We're in September now, so a good time for me to put out a call and say if you don't have all your outlet's game reviews sorted for the next couple of months, I'm ready and available to help, let's get in touch. Also, frankly, I could really use the work.

We're in September now, so a good time for me to put out a call and say if you don't have all your outlet's game reviews sorted for the next couple of months, I'm ready and available to help, let's get in touch. Also, frankly, I could really use the work.

ICYMI: I'm really, really liking Star Wars: Zero Company.

Samuel Tolbert@samueltolbert.bsky.social · 6d ago

Happy Friday! New piece for the weekend. Almost 10 hours in, I'm really enjoying Star Wars: Zero Company. It's not shocking me, but it absolutely nails the strategy formula and is filled with tons of care for its greater universe without feeling forced. campaign-mode.ghost.io/nearly-10-ho...

Happy Friday! New piece for the weekend. Almost 10 hours in, I'm really enjoying Star Wars: Zero Company. It's not shocking me, but it absolutely nails the strategy formula and is filled with tons of care for its greater universe without feeling forced. campaign-mode.ghost.io/nearly-10-ho...

Nearly 10 hours in, Star Wars: Zero Company has the strategy sauce

Nearly 10 hours in, some early thoughts on Star Wars: Zero Company and how it nails strategy gameplay.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

Plenty of people quite rightfully reminiscing on Tim Curry's myriad starring roles, but I'll always be particularly fond of his voice acting for Arl Howe in Dragon Age: Origins. A sneering, contemptuous antagonist that you just love to hate, Curry gave him pure venom.

Double-feature for Campaign Mode today! Some thoughts on the Gamescom 2026 showcase, plus, hands-on impressions of Gears of War: E-Day's campaign. campaign-mode.ghost.io/hands-ongear...

Gamescom 2026 brings trailers, plus, hands-on with Gears of War: E-Day's wide-ranging campaign

Thoughts on Gamescom 2026, as well as hands-on impressions of Gears of War: E-Day's campaign mode.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

This is me if you even care.

Reminder: Dolly Parton helped fund the Moderna vaccine for COVID.

Dolly Parton, who helped fund the Moderna vaccine, gets a ‘dose of her own medicine.’ (Published 2021)

The country music star broke into song before she was inoculated, and urged her fans to “get out there and get your shot.”

nytimes.com

Double-feature for Campaign Mode today! Some thoughts on the Gamescom 2026 showcase, plus, hands-on impressions of Gears of War: E-Day's campaign. campaign-mode.ghost.io/hands-ongear...

Gamescom 2026 brings trailers, plus, hands-on with Gears of War: E-Day's wide-ranging campaign

Thoughts on Gamescom 2026, as well as hands-on impressions of Gears of War: E-Day's campaign mode.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

New for Campaign Mode: I've been playing Blood Dungeon, and it's an absolute blast. The auto-battling of something like Vampire Survivors gets a big shake-up via 2D platforming, and I talked to developer @messhof.bsky.social about how it all came together. campaign-mode.ghost.io/messhof-talk...

Messhof talks building Blood Dungeon, inspiration from games like Vampire Survivors, and more

Messhof, developer of Niddhog and Wheel World, talks the inspiration behind its latest game, the roguelite Blood Dungeon.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

New for Campaign Mode: I've been playing Blood Dungeon, and it's an absolute blast. The auto-battling of something like Vampire Survivors gets a big shake-up via 2D platforming, and I talked to developer @messhof.bsky.social about how it all came together. campaign-mode.ghost.io/messhof-talk...

Messhof talks building Blood Dungeon, inspiration from games like Vampire Survivors, and more

Messhof, developer of Niddhog and Wheel World, talks the inspiration behind its latest game, the roguelite Blood Dungeon.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

I always love talking with Cj, even if it's a more difficult topic like this. We had a very good chat about the why of it all and where people even *can* go from here.

¡Qué chévere, Cj!@cynicalceezy.bsky.social · 2w ago

Good morning and happy Friday! This week, @samueltolbert.bsky.social joins me to talk about the recent rounds of layoffs happening all across XBOX studios, and the two of us try our hardest to examine why things seem to be getting worse.

I always love talking with Cj, even if it's a more difficult topic like this. We had a very good chat about the why of it all and where people even *can* go from here.

¡Qué chévere, Cj!@cynicalceezy.bsky.social · 2w ago

Good morning and happy Friday! This week, @samueltolbert.bsky.social joins me to talk about the recent rounds of layoffs happening all across XBOX studios, and the two of us try our hardest to examine why things seem to be getting worse.

Having an extraordinarily rough week, y'all. Any pet pics or kind words would be treasured.

My latest: An update on the unionized Xbox employees fighting back against the latest round of layoffs, as well as the ways players and fans of these games can actually show support for workers right now. campaign-mode.ghost.io/whats-next-f...

What's next for the unions fighting Xbox layoffs?

An update on the fight between unionized Xbox employees against management and layoffs.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

My latest: An update on the unionized Xbox employees fighting back against the latest round of layoffs, as well as the ways players and fans of these games can actually show support for workers right now. campaign-mode.ghost.io/whats-next-f...

What's next for the unions fighting Xbox layoffs?

An update on the fight between unionized Xbox employees against management and layoffs.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

For Campaign Mode. I played Ambrosia Sky: Act Two. It's a lot of fun! I also talked to Joel Burgess of Soft Rains and Rory McGuire of Blackbird Interactive about co-dev work on Ambrosia Sky's first act, getting a team's "pH balance" right, and much more. campaign-mode.ghost.io/ambrosia-sky...

Ambrosia Sky developers talk second act, getting the co-dev "pH balance" right, and more

Talking with Soft Rains and Blackbird Interactive about building Ambrosia Sky.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

For Campaign Mode. I played Ambrosia Sky: Act Two. It's a lot of fun! I also talked to Joel Burgess of Soft Rains and Rory McGuire of Blackbird Interactive about co-dev work on Ambrosia Sky's first act, getting a team's "pH balance" right, and much more. campaign-mode.ghost.io/ambrosia-sky...

Ambrosia Sky developers talk second act, getting the co-dev "pH balance" right, and more

Talking with Soft Rains and Blackbird Interactive about building Ambrosia Sky.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

Forgot to post these pics last weekend but I had an absolute blast visiting New Orleans for the first time. Turns out properly taking a vacation and unplugging means feeling well-rested, who knew? Thanks for showing me around @peachia.bsky.social

Tried out Gears of War: E-Day's multiplayer suite. Versus is fine, Horde Siege is spectacular with the way all the different systems come together. Like Halo, the juxtaposition between the work the teams are doing and the wider Xbox environment is rough. campaign-mode.ghost.io/hands-on-wit...

Hands-on with Gears of War: E-Day's classic multiplayer and massive Horde mode

Some thoughts on a preview round going hands-on with Gears of War: E-Day.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

Yeah, The Odyssey ruled. Realized how much I've missed big, myth-focused epics like this. Cool for Nolan to tackle something so far outside his normal wheelhouse, but you still see the DNA of his past work coming through, especially Oppenheimer.

For Campaign Mode, my thoughts on Halo: Campaign Evolved. It's genuinely great remake with wonderful art direction and strong vision. I really love the new prequel missions. At the same time, impossible to ignore the context under which it is launching. campaign-mode.ghost.io/halo-campaig...

Halo: Campaign Evolved is a great experience, and it feels weird

I've been spending time with Halo: Campaign Evolved, and I've loved going back to the series, but the timing feels weird.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

For Campaign Mode, my thoughts on Halo: Campaign Evolved. It's genuinely great remake with wonderful art direction and strong vision. I really love the new prequel missions. At the same time, impossible to ignore the context under which it is launching. campaign-mode.ghost.io/halo-campaig...

Halo: Campaign Evolved is a great experience, and it feels weird

I've been spending time with Halo: Campaign Evolved, and I've loved going back to the series, but the timing feels weird.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

Earliest possible fix is tomorrow 🫠

Samuel Tolbert@samueltolbert.bsky.social · last mo.

The AC has been out since last night. I'm broiling alive. AMA.

The AC has been out since last night. I'm broiling alive. AMA.

A lot that's still unclear right now in the wake of massive layoffs at Xbox, but I want to highlight how the unions across different teams are continuing to push back, fight for workers, and asking for support from players. campaign-mode.ghost.io/unions-are-f...

Unions are fighting back against Xbox layoffs

Unions are pushing back in the wake of Xbox layoffs that have gutted teams like id Software.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

Been spending a lot of the day checking in on the numerous talented people I know and respect across Xbox. Some are okay. Far too many are not. If you're been laid off or are still at Xbox and would like to share your thoughts with me, my Signal info is my bio and I can guarentee anonymity.

Other words percolating, but for now, this is somehow better and worse than I was bracing for. The layoffs are utterly brutal and I feel for the impacted employees. At the same time, I am appreciative that none of the studios impacted are being closed. campaign-mode.ghost.io/xbox-cuts-fo...

Xbox cuts four (but really five) studios and thousands of jobs

Xbox is cutting four studios (with a fifth likely coming later on) and laying off thousands of workers.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

A fun Campaign Mode piece to enter the weekend, I've got my 10 favorite games of the year so far, as we're halfway through 2026. It'll be interesting to compare this to my favorites when the year ends, and seeing what makes it through the upcoming blitz. campaign-mode.ghost.io/my-favorite-...

My favorite games of 2026, halfway through the year

Here are my favorite games of 2026, at least halfway through the year.

campaign-mode.ghost.io

A fun Campaign Mode piece to enter the weekend, I've got my 10 favorite games of the year so far, as we're halfway through 2026. It'll be interesting to compare this to my favorites when the year ends, and seeing what makes it through the upcoming blitz. campaign-mode.ghost.io/my-favorite-...

My favorite games of 2026, halfway through the year

Here are my favorite games of 2026, at least halfway through the year.

campaign-mode.ghost.io