A New Wave of Unannounced Archaeology Games Inspired by the Forgotten Tomb Raider

Posted on September 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The game I’m eagerly anticipating at the moment is Big Walk, the newest creation from House House, the developers behind the beautiful Untitled Goose Game. This cooperative multiplayer adventure invites players to explore an expansive world, and I’m excited to see what intense gameplay arises from it. Will Big Walk allow for a unique form of community archaeology with friends? I genuinely hope so.

From the placement of objects to audio recordings and graffiti, if the game effectively employs environmental storytelling, it encourages players to embody the role of archaeologists. Game designer Ben Esposito characterized environmental storytelling in 2016 as “the technique of placing a skull near a toilet.” – This might have been a critique directed at games like the Fallout series, but his quick remark illustrates how an archaeological narrative can unfold within a game. After all, the contrast between the skull and the toilet can provoke numerous questions and interpretations about the past within that game world, albeit a rather absurd one.

I have worked as an archaeologist in the tangible world, where I was involved in excavations, fieldwork, and site evaluations across the UK. Currently, I’m pursuing a PhD in Computer Science with a focus on video game archaeology. We are developing innovative methods to document gameplay experiences, including conducting in-game interviews with players and tracking in-game messages in Elden Ring.

Given my background, I often find myself contemplating the games where you play roles akin to an archaeologist, whether as a grave robber or an unknown entity, as well as those that simulate the tasks we perform in the field. Games like What Remains of Edith Finch encourage players to immerse themselves in the environment and contemplate what the objects scattered throughout signify. Dr. Melissa Kägen, an assistant professor of interactive media and game development at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, refers to this type of interpretive gameplay in Walking Simulators as “archive adventure.”

Ready to play the role… Outer Wilds: Archaeologist’s Edition. Photo: Nintendo Switch

However, it’s not limited to Sims; there are various puzzle games where one can take on the role of an archaeologist, piecing together remnants of the past from archived materials and clues. While some may label these games as “Metroidvanias,” I have a personal affinity for them. Essentially, “information games” (a term coined by developer Tom Francis) require players to formulate theories based on available information and utilize those theories to gain further insights. Heaven’s Vault stands out with its core mechanic of deciphering ancient languages, while other information games like Return of the Obra Dinn, Her Story, and Outer Wilds (which even has a dedicated “archaeologist edition”) encourage players to excavate clues related to their environments and histories.

In my research, I aim to explore how modern gaming can be documented as meticulously as ancient artifacts. I’ve noticed numerous parallels in the gaming landscape. The methods players use to document their experiences—such as screenshots, mapping, and journaling—mirror techniques employed by real-world archaeologists. Some games integrate these documentation methods as central mechanics. A prime example is Season: A Letter to the Future, where players capture the world’s essence just before a cataclysm through their diary entries. Games that prompt note-taking certainly enhance the recording of gameplay experiences, such as the anticipated 2025 puzzle sensation, Blue Prince.

If you’re interested in becoming a video game archaeologist rather than just Tomb Raider-ing, look for the skull next to the toilet. Better yet, document your findings. Future gaming archaeologists will be grateful!

What to Play

Obsessive and stylish… Shinobu: The Art of Vengeance. Photo: Sega

In today’s gaming scene, many classic ’80s arcade titles are being rediscovered, with Gradius Origins delighting shoot-’em-up aficionados and Bandai Namco’s Shadow Labyrinth offering a fresh take on Pac-Man.

Next up is Sega’s Shinobu: The Art of Vengeance, a stylish platformer adventure heavily inspired by classic ninja brawler aesthetics. Players navigate a richly hand-drawn cyberpunk world with an impressive array of combat abilities, weapons, and combos. The French developer LizardCube has masterfully blended captivating visual flair with the nostalgic immediacy and modern enhancements of the original title. Expect to relive fond memories while executing fierce moves to dispatch enemies in a visually stunning ballet of violence.

Available on: PC, PS4/5, Xbox
Estimated playtime: 15 hours

What to Read

Switch and Bait… I’m waiting outside my Nintendo store for the release of Nintendo Switch 2. Photo: Kylie Cooper/Reuters

Curious about Nintendo‘s game design philosophy? The upcoming book “Super Nintendo” by Keza McDonald is available for pre-order. This in-depth examination offers a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary game and console maker, featuring insights from key figures, including Miyamoto himself. A must-read!
Over 450 Diablo developers have voted to unionize, as reported by The Communications Workers of America. Nav Bhetti, a senior software engineer on Team 3, shared, “Throughout my development career, I’ve observed my colleagues paying the ‘passion tax’ to work in the industry we cherish.”
Have you heard of “friendsslop“? Nicole Carpenter explores emerging genres in social gaming, such as Peak, Fatal Company, and Content Warning. Find out what developers can glean from focusing on cooperative experimentation with peers.

Skip past newsletter promotions

What to Click

Question Block

Console Wars… Indiana Jones and the Big Circle. Photo: Game Press

This week’s question comes from Richard B. via email.

“Does the console war still exist?”

This is a topic currently under scrutiny throughout the industry. In February, Xbox Chief Phil Spencer told Xboxera that he’s no longer focused on attracting players from PlayStation or PC. Just three months later, previously exclusive titles like Indiana Jones and the Big Circle have been announced for PS5, alongside Gears of War: Reloaded being linked to Sony’s platform. In return, Sony will release Helldivers 2 on Xbox, with more collaborations likely to follow. A recent Sony job listing suggests they are indeed open to this.

Cross Play—features available in games like Fortnite and Apex Legends—allows players across different systems to compete. In an industry where mobile gaming is increasingly dominant, with NewZoo projecting a worth of $92.5 billion for mobile games in 2024, the competitive landscape is changing.

Still, gamers are inherently territorial in nature. Brand loyalty remains a significant facet of fandom (think Nikon vs. Canon, Nike vs. Reebok, or Android vs. iPhone). Technical specifications are merely one aspect of these rivalries, with style, image, and identity also playing vital roles. Thus, don’t anticipate Xbox and PlayStation to transform into mere apps across various platforms anytime soon. Some battles may come to a close, yet the war rages on.

If you have any questions or thoughts regarding the newsletter, please feel free to reply or email us at butingbuttons@theguardian.com.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Brain Implants Restore Decades-Long Forgotten Joy to Humans

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A man who underwent brain stimulation had previously tried 20 treatments for his depression

Damien Fair et al./cc-by 4.0

Men suffering from severe depression for over 30 years have seemingly found relief through a personalized brain “pacemaker” designed to selectively stimulate various brain regions.

“He’s felt joy for the first time in years,” states Damien Fair from the University of Minnesota.

Treatment-resistant depression is often characterized by minimal improvement after trying at least two antidepressants. While procedures like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may provide some benefits, they don’t always yield relief. “They’re effective for all sizes. You’ll target the same brain area,” Fair explains. Yet, as every brain is unique, he often doesn’t hit the exact target needed for individual relief.

Fair and his team have now created a tailored method for a 44-year-old man, who was first hospitalized for depression at 1 PM. He had attempted 20 different treatments, including antidepressants, therapy, ECT, and more, all without lasting success. “It’s one of the most severe depression cases I’ve seen; he has attempted suicide three times,” Fair notes.

Initially, the researchers conducted a 40-minute MRI scan to delineate the boundaries of four brain activity networks linked to depression. This particular network in the man was found to be four times more active than that of individuals without depression, potentially exacerbating his symptoms, according to Fair.

The team then surgically implanted clusters of four electrodes at these defined boundaries, entering through two small openings in the skull. Just three days later, they began sending weak electrical pulses through wires attached to the electrodes, stimulating each brain network separately.

Upon stimulating the first network—default mode, related to introspection and memory—the man cried tears of joy. “I felt so much better,” Fair recalls.

Stimulation of the Action Mode and Salience Networks also led to reduced feelings of anxiety, while the team noticed enhanced focus when targeting the parietal networks involved in decision-making.

Using the man’s feedback, the team connected the electrode wires to tiny batteries placed just beneath the skin near the collarbone, allowing him to maintain these benefits outside the hospital. This setup acts like a “brain pacemaker,” as Fair describes it, stimulating various networks for a minute each day.

For six months, the man utilized an app linked to the pacemaker to alternate between different stimulation patterns crafted by the team every few days. He also documented his depression symptoms daily. The team optimized the stimulation based on this data during the first six months post-surgery.

Even seven weeks post-surgery, the man reported no suicidal thoughts. By the nine-month mark, he was in remission as per the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. This improvement persisted for over two and a half years, apart from a brief period when his symptoms slightly recurred after contracting Covid-19.

“This is an incredible outcome,” states Mario Juruna from King’s College London. “It serves as a crucial proof of concept for patients unable to tolerate traditional depression treatments.”

Researchers have noted that compared to previous attempts at personalized brain stimulation, their method required fewer computational resources and led to shorter hospital stays.

It’s plausible that the expanded salience network of the man played a role in the treatment’s success. This is often present in depression; however, it’s premature to conclude if individuals with a lower level of salience network expansion would respond similarly, Juruena states.

To confirm the safety and effectiveness of this approach, randomized controlled trials assigning various individuals with depression to either stimulation or placebo will be necessary, according to Juruena. The team aims to conduct these trials within two years after testing the method on additional individuals, according to Fair.

If you need someone to listen, reach out: Samaritans in the UK at 116123 (Samaritans.org); US 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988 (988lifeline.org). Visit bit.ly/suicidehelplines for resources in other countries

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Google Ceases Notification of Publishers Regarding Removal of ‘Right to be Forgotten’ from Search Results

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Google will inform publishers quietly that it has removed websites from search results under Europe’s “right to be forgotten” rules, following a Swedish court ruling that the search engine applies globally. Stopped.

Previously, when an individual requested that records about them be deleted under EU data protection law, Google would notify the publisher of the original article.

Media companies, including the Guardian, are largely exempt from regulation, but links to journalistic content can be removed from databases such as search engines.

Currently, Google only notifies publishers that a URL has been removed, without providing details about what or why.

As a result, journalists are unable to identify situations in which the right to be forgotten is being misused to obscure legitimate reporting about serial offenders, hampering their ability to challenge the most serious rights violations.

A Google spokesperson said: “We have introduced a new approach to notifications following a decision by the Swedish Data Protection Authority. It came into force.”

“Although we did not agree with this decision at the time, it is binding and supports EU-wide regulatory guidance. We have therefore made strong efforts to comply with it. Ta.”

One of the changes introduced by the GDPR in 2016 was to ensure that EU national court decisions on data protection set precedent across the bloc.

A Swedish court ruled in December that notifying webmasters that search engines have removed links to their content is itself a violation of the privacy of people who have requested the right to be forgotten.

“Thus, the Administrative Court found that once Google granted the deletion of search results, the interests of individuals in privacy and effective protection of personal data generally outweighed Google’s interests. [sic] Send a message to the webmaster, concludes. according to International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Upheld a 50 million Swedish kronor (£3.8 million) fine against search engines for failing to remove URLs they were asked to remove from their lists.

Skip past newsletter promotions

Within weeks of the first judgment in May 2014, which ruled that the right to be forgotten applied to Google, six Guardian articles were removed from the European version of the search engine.

Three of the charges related to now-retired Scottish Premier League referee Dougie McDonald, who was found to have lied about his reasons for awarding penalties in a football match in 2010. . Others included his 2002 article about a lawyer facing a fraud trial and his 2011 article about a French office worker who makes his art Post-It Notes.

Over the next five years, the search engine received about 1 million unique forgotten requests, and even though more than half were rejected, it still removed about 1.5 million unique URLs.