Bugs and glitches are, for better or worse, a primary component of video games nowadays. But how should we view the prevalence of bugs, and buggy games, as players and as a community as a whole?
Tag Archives: video games
On Traveling
One of the most basic elements of a game is how you get around it. But what are the ways in which movement can go wrong? In this post I’ll look at Cyberpunk 2077 to help explain some ways in which basic movement can run into major issues.
On Simplicity
Video games have become increasingly complex over the years, but to what extent does that complexity get in the way of those games being good? In this essay I’ll examine the value of trying to think about video game systems in a simpler light.
The Copying Trap
Inspiration often leads to a kind of mimicry, but this mimicry can be a trap that developers often fall into. If you’re trying to make something new, how do you go about making something that’s really different?
To Cheat or Not to Cheat?
Every now and then, the topic of cheating in a single-player game comes up, and there’s a big argument about it. But how should we understand the ethics of cheating, whether in multiplayer or single-player?
Talking about Games: Interpretation
Words: 4155 Approximate Reading Time: 30-35 minutes A relatively recent phenomenon has been that people have become more interested in theorycrafting. Broadly speaking, theorycrafting is – as the name implies – building theories to help explain a source material. This practice is in no way new. It’s been going on for thousands of years. ButContinue reading “Talking about Games: Interpretation”
Moral Choice Systems
Words: 5708 Approximate Reading Time: 35-45 minutes My own area of expertise lies in moral/ethical philosophy. Broadly speaking, this is the study of how people ought to behave or act, sometimes in particular situations, sometimes in terms of the habits or dispositions they cultivate, sometimes as general rules. It’s a complex topic, as most topicsContinue reading “Moral Choice Systems”
Abstracting Games 