FOLKS, WE HAVE SUCH A KILLER LINE UP FOR THE WINTER SPECTACULAR THIS YEAR!

Did some words, reviewed a game!

Sometimes, graffiti isn't a complicated thing. Sometimes, it sums up the state of the world very easily

Man, sometimes there's a film that reminds you how good cinema is and how valuable it is to watch a film with people.

Watched Long Walk on Sunday, then House of Dynamite on Monday. Really good way to lose all hope over two days.

A relaxing week away on the Isle of Wight! Now, time for some good old wrasslin!

NEW: During an interview at the Xbox booth on the Gamescom show floor, I attempted to ask a veteran Obsidian developer for their thoughts on making video games at Microsoft amid layoffs and widespread criticism over the company's links to Israel. I was immediately shut down.

The fact that the thing we're calling artificial intelligence *can't do math* and yet we're jamming it into programs that successfully *have done math* for decades, then warning people against using the AI to do math, seems like an excellent summary of where we are.

Ok, so. I've been let go of my job at TheGamer. If you're looking for a gaming journalist with 7+ years of experience in the field and 3 years of experience as an editor, just hit me up at [email protected], or check santileguiza.com to read my work!

The natural end point of the government's feckless obsession with AI

All the dire implications notwithstanding it is hilarious how evil this technology is. Billions of dollars spent on this greasy lying stupid thing that was literally built to replace people, and everyone that uses it gets weaker, lazier, dumber, and sadder for having done so. Well done all around.

Those lionesses!! What a team, full of fight through the tournament and full of spirit!

Notts Pride!!

I watched The Happytime Murders in a cinema and have never felt more embarrassed for the medium of film

Good news: Avoided heatwave by being in a air conditioned hotel room yesterday Bad news: The film on offer was Independence Day: Resurgence. Almost considered burning in the heat.

Hulkenberg P3!! Absolute scenes!

As one illustration of just how sloppy and chaotic today's mass Xbox layoff has been, some employees at Zenimax Online Studios are now watching their Slack accounts abruptly get locked out. No message from HR, no word on whether they still have a job, just an ominous Slack deactivation

Was genuinely excited for this game, but its simple. If you're going to not bother crafting your text and outsource to derivative LLMs, why should I care? Particularly when there's so many other games with genuine craft and care?

His name is Mr Abagnale. Not AbagNaily, not Abagnahly, but Abagnale.

Given the choice of watching the Summer Games Fest, or going camping and seeking out puffins on the East Coast of the UK, the option was straightforward.

Finally listened to the vinyl that made me get a record player

I wrote some words about the fabulous game despelote!

Gaming is a hobby that seems to be getting more expensive by the day. Thankfully, @wendeego.bsky.social has collated a list of fully fledged experiences you can play right now for free. www.startmenu.co.uk/home/a-guide...

Don't post often but here's a quick fundraiser to share. The University of Birmingham student newspaper, Redbrick, is having a fundraising drive to sustain its future. Please give if you can, it has given a start to so many great writers and journalists. www.justgiving.com/campaign/red...

How can anyone with a conscience be okay with this?

The entertainment reporting industry is not enjoying its finest hour when it comes to the success of #Sinners. Some thoughts. filmstories.co.uk/features/sin...

Don't worry, wrestling fans. At least Samoa Joe is a champion again.

Thank goodness for that!

This is why we have a "Rasheed gets assassinated, maimed, or disappeared" production plan for Dreams on a Pillow, his game about the Nakba. Israeli terrorists, Israel's occupation, and the US genocide all mean we have to prepare for this outcome for him, too. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

The good news? UK comic maker Becky Burke is home after being detained by ICE. The bad news, the new regime’s stricter reading of the previously ignored rules on work will catch others out coming to the US for comic events - comicon.com/2025/03/18/f...

This. It's the ultra-capitalist model of making art, by surveying customers and then producing content framed around that. The greatest art has always avoided this.

Love a Sunday of scrapbooking and tidying with a great record

Dynasty Warriors is back and while the new consoles enable plenty of new encouraging advancements some lingering series-spanning issues persist. @alexgreen9898.bsky.social reviews. www.startmenu.co.uk/home/review-...

I crunched the numbers, got the abacus out and deduced that a lot of writing happened on @startmenu.bsky.social this year.

Staff at Bluepoint and Bend learned that Sony had cancelled their PS5 live service games last week "at the same time as everyone else", it's claimed. www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bluepoi...

This is a beautiful tribute.

Your favourite filmmaker was probably influenced by Lynch in some form or fashion. A legend of the screen.

Musings by @alexgreen9898.bsky.social on disconnecting from the internet discourse. www.startmenu.co.uk/home/winter-...

My top 15 films for 2024. If you disagree, please direct your complaints to David Zaslav.

Genuinely no idea what to write here… Just give this piece a read. @raisinbman.bsky.social worked hard on it. www.startmenu.co.uk/home/winter-...

Back in 2019: was told while making Lower Decks that “too much happens in each episode, what if someone watching is making spaghetti and only half paying attention?”

A new month means a new Update Patch writer as we welcome Eoghan Watters to the club to round up all of this week's news. www.patreon.com/posts/startm...

My first post on this strange new place is an article where I explain trying to get away from these platforms.