I just came across this website among all this Flappy Bird talk and read this brilliant article by Mattie Brice, Our Flappy Dystopia.
What role does capitalism play in what is and what is not accepted as a game by the mainstream games culture? What does it take for a title to become an indie darling? What kind of segregation is at play here?
She mentions three games as examples of atypical indie titles that push the boundaries while at the same time making people sift awkwardly in their seats: dys4ia, Problem Attic and Analogue: A Hate Story. I have only played the first one and hope that the other two are as intriguing as it. I won’t say more, you’ll have to try it for yourself – it will only take you 5 minutes.
Alternate Ending as a whole is quite a find. Brice’s criticism on games and gaming culture are coming from a different and unusual place, but one that I’d definitely like to hear more often from, however: minority sexuality and social injustice.
I played dys4ia, it was interesting, and clearly very personal, I love games that use their mechanics as an integral part of the storytelling, even if in this case sometimes I failed to make the connection.
Also, Alternate Ending looks very interesting, at least the titles of the articles are very… psarotikoi? fish…ing?
Anyway, also, Problem Attic….. I SO WISH I HAD THOUGHT OF THAT!
I played dys4ia, it was interesting, and clearly very personal, I love games that use their mechanics as an integral part of the storytelling, even if in this case sometimes I failed to make the connection.
Also, Alternate Ending looks very interesting, at least the titles of the articles are very… psarotikoi? fish…ing?
Anyway, also, Problem Attic….. I SO WISH I HAD THOUGHT OF THAT!