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]
It's tough! Part of why I'm not bigger on Spiritbox, for example, is because those smooth transitions aren't there and they're less authentic-sounding because of it.
February 19, 2026 at 4:26 PM
It's tough! Part of why I'm not bigger on Spiritbox, for example, is because those smooth transitions aren't there and they're less authentic-sounding because of it.
Really appreciate how she can seamlessly, and without it feeling forced, go from "you can play this one on the radio" to "I will melt your fucking face off"
February 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Really appreciate how she can seamlessly, and without it feeling forced, go from "you can play this one on the radio" to "I will melt your fucking face off"
The previous record is *nuts* so I'm hoping this one is a good one, too
February 19, 2026 at 3:56 PM
The previous record is *nuts* so I'm hoping this one is a good one, too
Alright time to listen to new Poppy
February 19, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Alright time to listen to new Poppy
He beat the existing record by over 50, too, just really going for it
February 19, 2026 at 3:17 PM
He beat the existing record by over 50, too, just really going for it
"Danny Ainge once held the single-season NBA 3-point record" is just one of those fun facts
February 19, 2026 at 3:12 PM
"Danny Ainge once held the single-season NBA 3-point record" is just one of those fun facts
The box art is just universally terrible
February 19, 2026 at 2:36 PM
The box art is just universally terrible
I'm glad this exists tbc but that's also because every Xenoblade game should be on every Nintendo platform forever and ever
February 19, 2026 at 2:27 PM
I'm glad this exists tbc but that's also because every Xenoblade game should be on every Nintendo platform forever and ever
Evidence that the prophecy will come true (Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Definitive Edition)
February 19, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Evidence that the prophecy will come true (Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Definitive Edition)
Like it's going to run and look better and all I'm just constantly astounded by the low level of tolerance some people have for graphics and performance. A reverse Victorian Child situation.
February 19, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Like it's going to run and look better and all I'm just constantly astounded by the low level of tolerance some people have for graphics and performance. A reverse Victorian Child situation.
I always find it funny when a game that ran perfectly fine and looked beautiful has people going "about time this was a big piece of shit" in replies
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition — Announcement Trailer (out now on eShop, physical on April 16) www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC0X...
up to 60 FPS, up to 4K. owners can purchase upgrade pack
up to 60 FPS, up to 4K. owners can purchase upgrade pack
February 19, 2026 at 2:15 PM
I always find it funny when a game that ran perfectly fine and looked beautiful has people going "about time this was a big piece of shit" in replies
Reposted by Marc Normandin
Everyone in the "PR emails" business has seen a huge uptick in low-effort AI spam in the past couple years, but this is the first time in my experience that someone has setup their AI agent so incorrectly that it is emailing me the overnight business updates it's supposed to be sending home.
February 19, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Everyone in the "PR emails" business has seen a huge uptick in low-effort AI spam in the past couple years, but this is the first time in my experience that someone has setup their AI agent so incorrectly that it is emailing me the overnight business updates it's supposed to be sending home.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
don't you dare make a legolas and gimli meme about fighting side by side with arizona republican small business owner nimbys. close that photoshop tab now
“my children might see the children I voted to put in shackles, how shall they grow up”
February 19, 2026 at 12:31 PM
don't you dare make a legolas and gimli meme about fighting side by side with arizona republican small business owner nimbys. close that photoshop tab now
Putting a bunch of ownership problems the owners can solve at the feet of the union and demanding they stop standing in the way of progress is just very weird! www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
February 19, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Putting a bunch of ownership problems the owners can solve at the feet of the union and demanding they stop standing in the way of progress is just very weird! www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
My latest at @baseballprospectus.com is a response to a couple of really strange and prominent paragraphs from an ESPN feature reacting to what the MLBPA has to do post-Tony Clark.
Whose Fault is a Lockout? An Investigation | Baseball Prospectus
There were a lot of odd reactions to former executive director of the MLB Players Association Tony Clark resigning this week. Some had concerns that this meant the union was now going to be doomed in ...
www.baseballprospectus.com
February 19, 2026 at 12:25 PM
My latest at @baseballprospectus.com is a response to a couple of really strange and prominent paragraphs from an ESPN feature reacting to what the MLBPA has to do post-Tony Clark.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
Here's my latest piece for @pcgamer.com! Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse is a brave, beautiful step forwards for the series; a game bold enough to be weird in its own unique ways - previous experience neither required nor helpful:
www.pcgamer.com/games/visual...
www.pcgamer.com/games/visual...
Spooky visual novel The Mermaid's Curse is the best kind of sequel: a self-contained mystery
Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse is better for not caring if you've played the first game.
www.pcgamer.com
February 19, 2026 at 4:19 AM
Here's my latest piece for @pcgamer.com! Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse is a brave, beautiful step forwards for the series; a game bold enough to be weird in its own unique ways - previous experience neither required nor helpful:
www.pcgamer.com/games/visual...
www.pcgamer.com/games/visual...
Oh I didn't see further downthread he said what the new gig was I was trying not to spoil the career change for him by implying it was the end lmao
February 19, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Oh I didn't see further downthread he said what the new gig was I was trying not to spoil the career change for him by implying it was the end lmao
I just saw his % and oh no
February 19, 2026 at 2:15 AM
I just saw his % and oh no
UConn men helping me find perspective about the women's game being a little tougher than I'd like by being down 11 to Creighton late
February 19, 2026 at 2:05 AM
UConn men helping me find perspective about the women's game being a little tougher than I'd like by being down 11 to Creighton late
Bascoe has been great today even with UConn figuring out how to slow her down in the second half, she can ball
February 19, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Bascoe has been great today even with UConn figuring out how to slow her down in the second half, she can ball
I have an appreciation for Villanova as a Merrimack alum and a basketball fan, but also I'm glad this game turned around because "appreciation" does not mean I want to lose to them
February 19, 2026 at 1:51 AM
I have an appreciation for Villanova as a Merrimack alum and a basketball fan, but also I'm glad this game turned around because "appreciation" does not mean I want to lose to them
I don't drink coffee, so tea is where I go if I need the boost. Or if I want help relaxing. Tea is versatile and varied.
February 19, 2026 at 1:50 AM
I don't drink coffee, so tea is where I go if I need the boost. Or if I want help relaxing. Tea is versatile and varied.