News, Reviews, Other Stuff Probably

[Video version here -  bit.ly/35QPsg4 ] [Note - This article is pretty much just a paste of the video script. I've changed some parts here and there so they actually make sense to read, though of course, some parts will translate better with visual accompaniment.] An NYPD detective faces the combined fury of Norse inspired drug peddlers and the schizophrenic manifestations of his own mind, in the search for the truth behind the death of his family. A successful author, looking for his missing wife, is attacked by his own creations, forewarned by the pages of the novel he can’t remember writing. The brother of a revolutionary scientist is granted time-controlling powers by an experiment gone wrong, and faces the wrath of a corporation hellbent on stopping the end of time itself. And, the director of a confidential government agency works to contain the otherworldly threats within an ever-shifting trans-dimensional building, using supernatural powers, aided by the ghost of the former...

This is my final project work from last year, a games journalism site made with a couple good mates - think there's some pretty good stuff in here.  Forty articles in all - includes interviews with indie developers, general news pieces and features, and a couple podcasts.  My articles - https://mmj.tees.ac.uk/~mmj19/indexcd64.html?author=1

[This article was originally created in July 2018 for the rather short-lived website Envision Gaming, which I wrote a few pieces for, before it sort of imploded. The interview was carried out via e-mail.] Antoine Boutin has made a career out of creating art for games, ads, and film. He’s currently working for One Pixel Brush, a company that outsources their hires to AAA and indie devs in order to create concept art, a crucial part of any game’s production. Among Antoine’s portfolio is art for Detroit: Become Human, Quantic Dream’s latest narrative epic. I got in touch with Antoine and he shed some light on his work, his inspirations, and his process. Street Life ( Detroit: Become Human) | Antoine Boutin/Quantic Dream Hi, Antoine! First of all, can you introduce yourself? What do you do, what studios have you worked for, what kind of work do you produce for them? Hi! I am Antoine Boutin, I am 30 years old, and have been a concept artist for almost 6 years now. I’ve worked at...

[The video version of this article can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/2oyxw6t] [Note - This article is pretty much just a paste of the video script. I've changed some parts here and there so they actually make sense to read, though of course, some parts will translate better with visual accompaniment.] Wolfenstein, Doom, Halo - some of the legendary hallmarks of the FPS genre. Wolfenstein introduced much of the basic framework, Doom brought in much of the audience, and popularised FPS multiplayer, and Halo remains one of the most paramount FPS console successes there is. They, among others, set in stone the everlasting popularity of the genre.  Speaking of others, let’s talk about the Half-Life games. Half-Life combined first-person shooter gameplay with fun platforming, puzzles, and an engrossing narrative in a way no other game had to that point. One of the other things that sets the series apart, is that unlike Wolfenstein, Doom, and most definitely Halo, we have...

[Uni Asssignment - scroll on if you're here for games. :)] We’re all connected, for better or worse. In today’s world, broadcasting what you’re doing at this very moment to millions of people around the world is as easy as a few taps on a screen. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have brought a whole new level of openness and digital communication in our society. While this is undeniably beneficial in many ways, these platforms have also caused a new wave of social pressure. In this world of connectivity, to what degree has social media affected our mental health? Today’s social media platforms all share some of the same qualities. You can like, you can share, and you can create. You can compare yourself to others, you can worry about the reaction your innocent message might generate, and you can stress about the number of likes your profile picture might get. Perhaps these are some of the reasons “rates of anxiety and depression in young people have risen 70%...