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Steve Howe

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Joy Shtick

The joy of wordless video games

Why video games stripped of words feel evocative, make players smarter, and amplify comedy

Oct 26, 2023

A screenshot from the game Florence. There’s a graphic —containted in a comic-book style window —of Florence on a coffee date with Krish. They have empty speech bubbles over their heads. To the sides there are puzzle pieces which the player must drag and drop into a space below the image.

Oct 26, 2023

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

A round-up of witty writing from virtual worlds. Featuring Trombone Champ, Frog Detective, and Ace Attorney.

Mar 11

A screenshot from the game Sludge Life. The art is cartoon style. The perspective is looking down from the top of a construction site at the arm of a crane. A red-head, white man is hanging precariously from the arm. He says: “and I’m still sadder than a Goldfish in a Shot Glass.”

Mar 11

Published in
Joy Shtick

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

A round-up of witty writing from virtual worlds

Dec 5, 2023

A screenshot from Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Princess Peach talks to a petal-headed creature called Master Poplin, inside a room filled with flowers. Master Poplin says: “But what did I really teach you? Nothing at all! Ha ha!”

Dec 5, 2023

Published in
Joy Shtick

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

A round-up of witty writing from virtual worlds. This week features Stray, Before I Forget, and Inscryption.

Sep 12, 2023

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

Sep 12, 2023

Published in
Joy Shtick

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

Featuring Anodyne 2, Edith Finch, and more Zelda

Aug 1, 2023

Displays two central characters from the game Anodyne 2: C Psalmist, and Palisade.

Aug 1, 2023

Published in
Joy Shtick

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

Featuring Earthbound, A Short Hike, and Hades

Jul 10, 2023

The player-character interacts with a man in yellow fishing coat and hat — Jefferson. A squid with red eyes has its tentacles wrapped around his waist. The text caption reads: “I sure do love preparing food with my multi-digited mammal-hands!”

Jul 10, 2023

Published in
Joy Shtick

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

Featuring Return to Monkey Island, Disco Elysium, and Overboard

Jun 12, 2023

The player-character stands in front of three skiffle band members. The lead, holding a banjo, states: “The beatles had skiffle roots. Comin’ back in a big way.”

Jun 12, 2023

Published in
Joy Shtick

Joy Shtick: 5 great lines from video games

Featuring Zelda, Stanley Parable, and Stardew Valley

Jun 5, 2023

Link stands next to Cece in her fashion workop. Cece says: “Hmm. I must say, you don’t seem to show any sort of interest in fasion.”

Jun 5, 2023

Mourning the loss of silence: how tinnitus interrupted my life

I live with a constant ringing in my ears. Here’s how it happened, why it impacts my mental health, and what I’m doing about it.

May 26, 2022

Mourning the loss of silence: how tinnitus interrupted my life

May 26, 2022

Published in
Joy Shtick

3 examples of great content design in video games

How games use content mapping, narrative systems, and UX writing to create memorable experiences

Feb 3, 2022

3 examples of great content design in video games

Feb 3, 2022

Steve Howe

Steve Howe

Writer for UX, games, and mental health orgs. Background in teaching, translation, and support for vulnerable people. Loves languages, long runs, and bad puns.

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