That picture there is the cover of the next issue of Kill Screen. Checking in at 96 pages – almost twice as long as our debut – it’s at the printers right now and will ship in the next two weeks. Subscribers will get it as quickly as we can send it to you; for individual orders, visit our shop.

THE WRITERS

Jason Fagone talks to the team behind Big Buck Hunter Pro, and studies the allure of its gun.

John Teti tells the incredible story of New York City’s 30-year ban on pinball.

Jenn Frank picks the videogame feminist of the decade.

J. Nicholas Geist with a story of marriage, judgment, and World of Warcraft addiction.

Jason Killingsworth is schooled by an eight-year-old Guitar Hero prodigy – and uses the opportunity to grow up.

Gus Mastrapa battles anxiety and finds a rescue in EverQuest.

Rob Dubbin digs up the strange, hilarious fan fic of internet legend Stuart Michigan, starting with his latest work, “Some Russian.”

Majed Athab takes on on the Six Days in Fallujah controversy, and asks: why is it easier to make a ridiculous war game than a realistic one?

Matthew Burns asks: Is competition necessary? Or is he just terrible at multiplayer Halo?

Nora Nahid Khan on the most disgusting bosses in survival horror.

Mitch Krpata goes to the darkest corners of the Fun and Games in Framingham, to play torture porn shooter Chiller.

Ryan Kuo with a critique of Left 4 Dead 2.

Filipe Salgado on the hopelessness of Stephen Lavelle.

Interviews with MESSHOF, ANNA ANTHROPY, JESS CHAVEZ, and KRYSTIAN MAJEWSKI, by Jamin Brophy-Warren, Chris Dahlen, Richard Morgan, and Ryan Kuo.

And Zack Handlen brings it home with the most disgusting puzzle in interactive fiction history.

THE ART

Drink in the works of Fred Benenson, David Boni, Eóin Burke, Brody Condon, Alessandro Cotrufo, Joseph DeLappe, Eric Englehard, Ben Fry, Jon Haddock, Sarah Jacoby, Julian Lytle, Eva and Franco Mattes, Julian Sancton, and Ryan Theodores

Kill Screen HQ is proud to announce our new store, where you can buy the magazine and/or a shirt. You can access it here or from the link over on the right.

The new store improves a few things:

• You can now pay with PayPal or Google Checkout.

• If you order a t-shirt – separately or with the magazine – you can now specify your size right in your order. Sizes go from S through XXL.

    Prices have not changed, and the 4-issues-plus a t-shirt bundle remains our most popular option. Check it out!

    Another key announcement: as of today, the 4-issue subscription will start with our upcoming issue, #1 – The “No Fun” issue, due to ship at the beginning of July. Copies of our debut issue, #0 – The “Maturity” Issue, will remain on sale for individual purchase while supplies last (and we’re pleased to say, we’re actually running out!).

    If you run into any issues or have any questions, contact us at subscriptions [ at ] killscreenmagazine.com. And check back for the other new goodies we have in the works!

    (Photo by ShellyS) Kill Screen is pleased to announce – formally, officially – our upcoming fall issue – the “Back to School” issue. We are now taking pitches through June 7 for text and art. What kind of stuff are we interested in? The short version is, pretty much anything, if it’s great – but [...]

    When we funded Kill Screen with Kickstarter, we promised our top contributors a carefully-curated grab bag of some of our favorite games. Last month we sent out the grab bags, and we’re pleased to list all of the games we selected for the collection. While the grab bag is out of print—wait, are Flash drives [...]

    The New Yorker Book Bench blog asked me to do my favorite titles about videogames.  All the usual suspects were included.  Fun fun fun.  Take a read!

    Look at this cool photo reader Chris Ainsworth shot! The pinball background is a nice touch…