Happy "The Subway" music video Friday! Never getting over Chappell's visuals or this concept.

I'm floored (again!) by the thoughtful dialogue and all the interactive bits added with the new dating mechanic in Fields of Mistria's third major update. We've all seen the jokes that dating/marriage in most farm and life sims is like giving your partner a lobotomy, but it only gets better here!

I am soooooo excited to actually look like a Pokémon Trainer again. I will be matching with my ace Noivern and I'm going to make it everyone's problem. Side note: Streaks and gradient hair dye are so back.

After sitting with the news of his passing last week, I wanted to sum up how important James Carter Cathcart's work has been for a generation that grew up with it. When I finished writing this, I got my roommates to watch Pokémon: The First Movie with me. Thanks again for all the memories.

An reminder to folks that EVERYONE who runs a site from big news sites to tiny fansites are ALL being affected by what's happening. If you run a site, definitely give it a read. Know that your traffic going down isn't your doing, it's Google fucking everyone over. nymag.com/intelligence...

Kiki's Delivery Service has been my comfort movie since I got my own place. It hits home when times are tough, and Kiki's resolve never fails to inspire. She's the perfect pick this week! Read the rest of GGA's Crush of the Week here!

I wrote about the day the president attended the opening of an American concentration camp:

I'm in the same boat as most freelancers who were removed from The Escapist's Slack channels following its sale this morning. I'm currently looking for FT or PT work in digital media and come with 2.5 years of experience covering games and pop culture. Portfolio here: muckrack.com/olivia-rolls...

As of today, my contract with The Escapist has officially been terminated. I’m searching for PT or FT writing or editorial work in the digital media or publishing sphere! I have 10+ years of experience and am eager for a new role. See my portfolio for bylines et al.

Excited to see where Starsand Island's affection system goes and how it compares to established favorites in the genre!

While I'm gushing over Yona, I'll also take this moment to say she deserves a second season!

From lackluster sprites and landscapes to features that erase community and cut meaningful interaction with a world modeled after our own, there's a lot more in need of fixing than lag and frame drops now that you can play Pokémon Scarlet & Violet on Switch 2. Find the rest of my deep dive here!

This is the only thing that's actually made me want a Switch 2. Mudkip, my love, if only I didn't need that $500 for rent.

happy pride

We're here for you — and this fight isn't over. You can still access abortion in Illinois at our Fairview Heights health center or at Hope Clinic in Granite City. Need transportation, lodging, or financial assistance in order to access abortion? Call our Regional Logistics Center at 618-607-5080.

What a day, I was so scared to press the release button. Now it is out for you all to play and hopefully enjoy <3. Whatever happens, I'm so proud of us that we managed get through the three years and are able to celebrate this milestone now :)

I had the chance to try out @flawberrystudio.bsky.social's Projected Dreams before launch! It's a comfort to play with the stuff that defined so many childhoods and to see these toys through new eyes. Best part of my winding down routine this month, for sure. Check out my review here!

A small team of researchers responsible for keeping clinicians up to date on contraception research has been cut. Doctors say they rely on the team's guidance when advising women about contraception.

Time to make things official with Caldarus! Fields of Mistria is adding dating and friendship mechanics in its next major update.

I was sold from the moment I saw Dalmatians and the 80% off sale price. Had to share this with everyone who grew up playing Nintendogs on the DS!

I checked Anno 117: Pax Romana out earlier this month. It was pretty dang nice. Here's my hands-on preview, which is less about explaining the intricacies of the game's systems and more about my experience playing it, for @gamewatcher.com: www.gamewatcher.com/news/anno-11...

Hello! Shelfdust here, sentient comic book website. I: * Pay people to write about comics * Cover comics nobody else covers * Publish a new essay every week * Feature the widest range of critical opinions ANYWHERE in comics * Fly far under the radar: so follow us on Bluesky! www.Shelfdust.com

I LOVED writing this piece about fat rep in TTRPGs! I’m so grateful to @glowpinkstah.bsky.social, @quinnntastic.bsky.social, and @cdiganon.bsky.social for talking to me about creating fat characters and narratives in their stories. Support Rascal with just $1 to read this piece!

For GGA's Crush of the Week, I HAD to talk about Frieren, one of my all-time favorite female characters. This column explores series fast facts and what we can learn from the great mage. www.geekgirlauthority.com/frieren-beyo...

I had the pleasure to review Synergy, a stylized city builder from Leikir Studio and @goblinzstudio.com. This one plays fast, with several modes and difficulties to choose from. If you're looking for a strategy title to wind down with, check it out! www.escapistmagazine.com/synergy-is-c...

With Alien: Earth arriving this summer and Predator: Badlands coming later this year, I took a moment to explore the feminist commentary behind these iconic sci-fi/horror franchises and their monsters. www.geekgirlauthority.com/alien-predat...

Support independent games media. This page will be regularly updated, so please let us know if we're missing anyone. 🔗 www.sixoneindie.com/indie-games-...

Polygon was a great constant to have over the years, they did a lot of quality work and held themselves to a really high standard. Very frustrating to see sharp people with solid, institutional knowledge get tossed out like this.

rich guys in suits hate when a site has a loyal steady fanbase who turn up because they like the people who work at the site

PR folks: You gotta play ball with independents, or you won't have anyone to play ball with.

I don't have jobs to give and I wish I did, but to everyone that was until recently employed by Polygon: GamesRadar+ is always interested in freelance pitches: [email protected]

I grew up with '90s and early '00s anime like Inuyasha and Sailor Moon but didn't think I'd see such technically impressive animation in Naruto when I first started the series last month. Listen to me yap about the fight that still stuns: Naruto VS Sasuke! www.geekgirlauthority.com/original-nar...

If you're a fat author with a book coming out in 2025 (or that has already come out this year), I'd like to include your work in an upcoming project! Please comment here or shoot me a DM. Non-fat friends, please repost for visibility! ✨

#Sinners inspired me much that I put together a list of games, books, comics, and movies that tell other meaningful Southern Gothic and supernatural stories. Each one centered on Black characters and or created by Black storytellers. Full article on @butwhytho.net

Oof

My piece on Sinners, its questions and considerations of ownership and freedom, and how Ryan Coogler utilized those themes to create a legacy for himself and Black creatives. #Sinners

Noticing a lot more pixel art in games lately? It may be a recession indicator, but this nostalgic art style and the indie studios behind these developing games could spur a change in the right direction if it can be sustained. www.geekgirlauthority.com/video-game-i...

An instant horror classic. Sinners is one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time. On top of excellent acting, score, and storytelling, Coogler absolutely made this film with the theatrical experience in mind. If you can spare a ticket, go see it!

Entertainment media is being weird over a Black-directed movie again, example #4532 (Btw each of these articles are written by non-Black journalists)

For @publisherswkly.bsky.social, I interviewed six young adult authors about writing intersectionally fat and queer characters and how the genre has shifted toward better inclusion, but still has a ways to go.

I wrote a bit about Chucklefish's long-awaited social RPG and life-sim, Witchbrook. Haven't been this excited for a cozy game since the Fields of Mistria demo dropped last year! www.geekgirlauthority.com/witchbrook-c...

I went down a rabbit hole into the "physical Switch 2 games cost $90" claim and found a self-feeding cycle of misinformation that speaks to how Google is making us all dumber. www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/no-sw...

The horror freak in me is gonna eat this up!

After reporting the news, games media must now grapple with what the call to boycott Xbox means for us. I wrote about why we must and how we can orient games writing towards liberation. Games nor words alone will save us, but we can as individuals express solidarity and possibility in all we do.

he says hi!

My spoiler-free guide on the new Shooting Star Festival in Fields of Mistria! This covers prerequisites and how to trigger a date, no images of date dialogue or cutscenes 💌 www.escapistmagazine.com/how-to-start...

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