ludwig-kietzmann
Latest
Joystiq Presents: Close project
Mike Suszek (@mikesuszek) talks with Joystiq's Editor in Chief Ludwig Kietzmann (@LudwigK) about the site's history as well as a newfound opportunity to grow. Listen to the MP3 Listen to other Joystiq Presents episodes.
Things change, people change, hairstyles change, interest rates fluctuate
I'm sure I'll be able to shake this optimism one day. It's difficult to detach yourself from an enthusiastic outlook when you've spent six years of your life in a professional possibility that didn't exist two decades ago. It takes every modern circumstance gestating and growing in parallel just to get me here. The internet's eradication of geography, the viability of internet publications and the need for critical voices alongside a burgeoning games industry have provided the time and the place for this very post from a new editor-in-chief -- written by one eager South African who got hooked on a Mad Libs game on his hand-me-down IBM XT. I'm sure all the writers at Joystiq (and those announcing their departure today) have similar stories, hinged on a sequence of events compressed together by passion, dedication and, if we're being honest, a tinge of obsession. The team will be different next year, but our editorial standards will remain and our goals will be augmented. And yes, we'll assertively kick ass. People listen once they realize I'm moving to America and increasing my proximity to their asses. Joystiq's new core team is going forward with the majority of writers that have filled the front page for years. JC Fletcher brings his encyclopedic brain and wry wit to the Managing Editor position, where his unflinching work ethic will radiate raw guilt into everyone below. Richard Mitchell is aptly equipped to be Reviews Editor -- a role that requires an articulate, organized and thoughtful persona, and a keen understanding of our praise-to-stars conversion formula. Getting the daily news and commentary in front of you is crucial to Joystiq, so Alexander Sliwinski is stepping up into a new position as News Editor. He'll use his exemplary reporting skills and instincts to keep you in the loop every day, alongside Senior Reporter Ben Gilbert, our feisty, hardworking New York newshound. And where would we be without Dave Hinkle, our Associate Editor and dependable anchor in San Francisco? Those aren't all the positions we're busy creating or filling, but we've already got the biggest full-time staff in Joystiq history. In addition, you'll be reading a lot more from the industry's talented freelance writers, including our own editors Jordan Mallory and Jess Conditt. Congratulations on making it through the weekend-only wringer, guys! So, how do you encapsulate the paradox of telling readers that things won't change, but everything will change and everything will be better? It's not done easily, and not succinctly. I believe it enough to get on a one-way flight to another continent, but you won't need to perform such a dramatic gesture. All you have to do is load up the site and see it embedded every day going forward. I hope that you'll continue reading Joystiq as an informative, amusing and engaging snapshot of each day in this tumultuous industry, and that you'll trust me when I say exciting things are on the way. No, I'm not seriously still talking about myself. I mean like website things. Note: In case you're wondering, the headline is a quote from one of my favorite films, "Top Secret!"
WRUP visits the Tooth Fairy
Some fun facts: Ludwig got his Wisdom Teeth taken out He decided to send all of us a picture of the bloodied remains of teeth early this morning Many of the Joystiq staffers decided to not to have breakfast. Here's what we'll be playing this weekend. Be sure to let us know what games will be occupying your time! Alexander Sliwinski: I tried the demo for Braid and the puzzles inspired me to get the full game. Also have Eden to play and I'm sure to get in some Civ Rev as well. Just a little disturbed that PSN and XBLA games are starting to become my go-to style of games. Andrew Yoon: As a Trophy Whore(TM), I'm still cracking away at PixelJunk Eden and Uncharted. However, if I need to take a break from the PS3, my time will be dedicated to Braid. Christopher Grant: I'll be taking breaks between some of the more maddening (but oh so satisfying) puzzles in Braid by hopping back into Fable, which I continue to neglect. That's alright, I have until October 21 to finish it. Griffin McElroy: I'm back into World of Warcraft, people. In the brief moments that I am able to resist Azeroth's siren call, I expect I'll be putting some more time into Final Fantasy IV DS. I expect these moments will be quite brief indeed. Kevin Kelly prefers silence Kyle Orland: More Geometry Wars 2 and Pixel Junk Eden, plus gonna try and dive into this Braid thing everyone's talking about. Also really enjoying the simulation-meets-arcade racing action in GRID at the moment. Gonna try to squeeze all this in amidst Olympics-watching, packing for a move to Pittsburgh and a birthday party for my wife. Busy weekend! James Ransom-Wiley: I'm going to do whatever it takes to get just one of Ludwig's Geometry Wars 2 scores off the top of my leaderboards. I'll also be continuing my replay of Uncharted (moar Trophies!) and am hitting up All Points West in Jers Cirty tomorrow. Jason Dobson: As I pack away games for my move out west on the Oregon Trail, I'm being judicious about what titles I keep out to play. After being reminded recently about Heavy Rain, I've decided to brave the snow once more and try to solve Quantic Dream's Indigo Prophecy. Justin McElroy: I'm going to be playing Braid, which everyone who's not a dummy should rush out and buy, A+, 10/10. It makes Portal look like Brutal: Paws of Fury. And yes, I'm hoping that you'll all send this to Jonathan Blow and he'll see this and add it to his blog, because he's the best. Ludwig Kietzmann: Braid is aiding me in my recovery from dental surgery -- a beautiful, melancholy and mentally involving game. This disgustingly vegetative weekend will also be spent playing Battlefield: Bad Company and Soul Calibur IV online. Just don't ask me to voice chat, you might make my gums bleed. Eww. Randy Nelson: FYI, I'm settling in for some XBLA PSN TLC. This means wrapping my brain around the sheer genius of Braid, blowing it to bits with too much GeoWars2, and just plain chillaxin' with a game I find both challenging and utterly soothing: PixelJunk Eden. Ross Miller: Just bought a new 60GB Xbox 360 after having another one die on me (second unit, no RRoDs so not covered under warranty *sad face*). Now to try out this Braid thing everyone's been talking about ...
Meet the Team: Ludwig Kietzmann
In the world of professional game blogging, the people are represented by two separate, yet equally important groups: the bloggers who investigate the stories and readers who make silly comments. These are the first group's stories. Name: Ludwig Kietzmann Job Position: Senior Contributing Editor, podcast host and typo killer. Past Experience/Education: I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, with majors in Computer Science, Mathematical Techniques and Organizational Psychology. Fat lot of good that did me. Before joining Joystiq, I awarded games 3 out of 10 at some more obscure review sites. Life Outside of the 'Stiq: If, hypothetically, I ever left my laptop, it would be to watch a movie, get lost in a good book or wrestle down marauding lions. Why I'm Blogging: Though the ability to mash words together in order to form coherent sentences has brought me nothing but trouble, I rather enjoy it. Blogging is a great outlet for creative writing, opinion and unrelenting use of puns. First game experience: Destroying invaders (from space!) on a hand-me-down piece of hardware attached to a yellowed, CGA monitor. How many aliens have died by my hand since then? Favorite games: Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, Grim Fandango, No One Lives Forever, Half-Life 2, Jet Set Radio, Metal Gear Solid 3, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Beyond Good & Evil and ... Rayman 2. Can love bloom on the battlefield? I need scissors! 61! There's more to come every Tuesday and Thursday.
