James Margaris
@markymarg2.bsky.social
A perfectly harmless box. Game dev, half of Dark Roast Entertainment. Games criticism at http://jmargaris.substack.com
Pinned
A long hard look into "player fantasy" rhetoric, including:
Power fantasies
Is calling Ico an "emotional fantasy" helpful?
Psychographic profiles
And, most importantly:
Should a Ninja ride a surfboard?
open.substack.com/pub/jmargari...
Power fantasies
Is calling Ico an "emotional fantasy" helpful?
Psychographic profiles
And, most importantly:
Should a Ninja ride a surfboard?
open.substack.com/pub/jmargari...
The Chair Company finale - at no point did I have *any* idea of what would happen next, but, while it was extremely unpredictable and weird, it didn't come off as totally random or unmotivated.
December 2, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The Chair Company finale - at no point did I have *any* idea of what would happen next, but, while it was extremely unpredictable and weird, it didn't come off as totally random or unmotivated.
Balance patches should be rare once a game is in a reasonable state.
2XKO is not a great state balance wise, but the bigger issue is that it has a lot of problems that go beyond balance. Now is the time to make big changes, not to just do little ticky-tack balance adjustments.
2XKO is not a great state balance wise, but the bigger issue is that it has a lot of problems that go beyond balance. Now is the time to make big changes, not to just do little ticky-tack balance adjustments.
i think people are still kinda burnt from Mortal Kombat X which had like bi-weekly balance patches which led to a really volatile meta where no one was able to actually experiment with anything
i think 2XKO is way too early in its life for this to really matter though
i think 2XKO is way too early in its life for this to really matter though
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Balance patches should be rare once a game is in a reasonable state.
2XKO is not a great state balance wise, but the bigger issue is that it has a lot of problems that go beyond balance. Now is the time to make big changes, not to just do little ticky-tack balance adjustments.
2XKO is not a great state balance wise, but the bigger issue is that it has a lot of problems that go beyond balance. Now is the time to make big changes, not to just do little ticky-tack balance adjustments.
"The player needs to have something to do" is a weak justification for the inclusion of a mechanic, and could be used to justify the inclusion of literally any mechanic in any game.
I guess it's true but it feels like a shoulder-shrug of an argument.
medium.com/@inklestudio...
I guess it's true but it feels like a shoulder-shrug of an argument.
medium.com/@inklestudio...
A (very) brief defence of dialogue choices
In games, the player needs to have something to do.
medium.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:25 AM
"The player needs to have something to do" is a weak justification for the inclusion of a mechanic, and could be used to justify the inclusion of literally any mechanic in any game.
I guess it's true but it feels like a shoulder-shrug of an argument.
medium.com/@inklestudio...
I guess it's true but it feels like a shoulder-shrug of an argument.
medium.com/@inklestudio...
Reposted by James Margaris
A long hard look into "player fantasy" rhetoric, including:
Power fantasies
Is calling Ico an "emotional fantasy" helpful?
Psychographic profiles
And, most importantly:
Should a Ninja ride a surfboard?
open.substack.com/pub/jmargari...
Power fantasies
Is calling Ico an "emotional fantasy" helpful?
Psychographic profiles
And, most importantly:
Should a Ninja ride a surfboard?
open.substack.com/pub/jmargari...
November 17, 2025 at 10:28 PM
A long hard look into "player fantasy" rhetoric, including:
Power fantasies
Is calling Ico an "emotional fantasy" helpful?
Psychographic profiles
And, most importantly:
Should a Ninja ride a surfboard?
open.substack.com/pub/jmargari...
Power fantasies
Is calling Ico an "emotional fantasy" helpful?
Psychographic profiles
And, most importantly:
Should a Ninja ride a surfboard?
open.substack.com/pub/jmargari...
Easily the best modern (post 2000) horror anthology series.
Both seasons of MASTERS OF HORROR are now playing on Kanopy, unedited and without ads. Kanopy is a free streaming app that links through your library, and available to anyone.
December 1, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Easily the best modern (post 2000) horror anthology series.
I will not engage in difficulty discourse, but will make a meta observation:
Pay attention to which games get hit in the press with "it should have difficulty levels" and which games get defended with "the artist vision is that it doesn't have difficulty levels" and see if you can spot a pattern.
Pay attention to which games get hit in the press with "it should have difficulty levels" and which games get defended with "the artist vision is that it doesn't have difficulty levels" and see if you can spot a pattern.
Part of me feels like Dark Souls wouldn't have caught on if the first game had difficulty settings. It'd be "cheap", "pointless", etc.
Arcade games had a relatively granular difficulty option via credit feeding and it played a big part in them written off as "button mashers"/"quarter munchers".
Arcade games had a relatively granular difficulty option via credit feeding and it played a big part in them written off as "button mashers"/"quarter munchers".
November 30, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I will not engage in difficulty discourse, but will make a meta observation:
Pay attention to which games get hit in the press with "it should have difficulty levels" and which games get defended with "the artist vision is that it doesn't have difficulty levels" and see if you can spot a pattern.
Pay attention to which games get hit in the press with "it should have difficulty levels" and which games get defended with "the artist vision is that it doesn't have difficulty levels" and see if you can spot a pattern.
I just read a blog post about the artist behind this:
magnvsrpgjourney.substack.com/p/the-art-of...
Also the artist behind one of my favorite box arts of all time
magnvsrpgjourney.substack.com/p/the-art-of...
Also the artist behind one of my favorite box arts of all time
November 29, 2025 at 12:54 AM
I just read a blog post about the artist behind this:
magnvsrpgjourney.substack.com/p/the-art-of...
Also the artist behind one of my favorite box arts of all time
magnvsrpgjourney.substack.com/p/the-art-of...
Also the artist behind one of my favorite box arts of all time
I have a C# class called NonAllocatingBinaryWriter which is called that because the default C# binary writer would allocate every time it tried to write a float - I don't *think* it still does that but I don't know and I don't how to tell so I'm stuck with this forever
November 26, 2025 at 6:38 AM
I have a C# class called NonAllocatingBinaryWriter which is called that because the default C# binary writer would allocate every time it tried to write a float - I don't *think* it still does that but I don't know and I don't how to tell so I'm stuck with this forever
Battletoads is a strange game - it has a physics-based fighting system that feels years ahead of its time but only uses it for like 1.5 levels before becoming nearly all minigames and gimmicks.
Nintendo Switch Online adds Ninja Gaiden 2, Battletoads, Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, Bionic Commando https://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-switch-online-adds-ninja-gaiden-2-battletoads-kid-icarus-of-myths-and-monsters-bionic-commando/
November 26, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Battletoads is a strange game - it has a physics-based fighting system that feels years ahead of its time but only uses it for like 1.5 levels before becoming nearly all minigames and gimmicks.
Evert time this comes up I feel compelled to point out that the floor shooting scene here (from Nemesis) was the money shot in the Underworld trailer - the trailer ends with a recreation of this shot.
youtu.be/2_IoL7g5Ub8
youtu.be/2_IoL7g5Ub8
November 24, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Evert time this comes up I feel compelled to point out that the floor shooting scene here (from Nemesis) was the money shot in the Underworld trailer - the trailer ends with a recreation of this shot.
youtu.be/2_IoL7g5Ub8
youtu.be/2_IoL7g5Ub8
Been thinking about this a lot recently.
I think half of it is that people just repeat what "content creators" say, and the other half is that if a content creator says something people feel emboldened to agree, while the people who disagree become sheepish.
I think half of it is that people just repeat what "content creators" say, and the other half is that if a content creator says something people feel emboldened to agree, while the people who disagree become sheepish.
One of the producers on Guilty Gear Strive said it was basically impossible to source player feedback on balance changes online because nobody had original opinions and would just parrot what the most popular content creators said and so they had to rely on data and I think about that every day.
November 24, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Been thinking about this a lot recently.
I think half of it is that people just repeat what "content creators" say, and the other half is that if a content creator says something people feel emboldened to agree, while the people who disagree become sheepish.
I think half of it is that people just repeat what "content creators" say, and the other half is that if a content creator says something people feel emboldened to agree, while the people who disagree become sheepish.
Reposted by James Margaris
Hey everyone! I am currently on the lookout for 3D Animator roles!
✨I have almost 5 years experience in the Games Industry
🎨Looking for Animation, Concept Art, QA, and other similar roles.
💼 Open to Remote or near Boston/Rhode Island
Thank you!
#animator #animation
✨I have almost 5 years experience in the Games Industry
🎨Looking for Animation, Concept Art, QA, and other similar roles.
💼 Open to Remote or near Boston/Rhode Island
Thank you!
#animator #animation
May 8, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Hey everyone! I am currently on the lookout for 3D Animator roles!
✨I have almost 5 years experience in the Games Industry
🎨Looking for Animation, Concept Art, QA, and other similar roles.
💼 Open to Remote or near Boston/Rhode Island
Thank you!
#animator #animation
✨I have almost 5 years experience in the Games Industry
🎨Looking for Animation, Concept Art, QA, and other similar roles.
💼 Open to Remote or near Boston/Rhode Island
Thank you!
#animator #animation
Reposted by James Margaris
not sure who needs to hear this, but I think they need to start putting Karnov in games again
November 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
not sure who needs to hear this, but I think they need to start putting Karnov in games again
Reposted by James Margaris
Hey, some pretty good games in here. Go buy this, it's like $13 and you get 13 good games, largely horror, but some other great stuff too.
www.humblebundle.com/games/indie-...
1 day, 8 hours left to get the indie fears bundle, which includes several amazing games including our very own Adios!! $13 for the whole thing!
1 day, 8 hours left to get the indie fears bundle, which includes several amazing games including our very own Adios!! $13 for the whole thing!
Indie Fears Bundle
Expand your spooky season gaming library with the creepiest indie horror games! Each purchase at the price of your choice supports SpecialEffect charity!
www.humblebundle.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Hey, some pretty good games in here. Go buy this, it's like $13 and you get 13 good games, largely horror, but some other great stuff too.
There's a reasonable argument to be made that Dick Cheney is the most responsible out of anyone for the current state of the US. So much of the bullshit today is rooted in invoking terrorism, the AUMF, etc - you can draw a straight line from Trump sending troops into Chicago back to Cheney.
November 21, 2025 at 10:38 PM
There's a reasonable argument to be made that Dick Cheney is the most responsible out of anyone for the current state of the US. So much of the bullshit today is rooted in invoking terrorism, the AUMF, etc - you can draw a straight line from Trump sending troops into Chicago back to Cheney.
I don't know how critics are supposed to deal with gamers being so sensitive.
www.resetera.com/threads/demo...
The people in this thread are freaking out because one review, which wasn't even scored, is "mean-spirited" - which just means it reads negative. That's not allowed!
www.resetera.com/threads/demo...
The people in this thread are freaking out because one review, which wasn't even scored, is "mean-spirited" - which just means it reads negative. That's not allowed!
Demonschool - Review Thread Reviews
Release Date:
2025-11-19 07:00:00 America/Los_Angeles
Platforms:
PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series
Metacritic - 78
Opencritic - 81
CGMagazine - 10/10
PC Gamer - 8.6/10
COG Connected - 8.5/10
...
www.resetera.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 AM
I don't know how critics are supposed to deal with gamers being so sensitive.
www.resetera.com/threads/demo...
The people in this thread are freaking out because one review, which wasn't even scored, is "mean-spirited" - which just means it reads negative. That's not allowed!
www.resetera.com/threads/demo...
The people in this thread are freaking out because one review, which wasn't even scored, is "mean-spirited" - which just means it reads negative. That's not allowed!
Every time one side in this dispute threatens to look slightly redeemable some new revelation emerges.
These are what many people would consider the "good guys" here lol.
These are what many people would consider the "good guys" here lol.
!["Korea—they are the Joe Pesci of countries. Charming until they're incredible [sic] nasty. It goes to 11 quickly. No filter," it adds. "It can be emotionally draining dealing with this, especially as male westerners. Males might be more problem-solvers and bring less emotion—they're [sic] biological reasons for this. Making games is about problem-solving.
"Korea has been surrounded by enemies who want to kill them. They are fighters. It's small and nasty. Every year some big film star commits suicide because of sex, drugs or something, hounded by the press. Put your crash helmet on and stay cool, but don't let that scare you away. You've got $250M coming. Put a wall around your emotions.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:p6hvxep2dpanyl742r2ll2aj/bafkreiaonzs7ksk44czonv4f4btidey3ve6vkl3b7k2eqcsfzu6zeh5c7m@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Every time one side in this dispute threatens to look slightly redeemable some new revelation emerges.
These are what many people would consider the "good guys" here lol.
These are what many people would consider the "good guys" here lol.
One trend I think people don't talk about enough is story-based games that don't have much interest in earnestly trying to tell a story, but also aren't (and aren't trying to be) effective satire or outright comedy.
People like it when story-based games try to tell a good story!
People like it when story-based games try to tell a good story!
November 20, 2025 at 1:47 AM
One trend I think people don't talk about enough is story-based games that don't have much interest in earnestly trying to tell a story, but also aren't (and aren't trying to be) effective satire or outright comedy.
People like it when story-based games try to tell a good story!
People like it when story-based games try to tell a good story!
I recently learned of Goodhart's Law: "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure"
Neat encapsulation of the arc of steam developers pushing people to wishlist games
Neat encapsulation of the arc of steam developers pushing people to wishlist games
November 19, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I recently learned of Goodhart's Law: "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure"
Neat encapsulation of the arc of steam developers pushing people to wishlist games
Neat encapsulation of the arc of steam developers pushing people to wishlist games
Some of the reaction to Elden Ring was bizarre and reeked of people either stuck in their ways or feeling threatened and not wanting to admit that the game excelled in ways theirs did not. According to some western video game literati every individual component of the game was bad!
Yeah. I hate that phrase. Always spoken with the utmost confidence too.
I’ll always remember the ex-Ubisoft art director who insisted that Elden Ring had _objectively_ bad world design, and that anyone who’d ever worked on an open world game could see that it was breaking X and Y world design rules
I’ll always remember the ex-Ubisoft art director who insisted that Elden Ring had _objectively_ bad world design, and that anyone who’d ever worked on an open world game could see that it was breaking X and Y world design rules
November 19, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Some of the reaction to Elden Ring was bizarre and reeked of people either stuck in their ways or feeling threatened and not wanting to admit that the game excelled in ways theirs did not. According to some western video game literati every individual component of the game was bad!
I accidentally picked up a scifi romance book and I don't think people are ready for the conversation about how women who write romance are more sexist (against women) than men.
November 19, 2025 at 1:18 AM
I accidentally picked up a scifi romance book and I don't think people are ready for the conversation about how women who write romance are more sexist (against women) than men.
November 18, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Check it out Australians!
A long hard look into "player fantasy" rhetoric, including:
Power fantasies
Is calling Ico an "emotional fantasy" helpful?
Psychographic profiles
And, most importantly:
Should a Ninja ride a surfboard?
open.substack.com/pub/jmargari...
Power fantasies
Is calling Ico an "emotional fantasy" helpful?
Psychographic profiles
And, most importantly:
Should a Ninja ride a surfboard?
open.substack.com/pub/jmargari...
November 18, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Check it out Australians!
November 17, 2025 at 10:37 PM
"Ogre Magi will remember that"
November 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM
"Ogre Magi will remember that"