Ashley Barry, Author at The Mary Sue

Ashley Barry

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Let’s Talk About the Brahmin in the Bedroom: Why I Embrace Game Bugs

Contrary to popular belief, I don't think bugs dilute the quality or overall potential of a game.

Confessions of an Emetophobic Gamer: Why Mortal Kombat’s Bo’ Rai Cho Scared Me

I used to beg my friend to select anyone but Bo’ Rai Cho, the fighter who could projectile vomit on command in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. When Bo’ Rai Cho stumbled closer to my chosen fighter, his round belly hanging over his pants, I held the block trigger on my controller and squeezed my eyes shut. I was afraid to look at the screen because I didn’t want to see Bo’ Rai Cho get sick.

Interviewing One Odd Gamer Girl: A Conversation About Disability and Gaming

"I am proud of being Deaf, very proud. It’s such a huge part of who I am, I love how I experience the world as a Deaf person, I love my language, there’s nothing I’d change about my hearing."

A Homage to Winston: How Lara Croft’s Butler Brought My Sister and I Closer Together

"Lock the butler in the freezer! Quick! Press the button!"

An Overdue Apology to Final Fantasy IX‘s Princess of Alexandria for Disliking Her Traditional Femininity

Whenever the dark haired heroine from Final Fantasy IX, gracefully galloped across the screen, her perfect ponytail flying behind her, not a strand out of place, I would scoff and ridicule her to no end. I was in middle school at the time, and for some strange reason, I rejected traditional femininity because I was under the assumption that it was seriously uncool and stupid. I was a follower, and as a result, more willing to conform than stand out.

The Handling of Death in Games: The Summoner, the Ancient, the Mortality

I attended my first wake when I was about six or seven years old. The memorial service was for my great aunt, a pint sized woman with more fire and joy in her fingernail than I’ll ever have in my entire being. Lovely as she was, I never said goodbye to her in my own way or experienced the proper closure I personally needed.