Studying Pixels (Studying Pixels)
Explore every episode of Studying Pixels
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 2021 | Three Truths, Two Lies | 01:06:31 | |
It is finally time for our very first episode! Our mascot Pixel-kun is celebrating and so are we. For introductions, we share five stories of our gaming biography, only three of which are true. Can you tell the difference? For our side quests, we discuss Tripwire's CEO stepping down after expressing public support for the Texas anti-abortion law, shine some light on how Sony put a price tag on PS5 upgrades, and wonder: where the hell is GTA 6?! Shownotes00:03:45 Three Truths, Two Lies 00:32:54 Tripwire CEO 'Steps Down' After Supporting Texas Anti-Abortion Law (Luke Plunkett) 00:50:01 Horizon Forbidden West PS5 Upgrade Controversy
01:02:44 “Where the hell is GTA 6?!“ Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 03 Oct 2021 | The Friends We Make | 01:11:48 | |
Friendships are so precious. Video games never get tired of emphasizing that. Aside from reminiscing about the friends we made with fictional characters, we also discuss the absurd albeit necessary tendency to quantify friendships. In our side quests, we discuss the recent settlement of one of the lawsuits against Activision Blizzard and catch up with announcements in the recent Nintendo Direct, including the cast of the Super Mario movie. Shownotes00:06:26 The Friends We Make 00:39:49 Activision Blizzard lawsuit
00:55:59 Nintendo Direct: the biggest announcements and trailers (Andrew Webster)
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 10 Oct 2021 | Reading Roger Caillois: Man, Play, and Games | 01:38:02 | |
Many have tried (and many failed) to bring various games together in a set of comprehensive categories. Roger Caillois is one of them and we are diving into his Classification of Games to explore the categories and how they apply to contemporary video games. In our side quests, we discuss the biggest leack in the history of Twitch, Sora's introduction to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and our impressions of Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Shownotes00:04:07 Reading: Roger Caillois: Man, Play, and Games
01:07:56 The entirety of Twitch has reportedly been leaked (Chris Scullion)
01:28:13 Sora Is The Final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Character (Ari Notis) 01:35:44 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 17 Oct 2021 | Squid Game | 01:36:12 | |
Everyone is talking about it and so are we: the South Korean survival drama Squid Game. Its astounding popularity aside, we are especially curious about what the show tells us about games, play, and their relation to very real class disparity. (Our main story is spoiler free, so no to worry. We've got a separate and clearly coded spoiler part at the very end of the episode.) In our side quests, we discuss the pricing of the Nintendo Switch Online Extension Pack, the legitimacy of pirating newly released games, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Shownotes 00:09:44 Squid Game
00:40:07 Announcing Nintendo Switch Online Extension Pack (Nintendo) 00:44:42 Stop Defending Corporations From Piracy You Freaks (Kaile Hultner) 00:55:26 Kena: Bridge of Spirits 01:06:00 Squid Game Spoiler Part Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 24 Oct 2021 | The Myth of Missing No. | 01:11:32 | |
Could that school friend really be right about this Pokémon that is not supposed to exist? Is there really a way to infinitely multiply items as this Nintendo magazine suggests? – We're diving back into our childhood to unravel how Missing No. changed the ideas about how video games work and who owns their lore. Shownotes00:06:05 The Myth of Missing No. 00:31:16 Dying Light isn't available on Switch's eShop in the UK because it's banned in Germany (Matt Wales) 00:44:11 Yakuza 0 00:50:28 Devil May Cry V – Special Edition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 31 Oct 2021 | Halloween Special: Cursed Games | 01:08:00 | |
"I am god here." A strangely unsettling sentence, especially if uttered by a character in a game that might very well be cursed. For this Halloween we collect and retell our favorite gaming-related creepypastas and urban legends. Shownotes00:05:08 The Lavender Town Incident (Pokémon Red/Blue) 00:13:44 BEN Drowned (The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask) 00:25:39 Pale Luna 00:36:21 Sonic.exe (Sonic the Hedgehog) 00:47:48 Misfortune.gb 00:59:26 Polybius Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 07 Nov 2021 | Why are all games about time loops these days? (with Federico Alvarez Igarzábal) | 01:24:43 | |
What if we could start all over again? – These days, a whole bunch of games tries to answer this question. From Hades to Returnal, from Loop Hero to 12 Minutes, and most recently: Deathloop. To help us understand why there is such an abundance of time loop games, we are joined by game studies scholar Federico Alvarez Igarzábal. Shownotes
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| 14 Nov 2021 | Title Blunder | 01:28:15 | |
It's at the tip of my tongue! Have you ever forgotten the title of a video game and instead just given it a ridiculous description? Well, that is exactly what we do for this week. Enjoy our title blunders! In our side quests, we share our initial impressions of Shin Megami Tensei V, give a dreary outlook on the availability of the PS5, and discuss the intricacies of caring in video games. Shownotes
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| 21 Nov 2021 | PS5 Giveaway, Essential Tips and Settings | 01:15:59 | |
Indeed, it is true – we are giving away a brand new PS5! And for all of you who already have one or plan to get one soon we have collected some essential tips and settings. For example, did you know that the integrated microphone in the DualSense controller impacts the intensity of haptic feedback? – If you didn't, you should surely tune in! In our side quests, we talk about The Elder Scrolls VI being a Microsoft exclusive before we thoroughly go over the distressing issues at Activision Blizzard. Shownotes 00:00:22 PS5 Giveaway 00:05:51 Essential PS5 Tips and Settings 00:37:32 How Xbox outgrew the console: inside Phil Spencer’s multi-billion dollar gamble (Sam White) 00:45:45 Update on Activision Blizzard
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| 28 Nov 2021 | Games in the Box (with Claudius Clüver) | 00:58:42 | |
We might nostalgically look back at the beauty of game boxes and fail to realize how strongly they are linked to the economization of games. With our guest, game studies scholar Claudius Clüver, we trace how games got into the box and how, with the advent of digital distribution, they made their way back out. In our side quests, we share our impressions of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, review Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy, and relish in the thought of having Gordon Ramsay visit Activision Blizzard. Shownotes
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| 05 Dec 2021 | Reading Gonzalo Frasca: Simulation vs Narrative | 01:25:49 | |
In the early days of video game studies, or so the story is told, there was a raging conflict between narratologists and ludologists. However much of an exaggeration this might be, Gonzalo Frasca's Simulation vs Narrative is still an important contribution to this debate. That is why we revisit it—and you are invited to come along! In our side quests, we then discuss how the Game Awards should respond to the fallout at Activision Blizzard, how Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl hails the original formula, and how Kid A Mnesia Exhibition allows us a glimpse into the world of Radiohead. Oh, and also we announce the winner for our PS5 giveaway. Congratulations! Shownotes00:00:38 The School of Podcasting: Honestly, How Long Does it Take to Create an Amazing Podcast Episode? (Dave Jackson) 00:05:28 Announcing PS5 Winner 00:07:29 Reading Gonzalo Frasca: Simulation vs Narrative
01:06:10 What to expect at the 2021 Game Awards (Shannon Liao)
01:16:43 Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl 01:20:28 Kid A Mnesia Exhibition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 24 Dec 2021 | Christmas Special: Ten Predictions for 2022 | 00:50:08 | |
It is the most wonderful time of the year, that is: time for our little Christmas special. So we look into our glass bowl with glee to tell you about how Bobby Kotick resigns from ActivisionBlizzard, all the details of Sony's next PlayStation VR headset, and which game will win Game of the Year 2022. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everybody! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Dec 2021 | The Game Awards 2021 | 01:27:04 | |
The annual Game Awards have become a staple of video game culture. Combining an award show with high-profile announcements, musical performances, and lots of advertisements, the event is a force to be reckoned with. Join us as we dissect this year's Game Awards, including the way it engages with the problems of the industry. In our side quests, we then discuss Nintendo's lawsuit against Gary Bowser, Ubisoft's engagement with NFTs, and Sony's patent of the online path building feature in Death Stranding. Shownotes
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| 19 Dec 2021 | The Swastika Taboo (with Eugen Pfister) | 01:02:50 | |
The swastika is certainly one of the most affective historical symbols. Under its banner, terror, hatred, racism, and profound crimes against humanity have been committed. In Germany, video games were not allowed to display the swastika for a long time at all, which has only changed in recent years. Together with the cultural historian Dr. Eugen Pfister, we explore the swastika taboo and how it has changed—from Wolfenstein 3D all the way to Through the Darkest of Times. Shownotes
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| 09 Jan 2022 | Childhood Gaming Memories | 00:47:24 | |
It is time to reminisce! This week we are taking a brief breather to think back to our childhood. Join in as we get swept away by heartwarming and bittersweet tales of the past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 16 Jan 2022 | Learning Japanese with Video Games (with Matt/Game Gengo) | 01:13:08 | |
Learning any language is a lengthy and, at times, tedious endeavour. So why not make the process as fun as possible? – On his YouTube channel Game Gengo (ゲーム言語) our guest, Matt, does exactly that. Because how could learning Japanese be more fun than learning with video games? In our side quests we then review the language learning game Influent, discuss the announcement of PS VR2, and Dan’s affection for Deltarune. Shownotes
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| 30 Jan 2022 | Guess the Game in 20 Questions | 01:08:38 | |
Time for another one of our special episodes, a brief break from the regular business, and instead a tense guessing game. Listen to us struggle as we try to find whatever game we might be thinking of in 20 questions. Did you get any of them right before we did? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 23 Jan 2022 | What does Microsoft purchasing Activision Blizzard mean for video game culture? | 01:24:26 | |
It is the biggest acquisition in video games so far and we are…surprised to say the least. But what does Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard actually mean for video game culture, for the way we play, and for the market of the future? Come along as we discuss limitations and possibilities. In our side quests, we then dive into some NFT chatter as we cover the GDC’s annual State of the Game Industry report as well as several cases of copyright infringements. Shownotes00:04:28 What does Microsoft purchasing Activision Blizzard mean for video game culture?
00:55:29 GDC State Of The Game Industry 2022: Devs Weigh In On NFTs, Unions, And More (GDC Staff) 01:11:52 Content Creators Are Having Their Pictures And YouTube Channels Stolen And Sold As NFTs (Rhiannon Bevan) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 06 Feb 2022 | Kamon: The Origin of the Triforce | 00:57:28 | |
The Triforce is one of the most recognizable symbols in gaming, but did you know that it finds its origins in Japanese history? Often these symbols that pop up in video games have deep roots in history, culture, and even religion, and the Triforce is no different. Join us as we discuss the cultural history of this legendary Zelda symbol, including its mythopoeic origins, and its ties to a historical Japanese family! In our side quests, we then discuss Sony’s acquisition of Bungie as well the flood of high-profile games coming out this month. Shownotes00:04:55 Kamon: The Origin of the Triforce
00:33:14 PlayStation: Bungie deal is about multiplatform, live-service games (Christopher Dring)
00:45:06 Why a new huge video game is being released every week (Nicole Carpenter) 00:52:30 New Journal: Play/Write Student Journal 00:54:46 A MAZE: Call for Games Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 13 Feb 2022 | Computer Education (with Linda Liukas) | 00:55:43 | |
Understanding the workings of computers, coding, and technological infrastructure is one of the most imperative skills of the 21st century. Even more important then is to introduce children to such concepts. But how? – With the award winning children’s book series Hello Ruby, our guest Linda Liukas rethinks how to convey computer education in an approachable yet equally compelling manner. In our side quests, we talk about the demise and potential future of Google Stadia, the prison sentence for hacker Gary Bowser, and Russia’s restrictions of gay and queer identities. Shownotes
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| 24 Apr 2022 | The Best Mashups That Don’t Exist | 00:58:50 | |
Say you could cobble together any video game franchises and pair any developer studio with any series. What would you desire to play? Maybe a Silent Hill game by Ninja Theory? Or a Kingdom Hearts authored by Yoko Taro? Or should Level-5 Games finally make the Pokémon game we all desire? Come along and let your imagination run wild for a moment. Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 20 Feb 2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus | 01:11:53 | |
With its departure from the established formular and the introduction of a range of new mechanics, Pokémon Legends: Arceus has us excited and disappointed at the same time. In our review we go over everything that Arceus excels at and all the ways in which it falters. In our side quests, we share our initial impressions of Horizon II: Forbidden West and Sifu, before we discuss the blossoming of Cyberpunk 2077 and the curious find of hundreds of rare sealed video game cartridges. Shownotes
01:03:42 Pokémon Legends: Arceus: Spoiler Part Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 27 Feb 2022 | Reading Ian Bogost: The Rhetoric of Video Games | 01:22:02 | |
Video games do not just tell stories and show us more or less pretty pictures. By means of their procedural rhetoric, they “make claims about the world, which players can understand, evaluate, and deliberate”, says Ian Bogost in his influential article The Rhetoric of Video Games (2008). Join us as we unpack the concept of procedural rhetoric and test its applicability to contemporary video games. In our side quests, we share our initial impressions of Elden Ring, talk about the conflation of game footage for videos from Ukraine, and evaluate the current woth of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Shownotes00:05:00 Reading Ian Bogost: The Rhetoric of Video Games (2008) 00:53:59 Elden Ring 01:04:36 Some Of The Most Popular 'Ukraine Footage' Is From A Video Game (Luke Plunkett) 01:14:51 Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 06 Mar 2022 | Spiritual Experiences (with Dr. Felix Schniz) | 01:12:48 | |
Have you ever made a spiritual experience when playing a video game? Some downright lend themselves to it, such as Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture or Journey. But how would you know whether any experience is spiritual and aren’t video games with their technological foundation pretty much the opposite of transcendental? We discuss exactly such questions with Dr. Felix Schniz, Director and Co-Founder of the Game Studies and Engineering Programme at Klagenfurt University. In our side quests we then talk about the ramifications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for the video game industry as well as the complications of juggling games such as Elden Ring and Horizon II: Forbidden West. Shownotes00:07:40 Spiritual Experiences in Video Games (with Dr. Felix Schniz) 00:45:25 Ukraine’s open letter to video game developers (Mykhailo Federov) 00:55:36 World of Tanks studio fires creative director who voiced support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine (Andy Chalk) 01:05:00 Juggling Games like Elden Ring and Horizon II: Forbidden West Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 13 Mar 2022 | Horizon II: Forbidden West | 01:20:03 | |
There was a very brief buzz around the release of Horizon II: Forbidden West, just before Elden Ring drowned out the entire discourse. We want to give Horizon its well deserved time in the spotlight, as we discuss its qualities and, most importantly, its commentary on climate change, and insights on what it means to be an outsider. In our side quests, we discuss the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the video game industry, review the Uncharted movie, and collaboratively complain about a lack of gameplay footage in recent video game showcases. Shownotes00:02:25 Horizon II: Forbidden West 00:53:22 Further video game companies withdraw from the Russian market 01:02:03 Nintendo delays Advance Wars reboot citing ‘recent world events’ (Ash Parrish) 01:05:52 Uncharted Movie 01:14:49 Sony’s State of Play Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 20 Mar 2022 | The Origins of Final Fantasy | 01:02:48 | |
Every long-running franchise has an origin story, and Final Fantasy is no exception. This week, we discuss the creative endeavors of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and his team, and how the massively influential JRPG got its start. It’s a romantic tale of dreams, fate, and a last ditch effort of a near-bankrupt company and the game that changed it all. In our side quests, we befittingly share our first impressions of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and relish in the profound success of Elden Ring. Shownotes00:02:40 The Origins of Final Fantasy 00:42:48 Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin 00:50:07 Elden Ring described as start of a "new franchise", following enormous 12m sales milestone (Tom Phillips) Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 27 Mar 2022 | Elden Ring | 01:14:34 | |
Rise, Tarnished! Elden Ring has been getting nothing but perfect reviews, but does it really live up to the hype? The short answer is yes, but you should still listen to why Elden Ring is the most fun open-world game since Breath of the Wild. Beautiful vistas, well-written characters, and satisfying gameplay abound in this discussion of FromSoftware’s latest triumph! In our side quests, we then debate Rockstar Games’ announcement of GTA+ and give our final review of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Shownotes00:02:23 Elden Ring 00:55:13 Introducing GTA+ for GTA Online (Rockstar Games) 01:05:39 Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 03 Apr 2022 | Should We Shun Hogwarts Legacy? | 01:26:18 | |
On more than one occasion, J.K. Rowling has proven to be profoundly ignorant to the concerns of trans people. So should we shun Hogwarts Legacy, a promising title with a troubled background? And can we ever hope for the ‘death of the author’ (in the sense of Roland Barthes’ literary theory), if said author is actively fearmongering on Twitter? These and more questions we discuss to explore whether we should shun Hogwarts Legacy. In our side quests, we then talk about the cancellation of E3, the rework of PlayStation Plus, and our impressions of Ghostwire Tokyo. Shownotes00:06:44 Should We Shun Hogwarts Legacy? J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues (Joanne Kathleen Rowling) A Complete Breakdown of the J.K. Rowling Transgender-Comments Controversy (Abby Gardner) Judith Butler: ‘We need to rethink the category of woman’ (Jules Gleeson) Butler, Judith (1990) Gender Trouble Butler, Judith (1996) Bodies That Matter Harry Potter Video Game Will Allow Transgender Characters (Jason Schreier) Why I’m not buying the Harry Potter game (Stacey Henley) 00:59:56 E3 2022 - Digital and Physical - Has Officially Been Canceled (Rebekah Valentine) 01:06:45 All-new PlayStation Plus launches in June with 700+ games and more value than ever (Jim Ryan) 01:18:51 Ghostwire Tokyo Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 10 Apr 2022 | Reading Miguel Sicart’s Against Procedurality | 01:20:59 | |
“Players don’t need the designer”, says Miguel Sicart, “they need a game, an excuse and a frame for play.” How much power do rule systems have over the performative process of play? And how is meaning actualized in between the two? We discuss Sicart’s argument Against Procedurality. In our side quests, we then go into the issue of anti-semitism in Hogwarts Legacy, share our review on KungFu Kickball, and ponder the trembling online infrastructure of the Dark Souls series. Shownotes00:05:48 Reading Miguel Sicart’s Against Procedurality Sicart, Miguel (2011) Against Procedurality Studying Pixels #22 Reading Ian Bogost: The Rhetoric of Video Games 00:51:26 Listener Mail: Antisemitism in Hogwarts Legacy Studying Pixels #27 Should We Shun Hogwarts Legacy? 01:05:37 KungFu Kickball 01:11:34 Dark Souls multiplayer tags disappear from Steam, and fans are getting nervous (Andy Chalk) Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 17 Apr 2022 | 10 Awesome Easter Eggs | 01:09:35 | |
Easter eggs can be so much: from an earthly form of crediting developers to self-reflective humor, up to entire transformations of how a game can be read. We go through some of the most memorable easter eggs in video games. In out side quests we relish in anticipation of Kingdom Hearts 4, discuss Microsoft’s potential push of advertisements in console games, and complain about the PS5’s lackluster Bluetooth capabilities. Shownotes00:03:26 10 Awesome Easter Eggs 00:46:14 Kingdom Hearts 4 00:53:14 Microsoft Is Building an Advertising Program for Xbox (Sean Czarnecki and Patrick Coffee) 01:04:56 PS5’s Lacking Bluetooth Capabilities Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 May 2022 | Which Gamer Type Are You? | 01:35:27 | |
Six categories, nine vastly different types. This time, we do a bit of introspection, look at what motivates us to play and what we are yearning for by participating in Quantic Foundry’s Gamer Motivation Profile. In our side quests, we then discuss a ten steps guide on how to interpret video games, share our impressions of Kirby and the Forgotten Land as well as the recent PAX East. Shownotes00:02:28 Which Gamer Type Are You? 00:59:55 How to Interpret Digital Games? A Hermeneutic Guide in Ten Points, With References and Bibliography(Michał Kłosiński) 01:21:10 Kirby and the Forgotten Land 01:29:43 PAX East Impressions Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 08 May 2022 | Star Wars Video Games: A Fraught History | 01:08:20 | |
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars games thrived under the LucasArts label. Spanning genre and platform alike, there was no shortage of interesting and compelling video game stories told in the broader Star Wars universe. But what happened after Disney bought out Lucasfilm? This week, we explore two very different eras of Star Wars games and look ahead to what’s in store for their future! In our side quests, we discuss Square Enix selling IPs like Tomb Raider and Deus Ex to Embracer Group, the addition of Ocarina of Time into the Video Game Hall of Fame, playing Elden Ring without a helmet, and N64 as well as Sega Genesis games on the Nintendo Switch. Shownotes00:05:08 Star Wars Video Games: A Fraught History 00:41:34 Embracer Group purchases several Square Enix studios and IPs Embracer Group enters into an agreement to acquire Eidos, Crystal Dynamics, and Square Enix Montréal amongst other assets (Embracer PR Release) Execution of Share Transfer Agreement with Change to Subsidiaries (Square Enix Press Release) Here’s why Deus Ex and Tomb Raider could thrive under Embracer (Christopher Dring) 00:55:26 Ocarina of Time headlines Video Game Hall of Fame class of 2022 (Ryan Gilliam) 00:57:40 Elden Ring 01:01:00 Playing N64 and Sega Genesis Games on the Switch Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 May 2022 | Reading Waddington’s Locating the Wrongness in Ultra-Violent Video Games | 01:26:53 | |
The list of controversies revolving around violence in video games is long. But is there anything morally wrong with explicit violence in games? And moreover, where does our the apprehension towards violence in games come from? Join us for a reading of David I. Waddington’s Locating the Wrongness in Ultra-Violent Video Games. In our side quests, we discuss Microsoft’s DRM policy, the rumours circulating around a new Silent Hill game, and the indirect return of Fortnite to the App Store. Shownotes00:09:04 Reading David I. Waddington’s Locating the Wrongness in Ultra-Violent Video Games Studying Pixels Plus 2. How the ESRB works 01:06:52 Microsoft's dodgy DRM comes into the limelight, and no-one's smiling (Martin Robinson) 01:13:13 Konami just "confirmed" the rumors of a new Silent Hill game (Ray Ampoloquio) 01:19:30 After a 2-year absence, 'Fortnite' is back on iPhones — but not the App Store (Ben Gilbert) Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 22 May 2022 | Terrible Marketing Choices | 01:13:47 | |
How about we advertise a new game by paying off people’s speeding tickets for one day? Or, even better, how about we showcase a dead goat for some extra PR? Or maybe we plaster the inner city with racist billboards? – Sometimes it is truly impressive what publishers come up with to draw attention to their games. We go through 10 of the arguably most terrible marketing choices ever made. In our side quests, we refresh our minds on the beauty of Xenoblade Chronicles and ponder some special quirks in the way we play Elden Ring. Shownotes00:02:36 Terrible Marketing Choices 00:57:31 Xenoblade Chronicles 01:03:41 Elden Ring Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 05 Jun 2022 | Reading Schulzke’s Defending the Morality of Violent Video Games | 01:18:24 | |
Do we have a moral obligation towards virtual characters? Or do games threaten to corrupt our understanding of virtue? Time to continue our conversation about violence in video games; this time with Markus Schulzke’s Defending the Morality of Violent Video Games. In our side quests, we then talk about France trying to maintain the purity of its language, Elon Musk trying to get away not crediting people, and the endless journey that is Elden Ring. Shownotes00:07:52 Reading Schulzke’s Defending the Morality of Violent Video Games (2010) Studying Pixels 33. Reading Waddington’s Locating the Wrongness in Ultra-Violent Video Games 01:00:04 France bans English gaming tech jargon in push to preserve language purity (The Guardian) 01:06:09 Elon Musk Gets into Embarrassing Fight with Video Game Site, Loses (Ashley Bardhan) 01:11:42 Elden Ring Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Jun 2022 | Summer Game Fest 2022: Mediocre at best | 00:55:34 | |
Since E3 is taking an extended vacation, Geoff Keighley has taken it upon himself to fill the summer lull with a major showcase. But does it live up to expectations? We go over the high- and lowlights of Summer Game Fest 2022. ShownotesSummer Game Fest 2022 Full Presentation (GameSpot) Summer Game Fest Showcase 2022: Everything Announced Including The Last of Us Remake for PS5 (Adam Bankhurst) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 03 Jul 2022 | The Ethics of Pirating Video Games (with Shlomo Sher and Andy Ashcraft) | 00:56:02 | |
Most of us have done it at some point, possibly without any awareness of the harm it might cause. After all, piracy has for a long time been an integral part of video game culture. To discuss whether there is any moral angel from which piracy can be justified, we collaborate with Shlomo Sher, Philosophy professor at California State University Fullerton, and Andy Ashcraft, veteran game designer and lecturer in Game Design and Screenwriting at the New York Film Academy, from the Ethics and Video Games podcast. ShownotesPC piracy survey results: 35 percent of PC gamers pirate (Wes Fenlon) How Serious is Piracy in the Videogame Industry? (Nobuya Fukugawa) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 19 Jun 2022 | The Quarry | 01:09:14 | |
After it’s surprise hit Until Dawn, Supermassive Games has rather consistently underwhelmed fans of cinematic, decision-based horror games. The Quarry is its attempt to return to form. With a couple of teenagers on the last night at summer camp, does this spiritual sequel stick the landing? Here’s our spoiler-free review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 26 Jun 2022 | Subverting Hypermasculinity | 00:58:40 | |
Men must be strong, show little emotion, and speak with violence—that is an exceedingly common trope in video games, referred to as hypermasculinity. We explore the concept of hypermasculinity to then focus on games that subvert or deconstruct it. ShownotesMeasuring a macho personality constellation (Donald L. Mosher and Mark Sirkin) Walking, Talking and Playing with Masculinities in Firewatch (Melissa Kagen) Studying Pixels Plus 2. How Yakuza works Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 10 Jul 2022 | Game Worlds to Take a Vacation in | 00:49:39 | |
Have you ever played a game and just thought to yourself: “wow, I would really love to take a vacation in that world”? – Well, we certainly have! Here are our top picks, ten game worlds that would make for a splendid getaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 17 Jul 2022 | How Video Games Became Fake News | 01:11:05 | |
Video games have repeatedly intersected with fake news. Whether it is the absurd claim that Hideo Kojima assassinated the former prime minister Shinzo Abe, the deliberate use footage from Arma 3 by Russian media, or the mishaps of CNN and BBC who included video game footage in news reporting. We discuss these cases and many more in order to discern why it keeps happening and what the detrimental consequences might be. ShownotesLegal action threatened as Hideo Kojima falsely linked to Shinzo Abe assassination (Andy Robinson) Video game misrepresented as footage of Ukraine invasion (Josh Kelety) Some Of The Most Popular 'Ukraine Footage' Is Actually A Video Game (Luke Plunkett) Russian News Accidentally Airs Video Game Clip During Segment On Syrian War (Cecilia D’Anastasio) CNN Shows Fallout Computer Terminal In A Video About Russian Hacking (Ethan Gach) News Station Uses Metal Gear Solid V Pic For Report On Child Soldiers (Gergo Vas) Russian Military Uses Video Game Screenshot To Allege US Support For ISIS (Ethan Gach) Russian State TV Airs Video Game Clip as Real War Footage (Matt Novak) Russian 'Proof' That the US Is Helping ISIS Is Actually From a Video Game (Matt Novak) Russia Just Tweeted a Video Game Screenshot to Show Chemical Weapons Trucks (Matt Novak) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 24 Jul 2022 | Hidden Mechanics | 00:50:45 | |
Some games deliberately hide certain mechanics to make player actions feel more satisfying—such as barely escaping death—or secretly track player actions to determine the ending they are going to see. In this episode we are opening some black boxes for a sneak peak! Shownotes Games aren’t always fair, the magic lies in making you think they are (Jennifer Scheurle) The genius of Silent Hill 2's endings (MegaBearsFan) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 31 Jul 2022 | My Life in New Game Plus | 00:46:20 | |
Some games are designed to be played over and over again. And others, we just return to every once and while for comfort, insight, or even self-reflection. We discuss how we replay games and how our approaches have changed over time. ShownotesWe mentioned that Dan was a guest on last week’s episode of The Pike Horror Show to talk about a whole range of horror movies. Here’s the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Episode image by BugWarp, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 07 Aug 2022 | Scarlet and Violet: The Past and Future of Pokémon | 00:41:35 | |
Each year a new, mainline Pokémon game comes and goes. This time, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet promise a continuation of the series’ tradition while also integrating the innovations of recent titles. We discuss what we know so far. ShownotesOur Pokémon Legends: Arceus review Everything we know about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Nicole Carpenter) Pokémon Presents Showcase August 2022 (The Pokémon Company) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 14 Aug 2022 | Do JRPGs need to be made in Japan? | 00:51:10 | |
Technically, JRPG simply stands for Japanese Role-Playing Game. Yet, it seems like the genre ascription has taken on a life of its own. Is every RPG made in Japan automatically a JRPG? And what differentiates them from Western RPGs? Here’s our take on the matter! ShownotesJapanische Rollenspiele: Was macht ein Spiel zum JRPG? – Podcast E054 (Behind the Screens) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 21 Aug 2022 | Thymesia | 00:32:53 | |
With its plague themed setting and its sprinkles of role-play mechanics, Thymesia attempts to employ the strengths of Soulsborne games and run with them. But does it manage to stand out enough? Here’s our review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 28 Aug 2022 | Gamescom 2022 | 01:30:50 | |
Gamescom, the biggest video game trade show in the world, has come and gone. Of course, we were there to check out a whole range of games and to discuss the status quo of video game culture with experts. Here is our report! Shownotes00:05:42 One P I E C E Odyssey (Our hoster does not allow the word to be written normally here, sorry. It is that famous manga/anime series about the guy in the straw hat.) 00:09:24 Floodland (with Kacper Kwiatkowski, Co-Boss and Creative Advisor at Vile Monarch) 00:21:10 Goat Simulator 3 (with Sebastian Erikkson, CEO at Coffee Stain)00:37:32 Video Games vs Social Media (with Karol Severin, Senior Analyst at MIDiA Research) 00:49:55 Blockchains and the Metaverse (with Michelle Kang, Head of Growth at Nervos Network) 01:01:59 Vikings on Trampolines 01:08:46 Lies of P 01:11:20 Using Games for Citizen Science (with Attila Szantner, CEO & Co-Founder of Massively Multiplayer Online Science) 01:23:21 Conclusion Website | Twitter | InstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 04 Sep 2022 | Stray | 00:49:21 | |
Exploring a cyberpunk dystopia from a cat’s perspective—best idea ever. But does Stray hold up to scrutiny? Or does it cutify the dire setting? – Here’s our review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 23 Oct 2022 | Games as Historical Problem Spaces (with Jeremiah McCall) | 00:47:31 | |
From Assassin’s Creed to Civilization and from The Oregon Trail to Valiant Hearts—video games are profoundly fascinated with history. But how can we analyse those representations of history without simply ‘fact checking’ the games? We are joined by the historian and long-running high school teacher Dr. Jeremiah McCall for a conversation about his framework of games as historical problem spaces. ShownotesThe Historical Problem Space Framework: Games as a Historical Medium (Jeremiah McCall) This is Jeremiah’s blog: gamingthepast.net Here’s a link to Jeremiah McCall’s book: Gaming the Past: Using Video Games to Teach Secondary History Historical Game Design Theory and Practice with Luke Homes (Jeremiah McCall) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 11 Sep 2022 | How 9/11 Affected Video Games | 00:48:19 | |
Many of us still have vivid memories of 11 September 2001. The worlds deadliest terrorist attack left a gaping wound of societal trauma. Video games are no exception to this. So today, on the attack’s anniversary, we are dissecting how 9/11 changed video game culture, how individual games were altered, and how games actively engaged with the ensuing consequences. ShownotesThe Post-9/11 Video Game: A Critical Examination (Marc A. Ouellette) Playing War. Military Video Games After 9/11 (Matthew Thomas Payne) How 9/11 Affected Games (Rick Lane) List of entertainment affected by the September 11 attacks (Wikipedia) How 9/11 Impacted Metal Gear Solid 2 (Shannon Lawlor) How 9/11 affected video games (Reddit thread by RCizzle65) Reading Gonzalo Frasca: Simulation vs Narrative (Studying Pixels) September 12th (Newsgames) The title image of this episode comes from here. The original link is no longer valid, but the image depicts the box art of Command & Conquer 2: Red Alert before it had been altered following the attacks at 9/11. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 18 Sep 2022 | Would You Rather? | 01:07:56 | |
We are turning 50 years, uhm, episodes old! And at the same time, we are celebrating our one year anniversary. What an occasion! So let’s go ahead and ponder some “would you rather” questions. For fun! ShownotesNintendo Direct, 09/13/2022 (Nintendo) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 25 Sep 2022 | Return to Monkey Island | 00:52:36 | |
Time to return to Monkey Island! For the series’ original creator Ron Gilbert as well as for us—after many years and some mixed experiences. Does Return to Monkey Island hold up as a proper sequel to the original titles? – Here’s our review! ShownotesHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Oct 2022 | Replay: Three Truths, Two Lies | 00:35:34 | |
This is a replay episode, originally aired on September 26, 2021. It is finally time for our very first episode! Our mascot Pixel-kun is celebrating and so are we. For introductions, we share five stories of our gaming biography, only three of which are true. Can you tell the difference? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 02 Oct 2022 | Lovecraft and Cosmic Horror | 00:41:01 | |
The influence of H.P. Lovecraft on the domain of (video) games can hardly be overestimated. The introduction of the sanity meter, the ripples of madness in Bloodborne, and Batman’s Arkham Asylum—the exploration on the fringes of knowledge fascinates today still. We discuss Lovecraftian aesthetics with horror aficionado Richard Mertens, who is not only the newest addition to the Studying Pixels team, but also hosts his own show, titled The Pike Horror Show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 14 Dec 2022 | Replay: Halloween Special: Cursed Games | 01:08:49 | |
This is a replay episode, originally aired on October 31, 2021. “I am god here.” A strangely unsettling sentence, especially if uttered by a character in a game that might very well be cursed. For this Halloween we collect and retell our favorite gaming-related creepypastas and urban legends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 08 Feb 2023 | Replay: Games in the Box (with Claudius Clüver) | 00:30:08 | |
This is a replay episode, originally aired on November 28, 2021. We might nostalgically look back at the beauty of game boxes and fail to realize how strongly they are linked to the economization of games. With our guest, game studies scholar Claudius Clüver, we trace how games got into the box and how, with the advent of digital distribution, they made their way back out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Apr 2023 | Replay: Learning Japanese with Video Games (with Matt/Game Gengo) | 00:44:29 | |
This is a replay episode, originally aired on January 16, 2022. Learning any language is a lengthy and, at times, tedious endeavour. So why not make the process as fun as possible? – On his YouTube channel Game Gengo (ゲーム言語) our guest, Matt, does exactly that. Because how could learning Japanese be more fun than learning with video games? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 27 Nov 2022 | True Sight (with Sarah Stang) | 00:42:40 | |
Seeing beyond what seems to be real, seeing a ‘truth’ obscured from others—there seems to be a proper fascination with this exclusive gaze. We explore the notion of true sight in video games such as The Cat Lady and Fran Bow with Dr. Sarah Stang, Assistant Professor of Game Studies at Brock University in Canada. ShownotesMadness as True Sight in The Cat Lady and Fran Bow (Sarah Stang) Maiden, Mother, and Crone: Abject Female Monstrosity in Roleplaying Games (Sarah Stang) This is Sarah’s website: https://smstang.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 09 Oct 2022 | The End of Stadia, Dunkey Turns Publisher, GTA 6 Leaks, and More | 01:02:38 | |
Some interesting stories flew under our radar and so it is time to catch up! We are talking about the end of Google Stadia, videogamedunkey starting a publishing company, the turmoil revolving around the GTA 6 leaks, and the unification of chargers in the EU. Afterwards we are sharing our impressions of games we have recently played: Infernax, GRIS, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R, and Layers of Fear. Shownotes6:25 Stadia Shutdown A message about Stadia and our long term streaming strategy (Phil Harrison) 17:16 Dunkey’s BigMode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEt27Jgp8gs 28:27 GTA 6 Leaks GTA 6 (Americas) leak - 90+ .mp4 footage/videos (teapotuberhacker) Huge GTA 6 leak includes gameplay footage of robbery, Vice City locations, and two playable characters (Jody Macgregor) 43:17 EU and the USB-C 48:06 Infernax 50:42 GRIS 52:44 Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R 57:15 Layers of Fear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 16 Oct 2022 | Unusual Findings & 80s Nostalgia | 00:56:50 | |
In recent years, we have seen a wave of media nostalgically embracing the 80s. Unusual Findings is the latest entry: a Maniac Mansion inspired point’n’click adventure. Does the crowdfunded project manage to transport us back to the childhood we never had? And what is the appeal of 80s nostalgia anyway? Here’s our review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 30 Oct 2022 | Games That Actually Scared Us | 01:04:12 | |
Okay, in this Halloween special Dan and Stefan are talking about games that actually scared them. And some of those titles you probably have not heard of so far. Buckle up, it’s pumpkin time! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 06 Nov 2022 | Bayonetta 3 | 01:09:56 | |
The witch is back in town—frantic, silly, and always in the mood to dance. We played through Bayonetta 3 and consider it exceedingly stylish though some of the shots it fires miss the mark. Here’s our review, including our commentary to the drama that revolved around the change in voice actresses. Shownotes PlatinumGames confirms Jennifer Hale is the new voice actress for Bayonetta in Bayonetta 3 (Brian) Original videos by Hellena Taylor A Tense Pay Dispute Overshadows Nintendo’s Upcoming Bayonetta 3 (Jason Schreier) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 09 Nov 2022 | Replay: The Myth of Missing No. | 00:32:04 | |
This is a replay episode, originally aired on October 24, 2021. Could that school friend really be right about this Pokémon that is not supposed to exist? Is there really a way to infinitely multiply items as this Nintendo magazine suggests? – We're diving back into our childhood to unravel how Missing No. changed the ideas about how video games work and who owns their lore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 13 Nov 2022 | Extremism in Gaming Communities (with Rachel Kowert) | 00:45:37 | |
Gaming communities can be a lovely place of bonding and encouragement. However, and in no contradiction to the former, they can also be excluding, pervaded by extremism, and profoundly hostile towards anything ‘different’. Why is that so and what can we do about it? – Those are the questions we ask Dr. Rachel Kowert, renowned research psychologist, best selling author, and research director of Take This. Shownotes Not just a game: Identity fusion and extremism in gaming cultures (Rachel Kowert, Alexi Martel, and William B. Swann) Rachel’s website: rkowert.com Rachel’s YouTube channel: Psychgeist Rachel on Twitter: @DrKowert Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 20 Nov 2022 | God of War Ragnarök | 01:12:38 | |
Is it getting chilly in here? God of War: Ragnarök has landed and received raving reviews across the board. We took some time, engaged with it deeply, and yes…it is totally awesome. Here’s our review! ShownotesPlus 14. How God of War Works (Studying Pixels) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 04 Dec 2022 | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | 01:17:17 | |
Ah, a new Pokemon game. Scarlet and Violet have quickly shown up on our Switches and have generated some controversy around it’s performance issues. Is all the vitriol really warranted? Kind of. But! It’s also one of the best Pokemon experiences to date. Join Stefan and Dan as they break down why that is! Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 11 Dec 2022 | Game Awards 2022 | 00:58:15 | |
The Game Awards have become a mainstay in the annual cycle of marketing and industry celebration. We go over our high- and lowlights of the show! Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram ShownotesThe Game Awards 2022 Winners: The Full List (Logan Plant) The Game Awards 2022: Everything Announced (Adam Bankhurst) That Guy Who Interrupted the End of The Game Awards Has Been Arrested (John Friscia) Jason Schreier about his interview with Matan Even God of War Ragnarok is Being Review Bombed (Dalton Cooper) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 18 Dec 2022 | The Callisto Protocol | 01:03:39 | |
Great expectations were set for The Callisto Protocol. Is it going to bring back space horror in a major way? Well, it might not, because in our review we discuss how the game is impressive at first sight, but in itself conceptually torn. Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram ShownotesPlus 6. The Rise and Fall of Visceral Games (Studying Pixels) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 22 Jan 2023 | Trauma in Video Games (with Thomas Spies) | 00:32:01 | |
Oh no, your family has been abducted and your village burnt to the ground! Better start a bloody vendetta…or so the story of many video games starts out. Our guest, Dr. Thomas Spies, argues in favour of more complex and differentiated trauma representations. Here’s our conversation about titles such as Max Payne, Distraint, The Last of Us, Hellblade, and Disco Elysium. ShownotesTrauma im Computerspiel. Mediale Repräsentationen mentaler Extremerfahrungen (Thomas Spies) “Making Sense in a Senseless World”: Disco Elysium’s Absurd Hero (Thomas Spies) gofundme campaign: Honorare Sammelband Kritische Videospielstudien Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 25 Dec 2022 | 10 Predictions for 2023 | 00:58:52 | |
Merry Christmas! As is tradition, we come together to evaluate our predictions from last year and put up a bunch of new ones for 2023. Will we be even remotely correct? – Join us to find out! Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 11 Jan 2023 | Replay: Childhood Gaming Memories | 00:48:28 | |
This is a replay episode, originally aired on January 9th, 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jan 2023 | Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - Reunion | 01:03:06 | |
Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - Reunion has been out for some time now, and Dan has really sunk his teeth into a game he’s already pretty familiar with. Join him and Stefan as they talk about how the Remaster stacks up to the original, and what it means for the FFVII Franchise moving forward. Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 29 Jan 2023 | The Konami Code | 00:36:30 | |
U, U, D, D, L, R, L, R, B, A – an abstract sequence of inputs that is deeply ingrained into cultural memory. We explore the history of the Konami Code, with lots of fun trivia and gimmicks to try yourself! Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram ShownotesThe Story Of The Konami Code And Early Days Of NES Development (Aria) Nintendo Power Issue #1, July/August 1988 (Nintendo Power) What Is the Konami Code, and How Do You Use it? (Benj Edwards) Konami code explained: What is the code and which games still use it? (Joe Julians) Konami Code | Full Supported Konami Video Games List (Hanna Synetska) Konami Code (IGN) Kazuhisa Hashimoto, Creator Of Famous 'Konami Code' Gaming Cheat, Dies (Jordan Pascale) Konami posts Konami Code on Twitter to commemorate Hashimoto Even the Bank of Canada can’t resist the Konami code (Megan Farokhmanesh) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 05 Feb 2023 | Reading Schrape’s Gamification and Governmentality | 01:07:07 | |
Gamification is one of the most extensively used buzzwords these days. And rightfully so, considering that the logic of play pervades just about all domains of daily life. We discuss Niklas Schrape’s critical reflection, based on the text Gamification and Governmentality. ShownotesHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Feb 2023 | Surprising Post-Games | 01:02:00 | |
Rolling the credits usually marks the end of a game. But some titles effectively flip the script. The credits are just the beginning of another adventure. We discuss games that present us with surprising, memorable, or simply extensive post-game content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 19 Feb 2023 | Bizarre Gaming Gadgets | 01:03:15 | |
Every now and then, video game companies come up with the weirdest, most peculiar, and often entirely unusable gaming gadgets and accessories. Here are our favourites! ShownotesPlus 13. Heaven is a Halfpipe: The Story of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (Studying Pixels) Title image by Marcin Wichary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/45221968804/) under CC BY 2.0 license; cropped image for title fitting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 05 Mar 2023 | Hogwarts Legacy | 01:30:02 | |
It is one of the biggest launches this year so far and at the same time one of the most contested one. In our review, we focus on the actual game and discuss how the magic of Hogwarts enthralled us just as much as the incessant repetition of the open world repulsed us. Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 08 Mar 2023 | Replay: Terrible Marketing Choices | 00:58:13 | |
This is a replay episode, originally aired on May 22, 2022. How about we advertise a new game by paying off people’s speeding tickets for one day? Or, even better, how about we showcase a dead goat for some extra PR? Or maybe we plaster the inner city with racist billboards? – Sometimes it is truly impressive what publishers come up with to draw attention to their games. We go through 10 of the arguably most terrible marketing choices ever made. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Mar 2023 | Like a Dragon: Ishin! | 00:48:05 | |
Dan has played Like a Dragon: Ishin, and is very excited to share not only his thoughts, but a bit of a history lesson on the Bakumatsu period, Modern Japanese history, and the ramifications of a game that uses real history for it’s narrative. Don’t miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 26 Mar 2023 | The Magic of Motion Capturing (with Jimmy Corvan) | 00:38:44 | |
Motion capturing might look so smooth and effortless on screen but it is often the result of an intricate process. Our guest, Jimmy Corvan, can attest to that. He worked at the motion capture studio House of Moves for eleven years and shares his insights on how characters in The Last of Us, Mortal Kombat, Call of Duty and many more games (and films) were brought to life. ShownotesHouse of Moves: https://www.moves.com Room 8 Group: https://room8group.com Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 19 Mar 2023 | Review Round-Up: Wo Long, Forspoken, Fire Emblem Engage, and more | 01:10:36 | |
We’ve played so many games recently and barely had the time to squish them all into the show. So that is exactly we are doing with this episode. Here are our impression of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Forspoken, Fire Emblem Engage, Octopath Traveller II, and the Dead Space Remake. Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 09 Apr 2023 | Revisiting Ludo-Narrative Dissonance | 01:12:41 | |
Ludo-narrative dissonance occurs when a game’s story appears to be at odds with the gameplay. When The Witcher has to urgently save Ciri, but must first explore every village and cave, master a trading card game, and visit all the brothels in the realm. But can ludo-narrative dissonance also have creative merit? We discuss precisely this question, based on the article “Game of Twisted Shouting: Ludo-Narrative Dissonance Revisited” by Paweł Grabarczyk and Bo Kampmann Walther. ShownotesGrabarczyk, Paweł, and Bo Kampmann Walther. “Game of Twisted Shouting: Ludo-Narrative Dissonance Revisited.”Eludamos: Journal for Computer Game Culture, vol. 13, no. 1, Dec. 2022, pp. 7–27. Ludonarrative Dissonance in Bioshock (Clint Hocking) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 02 Apr 2023 | Super Mario Movie, The Original | 00:59:52 | |
No, you didn’t misread that. Stefan and Dan watched the original Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993 and they… have some thoughts. Was it a good film? No. Was it influential in the video game adaptation space? For better or worse, yes. Let’s see what it has to offer and what we can expect from the new movie coming out in April. ShownotesBob Hoskins: 'The Method? Living it out? Cobblers!’ (Simon Hattenstone) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 16 Apr 2023 | Tips for Neurodiverse Students and Academics | 01:16:52 | |
We discuss the problems neurodiverse students and academics may face throughout their studies and provide a series of tips and tools. ShownotesNeurodiversity in higher education: a narrative synthesis (Clouder, L., Karakus, M., Cinotti, A. et al.) Autism spectrum disorder: reconceptualising support for neurodiverse students in higher education (Evans, D., Granson, M., Langford, D., and Hirsch, S.) 5 study tips for neurodivergent college students (Cliff Weitzman) Studying tips and tricks: a Neurodivergent perspective (Alice Farion-Renard) 6 Tips For Neurodivergent College Students Going Back To School (Jayar Brenner) Three simple ways to help your neurodivergent students succeed (William Lane) 5 ways educators can support neurodiversity in the classroom (InnerDrive) Students with disabilities (National Center for Education Statistics) Neurodiversity in College Admissions (Independent Educational Consultants Association) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 23 Apr 2023 | Back to the Mainstream | 00:57:43 | |
Trends, they come and go. But some peculiarities of video game culture disappeared for a while only to make a more or less major comeback. Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 30 Apr 2023 | The Story of E3 | 01:19:42 | |
E3 was the event that kept the entire video game industry in suspense for a whole week. It brought for bouts of joy and sighs of disappointment. Now, that E3 might be no more, we reflect upon its history. ShownotesE3 (Wikipedia) A Tale of Two E3s - Xbox vs Sony vs Sega (Christopher Dring) Geoff Keighley will not participate in E3 2020 (Christopher Dring) E3 Has Been Canceled (Rebekah Valentine) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 07 May 2023 | Origins of publisher names (Square Enix, Sony, and others) | 00:18:16 | |
We are all familiar with names such as Sony, Nintendo, Ubisoft, or Konami. But how did these names come about? In this short episode, we explore the background behind some of the most influential company names. ShownotesThe Stories Behind the Names of 15 Gaming Brands You Know (Kelvon Yeezy) The History and Meaning of the Ubisoft Logo (FreeLogoDesign) Sony Company History (Sony) Interview: Former Microsoft Exec Fries Talks Xbox's Genesis (Leigh Alexander) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 21 May 2023 | Close Playing (with Theresa Tanenbaum) | 00:43:29 | |
How do we go about analyzing video games? Well, close playing is one of the most prominent methods to do so. Together with Prof. Dr. Theresa Jean Tanenbaum, we discuss what close playing means and how to pragmatically go about it. ShownotesWell read: Applying close reading techniques to gameplay experiences (Jim Bizzocchi and Theresa Tanenbaum) Hermeneutic Inquiry for Digital Games Research (Theresa Tanenbaum) https://transformativeplay.ics.uci.edu/ Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 14 May 2023 | Final Fantasy I-III | 00:53:17 | |
The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster was recently released for PS4 and Nintendo Switch, and you know Dan has some thoughts about it. It’s another solo episode, this time with Dan and his theories about the Final Fantasy series, it’s origins, and how it came to be what it is today. Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 17 May 2023 | Replay: Do JRPGs Need to Be Made in Japan? | 00:52:17 | |
This is a replay episode, originally aired on August 14, 2022. Technically, JRPG simply stands for Japanese Role-Playing Game. Yet, it seems like the genre ascription has taken on a life of its own. Is every RPG made in Japan automatically a JRPG? And what differentiates them from Western RPGs? Here’s our take on the matter! Shownotes Japanische Rollenspiele: Was macht ein Spiel zum JRPG? – Podcast E054 (Behind the Screens) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 28 May 2023 | Studying Pixels is taking a hiatus | 00:10:12 | |
We have been podcasting diligently every week for approximately two years. Now, we decided to take a hiatus to recover a bit and organize some things in our private and professional lives. We look forward to returning, because we have got so many more episodes already planned. It's going to be fun! If you are a Studying Pixels Plus subscriber, you do not have to do anything. We will pause our Patreon campaign while we are on hiatus, so you will not be billed. If you wish to stay in the loop, please stay subscribed or join our Discord, which will also be alive and running the entire time. You are the best and we are looking forward to resume our journey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||