Category Archives: Video Game Essays

To hide items and make chatty NPCs or to make “hidden items” glow and one-line robot NPCs.

Ranking the 12 video games that left the biggest impression on me over nearly 30 years of owning and playing games.

Contrary to EGM’s 2002 April Fools claims, Sonic and Tails were not, in fact, in SSB Melee (but they may have almost been)

A 2000 article about choosing to design a game for Game Boy instead of Nintendo 64 made me think about games on limited hardware generally.

In order for a video game to produce positive benefits in players — be it intellectually, emotionally, or socially, it must first be engrossing.

Applying Nintendo’s idea of “lateral thinking with withered technology” to extending console life-cycles.

The aesthetic wonder of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow.

Questioning the decision to bring back a few dangerous mini games from the original Mario Party.

Stadia’s demise provides a lesson about the value of owning your media.

Good video game stories and mechanics stand strong as technology marches on.

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, is a wonderful game. A 2004 review suggests an ideal for game design.

A review of a re-release of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards led me to explore which kinds of classic video game visuals stand the test of time.