LATEST FROM THE SHELF
- What Makes a Game Too Hard? A Case Study in Difficulty
The debate over game difficulty isn’t going anywhere. From sliders and invisible tuning to “git gud” purity and summons, here’s a grounded look at what different designs get right—and wrong—and why the best answer might simply be: let people play how they want.
REVIEWS
Honest, spoiler-light breakdowns of what I’m playing — and whether it’s worth your time.
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What Makes a Game Too Hard? A Case Study in Difficulty
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How Long Is Too Long? Video Game Length and the Aging Gamer
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How to Save Sports Games
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Cities: Skylines — Zoning Laws and Existential Dread
CHILLERS
Songs that stick with you — the ones that hit at just the right moment.
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Call it Dreamin’ – Iron & Wine
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You’ve Got a Friend – James Taylor
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Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
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It Ain’t Me – Emily Zeck
RETROSPECTIVES
Looking back at the games that shaped us — and seeing how they hold up today.
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Pokemon Snap (N64) – Nintendo’s Weird Success
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Binding of Isaac (PS4) – Crying in the Basement
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Punch-Out!! (NES) – Little Mac, Big Memories and Bigger Asterisks
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Experiencing Resident Evil Without Nostalgia
CHILLERS – COVER UP
Originals vs covers — side by side, to see which one really hits harder.
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Hurt – Nine Inch Nails vs. Johnny Cash
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If We Were Vampires — Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit vs. Noah Kahan & Wesley Schultz
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The Man Who Sold the World — David Bowie vs. Nirvana
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Hallelujah — Leonard Cohen vs. Jeff Buckley
LYRICS OF LABOR
Songs with something to say — stories of work, struggle, and everything in between.
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The Wreck of the Old 97 – Johnny Cash
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Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford
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1913 Massacre – Woody Guthrie
NO SKIPS (COMING SOON)
Albums you don’t skip—just press play and let it ride.
RACE TO GIT GUD
A journey through FromSoftware worlds — one death, one lesson, one small victory at a time.
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Lost Kingdoms (Day 5) – Master of Puppets
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Lost Kingdoms (Day 4) – Castle Doctrine
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Lost Kingdoms (Part 3) – Sewer Sludge and Snowy Peaks
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Lost Kingdoms (Part 2) – Giant Bees and Graveyards
LOVE LETTERS
Long-form gush sessions about the games and stories I can’t stop thinking about.
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A Love Letter to The Pitt
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A Love Letter to Civilization VI
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A Love Letter to FromSoftware
FOLLOW ALONG
What’s On The Shelf | Games, Music & Culture 