S.E.E.S.

Stephen's Extracurricular Enrichment Sessions

MP3

So, MP1 & MP2 were a crapshoot. I was busier than expected with school and podcast responsibilities, which prevented me from playing games these last few months. But now that things have settled, I hope to get back on track. When I conceived of S.E.E.S, I intended to use the winter and springs breaks to deviate from the survival horror/dungeon crawler/strategy rpg paradigm to refresh with a palette cleanser. Something short and sweet. So, I’m playing Snatcher! This is a significant blind spot in my Kojima-heavy game history. And I can follow it up with Policenauts come April!

About Me

My name is Stephen Hero. I’m a 36-year-old teacher (English) and podcaster (Giant Robot FM). As I journey into middle age, I’ve come to realize that the games and genres that used to be my ride-or dies (1st party Nintendo games, open-world sandboxes, sprawling JRPGS) either a) don’t hit like they used to or b) no longer fit into my busy life. More than ever I feel put off by the triple AAA space, drawn instead to “retro” experiences, games that prioritize atmosphere and gameplay over storytelling and spectacle.

There are three genres—survival horror, dungeon crawlers and strategy rpgs—that I feel meet my desire for shorter, more mechanically satisfying experiences. That’s where S.E.E.S. comes in, to chronicle my nightly excursions. Plus, I miss short-form blogging. And the idea of playing certain games at certain times of the year, aligning my gaming schedule with the academic calendar, tickles me. Routines are nice.