...about the Critical-Gaming Blog
We have come to a point where how we talk about video games is insufficient in expressing how we feel and think about them. With each year comes increasingly complex games, yet we are still, for the most part, writing and talking about games on a shallow consumer level.
It is time to start thinking and writing critically about games. However, before we can do this, we must approach gaming from a critical mode or mindset. To do this, we must first understand of how the different parts of a game work together (game design). Unfortunately, many of the people who have experience in this area spend their time making video games. Beyond this, the body of knowledge that does exist is scattered at best. For this reason, it is hard for a thorough understanding of game design and critique to become widespread.
I have started this blog in efforts to inform both gamers and non-gamers of the complexities of gaming and how it compares to any other art form (music, literature, movies). Using literary critical theory and music theory as a starting point, I have developed a comprehensive set of critical modes for video game critique. By writing in these critical modes, and by critiquing other video game reviews, I hope to raise our understanding and expectations of video game journalism, critique, and even video games themselves.
We already have a loose idea of what it means to be a core gamer. A casual gamer. And a hardcore gamer. I hope with the right mindset, we can become critical-gamers, who don't shun our fellow gamers for thinking deeply about games but embrace the change we wish to see in the world.
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....about the Critical-Gaming Network
Since November of last year, I have dedicated myself to writing content that would support the aims and goals of the blog. After countless hours and hundreds of thousands of words, I feel that I have developed a sufficient body of work that walk anyone through the process of developing a critical-eye, using an exacting language to described video games with, and learning what game design truly is. From forms, to mechanics, elements, interplay, variation, counterpoint, and finally to game ideas and overarching themes, the critical-gaming blog has it covered.
There is still more to be said and much more to be done. Application is an important part of learning, and we are fortunate to be on the verge of a gaming age rich with games that not only feature powerful level editors but means to share these levels easily with a world of gamers. I have created the Designer's Workshop for the purpose of developing the highest quality, professional content while teaching by example.
The Critical-Gaming Network is deisgned to be a single source for all the information, lessons, examples, and instruction needed to become a top class video game designer and/or critic. Along with the Designer's Workshop I hope to be able to release a podcast series that covers the design in everything but video games to provide a nice balance and contrast to the content found in the rest of the network.
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....about the Mixed-Media Blog
I couldn't help it. I've been sitting on essays of material about all non video game media for far too long. So it's all coming out. Moives. Music. Anime. Comics. Books. Poetry. Short Stories. It's floating straight through my life and out my fingers.