once a week i have to repeat some version of "meaning is created between text and the reader. Everyone is bringing something from "outside the game" into their review. That's just context."

but the people will never understand

(the actual answer is usually something along the lines of "pay attention to the patterns you're struggling with and practice them, because every roadblock has a limited possibility space of solutions and if you can understand what's blocking you then you can figure out how to overcome it")

we all play games to become skilled at them (i'd hope), but just being told to get better at something doesn't really work when you're likely responding to someone asking how to get better

tangential but I suggest we term the negative form where a repulsion to certain new trends drives us back to the old

i saw this concept brought up in a piece about music years ago (dubbed "neostalgia" here) and i've been thinking about it ever since
knru.polin.ski/the-music-ab...

Play Sylvie Lime

I feel like a honking tryhard douche for using phrases like "Game Literacy" but it's kinda one of those things right like you just need to know like "Oh hey some games use difficulties as warning signs and encouragement to explore other places" and now you can *make* a decision.

Like I don't think it's even wrong to criticize the start of DS1 or w/e it's not perfect, but it's a modern assumption that if you can go somewhere, this is content ideal for you now. More and more people stop learning to listen to their virtual pain receptors and give up their agency.

i genuinely don't think i've felt direct sunlight in a week now and that's probably not healthy