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Steve Howe

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Joy Shtick

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Steve Howe

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Oct 26, 2023

The joy of wordless video games

Why video games stripped of words feel evocative, make players smarter, and amplify comedy

A screenshot from the game Florence. There’s a graphic —containted in a comic-book style window —of Florence on a coffee date with Krish. They have empty speech bubbles over their heads. To the sides there are puzzle pieces which the player must drag and drop into a space below the image.

Steve Howe

·

Mar 11, 2024

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

A round-up of witty writing from virtual worlds. Featuring Trombone Champ, Frog Detective, and Ace Attorney.

A screenshot from the game Sludge Life. The art is cartoon style. The perspective is looking down from the top of a construction site at the arm of a crane. A red-head, white man is hanging precariously from the arm. He says: “and I’m still sadder than a Goldfish in a Shot Glass.”

In

Joy Shtick

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Steve Howe

·

Dec 5, 2023

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

A round-up of witty writing from virtual worlds

A screenshot from Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Princess Peach talks to a petal-headed creature called Master Poplin, inside a room filled with flowers. Master Poplin says: “But what did I really teach you? Nothing at all! Ha ha!”

In

Joy Shtick

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Steve Howe

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Sep 12, 2023

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

A round-up of witty writing from virtual worlds. This week features Stray, Before I Forget, and Inscryption.

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

In

Joy Shtick

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Steve Howe

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Aug 1, 2023

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

Featuring Anodyne 2, Edith Finch, and more Zelda

Displays two central characters from the game Anodyne 2: C Psalmist, and Palisade.

In

Joy Shtick

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Steve Howe

·

Jul 10, 2023

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

Featuring Earthbound, A Short Hike, and Hades

The player-character interacts with a man in yellow fishing coat and hat — Jefferson. A squid with red eyes has its tentacles wrapped around his waist. The text caption reads: “I sure do love preparing food with my multi-digited mammal-hands!”

In

Joy Shtick

by

Steve Howe

·

Jun 12, 2023

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

Featuring Return to Monkey Island, Disco Elysium, and Overboard

The player-character stands in front of three skiffle band members. The lead, holding a banjo, states: “The beatles had skiffle roots. Comin’ back in a big way.”

In

Joy Shtick

by

Steve Howe

·

Jun 5, 2023

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

Featuring Zelda, Stanley Parable, and Stardew Valley

Link stands next to Cece in her fashion workop. Cece says: “Hmm. I must say, you don’t seem to show any sort of interest in fasion.”

Steve Howe

·

May 26, 2022

Mourning the loss of silence: how tinnitus interrupted my life

I live with a constant ringing in my ears. Here’s how it happened, why it impacts my mental health, and what I’m doing about it.

Mourning the loss of silence: how tinnitus interrupted my life

In

Joy Shtick

by

Steve Howe

·

Feb 3, 2022

3 examples of great content design in video games

How games use content mapping, narrative systems, and UX writing to create memorable experiences

3 examples of great content design in video games

Steve Howe

Steve Howe

Writer for UX, games, and mental health orgs. Background in teaching, translation, and support for vulnerable people. Loves languages, long runs, and bad puns.

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