Hi! I’m Ashley Bardhan, Kotaku’s Newest Tips And Guides Writer

Oh, hiya. I don’t suppose we’ve met. My title is Ashley, and I’m Kotaku’s latest workers author, the place I’ll be specializing in suggestions and guides. Didn’t you learn the headline? It’s okay, I forgive you.

Earlier than this job, I labored at Inverse as its science-and-tech publication author and wrote a column on girls and video video games for Destructoid. I’ve additionally been freelancing in every single place for 2 years, stacking up my portfolio of bizarre web articles, together with one about abusive robotic relationships for Futurism, queer TikTok gaming for The Verge, and medieval feminism for Bitch.

Maybe you’re now considering to your self, “Wow, this woman is definitely foolish and enjoyable with a variety of pursuits, although she largely appears to deal with tradition and know-how.” Sure, it’s true. I really like wriggling into each unusual rabbit gap video video games, tech, and social media ship me by way of.

You most likely know that that is my first time writing for Kotaku (although I’ve been studying the positioning since I used to be just a bit Ashley), and it’s additionally my first time writing suggestions and guides particularly (although I dwell contained in the user-updated Elden Ring map on Fextralife). That mentioned, my prior expertise and present pursuits have given me a lot vitality and so many concepts that I can’t wait to share with you.

In the whole lot I’ve ever written, my principal aim has at all times been to be entertaining, informative, and do work that’s imbued with a way of humility. These qualities grow to be doubly vital in service journalism, so I can promise you that I’ll by no means attempt to confuse you or encourage you to “get good.”

Talking of which, I really like video video games, however I contemplate myself a superbly sufficient online game participant. As an alternative of some all-powerful Kotaku Lord of Video games, which sounds terrifying, you’ll be able to as an alternative consider me as that pal in Discord you go to for good recommendation. I wish to aid you make online game discoveries and benefit from the artwork kind to its full potential, that’s all.

For that very same cause, though I’ll completely be writing extra normal guides on subjects like boss battles, farming routes, and the shiniest loot, I’m additionally hoping to broaden the scope of online game service articles.

I really like video video games, however I additionally love chick flicks, Phoebe Bridgers, and watching The Bachelor till my eyes bleed. I usually discover it irritating that online game service items appear skewed to a selected form of gamer—skilled, white, male, straight—once I and different so-called nontraditional avid gamers have nowhere to uncover what video video games will make us really feel like genderless extras on Bridgerton, or no matter.

So you’ll be able to count on me to write down about girly shit (which actually is simply shit that everybody likes however doesn’t really feel allowed to) and different issues I feel the remainder of my non-white, non-male gaming neighborhood desires to know. Finally, I’m prepared to vary how avid gamers assist different avid gamers, and I need you to return with me.