The Tetris Effect and Our Boundaryless Digital Future
The videogames of Tetsuya Mizuguchi have chased a singular, mystical effect—one the celebrated designer first experienced 30 years ago, in 1988, when he wandered into an arcade in Tokyo. A young college student at the time, Mizuguchi enjoyed the shooters and racing games but was mesmerized by a colorful, musical waterfall of 2-D blocks. “I…
Netflix's Umbrella Academy Is Your New X-Men—Ugh
Superhero TV follows a Betty Crocker recipe. Throw some unlikely ingredients into a stylish receptacle. Add a binder. Beat on high until everything doubles in size. Stir in some supporting flavors. Finally, bake in villainous fires until goodness rises. Delicious! Related Stories People simply keep eating. The reliable satisfactions of superhero stories continue to attract…
The Most-Read WIRED.com Stories of the Past Five Years Say So Much
Do you remember where you were when you heard about The Dress? We do. We were in the WIRED newsroom cocking our heads at our screens and squabbling. Well, most of us were squabbling. A few reporters started making phone calls (what is the science of this crazy thing?) and the result was a story…
The 2009 vs. 2019 Meme Is a Gift From Our Smartphones
You saw it. We saw it. Everyone saw it. Slowly but surely this past weekend everyone started posting current pictures of themselves next to photos from 2009. Largely marked #2009vs2019 or #10yearchallenge the posts flooded Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. As might be expected, the meme quickly got picked up by those looking to make a…
Cantina Talk: Episode IX Might Feature Lando's Daughter
Sure, we're past the 40th anniversary of the Star Wars Holiday Special by now, but it's still the season of giving. If it wasn't, how would you explain the fact that we might have learned about new characters for Star Wars: Episode IX or new cast members for The Mandalorian? And if that isn't enough,…