“With each passing year, the idea that video games are only for children becomes an increasingly alien concept. Today’s biggest hits are mature, not just in their levels of copious violence, but also in their attempts to grapple with serious themes. Whether or not they succeed is a matter of opinion, but they are trying. These games are proving time and again that there’s a real audience of adult gamers. That said, we should never forget that kids are a crucial part of the video game community, too. After all, it was during our childhoods when so many of us fell in love with video games.” Read more at PCMag. George R.R. Martin has reportedly signed a new five year contract with HBO, meaning The Winds of Winter could get pushed to the back burner again. Read more at The Mary Sue. We don’t mean to dunk on herbal tea fans, but here is the reason why your hot drink of choice may not technically be tea. “You might not recognize the name, but you’ve had tisanes (pronounced ti-zahns) if you’ve had mint, rooibos, chamomile, or other herbs and aromatics steeped in hot water. The category is more commonly known as herbal tea, but according to The Kitchn, herbal tea technically isn’t tea at all.” Read more at Mental Floss. Enter The Gungeon is the best indie shooter game to come out of 2016. Now you can add it to your PlayStation for free. Read more at Inverse. Let’s talk about the mild homoeroticism in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 2 and whether or not that could be queerbaiting. “For years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s textual approach to LGBTQ+ characters has been heavy on speculation and light on actual representation. Fans have spent years and years shipping Avengers with other Avengers in romantic crossovers to rival Endgame, while the studio has either asked them to wait, or offered them a Russo brother in trying times. So far, it seems like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’s taking the former approach—although it could end up giving fans the latter.” Read more at Gizmodo. Maya Rudolph’s performance as Beyoncé on Hot Ones makes for one of the best Saturday Night Live skits in history. Read more at Thrillist.
