Sam Howitt
@samuelhowitt.bsky.social
I wrote a lot about Final Fantasy and now I'm branching out to other videogames. They/Them
Words at pixpen.co.uk
Words at pixpen.co.uk
Reposted by Sam Howitt
This week: community and continuity form a thematic throughline for seventeen new picks:
critical-distance.com/2025/11/09/n...
critical-distance.com/2025/11/09/n...
November 9th
Welcome back readers. Okay, I lied a small lie last week. I’m not going to plug our money stuff this week. Instead keep your focus on The Jamaican government’s official portal for Hurri…
critical-distance.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:43 PM
This week: community and continuity form a thematic throughline for seventeen new picks:
critical-distance.com/2025/11/09/n...
critical-distance.com/2025/11/09/n...
Reposted by Sam Howitt
dragon quest 1 is in the air lately, so please enjoy this old blog exploring the development of one of my favorite relationships with a jrpg world map
tunditur-unda.neocities.org/posts/2020-0...
tunditur-unda.neocities.org/posts/2020-0...
November 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
dragon quest 1 is in the air lately, so please enjoy this old blog exploring the development of one of my favorite relationships with a jrpg world map
tunditur-unda.neocities.org/posts/2020-0...
tunditur-unda.neocities.org/posts/2020-0...
That's Dragon Quest 1 HD2D finished. Game's certainly much bigger, took me three times as long as the original.
I know I'm merely getting started, onto the second game!
I know I'm merely getting started, onto the second game!
November 8, 2025 at 2:21 PM
That's Dragon Quest 1 HD2D finished. Game's certainly much bigger, took me three times as long as the original.
I know I'm merely getting started, onto the second game!
I know I'm merely getting started, onto the second game!
Reposted by Sam Howitt
my latest is out for skybox!!! 💜
the casting of teruyuki kagawa in yakuza kiwami 3 is not only disgusting in itself, but also ridiculous in its hypocrisy considering rgg's past recasts and the series. i feel, and write, very strongly about it
please read, i think this is some of my best work 💜
the casting of teruyuki kagawa in yakuza kiwami 3 is not only disgusting in itself, but also ridiculous in its hypocrisy considering rgg's past recasts and the series. i feel, and write, very strongly about it
please read, i think this is some of my best work 💜
Hamazaki Has To Goh - where does Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio draw the line on casting, and why is it not at sexual assault? by @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social
"it’s particularly insulting and disgusting for him to be cast in a series that has historically featured sex pests being (rightly) beat up"
Read on:
"it’s particularly insulting and disgusting for him to be cast in a series that has historically featured sex pests being (rightly) beat up"
Read on:
Hamazaki Has To Goh - where does Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio draw the line on casting, and why is it not at sexual assault?
A look at the bizarre decision to cast Teruyuki Kagawa's in Yakuza Kiwami 3, through a lens of previous re-casting decisions from RGG Studio.
skyboxcritics.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:44 PM
my latest is out for skybox!!! 💜
the casting of teruyuki kagawa in yakuza kiwami 3 is not only disgusting in itself, but also ridiculous in its hypocrisy considering rgg's past recasts and the series. i feel, and write, very strongly about it
please read, i think this is some of my best work 💜
the casting of teruyuki kagawa in yakuza kiwami 3 is not only disgusting in itself, but also ridiculous in its hypocrisy considering rgg's past recasts and the series. i feel, and write, very strongly about it
please read, i think this is some of my best work 💜
Reposted by Sam Howitt
there's just no way
November 6, 2025 at 12:13 AM
there's just no way
Trying something different with facial hair, it's a work in progress.
November 6, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Trying something different with facial hair, it's a work in progress.
Reposted by Sam Howitt
NEW BLOG POST: My experience with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is defined by change, both in the game and within myself.
pixpen.co.uk/2025/11/04/t...
pixpen.co.uk/2025/11/04/t...
The Truth of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
This article contains spoilers. From its original incarnation, Final Fantasy Tactics has always been about truth. It’s a story told in retrospect from the fictional historian Arazlam. He tell…
pixpen.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 8:47 PM
NEW BLOG POST: My experience with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is defined by change, both in the game and within myself.
pixpen.co.uk/2025/11/04/t...
pixpen.co.uk/2025/11/04/t...
NEW BLOG POST: My experience with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is defined by change, both in the game and within myself.
pixpen.co.uk/2025/11/04/t...
pixpen.co.uk/2025/11/04/t...
The Truth of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
This article contains spoilers. From its original incarnation, Final Fantasy Tactics has always been about truth. It’s a story told in retrospect from the fictional historian Arazlam. He tell…
pixpen.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 8:47 PM
NEW BLOG POST: My experience with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is defined by change, both in the game and within myself.
pixpen.co.uk/2025/11/04/t...
pixpen.co.uk/2025/11/04/t...
Reposted by Sam Howitt
INCOMING CANON FIRE!
A deep dive into the ABSOLUM, the latest from the Streets of Rage 4 team!
I dig into how it evolves the arcade spirit of games like Capcom's Dungeons and Dragons beat-em-ups, its remix of fantasy tropes, and even its take on gender and identity.
canonfire.net/post/7992333...
A deep dive into the ABSOLUM, the latest from the Streets of Rage 4 team!
I dig into how it evolves the arcade spirit of games like Capcom's Dungeons and Dragons beat-em-ups, its remix of fantasy tropes, and even its take on gender and identity.
canonfire.net/post/7992333...
055: Absolum brings the arcade spirit of its fantasy inspirations roaring into the modern age
The latest from Guard Crush Games, one of the main developers on Streets of Rage 4, Absolum takes plenty from their work on SEGA’s brawler. The skeleton of the game can be seen in their experiments...
canonfire.net
November 3, 2025 at 10:23 PM
INCOMING CANON FIRE!
A deep dive into the ABSOLUM, the latest from the Streets of Rage 4 team!
I dig into how it evolves the arcade spirit of games like Capcom's Dungeons and Dragons beat-em-ups, its remix of fantasy tropes, and even its take on gender and identity.
canonfire.net/post/7992333...
A deep dive into the ABSOLUM, the latest from the Streets of Rage 4 team!
I dig into how it evolves the arcade spirit of games like Capcom's Dungeons and Dragons beat-em-ups, its remix of fantasy tropes, and even its take on gender and identity.
canonfire.net/post/7992333...
Reposted by Sam Howitt
NEW VIDEO: Cosmic horror, social distrust, technology as a means of reaching out into the void and religious iconography stalking the streets of a sleepy Sardinian town. Here are four unique tales of terror, and why you should pay attention to them:
Unusual Horror Games | Static Canvas
YouTube video by Static Canvas
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 11:50 PM
NEW VIDEO: Cosmic horror, social distrust, technology as a means of reaching out into the void and religious iconography stalking the streets of a sleepy Sardinian town. Here are four unique tales of terror, and why you should pay attention to them:
Reposted by Sam Howitt
It wasn't Gabriel Knight 3's cat mustache puzzle that killed "adventure games." They never died, even if the industry killed off Sierra On-line. www.endlessmode.com/video-games/...
The Death of Adventure Games: The Cat Mustache Was Never the Issue Here
It wasn't Gabriel Knight 3's cat mustache puzzle that "adventure games." They never died, even if the industry killed off Sierra On-line.
www.endlessmode.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
It wasn't Gabriel Knight 3's cat mustache puzzle that killed "adventure games." They never died, even if the industry killed off Sierra On-line. www.endlessmode.com/video-games/...
Spent some more time with the Dragon Quest 1 HD2D remake and they really did just make a very different game out of Dragon Quest.
November 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Spent some more time with the Dragon Quest 1 HD2D remake and they really did just make a very different game out of Dragon Quest.
Reposted by Sam Howitt
Jill, I was under the impression that your skillset would have allowed us to avoid this specific scenario
PlayStation 1 Barry had explicitly assured me I needn't worry about this happening
PlayStation 1 Barry had explicitly assured me I needn't worry about this happening
October 31, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Jill, I was under the impression that your skillset would have allowed us to avoid this specific scenario
PlayStation 1 Barry had explicitly assured me I needn't worry about this happening
PlayStation 1 Barry had explicitly assured me I needn't worry about this happening
Reposted by Sam Howitt
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
The Video Game History Expansion Pack – Pitch your story
Today I’m putting my money where my mouth is and launching a new project — a book focused on game history outside of the usual North American perspectives.
crpgbook.wordpress.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:11 PM
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
Got a draft all written, so I'll spend some of the weekend getting it into good shape. Expect the article some time early next week.
In progress getting my writing on Final Fantasy Tactics The Ivalice Chronicles together. Compared to what I wrote about The War of the Lions five years ago, I really feel like I've turned into a different writer. Looking forward to sharing this when I've finished it.
October 30, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Got a draft all written, so I'll spend some of the weekend getting it into good shape. Expect the article some time early next week.
Reposted by Sam Howitt
every government that has implemented austerity has become so historically unpopular that they’ve now had to start inventing fake new parties just to give people anyone right wing to vote for. so there’s only one solution. to do it even harder
I keep being told spending cuts are easy. Honest proposals such as those recently outlined by Policy Exchange show they are not
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
October 30, 2025 at 8:42 AM
every government that has implemented austerity has become so historically unpopular that they’ve now had to start inventing fake new parties just to give people anyone right wing to vote for. so there’s only one solution. to do it even harder
In the meantime I'm making a start on my next game. I am intending to have something written about this too.
October 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
In the meantime I'm making a start on my next game. I am intending to have something written about this too.
In progress getting my writing on Final Fantasy Tactics The Ivalice Chronicles together. Compared to what I wrote about The War of the Lions five years ago, I really feel like I've turned into a different writer. Looking forward to sharing this when I've finished it.
October 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
In progress getting my writing on Final Fantasy Tactics The Ivalice Chronicles together. Compared to what I wrote about The War of the Lions five years ago, I really feel like I've turned into a different writer. Looking forward to sharing this when I've finished it.
Got this game set up to play tonight because the place I bought it from sent it early.
October 29, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Got this game set up to play tonight because the place I bought it from sent it early.
Reposted by Sam Howitt
Fiction doesn’t have the power to change minds on its own. It can’t do that. Stories are not magical.
October 29, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Fiction doesn’t have the power to change minds on its own. It can’t do that. Stories are not magical.
Reposted by Sam Howitt
Time for a 🧵 of cool games you might have missed in 2025!
I will be including stuff that's come out in November/December 2024 as well, since those months usually get left out of lists for both years.
I will be including stuff that's come out in November/December 2024 as well, since those months usually get left out of lists for both years.
October 24, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Time for a 🧵 of cool games you might have missed in 2025!
I will be including stuff that's come out in November/December 2024 as well, since those months usually get left out of lists for both years.
I will be including stuff that's come out in November/December 2024 as well, since those months usually get left out of lists for both years.
I finished up with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles this morning.
I've got a piece of writing in the works on that game, hopefully will have it up fairly soon!
I've got a piece of writing in the works on that game, hopefully will have it up fairly soon!
October 26, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I finished up with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles this morning.
I've got a piece of writing in the works on that game, hopefully will have it up fairly soon!
I've got a piece of writing in the works on that game, hopefully will have it up fairly soon!
Reposted by Sam Howitt
thegamingbrit's video on silent hill 2 remake got him a lot of shit but he was 100% right when he said that constantly remaking classic games by destroying them completely to make them "look modern" is the creative impulse that leads to replacing everything with ai slop. same thing different degrees
October 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
thegamingbrit's video on silent hill 2 remake got him a lot of shit but he was 100% right when he said that constantly remaking classic games by destroying them completely to make them "look modern" is the creative impulse that leads to replacing everything with ai slop. same thing different degrees
"The land of Ilavice"
October 24, 2025 at 7:55 AM
"The land of Ilavice"
Reposted by Sam Howitt
the real innovation to Devil May Cry wasn't the expression and technical depth it brought to 3d action games
it was the fact that it put a big ass score and ranking element on the HUD to force people into actively thinking about engaging with all its depth
it was the fact that it put a big ass score and ranking element on the HUD to force people into actively thinking about engaging with all its depth
October 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
the real innovation to Devil May Cry wasn't the expression and technical depth it brought to 3d action games
it was the fact that it put a big ass score and ranking element on the HUD to force people into actively thinking about engaging with all its depth
it was the fact that it put a big ass score and ranking element on the HUD to force people into actively thinking about engaging with all its depth