3rd Person

30/11/2018

The recent release of “The Quiet Man” is many things: disappointing, confusing, and ultimately worrying.

Editor Phoenix Simms takes a look at what went wrong with the game, being better at deaf representation, and what this might mean for Square Enix.

Kirk Mckeand, the Deputy Editor at VG247, tweeted about the unfortunately ironic release of Human Head Studios experimental game The Quiet Man , published by Square Enix. His witty summary illustrated the initial reaction of the gaming community to this Square Enix and Human Head title in a solitar

22/11/2018

Games have come a long way as a form of media, but they still fall short on real relationships, proper q***r representation, and the portrayal of s*x.

Editor Colin Cummings tackles this issue and takes a look at the industry as a whole, focusing on what AAA games can do better and where indie games have already succeeded.

For all of our advances in creating believable worlds, fantastic adventures, and pushing the line forward of blending cinematic and artistic expression in games, there still remains one aspect which we fall woefully short on consistently. I am of course referring to well written and thoughtful port

22/11/2018

Editor Phoenix Simms writes about The Hand Eye Society's annual event, "Wordplay". Focused on narrative and writing in games, this year's event acknowledged the politics in games writing, especially in today's political environment.

This year's event challenged the status quo of games being apolitical, which is no longer an option for any form of media.

WordPlay 2018 Acknowledges the Political Relationships in Game Writing

05/11/2018

Our Extra Life stream is over but we’re not finished fundraising! We’ll have more information soon on our giveaways to get to our final goal! We will also have our archives up soon as well.

In the mean time, here are some of our fantastic guests and one of the best moments of our stream.

Donate at: extra-life.org/team/thirdperson

02/11/2018

Our Extra Life stream also has hourly giveaways! To win, make any donation at http://extra-life.org/team/thirdperson. We'll pick a name randomly every hour for a different prize. We have two passes from Secret City Adventures, merch from local game devs, and a ton of games to give away!

01/11/2018

🎮 20 guests. 22 games. 24+ hours. 🎮

Here is our full schedule for our upcoming Extra Life weekend! Be sure to watch us at http://twitch.tv/thirdpersonspace and donate at http://extra-life.org/team/thirdperson! We will also be doing hourly giveaways of games and more to donators!

29/10/2018

We are back again for our annual Extra Life stream raising money for SickKids Foundation!

On November 3rd, We'll be playing games for 24 hours to raise funds for sick kids at our local children's hospital!

Third Person will streaming for 24 hours starting on November 3rd at 5pm EST. We will be live at www.twitch.tv/thirdpersonspace.

We'll have various guests, segments, and fun to keep you entertained! We'll be showcasing local talent in and around our local video game community.

We are also trying to beat our fundraising goal from last year of $2730! So please share this around, donate, and watch us this weekend!

18/10/2018

"This isn’t a fight that can be won. It isn’t a fight that spares the just. It just is absolute destruction, and tying that into your games’ mechanics in a way that justifies its use betrays both the fiction that the series has created and also the reality we have lived in today.”

Colin Cummings writes on Fallout 76's nuclear weapons, and the problem with their depiction by looking at the series as a whole, other games, and how it lands in our modern society.

“If you don't know what an atomic bomb is, then imagine the worst thing possible. Atomic bombs were worse than that.” There is a fundamental problem with games and the power we give to players. In numerous worlds and stories, we strive to consolidate power, and we work to improve the way we dest...

06/10/2018

Editor-in-Chief Colin Cummings takes a different approach and writes a short story on the limits of memory, both artificial and human.

(Originally published August 1st, 2018)

A cold white light bathes the basement in an eerie glow. The only sound is static, crackling through the silence. Discarded pizza boxes and energy drink cans litter the carpet, along with stains from sources that are better left to mystery. It is a calm scene that is suddenly broken by a whisper, an

05/10/2018

“You are a woman.
It is all you are.
It is all you ever will be.”

Managing Editor Phoenix Simms looks at the early demo release of "Patriah", and the powerful message on women's role in our society that it contains.

(Originally published August 15th, 2018)

Trigger warning: there are mentions of the physical and s*xual abuse of women in these impressions.

04/10/2018

"While wandering the landscape of Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, I found a country similar to my own in many ways, one that shares in our successes, and also in our failures."

Learn about American culture and legacy through the lens of "Where The Water Tastes Like Wine", and how Colin Cummings took a deeper look at the Canadian legacy as well.

(Originally published March 16th, 2018)

Legacy and culture in 'Where the Water Tastes Like Wine'

03/10/2018

Editor-in-Chief Colin Cummings chats with Weather Factory co-founders Alexis Kennedy and Lottie Bevan to discuss their latest work, Cultist Simulator.

(Originally published May 18th, 2018)

Special Guest Alexis Kennedy & Lottie Bevan Weather Factory

02/10/2018

"Circuits is a story about trauma. It is about survival, finding strength through adversity, dealing with moments that strip away humanity and leave behind something other, a person lost within themselves because the world surrounding them is too cruel to believe. It is a world that almost every woman has lived in, and has dealt with. It puts you right in that life and it broke my heart. I read the words but got lost in the spaces. So much is said, that I can’t even imagine what is left off of the page."

Colin Cummings looks at a powerful story available for free on itch.io right now.

(Originally published June 28th, 2018)

Finding a harsh reality in a closed c i r c u i t. I first played circuits at the Toronto Comics and Arts Festival . It was a busy afternoon, and Comics x Games was full of patrons. Most games were occupied, and I wasn’t there to really cover the event. I kept reminding myself to sit down and

01/10/2018

"Whenever you deal with QTEs in The Order: 1886, you are often dealing with the consequences of following your duty."

Phoenix Simms first article! Read up on her in-depth thoughts on The Order: 1886, and its relationship with QTEs.

(Originally published June 18th, 2018)

How One Mechanic Overshadowed The Order: 1886’s Promising Storytelling Project

30/09/2018

"...look at walls of polaroids in rooms, laptops covered in stickers, or denim jackets done up in enamel pins. We like these things because they are memories, clearly defined, and we wear them like badges of honor."

Colin Cummings thoughts on narrative game 'Marie's Room'.

(Originally published May 28th, 2018)

Human memory is inherently flawed. Our records are scratched, our photographs are over-exposed. The words are more like that of a heartwarming tale of human sacrifice we read in that one waiting room "Reader’s Digest" one forgotten afternoon, rather than the hours we spent under covers po

29/09/2018

One of our favorite features from earlier this year is our Game of the Year content! We spoke to a variety of developers and community members who provided podcast conversations and write-ups on their favorite games of the year.

Featuring: Samantha Cook, Kara Stone, Laundry Bear Games, Penelope Evans, Stephen Crane, Jake Butineau, Braydon Beaulieu, Matilde Park, and Miriam Verburg

(Originally published December 31st 2017 to February 3rd, 2018)

Toronto’s premier source for the diverse and personal stories within independent and local games culture.

28/09/2018

The annual E3 - Electronic Entertainment Expo has come and gone, but revisit the twists and turns and announcements with Colin Cummings and Jennifer Stienstra, with special guests Gabby DaRienzo and Yifat Shiak!

Have three hours to kill? This is the podcast for you! Timestamps also available for each section if you want to jump around.

(Originally published June 19th, 2018)

Runner Up : Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (Ubisoft)

27/09/2018

Ever wondered how each level from the "Halo" series stacks up?

We have just the article for you.

Join our former editor Alex Marshall and his siblings John and Heather as they go through every main game in the series to rank and critique each level.

Part One: https://thirdperson.space/blog/2017/9/29/halo-a-level-playing-field

Part Two: https://thirdperson.space/blog/2017/12/30/halo-a-level-playing-field-part-two

(Originally published October 3rd and December 30th 2017)

From it’s revolutionary gameplay (whose echoes are still being felt in the modern FPS) to its cinematic score, from “tank beats everything” to “ wort wort wort ”, the Halo franchise is, simply put, a cornerstone of the video game medium. This is the series that saved the Xbox, creating the...

26/09/2018

On the eve of the newest release in the series "Life is Strange", we look back at the prequel, Before the Storm.

(Originally published October 24th, 2017)

Life is Strange (2015) , is an episodic game, telling a story that is woefully under told in video games. It at once felt familiara murder mystery rolled into the classic coming of age story, with some narratively problematic science fiction elements thrown in for good measure.  Yet, the ga

25/09/2018

One of the more recent of our posts, come read Colin Cummings and Phoenix Simms thoughts on one of the escape rooms at Casa Loma by Secret City Adventures.

This was an entry in our "Local Spotlight" series, where we shine a light on Toronto and the events, places, and people who make it our home.

(Originally published August 10th, 2018)

Local Spotlight is Third Person's feature on Toronto and all it has to offer. From events that make our city a creative hub, to places where great work is made and seen, to the people that make it all happen. We'll be telling the stories of what happens in our own backyard. For this edition of Loc

24/09/2018

For our first article from our past year, we revisit Colin Cummings' article about the past Ontario Provincial election and what effect it would have on the games industry.

We know now that the damage goes beyond our corner and into other crucial areas such as our education system, and our own Toronto City Council.

Third Person will keep an eye out on any updates affecting the games industry.

(Originally published June 6th, 2018)

It is the eve of the Provincial Election in Ontario, and I’m worried. Worried is an understatement. I fear for the future of our province, and for my friends, peers, and colleagues in the media and games development industry in the light of the increased chance of a majority Conservative governmen...

24/09/2018

We've been away for a bit (on Facebook at least) but we are back! Over the next couple of weeks, we will be posting a daily curated backlog of our articles, podcasts and other content from the last year or so.

Then, we will be back to maintaining our Facebook presence on a regular basis. Be sure to share this page and our stories, and keep an eye out for new content as well.

Thanks,
The Third Person Editorial Team

31/01/2018

In our second episode of our Year in Review series, we speak to special guest Sophia Park. We go into her list of games of 2017, and talk about game mechanics, unique stories, and more Mass Effect: Andromeda. We also talk about what went into making Arc Symphony and Localhost and talk a little about her upcoming game.

Special Guest Sophia Park Arc Symphony, Localhost / Aether Interactive In today's episode we speak to special guest Sophia Park. We go into her list of games of 2017, and talk about game mechanics, unique stories, and more Mass Effect: Andromeda. We also talk about what went into making Arc Symp

31/01/2018

These games were 2017 for guest writer and game developer Sophia Park! Some surprises lay within, as Sophia breaks down how these games have changed the industry and will influence future titles.

If you’re like me, you’ve read dozens of “game of the year” lists. Not just this year. Every year. Me, I’m not sure why I do it, but I do it incessantly. Even when I know they probably hold our medium back and uphold a nonstop release schedule as a tool of the industry, I still listen, wri...

31/01/2018

In our first episode of our Year in Review series, we chat with Miriam Verburg of Bloom Media to talk her favorite games of 2017, the games industry, indie game publishing and LongStory!

Special Guest Miriam Verburg LongStory / Bloom Media In today's episode we speak to special guest Miriam Verburg. She shares her top games of 2017 with us, as well as discusses working on LongStory. We talk about releasing indie games, games curation and marketplaces, and a bit about the games i

29/01/2018

Year in Review 2017 begins at Third Person! We start with a list from co-host Logan West, sharing his favorite games from his 2017.

https://thirdperson.space/blog/2018/1/29/logan-wests-games-of-2017

Be sure to keep an eye on this page all week for more content coming soon from a variety of guests!

5. Playerunknown's Battlegrounds PUBG Corporation, Bluehole Though PUBG did not invent the genre, it remains my favourite so far out of all the BR games I’ve played this year. More importantly than artistic graphics, innovative gameplay, or even basic stability and playability (all of which this

01/12/2017

Travel back in time with us... to November 1st. We tackle the topics of the day and more in that week's edition of the podcast. In addition, it is our 20th episode!

We have two more episodes to closely follow this one as well, and have more backlogged content coming your way as we wrap up 2017!

Be sure to keep an eye on this page and the site for more surprises, and our new years plans!

In today's episode our original crew are back together and are chatting: Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Cuphead, Shadow of War, Witcher 3, the closure of Visceral, the future of single player games and game budgets, Fallout 4 and Electronic Arts. This episode was originally recorded on November 1st,

04/11/2017

We are LIVE in 6 hours! Be sure to go to twitch.tv/thirdpersonspace to watch, and to go extra-life.org/team/thirdperson to donate! We will be on for 24 hours to raise money for SickKids Foundation and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Be sure to tune in and if you donate, we will read your message out over the stream!

24/10/2017

Our first new feature with our new format: we dive into the Life is Strange series and talk about its achievements, as well as its problems. We also take a look at the newest entry: Before the Storm. It explores a story that fixes many problems the original faced, and provides a strong q***r relationship that is both charming, and relatable.

https://thirdperson.space/blog/2017/9/16/before-the-storm-a-return-to-form

Life is Strange (2015), is an episodic game, telling a story that is woefully under told in video games. It at once felt familiara murder mystery rolled into the classic coming of age story, with some narratively problematic science fiction elements thrown in for good measure. Yet, the game

24/10/2017

Editor-in-Chief Colin Cummings takes a moment to talk about Third Person’s future, past successes and learning from mistakes. It’s been over 6 months since the site has launched and the team has learned a lot.

https://thirdperson.space/blog/2017/10/18/letter-from-the-editor-october-2017

Hiya folks! It's the Editor-in-Chief here, uh, Colin. It's been 6 months or so since we first launched Third Person! Crazy huh? It's gone from light jacket season, to no jacket season, back to still not really jacket season because where is Fall am I right? Toronto folks you know what's up.

18/10/2017

We are pleased to announce our 24 hour livestream, coming on November 4th! We'll be coming at you live, with two dozen of hours of content ranging from local guests from our community, to a live podcast recording, to other fun shenanigans.

We are doing this livestream for Extra Life, raising money for SickKids Foundation. Our fundraising goal is $1000, and we're hoping to make a difference in the lives of local kids.

Keep an eye on this page for more announcements/details forthcoming. Also please signal boost this post and if you can, donate here: https://www.extra-life.org/team/thirdperson

We'll be live at 5PM, November 4th on https://www.twitch.tv/thirdpersonspace