Still Running (Vol. 1): Speedrun Studies in 2022A little under three years have passed since I published my speedrunning literature review “The Emergence of Speedrun Studies (2006–2021)”Apr 16Apr 16
On DesynchronizationThe function of an arcade attract mode is simultaneously pedagogic and economic, operating as both pseudo-tutorial and…May 13, 2024May 13, 2024
Star Fox 64 and Cinematic-nessIn 2014 Chris Priestman asked “What does it mean when we call games cinematic?” A decade later I’m not sure we’re much closer to any…Feb 19, 2024Feb 19, 2024
The Lost Level: Retro-Terminology in Early Arcade GamesThe formal structure of segmentation exists across media objects. Books have chapters, films have scenes and videogames have levels…Jan 22, 2024Jan 22, 2024
An Ode to Gliding in GamesEverybody hates fall damage in games, so much so that in Super Mario Odyssey the developers removed it entirely…Apr 14, 2023Apr 14, 2023
The Existential Terror of 2000’s Game Maker GamesThe year is 2007. For eight years Dutch computer scientist Mark Overmars has been working on the entry-level game development toolset…Mar 21, 2023Mar 21, 2023
Courting the Player in Super Mario 64Princess Peach’s Castle is an anchor without a ship. It has appeared in myriad Mario games since Super Mario 64, yet its architecture and…Feb 18, 2023Feb 18, 2023
