With so much "top of the food chain" justification for humanity's many environmental exploits, it's impressive that we experience feelings of insignificance. But we do. These momentary lapses in bravado are testament to the strange ways of the human brain. Our ability to recognize our insignificance is matched by our ability to rationalize our significance. That’s a legitimate Catch-22 for you.
My cat is gray. But she was born black. An objective fact that you didn't care about has become a fact you do care about. That's how good narrative works.
What Remains of Edith Finch shows us that narrative can define and manipulate simultaneously, that story isn’t a matter of fact but rather a matter of understanding. And while facts may help us understand, facts alone are weak. Their power comes from how they are presented. This is why we have lawyers, afterall. This is why we have news anchors. This is why we have documentaries. Facts alone are weak. Facts change nothing. Facts need narrative.
Yes, yes, it’s Fallout in Space. But just how much Fallout is it, and does it contain the parts of Fallout that made Fallout Fallout?
Humans use story to justify their actions. Without justification other humans cannot anticipate action and therefore cannot form coherent societies and strong bonds within those societies. What Remains of Edith Finch narrows this concept all the way down to the family unit. This game explores how narrative can be used with good intent to form such bonds, but also how narrative can fracture trust by challenging facts.
I love a side-scrolling platformer video game. I love the first Yooka-Laylee game. I love Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair...or, at least all but the last 10 minutes I played of it.
[powerpress] I like trivia...well, correction, I like knowing answers to trivia questions. Anyone who likes trivia but hates knowing the answers is a straight-up idiot. But that's not what this post is about. This post is about a cool think that I thought would be cool and in fact turned out to be cool. I asked Trav over at the Polykill Podcast and @TravPlaysGames to join me in a podcast pilot episode of sorts. It's a podcast about trivia (see, that who intro about trivia does make sense). The premise is simple: it's a triva game show about video games mixed with a bit of improve goodness. If you enjoy it and would like more, validate us! Let us know at: