The Man Behind the Monkey

Grant Kirkhope is one of the greatest ever composers of video game soundtracks. Some of his most iconic sounds emerged from the smallest, chance…

Oct 3 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

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September 2025

Going Off Mic

Push to Talk will continue, though on a less regular schedule.

Sep 26 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

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The Strange Descent of the Cozy Farming Sim

On the ways game genres evolve and continue to bear fruit

Sep 19 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

30

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Gamers Aren't Real

Half of all console owners only play a handful of titles per year. Is the term "gamers" really appropriate to describe these people?

Sep 12 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

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The Best YouTube Video of 2025 Was Filmed in Minecraft

Is this Massively Multiplayer Reality TV? A bunch of 20-something Minecraft roleplayers are inventing a novel form of entertainment, and tens of…

Sep 5 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

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August 2025

They're Making Dutch Golden Age Art in Minecraft

And by "they" I mean 23-year-old furries from the Netherlands

Aug 29 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

47

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Can We Please Just Be Normal About AI

On world models and the temptation to view new things through a well-worn lens

Aug 22 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

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14

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Write or Die

No matter what the future brings, you *must* learn to read and write well.

Aug 15 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

47

15

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Behind the Three-Letter Tweet That Pissed Off the Entire Games Industry

"omw"

Aug 8 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

41

10

6

The Cognitive Costs of AI Squinting

Is that...?

Aug 1 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

37

6

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July 2025

YouTubers Can't Save All the Indie Games

“The systems we have available just aren't built for this kind of volume.”

Jul 25 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

51

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The Word-of-Mouth Magic Behind Breakout Hits Like Balatro

LocalThunk says the streamer Dan Gheesling changed everything for Balatro. I asked Gheesling for his POV.

Jul 18 • 

Ryan K. Rigney

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