Selected Writing Clips
Friendship was magic: How Bronies are preparing for the end of My Little Pony
Polygon, August 2018
“BronyCon 2018 was the first My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic convention after Hasbro announced the end of the show. Over the convention’s three days, I spoke to dozens of attendees, panelists, and community figures to get their take on the past, present, and future. What happens when cancelation threatens a living, thriving fandom?”
'Kenan & Kel' actor Kel Mitchell on 'Good Burger' sequel, mentoring new child stars, and controversial producer Dan Schneider
Insider, December 2022
“Following a recent appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live’ where he revived (and then promptly killed) his classic Kel Kimble character, and the confirmation that him and Thompson are working on a ‘Good Burger’ sequel, Kel Mitchell wants to remind the world that his acting and comedic skills haven't dulled.”
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review: Powerful but limited by clunky software
Business Insider, last updated December 2023
“I've spent a few days with the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, testing it against other Chromebooks and checking out the new AI tools. And although I'm convinced its price and power make it the best Chromebook yet, I'd still struggle to recommend it to anyone who wants a true laptop — largely because of how annoying ChromeOS is.”
'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' directors on the 'Shrek' series, the power of animation, and the pitfalls of AI art
Insider, March 2023
“Ahead of the movie's home video release, Insider spoke to "The Last Wish" director Joel Crawford and co-director Januel Mercado about why they decided to focus on Puss in Boots instead of Shrek, the movie's dark themes, and its experimental style. We also touched on AI art, and why we shouldn't call it the future of animation.”
I got to play the latest 'Legend of Zelda' game early. Here's a preview of the biggest game of the year.
Business Insider, April 2023
“Last week, Nintendo invited Insider to attend a sneak peek "Tears of the Kingdom" demo. This is the first time that members of the press have gotten to play the game, and likely one of the first times for anyone outside of Nintendo. Over the course of about two hours, I got to test out the game's new mechanics, solve puzzles, and even fight a boss — who promptly kicked my butt.”
Cyberpunk’s transphobic tweet is part of a much larger issue with game marketing
Polygon, September 2018
“Corporations — even video game developers — have power on social media. When this power is used for transphobia, sexism, racism or any other form of bigotry, the atmosphere online worsens. If companies are going to continue trying to imitate their audiences, they need to learn which parts to mirror, and which parts can be disavowed.”
I got to play an exclusive demo of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Here's everything I learned about the newest games in the series.
Business Insider, October 2022
“But in my eyes, these might be the most accessible Pokémon games ever. No matter what kind of player you are, you'll find something in Scarlet and Violet that piques your interest. Taking on all the gyms, exploring the map to find every Pokémon, racing to see how fast you can finish the game — it all feels equally important. There's no right or wrong way to play.”
Asus ROG Ally review: A powerful handheld gaming PC hurt by bugs
Business Insider, last updated February 2024
“So what's changed, and what has Asus done to fix its unique handheld PC? Months after writing off the ROG Ally, I decided to give it another try, and I've been pleasantly surprised to find a much better handheld console that's usually fun to play with. But, some key design flaws and a high price tag still keep it from surpassing its rival handhelds.”
Avengers: Endgame’s First Trailer Sold Character, Not Violence, in Testament to What Marvel Has Built
The Mary Sue, January 2019
“I can’t think of any other action movie that’s tried to sell itself without showcasing any of its action scenes. That goes double for superhero movies, where half of the plot comes from the idea that the characters have superpowers that they use to fight people. While most superhero trailers spend the majority of their time on how much ass everyone’s gonna kick, the first Endgame trailer instead sells the movie on the emotional arcs of its stars — something not usually emphasized in these sorts of advertisements.”
Neighborhood Security Apps Are Making Us Wildly Paranoid
The Outline, February 2019
“There's a difference between being informed and being threatened. Even if these apps were to make us safer, it's impossible to feel protected when these apps are always shouting about how much potential danger we're in. Spending so much time focused on that danger just leads to anger, depression, burnout. In our quest for safety, we've found ways to become more paranoid.”
The 13 best RPGs on the Nintendo Switch, from Persona 5 Royal to Undertale
Insider, December 2022
“There are few video game genres with more history — and more classic games — than the role-playing game genre. And over the past few years, the Nintendo Switch has staked its claim on being one of the best systems around for great RPGs.”
'Among Us' is the biggest game of 2020, but don't play it on the Nintendo Switch
Insider, December 2021
“It’s less portable than the smartphone app and less intuitive than the PC version. Ultimately, though the game's most devoted fans might love having a new way to play, there's no denying that the Switch port of ‘Among Us’ is worse than any other version.”
I Wish Games Didn't Update So Much
Kotaku, September 2019
“While it might sound strange, there are times when I wish that biweekly updates just weren’t a thing anymore. Sometimes I wish we could go back 15 or 20 years, when a released game was all we got, flaws and all. Even if that means unbalanced characters and buggy code.”
The best gaming laptops in 2023
Business Insider, last updated December 2023
“Gaming laptops have gotten significantly better over the last few years, evolving from chunky, stuttering bricks into sleek and steady powerhouses. The best gaming laptops in 2023 have top-tier graphics and processors that'll let you run nearly any game or program without issue. You don't have to pick between portability and power — you can have both.”