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Tag: metaphysics

All Articles

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.

By Aaron Suduiko, 3 months ago October 31, 2022
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.

By Aaron Suduiko, 10 months ago April 18, 2022
All Articles

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.

By Aaron Suduiko, 10 months ago April 14, 2022
All Articles

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.

By Aaron Suduiko, 1 year ago November 8, 2021
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.

By Stefan Heinrich Simond, 2 years ago May 30, 2021
All Articles

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.

By Aaron Suduiko, 2 years ago February 4, 2021
All Articles

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.

By Aaron Suduiko, 2 years ago November 22, 2020
All Articles

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.

By Adam Bierstedt, 4 years ago October 8, 2018
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.

By Aaron Suduiko, 5 years ago April 24, 2018
All Articles

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.

By Adam Bierstedt, 5 years ago April 17, 2018

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