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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October Roundtable: Love to Be a Monster

October Roundtable: Love to Be a Monster

Happy Halloween! Let’s talk about monsters, or, more accurately, the construction of monstrosity and its connection with marginalization. And boy is there a lot of that!
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January Roundtable: New Year’s “Resolutions”

January Roundtable: New Year’s “Resolutions”

Let’s talk about endings!

“But Melissa,” you say, “it’s January! Surely we should be talking about beginnings.”

Nola gave us some delightful wordplay with “resolutions,” and now we’re different than everybody else! So let’s talk about endings. (more…)

Childhood is Over the Moment You Have to Kill Your Favourite NPC

Childhood is Over the Moment You Have to Kill Your Favourite NPC

Earlier this year, my kids and I settled down to play Undertale. They sat at my desk, mostly not arguing over the decisions of Mango, their playable protagonist, with me cuddled up behind them on my cozy chair, offering advice here and there.

Not long into their journey, they met Toriel. After saving Mango from the deceptively evil Flowey, Toriel served as their guide through the Ruins.

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Game Enjambment: digital me in a digital world (Undertale)

Game Enjambment: digital me in a digital world (Undertale)

Game Enjambment is a reoccurring poetry series on games and gaming.

Most games encourage you to dehumanize your actions while playing. Most games don’t presume your choices reflect your personal morality—except for Undertale. This poem is inspired by these notions and these choices. (more…)