Author Archives: Margaret Robertson

One More Go: Why Halo makes me want to lay down and die

Posted on September 27, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

There are those who say that when any door closes another one opens. These people have clearly never queued for the ladies toilet in St Pancras Station. Conceptually, though, they have a point. Endings are often beginnings. The biggest ending … Continue reading →

Of Words and Wool: The Making of Denki’s XBLA word-battler Quarrel

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

I have a favourite new gaming peripheral. It’s 16 bits of mounting card, 48 four-square bits of Lego, the men from 14 games of Ludo, 100 tiddly-winks, three marker pens, some wipe-clean grids, a laptop, 280 pounds of human flesh … Continue reading →

One More Go: Metroid, from girl geek to Godwin’s Law in a single triple-jump

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

I spent this weekend playing Super Metroid, start to finish. I thought the ending was a bit weak, but I loved the puzzles with foam and the grenades. Psyche! Metroid doesn’t have foam and grenades. But you knew that. What … Continue reading →

One More Go: How Galleon may take you on an unexpected voyage.

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

I like to prepare for every eventuality. I have plasters and safety pins stashed in my bag. I get the train before the one I need. I have assembled a small army of toys on whose loyalty I feel I … Continue reading →

One More Go: Cubivore, or a look inside Nintendo’s heart of darkness.

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

It’s a tranquil scene: a herd of gentle creatures gambol by a pool. They chirrup and neigh as they drink. When a predator thunders down towards them they scatter, but one is too startled, too slow. The beast’s massive jaws … Continue reading →

One More Go: Final Fantasy XII, Wasting your time the scientific way

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

I resent having to write this column. I resent being on a train on the way a conference that I also resent. I resent the pretty song that’s playing on my phone. I resent the way the sun is breaking … Continue reading →

One More Go: Why Typing Of The Dead makes me feel so alive.

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

I love spam poetry. I horde it and treasure it and dream of one day releasing it as a short anthology and making my fortune, as so many poets do. I got some very fine stuff through the other week, … Continue reading →

One More Go: Samba De Amigo, or why Sega owe me £400

Posted on June 18, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

It’s 2008. You’re an experienced game maker waiting to pitch your big new idea to your boss. ‘Well?’ he asks. ‘It’s a motion controlled music party game with novelty peripherals that will retail for around £100!’ you blurt. A smile. … Continue reading →

One More Go: Intelligent Qube, or Murdering Steven Spielberg

Posted on June 3, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

I’m not playing it coy this time. The game I’ve gone back to this week has no truck with coy. It is Kurushi, the ‘Modern Times‘ of videogames. If you’re American you might know it as Intelligent Qube, which means … Continue reading →

One More Go: Passage, or why I really should know better

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Margaret Robertson

I have a happy, long-running argument with one of the nicest game developers in the world about whether or not games can do subtle emotions. It’s a familiar debate: games can deliver big, bold visceral emotions – fright, frustration, triumph … Continue reading →