Elsewhere: Sonic the Hedgehog, Apple, Rob Bell, etc.

Elsewhere: Sonic the Hedgehog, Apple, Rob Bell, etc. March 25, 2011

Rich:
Jason Rohrer had a brilliant idea for a game that was also a religion. Then the whole thing went south.

I bet you’ve been wondering what Sonic the Hedgehog has been up to, haven’t you? Well, he’s been watching a lot of TV.

Remember when Roger Ebert said games could never be art? This guy wrote a defense of that idea. An incredibly thoughtful and insightful article. A must-read, really.

Courtney stood up to Penny Arcade’s tasteless and hurtful jokes, took more crap for it from gamers than anyone should have to take, and then read a book about how awesome gamers could be. She found that hard to accept, at first…

Alan:
Apple’s App Store approves an app that helps “cure” homosexuality, and thereby draws criticism.

Speaking of Apple, in this Wired Magazine article, Joel Johnson tours the factory where iPhones are made.

As alienating and dehumanizing as the working conditions are in that Chinese factory, they probably are not nearly as bad as the reality of indentured servitude in Afghanistan as reported in this New York Times article.

Drew:
An interesting read on Japan’s religious and cultural climate in lieu of the recent earth quake and its effects.

Our very own Jason Morehead has written an interesting review of Josh T. Pearson’s fascinating and disturbing album, “Last of the Country Gentlemen.”

Ryan Hamm of Relevant has written a balanced and reasoned review of Rob Bell’s Love Wins.

Give Us Somebody We Can Blast into Pieces – Film critic Jeffrey Overstreet reflects on the topics covered in American cinema and what they say about us.

Paste lists their top 10 performances at SXSW–I am seriously considering making plans to go next year–who wants to join me?

The Onion tackles 20-30 something men who haven’t grown up yet–hilarious!

Pop Matters is spotlighting Joss Whedon.

Jason:
In light of the whole Rob Bell controversy, Jeff Cook wonders if there are really any significant differences between what Bell has written, and what C.S. Lewis expressed in his writings.

Linda Holmes defends the cultural omnivore, i.e., those who try to enjoy and find value in both “high” and “low” art.

My friend Matt has posted an in-depth “mid-game” review of Dragon Age 2 that hits on several issues in the game that have bothered me as well.


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