September Roundtable: Beginnings

September Roundtable: Beginnings

September often feels like the year is winding down, but, if you’re anything like Sidequest’s editor in chief, it’s also one of the most exciting times of the year. No, not because pumpkin spice is here. No, it’s not even because Halloween is right around the corner and it’s the perfect time to pick up “seasonal decor” that just becomes year-round decor. It’s because it’s the beginning of the school year, and nothing fills us (okay, me) with joy like new pencils and books and a bunch of learning to do.

But we already did a back to school roundtable, so we’re not talking about school. We’re talking about beginnings. What makes a good beginning? What makes a bad beginning? Let’s find out.

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#BiWeek: A Roundtable about Bisexuality in Video Games

#BiWeek: A Roundtable about Bisexuality in Video Games

Mid-September doesn’t just mark a change in seasons, leaf colors, and Starbucks orders: it also means #BiWeek, a celebration of bisexuality and bi+ sexualities! This year, the Sidequest team decided to consider bisexuality in video games. (more…)

Vicariously Vicarious Living; Or, Learning the Joy of Watching Other People Play Video Games

Vicariously Vicarious Living; Or, Learning the Joy of Watching Other People Play Video Games

My pet theory up until last year was that only younger siblings who were forced to watch their older siblings play video games enjoyed watching Let’s Plays. My evidence: my brother, who used to hold an unplugged PlayStation 1 controller and pretend he was Sparx the Dragonfly when I played Spyro, and my husband, unfortunate child four out of five. Both of them spend their free time—when they could be playing games—watching other people play games; my brother a religious HermitCraft fan and my husband… well, I’m not sure what he watches, exactly, besides British people playing Hearts of Iron 4. (more…)

Here Lies the Abyss, Hawke, and Me

Here Lies the Abyss, Hawke, and Me

Amina Hawke: dark-skinned, short hair, queer as all hell, snarky to a fault, an apostate who believes in mage freedom. Not flawless, but instead flaunts her flaws with pride, and maybe sometimes works on growing. (more…)

Becoming Addicted to Dragon Age in 7 Steps

Becoming Addicted to Dragon Age in 7 Steps

This past winter, I finally finished playing the Dragon Age series for the first time. Something rumbled inside me to write about the experience—the incoherent, stress-inducing, incredible experience—and so I’ve put together a list of how to become addicted to the famous BioWare series, from the first game, through the DLC, to the current hanging-on-to-every-BioWare-announcement-ever moments. Here, I’ve charted seven steps as to how to become addicted to Dragon Age, no matter who you are.

Spoilers for the Dragon Age series for anyone who, like me, waited ten years before starting this franchise. Major, major Inquisition and Trespasser spoilers. (more…)