Josh Phelan

A photograph looking along the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The coastline is a mix of green shrubs and brown rocks and dirt. It snakes in and out of view, with a slightly hazy blue sky overhead.

Today's View From a Run: looking East along the coast at Ocean Trails Reserve. There was a heat advisory in effect today due to the Santa Ana winds, and with good reason. The worst part of the Santa Ana winds is that they're super dry, so you get extra thirsty. Too hot for the beginning of March!

My brain was processing this image as a box shape that was very long and tapered far into the distance, with a huge spike on the back side. I could NOT parse how that was intended to a rat... and then the perspective flipped and I realized it was a pointy nose. 🐀

It's a recipe assuming the studio wants to do that. If they didn't want to just be the remake studio then that doesn't work. Sad to see a studio close regardless!

A photo of a cement passageway through a man-made embankment covered in grass and trees. Through the passageway you can see the Pacific Ocean. There is a dirt trail crossing the photo laterally in the foreground.

Today's View From a Run: Looking through one of the WW2 bunkers at White Point towards the Pacific Ocean.

God of War Sons of Sparta - Reveal Trailer | PS5 Games YouTube video by PlayStation

Shadow drop on a new God of War game? WHAT?!

Check out the new game, Sons of Sparta, that the incredible folks at Mega Cat made with our studio. I've been watching this game's development and I cannot WAIT to get my code *refreshes e-mail again*

A photo at dusk. There are two lines of palm trees running parallel to each other heading away from the camera in a wide walkway. Each one is lit from below by lights placed in the sidewalk and have string lights wrapped around the trunk.

Tonight's View From a Run: the lights along the marina. It was stupid hot today (upper 80s in February?!) so I waited until sunset before I went for my run. Definitely the right call.

We have one of those on our team (Phil). Been around since Kinetica. I'm can feel myself starting to enter that space. My systems have only been around for 7ish years at most, but they're very load-bearing and there's really only one other person who truly knows how they work.

Text from the game Raddle saying ROCK beats PAPER

No, Raddle, no it doesn't! That's not how that works!

@elizhargrave.bsky.social, I'm irrationally upset by this. 😅

A photograph of a stone bench in the middle of some grass on a hillside. There are a bunch of trees behind the bench, and a bright, blue sky overhead.

Today's View From a Run: a bench that looks out over the Pacific (which is directly behind me). I don't normally come down this way, since it's just an extra small hill. Happy to be running in another gorgeous, sunny day here in SoCal when family members are in 16" of snow out East.

The vocalists were live (well, minus since backing vocals), and they're certainly the biggest draw. But, yeah, when you're expecting a full orchestra...

Anyway, I'm really glad I went, and I enjoyed myself, but I had really high expectations and they... weren't met. It was so different from what I was picturing that I'm STILL processing my emotions. 8/8

Apart from the bad audio, though, the musicians really were all great. Lyn was fantastic and clearly having a lot of fun. Azumi did a good job with the P3 tracks (I haven't played P3R, so I'm not used to her versions). As previously stated, Lotus Juice was incredible. 7/

I will say the audio balance was BAD, at least in our seats. The vocals were peaking too high, and were getting garbled. At the beginning Lyn was saying introductions that I just could NOT process because the volume was too loud to make it out, which was honestly disappointing. 6/

The stage production was excellent (good use of projections and screens), and they hit the highlights of songs from P3 & P5, though they also hit some songs from P5X and others (maybe P5T) that I just didn't recognize because I haven't played those. 5/

There were odd sections where they had a 3D model of one of the characters (Joker in his masked outfit for P5 and Aigis for P3) dancing to the music. Joker danced while the guitarist played, and Aigis danced with the P3 dancers without ANY musicians (just pre-recorded). It... was really weird. 4/

there were just significantly fewer of them than I was anticipating. They also had dancers dressed as characters from the game, which I was expecting (from the Persona Super Live videos) though only three from each game represented. I thought they were a lot of fun, embodying their characters. 3/

The music was all pre-recorded, minus the vocalists and a single electric guitar. That's right, there was - at MOST - a single instrument being played on stage. Which was so weird! It was more like an idol show in that regard. The musicians they had were great (Lotus Juice was FANTASTIC live)... 2/

A photograph of the curtain on the stage in the Dolby Theater saying Persona Live 2026: Awakenings. The house lights are on and the seats are all empty. I think we might have accidentally snuck in before we were supposed to, because there was NO ONE else in there, yet.

Went to Persona Live Awakenings today, and, while I enjoyed it, it was not what I was expecting at all. I've watched videos of the Persona Super Live concerts in Japan, and I've been to a ton of other video game concerts, and it wasn't like EITHER of those experiences. 1/

A photo of the Pacific Ocean. On the right edge of the photo the sun is setting, with orange hues interrupting the blue sky. In the distance you can see the outline of Catalina Island, in front of which is the silhouette of a cruise ship.

Today's View From a Run: a cruise ship sails off into the sunset in front of Catalina Island. Managed to cut it real close today in terms of making it home before it got dark; at least the days are getting longer, now.

I've put a few hours into The Rogue Prince of Persia this evening (thanks, PS+). I'm definitely enjoying it, but it also just makes me think I should be playing Dead Cells instead.

Post a game you remember playing that nobody else remembers

A photograph of a cliff overlooking the Pacific coast along Paseo del Mar. There are a bunch of trucks filled with various equipment necessary for filming.

A photograph of someone jogging along the sidewalk along the cliff's edge, being followed by a director telling them what to do.

Today's View From a Run: filming along the coast! I was approaching from the far side (as seen here) and it *looked* like they were filming over the cliff edge, so I jogged to the railing to look over. Then I got yelled at for being in frame. Not my fault, the actor was also dressed as a runner!

Also finished up Rift of the NecroDancer in the last few days. Solid rhythm game! Catchy music, and challenging even on normal.

I've started Time Flies, which kind of feels like a lo-fi Untitled Goose Game.

Officially cheesed the meeses. After all there's only one more sleep til Christmas.

A photo of dozens of seagulls flying and standing around a family feeding them on the edge of the cliff in a small park, next to the Pacific.

A photograph of a peacock standing at the top of a set of stairs leading to the porch of a white house with black trim. The peacock is a striking blue color, though its tail feathers are not extended.

Today's Views From a Run: Some birds! First I saw a ton of seagulls and went "man, what's got them so excited?" only to discover a family feeding them. Then I saw this magnificent fellow just chilling on this porch.

A grid of video game cover art. A single asterisk will represent a white star (rolled credits), and two asterisks will represent a yellow star (platinum). The games listed are: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle* Astroneer Eternal Strands* Avowed* Atomfall Little Kitty, Big City* Blue Prince* Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* Fantasy Life i to a T Revenge of the Savage Planet Dig! Dig! Dino!* Death Stranding 2* Otto's Galactic Groove!* Sword of the Sea* Silksong* Ghost of Yotei** Once Upon a Katamari Squirreled Away*

It's getting towards the end of the year, so how about a look-back on the games I played? Didn't do a ton of gaming this year, but what I did play was solid. White stars mean I rolled credits and a yellow star means Platinum. I also dabbled in a lot more Playdate games, but didn't bother adding 'em.

And for those who aren't local but still want some quality pottery, you can hit up Fenix's Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/manicgremlin - it should still make it by Christmas if you order soon!

A flyer with a painted image showing a variety of pottery in a festive setting. The flyer says: Blue Water Clay winter pottery sale. 801 S Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731. Dec 13th: 11AM to 6PM. Dec 14th: 10AM to 3PM. Cash, Venmo & Zelle accepted. www.bluewaterclay.com

If you're going to be in the LA area this weekend then you should swing by Blue Water Clay in San Pedro for some quality, hand-crafted pottery by a variety of local potters. My partner, Fenix, will have a table set up with lots of great pieces! Did I mention pottery makes a great gift?

A photograph of a large conifer covered in ornaments shaped like stars, snowflakes, reindeer, and sundry others. Behind it you can just make out a lot filled with Christmas trees for sale.

Today's View From a Run: a decorated tree next to the Seasonal Festivities Field (previously: pumpkins, currently: Christmas trees). As someone who grew up in the North it's really hard to feel festive when I'm out running in a t-shirt and short-shorts. A decade in warm climes and it's still weird.

Casablanca 3 is where it really lost me.