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WILL BUTLER

@carrythezero

PhD researcher at Bath Spa | videogame preservation | lifting my skinny fists like antennas to heaven | site here: https://killjoy.bearblog.dev/

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01.09.2023
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Latest posts by WILL BUTLER @carrythezero

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Really its Kentucky Route Zero, Pokemon Silver, Outer Wilds and the other six rotate depending on whether you catch me in critical or nostalgic mood.

06.03.2026 10:46 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

WAHEYYY congrats!!

05.03.2026 19:15 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Oh my god!! We need fit a "In Memoriam" somewhere in the schedule.

04.03.2026 15:31 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Marcus Aurelius famously wrote "What stands in the way becomes the way". But like, don't go that way if it's silly and proven unsuccessful.

04.03.2026 13:51 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I think it's about burying a failure more than anything. Is it preferable to have the game not exist than have a low player count? I don't think so because of what we know about games getting sudden resurgences. From a brand perspective, they would prefer to be forgotten ASAP?

04.03.2026 12:05 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I think what's so frustrating to me is that it's so unnecessary to kill it entirely. Wildlight/TC are already in the hole, why not just keep it on life support in the event that a small, passionate community builds around Highguard? I would wager its less costly than nuking their brand rep.

04.03.2026 11:41 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

We're living in Clown World.

03.03.2026 22:50 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

At long last, we have created the Kill Chain from classic sci-fi novel Don't Create The Kill Chain.

03.03.2026 10:53 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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March 1st Welcome back readers. Thanks for the shout-out, Edwin : ) And a huge thanks as well to our community at large. Over the last few days you have rallied and helped to put us back into the black. If t…

This week: A staggering 30 articles, encompassing queer theory, spectrum games, communities of play, fangames, and a whole lot more. The Game Boy Color comes up more than once:

critical-distance.com/2026/03/01/m...

02.03.2026 03:01 πŸ‘ 65 πŸ” 35 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 8

Pombon's final evolution

27.02.2026 14:49 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Happy Capsule Monsters Day. You simply must acquire them all.

27.02.2026 10:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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WE ARE HAUNTED BY THE GHOST OF 2016 PAST It’s not as simple as we all want a re-do of the last 10 years, but it’s not far off

New blog from me on Overwatch and being haunted by the ghosts of our 2016 selves. In which I try to untangle what the '2026 Reset' actually is and what it means for us.
killjoy.bearblog.dev/we-are-haunt...

26.02.2026 11:57 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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2025 Critical Distance Status Once again, it’s time to check in on the finances for Critical Distance. Β  Last year, I said the finances were on the brink of stability. We never actually achieved that stability: we are unli…

Hey folks! Board member Zach has written up a quick update re: how we are doing. Please check it out and share widely: critical-distance.com/2026/02/25/2...

25.02.2026 19:03 πŸ‘ 63 πŸ” 66 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2

Thanks for reading!!

26.02.2026 12:19 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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WE ARE HAUNTED BY THE GHOST OF 2016 PAST It’s not as simple as we all want a re-do of the last 10 years, but it’s not far off

New blog from me on Overwatch and being haunted by the ghosts of our 2016 selves. In which I try to untangle what the '2026 Reset' actually is and what it means for us.
killjoy.bearblog.dev/we-are-haunt...

26.02.2026 11:57 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

@mtrc.bsky.social Hey Mike, pinged you a DM :)

26.02.2026 11:30 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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How it feels to be able to hang washing outside to dry for the first time in five months

24.02.2026 12:33 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Turning education into an idle game. Your AI essay gets marked by an AI teacher and the numbers go up until they send you an e-card with a degree in it.

23.02.2026 16:33 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

A reminder that the Call for Papers for this event is open until Thursday 26th Feb.

If you have a games preservation story that needs telling, we want to hear it!

23.02.2026 11:04 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Pushing this again inspired by the Xbox news and a general sense of the game business trading entirely in redundancy.

21.02.2026 13:09 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Give ✌🏻 Rip Chips πŸͺ™ to us πŸ₯Ί, your digital πŸ€– landlords πŸ˜…πŸ€˜πŸ»

20.02.2026 17:53 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Slay the Spire 2 has the potential to torpedo my entire life. I beg you, please be mid. I have too much to do this year.

20.02.2026 11:06 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

and if it seems opportunistic to use prince andrew's crimes and arrest as fuel for republicanism, i'd instead say: prince andrew and the queen that shielded him are exactly why we cannot have monarchs

19.02.2026 10:47 πŸ‘ 66 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

its amazing how chatgpt knows everything about subjects I know nothing about, but is wrong like 40% of the time in things im an expert on. not going to think about this any further

08.03.2025 00:13 πŸ‘ 18876 πŸ” 4614 πŸ’¬ 127 πŸ“Œ 153

Late to the party but rolled credits on 1000xRESIST. The team behind it should 1000xfunding to keep making bangers

15.02.2026 11:52 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Ask and you shall receive

14.02.2026 01:22 πŸ‘ 2230 πŸ” 876 πŸ’¬ 22 πŸ“Œ 27
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JOHN WICK THE MOVIE: THE VIDEOGAME: THE VIDEOGAME There is no need for an Untitled John Wick Game because the John Wick films are already video games.

That new John Wick game announcement last night got stuck in my craw. I present some thoughts about redundant games featuring 'films as games', John Wick Hex, transcreation, and 12 Angry Men: The Visual Novel. killjoy.bearblog.dev/john-wick-th...

13.02.2026 16:28 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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13.02.2026 17:31 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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JOHN WICK THE MOVIE: THE VIDEOGAME: THE VIDEOGAME There is no need for an Untitled John Wick Game because the John Wick films are already video games.

That new John Wick game announcement last night got stuck in my craw. I present some thoughts about redundant games featuring 'films as games', John Wick Hex, transcreation, and 12 Angry Men: The Visual Novel. killjoy.bearblog.dev/john-wick-th...

13.02.2026 16:28 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

Got thoughts on John Wick: The Licensed Videogame. Going to try and get them out on da blogosphere later today.

13.02.2026 10:55 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0