Editorial Team
Writer
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74articles
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205Features
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About Tess Smith
Having worked as a writer, filmmaker and musician, Tess Smith has experience across much of the entertainment industry. As a lifelong gamer, first discovering the wonder of RPGs on her Gameboy Advance, and general fan of nerd culture, Tess now works to share her love for the medium with others. Taking a multimedia approach to media consumption and analysis, she has become an avid lover of video game music. This love has fueled much of her own work in the music space, working as a composer, producer and a vocalist. Tess is also deeply passionate about gaming as a medium for storyelling and is fascinated by the ways the medium can bring people together. Up until this point, much of her work has been in the academic sphere in pursuit of her degrees in Film and Media Studies from Bucknell and Columbia University. Even while working in these spaces, Tess' work focused on nerd culture, having completed pieces on Neon Genesis Evangelion and importance of games journalism in the new media space. She is now excited to share her writing with the world.
Favorite Console
PS4
Favorite Games
Death Stranding, Guilty Gear Strive, Heaven Will Be Mine, Persona 4 Golden, Street Fighter 6, and Yakuza 6.
Industry Focus
Fighting Games and JRPGS
Latest
What to Expect From Street Fighter 6's Ed DLC Character
Street Fighter 6's next DLC character, Ed, will be the perfect bridge between Modern and Classic Controls for players trying to make the switch.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Twitch Drops Explained
Cyberpunk 2077 is getting special limited-time Twitch drop items to celebrate the release of its new DLC expansion, Phantom Liberty.
Why Recent Naughty Dog News Don't Bode Well For The Last of Us Multiplayer
The recent layoffs at Naughty Dog indicate that The Last of Us multiplayer spin-off may be doomed to further delays or even cancelation.
Torgal Hides The Solution To Final Fantasy 16's Party Complaints
Final Fantasy 16's Torgal is the only controllable character outside of Clive, but the system for doing so could be expanded to other characters.
Final Fantasy 16 Bahamut Lore Explained
While Bahamut has always been an important part of Final Fantasy, FF16 fleshes out the mythical beast more than any previous entry.
Why Twitch Dialing Back Permabans Would Not Be a Good Move
Repealing permanent bans on Twitch carries the risk of sending dangerous messages to creators about what they can get away with on the platform.
Sea of Thieves is Leaving Money on the Table Without One Major Crossover
Sea of Thieves is currently in the middle of its coolest crossover, but there's one obvious choice for a collaboration that the game hasn't done yet.
Call of Duty's New Release Model May Have One Sad Consequence
Call of Duty's new release cycle will inevitably shake up the structure of the franchise, which comes with some real ramifications.
How Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 Make a Different Use of Timing
Mortal Kombat 1 and Street Fighter 6 use timing differently, impacting every aspect of each game in both competitive and casual play.
Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1's Competitive Gameplay Differences Explained
Mortal Kombat 1 and Street Fighter 6 are both popular fighting games, but the similarities end there when being played competitively.
Red Dead Redemption 2: The Mayor of Strawberry Hides a Dark Secret
In Red Dead Redemption 2, the mayor of Strawberry, Nicholas Timmins, hides a seemingly dark secret that in reality is actually sad.
Red Dead Redemption 2's Hole Home Reference Explained
Red Dead Redemption 2's Mysterious Hill Home is a dark reminder of an in-game cult and a reference to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
Why the Assassin's Creed Franchise Won't Go to WW2
There are a few important reasons why a World War 2 setting simply wouldn't make sense for a full Assassin's Creed game.
The Case for Mortal Kombat 1 to Bring Babalities and Animalities Post-Launch
Bringing back Babalities and Animalities could help Mortal Kombat 1 set itself apart from other recent entries in the long-running series.
Why Final Fantasy 16 Fans May Want to Keep an Eye on September 22
One big event on September 22 could be the time when Square Enix provides fans with more info about Final Fantasy 16's upcoming DLC and PC port.
The Best Choice For The Next Resident Evil Remake May Not Be RE5 or Code: Veronica
A Resident Evil 5 Remake would be hard for Capcom to pull off well, and revisiting the series' early days could be a better choice.
Baldur's Gate 3's Avatar: The Last Airbender Easter Egg Explained
Baldur's Gate 3 contains many Easter eggs within its massive world, but one reference to Avatar: The Last Airbender is particularly hidden.
PlayStation's Biggest Exclusives All Have One Thing in Common
PlayStation exclusive games have developed a reputation for their high quality and ambitious storytelling, but that's not all they share.
Final Fantasy 16 Leviathan the Lost Lore Explained
The continent of Valisthea's fate is controlled by its Dominants and their Eikons, but Leviathan is nowhere to be found during the game's events.
The Biggest Rivalries of Street Fighter Explained
Street Fighter is home to some of the greatest and longest-running rivalries in gaming, but keeping track of them all is a challenge.