The Great American... Video Game
Hey.
Hope you’re doing ok. It’s hard not to dwell on the stuff that’s going on in the world right now, but it’s become apparent we may be in for a bumpy ride, so buckle up! If trends continue and we start having a bit more social distancing, it might be a good excuse to catch up on some of the digital culture we’ve been talking about.
I do want to share this one helpful coronavirus terminology cheat sheet, though - I always like referring to things properly:
So this week I want to talk about video games a bit more. Before you tune out because you “don’t game,” hear me out. I talk to a lot of folks both in and out of the industry that have an aversion to incorporating games into their normal entertainment diet. It’s true that there have been / are some barriers to enjoying games, whether skill-based, or needing to own a special box, but we’re not in the 90s anymore! You’d be surprised as to how accessible a lot of the best gaming creations are now without needing to buy anything else and even if you have terrible hand-eye coordination.
I look at games as simply another form of entertainment expression now, grouped in with books, movies, art, theater, TV shows, etc. (Did you know the Supreme Court ruled in 2011 that video games are an art form, and thus included in the first-amendment?) Some of the best stories and experiences I’ve ever had in games are right up there with the best books I’ve read or the best movies I’ve seen.
One of those games is Kentucky Route Zero. I’m not as eloquent at Laura Hudson is, so I’m going to quote her description in Wired of one of the best modern gaming stories,
Kentucky Route Zero:
Imagine for a moment that the next Great American Novel was created in the 21st century as a point-and-click adventure game, woven out of Southern Gothic fiction, magical realism, and a techno-mystical understanding of hyperreality. Imagine it is a tragic ghost story about the American Dream where the ghost is the American Dream; the tragedy is that it keeps haunting America because it doesn’t know it’s dead.
Originally conceived in the aftermath of the devastating 2008 recession, Kentucky Route Zero is a surreal tour of economic ruin visited on the Rust Belt by the greed of the superrich. Everyone you meet in its version of rural Kentucky feels lost, liminal, and precarious.
This game had been released sporadically in episodes since 2013, and finally just wrapped up its fifth and final act this January. I’ve been playing along as each episode released every couple years or so, and it’s been a really enriching experience. The game has no score or way to “die”, but it does have a way of immersing you in this world where you can take in the story and get to know the characters on your own time.
I highly recommend you read the piece if the description interests you - the game isn’t going to be a John Wick movie, but if you’re in the mood to broaden your horizons, it’s a fantastic piece of multimedia art incorporating branching dialog, original music, theater production, and more.
And the best part? It’ll play on pretty much whatever computer you have right now. I played all of the game on the laptop I’ve had since 2012. No game console needed. (though if you do have one, you can now play it on one of those!)
A puzzle game to cure coronavirus:
In a recent update, Foldit added a new puzzle for players to solve: coronavirus, and researchers want players to design an antiviral protein to block the coronavirus spike protein from interacting with human cells. "Coronaviruses display a 'spike' protein on their surface, which binds tightly to a receptor protein found on the surface of human cells," explains the puzzle brief. "Once the coronavirus spike binds to the human receptor, the virus can infect the human cell and replicate. In recent weeks, researchers have determined the structure of the 2019 coronavirus spike protein and how it binds to human receptors. If we can design a protein that binds to this coronavirus spike protein, it could be used to block the interaction with human cells and halt infection!"
Speaking of non-traditional video games, how about one that’s design to act as a puzzle that will be used to actually find ways of curing the novel coronavirus?
Herman Miller Designs Gaming Furniture
From the Eameses’ iconic designs to the groundbreaking Aeron Chair, we’ve spent more than 100 years perfecting the science of sitting. Now we’re bringing years of innovation, research, and scientific discoveries to the world of gaming.
Bet you didn’t see this coming! Gaming is a huge way to insert all sorts of products to an increasingly important (and younger) audience.
Our Favorite New Song - Soccer Mommy - Circle The Drain
Soccer Mommy is the nom de plume of Sophie Allison, a singer-songwriter from Nashville. I got into this record hard last week - it’s got a decidedly mellow, lo-fi vibe that’s perfect for late night meditations or long stretches of contemplative driving. Her new album is called Color Theory and has a real heavy concept.
It’s split into three sections, each dealing with a different malady and matched with their own colors: blue for depression and heartbreak; yellow for paranoia, anxiety, and sickness; and gray for death and loss.
That may sound a bit much to take in, but Sophie’s pixie-like vocals combined with her skill at writing a pop song (inspired by Taylor Swift no less!) create a mix that’s pleasant to listen to, but with all of the feels.
circle the drain is an amazing song, give it a listen.