On Video Games

What's Wrong with Writing on Games

James Margaris
Jun 1
Case studies in misguided Mixtape criticism

Comment Thread

Jurnee
Jun 1
It feels almost radical to say but I enjoyed Mixtape. Apparently I'm "a certain type of guy" despite being a woman... and Black... who grew up in the 80s and 90s... on the opposite side of the country... was pretty poor... and raised almost exclusively on hip hop, soul, and R&B... I say all that to say that I had nothing in common with the characters in the game. However I realize that nostalgia for thee does not have to look like nostalgia for me in order for me to enjoy it...

TL:DR -- this was a great read with great insights. I hope others take away the message so that think pieces can truly lead us to thinking more deeply.

James Margaris
Jun 1
Thanks for your thoughtful comment!

degonyte
Jun 1
This was such an interesting read! And I do mean interesting in its actual sense, not the 'I want to be nice about not liking it' way that native speakers apparently use it...

James Margaris
Jun 1
If you read the whole thing you definitely earned a right of reply!

The Third Beat
Jun 10
The issues you describe are characteristic of internet writing period...

Katya Ryabova
Jun 2
Man, I'd hate to be on the receiving end of one of your essays, but it would surely make me a better writer.

Jake Steinberg
Jun 2
Heads up! I would refrain from using triple parenthesis in the way you deploy it here. It is prevalently used as a hate symbol online.

James Margaris
Jun 2
That is exactly why I used it...

Internet Boy
Jun 1
I liked a lot of this essay, but I really do take issue with "this thing that ostensibly takes place in 199x has no obligation to deliver anything actual from that era"...

James Margaris
Jun 1
Completely reasonable to think that the game would be better and more interesting had it tried to do an accurate portrayal of the 90s.

A.S.St.
Jun 2
I could read more game writing criticism from you.