August 5th
byIt’s been a week of mystery and wonder, as multiple critics show us the limits of what we can really know about games -some arguing that this unknowability is in fact how games work. Along the way, we learn about some new…
July 29th
byTrauma, abuse, hell, and postmodernism are just some of the stops on this week’s journey through critical writing on games. Yet somehow, it’s a fun ride, with high-quality prose, a wide range of voices, and clear takeaways for anyone creating things in…
Braid 10th anniversary Critical Compilation
byPerhaps one of the games historically most strongly associated with the idea of talking about and critically analysing games, Braid was the subject of the first Critical Compilation here, written by Travis Megill back in 2009, as well as a panel podcast…
July 22nd
byAlthough it’s typical for AAA games to attract the majority of the in-depth writing, in the context of increasing tension around labor exploitation, more critics are considering the power dynamics of big publisher corporations and populist gamer culture. This week in videogame…
July 15
byThe weird thing about living such a digitally connected life is that all the work needed to make such a world possible is often made invisible and taken for granted. With games, the more human effort leaks into the player’s experience, the…
July 8th
byVideogames and VR are often described as “empathy machines” – and though that term was first used for cinema, the idea today is often that newer mediums are more immersive, and therefore more empathetic, than those that came before. But what does…
July 1st
byThis week is an emotional one, with many critics taking on discussions of empathy, trauma, and cruelty toward outsiders. This Week in Videogame Blogging is our rundown of the week’s most important critical writing and video on games. Empathy Three critics looked…
June 24th
byWorlds are created and destroyed within computers. Spaces are created through code and protected through play. Many videogame critics take on the role of observing and examining these new and fascinating modes of being. This Week in Videogame Blogging brings you a…
HIRING: Could you be our next Senior Curator?
byAfter an illuminating and exciting time as Senior Curator these past three years, I’m looking for someone to take over this role and keep pushing Critical Distance forward. If you’re interested in taking on the position of Senior Curator, please take a…
June 17th
byAre you so bloody bored of E3? Well, this roundup of the week’s insightful critical writing is pretty much an E-zero. No consumer hype here, just earnest, authentic examinations of games that already exist. Fanfare First, a lovely little piece about music!…