climate.
Destiny is less “Become Legend” and more “Make Myths”
With Destiny 2 on the way, FreezeRay Poetry Editor Mikkel Snyder thinks back on his time with Destiny 1. Starting off as a hobby, the game’s allowed him to make his own myths, along with some of his closest friends.
Discussing “The Cat in the Hijab” after the Portland MAX stabbings.
Games can give us lenses to better understand the world through. Sometimes reality steps in to show us just how blurry those lenses are.
Playing at your own arcade: a story of Expedition Ataahk
Owning an arcade cabinet was the stuff of legend for many kids growing up in the ’80s and ’90s. Many of those dreams faded with the decreased popularity of arcades around the country. Now, with more accessible game creation tools, some creators’ thoughts turn to making arcade cabinets again.
Portland’s BetaCon is a good beta, but could learn from XOXO and Nerd Camp.
This past weekend was the premiere of Portland’s BetaCon Game Expo, a two-day convention showcasing new and upcoming titles alongside tournaments, speakers and panels. I enjoyed the show, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was missing something I’d seen at other conventions in Portland: attention to what was...
Making Overwatch with No Computer: An Experience in Game Design
Our instructor set the tone quickly: we’d only have a couple hours to create our working prototype game. During this workshop, my team and I received a challenge: recreate the massively-popular, team-based, first-person shooter Overwatch with just writing utensils, paper, notecards, and two dice. The motto the instructor gave us:...
It’s dangerous to go alone: Party up.
Playing team-centric games creates communities for players both inside and out of the game, communities that could come together to make a difference in the real world too.
When life asks, “Will you continue?”
“Will you continue?” Every time I read these words in practically any context, I think of the booming announcer’s voice from Super Smash Brothers. Playing as one of Nintendo’s many staple characters, the single-player campaign pits you against multiple stages of foes, each one with increasing difficulty. Lose all your...
We Become What We Behold in Media, Social or Otherwise
I’ve been thinking about the effects of media on our lives, and We Become What We Behold makes me think about responsibilities as both a content creator and consumer.