“Culture handbooks don’t produce culture, people do.” Five things for November 16, 2023.
Tag: Military
How I Could Just Kill a (Virtual) Man
RPGs, simulations, and strategy games are my preferred genres, but I’ve played and enjoyed several shooters that prioritized story over gameplay (BioShock Infinite), explored the moral gray areas of violence as a solution (Spec-Ops: The Line), or whose sci-fi settings simply put things in a less problematic context (Halo). The timing of Hardline’s switch from military fantasy to militarized police fantasy couldn’t possibly be worse, either, in light of the ongoing problems in Ferguson, MO, one of the more egregious examples of a systemic cultural problem in this country that most video games either completely ignore or cynically tap into.
Mozer, Bethea and Me (for Veteran’s Day)
Veteran’s Day isn’t a time for generic sentiments, positive or negative, but a time for personal reflection. I’m generally ambivalent about my time in the military because I met far too many people who defied easy stereotypes of what it means to be pro- or anti-war, and I’ve always had nothing but respect for anyone who has served, not to mention a fair bit of curiosity about why they did so.
On Memorial Day
Take a moment today to remember those who died, and those who came back less than whole. It’s not just…
Like Hope, But Different
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs] (Warning: Put down any hot beverages you may be drinking before pressing play.) On a more serious note, via…
Charlie Foxtrot Entertainment
A number of new comics publishers have targeted specific niches over the years, seeking to better serve and/or exploit untapped…
Fun With Reviews
I posted my aforementioned review of Combat Zone: True Tales of GI’s in Iraq, Vol. 1 TP to Amazon.com yesterday,…