Reconnect Recap - w/e 9th November

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

Kia Ora folks

This week I started the Outer Worlds 2, then life got in the way, so I’m keen to get back to that, as long as I can pull my eyes and attention away the upcoming Lego Enterprise.

As always, this is the Reconnect Recap, your weekly newsletter recapping some of the best gaming articles to feature on Reconnect in the past week.

This week we’re learning a lot about game development, digging deep into some classic games, getting the latest on sales numbers, and so much more!!

Lets dig in.

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Great Write Ups

• Stranger Danger: Roblox is a threat to kids, but also it’s a great platform for kids who are flocking to individual games in numbers higher than the top played Steam games. So what do you do when your kid argues, quite rightfully, that to play the games properly they need to be able to chat to a stranger online?

• Lesson’s learned: Harrison Polites shares how their approach to playing games has changed over the course of their life.

• Testing what makes the game fun: What is the point of prototyping a game? Mark Brown explains the process and what lessons are attempting to be learnt.

• Loving lying: What’s not to love about a puppet fighting there way through a magical realm? Cat's Controller Corner shares there in-depth review of Lies of P and it sounds like they had a freaking blast!

• 12-step program: Game design can be a complicated beast, so Raph Koster, famous game designer has detailed out a 12-step program for understanding the practice.

• Calling gaming childish, is childish: Atelier Gaming Verse touches on a familiar topic for all of us, you are never too old to play games, you’re an adult, do whatever makes you happy.

• Practice makes perfect: In what seems to the the lesson, the industry refuses to learn, Maurice Klimek looks into those studios who are gaining success through honing their craft.

• The numbers: Another issue of GameDev Reports - powered by Xsolla details the sale figures for the latest Pokemon, Ball X Pitt, Duckov, and plenty more.

• Voyaging into the unknown: I love Star Trek, but have never touched a game. I’m very much interested in the up-and-coming Voyager game, and the latest article by Thomas Cole Simmonds has only increased my excitement.

• Neuromoding: I loved the Dishonoured games but never really got into Prey, maybe because it was a bit too scary. But C.C. Rayne over at Sidequest has played it many times and absolutely sings its praises, I might have to check it out (I think I own it already).

• What is evil, anyway?: Professor David's Game Journal dives deep, and I mean deep, into the understanding of evil in KOTOR 2, and how that plays out across its light vs dark familiar setting.

• Did you like Blue Prince?: If you liked the puzzle game from the beginning of the year, then Aftermath thinks you’ll enjoy The Seance of Blake Manor more.

• Changing Turns: Once a game is juggling multiple mechanics, its can be hard to tune your game to make things harder without effecting enjoyment. The Bottom Feeder has four ways you can tweak a turn-based game to make improvements to the gameplay, or make it worse. Your choice.

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Fun Tidbits

• Taiwanese Gamer Finally Completes Famicom & Super Famicom CRT Project After 5 Years

• The Arcade Shoot ‘Em Up Series ‘Psyvariar’ Is Finally Getting A New Sequel After 22 Years

• Namco’s 1996 Coin-Op Tokyo Wars Is Coming To Consoles For The First Time Ever

• IGF Games I Want To Talk About 2026

• This Couple Have Played Mario Kart 64 Every Day For Over Two Decades For One Important Reason

• Eternal Hunters Is A New SNES Action RPG That Looks Part Secret Of Mana, Part Chrono Trigger

• You’ll Have To Wait Even Longer To Get Your Hands On This Miniature Version Of The PC-88

• Rockstar Co-Founder Says Open World Is Why Cancelled ‘Agent’ Didn’t Work

• ‘30 Years Of Worms’ Celebrates The Impact Of Team17’s Famous Series

• AYANEO Finally Reveals Luxurious Metal “Pocket Vert” Android Handheld

• Nintendo’s Making More Movies, So Place Your Bets on What’s Next

• Caves of Qud Wins Top Video Game Prize at the 2025 Hugo Awards

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Housekeeping

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