December 30, 2009 Eric Swain Game Issues, Recent Posts

State of the Blog ’09

A year and a fortnight ago I started this site from the idea that I wanted to critique games, as one would do to a book or movie, looking at what they mean. It is hard to believe that it has been a full year. In that time, I've learned about the larger spheres of critical communities: the brainysphere, the iris network, the border house and their overlaps. I like to think I've made some friends in that time and haven't totally ticked anyone off with my constant need to argue and debate. | more

September 15, 2009 Eric Swain Game Issues, Recent Posts

Where are all the War Games?

I've been playing Battlefield 1943 a lot lately. It's the first shooter in a long time that I've played. I am usually a single player game kind of guy and usually shun multiplayer modes, unless the person is sitting right next to me. But I tried out the demo and I was hooked in the free half hour it gave me and immediately bought the unlocked game. Playing it lead me to a realization. | more

September 14, 2009 Eric Swain Game Issues, Recent Posts

Gaming Made Me

Gaming Made Me started with the crew over at RocksPaperShotgun and the various designers they asked, and then others in the middle circle has taken up the question of which video games have made them who they are. Michael McBride talked about how discussing such information will have your audience better understand who you are and where you're coming from when they read your analysis. I'm willing to one step further and say it's an excellent method of self-examination so you can understand yourself better, see any bias' you might have and writer better critique in the long run. I figured it was my turn after last post self-searching nature plus it felt like a good exercise So here we go. | more

August 28, 2009 Eric Swain Game Issues, Recent Posts

What Do I Do Here?

Usually I take the criticism silently and appreciatively and I still do, but after more than seven months I'm still getting the same comment. "I can't wait to see where your going with your blog." It is a little annoying that after all this time my blog still feels schizophrenic enough that I haven't fallen into any sort of groove yet. I felt that I had to spend some time examining my thoughts and my opinions of critiquing in a way I have never done so before and probably should have done in the first place. I sat down and thought about what exactly where I want to go with this site. | more

April 7, 2009 Eric Swain External Sources, Recent Posts

Video Game Hall of Fame and Signs of Better Things

Yesterday over at Kotaku they had an article discussing the idea of a Video Game hall of fame. Where would this museum be? Ottumwa Iowa. Now before you go, 'what the hell is Ottumwa?' it does have some semblance of legitimacy for the honor. That city is known as the Video Game Capital of the World. The title of course is self induced, but the reason for it is back in the 1980s Ottumwa held an enormous gathering of the best arcade gamers in the world, including Billy Mitchel. | more

April 6, 2009 Eric Swain Game Issues, Recent Posts

A General Message to the Guy who Robbed Me

I try to be civil. I try to be nice and understanding to everyone. In other words it takes a lot to piss me off. Thank you to the asshole that broke into my room and stole my PlayStation 3. Thank you for making me have to take time out of my already packed and less than bright day to file a report and remove all credit information from my account. Thank you for changing my view of the world and making me feel no longer safe in my own room. | more

February 13, 2009 Eric Swain Game Issues, Recent Posts

The Generations, Ages and Eras of Video Games

A few weeks ago I talked about games in their console generational context and received the internet equivalent of blank stares. After a little clarification I mentioned I had a post idea to define the generations and explain my own unique ways of dividing the history of video games. Someone said they liked the idea and so here we are. For anyone to really understand the evolving state of an art form or medium must understand where it came from. | more