Hello from the author’s chair
My name is Tommy Payne, and this blog is the place where I try to work out why online games feel the way they do. I started writing about Destiny 2, and it slowly became clear that the questions I kept asking, such as why a team changed a number or what a map was supposed to teach, apply to every game I love.
So the site grew. These days I split my hours between ARC Raiders, Overwatch, Destiny 2, Warzone and World of Warcraft, with the occasional detour when something new catches my eye. I do not pretend to be the best player in any of them. I am more of a curious one.
How I play and take notes
Most sessions begin with the patch notes open on one screen and the game on the other. I read what the developers say, then go and try it. Does the changed weapon feel different? Did the new route on the map actually change where fights happen? I keep a plain text file for each game and write down small observations while I play, because memory is a terrible editor.
My setup is modest and a bit untidy. A comfortable chair matters more than any gadget, and I stop when I notice I am playing on autopilot, since tired notes make for muddled posts.
How I write
I aim for medium-length posts that a person can read over a coffee. I try to separate three things: what the studio said, what I saw, and what I suspect. When I am guessing, I say so. When I get something wrong, I correct it in the post instead of quietly editing it away.
I like talking about the people behind games more than the games as products. Somebody on a team argued for that change, and somebody else disagreed. Imagining those meetings is half the fun.
Why this blog exists
I wanted a quiet corner of the web that treats players as curious adults, without shouting headlines or inflated promises. If a post helps you see a patch differently, or makes you want to argue with me, it has done its job.
You can reach me through the contact page. Tell me what you are playing right now. I really do want to know.
