Landscape Painting and the Vistas of Assassin’s Creed II

Set in the Italian Renaissance, Assassin's Creed II represents an effort to represent this period visually, politically, and artistically. Since many art critics recognize the Renaissance as a time in art when the landscape became particularly important, it is interesting to note that even the game mechanics of Assassin's Creed are interested in visually representing the sweeping grandeur of landscapes and cityscapes.

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Landscape Painting and the Vistas of Assassin’s Creed II

Locomotion, Parkour, and the Illusion of Competence in Video Games

Mirror's Edge, Prince of Persia, and Assassin's Creed. All games focused on locomotion. More specifically these games are interested in simulating something like free running.

However, some are more successful than others at doing so.

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Locomotion, Parkour, and the Illusion of Competence in Video Games

Ms. Pac-Man: Post Feminist Icon

I got inspired this week watching a video satirizing what it might mean to take a feminist approach to "reading" the image of Ms. Pac-Man.

While intended for laughs, nevertheless, it got me thinking about the problematic nature of presenting Ms. Pac-Man at least as a more traditional emblem of feminist ideals. Thus, I decided to consider her in light of more current theory concerning Post feminism and the problems arising from what critics like Angela McRobbie have called the "double entanglement" of traditional and progressive politics in images of contemporary women.

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Ms. Pac-Man: Post Feminist Icon

Review: Astro Boy

Sometimes retro can suggest a quaint charm, but sometimes retro just means old. That is the case with Astro Boy: The Video Game. The game is retro in all the wrong ways.

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Astro Boy: The Video Game