Alex Donaldson
@apzonerunner.com
Video game critic. Owner/Final Boss @RPGSite.net, Editor-at-large @Eurogamer.net, occasional freelancer & consultant.
Into: Arcade cabs, Watches, Dogs, Whisky, fighting games (esp SF), RPGs (esp FF), NFL (Rams), Lego, Poker & Blackjack
www.donaldson.zone
Into: Arcade cabs, Watches, Dogs, Whisky, fighting games (esp SF), RPGs (esp FF), NFL (Rams), Lego, Poker & Blackjack
www.donaldson.zone
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Read the argument today that people should try to influence the narratives on the other website rather than abandon it.
I respect the view but - you're not influencing anyone.
Legacy media views throttled to death. Someone gave this example.
@BBC - 2m followers. Meg IP. One retweet. 12k views.
I respect the view but - you're not influencing anyone.
Legacy media views throttled to death. Someone gave this example.
@BBC - 2m followers. Meg IP. One retweet. 12k views.
January 10, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Read the argument today that people should try to influence the narratives on the other website rather than abandon it.
I respect the view but - you're not influencing anyone.
Legacy media views throttled to death. Someone gave this example.
@BBC - 2m followers. Meg IP. One retweet. 12k views.
I respect the view but - you're not influencing anyone.
Legacy media views throttled to death. Someone gave this example.
@BBC - 2m followers. Meg IP. One retweet. 12k views.
I genuinely love the remake series, but there are so many moments of wonder like this that are lost in it. Impossible to recreate in the style of game they are, I suppose
Final Fantasy VII, on the path to Mt Corel, you enter via a rocky path that leads to a beautiful sunset over the mountains. It's one of my favorite places in the game.
January 10, 2026 at 4:08 PM
I genuinely love the remake series, but there are so many moments of wonder like this that are lost in it. Impossible to recreate in the style of game they are, I suppose
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Steve Rogers at the 1 Hour 50 minute mark, after Dr. Doom has been defeated:
January 10, 2026 at 3:28 AM
Steve Rogers at the 1 Hour 50 minute mark, after Dr. Doom has been defeated:
Really good piece summarizing some really irresponsible reporting. If you don't wanna read it someone will probably have a totally misrepresentative telephone game version of it on another outlet soon no doubt
For my first newsletter of 2026 we're diving into this week's GTA VI "delay" debacle, from death threats to Take-Two stock dropping nearly 2% thanks to misinformation from content farms like Dexerto.
Here's the whole story: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Here's the whole story: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Take-Two Falls on ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Delay Misinformation
“Grand Theft Auto VI’ was first announced for fall 2025 before slipping to May 2026 and then again to Nov. 19, 2026, its current planned date
www.bloomberg.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Really good piece summarizing some really irresponsible reporting. If you don't wanna read it someone will probably have a totally misrepresentative telephone game version of it on another outlet soon no doubt
Amazing buck passing like Ofcom does anything except, er, wield the power of the state, which is derived from the very cabinet office Kendall hails from. Cowardice
NEW: Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, says Ofcom would have the "full backing" of government if it opted to block access to X in the UK (but it's a decision for Ofcom)
January 9, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Amazing buck passing like Ofcom does anything except, er, wield the power of the state, which is derived from the very cabinet office Kendall hails from. Cowardice
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
For my first newsletter of 2026 we're diving into this week's GTA VI "delay" debacle, from death threats to Take-Two stock dropping nearly 2% thanks to misinformation from content farms like Dexerto.
Here's the whole story: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Here's the whole story: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Take-Two Falls on ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Delay Misinformation
“Grand Theft Auto VI’ was first announced for fall 2025 before slipping to May 2026 and then again to Nov. 19, 2026, its current planned date
www.bloomberg.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:13 PM
For my first newsletter of 2026 we're diving into this week's GTA VI "delay" debacle, from death threats to Take-Two stock dropping nearly 2% thanks to misinformation from content farms like Dexerto.
Here's the whole story: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Here's the whole story: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
i know a lot of games journalists and critics follow me, and you'll notice that mothership.blog already has a "How to pitch" page live, along with a few other pages! so yes, please, go ahead and pitch. i'm so excited to announce this in part to get more of your voices out there.
January 9, 2026 at 5:10 PM
i know a lot of games journalists and critics follow me, and you'll notice that mothership.blog already has a "How to pitch" page live, along with a few other pages! so yes, please, go ahead and pitch. i'm so excited to announce this in part to get more of your voices out there.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Larian writing director says gen AI won't be used for the new Divinity game's writing
Says they tinkered at it for research, and it created work that was "at best" 3/10 in terms of quality, inferior to even his own worst human-written drafts
www.reddit.com/r/Games/comm...
Says they tinkered at it for research, and it created work that was "at best" 3/10 in terms of quality, inferior to even his own worst human-written drafts
www.reddit.com/r/Games/comm...
January 9, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Larian writing director says gen AI won't be used for the new Divinity game's writing
Says they tinkered at it for research, and it created work that was "at best" 3/10 in terms of quality, inferior to even his own worst human-written drafts
www.reddit.com/r/Games/comm...
Says they tinkered at it for research, and it created work that was "at best" 3/10 in terms of quality, inferior to even his own worst human-written drafts
www.reddit.com/r/Games/comm...
I think broadly Lego has been unable to do much wrong but I'm really not vibing with the pricing, the non-replaceable batteries etc here
LEGO Star Wars Smart Play Sets up for preorder at LEGO Store buff.ly/vDiLicY
Amazon buff.ly/980KUvN #ad
Amazon buff.ly/980KUvN #ad
January 9, 2026 at 2:12 PM
I think broadly Lego has been unable to do much wrong but I'm really not vibing with the pricing, the non-replaceable batteries etc here
Thing is, Musk et al are already briefing against the UK govt, ranting about LONDINISTAN etc etc. So what is there to lose by going balls to the wall against them? This is a rare case when Labour should have the stones to be aggressively progressive without doing panicked looks over their shoulder
January 9, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Thing is, Musk et al are already briefing against the UK govt, ranting about LONDINISTAN etc etc. So what is there to lose by going balls to the wall against them? This is a rare case when Labour should have the stones to be aggressively progressive without doing panicked looks over their shoulder
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Number crunching: Pay and dividends of Bet365 chief executive v total fiscal cost of gambling-related harm.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
January 9, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Number crunching: Pay and dividends of Bet365 chief executive v total fiscal cost of gambling-related harm.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Final Fantasy X (Square, 2001)
June 26, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Final Fantasy X (Square, 2001)
If I were Xbox I would definitely decouple significant updates to games from the late multiplat releases, as dropping a load of improvements the same day as the PlayStation release really fuels that "Xbox players beta tested for PS users" narrative. Let Xbox players have the update first lol
Avowed launches for PlayStation 5 on February 17 alongside update adding new races, New Game Plus, and Photo Mode: https://www.rpgsite.net/news/19319-avowed-launches-for-playstation-5-on-february-17-alongside-new-races-new-game-plus-photo-mode
January 9, 2026 at 8:57 AM
If I were Xbox I would definitely decouple significant updates to games from the late multiplat releases, as dropping a load of improvements the same day as the PlayStation release really fuels that "Xbox players beta tested for PS users" narrative. Let Xbox players have the update first lol
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Another image that sums up the protest.
January 8, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Another image that sums up the protest.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Things are awful, so a little treat for the real Crush-Heads. It is now eleven years since I got this printed in the Metro.
January 8, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Things are awful, so a little treat for the real Crush-Heads. It is now eleven years since I got this printed in the Metro.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
your train has arrived
January 8, 2026 at 3:27 PM
your train has arrived
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
this could happen like a million more times and i'll still find it funny
January 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
this could happen like a million more times and i'll still find it funny
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
FFXII menu UI appreciation post
January 8, 2026 at 2:52 PM
FFXII menu UI appreciation post
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
It seems all roads lead to Gran Soren.
January 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM
It seems all roads lead to Gran Soren.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
obsessed with this frame. he looks kind.
January 7, 2026 at 8:53 PM
obsessed with this frame. he looks kind.
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
what this week feels like to me
January 7, 2026 at 9:58 AM
what this week feels like to me
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
You're not ready for the name of the energy transition specialist at Heat Pump Association UK
January 7, 2026 at 12:06 PM
You're not ready for the name of the energy transition specialist at Heat Pump Association UK
Reposted by Alex Donaldson
