At the end of the day I just want to know if you built something. Did it impress someone? Did it make you proud, or did it make someone else proud of you? That’s the end-game for me. To build and get that back as a response from people, to make things that make thousands of people smile, and if I can make just one game that does that I can die happy. I do not fear death. I fear a lack of meaning in my life.
This gives me an increasing hostility toward video game critics, reviewers who earn a paycheck just bitching about something with no grasp as to how much effort went into creating that which they seek to destroy. This is also why I didn’t become a game journalist myself. It’s a career in which I could have readily succeeded. But who do you want to be? The guy whining in the corner? Or the guy who changed someone’s life?
I love Tiny Farm… my profile name is Bärnaby and I wish there were avatars.
YES THANK YOU TINY FARM IS THE BEST. Also you misspelt your name, Baernaby.
(btw other followers, I’m Mimblex, play dis kawaii game and add me.)
I was reminded of this game today, I had meant to post about it a while ago but forgot, but it’s definitely important enough that it still deserves recognition.
Dys4ia is a small game made by Anna Anthropy telling her autobiographical experiences with being a trans woman and dealing with dysphoria, coming out, and hormone therapy. It’s only about 10 minutes long, so give it a quick play. It’s really worth it.
The fact that it conveys trans issues through direct experience, rather than second-hand retelling makes it particularly powerful. As the creator said, “This was a story about frustration - in what other form do people complain as much about being frustrated? A video game lets you set up goals for the player and make her fail to achieve them. A reader can’t fail a book. It’s an entirely different level of empathy.”
Check out the Penny Arcade Report after you’ve played it, for more good commentary.
