In which we speedrun Half-Life 2 (2004), and become the right man in the wrong place.

Pippin achieves escape velocity. David gets his second warning for the tenth time. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

Half-Life 2 was developed and published by Valve.

In which we talk to Zach Barth (1986), designer of SHENZHEN I/O (2016), EXAPUNKS (2018), and many other genre-defining “programming games.”

Zach insists the Zachtronics catalogue isn't meant to teach you anything. Pippin agrees to disagree. David is accused of having a substandard laptop. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

Zach Barth was developed and published by his parents in 1986.

In which we totally learned to program by playing videogames.

Pippin loses his quadrilateral computer. David must go because somewhere, there is a computer-crime happening. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

In which we play EXAPUNKS (2018), and try to find the cure for the common code while being blackmailed by an edgelord AI.

Pippin hacks the rainbow. David sounds it out. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

EXAPUNKS was developed by Zachtronics and published by Zachtronics in 2018.

In which we play else Heart.Break() (2015), drink coffee, hang out, and hack the world—starting with Dorisburg.

Pippin lights up the night with a mysterious cube. David gets tasered at the radio station. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

else Heart.Break() was developed by Erik Svedäng, El Huervo / Niklas Åkerblad, Tobias Sjögren, Oscar "Ratvader" Rydelius, and Johannes Gotlén and published by Erik Svedäng AB in 2015.

In which we play Human Resource Machine (2015), and order around a little office worker with carefully arranged, simple instructions.

Pippin comes face to face with Fibonacci. David now knows how the weatherperson must feel. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

Human Resource Machine was developed by Tomorrow Corporation and published by Tomorrow Corporation in 2015.

In which we play Carnage Heart (1995), autonomous Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots.

Pippin builds little Roombas that could (destroy their enemies). David holes up in the library. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

Carnage Heart was developed by Artdink and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1995.

In which we play Hacknet (2015), an edge-of-the-office-chair thriller about exploiting cybersecurity flaws.

Pippin feels like he’s 12 again. David steals the high score. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

Hacknet was developed by Team Fractal Alligator and published by Fellow Traveller in 2015.

In which we play One Dreamer (2022), deploying pseudocode for functional efficiency and poignant self-expression  as Frank, a burnt-out indie developer haunted by his past.

Pippin gasps at all the global variables. David feels misled. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

One Dreamer was developed by F2House and published by F2House in 2022.

In which we play Quadrilateral Cowboy (2016), a simulation of a techno-heist simulator.

Pippin is up for some more badminton if you are. David ponders the hidden complexities of fiddleocities. These, and other GAMETHINGS.

Quadrilateral Cowboy was developed by Blendo Games and published by Blendo Games in 2016.