Essay

The definition of gambling reaches far beyond gaudy slot machine. Here’s why the infamous claw game of carnivals and childhood birthday parties is a symbol of our times, grasping at gifts behind an invisible wall.

Games are supposedly becoming easier to make, but as our resident punk finds out, not as easy as screaming into a microphone. Can we make a working game? Barring that, a meaningful one?

Today the most dedicated videogame players hack the computers to do the work for them. We take an inside look at the world of tool-assisted speedruns, where Mario and Mega Man defy even more logic.

How does the other half play? Our one-time casino correspondent rides the bus to Niagara Falls and tries to get used to losing, being lost, and loathing games.

That folk game about covert Ice packing and assault finally gets its due. Now we can all forget it was a real game.