Episode 43 – Think, Game, Love

In this episode, I interview the newly crowned Critical Distance 2016 Journalist of the Year, Heather Alexandra.

Each new interviewee seems to bring some new aspect to the video criticism form. Heather Alexandra instead of jumping straight into video essays, began with the longer form of Let’s Play, but with a critical bent. From there she continued to evolve her voice down two paths, the more structured video essay we are familiar with, and a more casual conversation format developed from the Let’s Play style. We discuss that two pronged approach as well as her freelance work, new job at Kotaku, and speculate on the future of video game commentary.

SHOW NOTES

Heather Alexandra’s YouTube Channel

Kotaku’s A Critical Look Playlist

“Let’s Crit”: Far Cry 4

“Let’s Crit”: Shadow of the Colossus

Let’s Remember Skies of Arcadia

Vanquish: Why Ya Gotta Do More Than Just Play Games

ZAM – The Witness Review

A Closer Look At “The Harvester” in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Revisiting Red Dead Redemption

MGS2 Livestream w. Zolani and Austin!

Opening Theme: ‘Close’ by The Alpha Conspiracy

Closing Theme: ‘Wishing Never’ by The Alpha Conspiracy