Marc Normandin
@marcnormandin.bsky.social
Newsletters on retro video games and sports labor, regular at The A.V Club and Baseball Prospectus. Editor at FOX Sports. he/him
https://retroxp.beehiiv.com
https://marcnormandin.com
https://www.avclub.com/author/marc-normandin
https://retroxp.beehiiv.com
https://marcnormandin.com
https://www.avclub.com/author/marc-normandin
Pinned
Past meets present: Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Before there was Sonic the Hedgehog, there was Alex Kidd.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
It's pretty easy to see how Alex Kidd in Miracle World failed to live up to Sega's hopes that it would be as popular as Super Mario Bros. I don't mean that as a negative, though, more that the latter was designed for a mass audience, and Miracle World was specifically for the weirdos [complimentary]
Reposted by Marc Normandin
the impossible number of games that release on Steam every day has been discourse for years
why would anybody want to play a game nobody could be bothered to make
why would anybody want to play a game nobody could be bothered to make
Unity says its AI tech will soon be able to 'prompt full casual games into existence'
Unity says its AI tech will soon be able to 'prompt full casual games into existence'
Company CEO Matt Bromberg claims AI will empower non-coders and seasoned developers alike.
www.gamedeveloper.com
February 16, 2026 at 5:27 PM
the impossible number of games that release on Steam every day has been discourse for years
why would anybody want to play a game nobody could be bothered to make
why would anybody want to play a game nobody could be bothered to make
Seeing that Preller is the second-longest-tenured GM in MLB is one of those things that checks out out still feels wrong
February 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Seeing that Preller is the second-longest-tenured GM in MLB is one of those things that checks out out still feels wrong
Reposted by Marc Normandin
Reposted by Marc Normandin
I have a very simple and straightforward two-step plan to Save The Video Game Industry:
Step 1: Globally eliminate the concept of a classed society and redistribute all surplus resources among the populace, permanently enshrining social ownership of the means of production.
Step 2: Ridge Racer 8.
Step 1: Globally eliminate the concept of a classed society and redistribute all surplus resources among the populace, permanently enshrining social ownership of the means of production.
Step 2: Ridge Racer 8.
February 16, 2026 at 12:47 AM
I have a very simple and straightforward two-step plan to Save The Video Game Industry:
Step 1: Globally eliminate the concept of a classed society and redistribute all surplus resources among the populace, permanently enshrining social ownership of the means of production.
Step 2: Ridge Racer 8.
Step 1: Globally eliminate the concept of a classed society and redistribute all surplus resources among the populace, permanently enshrining social ownership of the means of production.
Step 2: Ridge Racer 8.
Crushed it
Dinner plan is:
-Slice of fresh rosemary gruyere bread with an orange-almond butter.
-Butternut corn chowder
-Lemon, leek, and pea risotto
-chicken breast with smoked paprika, manzanilla, and golden raisin pan sauce, served with a butternut mash
-Slice of fresh rosemary gruyere bread with an orange-almond butter.
-Butternut corn chowder
-Lemon, leek, and pea risotto
-chicken breast with smoked paprika, manzanilla, and golden raisin pan sauce, served with a butternut mash
February 16, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Crushed it
Reposted by Marc Normandin
can they pop it back in, or?
February 15, 2026 at 5:36 PM
can they pop it back in, or?
Reposted by Marc Normandin
at an indie game event in the Mission in SF some guy came up to me and asked me and my friend "what are you building?" and i said "we're more into destroying" and he just kinda stared blankly at us for a split second and then walked away. it is so easy to short-circuit these people's brains
Token Anxiety
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
February 15, 2026 at 5:24 PM
at an indie game event in the Mission in SF some guy came up to me and asked me and my friend "what are you building?" and i said "we're more into destroying" and he just kinda stared blankly at us for a split second and then walked away. it is so easy to short-circuit these people's brains
Sorry, Lindsey Vonn has had four surgeries on her leg this week and will have more?
February 15, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Sorry, Lindsey Vonn has had four surgeries on her leg this week and will have more?
Reposted by Marc Normandin
It's time for more Xenosaga Episode III!
This week @nocartridge.bsky.social and I find out if love can bloom in the Military Industrial Complex.
Also, Shion's Girlfriend gets an Evil Girlfriend.
And everyone gets a cutscene, as this game takes its time going anywhere...
youtu.be/jf-MhpY7sec?...
This week @nocartridge.bsky.social and I find out if love can bloom in the Military Industrial Complex.
Also, Shion's Girlfriend gets an Evil Girlfriend.
And everyone gets a cutscene, as this game takes its time going anywhere...
youtu.be/jf-MhpY7sec?...
Let's Play Xenosaga Episode III - 04
YouTube video by Dia Lacina
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 7:07 PM
It's time for more Xenosaga Episode III!
This week @nocartridge.bsky.social and I find out if love can bloom in the Military Industrial Complex.
Also, Shion's Girlfriend gets an Evil Girlfriend.
And everyone gets a cutscene, as this game takes its time going anywhere...
youtu.be/jf-MhpY7sec?...
This week @nocartridge.bsky.social and I find out if love can bloom in the Military Industrial Complex.
Also, Shion's Girlfriend gets an Evil Girlfriend.
And everyone gets a cutscene, as this game takes its time going anywhere...
youtu.be/jf-MhpY7sec?...
See?
It's official, Miami (OH) is the only good men's basketball team, the rest are frauds
February 15, 2026 at 2:17 AM
See?
Kate's dad is in town, we'll eat dinner at her mom's tomorrow, and that means I'm cooking. Because it's me I decided to do a five-course deal where I'll also bake fresh bread, make a flavored butter, and made chicken stock and chicken broth today for use in dishes that need those things tomorrow.
February 15, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Kate's dad is in town, we'll eat dinner at her mom's tomorrow, and that means I'm cooking. Because it's me I decided to do a five-course deal where I'll also bake fresh bread, make a flavored butter, and made chicken stock and chicken broth today for use in dishes that need those things tomorrow.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
Had a dream that there was global panic about the world running out of oxygen, Nintendo was the only video game company to make a statement about it, and the internet collectively spent its final hours on Earth debating whether Nintendo was being genuine or not
February 14, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Had a dream that there was global panic about the world running out of oxygen, Nintendo was the only video game company to make a statement about it, and the internet collectively spent its final hours on Earth debating whether Nintendo was being genuine or not
Reposted by Marc Normandin
If I had to bet on the main thing that has radicalized people against "ai," and I am talking about the way that branding is CURRENTLY BEING USED, not whatever specialized ML utility you may have found for it, it would be in apps and tech they already use being made worse and/or inoperable by it
February 14, 2026 at 9:04 PM
If I had to bet on the main thing that has radicalized people against "ai," and I am talking about the way that branding is CURRENTLY BEING USED, not whatever specialized ML utility you may have found for it, it would be in apps and tech they already use being made worse and/or inoperable by it
Reposted by Marc Normandin
can you imagine how fucking annoying it would be to be the like. 12th best person in the world at ski jumping. like you can’t STOP going to the competitions right? but you’re going to get 12th. your mom flew there
February 14, 2026 at 7:40 PM
can you imagine how fucking annoying it would be to be the like. 12th best person in the world at ski jumping. like you can’t STOP going to the competitions right? but you’re going to get 12th. your mom flew there
Marquette's defense is bringing it today, much different game than last time against UConn
February 14, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Marquette's defense is bringing it today, much different game than last time against UConn
Alright time to give new Converge a spin at the grocery store
February 14, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Alright time to give new Converge a spin at the grocery store
Reposted by Marc Normandin
You cannot give the Catholics the power of the Death Note
Breaking: Nick Castellanos close to Padres deal
February 14, 2026 at 3:56 PM
You cannot give the Catholics the power of the Death Note
This album is so good. Sometimes the best stuff from a given year doesn't make the permanent rotation even if you really enjoyed it at the time, but this one is going to stick.
February 14, 2026 at 3:13 PM
This album is so good. Sometimes the best stuff from a given year doesn't make the permanent rotation even if you really enjoyed it at the time, but this one is going to stick.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
This is definitely going to kill one CEO so thank you Nike
Nike's battery-powered footwear system, which propels wearers forward, is part of a broader push to help humans move farther and faster.
'E-bike for your feet': How bionic sneakers could change human mobility
Nike's battery-powered footwear system, which propels wearers forward, is part of a broader push to help humans move farther and faster.
n.pr
February 14, 2026 at 2:11 PM
This is definitely going to kill one CEO so thank you Nike
What no don't do that
@JonHeyman tweeted
Breaking: Nick Castellanos close to Padres deal
Breaking: Nick Castellanos close to Padres deal
February 14, 2026 at 2:11 PM
What no don't do that
Listen there's no good scenario for if Merrimack makes it to March Madness but this feels like the absolute worst one to pull.
February 14, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Listen there's no good scenario for if Merrimack makes it to March Madness but this feels like the absolute worst one to pull.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
chunsoft made a roguelike where a trap can make a log come out of nowhere and slam your chest so hard you just go flying across the map. I dont wanna just take -17 damage when i hit a trap anymore i want my whole shit ruined and for a trap to make me spill my money everywhere. make me freak tf out
February 12, 2026 at 8:12 AM
chunsoft made a roguelike where a trap can make a log come out of nowhere and slam your chest so hard you just go flying across the map. I dont wanna just take -17 damage when i hit a trap anymore i want my whole shit ruined and for a trap to make me spill my money everywhere. make me freak tf out
Reposted by Marc Normandin
“Metal Gear Solid 4 has too many cutscenes” as a criticism reminds me of when a friend of mine didn’t like a Daft Punk album because “the lyrics were bad.” it’s sort of like adopting a cat and then getting mad that it’s not a dog
February 14, 2026 at 1:48 PM
“Metal Gear Solid 4 has too many cutscenes” as a criticism reminds me of when a friend of mine didn’t like a Daft Punk album because “the lyrics were bad.” it’s sort of like adopting a cat and then getting mad that it’s not a dog
Reposted by Marc Normandin
Ask and you shall receive
February 14, 2026 at 1:22 AM
Ask and you shall receive
Happy Valentine's Day, I don't have a new entry today, but the last few years I have written up video games with the day's theme in mind. Like Chulip, a game about a lot of things, but mostly about kissing everyone you meet.
Retro spotlight: Chulip
In order to kiss your love, you must first kiss everyone else.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Happy Valentine's Day, I don't have a new entry today, but the last few years I have written up video games with the day's theme in mind. Like Chulip, a game about a lot of things, but mostly about kissing everyone you meet.