Two new rules have been added to this community, and they deserve some explanation.
Inspired by this comment, I started thinking about why so many gaming spaces feel shallow or exhausting.
The problem is that they are rarely about video games themselves. Instead, they become about “being a gamer”—a label, an identity, and a consumer tribe. That identity is built on cycles of hype, outrage, loyalty to platforms, and endless talk of hardware or marketing. It flattens games into consumable products, and the people into market demographics.
That’s not the kind of community I want to build. I’m here because I see games as art, and I want to share that perspective with others who think the same way. If someone views games mainly as a lifestyle accessory, or if their whole identity is wrapped up in consumption, then this space will feel alien to them—and that’s intentional.
Which is why the first new rule is simple: “This is not a gamer identity space.” It sets the boundary clearly. We don’t need the baggage of gamer identity here. This community isn’t a loyalty badge, it’s a place for deeper thought.
The second new rule grows directly out of the first: “Talk about games as art.” If games are art—and they are—then the most interesting conversations we can have are about design, aesthetics, mechanics, and meaning.
What is this game trying to say? What choices did the creators make, and why? How does its structure, its tone, or its style affect the way we experience it? These are the kinds of questions that lift discussion beyond consumption and into critique, interpretation, and appreciation.
I added this rule because I’ve seen firsthand what happens when you try to talk about games in this way elsewhere. In another gaming community (which doesn’t need to be named), I made the mistake of approaching the medium with positivity and seriousness—treating it as art worth celebrating.
The reaction was hostility. People saw appreciation as “shilling,” and thoughtful discussion as a threat to their outrage-driven culture. That told me all I needed to know: rather than fight to carve out space in communities built on negativity, it’s better to establish one that starts with positivity and respect for the medium itself.
So that’s the point of these two new rules. They’re not just lines in a list—they’re the foundation for what kind of community this will be. A place where games are treated as works of art, not consumer trophies. A place where we discuss choices, meaning, and design, not just hardware wars or outrage cycles.
This is a place where positivity is not only welcome but expected.
I have definitely caught the sentiment over the years that if you enjoy any AAA titles that you’re somehow a corporate shill. Excited for GTA VI? How dare you! Excited for a Ubisoft game? Why do you hate the gaming community so much? Paid for a DLC that you thought was worth it? You’re only encouraging them!
Sometimes I want to just have some fun. I, for one, am stoked for GTA VI, but everyone gets on their high horse about how it’s going to be some giant buggy scam with no real content. I don’t care what critics say about the storyline; RDR2 was a goddamn masterpiece and I’m always excited to see Rockstar’s next project. No, I won’t play the online or buy Shark Cards. But I will enjoy the crap out of the single-player storyline and the new world the build for us to explore.
We've freed Cookie's Bustle from copyright hell. Here's how. | Video Game History Foundation
3mon 16d ago by lemmy.world/u/SoyTDI in videogames@piefed.social from gamehistory.org
A 1978 promo for Intellivision—just a year before it hit shelves
8mon 28d ago by piefed.social/u/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from www.youtube.com
Time Hollow (2008) for Nintendo DS.
8mon 29d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Silent Dragon (1992) for arcade is Taito’s forgotten attempt at a Double Dragon spiritual sequel.
8mon 29d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org10 new(-ish) Linux games from itch.io that caught my eye lately.
8mon 29d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social
Ultros on Steam Deck.
8mon 29d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.orgPromo film for the world’s first home video game console (1972 Odyssey)
8mon 29d ago by piefed.social/u/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from www.youtube.com
Final Fantasy VII (1997) for Sony PlayStation.
8mon 24m ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Denis Through the Drinking Glass (1983) is a text adventure about Margaret Thatcher’s drunk husband, Denis. Yes—this was a real thing.
8mon 3h ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Dyer Expedition just hit Steam—and I wanted to love it, but I can’t.
8mon 3h ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.orgPeople often ask if I’m the same Chris Trottier who designed The Sims.
8mon 5h ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social
Are we misremembering what PS2 games looked like?
8mon 5h ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.orgComputer games you (probably) didn’t know existed!
8mon 6h ago by piefed.social/u/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from www.youtube.com
Wander Stars just launched today—and playing it feels like watching a lost 90s anime taped off late-night TV.
8mon 17h ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Folly of the Wizards just dropped, and the whole gag is that you’re a wizard who sucks at wizardry. Not “novice bad.” I mean “illiterate with your own damn glyphs” bad. You join a cult, flail your way
8mon 17h ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Break Arts III just launched on Steam—and it’s the nerdiest thing I’ve ever seen.
8mon 18h ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.orgThe problem with self-identified “gamers” is that they don’t much like games.
8mon 23h ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.socialIf Final Fantasy VII is The Beatles, then Trails in the Sky is The Velvet Underground.
8mon 23h ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, a JRPG, just got released on Steam—and this is a big deal because this game is to PC what Final Fantasy VII was to PlayStation.
8mon 1d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org88 games were released on Steam today.
8mon 1d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social
Deadeye Deepfake Simulacrum just got a full release on Steam—and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it might be one of the most innovative games I’ve ever played. A top-down stealth shooter with
8mon 1d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Game & Watch Gallery 2 (1997) for Game Boy Color
8mon 1d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Reel Deal Casino: Shuffle Master (2003) for Windows 98.
8mon 1d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition just hit Steam—and I wish this franchise had been given more respect.
8mon 1d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Easy Delivery Co, an open-world delivery game, just hit Steam today—and yes, it stars a cat driving a tiny kei truck around a snowy mountain town.
8mon 1d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Skygard Arena, a turn-based tactical RPG, has just landed on Steam—and it’s a bigger package than its title lets on.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.orgIllarion dedicated Roleplay MMO
8mon 2d ago by piefed.social/u/Dungabar in videogames@piefed.socialCurious, I wanted to see if ChatGPT 5 could replace me—so I asked it to review Super Mario Bros.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social
Formula Legends just dropped on Steam—and no, this barebones racer is not officially licensed.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.orgI’ve never spent a single dollar on Epic Games Store—yet I have over 100 games there from their giveaways. Free is free, and I’ll never apologize for padding my library at no cost.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social
DeadWire, a 2D top-down shooter, was just released on Steam—and it wears its Hotline Miami influence like a badge.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.orgEpic Game Store has two freebies this week.
8mon 2d ago by piefed.social/u/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social
Bytebond just dropped on Steam today—and here’s the verdict: great if you’ve got a friend, clunky if you don’t.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.orgToo many good games get released every day on Steam, so I’m changing the criteria for what gets reviewed.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.socialRise of the Tomb Raider is 90% off until September 29th.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social
ARC SEED, a turn-based strategy mech game, just hit full release on Steam today—and I’m torn on it.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Antivirus PROTOCOL just dropped on Steam today—and nope, I don’t like it.
8mon 2d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Game & Watch Multi Screen: Life Boat (1983).
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Virtua Fighter Remix (1996) for Windows 95.
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.orgWhenever I bring up the pros and cons of technical formats, there’s always that one guy who sighs and says, “Why can’t we just enjoy things?”
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social
DASH: Danger Action Speed Heroes, a 2D precision platformer, just left Early Access and finally hit full release on Steam.
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Lost Skies, an open world base building game, just came out of Early Access and got its full release on Steam.
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Flick Shot Rogues, a turn-based roguelite that swaps grid movement for pure flick physics, just launched on Steam today.
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor—the rogue-like bullet hell auto-shooter spin-off of DRG—has just blasted out of Early Access and into full release on Steam.
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Today only, Press Any Button is free on Steam—you can grab it, keep it forever, and play it as long as Valve doesn’t pull the plug on Steam itself.
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Henry Halfhead, a casual sandbox adventure game, was just released on Steam. It also launched today on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Mini Games Retro 90s just landed on Steam—a full collection of LCD handheld throwbacks straight out of the 80s and 90s.
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
Midnight Yammy | 8-Bit Trickster Show just launched on Steam—and yes, this is the real deal. A brand-new NES homebrew, bundled with a genuine .nes ROM you can drop into your emulator of choice or even
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org
XIII (2003) for GameCube.
8mon 3d ago by atomicpoet.org/users/atomicpoet in videogames@piefed.social from atomicpoet.org