Note: This essay is the result of the collaborative contribution of Alan McGreevy and Christina Fawcett.


Nostalgia gaming - appealing to players and the recent decades of gaming culture - has gained a greater foothold in the past year as the NES Classic launched in November. In addition, a Final Fantasy VII relaunch was announced for this summer, Bomberman has been announced for the Nintendo Switch, and Blizzard has just released a pixelated Diablo portal back to an earlier time in a time-limited special event entitled “The Darkening of Tristram.”

The world’s greatest detective is anti-intellectual.

The world of Batman celebrates technology. Batman constantly relies on ingenious gadgets, computer algorithms, and tools to scan scenes, track criminals, and solve mysteries. The presence of Bat-gadgetry is one of the more frequently lampooned aspects of the franchise. Yet, his appreciation of scientific advancement is purely applied. Characters like Oracle and Mr. Fox make improvements and refinements, but they are not scientists. Their dedication is to Batman’s cause, not to the pursuit of knowledge.