Reconnect Recap, w/e 13th April - This fixation on taxation does not bring elation.
Connecting you to incredible games writing.
Kia Ora folks.
Normally the topic of the week is a game, something fun, something exciting, or yet another blown out drama. But this past week, when we should have been celebrating the launch of an exciting new Nintendo handheld, we’ve been obsessed with tariffs, of all things.
Once again, you are receiving the Reconnect Recap, the companion newsletter for the website Reconnect, a games writing discovery platform.
Today, we are going to peruse through some of the best articles to feature on the site in the past week. Let’s see what’s in store!
If you’re on Bluesky, 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.
The Recap
Games with James interviewed Mr Bowser from Nintendo about the recent launch and the looming tariffs.
Game Wisdom pumps out plenty of articles a week, two caught my eye, the first is about the economics of free-to-play, the second about how AI is being used in the field.
Scanlines gives their viewpoint on the upcoming Metroid and how it reminds them of their once favourite game series.
Aftermath, for those who don’t know, is a reader funded games writing site by ex industry pros, is running a series called Inside Baseball, all about the industry. Their first piece is about Xalavier Nelson award-winning Studio head. The second is about the sorry state of games writing, which is basically the method-piece for why I created Reconnect.
A second round of fun articles by Aftermath, has us pondering how much money it would take to hire Agent 47.
The GameDiscoverCo newsletter has a plethora of video game related articles in their latest newsletter, and a very compelling write up on how a trade war could impact the US games market, in more ways than us mere novices can comprehend.
Retro Dodo, a site I’m reading more and more despite not actually being a retro gamer, has a fun piece on someone using a GameBoy Colour as a reversing camera.
The Desk of Chaos gives us their view on Substacks lack of video game category, and as someone who has written about this topic myself, this was a great write up.
No Escape has an enticing write up on Pacific Drive, a game I’m getting more and more curious about.
James Francis (Adventrures in Indie Gaming) brings us a cute looking puzzle game about seating people.
TimeExtension has two shocking write-ups this week. The first is about how Nintendo trying to clone Tetris resulted in a fiery blow up between their respective owners. The second piece is about a game that was published by an a military contractor.
Just One More Turn, our resident Games Scientist, talks about how a healthy approach to gaming is necessary for our mental health, and the downsides of spending too much time gaming.
Games Asylum reviews Ixion, a game i’ve been eyeing from a far. And by that, I mean I’m waiting for a Steam Sale and that it works on my Steam Deck. Suffice to say I’m getting closer to adding to car.
Multiplier has an interview with award winning journalist Alice Clarke, about the climate concerns with the AAA gaming industry.
Something Extra
Are you one of those people with too many browser tabs open? I’m not, more than three and I’m having a panic attack.
But for those with too many open, maybe 240? You can play pong with them!
Check out this write up on how to destroy all those tabs with a relaxing game of pong.
Writer Recap
Scanlines is a writer with the right approach. They are aware that much of the ‘games writing’ happening is bottom of the barrel nonsense and they want to change that.
They bring a thoughtful and personal approach to their writing, recently they wrote about their experience with Xenoblade Chronicles X, despite not being a fan of JRPGs, something I feel the same way about. Lest we not forget they're quite popular, and recently featured on the Recap article about their quite harsh thoughts on Cozy Gaming.
Their articles are well worth and read and deserve your subscription.
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The Cozy Games Article saved my Substack career. I hadn't written for almost 3 weeks and was considering quitting when I published it before bed, I woke up that morning to see it was rapidly approaching 1000 views, more than that though, out of the hundreds who read it only 2 people took it the wrong way and were offended or combative; we're a pretty solid bunch on this platform.
A big thanks to you again Alex for the exposure and for fostering a community here, we don't need no damn category!
Thanks for mentioning the AIIG article on Is This Seat Taken?. It was written by Christena Maurer (https://substack.com/@cwmaurerwrites).
If anyone wants to do some writing about games (no pay, but maybe some glory), please check out https://indiegames.substack.com/p/record-demos-and-write-for-aiig