Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 14: Maps—Salvation or Sin?
Listen in on a discussion of how maps can interfere with—or improve—the storytelling of your favorite video games.
All Articles
Game as Mind: A Psychoanalytic Explanation of Returnal
What's the difference between a psychological story and a story about psychology?
Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 11: EarthBound’s Flavor Text
Enjoy a conversation with Max Gorynski about the latest in his Comprehensive Theory of EarthBound, plus meditations on Nintendo hardware, collectibles, and narrative metagames.
A Comprehensive Theory of EarthBound
Why EarthBound’s Flavor Text Tastes So Good
The flavor text of EarthBound tells a story you may have missed.
Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 9: Returnal
A round-table, time-cycle podcast discussion of the new flagship PS5 title, Returnal.
Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 8: Playing the Pandemic
An exploration of pandemic-oriented video-game storytelling with guest Arno Görgen, plus a discussion of E3 highlights.
Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 7: Too Long to Beat
Discussion of Aaron Suduiko's "Final Fantasy VII Remake is the Template for 'Grown-Up' JRPGs," plus Resident Evil and mute buttons.
All Articles
Final Fantasy VII Remake is the Template for “Grown-Up” JRPGs
Final Fantasy VII Remake's storytelling makes JRPGs more accessible to adults—along with a new postgame model, "The Chadley Interpretation."
Kingdom Hearts
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 3: Kingdom Hearts
We interview Anh-Thu Nguyen on Kingdom Hearts as a digital Disneyland and discuss Dan Hughes' latest article on the nature of Xemnas in KH2.
All Articles
Understanding Xemnas in Kingdom Hearts II
Analyzing one of Xemnas' most puzzling lines in Kingdom Hearts II opens the path to understanding his character and the nature of Nobodies.