Introducing...Ctrlr

Deciding how best to start this introductory piece has, no joke, probably been one of the hardest things to wrap my head around these past three months. More difficult than getting an actual web page up-and-running – more difficult even, than having to salvage what was lost to me as a consequence of finding myself in this, shall we say, unusual position.

So how about the following: around February of this year, when I found myself departed from the outlet I had called my associative home for nearly a full decade, I had one of two decisions as to what I would do next. Disappear altogether from the realm of video game coverage...or...create something entirely my own.

As much as I would've loved to continue walking the very path I've followed since the mid-2010's, getting too used to the comfort of the familiar isn't always a good thing. There comes a time when a decisions has to be made. A decision that, while initially hard to digest and marred by initial pessimism and concern, eventually paves the way for some semblance of hope and indeed optimism to break through. Half-empty glasses are, after all, equally half-full. "One door closes..." and all that.

And just maybe: Ctrlr is that opportunity that has been waiting for me. A new hub that I, Jordan Helm – a UK-based writer and critic of games for a decade now – can now call my own. The next chapter on my ongoing quest to talk about the thing I love a lot of: video games. An industry whose up's, down's and unpredictable nature (both good and bad) has helped nurture many a year of experience.

It's this experience, this knowledge, that I now bring to my latest venture, Ctrlr: a new, fully-independent video game outlet, created by yours truly. Owned wholly by yours truly.

If you'll spare me a moment of pseudo-philosophical meandering here, Ctrlr isn't just a shortened form of the word "controller"; it's also a reference to that most common of keyboard macros: Ctrl+R. Refresh. In my month-long reflection, something I came to the conclusion was what I desperately needed. A fresh start, a new beginning. A chapter in this tale that I and I alone will be...in control of.

But it's also a signal of intent to wrestle back some of the control as to the perception of what an online, web-based, primarily text-focused video game outlet can be in the year 2025 and beyond. In an age where video dominates, streaming is persistent and the era of the written outlet looks to be a matter of when, not if, it goes extinct, I aim to be one of those offering support and [hopefully] validity for this form of critique and coverage to continue.

A fool's errand you might say? The equivalent of some petty child kicking-and-screaming as he's dragged away to face the inevitability of reality? Perhaps, but perhaps not. I can't tell you what (if any) influence mine and this site's presence will bring. What I can tell you, with sufficient confidence, is that Ctrlr will be the home for a slew of reviews, previews, impressions, features and just maybe some editorial stuff on the side, from yours truly, that covers way more than the usual and/or hotly-anticipated suspects.

That may well include my [un]healthy obsession with the Metroid series, underappreciated puzzle games and many other such topics (just forewarning you). But my aim with Ctrlr to offer a spotlight to games of all sizes. AAA, AA, lower-case "i" for indie...and what many may perceive the notable "Triple-I" names of the independant space.

The first stage of this new journey is, naturally, where you are right now: Ctrlr.net, but who knows where this might take me. Again, I'm more than aware I may well be getting [at the very least] ample baffled looks at the sheer (insane) thought of establishing a new outlet...now of all times.

But I see this as an opportunity to do things not just my way, but a new way. An alternative to what's come before. To cover the games and topics I'm interested in and that I'm confident many more are too.

I hope, whoever you are and wherever you may be reading this, you'll support me in this new venture. Even if it is as simple as a click, or a quick message to say hi. I can't say I've fully mapped out where things may be heading. Or that I won't be dishing out a hot take or two along the way. But hey...where's the fun in that?

And if you just so happen to be a developer, publisher or someone who wants to send something interesting to check out, my way? Or even if you're none of these and want to reach out regardless? Wonderful: contact@ctrlr.net

My name's Jordan Helm...and this is Ctrlr - a refresh to how online game coverage can be. With that, let's get back to talking games!