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December Staff Picks: It’s Giving Games (opens in new tab)

This blog post explores the addictive nature of modern gaming hits like *Balatro* and the profound personal impact of receiving the right game as a gift. It highlights how certain titles act as "canon events" in a person’s life, permanently altering their interests and gaming habits. The discussion serves as a platform for various contributors to share their recent gaming experiences and the specific titles that shaped their history with the medium. **The Balatro Craze** * The game is recognized as the "mobile game of the year" following accolades from The Game Awards. * The mechanics involve complex card-based synergies, such as combining a Queen card with the Photograph Joker and the Sock & Buskin Joker to trigger multiple score multipliers. * The author notes the game’s extreme "time-sink" potential, making it a powerful but potentially disruptive gift for friends. **Gifting and Gaming Canon Events** * The post centers on the concept of "canon event" games—titles that are so influential they fundamentally change the player’s perspective on gaming. * Specific mention is made of *Tony Hawk’s Underground 2* as a transformative title for the author. * The piece introduces insights from a panel of contributors, including Emi, Matt, Cody, and a new addition, Scott, who discuss their personal histories with gifted games. If you are looking for a gift that might "alter the brain chemistry" of a friend, consider titles with deep mechanical loops like *Balatro*, but be prepared for them to disappear into the game for a few months.

mobile-gamingvideo-gamesgaming-culturedigital-gifting+1
discord

September Staff Picks: Mid-Travel Pitstop (opens in new tab)

As the summer travel season concludes, this post transitions from outdoor exploration back to indoor routines and gaming backlogs. It serves as an introduction to a collaborative discussion regarding the specific titles and experiences that kept the team engaged while in transit over the past few months. **Seasonal Transition and Backlogs** * The end of the US summer marks a shift from active travel back to professional and personal environments, humorously described as "gremlin caves." * This period is framed as an ideal time to assess progress on "Places to Visit" lists versus the completion of personal gaming backlogs. **Travel-Based Gaming Perspectives** * The post features insights from contributors Tracie, Matt, Emi, and Cody, alongside a new participant named Armando. * The discussion focuses on the viability and engagement of specific games when played in constrained environments, such as airplanes, trains, and the backseats of compact cars. For those returning to their desks after the summer break, these recommendations offer a look at which titles are most effective for maintaining focus during the unique challenges of long-distance travel.

mobile-gaminggamingvideo-gamesgame-backlog+1
discord

Wicked Saints Turns Players into IRL Superheroes with the Help of e.l.f. Beauty and Discord (opens in new tab)

Wicked Saints Studios has launched *World Reborn*, a pioneering interactive story game designed to translate digital achievements into tangible real-world social impact. Built by a team of peacebuilders and behavioral scientists, the platform leverages positive psychology to reveal players' character strengths through narrative gameplay and "Training Mods." The launch marks a new paradigm for brand-led missions where Gen Z players can improve their personal wellbeing while contributing to global social causes. **Behavioral Technology and Skill-Building** * The game is described as "Duolingo for saving humanity," using bite-sized interactive narratives to improve player wellbeing and relationships. * The platform employs behavioral technology to identify a player's natural "character strengths," encouraging them to apply these traits to day-to-day reality. * Mastery within the game is specifically designed to bridge the gap between digital entertainment and real-life skills, such as resilience and emotional regulation. * The project emerged from Niantic’s BDI incubator, utilizing the expertise of former senior engineers from *Pokémon GO*. **Brand-Led Social Impact Missions** * The platform features "Training Mods," which are real-world quests hosted by corporate and non-profit partners to tackle specific social issues. * Exclusive launch partner e.l.f. Beauty has developed quests focused on building confidence in young girls and supporting Elite Women Athletes, featuring insights from WNBA star Aerial Powers. * Discord serves as the exclusive communications partner, hosting Training Mods centered on teen mental health, authenticity, and the use of gaming for stress reduction. * The Starlight Children’s Foundation provides a mission where players send words of encouragement to hospitalized children, using the story of a transplant survivor to foster empathy and connection. **Connecting with Gen Z Through Authenticity** * The platform targets the 13–24 demographic, noting that 87% of Gen Z play games at least once a week. * By moving beyond traditional advertising, brands can connect with Gen Z through the social spaces and authentic interactions they already prioritize. * The game leverages the social infrastructure of Discord to help players form communities around their unique strengths and gameplay experiences. **The Multi-Disciplinary Development Team** * Wicked Saints is a Black female-led studio backed by major industry players including Riot Games and Reid Hoffman. * The leadership team combines an Emmy-award winning storyteller and international peacebuilder with a behavioral science researcher. * Creative talent for the project includes veterans from major franchises and productions such as *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*, *Love Death + Robots*, and *Marvel*. For organizations looking to engage younger demographics, *World Reborn* offers a scalable model for integrating corporate social responsibility directly into the gaming experience. The app is currently available on the Apple App Store for an initial eight-week limited run.

mobile-gaminggamificationsocial-gamingbehavioral-technology+3