AMKE 2024 Review – Our First “Sweet 16”
Games, Manga, & Cosplays – Oh My! Anime Milwaukee 2024 was a blast! This year, living up to the “Sweet 16” theme for its triumphant return as an in-person event, it definitely delivered. For Steve and Sam, it was our first time ever at AMKE. We were thereContinue reading...
Atelier Ryza: An Enjoyable, Unfinished JRPG Love Story
Why my first cherished JRPG series will remained incomplete AND deeply loved. The Atelier Ryza series captured my heart with its charming characters and idyllic summer adventures. Fresh off the (admittedly bumpy) experience with Atelier Lydie & Suelle, Ryza’s story felt like a breath of fresh air. Ryza,Continue reading...
Paired Review: Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a fantastic co-op game that’s perfect for blasting through space with your partner. Want to see how much fun we had playing it? Watch our gameplay here! Developed by Asteroid Base, we originally played this game for two hours before Sam decidedContinue reading...
Sayonara Wild Hearts: A Pop Anthem You Won’t Forget (But Most Game Awards Did)
Sayonara Wild Hearts is a testament to the power of collaboration between various artistic disciplines within the video game industry. It is a non-zero amount of time that I spend per week thinking about the 2019 video game Sayonara Wild Hearts. It’s a pulsating neon symphony, a blendContinue reading...
Paired Review: Strikey Sisters
If you’re looking for a fresh co-op experience, Strikey Sisters might just hit the spot. We are a fan of games with a co-op experience. We have cried over It Takes Two and spent more hours than we’d like to mention in various MMO worlds and shooter games.Continue reading...
Steve’s History of Handhelds
Off the heels of Sam’s post about handheld gaming, I thought I would chronicle my history of handhelds and why I think they are also great. I have always been more of PC gamer than a console gamer, but handhelds have mostly been a different category since youContinue reading...
Burbols in the Year 2023
Above: Nintendo Live 2023 at PAX in Seattle, WI Left: Our Christmas hotel stay at the luxurious Inn at SentryWorld. Something Sam and Steve have started doing together during the month of December (one of our advent calendar dailies, if you will) is to each write emails ofContinue reading...
Video Games for English Reading Skills
Reading can seem like a skill for some that feels elusive and/or challenging. Is this you? During my career as an English Second Language educator, I racked up a small list of the games I occasionally used to spark an interest in reading – at any age! AndContinue reading...
What Remains of Our Stories Through the “Finch Curse” Lens
The Video Game What Remains of Edith Finch is a Deeply Impactful & Emotional Experience – So Nice, I Played It Twice! What Remains of Edith Finch is a 2017 adventure game developed by Giant Sparrow and published by Annapurna Interactive. The game is a collection of shortContinue reading...
Gaming for a Grateful Mind
If you like video games and struggle with the Big Sad Boss fight of daily life sometimes, read on for my suggestions of games with written reflection practices. Video Games Can Provide an Intentional Space for Creative Expression Historically, humans have used expressive writing to document and persuadeContinue reading...