By Ronald Gordon

Hello and welcome back to the Roundup, where we gather up stories from Members & interns alike to give them a shoutout! This time around we’ve got news about the familiar comforts of Creature Keeper, the first Fatal Fury game in over 25 years, Tony’s opinion on an outrageously customizable fight stick, Totilo’s efforts to work with more writers, Luis’ thoughts on a book all about Twitch Streamers, and so much more! 

Before we start, I want to note that I got to be a part of a cheerful event the weekend of May 9th. Being in close contact with members of a group called Cosplay Hollow, a cosplay group located in NYC that does events all over the city essentially, I got to play the part as Knuckles in their Sonic panel at P.S. 175 City Island. The panel was just one part of a mini anime convention hosted by staff for their elementary/middle school students, offering free food, games, and the chance to cosplay their favorite characters from pop culture. It was a great time all around and I hope to be involved in more panels hosted by Cosplay Hollow. 

Theresa Afful feels a familiar sense of joy from Creature Keeper, a monster tamer for hard workers! Handling a bit like Pokémon, Creature Keeper is all about making unexpected friends out of the beasts that roam, and using them to battle the evils of the world. After 10 years of development, Creature Keeper delivers an experience that drew in someone as reluctant as Theresa, who shares her thoughts saying, “After grinding on this game for a week straight, I am shocked by how funny and fun this experience is. As much as I hate games where all you do is fight and collect things, this Creature Keeper made it less boring with its storytelling. And I really enjoyed is the freedom that they gave the player, who have the choice to either attack the enemies carelessly or strategically attack. Not only that, I explored the lands and discover so much new lore through engaging side quests.” It sounds like solo developer John Pantaleon of Fervir Games made a new fan out of Theresa who ends her review stating “As the saying goes ‘hard work pays off,’ and I’m starting to understand what that means after playing this game as it’s enjoyable and humorous. I look forward to further projects by Fervir as he has now gained a fan following. This narrative of this game manages to rival retro adventures that begin with an unexpected quest that uncovers so much about the characters and map creating an amazing and interesting gameplay experience. While playing the game I hope that you take into account that this game was made by a single person who continuously worked on this project for years just for us to enjoy so play the game with an open mind.”

Harold Goldberg chronicled a trip to take our journalism students to see George Clooney on Broadway in “Good Night, and Good Luck.” During the play, nominated for a Tony Award, students found themselves immersed in another time for journalism when television reigned supreme, a time when Edward R. Murrow took on McCarthyism “when a power-hungry U.S. senator made his career by destroying the careers of journalists and writers by calling them ‘communists.'” Actor Clooney also addressed student in the included video after the show.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is the first Fatal Fury game in over 25 years, and Jatin Gundara is overcome with nostalgia over the series’ beautiful return. With SNK finally releasing the long-awaited Fatal Fury: The City of the Wolves, fans like Jatin were overjoyed to see how the characters had changed in this new rendition. His thoughts read, “With the much anticipated return to South Town, SNK has taken care to provide its beloved characters with a much-deserved revitalization. COTW brings back 17 fighters from past installments, including familiar faces such as Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, and Rock Howard. In addition, there are five DLC characters which will become available with the game’s first season, including the surprising real-world additions of footballer Christiano Ronaldo and DJ Salvatore Ganacci. This vibrant roster of characters certainly drew me in, especially considering how each has their own personal story which is playable in the game’s new ’Exploring South Town’ RPG mode.” Even after so long, the spirit of Fatal Fury is kept alive and well, and the compelling roster has sparked much online content revolving around the game. Regardless, Jatin is enjoying it, calling it ‘a rare treat’ as he writes, “After experiencing the original King of Fighters, I found that City of Wolves certainly sticks true to its roots, creating a combat system that simultaneously boasts a low barrier to entry, and a sky-high skill ceiling. It’s a rare treat among fighting games.”

Tony Polanco is all about controllers and accessibility, so when he says in Tom’s Guide that the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha is great, he means it! Nowadays, Arcade fight sticks are valid investments for anyone looking to get a taste of how the professionals play, and each one could make or break a fledgling fighter’s career if it isn’t the right match. Yet, Tony may have just found one of the most customizable arcade sticks to date, reviewing the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha by saying, “Thanks to its clamshell-like design, the Fighting Stick Alpha lets you access its internal components for simple customization and maintenance. This feature is a huge selling point considering how more expensive sticks force you to undo screws. You can also replace the top panel artwork with something of your own, which is another handy customization feature.” Currently, the Hori Alpha is on sale for $179 at online retailers, so if you’re in the market for an affordable fight stick, get it now! 

To those who are freelancers or journalists looking for reputable publications, Stephen Totilo wants to share your stories on Game File! Stephen begins his brief by relating a truth to those who would listen, writing, “Short of a subscriber collapse, Game File will likely prove sustainable for me long-term. But I didn’t really want to do this alone.” When it comes to journalism, there’s always going to be creative differences and issues with publications; such is a fact. This doesn’t mean that every publication is trying to get out as many articles as possible, and some want genuine words and impactful stories above all else. That’s exactly what Stephen aims for with Game File. He ends his article by reiterating this ideal, writing, “Journalism is a means by which we may better know the truth of a thing. It is a way of revealing what needs to be exposed, of challenging us about what we thought we knew, and of enriching our understanding of each other and how every corner of this world works. It might even be a path to someday learning, with certainty, the intended relationship between Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong. Because of this, I’m going to do whatever I can to strengthen Game File as a platform for reporting about games.”

Luis Aguasvivas shares his thoughts on a book all about Twitch Streamers on Unwinnable. Stream Big: The Triumphs and Turmoils of Twitch and the Stars Behind the Screen (out today via Atria Books), may have a wordy title, but that shouldn’t deter those interested from indulging in its content. Serving as a deeper look into the personas that have made themselves relevant on Twitch, Stream Big features interviews, and excerpts from 9 different streaming personalities. Luis briefs us on author Nathan Grayson’s process as he writes, “Grayson’s focus on these individuals serves as an entry point into the wider subject of streaming. For those acquainted with the world of streaming you won’t be surprised with the pervasive parasocial relationship resulting from chatters (the audience) watching a stream for hours and acquiring a false sense of familiarity with the streamer. Stream Big, which is composed of many interviews conducted by Grayson, takes this and other topics head on. Throughout, each chapter is laced with context and slight observations from Grayson, though ultimately, Grayson allows the interviewees to tell the central story.” Despite there being millions of people tuning into various livestreams on a fairly daily basis, a significant portion of the world still doesn’t even know how Twitch works or who streamers even are. Nathan Grayson seeks to make a difference in that regard, showing readers that Twitch is just another place to meet people with similar interests, even if they have over a million subscribers.  

Beyond The Circle 

There’s been a change to NYC’s Minecraft Education Challenge, but it’s a change for the better! The annual event, renowned for bringing all of the five boroughs together in a bit of friendly competition, will now be known as the NYC Video Game Festival, a highlight of how gaming has slowly become a staple in New York City. Following this, the event will feature even more names in the gaming industry, from big names like Lego to independent developers like Dusk Sharp and Hot Chai Games. Those that are interested can visit this link to NYC.gov to RSVP, and come to the first ever NYC Video Game Festival on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 9am-6pm at the Convene Brookfield Place, 225 Liberty St near Battery Park.

Of note, here are the companies/developers set to be at the event: 

• Corporate Activations
  • Vivid Imagination (VR Simulations)
  • Galaxy Gaming (VR Experience)
• ASUS Freeplay Zone
• Kind Snack Bar
• Samsung Education Lane
  • ESRB
  • The Cxmmunity Foundation
  • School of Visual Arts
  • NYCPS Office of Student Pathways
  • GameU
• Indie Developers
  • Skate Story
  • Hot Chai Games
  • Pixelapp
  • AniTOMO Convention
  • Dusk Sharp
  • 1TON Games
  • Urban Arts
  • Hamra Digital
  • PogiCiv
• Mokuni LLC
• Cartridge Gaming Company
• NYSCATE
• Planetary Games
• dank.game
• Atlantic Games
• Wirescribe Corp

Ronald Gordon is a New York Videogame Critics Circle Member & Mentor. He was the first of our writers – or any intern anywhere – to complete an internship at Rockstar Games.

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