Great piece. The margins on events were tough *before* COVID. The three PC Gamer events we did evolved into something great, but never made money. Pre-pandemic EGX was a unicorn. Propped up that entire publishing business.

I did a big old feature. Where did all the UK game events go?

I did a big old feature. Where did all the UK game events go?

Had a chat with the composer Jesper Kyd - it was particularly interesting to hear how the Commodore 64 demo scene inspired him to always push for innovation.

A Monday morning reminder - Curious Video Game Machines is currently 50% off for a short while on the publisher's website. I guarantee you will learn something about gaming that you never knew before if you read this book. www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Curious-Vide...

I just realised that a Retro Gamer interview I did ages ago with Shuhei Yoshida about Ape Escape is now available online. It's well worth a read IMO - that game had a really interesting birth. www.gamesradar.com/games/platfo...

Yep, I’d be down for that. All the indie games I play on the Steam Deck barely cause the machine to break a sweat, and it would be handy to have something a bit smaller and lighter, but just as easy to use.

OK, no more big reveals for the rest of the week, please. I’ve done two massive “analysts react” pieces in as many days, and that’s more than enough. The analysts are exhausted, don’t make them analyse anything else. www.gamesindustry.biz/gta-6-will-8...

I think the most remarkable thing about RV There Yet? isn't that it has sold an estimated 7 million units or so (although that IS remarkable), but that the developers are fully prepared to leave it all behind and move on to something new. You don't see that every day.

The terrific Curious Video Game Machines is 50% off right now. One of the most fascinating gaming history books you'll ever read. www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Curious-Vide...

I am utterly thrilled to announce that @gibiz.bsky.social won Media Brand of the Year at the MCV Develop Awards last night, against some super strong competition. We have worked incredibly hard on the site over the past year, so this feels like a real vindication of all that hard work!

I had a big old chat with Jenova Chen in honour of Thatgamecompany’s 20th birthday. This bit about Valve really tickled me. If only they’d been happy to let the guns go, Thatgamecompany could have been indelibly associated with Steam instead of PlayStation

I had a big old chat with Jenova Chen in honour of Thatgamecompany’s 20th birthday. This bit about Valve really tickled me. If only they’d been happy to let the guns go, Thatgamecompany could have been indelibly associated with Steam instead of PlayStation

Is your dad a mega-nerd? Does he want to know how barcodes work? Or learn about VHS-based consoles? What about open-source computers from the former republic of Yugoslavia? If the answer is YES to the above, then boy have I got the Father's Day present for you. Curious Video Game Machines!

Is your dad a mega-nerd? Does he want to know how barcodes work? Or learn about VHS-based consoles? What about open-source computers from the former republic of Yugoslavia? If the answer is YES to the above, then boy have I got the Father's Day present for you. Curious Video Game Machines!

If you're looking for a games-y Father's Day gift, hey, I have some books that might appeal? Find these on Amazon or other places. Most of them are cheap. Retro Gaming (paperback, so, the newer edition) is only £3.99 right now on the Big Online Book Shop!

Back in April I wrote an issue of @aiandgames.com about the Take Two AI team that was let go and how every gaming news outlet misrepresented the facts. www.aiandgames.com/p/the-take-t... Fortunately @gibiz.bsky.social decided to dig a little deeper to get the real story from @luked.bsky.social.

Adrian Chiles is taking no prisoners. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Okay, so this is massive and we're terrified. Partnering with @play.breakthrought1d.org in the fight against diabetes, the ENTIRE inkle catalogue is on Humble Bundle right now for $20 -- including TR-49, all four novels, both Overboard! games, 80 Days, all four parts of Sorcery! ... everything.

Another masterclass.

I'm just going to pretend I meant to capitalise "The".

@damienmcferran.bsky.social you have to try this!

Holy crap. This is going to sell like hotcakes.

007 First Light is going great guns, it seems. www.gamesindustry.biz/007-first-li...

My author copy of Joysticks to Haptics from @lostincult.co.uk has arrived! I wrote the chapter on Atari controllers - and the stuff about Amiga making a balance board for the Atari VCS is WILD.

My author copy of Joysticks to Haptics from @lostincult.co.uk has arrived! I wrote the chapter on Atari controllers - and the stuff about Amiga making a balance board for the Atari VCS is WILD.

This looks great. Finally we might get a good (fake) Ren & Stimpy game after those dreadful 90s ones.

"I Think They Are Missing A Trick" - Evercade Boss Says The Games Industry Is Failing Older Players. (Image: @evercaderetro) (Repost)

Well, Gen Atlas looks utterly fantastic. Stunning.

Oh, well this is exciting - I loved Phoenix Springs, so I'm totally on board for whatever Calligram cooks up next.

And yet when I- a LIVING human man- offer to make an assortment of delicious cheeses utilising some of my own precious fluids, it's labelled as "gross" and "not the sort of product line we'd be in a position to carry in any of our Waitrose stores, please leave". Yet more 'two tier Kier' standards!

Hey folks, I have a very limited number of Forgotten Worlds reprints available via the online shop. I held back a few items from the art book fair. Have a look if you’re interested 👉 forgotten-worlds.myshopify.com #VideoGames #RetroGaming #Sega #Nintendo #NeoGeo #PCengine #Art #Design ☀️🌴

I jotted down a few observations from Nordic Game in this opinion piece for @gibiz.bsky.social. The below quote from Emmanuel Rosier really stuck out though. Where do games go next? www.gamesindustry.biz/nordic-game-...

I jotted down a few observations from Nordic Game in this opinion piece for @gibiz.bsky.social. The below quote from Emmanuel Rosier really stuck out though. Where do games go next? www.gamesindustry.biz/nordic-game-...

Ooft

It’s true! It does! So pleased this pair have found some well-deserved fame, their music is extraordinary.

I had a chat with Jack Emmert from Cryptic Studios about why you don’t need to - and shouldn’t - spend “gajillions” on making an MMO that tries to appeal to everyone. It was a really interesting chat, well worth a read.

I had a chat with Jack Emmert from Cryptic Studios about why you don’t need to - and shouldn’t - spend “gajillions” on making an MMO that tries to appeal to everyone. It was a really interesting chat, well worth a read.

There Will Be Clogs

Today was an absolutely ridiculous day for games industry news, coming after two very quiet days. On top of the financial reports, there were at least three new studios announced, plus a ton of other press releases. I think people have got it into their heads that Wednesday is announcement day.

Very much looking forward to playing this - it was one of the standouts at A Maze Berlin.

This is a really great interview, well worth a read: www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

This series terrified me as a child!

I jotted down a few thoughts on A Maze Berlin, where Godot was the talk of the town. A few gaming highlights: - Dome-King Cabbage from @cobysoftco.bsky.social - Name of the Will from @zeitgeiststudio.net - Tom the Postgirl from @oopsiedaisiesch.bsky.social - Phonopolis from @amanita-design.net

My books are back open for 🎉 mock reviews 🎉 after a busy few months, so if you have a game coming out in the next year, lets work together! You can find my packages, contact details, and pricing here: miriteixeira.journoportfolio.com/mock-reviews/ Here are some lovely testimonials from clients:

The same author, Mick Hamer, has a new book out this month, the Great Tramways Conspiracy, about how the road lobby managed to get rid of Britain’s trams. See www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/blog/the-rid.... Well worth getting!

I wrote the essay and Q+A booklet for the beautiful @lostincult.co.uk EDITIONS version of Thank Goodness You’re Here - featuring a cheeky cameo from @danthat.bsky.social :)

I wrote a big chunk of this :) Specifically the chapters outlining each decade in arcade history. Great to see it in the wild!

I was most intrigued to discover Rebellion owns a costume company. Apparently they do things like scan in army uniforms and add them to Sniper Elite using photogrammetry.