Party On: The Import of the Group Within RPGs

By comparing the culture within western and eastern RPGS, the author argues that plot in role playing games hinges not on one protagonist, but upon a motley crew of characters. by Robert Gordon In the world of role playing games, it’s the ensemble that’s key to plot formation. Though  video game characters can be motivated…

Tuesday! Brooklyn Barcade Event, 7/30/13, 7 p.m.

It’s Saturday morning. Outside, the sun over the river is like Kanye’s finest gold. But I’m distracted, looking forward to Tuesday night. I’m looking forward to Tuesday night because we all get together, a community of proud nerds because honorary member Daniel Radosh of the Daily Show is intelligent and funny and droll because former Rockstar…

Rest In Peace, Steve Morgenstern

When I learned of Steve Morgenstern’s passing early today, it was a shock. Steve Morgenstern had been a fixture, until recently, of the tech and gaming scene in New York City. But I also considered him to be a friend. Although he wasn’t a Circle member and lived out on Long Island, I often invited…

The Moment: 7 Brothers from Injustice: Gods Among Us

The agony of defeat inspires victory, and, perhaps, lasting friendships. by JORGE JIMENEZ Injustice Gods Among Us is the game I always wanted. It’s a superhero fighting game that deals with a parallel universe with bad versions of Flash, Green Lantern and Superman. After proving to myself that I could save the world from an evil…

The Best: Journalism Panels at PAX East

by Jill Scharr We’re big fans of Penny Arcade’s PAX conventions–they’re known for being friendly, open and inclusive, with panels on diverse topics, everything from sexuality to tabletop games to games journalism.  This year, the games journalism panels themselves covered a range of topics, from freelancing to breaking into IGN. Here’s a rundown of the…

The Moment: Beyond: Two Souls

By Harold Goldberg Paris, France: Cold. Rainy. Windy. And utterly beautiful. Far away from the Eieffel Tower at the Quantic Dream studios, a group of journalists is watching a 45-minute demo of live gaming from Beyond: Two Souls. The homeless Jodie Holmes, played by Ellen Page, wanders snowy streets in a blizzard – until she…