Derek
@astralcitymini.com
Senior Editor at MARVELOUS/XSEED. Chicagoan.
Digital explorer. 🗺️ Café connoisseur. ☕️ Audiophile. 🎧
I care deeply about words and the stories they tell.
🏳️🌈 he/him
Digital explorer. 🗺️ Café connoisseur. ☕️ Audiophile. 🎧
I care deeply about words and the stories they tell.
🏳️🌈 he/him
Pinned
Derek
@astralcitymini.com
· Mar 29
Astral City Mini
High-fidelity writing and state-of-the-art critique double your reading enjoyment!
astralcitymini.com
Announcing the launch of Astral City Mini, my personal blog featuring short-to-medium-form writing about video games, their music, and related miscellany.
astralcitymini.com
astralcitymini.com
This little one is feeling better. She has a middle ear infection that is improving with antibiotics. I’m so grateful it’s not something more serious. Hug your pets!
December 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
This little one is feeling better. She has a middle ear infection that is improving with antibiotics. I’m so grateful it’s not something more serious. Hug your pets!
Reposted by Derek
Whenever I say this, people get Really Mad, but it's true. Same of any other art, too. You have to read the book, watch the film, see the painting, listen to the song, whatever.
I'm sorry, but watching a video about it on YouTube is not enough. You have not experience the art.
I'm sorry, but watching a video about it on YouTube is not enough. You have not experience the art.
"you have not played the game unless you've played the game" is one of my more annoying but unshakable opinions
the whole "don't play the game, just watch a video on youtube that will explain its story to you" is so disheartening because the issue of accessibility is genuinely really important but it's always just people who want to be spoon-fed nicely quantifiable information
November 23, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Whenever I say this, people get Really Mad, but it's true. Same of any other art, too. You have to read the book, watch the film, see the painting, listen to the song, whatever.
I'm sorry, but watching a video about it on YouTube is not enough. You have not experience the art.
I'm sorry, but watching a video about it on YouTube is not enough. You have not experience the art.
Reposted by Derek
Join Klonoa, the Dream Traveler, in a wonderful tribute album of music from across the entire series! 💍
Starlit Reverie -A Klonoa Tribute Album- 💫
Premiering 23:00 UTC Dec. 28th on YT!
Starlit Reverie -A Klonoa Tribute Album- 💫
Premiering 23:00 UTC Dec. 28th on YT!
December 13, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Join Klonoa, the Dream Traveler, in a wonderful tribute album of music from across the entire series! 💍
Starlit Reverie -A Klonoa Tribute Album- 💫
Premiering 23:00 UTC Dec. 28th on YT!
Starlit Reverie -A Klonoa Tribute Album- 💫
Premiering 23:00 UTC Dec. 28th on YT!
Reposted by Derek
I love Clair Obscur, it does so many things I appreciate, and its shortcomings I don't care as much about or are negated by its strengths to me. BUT I wish people could be normal when someone says they don't like it. Just let it go! Your positive experience is not marred by their negative one!
December 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I love Clair Obscur, it does so many things I appreciate, and its shortcomings I don't care as much about or are negated by its strengths to me. BUT I wish people could be normal when someone says they don't like it. Just let it go! Your positive experience is not marred by their negative one!
Reposted by Derek
The best games of 2025 give a glimpse into a better world — where artists can invite audiences into their memoirs, where AAAs are thematically ambitious and small teams can sculpt epics.
This is also my 100th(!!) proper video on YouTube, a milestone seven years in the making
youtu.be/tJ4X6FsLn6Y
This is also my 100th(!!) proper video on YouTube, a milestone seven years in the making
youtu.be/tJ4X6FsLn6Y
December 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The best games of 2025 give a glimpse into a better world — where artists can invite audiences into their memoirs, where AAAs are thematically ambitious and small teams can sculpt epics.
This is also my 100th(!!) proper video on YouTube, a milestone seven years in the making
youtu.be/tJ4X6FsLn6Y
This is also my 100th(!!) proper video on YouTube, a milestone seven years in the making
youtu.be/tJ4X6FsLn6Y
Reposted by Derek
break the "reviews are just to tell me if i should buy things" shackles. care about art beyond whether it makes the number of your bank account go up or down! have a thought!
December 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
break the "reviews are just to tell me if i should buy things" shackles. care about art beyond whether it makes the number of your bank account go up or down! have a thought!
Lately I’ve struggled to find my words for social media. Somehow it feels wrong to joke and quip when the world seems veiled in dark. But I don’t have to choose between joy and sincerity. I wield sincerity like a superpower. I am not afraid to love with my whole heart.
Let’s laugh & fight together.
Let’s laugh & fight together.
December 10, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Lately I’ve struggled to find my words for social media. Somehow it feels wrong to joke and quip when the world seems veiled in dark. But I don’t have to choose between joy and sincerity. I wield sincerity like a superpower. I am not afraid to love with my whole heart.
Let’s laugh & fight together.
Let’s laugh & fight together.
Reposted by Derek
Finally, The Kotaku Review for Hundred Line. I spent much of it reflecting on how its incredible ambition makes it nearly impossible to recommend without caveats. But it's one of the most important games of 2025, and a testament to the power of making something for yourself without compromise.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy: The Kotaku Review - Kotaku
One of 2025’s most important games is one you probably haven’t heard about
kotaku.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Finally, The Kotaku Review for Hundred Line. I spent much of it reflecting on how its incredible ambition makes it nearly impossible to recommend without caveats. But it's one of the most important games of 2025, and a testament to the power of making something for yourself without compromise.
Reposted by Derek
"Machine translation would handle the heavy lifting, and we’d add the expert polish. Except the machine made a mess. And we’re doing expert-level cognitive labour to clean it up for cleaning wages.
We’re not mops. We’re translators."
#translation #xl8
www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-l...
We’re not mops. We’re translators."
#translation #xl8
www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-l...
An open letter to colleagues: we are not mops
After more than two decades working in legal translation across four languages and multiple jurisdictions, I’ve watched our profession reshaped by forces that claim efficiency as a path to our expenda...
www.linkedin.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:02 AM
"Machine translation would handle the heavy lifting, and we’d add the expert polish. Except the machine made a mess. And we’re doing expert-level cognitive labour to clean it up for cleaning wages.
We’re not mops. We’re translators."
#translation #xl8
www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-l...
We’re not mops. We’re translators."
#translation #xl8
www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-l...
Reposted by Derek
Milano's Odd Job Collection, our revival of a gorgeous pixel art PS1 game from 1999, is now out on all platforms!
December 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Milano's Odd Job Collection, our revival of a gorgeous pixel art PS1 game from 1999, is now out on all platforms!
Reposted by Derek
The Avarice Awards holds a mirror to the hollow glamour of The Game Awards, as workers continue to have their livelihoods upended by mass layoffs. We are speaking truth to the powers ruining the game industry with their greed!
Stream begins on December 10th at 7pm PT / 10pm ET on twitch.tv/UVW_CWA
Stream begins on December 10th at 7pm PT / 10pm ET on twitch.tv/UVW_CWA
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 PM
The Avarice Awards holds a mirror to the hollow glamour of The Game Awards, as workers continue to have their livelihoods upended by mass layoffs. We are speaking truth to the powers ruining the game industry with their greed!
Stream begins on December 10th at 7pm PT / 10pm ET on twitch.tv/UVW_CWA
Stream begins on December 10th at 7pm PT / 10pm ET on twitch.tv/UVW_CWA
Reposted by Derek
Reposted by Derek
I played Horses this weekend and I wrote down some messy thoughts not only on the game but especially on the specter of formalism that emerged to haunt us all for a moment.
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8023277...
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8023277...
I Hope You Get To Live Your Entire Life As A Human
I thought this was going to be a review of my time with Santa Ragione's Horses, the controversial art game recently banned from Steam and the Epic Store. To some extent, this will be that but after...
transgamerthoughts.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I played Horses this weekend and I wrote down some messy thoughts not only on the game but especially on the specter of formalism that emerged to haunt us all for a moment.
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8023277...
transgamerthoughts.com/post/8023277...
Reposted by Derek
✨ new video! ✨
silksong is a game obsessed with faith. abstractions, literal depictions, corruptions of faith — it's all there. most important though is silksong's faith in its players, and the lengths it goes through to help us find strength within ourselves.
youtu.be/G8MB434ddTk
silksong is a game obsessed with faith. abstractions, literal depictions, corruptions of faith — it's all there. most important though is silksong's faith in its players, and the lengths it goes through to help us find strength within ourselves.
youtu.be/G8MB434ddTk
The Unwavering Faith of Silksong
YouTube video by Wavelengths
youtu.be
December 8, 2025 at 2:50 PM
✨ new video! ✨
silksong is a game obsessed with faith. abstractions, literal depictions, corruptions of faith — it's all there. most important though is silksong's faith in its players, and the lengths it goes through to help us find strength within ourselves.
youtu.be/G8MB434ddTk
silksong is a game obsessed with faith. abstractions, literal depictions, corruptions of faith — it's all there. most important though is silksong's faith in its players, and the lengths it goes through to help us find strength within ourselves.
youtu.be/G8MB434ddTk
Reposted by Derek
i reviewed Angeline Era from Analgesic Productions ( @hantani.bsky.social & @even-kei.bsky.social ); it continues their incredible streak of making the most thought-provoking games i've ever played, this time in their most mechanics-heavy work that deftly twists its themes and gameplay together
Angeline Era | So Many Games
Travel a vast country's unmarked overworld in search of the next challenging fight, humorous encounter, or mysterious landscape.
somanygames.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 12:12 PM
i reviewed Angeline Era from Analgesic Productions ( @hantani.bsky.social & @even-kei.bsky.social ); it continues their incredible streak of making the most thought-provoking games i've ever played, this time in their most mechanics-heavy work that deftly twists its themes and gameplay together
My cat Alisaie has been having problems with her balance for a couple days. She's tilting her head and can't walk in a line without veering right or, sometimes, falling over. We'll start discovery at the vet tomorrow. Hoping it's just an ear infection or something small. Please send us your best.
December 7, 2025 at 6:08 PM
My cat Alisaie has been having problems with her balance for a couple days. She's tilting her head and can't walk in a line without veering right or, sometimes, falling over. We'll start discovery at the vet tomorrow. Hoping it's just an ear infection or something small. Please send us your best.
Reposted by Derek
"What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?"
-- Leisure by W.H. Davies.
It's such a soothing poem that reminds me to take my time and take moments to enjoy the world around me.
We have no time to stand and stare?"
-- Leisure by W.H. Davies.
It's such a soothing poem that reminds me to take my time and take moments to enjoy the world around me.
December 6, 2025 at 11:55 PM
"What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?"
-- Leisure by W.H. Davies.
It's such a soothing poem that reminds me to take my time and take moments to enjoy the world around me.
We have no time to stand and stare?"
-- Leisure by W.H. Davies.
It's such a soothing poem that reminds me to take my time and take moments to enjoy the world around me.
Reposted by Derek
You there! You like shmups?
I think you should play tz mini stg collection. It came out less than two weeks ago and ought to have more eyes on it.
Four neat little STGs by Tamazusa, each proof-of-concept'ing their own cool mechanics. Learning them is a lot of fun. Very stylish.
Free.
Link below.
I think you should play tz mini stg collection. It came out less than two weeks ago and ought to have more eyes on it.
Four neat little STGs by Tamazusa, each proof-of-concept'ing their own cool mechanics. Learning them is a lot of fun. Very stylish.
Free.
Link below.
December 6, 2025 at 1:20 PM
You there! You like shmups?
I think you should play tz mini stg collection. It came out less than two weeks ago and ought to have more eyes on it.
Four neat little STGs by Tamazusa, each proof-of-concept'ing their own cool mechanics. Learning them is a lot of fun. Very stylish.
Free.
Link below.
I think you should play tz mini stg collection. It came out less than two weeks ago and ought to have more eyes on it.
Four neat little STGs by Tamazusa, each proof-of-concept'ing their own cool mechanics. Learning them is a lot of fun. Very stylish.
Free.
Link below.
Reposted by Derek
Hey if you’re in Uptown/Lakeview and in the 46th Ward, our Alderwoman’s office is running a survey on those delivery robots we’ve been seeing around these past few weeks, please share your thoughts!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
December 6, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Hey if you’re in Uptown/Lakeview and in the 46th Ward, our Alderwoman’s office is running a survey on those delivery robots we’ve been seeing around these past few weeks, please share your thoughts!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
This is my Golden. 🔥
Light it up, let's go! 🔥
A new song by award-winning guitarist Tom Morello, featuring Beartooth, is making its way onto the Arcadion stage in #FFXIV!
Here's a message from Tom and a preview of the upcoming track, Everything Burns!
A new song by award-winning guitarist Tom Morello, featuring Beartooth, is making its way onto the Arcadion stage in #FFXIV!
Here's a message from Tom and a preview of the upcoming track, Everything Burns!
December 5, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This is my Golden. 🔥
Reposted by Derek
Extremely proud to announce I was a translator on Octopath Traveler 0! 🎉 So glad this game got a second life on consoles, and heartened to see reviewers say the story brought them to tears. Guess that means we did our job. 😊
December 5, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Extremely proud to announce I was a translator on Octopath Traveler 0! 🎉 So glad this game got a second life on consoles, and heartened to see reviewers say the story brought them to tears. Guess that means we did our job. 😊
FANTASIAN 💖💖💖 Is this a dream?
New collaboration items are coming to the #FFXIV Online Store! ✨
New attire, hairstyles, and emotes inspired by FANTASIAN Neo Dimension characters Leo, Kina, and Cheryl will be available on Tuesday, December 16. 👕
New attire, hairstyles, and emotes inspired by FANTASIAN Neo Dimension characters Leo, Kina, and Cheryl will be available on Tuesday, December 16. 👕
December 5, 2025 at 3:38 PM
FANTASIAN 💖💖💖 Is this a dream?
Reposted by Derek
