Polygon: All Posts by Blake Hesterhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/42931/favicon.ico2020-04-16T12:00:00-04:00https://www.polygon.com/authors/blake-hester/rss2020-04-16T12:00:00-04:002020-04-16T12:00:00-04:00Two days in Colombia with the founder of Rockstar San Diego
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<img alt="Diego Angel sits outside while talking on the phone" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qzduvD8v6wnVhxKNs6-sB3xJ95Q=/0x0:4032x2268/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66662782/bhester_200307_ply1012_0056.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Diego Angel at home in Colombia | Photo: Blake Hester for Polygon</figcaption>
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<p>Diego Angel left Rockstar and returned home, so we went to meet him there</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/16/21222700/diego-angel-colombia-rockstar-san-diego">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/16/21222700/diego-angel-colombia-rockstar-san-diegoBlake Hester2020-01-14T11:59:20-05:002020-01-14T11:59:20-05:00All the money in the world couldn’t make Kinect happen
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<img alt="Kinect sits in a wasteland of spent money" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PwrJfJy18_pHFFv04UkGbMFAvWc=/0x135:3000x1823/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66099328/Image_5___header_final.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Despite Microsoft’s significant funding, Kinect didn’t end up lasting as an Xbox peripheral</figcaption>
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<p>For a moment a decade ago, the game industry looked like a very different place</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2020/1/14/21064608/microsoft-kinect-history-rise-and-fall">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2020/1/14/21064608/microsoft-kinect-history-rise-and-fallBlake Hester2019-12-06T18:19:32-05:002019-12-06T18:19:32-05:00The history of PlayStation was almost very different
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<img alt="Hand holding a PlayStation" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7aI8ZMPLCjOIRgbFueOg8AvsUTs=/0x106:2040x1254/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65844428/jbareham_181120_ply0819_0149.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Sony’s original PlayStation | James Bareham/Polygon</figcaption>
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<p>Deals with Nintendo, Sega, and Microsoft could have dramatically changed the game industry’s trajectory </p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/12/6/20999590/the-history-of-playstation-was-almost-very-different">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/12/6/20999590/the-history-of-playstation-was-almost-very-differentBlake Hester2019-12-05T18:04:02-05:002019-12-05T18:04:02-05:00How PlayStation democratized 3D video games
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<img alt="A photo of the original PlayStation logo" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ksVvE76bESJm0D_ZI-RnuCefyaM=/0x48:1965x1153/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65837338/PLAYSTATION_logo.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Polygon</figcaption>
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<p>A quick history lesson on how PlayStation came to be</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/12/5/20997745/how-playstation-democratized-3d-video-games">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/12/5/20997745/how-playstation-democratized-3d-video-gamesBlake Hester2019-11-20T10:00:00-05:002019-11-20T10:00:00-05:00The story of Eight Days, one of Sony’s canceled big bets
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<img alt="A character hangs off the side of a big rig" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y8WSoIRpUS6omn73z7J9tL3bIQs=/144x0:1076x524/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65737424/8D2.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Eight Days</em> concept art | Sony Interactive Entertainment</figcaption>
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<p>We look back at Sony London’s dropped PlayStation 3 buddy-themed action game</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/11/20/20973181/the-story-of-eight-days-one-of-sonys-canceled-big-bets">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/11/20/20973181/the-story-of-eight-days-one-of-sonys-canceled-big-betsBlake Hester2019-08-21T09:00:00-04:002019-08-21T09:00:00-04:00Waterskiing and running for my life with the guy behind Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
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<img alt="Joel Jewett drives a boat as his son Connor waterskis behind him." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FdXnzQucwuUBXmh-sdMT2TqARVQ=/0x105:2000x1230/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65080009/IMG_6434.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joel Jewett (right) and his son Connor</figcaption>
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<p>Two days in Montana with Joel Jewett</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/8/21/20806344/waterskiing-and-running-for-my-life-with-joel-jewett-the-guy-behind-tony-hawks-pro-skater">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/8/21/20806344/waterskiing-and-running-for-my-life-with-joel-jewett-the-guy-behind-tony-hawks-pro-skaterBlake Hester2019-08-07T09:00:00-04:002019-08-07T09:00:00-04:00The 18-month fence hop, the six-day chair, and why video games are so hard to make
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<img alt="A character reacts to an explosion in Remedy’s game Control" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fTyWrWp_Y8fhI7E6g_Ga6gOgz-g=/0x0:3840x2160/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64928681/Bad_day_at_the_offce_1.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Control</em> screenshot | Remedy/505 Games</figcaption>
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<p>We look at the effort behind the small details in games</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/8/7/20755231/the-18-month-fence-hop-the-six-day-chair-remedy-control-and-why-video-games-are-so-hard-to-make">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/8/7/20755231/the-18-month-fence-hop-the-six-day-chair-remedy-control-and-why-video-games-are-so-hard-to-makeBlake Hester2019-02-21T14:00:00-05:002019-02-21T14:00:00-05:00The Agent before Agent, a lost Rockstar San Diego project
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Do8O6Lhwu_MthfEebyDnk4wxJA0=/0x106:2040x1254/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63090071/jbareham_181127_0821_agent_0001_FINAL.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Illustration: James Bareham/Polygon</figcaption>
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<p>Before Rockstar North revealed its spy game Agent, Rockstar San Diego was working on something similar</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/2/21/18118822/agent-rockstar-san-diego">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/2/21/18118822/agent-rockstar-san-diegoBlake Hester2019-01-31T12:00:00-05:002019-01-31T12:00:00-05:00The voice of Shenmue reflects on 20 years of Ryo Hazuki
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<img alt="The player character plays a boxing arcade game in early screenshots from Shenmue 3." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gco7BO2yU94qMmsPEWeRH2Cm23M=/0x0:1920x1080/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62895845/Shenmue_3.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ryo Hazuki in <em>Shenmue 3</em> | Ys Net</figcaption>
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<p>And teases his work on <em>Shenmue 3</em></p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/1/31/18195215/corey-marshall-shenmue-voice-actor-ryo-hazuki">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/1/31/18195215/corey-marshall-shenmue-voice-actor-ryo-hazukiBlake Hester2018-12-31T12:00:06-05:002018-12-31T12:00:06-05:00The team behind Alto’s Adventure tackles skateboarding
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0ljpDfx0saMTlxa1VJiTTO1j4aM=/0x0:1920x1080/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62718867/1_kickflip_stair_set.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Skate City</em> | Snowman</figcaption>
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<p>A new attempt at making skateboarding work on your phone</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/features/2018/12/31/18150672/skate-city-mobile-game-snowman-altos-adventure">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/features/2018/12/31/18150672/skate-city-mobile-game-snowman-altos-adventureBlake Hester