Volume 2 of [lock-on] arrived shortly before Christmas and provided some very entertaining reading over the festive period. The quality of the publication matched that of volume one and the sheer amount of stuff that arrived in the package was a delight to see. From the art cards to the poster, the card game to the stickers, all combine with the actual volume itself to provide a hefty package that was well worth the asking price.
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| Yes, there's a journal in there somewhere. |
As you can see from the contents page below, there are a ton of articles to read and this latest volume reinforces the serious approach to the topic of videogames. Perhaps serious is not the right word... intellectual? Maybe. Let's say a combination of the two along with enjoyable, as whilst there are serious topics discussed here, there are also some playful articles as well. The variety of tone is spot on, at least in my humble opinion.
What I especially liked was the personal approach taken by many of the writers. These pieces drill down to some of the core reasons why people play videogames - the warm comfort provided when loading up a long time favourite title or the joy of unwrapping (figuratively these days) a new release. Videogames can also be reminders of the bad times as well. I know I have relied upon gaming to get me through some difficult periods - going back into Mass Effect with the Legendary Edition last year was both a fun reminder of how great these games were, as well as a tremendously cathartic look back at a very different time in my life. [lock-on] volume 2 has given a lovely focus on that area of videogaming.
I admit that I found my approach to volume 2 changing from that of the first. Whereas I read that one pretty much over the course of a day, this time I read a couple of pieces then put the tome down, taking time to consider what the author was saying and how they had approached their subject. This allowed me to savour the writing and the artwork, which once again excels. It is [lock-on]'s ability to get you to ponder on the author's point that makes it such a great journal to read and, in the future, to return to. As you can see, this volume has taken its rightful place next to volume one in the bookcase.
The card game is also fun, just so you know.
This hasn't ended up being the review I originally thought I'd write. The original plan was to cover all of the articles and give an in-depth look at this classy and highly worthwhile publication. Instead, I'll leave you with a final comment and some pictures. After only two volumes, [lock-on] has established itself as an essential entry on the reading lists of anyone interested in videogames. No matter your background to gaming, there has always been, and always be, a deeply meaningful cornucopia of topics to discuss and [lock-on] is a brilliant place to hear some of those conversations. The editorial team and the numerous contributors should be congratulated on a job very well done. Let's see what volume 3 brings!
You can find out more about [lock-on] here, and you can purchase pdf copies of the journal as well as any remaining physical copies here. You will also find links to their very active social media accounts which are also definitely worth a follow.
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