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Before the Law and Before Gaming: Kafka, Players, and Avatars
Kafka's "Before the Law" offers a new lens for meditating on the relationships between avatars, bosses, developers, and players in gaming.
Podcast
Director’s Commentary: How Elden Ring Turns Its Player into an Outer God
Listen to an extended discussion about Aaron Suduiko's analysis of the player's role as an Outer God in Elden Ring.
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How Elden Ring Turns Its Player into an Outer God
The Outer Gods of Elden Ring aren't just extra lore: they're also the cipher to understanding the player's place in the Lands Between.
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Scarlet Nexus: The Pathos of Karen Travers
In Karen Travers, Scarlet Nexus tells the tragic story of how a character can become a villain by being cut off from the player's agency.
Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 5: Duties to the Self and Avatars
Join us for a conversation with Daniel Muñoz and our founder on the intersection of self-directed ethics and gamers' duties to avatars.
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The Missing Soulmate in Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Ni No Kuni quietly tricks its adult player into curing both herself and the White Witch of cynicism.
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The Horror of Code Vein is You
The hidden achievement of Code Vein's fusion of Dark Souls with JRPGs is that it quietly turned you, its player, into a monster.
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How Fictional Stories Become True: Where the Water Tastes Like Wine
A puzzle about how much of Where the Water Taste Like Wine is true reveals an unexpected lesson about the value of folk tales.
A Comprehensive Theory of EarthBound
The Drawing Board: What is a “Comprehensive Theory” of a Video Game?
On our latest podcast episode, we chat with two of our team members who are developing "comprehensive theories" of landmark video games.
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How Fire Emblem: Awakening’s Mechanics Resolve Its Biggest Plot Hole
Some of the most heavily criticized elements of Fire Emblem: Awakening contribute to its narrative in surprising ways.