I think I’m going to settle on the dispatch being biweekly–doing it every week has felt like overkill. I think I imagined this newsletter as just links to the articles of the week, but each time I’ve thought of doing that it’s felt like such poor value for your no-money that I’ve ended up doing more, so this is, probably, better for all involved. Let me know if you feel any different. Onwards! This Fortnight On exp. Subscriber Post: Many Nights A Whisper (Deconstructeam/Selkie Harbour, 2025)...
24 days ago • 3 min read
This week on exp. Subscriber Post: VILE: Exhumed (Cadaver, 2025) This was a really difficult one to write about, and while I really hesitate to bang on about how exp. needs your support to continue at this level, well, it does, so please consider supporting us on Patreon (preferrably), ko-fi, or pick up a zine or the book. Here, I chose to dig into a banned game with heavy themes that reflect the current moment of moral panic, but which I found… inconclusive. Would love to hear what others...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
The triumphant return of the Dispatch after a week off because I was too busy. Sorry! Still, it means a bumper crop of article and zine links. This fortnight on exp. Subscriber Post: Firework Thrower Kantaro’s 53 Stations of the Tokaido (Sunsoft, 1986) A game I didn’t expect any reaction to but I’ve already had a few people saying they’ve played it as well and like me at least found it interesting Unlocked Post: Paradise Killer (Kaizen Game Works, 2020) Unlocked Post: DAIVA Story 6: Imperial...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
In this week’s Dispatch: after playing Wheels of Aurelia, I decided to look at its main inspiration, Il Sorpasso. And a capsule review of Luth Haroon’s INSERT/DATE/HERE. This week on exp. Subscriber Post: DAIVA Story 6: Imperial of Nirsartia (T&E Soft, 1986) Even I wonder why I wrote about this one but it is on Switch Online in the west! Unlocked Post: Cyrano (Popcannibal, 2025) Unlocked Post: Wheels of Aurelia (Santa Ragione, 2016) Wheels of Aurelia is now delisted on the App Store, though...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Two subscriber articles this week, and a surprisingly successful trip to the archive. This week on exp. Subscriber Post: Cyrano (Popcannibal, 2025) It’s always surprising how little you actually know the classics, despite feeling like you’re always submerged in references to them. Subscriber Post: Wheels of Aurelia (Santa Ragione, 2016) This post has some urgency, as Wheels of Aurelia will be delisted on iOS on the 25th, so rather than make this the regular weekly post I thought I’d make it a...
2 months ago • 2 min read
This week on exp. Subscriber Post: Pro Wrestling (TRY, 1986) I have (generally) been unimpressed with Nintendo’s black box output, but along with Golf, this one was a really nice surprise. Unlocked Post: Despelote (Cordero/Valbuena, 2025) The only article you’re going to read about a video game that includes a reference to Jeanne Dielman and Fishing With John. Probably. From The exp. Archives: Gunhouse (Necrosoft, 2014) I don’t do these that often, but when I feel like I know the developer...
2 months ago • 2 min read
This week in the exp. Dispatch we’ve got an exclusive PICO-8 capsule review, an exp. Du Cinéma that didn’t feel long enough to give its own post, as well as all the usual week’s round-up and zine links. Incredible value!!! This week on exp. Subscriber Post: Despelote (Cordero/Valbuena, 2025) Panic would probably not be best pleased that I turned another article on something they published into a rumination on the place of AI in creativity, but I’m proud of this one. I really think it’s worth...
3 months ago • 4 min read
This week on exp. Actual Journalism: I Asked Panic About GenAI in Playdate Season 2 An unusual week on exp. because I did some actual journalism. I’m really not sure why more outlets didn’t pick this up in the first place–isn’t it news that there’s a game that uses AI in Playdate Season 2? I think it is! Anyway, I got some quotes. A few people have mentioned maybe I should have followed up with them to nail down if they’re going to allow AI on Playdate in future or not–and they’re right. But...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Copyright © 2025 Mathew Kumar Hello and welcome to the very first exp. Dispatch! A little later than I expected for a variety of reasons. But at least with the delay I fixed the mailing address so this doesn’t just go immediately into your spam box, like the confirmation emails for, uh, about half of the people who have subscribed, who therefore won’t be reading this. Oops! This week on exp. exp. was on rare sale at the Toronto Games Week Indie Game Emporium last Sunday the 15th! There’s a...
3 months ago • 2 min read