Reconnect Recap - w/e 16th November

A weekly recap of some of the best video game articles to feature on Reconnect.

Kia Ora folks

Did I get back to playing Outer Worlds 2? Nope, did I unlock new game plus in Ball X Pitt, yes, so that’s a win in my book. The recent Bethesda wet-fart of an announcement did get me craving to play a fallout game, but when you think about it, Outer Worlds is a fallout game, so that should bring me back. Though I have a Metallica concert this week, so that will come first.

Welcome to yet another edition of the Reconnect Recap, the companion newsletter to the games writing discovery platform, Reconnect.

This week we’re talking about Fortnite, engagement, loving games, not loving games, lying about games, and motion in games.

Lets dig in.

---

Great Write Ups

• Jumping the Shark: I accept that Fortnite’s madness is part of its schtick but according to Crossplay the new sidekicks crossed the line.

• Lying about the finish line: We’ve all lied about doing something hard in a video game, but The Homie Big Picture Mode thinks many of us are lying about finishing certain games.

• Blast from the past: Affectionate Discourse dives into all the classic references Obsidians latest title puts on show.

• Dispatch Showtime: I’ve heard a lot about this new game Dispatch, and Big Nerd Gaming makes a compelling case for an experience that is more like a great TV show than a video game.

• The box is a lie: As a Steamdeck fan I’m quite excited by the Steam Machine, but Infinite Lives has a word of warning for those who are considering the new Gabe-Cube.

• On the move: A direct quote: “I can’t remember the last game I played where simply pushing up on the analog stick gave me such a massive dopamine hit.” from The Video Game Storyteller about Sword of the Sea, well i’m sold.

• Knowing what you love: Not all games are for everyone, I know what I like in games, so no matter how popular a game is, i.e Elden Ring, I know I won’t enjoy it. Scanlines explains what games aren’t for them, some I agree with, some I don’t.

• Unlikely connection: Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games is filled with deep dives on fun facts, in their latest piece apparently Super Mario Bros 2 and Chrono trigger have an interesting link.

• Celebrating 14 years: Whilst it feels like the next Elder Scrolls is 14 years away, Skyrim is actually 14 years in the rear view mirror, The Saved Game reflects on the smash hit success.

• Understanding Engagement: It’s the hot word on every greedy executives lips, engagement. Mindful Gamer does what no executive will do, and looks into the research of what good engagement is.

---

---

Fun Tidbits

• “I Probably Wouldn’t Do That Again” - Outlaws Level Designer Shares The Story Behind Its Most Infamous Level

• Undertale Gets The Game Boy Color Treatment In This New Demake

• ‘Final Fantasy Mystic Quest’ Just Got A New Playable Demo For Your Sega Mega Drive / Genesis

• New ROM Hack Pokémon Lazarus Releases Next Week

• Konami’s 1985 Mech-Based Fighting Game ‘Galactic Warriors’ Is Coming To Consoles

• PicoIDE – An ODE and Hardisk Emulator for Retro PC’s

• Henshin, A Slice Of Japan On The British High Street

• One Man’s “Life-Long Dream” Of Creating A Physical WipEout Race Track Is Complete

• The Evercade is set to gain five new cartridges this month

• RV There Yet? Review: The Chaotic Co-Op Game That’s About Finding Your Way Back On The Road

• The Darkest Files is a powerful and compelling detective game that asks you to question truth and justice

• “Games Were Pretty Hostile” - Duke Nukem Co-Creator Reveals How The Bitmap Brothers Turned Him On To Cheat Codes

---

Housekeeping

• 🟨 Want to see more? Visit Reconnect and bookmark it, the site is updated multiple times a day.

• ⏰ Missed a previous Recap? Check out the full catalog here.

• ✍️ Like how I write? I occasionally write my own thoughts on the games industry, find those articles here.

• 🦋 On Bluesky? Give me a follow, I share all the best articles on my profile every day, if you’re curious about following more games writers, I’ve made a starter pack so that you can follow all the Reconnect writers in one spot. Not 100% complete yet but I’ll keep adding to it.

• 📘 I pen another newsletter, called Barely Managing, that is a survival guide for new and up and coming managers. Check it out!

• 💸 I develop, and pay for the costs of hosting Reconnect out of my own pocket, and everything I do from managing the site and writing these articles are things in do in my personal time. If you're feeling generous feel free to give me a tip.