Barry O'Rourke

Dublin, Ireland

Writer and Games Journalist at Freelance

Journalist, @YouTubeGaming Partner, School Teacher, Silly Billy. Eternally online. Defying gravity somewhere fetch in Ireland 🏳️‍🌈

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Articles

The Last Of Us, season 2 - everything you need to know

1 week ago | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

No video game can ignite a heated debate quite like The Last of Us. The story of a world ravaged by a mutant fungus and the lengths people will go to survive have captured the imagination of gamers since its release back in 2013. Selling tens of millions of copies, the original game is considered one of the best games ever made.
Will tougher loot box and currency rules create fairer gaming?

3 weeks ago | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

Free-to-play (F2P) games have become one of the biggest earners in the video game industry. Yes, you read that correctly. Games that cost absolutely nothing to download and play are earning developers billions every year with ease. How? Through a variety of microtransactions, of course. These are often small purchases that can include anything from cosmetics, such as skins, to battle passes,experience boosts, and more.
Are your kids' video games age-appropriate? Your one-stop guide

1 month ago | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

Parents, when it comes to gaming, I do not envy you. It seems that just when you finally get to grips with the likes of Fortnite and Among Us, a new title pops up that moves the goalposts. Before long, you're back at square one, figuring out just what a game is about, how it plays, who you can play online with, and ultimately, whether it's safe for the young gamers in your home.
GenAI in video games: Is it game-over for creativity?

1 month ago | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

Strictly necessary cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the site, use its features and/or services. Any cookies used in this way are first party only in nature and the data that is collected is fully aggregated. Without these cookies, the Site will not perform as smoothly for you as we would like it to and we may not be able to provide the Site or certain services or features.
Happy Pokémon Day - How Pikachu and friends captured the world

1 month ago | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

You've played the games. You've boxes of the cards in the attic. You were probably one of millions who took to the streets to catch them on your phone. And you've seen enough of the TV show to hum that darn theme song in your sleep. As we approach the magical celebration that is Pokémon Day, it's time to reflect on one of the world's most successful (and greatest) entertainment franchises – Pokémon!So, just how are Pikachu and friends still managing to catch the world's attention, decades on?
Avowed review - does this year's most anticipated RPG deliver?

2 months ago | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

The litmus test for any great high-fantasy game is how easily it hooks you into its world. How it makes you lose all sense of time as you explore. And how gameplay mechanics position you as an active part of the story's formation. Avowed is an action role-playing game that has consumed all my free time this past while. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios, it is a game of immense scale, imagination, and ambition.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: the first big game of '25 is a slay

2 months ago | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

Strictly necessary cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the site, use its features and/or services. Any cookies used in this way are first party only in nature and the data that is collected is fully aggregated. Without these cookies, the Site will not perform as smoothly for you as we would like it to and we may not be able to provide the Site or certain services or features.
The Sims at 25 - a cultural phenomenon that only gets better

2 months ago | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

With hundreds of millions of sales and legions of die-hard fans, The Sims remains one of the greatest franchises in entertainment today. A trailblazer in inclusivity and creativity, a simple video game about virtual life has transformed the gaming industry forever. And with a Sims movie (involving Margot Robbie) currently in the works, the cultural phenomenon may be turning 25 – but by all accounts, it's only just getting started.
Why Elon Musk is fighting with the video game community

Jan 23, 2025 | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

One of the biggest stories in gaming last year was when 13-year-old Willis Gibson became the first person to ever beat the original Tetris. Many thought the feat was impossible, as it was only ever achieved using artificial intelligence. And yet, Willis completed the surprising feat live in front of his peers, to complete surprise and widespread jubilation. The story quickly went global and serves as a reminder of one of the best things video games offer — a sense of achievement.
Indiana Jones to Infinity Nikki - big games you might have missed

Jan 16, 2025 | rte.ie | Barry O'Rourke

December and January are busy times of the year, particularly in gaming. We often try to finish off the endless backlog of games, debate controversial Best of lists on social media, and wait patiently for next year's heavy hitters. Many forget that new games are constantly being released during these months, some of which deserve your consideration. With that in mind, below are some hidden gems from the latter parts of 2024 you may have overlooked over Christmas.