Tuesday: March 17th, 2020 Hello friends 🙂 I never really saw myself as a writer, as much as I love literature and reading, yet here I am. Writing. For the newspaper. This was NOT part of my job description. My name is Maddy Harrison and I am the multimedia editor for the UCM Muleskinner (that… Read more »
Category: Columns
Mapping Against Mediocrity: Strategy in horror
Survival horror is a tricky genre to develop for. Immersion is even more important to the genre than it is elsewhere. A single misstep will take players out of the experience, turning a nightmare into nothing more than a mediocre mess. Many games have tried (and failed), to push the envelope in horror. Horror games… Read more »
“Sonic the Hedgehog” – A fun tribute to a classic character, but nothing more
When the trailer for “Sonic the Hedgehog” was first released, it was terrible. The design for Sonic was horrible. From the clips that were shown, “Sonic the Hedgehog” looked like it was going to be the latest in a long line of bad CGI-hybrid films such as the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” or “Smurfs” franchises.  … Read more »
Mapping Around Mediocrity Classic Review – Immersion and emptiness in “Fallout 3”
Open world games are extremely popular in modern gaming. This genre allows players to become absorbed into the world through a higher degree of freedom. One of the best companies doing this today is Bethesda Game Studios. Bethesda is most known for pushing the envelope for open world games and has seen continuous critical acclaim…. Read more »
“Birds of Prey”—What “Suicide Squad” should have been
The best way to describe “Birds of Prey” is that it’s a spiritual successor to “Suicide Squad,” because it’s everything that “Suicide Squad” was trying to be. “Suicide Squad” was trying to be DC’s answer to “Guardians of the Galaxy.” It did this by having a cast of likable outcasts, only with a darker tone… Read more »

Mapping Around Mediocrity: Companionship Over Combat
Valentine’s day is just around the corner. It’s a day where we appreciate our relationships, and express gratitude towards those that have stuck by our sides. This can also be applied to relationships in games. Relationships in games are often overlooked. Players will sometimes judge a companion purely on practicality, despite the flaws and strengths… Read more »

Wonders Through Wanders: African waist beads—fashion and beyond
The African waist bead is an attractive fashion accessory worn by women worldwide, many of whom do not know the various purposes it serves. While it’s okay to want to wear them just because it’s a fad, I know there are others out there that would love to learn a bit more about this beautiful… Read more »

Mapping Around Mediocrity: Show, Don’t Tell
The idea of “show, don’t tell” is important to visual media. To have a story play out in front of a viewer not only gives them a clearer vision of the world, but also allows for the director to add in little elements that reward the viewer should they find them. In video games, this… Read more »

1917 — Entertaining and Anti-War
“1917” feels like “Dunkirk.” It’s trying to be the same thing, but I wouldn’t call it a true rip-off. Mendes makes a thriller that uses its suspense to convey the feeling of being in war. As a thriller, “1917” is great. It creates constant tension and never lets up. The plot is simple and straightforward…. Read more »

Mapping Around Mediocrity: The Importance of Character Creation
Video games are the most expressive medium of the modern age, allowing players to show a new side of themselves through an on-screen avatar. This is no more apparent than in the role-playing genre. Players become the center of a story by delving into a particular character role. The biggest way a player can express… Read more »