Alex Donaldson
@apzonerunner.com
Video game critic. Owner/Final Boss @RPGSite.net, Editor-at-large @Eurogamer.net, occasional freelancer & consultant.
Into: Arcade cabs, Watches, Dogs, Whisky, fighting games (esp SF), RPGs (esp FF), NFL (Rams), Lego, Poker & Blackjack
www.donaldson.zone
Into: Arcade cabs, Watches, Dogs, Whisky, fighting games (esp SF), RPGs (esp FF), NFL (Rams), Lego, Poker & Blackjack
www.donaldson.zone
the goat.
also, I cannot overstate how important the mixed race, working class Lister/Craig was to me as a kid
also, I cannot overstate how important the mixed race, working class Lister/Craig was to me as a kid
Red Dwarf started 38 years ago today on BBC Two with the aptly named "The End".
February 15, 2026 at 11:01 AM
the goat.
also, I cannot overstate how important the mixed race, working class Lister/Craig was to me as a kid
also, I cannot overstate how important the mixed race, working class Lister/Craig was to me as a kid
I am definitely in one of those periods where all that can be done is to brute force progress from adversity. But I have to admit I rather thrive on that stuff; less art from adversity (What I do isn't nearly so high-minded to be called art) but certainly /excitement/ from it.
February 14, 2026 at 9:29 PM
I am definitely in one of those periods where all that can be done is to brute force progress from adversity. But I have to admit I rather thrive on that stuff; less art from adversity (What I do isn't nearly so high-minded to be called art) but certainly /excitement/ from it.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
With more people getting the opportunity to play Metal Gear Solid 4, it means more people will understand one of my favorite posts online
February 14, 2026 at 5:04 AM
With more people getting the opportunity to play Metal Gear Solid 4, it means more people will understand one of my favorite posts online
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
I met Khary Payton, Drebins’ voice actor at a con and someone had asked about how it was working on MGS4, if there was any standout moments to him he remembered.
He then began to describe being given Laughing Octopus’s backstory and genuinely thought he was being pranked.
He then began to describe being given Laughing Octopus’s backstory and genuinely thought he was being pranked.
With more people getting the opportunity to play Metal Gear Solid 4, it means more people will understand one of my favorite posts online
February 14, 2026 at 1:06 PM
I met Khary Payton, Drebins’ voice actor at a con and someone had asked about how it was working on MGS4, if there was any standout moments to him he remembered.
He then began to describe being given Laughing Octopus’s backstory and genuinely thought he was being pranked.
He then began to describe being given Laughing Octopus’s backstory and genuinely thought he was being pranked.
RIP to an absolute legend. I wouldn't be doing all this today if not for his creations. Such immense talent surely deserved more than even 77 years, but he leaves behind quite the legacy in the immortal hardware he stewarded.
as announced by online Sega history zine Beep21: Hideki Sato, the "father of Sega hardware" who stewarded the design of Sega's home consoles from the SG-1000 through to the Dreamcast & presided over the company from 2001~3, passed away on Feb.13 aged 77 🇯🇵
R.I.P.
R.I.P.
X Cancelled | Verifying your request
xcancel.com
February 14, 2026 at 9:14 PM
RIP to an absolute legend. I wouldn't be doing all this today if not for his creations. Such immense talent surely deserved more than even 77 years, but he leaves behind quite the legacy in the immortal hardware he stewarded.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Our second feature is an interview with the Monster Hunter Stories 3 team covering how it focused on building relationships with companions and expanding the scope of the RPG series: https://www.rpgsite.net/interview/19603-monster-hunter-stories-3-interview-building-relationships-jrpg-scope-capcom
February 12, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Our second feature is an interview with the Monster Hunter Stories 3 team covering how it focused on building relationships with companions and expanding the scope of the RPG series: https://www.rpgsite.net/interview/19603-monster-hunter-stories-3-interview-building-relationships-jrpg-scope-capcom
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
where's the light kick button?
They’re just out there setting records at everything.
Love in a cold climate: Winter Olympic village runs out of condoms after three days
Free condoms for competitors at the Winter Olympics have run out within a record-breaking three days
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:08 PM
where's the light kick button?
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
we live in the ruins of a greater civilization
February 13, 2026 at 3:12 AM
we live in the ruins of a greater civilization
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
nobody posted the clip anywhere so i went and dug the whole episode up
February 13, 2026 at 5:22 AM
nobody posted the clip anywhere so i went and dug the whole episode up
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Battleborn released in 2016, got updates for around a year or so, and the servers ran until 2021.
February 12, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Battleborn released in 2016, got updates for around a year or so, and the servers ran until 2021.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
7 years after I started VGC, I’m incredibly proud of the editorial team. In particular, in the last 18 months, we visited the likes of Team Asobi, Capcom, Kojima Productions, and TPC, while interviewing Todd Howard, Hideki Kamiya, Sega, Square Enix, Konami, Sucker Punch, CD Projekt, and many more.
VGC recently travelled to Tokyo to speak to Game Freak's Shigeru Ohmori and Koei Tecmo about Pokémon’s big spin-off, Pokopia, and learned how it was directly inspired by Ruby and Sapphire.
Extensive impressions and dev team interviews via the link:
vgc.news/features/pok...
Extensive impressions and dev team interviews via the link:
vgc.news/features/pok...
Pokopia: Game Freak on how Ruby and Sapphire inspired Pokémon’s biggest ever spin-off | VGC
Game Freak & Koei Tecmo discuss the promising Nintendo Switch 2 Pokémon sim that left us thoroughly impressed…
vgc.news
February 11, 2026 at 3:08 PM
7 years after I started VGC, I’m incredibly proud of the editorial team. In particular, in the last 18 months, we visited the likes of Team Asobi, Capcom, Kojima Productions, and TPC, while interviewing Todd Howard, Hideki Kamiya, Sega, Square Enix, Konami, Sucker Punch, CD Projekt, and many more.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
alert: this is going to be sick af
An hour with Pokopia suggests it might be the best Pokémon spin-off ever - and it's more Viva Pinata than Minecraft or Animal Crossing www.eurogamer.net/an-hour-with...
February 11, 2026 at 3:03 PM
alert: this is going to be sick af
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Romeo is a Dead Man is a violent, loud, and beautifully human piece of art that reminds us what makes video games as a medium so special. Our review: https://www.rpgsite.net/review/19572-romeo-dead-man-review
February 10, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Romeo is a Dead Man is a violent, loud, and beautifully human piece of art that reminds us what makes video games as a medium so special. Our review: https://www.rpgsite.net/review/19572-romeo-dead-man-review
very much in the, "I would like to do something about this" column. Resources.... TIME. bleh
The time has come to return to forums imo. But for that we do need some better forums tho imo era has time and time again proven itself moderationally compromised and is now owned by a company which seems a fairly absent parent)
Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month - all accounts set to "teen-appropriate experience" by default www.theverge.com/tech/875309/...
discord.com/press-releas...
discord.com/press-releas...
February 10, 2026 at 3:54 PM
very much in the, "I would like to do something about this" column. Resources.... TIME. bleh
harry potter is absolutely gonna be like four years of magic the gathering now lol
Hasbro and Warner Bros. Discovery have signed a multi-year deal starting in 2027 to produce Harry Potter film and television series dolls, role play, action figures, collectibles, interactive plush, board games, and more to be revealed later this year - bwnews.pr/45UKdKL
February 10, 2026 at 1:33 PM
harry potter is absolutely gonna be like four years of magic the gathering now lol
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
"I'm certain that for every track that people have enjoyed, various kinds of coffee have joined me as faithful companions" — Yasunori Nishiki on Octopath Traveler music, joining Team Asano, boss themes, arranging FF songs, wanting to work with Kevin Penkin, & more: www.rpgsite.net/interview/19...
February 9, 2026 at 3:17 PM
"I'm certain that for every track that people have enjoyed, various kinds of coffee have joined me as faithful companions" — Yasunori Nishiki on Octopath Traveler music, joining Team Asano, boss themes, arranging FF songs, wanting to work with Kevin Penkin, & more: www.rpgsite.net/interview/19...
The time has come to return to forums imo. But for that we do need some better forums tho imo era has time and time again proven itself moderationally compromised and is now owned by a company which seems a fairly absent parent)
Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month - all accounts set to "teen-appropriate experience" by default www.theverge.com/tech/875309/...
discord.com/press-releas...
discord.com/press-releas...
February 9, 2026 at 9:54 PM
The time has come to return to forums imo. But for that we do need some better forums tho imo era has time and time again proven itself moderationally compromised and is now owned by a company which seems a fairly absent parent)
Aight I'm going to bed lmao
February 9, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Aight I'm going to bed lmao
I wish it were the Rams doing it, but this really is giving flashbacks of that Rams/Patriots Superbowl in reverse
February 9, 2026 at 2:26 AM
I wish it were the Rams doing it, but this really is giving flashbacks of that Rams/Patriots Superbowl in reverse
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Interesting map layout. 🫣
February 9, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Interesting map layout. 🫣
Superbowl Sunday means an excuse to extol the virtues of the absolutely pure game design of NFL Blitz www.eurogamer.net/superbowl-su...
A love letter to NFL Blitz, one of the greatest sports games of all time
The big game can only mean two things: An onslaught of horrendous advertising, and thinking about NFL Blitz.
www.eurogamer.net
February 8, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Superbowl Sunday means an excuse to extol the virtues of the absolutely pure game design of NFL Blitz www.eurogamer.net/superbowl-su...