This week, Phoebe Lewis returns for the second entry in our series "For Non-Gamers". She played through the critically-acclaimed success, Gone Home - a narrative exploration of a fictitious Oregonian family set in the summer of 1995. Because of her limited exposure to gaming as a pastime, we asked Phoebe about her initial impressions and discuss the similarities between the game, films and books which all contain similar storytelling elements. We also discuss the biases about gaming which this title helps disprove and how Gone Home helps model games as multimedia experiences and not as narrow entertainment. In what ways does this title illuminate first person experience as conveyed in video games? How do we conceive of the decorations and items in our houses as extensions of our families and our lives?

Further Reading:

The first episode of "For Non-Gamers"

Gone Home Website

Eurogamer, "Gone Home transports players back to 1995"

The Fullbright Company, "The Music of Gone Home!"

Game Informer, "A Home Can Hold More Than You Think"

Financial Post, "Gone Home review - A startling and unexpected storytelling triumph"

IGN, "Gone Home is Undiluted Adventure"