GAMETHING

Soonish.

GAMETHING is happening... again.

Shall we play a GAMETHING?

In which we introduce Season 3 of GAMETHING and reveal its theme. Welcome to the Desert of the Not Quite Real. -- Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we play Alter Ego, a birth-to-death life simulator designed by psychologist Dr. Peter J. Favaro. Pippin worries that eating ice-cream from the freezer as a baby set him on a dark path. David wonders why the game's stuck in time: It's always the 1980s, even when it's the 2040s. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Alter Ego was developed and published by Activision in 1986. -- Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we play House Flipper, a home clean-up and renovation simulator. Pippin marvels at his ability to make trash vanish with a click of the mouse. David tries to sell someone else’s lightswitch. These, and other GAMETHINGS. House Flipper was developed by Frozen District and published by PlayWay in 2018. – Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we play Ecosystem, a physics and AI-based simulation of aquatic life. Pippin likes to think of himself as an underwhelming god of fish. David just wants the fish to be themselves. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Ecosystem was developed by Tom Johnson and published by Slug Disco in 2021. It is an Early Access game on Steam.  – Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we play WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition, an ecological simulator of wolf-life in Yellowstone National Park. Pippin is astonished by the beauty of lupine smell-o-vision. David tries to piss his way to the top. These, and other GAMETHINGS. WolfQuest was originally developed by the Minnesota Zoo in collaboration with Eduweb in 2007. The Anniversary Edition was developed and published by Eduweb and released in 2018. – Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we play Princess Maker: Refine, a being-the-adoptive-father-of-a-war-orphan-and-telling-her-exactly-what-to-do-with-her-life simulator. Warning: game contains skin-crawling paternalism and misogyny. Pippin isn’t sure how to be a good father through a dehumanizing interface. David thinks it might have good bones under its gross skin. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Princess Maker: Refine is a remake of the original Princess Maker from 1991 developed and published by Gainax. The remake was developed by CFK and published by Bliss Brain in 2017. – Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we play BeamNG.drive, a car and driving simulator that foregrounds realism via its soft-body physics engine. Pippin becomes one with his truck. David learns life lessons while falling to his death. These, and other GAMETHINGS. BeamNG.drive is developed and published by BeamNG. It is an Early Access game on Steam first made available in 2015. – Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we play Sid Meier’s Colonization, a simulator of the European colonization of the “New World” starting in 1492. Warning: This game uncritically includes the genocide of Indigenous people, and uncritically does not include slavery. Pippin does his best not to get involved but pays the price of inaction. David flies under the King’s radar and lives on the kindness of others. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Sid Meier’s Colonization was developed and published by MicroProse in 1994. – Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we play Game Dev Story, a cutely capitalist game studio simulator. Pippin releases a console called the GAMETHING. David resents his employees for avoiding work by walking too slow. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Game Dev Story was developed and published by Kairosoft. It was originally released in 1997 for Windows, but we played the 2010 release for mobile. – Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we try to process the experience of an entire season of simulators and find something clever to say. Pippin takes one last stab at the Desert of the Real and life in the slow lane. David thinks simulators help us see ourselves through their imperfections. These, and other GAMETHINGS. – Visit us: https://gamething.life Email us: contact@gamething.life Support us: https://patreon.com/othergamethings/

In which we introduce Season 4 of GAMETHING and reveal its theme. Turn off all the lights.

In which we play Alone in the Dark (1992), a haunted house horror game that’s full of strange joys and scares. Pippin is drawn to the green cosmic horror found through some double doors. David is bitten to death by spiders while quoting Jean-Luc Goddard. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Alone In The Dark was developed and published by Infogrames in 1992.

In which we play Mirror Layers (2021), a series of traps, manipulations, and unreasonable monster roommates. Pippin tries to protect the guttering flame of his fear. David futilely offers up his coaxial cables to the hateful creature trying to kill him. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Mirror Layers was developed and published by Revolab and Ivan Zanotti’s MyMadnessWorks in 2021.

In which we play Anatomy (2016), a malevolent haunted house. Pippin is still in the basement. David can’t stop hearing the screaming. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Anatomy was developed and published by Kitty Horrorshow in 2016.

In which we play Who’s Lila? (2021), a game that insists you take out the trash but must never look inside the bag. Pippin tries not to smile. David can’t summon the daemon. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Who’s Lila? was developed by Garage Heathen and published by Garage Heathen and IndieArk in 2021.

In which we play Resident Evil 4 (2005/2014), taking the role of an impeccably coiffed action hero who doesn't know the meaning of fear. Pippin thinks he’s developing ESP. David is collecting health power-ups for two like an expectant mother. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Resident Evil 4 was developed by Capcom Development Studio 4 and published by Capcom in 2005. The HD remaster was published in 2014.

In which we play two fan translations (2000, 2016) of Sweet Home (1989), an NES film-adaptation of Sweet Home (1989). Pippin says the word “maggots” more than he ever thought possible. David reflects on emotional labour in horror games. These, and other GAMETHINGS. Sweet Home was developed and published by Capcom in 1989.