Tag Archives: Kyle Carpenter

Minecraft: Development, Discovery, and The Final Frontier

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Kyle Carpenter

Minecraft is a stunning precedent for independent game developers. It’s a game that made Notch, its sole developer, a multi-millionaire before anyone really knew what was happening or what to do about it. There have been a number of copycats in Minecraft’s wake, simulating its blocky aesthetic, its open-ended approach to “world-building,” crafting, and interaction. However, what these copycats can’t duplicate is the most unprecedented part of Minecraft’s success: that it sold millions of copies as an alpha build, an unfinished game. Continue reading →

Posted in Criticism | Tagged and The Final Frontier , , Arma II: Combined Operations , Counterstrike , , Discovery , Gameplay , Joystiq , , , , Minecraft XBLA , Minecraft.exe , Minecraft: Development , Narrative , Notch , Sandbox Games , | 2 Comments

The Pros and Cons of Being Indie

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Kyle Carpenter

What do we talk about when we talk about “indie” games? It is clear that we don’t mean simply “independent” — there are way too many connotations and associations to the word to simply leave it at that. This article unpacks the term through its short history in games and music culture, and proposes a new understanding for the function of this controversial word. Continue reading →

Posted in Criticism , Features | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Phil Fish , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rocksmith and the Limits of Learning

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Kyle Carpenter

by Kyle Carpenter Rocksmith represents an achievement, a pinnacle in game design. The recently released “guitar game” published by Ubisoft is designed for the use of genuine guitars rather than plastic facsimiles. Rocksmith actually teaches its players how to play … Continue reading →

Posted in Criticism , Features , Reviews | Tagged | 6 Comments

Review: Dys4ia

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Kyle Carpenter

by Kyle Carpenter Anna Anthropy has just released her latest game online, Dys4ia. There is little doubt that it is her most personal work to date, and likely to remain so. The game design agent provacateur here offers an autobiographical … Continue reading →

Posted in Criticism , Reviews | Tagged | 1 Comment

Close Playing: Unmanned

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Kyle Carpenter

By Kyle Carpenter Unmanned is a game about delusions. Presented on two screens simultaneously, it has us follow a man and his inner thoughts through his day in the employ of the US military piloting an unmanned aircraft. Our task … Continue reading →

Posted in Columns , Criticism | Tagged Close Playing , | 1 Comment

Ars Demonica: Shin Megami Tensei and Conversing with Daemons

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Kyle Carpenter

By Kyle Carpenter The following article is the first of our series of “Long Plays” or LPs, extended critical looks at games and related phenomena. In this, MD contributor Kyle Carpenter examines the Shin Megami Tensei series and its central … Continue reading →

Posted in Criticism , Features , First Edition | Tagged Ars Demonica , computers , Daemon , Demon , Digital Devil Saga , Digital Devil Story , Digitial Devil Survivor , , , , Strange Journey | 6 Comments