Harper Jay
@dreamcastaway.bsky.social
fmr. community at Double Fine Productions | ex journalist (kotaku) | blue rogue | they/she | I write freelance stuff when the mood strikes
Pinned
Harper Jay
@dreamcastaway.bsky.social
· May 6
I've never actually posted about this on Bluesky but over the last few years I've been novelizing the now-retro JRPG 'Skies of Arcadia," a game very dear to my heart.
The process has been gradual but I think it's a very fun read for folks looking for some adventure.
Read at: tinyurl.com/skiesao3!
The process has been gradual but I think it's a very fun read for folks looking for some adventure.
Read at: tinyurl.com/skiesao3!
Reposted by Harper Jay
Over at @theguardian.com I reviewed Belmont’s Curse. This was a tougher review to figure out!.Super stylish! When it sings, it really sings! But something is off..
It also puts forth a terrible first impression and takes a while to reveal the good stuff. Clever at times, frustrating in others.
It also puts forth a terrible first impression and takes a while to reveal the good stuff. Clever at times, frustrating in others.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse review – every fantastical vampire-hunting vision is fulfilled
There are buzzsaws and blood pits, bats burst into blood and demons burn to cinders. The series’ new emphasis on twitch-based action may annoy purists but you can’t call it dull
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Over at @theguardian.com I reviewed Belmont’s Curse. This was a tougher review to figure out!.Super stylish! When it sings, it really sings! But something is off..
It also puts forth a terrible first impression and takes a while to reveal the good stuff. Clever at times, frustrating in others.
It also puts forth a terrible first impression and takes a while to reveal the good stuff. Clever at times, frustrating in others.
And here’s the update for today. Shout outs to Kei Nagase. We’ll get to this after Shattered Skies.
October 22, 2026 at 5:58 PM
And here’s the update for today. Shout outs to Kei Nagase. We’ll get to this after Shattered Skies.
Reposted by Harper Jay
Reposted by Harper Jay
Turn A Gundam (1999)
Episode 9 - Corin Called It Gundam
23:50.422
Episode 9 - Corin Called It Gundam
23:50.422
October 21, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Turn A Gundam (1999)
Episode 9 - Corin Called It Gundam
23:50.422
Episode 9 - Corin Called It Gundam
23:50.422
Writing ended later than I planned. Time for some Ace Combat. Shout outs to the special appearance of @aguichart.bsky.social's G'raha Tia plushie! good wingman!
"I was just a child when the stars fell from the skies...."
Looks lovely on the old tube. Gonna try to pick up AC5 soon!
"I was just a child when the stars fell from the skies...."
Looks lovely on the old tube. Gonna try to pick up AC5 soon!
October 22, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Writing ended later than I planned. Time for some Ace Combat. Shout outs to the special appearance of @aguichart.bsky.social's G'raha Tia plushie! good wingman!
"I was just a child when the stars fell from the skies...."
Looks lovely on the old tube. Gonna try to pick up AC5 soon!
"I was just a child when the stars fell from the skies...."
Looks lovely on the old tube. Gonna try to pick up AC5 soon!
Reposted by Harper Jay
And it supports Day of the Devs! 16 days left! www.ign.com/articles/get...
Humble’s Double Fine Bundle Features 11 Games From the Publisher That You Can Add to Your Steam Library for As Low as $8
Humble Bundle's new Double Fine bundle features 11 games from the publisher - including Psychonauts, Brutal Legend, and more - that you can add to your Steam library for just $8.
www.ign.com
October 21, 2026 at 10:34 PM
And it supports Day of the Devs! 16 days left! www.ign.com/articles/get...
Reposted by Harper Jay
vyse | skies of arcadia
October 21, 2026 at 2:51 AM
vyse | skies of arcadia
Reposted by Harper Jay
Maybe my favorite photo from this collection is the booth for Shenmue at Tokyo Game Show Autumn 1999
It's a forklift. It's just a forklift.
It's a forklift. It's just a forklift.
October 21, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Maybe my favorite photo from this collection is the booth for Shenmue at Tokyo Game Show Autumn 1999
It's a forklift. It's just a forklift.
It's a forklift. It's just a forklift.
Reposted by Harper Jay
Was just typing "this fucking industry" to a friend and instead typed "this fucking injury." and you know what,
October 21, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Was just typing "this fucking industry" to a friend and instead typed "this fucking injury." and you know what,
Given all the pure Hell happening at EA and within the industry wider this isn't shocking news in the strictest sense.
Even so it does feel like a grenade exploding.
Their games connected me to some of the finest people I've ever known. This one feels really bad. wooof
Even so it does feel like a grenade exploding.
Their games connected me to some of the finest people I've ever known. This one feels really bad. wooof
BREAKING: Electronic Arts is cutting 400 jobs and shutting down BioWare, the legendary development studio behind Dragon Age and Mass Effect. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Electronic Arts to Cut 400 Jobs, Shut Down BioWare
The next ‘Mass Effect’ will be canceled as part of the layoffs
www.bloomberg.com
October 21, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Given all the pure Hell happening at EA and within the industry wider this isn't shocking news in the strictest sense.
Even so it does feel like a grenade exploding.
Their games connected me to some of the finest people I've ever known. This one feels really bad. wooof
Even so it does feel like a grenade exploding.
Their games connected me to some of the finest people I've ever known. This one feels really bad. wooof
UPDATE: No luck on Ace Combat 6. Drat! However...
Looks like Shattered Skies is on the menu, friends! Wouldn't have snagged this if I didn't head out! it was a real Sephora and retro game sort of of experience. Goooood stuff.
maybe I can find the Unsung War somewhere else?
Looks like Shattered Skies is on the menu, friends! Wouldn't have snagged this if I didn't head out! it was a real Sephora and retro game sort of of experience. Goooood stuff.
maybe I can find the Unsung War somewhere else?
October 21, 2026 at 4:11 PM
UPDATE: No luck on Ace Combat 6. Drat! However...
Looks like Shattered Skies is on the menu, friends! Wouldn't have snagged this if I didn't head out! it was a real Sephora and retro game sort of of experience. Goooood stuff.
maybe I can find the Unsung War somewhere else?
Looks like Shattered Skies is on the menu, friends! Wouldn't have snagged this if I didn't head out! it was a real Sephora and retro game sort of of experience. Goooood stuff.
maybe I can find the Unsung War somewhere else?
This was about Ace Combat 6, for the record. And someone in my comments got a bit heated. A bit "what are you gonna do!? Are you gonna keep doing witch hunt shit!? huh!?"
And today the answer is that I'm going to drive to a few of the store around town to just see if I can find a used copy.
And today the answer is that I'm going to drive to a few of the store around town to just see if I can find a used copy.
Cool recomp you have there. Would love to play this thing in a way that's clean and stress-free.
Lemme just look at your Reddit history. Oh, here you are talking about... the money you've spent on API calls to Claude...?
Okay, cool cool. Love having to sleuth for every project I see now.
Lemme just look at your Reddit history. Oh, here you are talking about... the money you've spent on API calls to Claude...?
Okay, cool cool. Love having to sleuth for every project I see now.
October 21, 2026 at 1:49 PM
This was about Ace Combat 6, for the record. And someone in my comments got a bit heated. A bit "what are you gonna do!? Are you gonna keep doing witch hunt shit!? huh!?"
And today the answer is that I'm going to drive to a few of the store around town to just see if I can find a used copy.
And today the answer is that I'm going to drive to a few of the store around town to just see if I can find a used copy.
Reposted by Harper Jay
Reposted by Harper Jay
Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994)
Episode 2 - Roar of the Winning Punch
03:29.926
Episode 2 - Roar of the Winning Punch
03:29.926
October 21, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994)
Episode 2 - Roar of the Winning Punch
03:29.926
Episode 2 - Roar of the Winning Punch
03:29.926
Yeah! SOCOM headset works fine. It's just an old Logitech.
I just called a guard a p*ssy and he came sauntering over so I killed him with piano wire. in minecraft. in manhunt.
the early 2000s were on some nonsense
I just called a guard a p*ssy and he came sauntering over so I killed him with piano wire. in minecraft. in manhunt.
the early 2000s were on some nonsense
October 20, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Yeah! SOCOM headset works fine. It's just an old Logitech.
I just called a guard a p*ssy and he came sauntering over so I killed him with piano wire. in minecraft. in manhunt.
the early 2000s were on some nonsense
I just called a guard a p*ssy and he came sauntering over so I killed him with piano wire. in minecraft. in manhunt.
the early 2000s were on some nonsense
The update to this playthrough (of a game I think is stumbling more than succeeding) that we're trying something...
What if I had Brian Cox jabbering at me through my SOCOM headset? What if I speak into the mic and distract a baddie?
is this the future of gaming?
What if I had Brian Cox jabbering at me through my SOCOM headset? What if I speak into the mic and distract a baddie?
is this the future of gaming?
October 20, 2026 at 9:40 PM
The update to this playthrough (of a game I think is stumbling more than succeeding) that we're trying something...
What if I had Brian Cox jabbering at me through my SOCOM headset? What if I speak into the mic and distract a baddie?
is this the future of gaming?
What if I had Brian Cox jabbering at me through my SOCOM headset? What if I speak into the mic and distract a baddie?
is this the future of gaming?
late night thoughts about Rockstar's Manhunt, Zelda, funhouses, failure, and if/when criticism and interpretation risks covering for a game's imperfections.
"Call the shot. It’s okay. otherwise, we are left with a spotless, immaculate Vision.
We are left with art that can’t give us splinters."
"Call the shot. It’s okay. otherwise, we are left with a spotless, immaculate Vision.
We are left with art that can’t give us splinters."
I had a splinter once.
Can art fail? As a whole or momentarily, can art fail?
It seems to me flatly that the answer to this is yes. Ask many people and at least they can agree that sometimes there is something that doesn’t....
transgamerthoughts.com
October 20, 2026 at 4:49 AM
late night thoughts about Rockstar's Manhunt, Zelda, funhouses, failure, and if/when criticism and interpretation risks covering for a game's imperfections.
"Call the shot. It’s okay. otherwise, we are left with a spotless, immaculate Vision.
We are left with art that can’t give us splinters."
"Call the shot. It’s okay. otherwise, we are left with a spotless, immaculate Vision.
We are left with art that can’t give us splinters."
An aside to this is to understand that critical reads or imagination allow us to project intention on to pretty much anything...
but there *is* ultimately a "thing" there. And some kinds of interpretation is ultimately more honest, more brave, and probably more true than others.
but there *is* ultimately a "thing" there. And some kinds of interpretation is ultimately more honest, more brave, and probably more true than others.
I want to start some discourse so I want to nitpick the end of this ign videos talking about oot remake being intentionally theatrical and "loading screens represent the crews swapping [the stages] out before the next scene begins"
is waaay too flimsy of an interpretation
youtu.be/aoqemZVeIzw?...
is waaay too flimsy of an interpretation
youtu.be/aoqemZVeIzw?...
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Is More Different Than You Think | IGN Preview
YouTube video by IGN
youtu.be
October 20, 2026 at 1:50 AM
An aside to this is to understand that critical reads or imagination allow us to project intention on to pretty much anything...
but there *is* ultimately a "thing" there. And some kinds of interpretation is ultimately more honest, more brave, and probably more true than others.
but there *is* ultimately a "thing" there. And some kinds of interpretation is ultimately more honest, more brave, and probably more true than others.
Reposted by Harper Jay
Reposted by Harper Jay
Thank You Bus Driver is the latest from Double Fine, and our very own @pfhorbear.bsky.social absolutely loved it. His review:
www.rogue.site/editorials/t...
www.rogue.site/editorials/t...
Thank You Bus Driver is an immaculate, chaotic ride and I can't get enough
I never thought this would be in my game of the year conversations, but here we are
www.rogue.site
October 19, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Thank You Bus Driver is the latest from Double Fine, and our very own @pfhorbear.bsky.social absolutely loved it. His review:
www.rogue.site/editorials/t...
www.rogue.site/editorials/t...
Reposted by Harper Jay
wip of one of my top 5 disasters
October 17, 2026 at 7:04 PM
wip of one of my top 5 disasters
A thought playing Manhunt RN is.. that I think the (unintentionally?) lumbering and odd controls of James Earl Cash here...
... and lumbering and odd (intentional) movement of an Arthur Morgan in many ways, it feels experientially THE SAME.
just big fuckin' meat hunks. stomp men stompin around.
... and lumbering and odd (intentional) movement of an Arthur Morgan in many ways, it feels experientially THE SAME.
just big fuckin' meat hunks. stomp men stompin around.
October 18, 2026 at 11:18 PM
A thought playing Manhunt RN is.. that I think the (unintentionally?) lumbering and odd controls of James Earl Cash here...
... and lumbering and odd (intentional) movement of an Arthur Morgan in many ways, it feels experientially THE SAME.
just big fuckin' meat hunks. stomp men stompin around.
... and lumbering and odd (intentional) movement of an Arthur Morgan in many ways, it feels experientially THE SAME.
just big fuckin' meat hunks. stomp men stompin around.
Okay, seems to be working better!
The game club goal seems to be getting folks to try important things they've heard of but not played. Last one was Shenmue.
The snag for me is... I *have* played this. It's just also uh... at least two decades?! God no, time's march! My bones!
The game club goal seems to be getting folks to try important things they've heard of but not played. Last one was Shenmue.
The snag for me is... I *have* played this. It's just also uh... at least two decades?! God no, time's march! My bones!
October 18, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Okay, seems to be working better!
The game club goal seems to be getting folks to try important things they've heard of but not played. Last one was Shenmue.
The snag for me is... I *have* played this. It's just also uh... at least two decades?! God no, time's march! My bones!
The game club goal seems to be getting folks to try important things they've heard of but not played. Last one was Shenmue.
The snag for me is... I *have* played this. It's just also uh... at least two decades?! God no, time's march! My bones!