The Fifteenth Shot is a short fiction based around the Space Invaders concept that I’m also currently redeveloping into a feature film script. That said, I also have a pretty strong concept about how it might make a modern game update on the Space Invaders theme, but that’s something for the future. This one’s still [...]
Writing Archive
The Fifteenth Shot – A Short Story
THE FIFTEENTH SHOT A short fiction by Spanner for The Escapist Kaori’s elbow brushed alongside Eric’s, expertly demonstrating platonic support. Such incredible intuition. Moving like a spectre, she’d marshalled the most imperceptible techniques to make her presence felt without interrupting or startling people. Eric didn’t look away from the white sky when she spoke. “It [...]
The Escapist: To Be The Hero
An essay looking at what it takes to get an audience to identify with a hero, whether it’s a comic, videogame or movie hero. It doesn’t matter; motivation is motivation, and storytellers ignore that fact to their peril. For this Escapist article, I took a look at various comic and videogame character examples and how [...]
The Escapist: What’s In A Name?
This is a profile I wrote on Sega and its reliance on franchises and old IPs. It’s kinda harsh in some respects, but that’s just because I care. I can honestly say Sega’s my favourite developer, and I’m just being concerned for its future. I’m sure it appreciates it, although my “thank you” card must [...]
The Escapist: The Third Generation
This is an experiment in intergeneration gaming – a look at how trends and gaming habits seem to change as much as fashion, and is equally incompatible between the old and young. That said, my niece and I managed to go on a journey of mutual exploration and write an article about it for The [...]
The Escapist: Back ‘O The Arcade
I loved the arcades (they’re gone now – replaced by souless grabbing machines and regiments of racing games) and decided to tell The Escapist all about the seedy, back alley shit hole coin-op dens of English town centres. It’s followed by a couple of lesser known arcade game reviews of some personal faves. NOTE: I [...]
The Escapist: A Cliche’d Console Christmas
In an effort to quantify how videogame can help us recapture the excitement and essence of Christmas (without resorting to selfless, charitable endeavour), I wrote this article for The Escapist. This year, I intend to follow my own advice: A Cliche’d Console Christmas
GWN: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Retrospective
A look back at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games that was commissioned on the run up to the new, fuckin’ awful animated film and the inevitable, equally bad, game tie-ins. Shame about this, really, as looking back over these TMNT games was a lot of fun. There’s a lot of gaming promise hidden beneath [...]
Strategy Informer: Computer & Videogame Reviews
Stratrgy Informer is a great site that’s really gone beyond its original brief to incorporate all genres of gaming. The good thing about this site is it scrutinises all games as it would an in-depth strategy title, so their reviews are detailed and uncompromising. I should know – I help write ‘em! Here’s a few [...]
The Escapist: A Game Without Winners
A discussion of the computer game adaptation of Harlan Ellison’s short story, I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream for The Escapist online magazine. Click here to open a page directly to the article at The Escapist website.
Retro Fusion Online: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
A retrospective of the original kung fu film which inspired the genre as we know it today. Written for Retro Fusion Online, you can view the article by clicking the pic below or visiting it on the RFO site HERE.
The Escapist: Everywhere & Nowhere
A company profile of Ubisoft for The Escapist online magazine. You can view the original HERE, or click on the links below to view copys of the pages. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
Retro Fusion Online: Revenge of the Nerds
I guess I felt a particular affinity for this film (not sure why though - I was very popular and cool at school; some might almost say “too cool for school”, but I’m far too modest of course). Anyway, here’s a heartfelt piece I wrote about it for Retro Fusion Online. Click the pic to see [...]