Peter Sarrett
@psarrett.bsky.social
Sierra On-Line, Entros, XBox, Good Science, Glu Mobile, Bungie, Time's Up!. Opinions are my own.
Evil West is fun, but also frustrating. When your level design is essentially linear, with one golden path, it is BAD DESIGN to put collectibles in dead end spurs. Nothing breaks immersion like finding the correct path, then turning around to go the wrong way first so I can get collectibles.
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Evil West is fun, but also frustrating. When your level design is essentially linear, with one golden path, it is BAD DESIGN to put collectibles in dead end spurs. Nothing breaks immersion like finding the correct path, then turning around to go the wrong way first so I can get collectibles.
I am SO done with dystopian games. Read the room, gamedevs. There's a wide blue ocean out there for utopian games. Find some new verbs.
October 16, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I am SO done with dystopian games. Read the room, gamedevs. There's a wide blue ocean out there for utopian games. Find some new verbs.
Got 100% on Crypt Custodian, a fairly straightforward and satisfying Metroidvania that made some very player-friendly design choices.
1. Frequent save/fast travel points take the pain out of revisiting locations, which you do frequently as you unlock abilities.
1. Frequent save/fast travel points take the pain out of revisiting locations, which you do frequently as you unlock abilities.
October 14, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Got 100% on Crypt Custodian, a fairly straightforward and satisfying Metroidvania that made some very player-friendly design choices.
1. Frequent save/fast travel points take the pain out of revisiting locations, which you do frequently as you unlock abilities.
1. Frequent save/fast travel points take the pain out of revisiting locations, which you do frequently as you unlock abilities.
Rolled credits on Dredge. I enjoyed a lot about Dredge-- the Lovecraftian undertones, the fishing minigames, the fluidity of navigation-- but wish it had more (ahem) depth. I wanted my decisions to matter more, but while the order may be different per player, you wind up doing all the same things.
October 4, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Rolled credits on Dredge. I enjoyed a lot about Dredge-- the Lovecraftian undertones, the fishing minigames, the fluidity of navigation-- but wish it had more (ahem) depth. I wanted my decisions to matter more, but while the order may be different per player, you wind up doing all the same things.
There’s a lot to like about South of Midnight. The soundtrack is phenomenal. The exploration of southern black folklore is not something you see much (at all?) in video games, and I appreciated the focus on healing and recovery.
September 25, 2025 at 1:03 AM
There’s a lot to like about South of Midnight. The soundtrack is phenomenal. The exploration of southern black folklore is not something you see much (at all?) in video games, and I appreciated the focus on healing and recovery.
I love the central conceit of Expedition 33 (one of many) that dozens of past expeditions have preceded you, knowing they were doomed to fail but sacrificing themselves to move the ball a few inches forward for those who would follow. It’s deeply poignant and inspirational in today’s me-now climate.
June 23, 2025 at 7:42 PM
I love the central conceit of Expedition 33 (one of many) that dozens of past expeditions have preceded you, knowing they were doomed to fail but sacrificing themselves to move the ball a few inches forward for those who would follow. It’s deeply poignant and inspirational in today’s me-now climate.
The genius of Lode Runner is that the simplicity and weakness of the AI is actually the game’s strength, as luring the AI into traps is an essential game mechanic.
What do you mean you've never played Lode Runner?
May 23, 2025 at 11:44 PM
The genius of Lode Runner is that the simplicity and weakness of the AI is actually the game’s strength, as luring the AI into traps is an essential game mechanic.
I was not prepared for the end of Act I.
May 13, 2025 at 7:57 AM
I was not prepared for the end of Act I.
Clair Obscur is amazing. Visually lush, great character design, emotional weight, evocative audio, fun combat. Some of the design reminds me of the 2007 game Blue Dragon, but far less annoying. Feels like I’m playing an epic movie.
May 13, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Clair Obscur is amazing. Visually lush, great character design, emotional weight, evocative audio, fun combat. Some of the design reminds me of the 2007 game Blue Dragon, but far less annoying. Feels like I’m playing an epic movie.
PSA for artists depicting dice: Opposite sides of dice always add up to seven. Don't put 1 and 6, 2 and 5, or 3 and 4 next to each other. #BluePrince
May 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
PSA for artists depicting dice: Opposite sides of dice always add up to seven. Don't put 1 and 6, 2 and 5, or 3 and 4 next to each other. #BluePrince
The casting of a male actor in the lead role of Murderbot surprised me, because when I read the books I always thought of Murderbot as female. When I wondered why, I realized it’s because in my head, I always heard Failsafe’s downbeat voice.
May 9, 2025 at 6:21 AM
The casting of a male actor in the lead role of Murderbot surprised me, because when I read the books I always thought of Murderbot as female. When I wondered why, I realized it’s because in my head, I always heard Failsafe’s downbeat voice.
@scalzi.com Just finished the Hannah Leventhal chapter of When the Moon Hits Your Eye, which was delightful in every whey. In case edits are possible for ebooks or future printings, it’s “Willy” Wonka, not “Willie”. Looking forward to the rest of the book!
May 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
@scalzi.com Just finished the Hannah Leventhal chapter of When the Moon Hits Your Eye, which was delightful in every whey. In case edits are possible for ebooks or future printings, it’s “Willy” Wonka, not “Willie”. Looking forward to the rest of the book!
Movie you’ve watched more than six times using gifs.
(“Hard mode” no Star Wars, Star Trek, or LOTR)
(“Hard mode” no Star Wars, Star Trek, or LOTR)
April 26, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times using gifs.
(“Hard mode” no Star Wars, Star Trek, or LOTR)
(“Hard mode” no Star Wars, Star Trek, or LOTR)
Locks and keys: chicken or egg? If you give the player a key before the lock, it’s foreshadowing. The player knows they will find the lock in the future, and feels empowered. They have a tool they know will overcome a future obstacle. Depending on your game design, this can also be a clue.
April 5, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Locks and keys: chicken or egg? If you give the player a key before the lock, it’s foreshadowing. The player knows they will find the lock in the future, and feels empowered. They have a tool they know will overcome a future obstacle. Depending on your game design, this can also be a clue.
Finished Avowed. Thoughts.
Loved:
* Being able to buy abilities from any skill tree
* "Send to camp stash" button (although I would have also loved a "sell from camp stash" button).
* Combat balance (I played on Normal).
* You'll pry my wand out of my cold, dead hands.
Loved:
* Being able to buy abilities from any skill tree
* "Send to camp stash" button (although I would have also loved a "sell from camp stash" button).
* Combat balance (I played on Normal).
* You'll pry my wand out of my cold, dead hands.
March 26, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Finished Avowed. Thoughts.
Loved:
* Being able to buy abilities from any skill tree
* "Send to camp stash" button (although I would have also loved a "sell from camp stash" button).
* Combat balance (I played on Normal).
* You'll pry my wand out of my cold, dead hands.
Loved:
* Being able to buy abilities from any skill tree
* "Send to camp stash" button (although I would have also loved a "sell from camp stash" button).
* Combat balance (I played on Normal).
* You'll pry my wand out of my cold, dead hands.
“Smithers! I have valuables I want locked up. Get me one of those newfangled lock contraptions!”
“The ones that open for anyone who knows a low-level shock spell or happens to have one of the electrical pods that seem to grow everywhere, sir?”
“Good point, Smithers. Better use two.” #Avowed
“The ones that open for anyone who knows a low-level shock spell or happens to have one of the electrical pods that seem to grow everywhere, sir?”
“Good point, Smithers. Better use two.” #Avowed
March 5, 2025 at 1:34 AM
“Smithers! I have valuables I want locked up. Get me one of those newfangled lock contraptions!”
“The ones that open for anyone who knows a low-level shock spell or happens to have one of the electrical pods that seem to grow everywhere, sir?”
“Good point, Smithers. Better use two.” #Avowed
“The ones that open for anyone who knows a low-level shock spell or happens to have one of the electrical pods that seem to grow everywhere, sir?”
“Good point, Smithers. Better use two.” #Avowed
“I’m… dying… limbs crushed… barely conscious… but damn if I won’t… summarize what happened… in writing… with quill and ink… for the benefit of any… adventurer… who finds my skeleton.” #Avowed
March 5, 2025 at 1:26 AM
“I’m… dying… limbs crushed… barely conscious… but damn if I won’t… summarize what happened… in writing… with quill and ink… for the benefit of any… adventurer… who finds my skeleton.” #Avowed
NPC: “Someone stole from us!”
Me: “How horrible! Yes, of course I’ll track them down and recover that for you!”
Also me: “I’ll just help myself to the contents of the glowing chest in your storeroom, and everything else that’s not nailed down, OK?”
NPC: …
#Avowed
Me: “How horrible! Yes, of course I’ll track them down and recover that for you!”
Also me: “I’ll just help myself to the contents of the glowing chest in your storeroom, and everything else that’s not nailed down, OK?”
NPC: …
#Avowed
March 4, 2025 at 11:05 PM
NPC: “Someone stole from us!”
Me: “How horrible! Yes, of course I’ll track them down and recover that for you!”
Also me: “I’ll just help myself to the contents of the glowing chest in your storeroom, and everything else that’s not nailed down, OK?”
NPC: …
#Avowed
Me: “How horrible! Yes, of course I’ll track them down and recover that for you!”
Also me: “I’ll just help myself to the contents of the glowing chest in your storeroom, and everything else that’s not nailed down, OK?”
NPC: …
#Avowed
I think shortbread, which requires no eggs, is poised to have a moment in the cultural zeitgeist.
February 19, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I think shortbread, which requires no eggs, is poised to have a moment in the cultural zeitgeist.
If you’re reading this, chances are good you’d love Stuart Turton. I’m usually a plot guy, but I’ve fallen in love with the way he writes. His imagery is vivid and fresh. Start with The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, see if it grabs you. I just finished his 2nd, The Devil and the Deep Water. 🔥🔥
February 16, 2025 at 12:28 AM
If you’re reading this, chances are good you’d love Stuart Turton. I’m usually a plot guy, but I’ve fallen in love with the way he writes. His imagery is vivid and fresh. Start with The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, see if it grabs you. I just finished his 2nd, The Devil and the Deep Water. 🔥🔥
@toddhaberkorn.com’s Drifter is heart-wrenching. Outstanding work.
February 5, 2025 at 5:09 PM
@toddhaberkorn.com’s Drifter is heart-wrenching. Outstanding work.
Parents: So your kid likes videogames, but you want to keep some parental controls in place and limit what your child has access to until they're older? I hear you.
But when they ARE older, wouldn't it be great to have a library of games to bequeath to them in their own name?
But when they ARE older, wouldn't it be great to have a library of games to bequeath to them in their own name?
December 28, 2024 at 10:02 PM
Parents: So your kid likes videogames, but you want to keep some parental controls in place and limit what your child has access to until they're older? I hear you.
But when they ARE older, wouldn't it be great to have a library of games to bequeath to them in their own name?
But when they ARE older, wouldn't it be great to have a library of games to bequeath to them in their own name?
Love the riff on the John Williams Superman score in the new trailer. But how many super-characters are in this thing? Guy Gardner, Mr. Terrific, Krypto, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, Ultraman... that's a lot of heavy lifting. But I guess so was Guardians of the Galaxy...
December 20, 2024 at 1:07 AM
Love the riff on the John Williams Superman score in the new trailer. But how many super-characters are in this thing? Guy Gardner, Mr. Terrific, Krypto, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, Ultraman... that's a lot of heavy lifting. But I guess so was Guardians of the Galaxy...
The 1 season we got of Journeyman was not enough. This time travel series starring Kevin McKidd was a better Quantum Leap, and has AFAIK never been available on streaming services. Today my Google-Fu hit paydirt, however, and so I offer it to you all as a holiday gift.
archive.org/search?query...
archive.org/search?query...
Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine
archive.org
December 18, 2024 at 6:02 PM
The 1 season we got of Journeyman was not enough. This time travel series starring Kevin McKidd was a better Quantum Leap, and has AFAIK never been available on streaming services. Today my Google-Fu hit paydirt, however, and so I offer it to you all as a holiday gift.
archive.org/search?query...
archive.org/search?query...
@thinkygames.com, maybe ban Sokoban variants in next year's Confounding Calendar? It's not that I hate pushing boxes (although, yes, I hate pushing boxes), but I'd love to see what OTHER ideas people have in the one-screen puzzle space.
December 17, 2024 at 12:54 AM
@thinkygames.com, maybe ban Sokoban variants in next year's Confounding Calendar? It's not that I hate pushing boxes (although, yes, I hate pushing boxes), but I'd love to see what OTHER ideas people have in the one-screen puzzle space.