Month: July 2015

Eric Swain External Sources

Exploring the Nature of the Self in ‘The Swapper’

This week we discussed The Swapper, a game I put off playing for far too long. Upon relistening to our discussion, I was glad we did connect much of it back to the game as possible. I remember our discussion of the philosophy of the self and epistemology taking up the majority of the discussion. Which is fine, because if a game can engender such a discussion that’s a mark in its favor. It’s also games like The Swapper that show having a wider reference point is not just a plus, but a necessity. | more

Eric Swain External Sources

One More Episode: A Second Look at ‘The Detail’

I said I’d take a look at the second episode of the The Detail on the last Moving Pixels Podcast and that’s just what I did. I had hoped it would get through some growing pains and get better especially since it clearly wants to be more than a mere pulp escapade. The set up is similar to The Wire, in getting a special detail unit together to handle big cases, but certain details are calling to it. Plus, the ending stats where it shows the percentages of players who made certain choices it adds in a fact about the real social issue that choice connects with. | more

Eric Swain External Sources

Gaming in the Analog World

And I’m finally back to writing my column at PopMatters. I’ve been out of the game as it were these last few weeks. I was wiled away by the prospect of getting back into playing Magic. I’ve been lamenting leaving the game for a while now and wishing I could get back into it. With money being a major factor as to why I left the game, it was also difficult to jump back in. Over time one loses contact with the game and makes it even harder to muster up the drive to come back. | more

Eric Swain External Sources

The Moving Pixels Podcast Focuses on ‘The Detail’

We look at another episodic adventure game, The Detail. Though, instead of going episode by episode, we just dip out toes into the first one. I like what The Detail was doing in its functional form aspects to some degree, but too much of it feel route. It’s not helped that it keeps bringing to mind better examples of it is trying to do with gang and drug violence against a crack team dealing with it. The Wire on the realistic end and Batman on the more bombastic side. | more