Jason Collins explores the surprisingly deep feelings of digging into a stranger's save file in his first (and hopefully not the last!) piece for the site videoda.me/someone-else...
Someone Else’s Chao Garden
By Jason Collins
videoda.me
Videodame
@videoda.me
Essays, criticism, poetry, fiction, and artwork inspired by videogames. Pitch: sara@saraclemens.com
Was away at a con this weekend so catching up – lovely as always to see @wordsfromapenn.com appear in the weekly @critdistance.bsky.social round-up
Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?@critdistance.bsky.social · 3w agoThis week: 23 picks on disc-ourse, ARGs, Warframe, and much more: critical-distance.com/2026/07/13/j...
Happy to share my newest poem for @videoda.me, inspired by @softnotweak.bsky.social's relaxing & magical game Spirit Swap videoda.me/three-spells...
Three Spells For Spirit Swapping
Been blocked inside.
videoda.me
Justin Fenech argues suspension of disbelief combined with historical realism is a potent mix on its own, no dragons necessary videoda.me/fantasy-fati...
Fantasy Fatigue
Videogames, by their nature a medium perfectly adapted for simulation, are also fertile ground for realistic immersion.
videoda.me
Very cool to have this Zelda #poem published today at @videoda.me on the same day that Nintendo confirmed Ocarina of Time for later this year! 🎮🎮 Special thanks to editor @saraclemens.com for formatting wizardry--you rock!! 💕 A short, 2-min. read if you need more Zelda content in your life ⚔️
Re-Playing Majora’s Mask, College
The guard who calls you a child eventually recants.
videoda.me
Justin Fenech argues that a "masterpiece" is truly in the eye of the beholder (or in some cases, the hands of the player) videoda.me/dis-connecti...
(Dis)Connecting with the Masterpieces
It’s fine not to like some of the great masterpieces, because chances are, there is something out there for you.
videoda.me
Resharing my Dragon Quest poem published at @videoda.me for Dragon Quest Day. Happy 40th anniversary, Dragon Quest videoda.me/ode-to-drago...
Ode to Dragon Quest Slimes
The first slime I ever met was a blue teardrop with a sunny grin.
videoda.me
Really proud of my newest essay. Some folks don't realize that dementia impacts the person who has it AND those around them. Grateful video games are one of the many coping mechanisms I have.
Latonya "Penn" P.@wordsfromapenn.com · 3mo agoFor @videoda.me, I wrote an essay on how replaying & finally beating Let's Go Pikachu helped me cope with moving to a new house in a different state a year following my mom's dementia diagnosis videoda.me/lets-go-pika...
Wonderful to see @wordsfromapenn.com's piece on Let's Go Pikachu and coping with great change in this past Sunday's roundup
Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?@critdistance.bsky.social · 3mo agoThis week: Nostalgia. And lots of other things, to be sure. But, like, a *lot* on nostalgia: critical-distance.com/2026/05/17/m...
For @videoda.me, I wrote an essay on how replaying & finally beating Let's Go Pikachu helped me cope with moving to a new house in a different state a year following my mom's dementia diagnosis videoda.me/lets-go-pika...
Let’s Go Pikachu To Our New Home
“I’ve diagnosed her with major cognitive disorder.”
videoda.me
So pleased to have @wilds.bsky.social back on the site with an ode to Victor Gideon (handsome fellow, huh?) videoda.me/resident-evi...
Resident Evil: A Requiem for Gideon’s Dream
By Stephen Wilds
videoda.me
Almost missed this one! Lovely to see @wordsfromapenn.com holding court in the Critical Chaser spot yet again
Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?@critdistance.bsky.social · 4mo agoThis week: Twenty fresh picks on tools, tilt, tension, and more: critical-distance.com/2026/04/13/a...
Today on the 'dame, @jbarnes1926.bsky.social is back interviewing the one and only Ellen McLain (this is a triumph!) videoda.me/an-interview...
An Interview with Ellen McLain
Fifteen years since Portal 2’s release, Ms. McLain still believes in the future of performance.
videoda.me
Here is my other Pokemon poem "Ode To Pokemon That Shine" which was partly inspired by Shiny Pokemon & partly inspired by a Graveler that I grew attached to. Thanks again to @saraclemens.com and @videoda.me videoda.me/ode-to-pokem...
Ode To Pokemon That Shine
They say if you find a penny you’ll have good luck.
videoda.me
Happy National Poetry Month. For @videoda.me I wrote a poem about relating to Let's Go Pikachu's Cubone in Lavender Town. Thanks @saraclemens.com for giving my work a home again videoda.me/self-portrai...
Self Portrait As Cubone
Cubone is classified as a lonely Pokemon.
videoda.me
Continuing a series on women in games, @jbarnes1926.bsky.social interviews legendary modder Emma about her fan-favorite Oblivion mod Companion Vilja medium.com/videodame/vi...
Vilja: Emma’s Oblivion Mod That Sir Terry Pratchett Loved
Twenty years after Oblivion’s release, Vilja remains a fan-favorite.
medium.com
Today on the 'dame – @jbarnes1926.bsky.social chats with @vuntracity.bsky.social dev Lara Davidova about the city exploration game she's been working on since 2022 videoda.me/the-open-wor...
The Open-World Game Being Made by a Single Developer
Lara Davidova forges ahead on her massive undertaking.
videoda.me
It's a joy to have my first poem with @videoda.me published! Check it out here: medium.com/videodame/in...
In 2008
In COVID, nobody can roam Liberty, but I roam Liberty in 2008, from 2020, seeing junkers.
medium.com
here's my old poem about nintendo eshop for 3ds shutting down. or something like that. idk man!! ANYWAY this was in @videoda.me videoda.me/in-a-bar-a-f...
For @videoda.me I got inspired by the RPG inspired Yugioh! games in the Early Days Collection, my own early days with Yu-Gi-Oh!, & my burgeoning genderqueerness and wrote this poem videoda.me/self-portrai...
Self Portrait As A Yu-Gi-Oh! Video Game Protagonist
Someone asked, “Which Yu-Gi-Oh! video games let you play as a girl?”
videoda.me
It was lovely working with Sara Clemens on this article--this one had been bouncing around in my head for a while now, so it was a joy to put it all into words!
Videodame@videoda.me · 10mo agoAaaaand we return from our summer hiatus a little late but with a banger! Here's @jbarnes1926.bsky.social on queer and trans representation in Grand Theft Auto videoda.me/gay-theft-au...
Been meaning to brag about this all week – so great to see Videodame and @wordsfromapenn.com back as the Critical Chaser! (PS. Send me all your game poems or else!)
Critical Distance | Where’s all the good writing about games?@critdistance.bsky.social · 9mo agoThis week: 31 terrifying picks on haunted houses, costumes, Blue Prince, cozy games, friction, media literacy, and much, much more: critical-distance.com/2025/10/26/o...
Aaaaand we return from our summer hiatus a little late but with a banger! Here's @jbarnes1926.bsky.social on queer and trans representation in Grand Theft Auto videoda.me/gay-theft-au...
Gay Theft Auto
Queer-Trans Rep in the GTA Series
videoda.me
My most emotional poem to date just went up at @videoda.me. Inspired by Persona 4 Golden & some heavy stuff. Mind the content warnings videoda.me/foggy-skies-...
Foggy Skies And Butterflies
In March, my world turned upside-down.
videoda.me
My second Persona 3 Portable poem "Ode To FemC" pays homage to the game's female protagonist & the game's queer subtext. Thanks @saraclemens.com and @videoda.me for publishing it videoda.me/ode-to-femc-...
Ode To FemC
Is it gay if a robot girl declares FemC her priority?
videoda.me
Thanks @saraclemens.com for accepting this! Also, thanks @critdistance.bsky.social for featuring this poem in the first gaming criticism roundup of 2025
Videodame@videoda.me · 2y agoFirst post of the new year is @wordsfromapenn.com on Persona 3 and grief videoda.me/i-have-fough...
First post of the new year is @wordsfromapenn.com on Persona 3 and grief videoda.me/i-have-fough...
I Have Fought Midnight Shadows
Some shadows are scarier than others.
videoda.me
He's on fire!! @russellnichols.bsky.social on the OG NBA Jam: videoda.me/boomshakalak...
Boomshakalaka
By Russell Nichols
videoda.me
Welcome everyone! Pls ignore the lack of posts so far, we're still moving in to the new digs. In the meantime, check out the site and send in any and all pitches at your leisure. When it comes to games writing, we especially love experimental/moody/personal/poetic/weird stuff!
a picture of a child driving a red car with the words let 's go
ALT: a picture of a child driving a red car with the words let 's go
media.tenor.com
Videodame's videogame poetry update: we are so back. Natalie Schriefer responds to NIXEU's 2021 digital fanart ZELDA [Girl with a Pearl Earring] videoda.me/zelda-with-a...
Zelda With a Pearl Earring
After Nixeu’s “ZELDA [Girl with a Pearl Earring]”
videoda.me