Heather Alexandra

Speedrunners Shatter Ocarina of Time World Record By Warping Into The Credits

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has always been a hotbed of speedrunning activity, shifting and warping with new glitches. Whenever it seems there’s no more time to save, another trick is found. The latest involved manipulating the game’s memory itself and has led to a substantial new record. Yesterday, a new Any% record…

We Keep Having The Same Video Game Arguments And It’s Driving Me Bonkers

In a 2016 interview, Escape From Tarkov designer Pavel Dyatlov said women weren’t in the game because they ”can’t handle that amount of stress.” After renewed scrutiny of the comments last week, studio Battlestate Games took to Twitter to distance themselves from Dyatlov’s statements. They noted that “game lore” and the extra production needed to…

Hngnngh, Colonel, there appears to be some sort of livestream going on. Heather’s playing through all of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty right now on Twitch. Until the mission is complete, non-stop. Let’s do this.

Jedi: Fallen Order‘s Glitches Hold It Back From Greatness

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order combines the DNA of various games into its own unique blend of action and exploration. When it comes to combat, that means pulling lessons from games like Dark Souls, like pattern heavy bosses and resting points for upgrading abilities. As I explore distant planets there’s a sense that something feels…

If you missed my bumbling misadventures in Jedi: Fallen Order, fear not! You can enjoy all the banter with my pal Paul, Salacious Crumb impressions, lightsaber flailing, and more in this YouTube archive.

Now this (isn’t) podracing! I’m playing Jedi: Fallen Order with my bud Paul right now on Twitch. Come join chat to talk about movies, lightsabers, and the droids you’re looking for.

Start Your Day To The Soothing Sounds Of These Astounding Final Fantasy XIV Bards

It’s not uncommon to hear bards play a tune or two in Final Fantasy XIV. Sometimes that’s a light twiddling song on a flute, sometimes that means playing “Megalovania” in the middle of a crowded bar. Last night, I ran into a fantastic impromptu concert. The real world’s a disaster right now. Lighten the load…

Lost Ember Lets You Play As Loads Of Animals, Like Wombats And Hummingbirds

At this point “Charming Game Where You Play As An Animal” has become something of an indie game staple, but there’s a good reason for it. In many of these games, you can see the world from a fresh perspective and immerse yourself in nature. Lost Ember capitalizes on these strengths, giving players a mysterious…

Blendo Games Has Been At It For 10 Years, And Has Consistently Kicked Ass

A decade can feel short, but it’s still plenty of time to build out an artistic catalogue. As AAA studios labored towards creating bigger and more expensive games in the 2010s, one indie developer helped shape how we think of video games stories, using narrative subversion, clever editing, and an overall sense of playfulness. The…

Final Fantasy VII Remake Demo Leaks Online, Dataminers Unveil More Details

Apparently the Final Fantasy VII Remake is going to release a demo soon, because some very credible leaks of a demo for the game have popped up online. After initial reports from tracking sites that a listing for a Final Fantasy VII Remake demo had been sneakily added to the Playstation Network, it appears that…

The Greatest Game Trailers Of The Decade

The decade ends, history’s book turns another page, and you’ve still not finished playing The Witcher 3 for some reason. While the games of the past decade have left their marks, we can also remember the flashier side of things: trailers. Here are the best of the decade. Writing a list of best trailers feels…

How To Get Into The Witcher In 2019

Maybe you’ve heard of this thing called The Witcher. It’s a book series, three video games, soon-to-be a Netflix show, and a hallmark of Polish culture. Maybe you’ve heard about it but never really tried to figure out what the fuss is. Now that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is coming to Switch, you say:…

A Programmer Lost A Game He Made As A Kid, Until Someone Streamed It On Twitch

If you’re interested in game design, you’ve probably made a few side projects or prototypes. If you were lucky, you might have had the means to start early in life and made a few games as a kid. These usually end up deleted or lost on rotting hard drives. You definitely don’t expect them to…

What Are Your Video Game Resolutions for 2020?

The year is ending and a new decade is upon us, which means a chance to reinvent ourselves and embark on new adventures. It also means more video games. As the new year approaches, we ask: what are your video game resolutions? Resolutions are largely arbitrary, but there’s still fun in setting a goal. Head…

One Year Later, Battlefield V Still Can’t Please Fans

Battlefield V should have worked out. It’s a return to the World War II setting that Battlefield players love, with a fast pace that tests their reflexes and tactical thinking. Instead, it’s been a rocky ride, even as new content has been added to the game. A continuing controversy over the “time to kill” mechanic…

My Favorite Casual Game Became My Hardcore Obsession

We all have games that we play to relax. They’re waiting for us when we get home, with low stakes and a casual atmosphere that invites us to unwind and forget our worries. For my mom, that’s Solitaire. For me, it’s Hearthstone. But its latest expansion has changed how I approach my long-time relaxation game.…

The Rise Of Skywalker Update Shows How Far Battlefront II Has Come

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker is upon us, ending the sequel trilogy and sparking plenty of debate. The final chapter of Rey and Kylo Ren’s story brings new locations and evil goons, some of which have been added to Star Wars Battlefront II. This batch of content rounds out what was initially a troubled…

Kotaku’s Witcher Nerds Talk About The Netflix Series

Monsters, sorceresses, ballads, and swords. Netflix’s The Witcher is fun high fantasy pulp, particularly if you’re already a fan. We sit down to talk about what we did and did not like in this latest adaptation of the classic book series. The Witcher is rough around the edges but it has a lot of heart.…

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Spoilers

Pop culture moves at lightning speeds thanks to the internet. We are able to discuss whatever we see as soon as we see it. There are no secrets on the internet. Walk around the block and you might stumble into all kinds of information. For movies and games, that means spoilers. Those dreaded plot point…

Battlefield V Easter Egg Summons Raucous Crab Rave

Battlefield easter eggs have always been a mix of intense secret missions for hidden guns and random nonsense. Locked doors open to reveal release dates, puddles hide giant sharks. A new easter egg adds some festivity, gathering a collection of crabs into a cheery celebration. It’s all a part of Battlefield V’s triumphant return to…