Capitalism
Ongoing coverage on Capitalism.
Latest coverage
Truck-Kun Is Supporting Me From Another World?! VIDEO Review
Truck-Kun Is Supporting Me From Another World?! is an easy-to-pick-up game with great humor, though its content is extremely thin. The game surprisingly sums up burnout and struggles with Capitalism.
Wardogs season 2 deepens the sandbox shooter's capitalist hell by letting you bet cash on your own performance
Wardogs season 2 introduces a new gambling system where players can bet in-game cash on their performance, alongside other additions like new weapons, vehicles, and building options. The update also addresses the 'blue team's' lower win rates with cosmetic changes and bonuses.
Roman Sands Re:Build review - a fiendish immersive sim drenched in a vaporwave glitchcore palette
Roman Sands Re:Build is a challenging and unclassifiable immersive sim that blends vaporwave aesthetics with survival and time loop mechanics. The game is split into two acts: the first is a fiendish optimization puzzle set in a resort, and the second is a bleak survival experience in a research station. While the game's demanding nature and oppressive atmosphere are praised for their unique execution, the second act is noted as being particularly difficult and less engaging.
13 years in and on its third console generation, how does GTA 5 hold up for a return visit?
This analysis revisits Grand Theft Auto 5 thirteen years after its initial release and on its third console generation, the PlayStation 5. While the game's visuals and technical enhancements, including ray tracing and DualSense haptics, hold up remarkably well, its satirical commentary on American capitalism and societal issues feels dated and at times exhausting. The article highlights how GTA Online has become the primary driver of the game's longevity, evolving into a live service that continues to resonate with players.
No RPG Lets Players Be As Evil As Fable 2
Fable 2 is highlighted as an RPG that uniquely allows players to embody extreme evil, not just through traditional means but by exploiting its in-game capitalism and real-estate systems. Unlike other games with binary morality, Fable 2's mechanics, such as monopolizing housing and charging rent, subtly earn the player evil karma, emphasizing housing as a right. The Fable series, including Fable III and the upcoming Fable by Playground Games, is praised for its innovative and thoughtful approaches to player choice and morality.
Among Us Animated Pilot Shows a Capitalist Nightmare
The animated pilot for Among Us, helmed by Owen Dennis of Infinity Train, offers a sharp critique of capitalism by portraying a corporation that treats employees as expendable resources. The show successfully translates the game's core mechanics into a compelling murder mystery narrative that highlights systemic distrust rather than interpersonal betrayal.
The next Animal Crossing should be a socialist uprising against Tom Nook - Reader’s Feature
This reader's feature proposes a radical direction for the next Animal Crossing game, suggesting a socialist uprising against the capitalist character Tom Nook. The idea involves players building solidarity with villagers to overthrow Nook, establish a commune, and potentially spread the revolution to other islands, all while maintaining the series' charming aesthetic and satirical tone.
Disco Elysium dev's highly-anticipated follow-up, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, has things to say about our nostalgia
The demo for ZA/UM's upcoming game, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, offers a glimpse into its pseudo-European setting and themes of weaponized nostalgia. Players control Cascade, a spy pulled out of retirement to confront past mistakes, exploring a decaying market filled with rare collectibles and commentary on consumerism and cultural capital.
Titanium Court mashes together genres and cultural references to tell a strange, funny tale
Titanium Court is a unique roguelite that blends match-three mechanics with tower defense and adventure game elements. Developed by AP Thomson and published by Fellow Traveller, the game features smart, funny writing and unexpected narrative turns. It recently won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the Independent Games Festival Awards and is available on PC and Mac, with a demo also available.
Dosa Divas (PS5) Review: A Charming Bite-Sized RPG
Dosa Divas is a charming and fun 13-hour turn-based RPG for the PlayStation 5 developed by Outerloop Games. It features gameplay mechanics similar to the Mario & Luigi RPGs, with engaging combat, a deep cooking system centered around South Indian dosa, and a story that critiques capitalism in a lighthearted way. The game is praised for its solid depth, charming dialogue, and for not overstaying its welcome.
Quoteworthy
An actor from Expedition 33 believes the game industry will not learn from its current practices, citing the opportunistic nature of capitalism. The sentiment suggests a critical view of how business interests might overshadow artistic or ethical considerations within game development.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 star worries the industry will learn the wrong lessons from the J'RPG's success: "Capitalism is unwilling to ask the why because they’re interested in the how"
Actor Ben Starr expressed concern that the video game industry might misinterpret the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, potentially leading to misguided lessons about development and capitalism. He believes the focus should be on understanding the 'why' behind its success rather than just the 'how,' which he feels is often overlooked by investors interested in cost-cutting.
Capitalism Is Dead In Pokemon Pokopia, And We Know Tom Nook Isn't Happy About It
Pokemon Pokopia offers a stark contrast to the Animal Crossing series by eschewing capitalism in its gameplay loop. While Animal Crossing relies on debt collection and market manipulation through characters like Tom Nook, Pokopia emphasizes mutual benefit and community progression with limited currency. This analysis explores how Pokopia's design choices create a utopian society free from financial incentives, unlike the capitalist systems present in Animal Crossing.
