Hades II sure is more Hades. If you liked Hades, great news. If not, Hades II does absolutely nothing to convince you otherwise - which is fine. But staying the course in a slightly bigger game does let some cracks through, and a lack of growth from the writers can't plaster those. My review.

Imagining this writer looking back at their journalism legacy and thinking, “Oh yeah, that hit-piece I wrote about a teenager campaigning for greater virus protections, in which I defined her entirely by her father and framed her COVID activism as a reaction to her parents’ divorce, was up there.”

Imagining this writer looking back at their journalism legacy and thinking, “Oh yeah, that hit-piece I wrote about a teenager campaigning for greater virus protections, in which I defined her entirely by her father and framed her COVID activism as a reaction to her parents’ divorce, was up there.”

Hades II sure is more Hades. If you liked Hades, great news. If not, Hades II does absolutely nothing to convince you otherwise - which is fine. But staying the course in a slightly bigger game does let some cracks through, and a lack of growth from the writers can't plaster those. My review.

What movie do you consider "perfect"?

What movie do you consider "perfect"?

As I wrote about for @motherjones.com, people are already crossing state lines to get the Covid vaccine—which may become more common if the CDC vaccine advisory committee recommends limiting them this week. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

For a BBC feature, are there any horror aficionados and/or experts out there, particularly for the horror of the 80s, who might be able to answer a few questions about Re-Animator and its place therein within the next couple of weeks? Shares for visibility always appreciated. #journorequest

Controversial opinion, but I think trans people should feel safe here on bluesky, and nazis shouldn't.

I'm pretty vocal about how difficult it is being a disabled journalist, so it behoves me to also point out that RadioTimes is unfailingly receptive and respectful of my pitches on disability. Anyway, I need folks to stop wanting Strange New Worlds to "save" Captain Pike from disability – holy fuck.

"Unlike overt hostility, benevolent ableism hides behind a facade of kindness and protectiveness. It shows up as unsolicited help, overprotection, exaggerated praise, and decisions made for disabled people rather than with them." reframingdisability.substack.com/p/when-kindn...

Every whateverquel I see of Alien just convinces me further that Alien should have been a one-and-done.

New from me. For JoySauce, I reviewed "Aema" a mostly watchable series about one of the most interesting South Korean films (and, vaguely, one of the most interesting periods in history) but that gets lost in a childish embarrassment about sex before going off the rails entirely.

The challenges of being British and mostly working for American outlets.

We're excited to announce the Games for Palestine charity page is now LIVE on Itch. Over 300+ games with proceeds going to UNRWA USA in support of Gaza relief. Thank you to everyone for your support. The bundle launches on Sept 2nd 9am PST. Link: itch.io/b/2979/play-...

Me, at Nintendo allotting 45 minutes for its Kirby Air Riders Direct:

Drag x Drive sure is... a game. It's hard to see why this game exists beyond trying to do something fancy with Joy-Con mouse controls. Fun may be informed by how you engage with the game's controls, but Drag x Drive is an inaccessible, limited, often painful experience. My review for @theverge.com

My editor at The Verge has gone on holiday at the perfect time, because I am about to make myself a proper pest about reviewing this game.

‘A million calls an hour’: Israel relying on Microsoft cloud for expansive surveillance of Palestinians

If I have to explain to you why it's a bad idea to use a machine that makes shit up 15-80% of the time AND destroys the environment AND contributes to rising fascism and genocide AND puts brilliant skillful creatives out of work by stealing their work, then we're already speaking different languages

Yet more proof that bullying generative AI dorks is not just the right thing to do, but effective.

New from me. Our Unwritten Seoul was not only the ne plus ultra of how K-drama writers exploit disability to shake-up staid storylines, but also continues a gross trend: to be loved, and worthy of love, in K-drama those disabilities have to disappear and romance remains pointedly able-bodied.

If you don’t feel like using the word genocide, um k, I just never understood why “mass starvation of children” was much better

Words mostly fail in response to so profound, yet unsurprising, a journalistic failure. Read *all* of this, including every word of those Tweets.

Outlet: "We've started a new independent publication, we're saving journalism!" Readers: "And you'll report on what other publications won't, right?" Outlet: "Here's a list of the 25 best anime of all time and all of them are Cowboy Bebop!"

I have about 10 large gaming accessibility stories in my pocket, ranging from investigative to industry reporting to reporting attached to specific titles, and boy does no editor want to touch them - or even respond to accessibility pitches anymore.

Have to admire Paramount+'s dedication to making me not watch Strange New Worlds - *me* a complete Star Trek tragic - by dumping six ads in every episode.

The R word is not a funny, edgy word to throw at people who annoy you on the Internet. It is a medical diagnosis created during the eugenics era that people with intellectual disabilities and families have literally spent years trying to stamp out from polite conversation and public life.

Seeing that riders at the Tour De France are hitting 45mph (70kph if you're nasty) and remembering that time I went 30mph on a bicycle for about a minute and felt like I was going to die.

Design clients need to stop with the "this is something I generated with AI to inspire you" before I kick off.

A piece that's felt a little inevitable since I read The Salt Path. Terrific reporting from @chloehadj.bsky.social and co. The diagnostic scepticism is jarring. But given Winn's other deceits, and profiteering from said deceits, somewhat understandable to look into it too.

I've been forced to re-evaluate my relationship with an editor in the last few months based on how they've handled my pitches about disability. I'm profoundly disappointed with myself for how often, historically and even now, I've felt *I* was the problem for being uncomfortable with ableism. 1/4

Live Nation are allegedly behind the removal of Bob Vylan from Radar Festival in Manchester this weekend. David Dremaine, the frontman of Disturbed, signed bombs that were dropped on Palestine, but Live Nation are actively promoting his UK tour including a show at the AO Arena, Manchester.

Remember when I said I'd never write about design and AI again? Well, I'm back in @theverge.com discussing where AI is in regards to typography with @daltonmaag.com and Monotype because if I'm going to stay a designer, I'll be masochistic about it. Thanks to @mfortki.bsky.social for taking this in.