Netflix having a moment.

Editors, I’m looking to do more freelance reviews. Unfortunately, work hasn’t paid me for last month and I’m struggling to make ends meet while I wait for that (it’s three weeks late now). I can also help with guides, interviews, previews — anything you need.

Art.

Now to Hate-Watch the FA Cup Final and hope the universe finds a way for both teams to lose.

Celtic? More like BOO. BOO, I say. BOOOOOO.

Pictured: some gaming.

IO Interactive will tell you it's HITMAN, not Hitman. Why is he, of all people, shouting.

Watching a band called Alien Chicks tear up Brighton and I wish I was 20(+) years younger so I, too, could tear it up. (Complementary)

I see NEO GEO Arcade 4. I order NEO GEO Arcade 4.

Prime spotting on a Thursday evening.

Aliens: The Video Games is the first book dedicated to exploring the whole history of interactive xenomorph experiences. Features 20+ exclusive interviews, photos and art, crossover titles, and more. Pre-order now at @penandswordbooks.bsky.social www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Aliens-The-V...

As a Sonic CD Liker (JP/PAL OST ONLY), this is Art.

Wax Heads is mostly cute and a lil cheesy (positively) so far, but yeah, this is a bit too real. (Let me write the album reviews if there's a sequel, yeah?) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... www.radiox.co.uk/features/uk-...

Have been in a real funk over the whole Southampton 'spying' situation, like this is some low, low shit for football, if proven. But I just watched the VAR decision for Celtic's penalty last night and apparently football can go lower. What absolute nonsense.

I know Real Ones already know but: Aldi own-brand baked beans are the best baked beans* you can buy. Heinz? Too runny. Branston? Posers. Tesco or Sainsbury's? Weak sauce. Lidl? It's close, but it's not right. ASDA? LMAO! (*Not w/ sausages, mind, as those sausages are poor.)

It sort of does. And YOU can read all about Dracula House in my book about VFD/LCD games of the 80s, From Coin-Ops to Table-Tops.

Look, sorry, but who are you, if you're a Teenage Music Lover who *isn't* into bops from the last 20, 30 years? If we had a game set today and the protag was waxing lyrical about Illmatic or 36 Chambers, or The Bends or Jilted Generation, would you ponder hmmm, why aren't they bigging up Stray Kids?

Fuck sake you guys.

Every Southampton fan this morning.

Agreed.

What a picture.

Football. Honestly.

Starting to feel it. The nerves. Brrr. #saintsfc

Seconded.

Waxheads in Being My Jam shocker.

"If the player has nothing to fear, what's the point in playing the game? It shouldn't be a breeze." Designer Mark Eyles discusses Aliens: The Computer Game (UK Version, 1987) in my book, Aliens: The Video Games. Pre-order: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Aliens-The-V...

👀 @evercade.co.uk 👀

Could be Spygate, could be Mixtape, could be politics, truly the meme for all seasons.

Slightly increase a band Ten and a half Grand (Ten Grand ruled btw) youtu.be/zOYj_WrQPZ4?...

Okay. One Mixtape take. Not a *take* but an observation based on lived experience that I'm not sure any review picked out. Stacy is autistic. To me, clearly. In her need to organise in advance. In her need to know everything about A Certain Thing. How the slightest derailing of plans = disaster...

Has anyone been to Porto? Tell me about Porto. Places to stay. Food to eat. Sights to see. I know nothing about it, yet here we are thinking: maybe we should long-weekend it in Porto this autumn, as an anniversary treat. Why Porto? Why not. Never been. So yeah, any tips, very welcomed! Ty.

National League playoff final again showing that Non-League has the juice. Go see a local game when you can. Get a pint and a pie in for less than a pop and a Mars bar at a Premier League kiosk. Watch players go from the sublime to the ridiculous in the same minute. Mix with the other fans. Love it.

(It's taking every fibre of my being not to call out bad-faith readings based around unlived experience and misplaced assumptions re music discovery, and to talk about how it's effectively encapsulating soundtracks of its era with its own and, actually, the music choices *don't matter*. Anyway.)

Finished Mixtape. Mixtape is good. Is my contribution to any discussions around said game.

Bloody hell, lads. #saintsfc

Doing important detective work in Hotel Dusk.

Speaking of Galvatron(s) let's have a #deskbot special for Mixtape and its director.

I know everyone is waiting for me, the award-winning music critic turned award-winning games writer, to drop the only Mixtape take that matters. But I'm busy this weekend. Looks cool tho. Loved The Artful Escape. Glad to see this one going down so positively.

Look, right. Son number two and I are watching Borderlands. And I don't hate it. It's bad, obviously. But not without at least two moments where I've chortled, and it's clearly entertaining the kid.

Gaming press folks... If you're keen to cover Aliens: The Video Games, anytime from now to August, please let me know. Here's what some people have to say about it. (It's good? I think?) Pre-order at your bookshop of choice, or direct from the publisher: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Aliens-The-V...

Really enjoyed chatting Alien games and my book with @theretroasylum.bsky.social ... give it a listen if it sounds like your sort of pod.

Anyway. youtu.be/DeZP759UHgU?...

46% turnout in Fair Oak and Bishopstoke, and voters said no to Reform, electing the independent candidate. Across Eastleigh, Reform won nothing. Nice one, Where I Grew Up.

Something sort of poetic about seeing the results of so many British people putting their X in a box for a party that doesn't intend to pursue net zero and consistently misinforms about the science of climate change, on the 100th birthday of a Legit National Treasure who knows otherwise.

"If the player has nothing to fear, what's the point in playing the game? It shouldn't be a breeze." Designer Mark Eyles discusses Aliens: The Computer Game (UK Version, 1987) in my book, Aliens: The Video Games. Pre-order: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Aliens-The-V...

Obviously, obviously. youtu.be/2M_-NCQlzhA?...

The game I worked on last year wasn't a hit, and therefore can't be developed further, so the studio have decided to make it free to play. No catch, just free. It's an online competitive FPS, in the dark. It's really good, and I don't even like FPSs. www.blindfiregame.com/news/blindfi...

Feels like home.