The Essay: On Inaccessibility: A Case for Game Refunds

By Bobby Kent I’m certain game launches are complex beasts. Yet the disappointing, initial launch states of titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy have made it clear that the refund systems of digital storefronts like the PlayStation, Xbox or eShop stores are not going far enough to accommodate the demands of…

The Process: The Sam Houser Story, Step By Step

by Harold Goldberg Recently, CNET’s Jeff Bakalar and I had a conversation about a piece I wrote about Rockstar Games’ Sam Houser for Playboy magazine. Jeff was really kind to have me on, and his opener was akin to “That’s a hard interview to get. How did you get the interview?” I did my best…

The Moments: The First 13 Notable Things in GTA V

By Harold Goldberg At first, I was annoyed at the wait to load the game onto the 360. I loved looking closely at the expertly drawn character screens. But they began to repeat, and because I’ve been very much anticipating this particular installment, I was getting antsy. I looked at the massive map in my…