Punk Troubadour Manu Chao Returns After 17 Years
Latin alternative artist Manu Chao sings for a better future on his first album in 17 years, Viva Tu. This music is meant to be lived with.
Luis Aguasvivas
Luis Aguasvivas (aguaspoints.bsky.social) is a writer, researcher, and member of the New York Videogame Critics Circle. He covers game studies for PopMatters. Other writings at aguaspoints.com.
‘Five Years Old Memories’ and Naïve Art in Video Games
Japanese visual artist, Komitsu’s newest work “Five Years Old Memories” is a colorful interactive documentary. It reimagines old CD-ROM software for the digital era.
Heems’ ‘VENNA LP’ Communicates Across Boundaries
On VEENA LP, Queens rapper Heems delivers a significant and sonically diverse work of NYC rap fueled by diaspora blues. It’s his best record as a solo artist.
The 5 Best Video Game Hip-Hop Soundtracks
Fresh off hip-hop’s 50th birthday PopMatters looks at some of the best hip-hop video game soundtracks. These games boast soundtracks fit for classic status.
Horror Puzzle Video Game ‘The Exit 8’ Is an Inescapable Meme
The horror puzzle video game The Exit 8 is peak capitalist art, or if you prefer, content farm. Either way, it’s also an inescapable meme.
Aminder Dhaliwal’s Latest Shows That Our Culture of Work Is a Malice Burning Us Alive
Aminder Dhaliwal’s A Witch’s Guide to Burning shows the follies of our toxic relationship with overwork and how to break its spell.
No Such Thing as Failure: Nintendo’s Failed Virtual Boy
Nintendo’s failed Virtual Boy followed the tradition of wondrous human inventions made to trick the eyes, like a diorama. “Retro collecting” gamers love it.
1000xResist’s Magnificent Operatic Heterotopia
Set in the politically significant year of 2046, sci-fi game 1000xResist evokes Michel van der Aa’s operatic music and Hou Hsiao-hsien’s heterotopia-like films.
Cuban Video Game ‘Saviorless’ Subverts the Revolution’s Narrative
Cuban video game Saviorless joins Lillian Guerra’s scholarship and Tomás Gutiérrez Alea’s film The Last Supper in subverting the Cuban Revolution’s narrative.
Steve Reich’s Music Echoes in Jordan Mechner’s Graphic Memoir ‘Replay’
Like Steve Reich’s Different Trains, Jordan Mechner’s graphic memoir Replay is a work of introspection that looks to history and tragic synchronicity.
‘Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’ Represents
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, depicts its setting and characters with care and arguably more seriously than any commercial game produced outside of Iran.
Video Game History Preservation: It’s Not All Fun and Games
It’s Not All Fun and Games is straightforward in manner and unconcerned with critical introspection. It’s a practical affair about how games are produced.