Ryan Zhao
@insrtcoins.bsky.social
Author: The Fundamentals of Video Game Literacy (coming April). Podcast host for Play;Write, Cane and Rinse, and Sound of Play. Marketing for Xbox Game Pass, prev. Nintendo.
https://letterboxd.com/InsrtCoins/
https://letterboxd.com/InsrtCoins/
Pinned
Ryan Zhao
@insrtcoins.bsky.social
· Apr 16
The Fundamentals of Video Game Literacy: Theory, Practice, and Aesthetics
This book posits a novel framework for sense‑making and meaning‑making in the play of video games. Extending a modern, process‑oriented, audience‑inclusive philosophy of artistic meaning generation, t...
www.routledge.com
My book, The Fundamentals of Video Game Literacy, is available TODAY. It's a framework for understanding the unique ways in which games create meaning in the interaction b/t design and player agency. A great place to start if you have curiosity about games academia.
www.routledge.com/9781032869278
www.routledge.com/9781032869278
As we're entering GOTY season I wanted to highlight a few games that might not be on your radar yet. Here are a few semi-obscure greats from 2025 (in no particular order):
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November 25, 2025 at 1:39 AM
As we're entering GOTY season I wanted to highlight a few games that might not be on your radar yet. Here are a few semi-obscure greats from 2025 (in no particular order):
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(No snark, just asking) Those of you who are adamant about calling the first Star Wars film just "Star Wars" and never "Episode IV: A New Hope", do you also hold the line on Dead Reckoning Part One?
November 24, 2025 at 7:43 PM
(No snark, just asking) Those of you who are adamant about calling the first Star Wars film just "Star Wars" and never "Episode IV: A New Hope", do you also hold the line on Dead Reckoning Part One?
I'm getting this when trying to view Death Stranding 2's page on PlayStation.com. I'm signed into my account and am 35 years old. How old do you have to be to view and play Death Stranding 2? What did they put in there that is too mature for a 35-year-old?
November 24, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I'm getting this when trying to view Death Stranding 2's page on PlayStation.com. I'm signed into my account and am 35 years old. How old do you have to be to view and play Death Stranding 2? What did they put in there that is too mature for a 35-year-old?
What's the best movie with no (or very little) dialogue, post-silent era?
I'm a big fan of Koyaanisqatsi (and follow-ups like Samsara and Baraka), and I like Manakamana quite a bit. I'd be interested if anyone has favorite narrative films that fit this category.
I'm a big fan of Koyaanisqatsi (and follow-ups like Samsara and Baraka), and I like Manakamana quite a bit. I'd be interested if anyone has favorite narrative films that fit this category.
November 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
What's the best movie with no (or very little) dialogue, post-silent era?
I'm a big fan of Koyaanisqatsi (and follow-ups like Samsara and Baraka), and I like Manakamana quite a bit. I'd be interested if anyone has favorite narrative films that fit this category.
I'm a big fan of Koyaanisqatsi (and follow-ups like Samsara and Baraka), and I like Manakamana quite a bit. I'd be interested if anyone has favorite narrative films that fit this category.
Is it just me, or is this an extremely confusing tweet? How does a universe get to the world?
George R.R. Martin teases the 'Game of Thrones' universe will finally get to the world after the OG show's divisive finale.
'Game of Thrones' Will Get a Proper Sequel, Eventually
George R.R. Martin teases the 'Game of Thrones' universe will finally get to the world after the OG show's divisive finale.
gizmodo.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Is it just me, or is this an extremely confusing tweet? How does a universe get to the world?
Shoot the Piano Player, Beau Hunks, Rental Family, Angel's Egg
#LastFourWatched
#LastFourWatched
November 22, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Shoot the Piano Player, Beau Hunks, Rental Family, Angel's Egg
#LastFourWatched
#LastFourWatched
Which MST3K movie was actually the best *movie*? Which one has the most non-ironic fans and defenders.
Danger: Diabolique comes to mind (though certainly not the best of the Diabolique films). This Island Earth as well, since they had to pick something a bit more palatable for the theatrical film.
Danger: Diabolique comes to mind (though certainly not the best of the Diabolique films). This Island Earth as well, since they had to pick something a bit more palatable for the theatrical film.
November 21, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Which MST3K movie was actually the best *movie*? Which one has the most non-ironic fans and defenders.
Danger: Diabolique comes to mind (though certainly not the best of the Diabolique films). This Island Earth as well, since they had to pick something a bit more palatable for the theatrical film.
Danger: Diabolique comes to mind (though certainly not the best of the Diabolique films). This Island Earth as well, since they had to pick something a bit more palatable for the theatrical film.
Such a funny header image for Bing to choose when searching "k-pop".
November 21, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Such a funny header image for Bing to choose when searching "k-pop".
It was only this week that I learned the podcast was called SmartLess and not SmartList. I always thought "that sounds like a shopping app".
November 21, 2025 at 8:29 AM
It was only this week that I learned the podcast was called SmartLess and not SmartList. I always thought "that sounds like a shopping app".
When it comes to 2025 cinematic Stephen King adaptations, you have to walk before you can run.
November 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
When it comes to 2025 cinematic Stephen King adaptations, you have to walk before you can run.
Reposted by Ryan Zhao
New podcast: Escape from Monkey Island
Leon, Ryan and Tony – along with contributors from the listenership – wrestle with the keyboard-based tank controls, moon-logic puzzles and Monkey Kombat in their attempts to Escape from Monkey Island.
Available now for free in the usual podcast places.
Leon, Ryan and Tony – along with contributors from the listenership – wrestle with the keyboard-based tank controls, moon-logic puzzles and Monkey Kombat in their attempts to Escape from Monkey Island.
Available now for free in the usual podcast places.
Escape from Monkey Island - The Cane and Rinse podcast
We wrestle with the keyboard-based tank controls, moon-logic puzzles and Monkey Kombat in their attempts to Escape from Monkey Island.
caneandrinse.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
New podcast: Escape from Monkey Island
Leon, Ryan and Tony – along with contributors from the listenership – wrestle with the keyboard-based tank controls, moon-logic puzzles and Monkey Kombat in their attempts to Escape from Monkey Island.
Available now for free in the usual podcast places.
Leon, Ryan and Tony – along with contributors from the listenership – wrestle with the keyboard-based tank controls, moon-logic puzzles and Monkey Kombat in their attempts to Escape from Monkey Island.
Available now for free in the usual podcast places.
Happy Life Day. May all of your Carneys be Artful.
November 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Happy Life Day. May all of your Carneys be Artful.
Reposted by Ryan Zhao
We should be calling out the huge blindspots to international games in English games media, but we should also not ignore the fact that with video games we are already pretty damn global, especially compared to, say, the Oscars.
This is not all the way there but it's a decent start!
This is not all the way there but it's a decent start!
November 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
We should be calling out the huge blindspots to international games in English games media, but we should also not ignore the fact that with video games we are already pretty damn global, especially compared to, say, the Oscars.
This is not all the way there but it's a decent start!
This is not all the way there but it's a decent start!
Prime Video has a collection entitled "Documentary Films" and it includes films like A Beautiful Mind, Spotlight, Glengarry Glen Ross, Hair (?!), Nickel Boys, Being the Ricardos, Gladiator II, etc. I understand what they're going for, but these are NOT documentaries. What are you doing?
November 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Prime Video has a collection entitled "Documentary Films" and it includes films like A Beautiful Mind, Spotlight, Glengarry Glen Ross, Hair (?!), Nickel Boys, Being the Ricardos, Gladiator II, etc. I understand what they're going for, but these are NOT documentaries. What are you doing?
Interesting to see so many of contenders be indies (ostensibly) this year; it has been a rather slow year for AAAs. Overall, fairly unsurprising list, though I get the feeling that people are cooling on Hades II faster than they did on the first Hades
With E33 and Bananza, the orchestra will be fun
With E33 and Bananza, the orchestra will be fun
The Game Awards GOTY nominees leaked:
-Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
-Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
-Donkey Kong Bananza
-Hades II
-Hollow Knight: Silksong
-Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
-Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
-Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
-Donkey Kong Bananza
-Hades II
-Hollow Knight: Silksong
-Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
November 17, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Interesting to see so many of contenders be indies (ostensibly) this year; it has been a rather slow year for AAAs. Overall, fairly unsurprising list, though I get the feeling that people are cooling on Hades II faster than they did on the first Hades
With E33 and Bananza, the orchestra will be fun
With E33 and Bananza, the orchestra will be fun
Guillermo del Toro's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
November 16, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Guillermo del Toro's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Reposted by Ryan Zhao
Let Samus be a Cronenberg MacGyver. Let controlling Samus feel like something unexpected that we have to adapt to afresh with each adventure. Show the Tetsuo terror of alien body modification as we adapt to survive hostile settings!
November 16, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Let Samus be a Cronenberg MacGyver. Let controlling Samus feel like something unexpected that we have to adapt to afresh with each adventure. Show the Tetsuo terror of alien body modification as we adapt to survive hostile settings!
Reposted by Ryan Zhao
My Metroid take is that the series' biggest missed opportunity is giving Samus wildly different builds in each adventure. She goes to alien planets she plugs random machinery into her suit, yet somehow they always seem to manifest in the same types of upgrades?
November 16, 2025 at 4:51 AM
My Metroid take is that the series' biggest missed opportunity is giving Samus wildly different builds in each adventure. She goes to alien planets she plugs random machinery into her suit, yet somehow they always seem to manifest in the same types of upgrades?
My Metroid take is that the series' biggest missed opportunity is giving Samus wildly different builds in each adventure. She goes to alien planets she plugs random machinery into her suit, yet somehow they always seem to manifest in the same types of upgrades?
November 16, 2025 at 4:51 AM
My Metroid take is that the series' biggest missed opportunity is giving Samus wildly different builds in each adventure. She goes to alien planets she plugs random machinery into her suit, yet somehow they always seem to manifest in the same types of upgrades?
When people said the same thing about Baby Steps, is was meant as a compliment.
Escape From Tarkov players slam Steam launch: "It is not a game. It is a cosmic punishment"
www.eurogamer.net/escape-from-...
www.eurogamer.net/escape-from-...
November 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
When people said the same thing about Baby Steps, is was meant as a compliment.
[Drowning Pool voice]
Taaaaalkin' my sleep
Ooooout of myyy miiind
[wrote it down, read it out, read it out now]
ONE
don't pick up the phone
TWO
don't let him in home
THREE
do not be his friend
FOUR
don't be under him
NOOOOOO
Got new rules, count them all
Got new rules, count them all
Taaaaalkin' my sleep
Ooooout of myyy miiind
[wrote it down, read it out, read it out now]
ONE
don't pick up the phone
TWO
don't let him in home
THREE
do not be his friend
FOUR
don't be under him
NOOOOOO
Got new rules, count them all
Got new rules, count them all
November 15, 2025 at 4:15 AM
[Drowning Pool voice]
Taaaaalkin' my sleep
Ooooout of myyy miiind
[wrote it down, read it out, read it out now]
ONE
don't pick up the phone
TWO
don't let him in home
THREE
do not be his friend
FOUR
don't be under him
NOOOOOO
Got new rules, count them all
Got new rules, count them all
Taaaaalkin' my sleep
Ooooout of myyy miiind
[wrote it down, read it out, read it out now]
ONE
don't pick up the phone
TWO
don't let him in home
THREE
do not be his friend
FOUR
don't be under him
NOOOOOO
Got new rules, count them all
Got new rules, count them all
Something about the composition of this box art is giving me GoldenEye vibes.
November 15, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Something about the composition of this box art is giving me GoldenEye vibes.
Reposted by Ryan Zhao
Fun layout over on Eurogamer front page
November 14, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Fun layout over on Eurogamer front page
Cloud, House of Gucci, Jason X, Last of the Red Hot Lovers
#LastFourWatched
#LastFourWatched
November 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Cloud, House of Gucci, Jason X, Last of the Red Hot Lovers
#LastFourWatched
#LastFourWatched
goddammit 😑
Avatar: Fire and Ash's runtime clocks in at 3 hours and 15 minutes, significantly longer than the first movie but only 3 minutes longer than 2022's Avatar: The Way of Water. bit.ly/4qV0Ajj
November 12, 2025 at 10:18 PM
goddammit 😑