Category Archives: Editorial

Brett Williams, Editorial, Feature, Video Games

Recent masterpieces debunk open-world fatigue

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It is safe to say that open-worlds have become this generation’s defining gameplay feature. Immersive worlds, diverging paths, exploration; these buzzwords and phrases characterize a large portion of the AAA gaming space. Games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Grand Theft Auto 3 paved the way for The Witcher 3 and Metal Gear Solid V to capture the time and imaginations of the gaming community. The success of these titles has caused the feature to percolate into the rest of the industry, leading to a landscape dotted with sprawling worlds and open air.

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Brett Williams, Editorial, Feature, Nintendo, Video Games

Does Nintendo Switch seem rushed? Blame Breath of the Wild

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Impressions of the Nintendo Switch are flooding the internet. While the hardware itself has garnered positive reviews, the thought that it is launching bereft of features has become pervasive. Entertainment apps, a web browser, a robust online experience and a strong launch lineup are but a few of the items missing from the Switch’s March 3rd menu. Kotaku reporter Jason Schreier summed up these feelings in a recent tweet, saying “Switch right now in a word: undercooked.” Many devout followers of the industry are wondering why Nintendo would release a seemingly unfinished console for what amounts to an early-adopter beta test. With the system’s heavy hitters not landing until later this year along with the full version of a new online system, why didn’t Nintendo wait until November and launch with a stacked lineup and a full sampling of features? The answer to this question is simple; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

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Brett Williams, Editorial, Feature, Nintendo, Video Games

Inside the mind of a Switch early adopter

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The Nintendo Switch is less than two weeks away from launch, and the flexible new machine has been a divisive topic of discussion that has dominated the community. While many, myself included, are incredibly excited for March 3rd, there is a massive contingent of gamers that do not agree, and are not afraid to share their opinions. In fact, given what we know, or rather, what we do not, many could not possibly understand why anyone would be excited about the Switch. The future early-adopters and I have been called morons, fanboys, Nintendorks, Nintentards and a number of other clever names and Nintendo puns. Despite these assaults on our intelligence, there is a passionate community who couldn’t be more thrilled for the console.

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Brett Williams, Editorial, Feature, Video Games

Like them or not, Season Passes are here to stay

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Season passes are the black sheep of the gaming community. They deviously pry into our collective wallets in search of our precious cash, often in exchange for content we don’t fully understand. This earns them a spot atop our hit lists, and whenever a new pass is announced we grab our torches and pitchforks and set out to pillage the internet with angry comments across the datascape. The only thing that rivals the ire that season passes draw is, arguably, Nintendo. And luckily for us, these two juggernauts of vitriol crossed paths when Nintendo announced a season pass for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

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Brett Williams, Editorial, Feature, Nintendo, PlayStation, Video Games, Xbox

Unpacking our iterative future

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The gaming industry is simultaneously enabled and limited by what is under the hood of our favorite game machines. Consoles are essentially mass-produced computers designed with gaming in mind and they set a benchmark by which developers can exert their programming panache. However, just as new hardware allows the proverbial stretching of legs, aging hardware transforms that freedom into confines by which ever-growing ambition is stymied. This ongoing dilemma in gaming has perplexed console-makers since home consoles became a standard in 1985, but the recent strategy employed to combat rapidly advancing technology has been iterative hardware.

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Editorial, Harry Loizides, Video Games

Hands-On Impressions of Snipperclips for Switch

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As one of a select few Nintendo fans who were able to get hands-on time with the Nintendo Switch, I knew that I wanted to try the big three: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2. Once I demoed those, I began exploring the lesser known titles. To my absolute delight, Snipperclips – Cut It Out, Together! quickly turned this not-so-known title into a top-tier demo experience.

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Brett Williams, Editorial, Feature, Video Games

Lack of competitive fire is slowly killing Nintendo

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Nintendo’s Switch presentation on Thursday was truly baffling. The missteps of the event have dominated the conversation that followed, but there was a lot to be excited about if you are interested in the Switch. Nintendo gave a glimpse into its first-party lineup, detailed the interesting features of the console and blew us away with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. However, despite my status as an enduring Nintendo fan who is sold on the Switch, I was left with an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach.

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