Recent content by Anthony Burch

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    241: World of Spycraft

    World of Spycraft Most videogames about espionage present highly stylized accounts of what it's like to be a spy. But one mid-'90s gem had the guts to offer an unflinching simulation of real CIA operations. Anthony Burch revisits Activision's Spycraft: The Great Game. Read Full Article
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    209: Infinite Caves, Infinite Stories

    Infinite Caves, Infinite Stories One of the most astonishingly innovative games of the last year is also one of the most unassuming. Anthony Burch sings the praises of Derek Yu's Spelunky. Read Full Article
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    196: Building a Better Achievement

    Building a Better Achievement It's easy to tell when the achievements were simply the last item on the developer's checklist before the game shipped. But when they receive a bit of extra attention and a little creativity, achievements can greatly enhance your experience with a game. Anthony...
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    195: String Theory: The Illusion of Videogame Interactivity

    String Theory: The Illusion of Videogame Interactivity There's a debate raging in the game development community over the role of storytelling in game design. But two recent games have managed to make a compromise between narrative and interactivity. Anthony Burch analyzes how key scenes in...
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    172: Heathens by Design

    Heathens by Design "Super Mario doesn't believe in God." "For all his magical items, heroic deeds and self-sacrifice, Mario knows - simply knows - that there is no external, mystical force shaping events and willing to intervene on his behalf. There's the player, of course, but he boots up...
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    158: Stars and Squares

    Stars and Squares "Whatever you do, don't click." "That's the mistake most players make upon first loading up The Marriage, the first widely released artgame by Rod Humble. In Humble's minimalist, abstract exploration of relationship dynamics, even the seemingly innocuous act of clicking the...
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    107: Blackmailers Don't Shoot

    Blackmailers Don't Shoot "Noir, at its heart, is about atmosphere. An atmosphere described by Taxi Driver scribe Paul Schrader as "fatalistic, hopeless." Protagonists often find themselves betrayed (Double Indemnity), murdered (The Killers) or usually some combination of the two. Yet for all...