🏳️‍⚧️ "Critical Kate” Willært

Critical Mass Newsletter (Mar 2026) | Critical Kate Get more from Critical Kate on Patreon

A reminder that if you donate to my Patreon at the $1 level I do a bi-monthly newsletter about what I've been up to, and a link round-up of things I've read or watched or posted on Bluesky.

www.patreon.com/posts/critic...

"We Owe You A Clear Apology" - Limited Run Games Pledges "Completely New Production Cycle" for Sonic X Shadow Collector's Edition Limited Run Games has released a new statement offering a "clear apology" to customers who ordered its Sonic X Shadow Generations Collector's Edition (which originally opened for pre-order 18 months a...

But it’s behavioral, especially for those of us always on the lookout for suspicious links.

In this case, a hyperlink with a manually embedded image looks less friendly than the normal image-with-headline that happens automatically when regular-linking it.

www.sonicstadium.org/articles/son...

I just tested it and you’re right, but I’d never gotten that far lol.

As cool as the hyperlinks are, I actually find myself reluctant to click via phone because I can’t see the URL.

Although IIRC there was one computer mag so torn up about Planetfall that the cover of their next issue was a black cover quoting the entire text of the scene, like really people?

It’s like how people joke about the spoiler to FF7 without thinking about many generations of gamers weren’t born yet when it was released.

I always have better luck with the Libby app.

More like a next gen redesign.

Haha, how terrible would it be if I was like "Patrons at the X tier get to see the new face first before the public reveal."

This is what they don't tell you about the hazards of slipping into a video game reality where the townsfolk expect you to save their town by beating Punch-Out!! for real.

The worst I looked was two weeks ago Saturday and Sunday. I wasn’t in much pain (thanks to meds), but it was miserable not being able to breathe through my nose, not being able to chew or use my lips much, and my eyes nearly swole shut (I could only see out of a sliver of one eye over the weekend).

He quote tweeted the essay here on Bluesky.

This is exactly how I view it, history is a team sport (or a co-op game?) and in theory we’re all on the same side (even if I keep absent-mindedly grabbing the pizza before checking everyone’s health bar first).

bsky.app/profile/sanq...

Maybe if I made a gif of myself pushing up my glasses while saying it.

bsky.app/profile/cana...

One of the hardest things about doing parallel but separate research to someone you respect is when they publish and you immediately spot tiny errors that your research will correct. Like, what's the most polite way to acknowledge it? Do I occasionally flash a card that says "I'm so sorry Jeremy 😬"?

The Metroidvania book on Amazon, #1 new release in "Video Game Art," whatever that means

This probably doesn't mean all that much in the grand scheme of things, BUT it's a pleasant little ego boost to see regardless. Thanks, everyone!

A big part of its importance involves a FF7 level spoiler you need to try to avoid (if you want to play it yourself first, otherwise I can spoil you in DM).

I wouldn’t confuse desperation for bravery.

Critical Kate (of A Critical Hit!) My name is "Critical Kate" Willært, I research and write about forgotten geek history.

I suppose a link would help.

www.youtube.com/@acriticalhit

I looked worse first.

At some point I crossed 20k followers here on Bluesky, which is amazing, but are you sure you all don’t want to also follow me on YouTube? Still trying to hit 10k followers on there.

Shigeru Miyamoto x Shigesato Itoi – 1989 Interview - shmuplations.com This lengthy interview captures a high-level meeting of the minds between Shigesato Itoi, Shigeru Miyamoto, and author Seiko Itou.

Today we have an amazing interview from 1989 with Shigeru Miyamoto and Shigesato Itoi. Conducted shortly after the release of Mother, it's full of deep musings about realism, creative exhaustion, the moral panic over kids & gaming, and prescient visions of the future. shmuplations.com/itoimiyamoto/

Ultima Underworld cover sample art by @denisloubet.bsky.social

Ultima Underworld cover sample art by @denisloubet.bsky.social

His mock up/tests are also so wonderful.

COOKIE HAS BEEN FREED FROM THE MADNESS

I think part of why I like this so much is it reminds me of a mini-comic I wrote in art school where a guy tried to convince a skeptic friend that they’re in a comic. Once convinced, he gets the bad news: On the final page turn he will cease to exist, except to repeat this loop for another reader.

This is somehow the most haunting bit of in-game lore I have ever read.

4 hours for newcomers to beat Maniac Mansion blind isn't a test in search of answers. It's a test in search of a narrative.

bsky.app/profile/kate...

Me two weeks ago. I look better now, but still not reveal ready. (CW: Blood and swelling.)

Want to make my9games.com extra challenging (and maybe extra accurate)? Choose 3 console, 3 PC, and 3 arcade games.