“The Pixels is the Answer, but what is the Question?”

We have a problem.

Ask anyone. Sure, people might not all agree on what that problem is exactly. They might not even be able to articulate what’s wrong. But it’s gotta be something… Right?

In the context of gaming and discussing games, there are many problems: scandals, controversies, nontroversies, hate clicks, clickbait, over-hype, sensationalism, misleading information, intentional aggravation, review bombing, confusion, distrust of developers, distrust of publications, distrust of consumers, groupthink, demonization, distraction, politicization, tribalism, fanboyism, elitism, ulterior motivation, downright stupidity, gatekeeping, shaming. The list goes on. But the way I see it, these are just individual points of light in a larger burning image. These are just the pixels that make up a larger picture.

Whatever that larger picture, that larger problem, is, The Pixels has arrived to attempt to provide some damage control. Somewhere in all of the mess, there are the games themselves. How frequently the games are overshadowed by the noise of so many other things in gaming! If The Pixels is about anything, it’s about the games themselves.

It’s not about taking sides.

Not about trying to prove one’s personal propaganda.

Not about yucking your yum.

It’s a group. It’s a community. It’s a home. It’s just a part of a movement that involves anyone who wants to talk about and study the games themselves.

Criticism has an ugly ring to it these days. “Don’t you criticize me!” See? I bet you read that in a certain tone of imaginary voice. But criticism, critiques, and critiquery here at The Pixels merely mean thinking critically about games, deconstructing them to their basic elements, visually represented by those little pixels, and trying to discover what makes these games tick, if there’s anything to examine between the boundary of the objective and the subjective at all. Let’s distinguish between what is real (the game) and what is personal (nostalgia, fun, adrenaline, etc.).

What does this have to do with “the Problem”? Well, for one it’s a level-headed approach to video game discussion that’s neither accusatory or inflammatory because its focus is an object, not a person or persons.

It’s not about saying I’m right and you’re wrong or vice versa. It’s not about saying you can’t enjoy this or that game. Really, criticism is just another way to enjoy video games, this great art form we’re so fond of. That’s why you’ll find a range of diverse opinions, reviews, first impressions, and critiques on this site, plus the odd interview, event, or podcast episode. You can check out our About page or Instruction Manual for more information but you’ll always know what our articles will be about.

Elemental video game critiques.

It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it. The games themselves are worth it.

-Red