(Image courtesy of Wikipedia. “Rebecca Heineman’s legacy will live on both in her work, and the industry she helped shape.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor Well-known game programmer, designer, software archivist and LGBTQ+ rights activist Rebecca “Burger Becky” Ann Heineman has passed away at the age of 62 following a month-long battle with aggressive adenocarcinoma, a…
“Moonage Daydream” is mercurial
(Image courtesy of The Criterion Collection. “Moonage Daydream is as mercurial and eclectic as Bowie himself.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor Most musicians are renowned for one or two iconic albums, sounds, or eras of their discography. Few though can capture captivating identities and sonic styles throughout their entire career. Such was the case for the…
Late Aster’s “City Livin'” pulls listeners back to the 90s
(Photo courtesy of The Syndicate. “City Livin’ blends genres like lo-fi, hip-hop and electronic to create a dreamlike, nostalgic soundscape.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor Released just last week on Oct. 24, “City Livin’” is San Francisco-based “jazz-infused” electronic duo Late Aster’s debut LP. Comprised of classically-trained musicians Aaron Messing and Anni Hochhalter, Late Aster manages…
A look at the music of “Hades II”
(Image courtesy of SteamDB. “The music of ‘Hades II’ reinforces its narratives and further immerses players in its world.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Contributor Video game music can be just about anything: Sweeping, orchestral soundscapes that fill players’ headphones as they explore fantasy worlds, thrumming electronic beats accentuated by gunfire and shouting, blissful ambience punctuated by…
Triple-A gaming is making us pay more for less
(Photo courtesy of Spellbinder.com/Paige Burgueno) An example of video microtransactions Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor As Editor of our Arts & Entertainment section, I believe it to be my responsibility to stay as up to date as possible with what’s happening in the world of gaming. That involves reading about what’s going on in terms of…
“Hades II” Review: Weapons and Witchcraft
(Image courtesy of SteamDB. “Melinoe wields weapons and witchcraft alike in ‘Hades II’.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor Riding the success of 2020’s “Hades”, Supergiant Games released its sequel “Hades II” earlier this year on Sept. 25 following a four-year development cycle and a year-and-a-half of early access on Steam. Much like its predecessor, “Hades II”…
“Hollow Knight: Silksong” challenges gamers
(Image courtesy of SteamDB. “Team Cherry’s ‘Hollow Knight: Silksong’ features a familiar hero in an all-new kingdom.) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor After six years in the making, three-person studio Team Cherry’s “Hollow Knight: Silksong” finally made its debut on Sept 4. 2025, to critical acclaim. Following its initial announcement in 2019, “Silksong” quickly gained a…
Xbox “Copilot for Gaming” met with resentment
(Image courtesy of Xbox Wire. “Microsoft’s upcoming ‘Copilot for Gaming’ has not been received well by gamers.”) Aaron Preziosi Connector Editor On March 13, 2025, on the Official Xbox Podcast, Microsoft announced Copilot for Gaming, an implementation of its flagship GPT-4o system into the Xbox family of systems. Intended to aid struggling players and increase…
