Let’s get this out of the way: Okabu is freakin’ adorable, no matter what demographic you claim.
Author Archives: Mattie Brice
Why You Should Give Dragon Age II a Second Chance
It’s possible that gamers haven’t figured out a use for criticism. But one of its uses is the possibility for encouraging new perspectives and second chances.
The Fantasy Cyborg: Reading Passing Narratives in Dragon Age
Topics about social minorities in video games typically manifest in the relationship humans have with other sentient characters of their world or universe.
Ludonarrative Resonance
Games and narratives seem to have a contentious relationship within gaming discourse; what is a game and should we read them as a narrative? What is a narrative and when does it belong in a game?
An Apology for RPGs
I’ve been rather grouchy with gaming lately. This new console generation hasn’t produced anything to wow me and I butterfly from one Steam sale to the next, forgetting the vast majority of games in my library. Probably because I grew into a gamer through RPGs, specifically J-RPGs, and the climate for said genre is rather… underwhelming.
It’s Time to Talk About it: Atlus, Naoto, and Transphobia
So let this be an ode to Naoto, as he deserves a critical analysis, but also my questioning of and challenge to Atlus about their representation of transgender characters.
Diversity Watch: Bastion
As a sort of closing thoughts on my time with Bastion, I’m curious as to how I can further my agenda of promoting diversity in games, or seeing how games are an artifact of a culture’s stance on diversity.
Creation vs Destruction in Bastion’s Narrative
A lot of what has the gaming community chattering about Bastion is the role of its narrative in the gameplay. Many critics of the relationship between story and games see them as one slapped onto the other, rather than having an organically joined structure.
CV
Click here for my full CV
Design
Mattie is currently an independent, medium-agnostic game designer. There are many philosophies going into her work; for one, she makes games on accessible platforms that people without programming knowledge or reserves of disposable income can develop on.
Writing
Among the many forms of writing she does, Mattie is mostly known for game criticism, particularly around the topics of diversity issues and narrative.
Speaking
Mattie’s appeared at conferences and other events to talk about her writing and the role she plays in the game industry as a critic and activist.
Contact
Mattie Brice is a play critic, designer, and activist.
Consulting
Mattie’s background in media, teaching, and social justice advocacy in games exposes her to a unique experience and knowledge set relevant to current concerns of the industry.
Organizing
I am involved with events and organizing, and other side projects that require managing teams.