Really good article. This is the best kind of games journalism. Thoughtful and engaged. Doesn’t really address the headline much, but that’s headlines for you. Still a very nice read.

The writer here, rereporting another interview seems fairly Musk tolerant.

RDJ probably is too. But at least he’s calling him on a few things.

That’s fair.

I’m a massive nerd for level design, and in my mind massive sprawling (especially proceedurally generated) maps/levels are a scourge on modern gaming.

I don’t think it’s hugely controversial, but I view E1M1 as possibly one of the best levels ever designed. But then again I also view Doom as more like a dungeon crawler RPG that just happens to be first person and real time, so who knows?

I think I also tend to be more into simpler games than ones with too many bolted on systems, which might also be why I tend to favour older ones (or indie ones).

Maybe that’s the point? Newer Doom games aren’t especially top tier FPSs, and you can find better examples of them (Bioshock (not so modern anymore), the alien-dinosaur-robot spaceship thing, and probably others). So they don’t make the list, and then Doom holds the classic place and genre defining status. (Hexen and Strife were never gonna make the list).

I agree that Super Mario Bros could do with a new lick of paint (and think Nintendo has given it more than a few of them) to bring it up to par. Doom, I’m less sure needs updated graphics, but I don’t think it’d hurt if it kept everything else the same.

(Favourite Doom levels are probably E1M8, E2M9, and some D2 and TNT and Plutonia levels I can’t call to mind off the top of my head.)

I’ve come to the conclusion I’m incredibly biased on this matter and also that you’re entitled to your own opinion, and appreciate that you’ve responded kindly and patiently.

You sound unsure.

What are your specific feelings on Knee Deep in the Dead level design? Do you enjoy inventory management?

What’re your views on original Super Mario?

In which aspects?

I think the level design holds up incredibly well, and in fact is an example of what to do. It’s also not overencumbered by modern bloat.

Have you played it?

Quick question: have you played original Doom?

Mostly agree… Not sure why you think it’s limited to Western countries though unless you’re including India and China as well as Japan as Western.

And since it’s a feature of Capitalism, I don’t imagine the rest of the world is immune to it.

China Mieville and Ursula Le Guin are both up there are authors who have written things that have felt momentous to read.

But I’m not sure either of them could edge out Terry Pratchett as the author whose work I’ve enjoyed going back to time and time again, having read most of Discworld at a more formative age probably helps too.