Two weekends ago, while going through some boxes from my move two years ago, I found my Age of Empires III collector’s edition. When I moved, I neatly repacked that collector’s edition box, and therein were my game discs. Since I didn’t have them, I couldn’t play the game (which meant that, when I feltContinue reading “Dispatches from the Front”
Tag Archives: Age-of-Empires-III
On Civ-Builders and Authoritarianism
Yesterday, Andrew Sullivan‘s blog at The Atlantic linked to an essay at The American Prospect by Monica Potts on how civ-building computer games don’t really allow for liberal-progressive solutions to life’s problems. Games like The Sims and Civilization model a rightward ideology, if not by design then certainly by practice. There are many ways toContinue reading “On Civ-Builders and Authoritarianism”
On a Calendar in the Mail
An unexpected package arrived in the mail today. “The Hidden History of the United States 2011 Calendar,” courtesy of The Progressive. I subscribed to The Progressive for a few years, from ’98 to ’02. What soured me on the magazine was Howard Zinn’s response to 9/11, which I seem to remember as a “We broughtContinue reading “On a Calendar in the Mail”
On the Conquest of Patagonia
Queen Isabella of Spain has long been a dangerous enemy. Her forces are strong, her will indomitable. Among the wilds of Patagonia, I thought, she would prove to be a formidable ally. Patagonia is an interesting land. Legend has it that the Dread Pirate Roberts retired there and raises sheep among its hills to thisContinue reading “On the Conquest of Patagonia”
On Conquest in the Patagonia
Ah, Napoleon. My favorite sparring partner. I had never visited the Patagonia, despite the firm knowledge that the Dread Pirate Roberts had once retired there. It seemed an auspicious location for battle, ripe for conquest. Rocky shores, highland lakes, long and flat plateaus. Yes, indeed, this would be the site of my next battle. MyContinue reading “On Conquest in the Patagonia”
On Becoming a (Virtual) War Criminal
Two Swiss human rights organizations conducted a study on war video games. Their conclusion? The games allow, even encourage, war crimes. Which makes me… a war criminal?!?
On Napoleon’s Twin Defeats
Twice I fought Napoleon — first on the Great Plains, then in the Pampas region of South America. On the Great Plains, I had at my side Ivan the Terrible. To the north, I had an enemy in Maurice of Nassau. To the east, Napoleon. I made allies with the local tribes, Comanche and Sioux.Continue reading “On Napoleon’s Twin Defeats”
On Ensemble Studios
On Ensemble Studios I remember it well. It was the fall of 1997. I heard about this game demo from Microsoft for download. “Age of Empires.” I liked the title. I was curious, and download the demo I did. I’ll be honest. I didn’t like the demo a whole lot. I’d never played a real-timeContinue reading “On Ensemble Studios”
On a Battle in the Saguenay
Colonizing the Saguenay seemed a good idea. The land was lush. Resources were plentiful. There was abundant wildlife and water. Naturally, I wasn’t the only person interested in staking a claim to the Saguenay. So, too, did Henry the Navigator and Suleiman the Magnificent. They mocked my explorer, Sir Henry Sinclair, as he moved acrossContinue reading “On a Battle in the Saguenay”
On Building Walls
Far to the north, in the snowy wastes of the Yukon, I met the Russians and the Sioux in battle. Sod it, that’s about all of the “After Action” report I’m going to write in the faux military memoirs style I like to affect for such posts. There’s a reason for that. There really wasn’tContinue reading “On Building Walls”