My nostalgic thirst for all things World of Warcraft has hit hard this year. It’s a pattern that’s repeated nearly every autumn since 2010, wherein the colder weather and dreary days send me spiraling in search of fond memories. And Blizzard’s decade-and-a-half-old MMORPG must be something special because my mind seems to pull me towards…
This is ancient history by internet standards, but Blizzard has delayed the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Shadowlands. Originally, Shadowlands was scheduled to launch on October 27th, 2020. But, citing quality concerns, the studio made the decision to delay the game. I’m assuming all is not well with Shadowlands, because Blizzard hasn’t even set a new release date. As of…
With World of Warcraft: Shadowlands set to drop in just under two months, I’m running out of time with the game’s current expansion, Battle for Azeroth. Such is the case in an MMORPG. Although WoW’s world is persistent, the game’s content ages like bread. Stale content needs to be regularly refreshed and replaced with new offerings.…
Over the last few years, I’ve developed an appreciation for schlock movies. If there’s a periodic table of film, schlock has earned its place alongside the likes of tasteful drama and big-budget action. My reasoning is this: not all films have to be insightful, and schlock movies aren’t lesser for not having high-minded ambitions. Rather,…
I’ve been writing about how World of Warcraft has really been scratching my gaming itch lately. But something I haven’t covered is my enjoyment of WoW’s daily quests. These (sometimes infinitely) repeatable quests have been an integral element of WoW for some time now. They’ve also earned the ire of many players, which seems to stem from how…
I’ve been struggling to understand my affinity for World of Warcraft lately. Historically, I’ve never held a sustained interest in the game beyond a month or two. Don’t get me wrong: the online world of Azeroth is charming, mesmerizing, and unforgettable. But WoW’s core gameplay pales in comparison to the richness of other titles. Where other…
I’m willing to wager that the coronavirus pandemic has been largely terrible for everyone. However, I’ve been fortunate to discover one upside of self-imposed quarantining: it’s freed up a few hours in my everyday life that I’d otherwise spend on transit or other mundane activities. Faced with a newfound surplus of free time, I opted…
I’ve played World of Warcraft on-and-off extremely casually since 2009. The game’s colorful, charming art style and extensive lore still hold a certain allure all these years later, even if WoW’s emphasis on grinding has repeatedly pushed me away. But now that WoW is more respectful of its players’ time, I’ve found more reason to stick around…
The Last of Us Part II is one of the most subversive video games I’ve ever played. As you may have read or heard, TLOU2’s post-apocalyptic story doesn’t attempt to placate fans of the first game: this is a brutal story set in a brutal world. But rather than developing the story and gameplay as…
After seeing Uncut Gems (2019) earlier this year, I knew I’d have to start exploring the previous works of Josh and Benny Safdie, the two brothers who wrote and directed the film. So I started my foray into their catalog with Daddy Longlegs (2009), a comedy-drama about an irresponsible but loving father. Coming from Uncut Gems, Daddy Longlegs is…
