# On Video Games

Video game analysis and criticism from a game developer

By James Margaris

## What's Wrong with Writing on Games

Case studies in misguided Mixtape criticism

### Recent posts

[How (Not) To Handle Player Feedback](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/how-not-to-handle-player-feedback)

[Cataloging common pitfalls of alpha and beta tests, featuring Marathon, Artifact and... Master of Orion 2](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/how-not-to-handle-player-feedback)

May 5 • [James Margaris](https://substack.com/@jmargaris)

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[On The Value of Fresh Eyes](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/on-the-value-of-fresh-eyes)

[Evaluating works-in-progress, featuring dozens of pages on Poly Fighter](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/on-the-value-of-fresh-eyes)

Feb 19 • [James Margaris](https://substack.com/@jmargaris)

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[Monster Hunter Wilds was a Huge Miss and Other 2025 Thoughts](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/monster-hunter-wilds-was-a-huge-miss)

[Rough times for AAA games and games media, a breakout year for indie, Youtube is warping player feedback, and The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy as…](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/monster-hunter-wilds-was-a-huge-miss)

Dec 18, 2025 • [James Margaris](https://substack.com/@jmargaris)

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[On the Strengths and (Many) Weaknesses of "Fulfilling the Player Fantasy"](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/on-the-strengths-and-many-weaknesses)

[I like to push back.](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/on-the-strengths-and-many-weaknesses)

Nov 17, 2025 • [James Margaris](https://substack.com/@jmargaris)

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[2XKO's Control Scheme is Not It](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/2xkos-control-scheme-is-not-it)

[And other concerns about 2XKO's reception](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/2xkos-control-scheme-is-not-it)

Sep 16, 2025 • [James Margaris](https://substack.com/@jmargaris)

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[What I Learned From Expedition 33](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/what-i-learned-from-expedition-33)

[More exactly: what I learned from being wrong about Expedition 33](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/what-i-learned-from-expedition-33)

Aug 5, 2025 • [James Margaris](https://substack.com/@jmargaris)

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[What We Can - But Mostly Can't - Learn from The Success of Expedition 33](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/what-we-can-but-mostly-cant-learn)

[Part One of a Two-Part Special Event](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/what-we-can-but-mostly-cant-learn)

Jul 9, 2025 • [James Margaris](https://substack.com/@jmargaris)

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[We're Struggling to Make Games](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/were-struggling-to-make-games)

[Western Game Developers Are Overmatched (don't kill the messenger)](https://jmargaris.substack.com/p/were-struggling-to-make-games)

May 14, 2025 • [James Margaris](https://substack.com/@jmargaris)

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