Game Studies for Everyone
Learn Video Games / Mindtoggle LLC
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Recent Episodes
Checkpoints & Choices: Bureaucracy, Borders, and Playing Through Deportation Machines
As immigrations tensions escalate and policy grows ever more dehumanizing, what can indie games teach us about the systems behind the suffering? In this episode, we examine how Papers, Please, North,…
S5E2 Borderlines & Backstories: Can Games Teach Us to Empathize With Immigrants?
What happens when players step into the shoes of immigrants—not just to win, but to understand? In this episode, we explore how video games like Citizenship Quest, Everyday Racism, and Escape from…
S5E1 Playing for Papers: How Video Games Expose the Cruel Logic of U.S. Deportation
As deportation politics in the U.S. grow ever more punitive and chaotic, what can a video game reveal that headlines can’t? In this episode, we explore how games like Papers, Please, Tropico, and…
S4E10 Well Played: Growing Older, Gaming Deeper
Drawing from observations of the well-cited research, J.P. Gee, we discuss what happens when the goal of gaming shifts from beating the boss to contemplating the journey? In this thoughtful and…
S4E9 Jobs, Masks, and Mastery: How RPG Systems Shape Our Stories
What do medieval bards, fantasy job classes, and 16th-century Italian improv have in common? In this episode, we explore the deep connections between RPG class systems and the theatrical traditions…
S4E8 Falling Blocks, Enduring Love: The Timeless Magic of Tetris
What makes a game with no characters, no story, and no ending one of the most beloved of all time? In this episode, we dive into the deceptively simple brilliance of Tetris—a game born in 1985 Soviet…
S4E6 Surviving Kenshi: Hardship, Agency, and the Beauty of the Unfinished
What happens when a game refuses to hold your hand—or even care if you survive? In this episode, we dive into Naomi Clark’s essay “Kenshi,” a sharp and deeply personal examination of the…
S4E5 Fly Far, Far Away: Hitman, Escapism, and Finding Joy Through Play
In this episode, we explore the powerful intersection of memory, identity, and digital escape through the lens of Kishonna L. Gray’s personal essay “Dear God, Make Me a Bird, So I Can Fly Far Far…
S4E4 From Colony to Collaboration: Rethinking a Board Game Classic
We explore the fascinating evolution of the beloved board game Puerto Rico. Join us as we delve into its initial acclaim, the growing concerns surrounding its colonial themes, and the inspiring…
S4E3 Pedal to the Pixels: Racing, Gaming, and the Pursuit of Progress
What do racing games and real-life ambition have in common? In this episode, we dive into Lindsay Grace’s reflections from Well Played: For the Love of Games, where he traces his lifelong connection…
S4E2 From MUDs to Mythic: A Gamer’s Journey Chasing XP, Finding Meaning
What happens when decades of gaming lead to a realization that the grind isn’t everything? In this episode, we follow Dr. Kurt Squire’s journey through 35 years of online multiplayer games, from the…
S4E1 XP & Romance: Leveling Up in Life, Love, and Games
Dive into the personal and academic adventures of those who found meaning, community, and even love through games. XP & Romance explores how gaming shapes identity, relationships, and…
Games "You" Should Know: Breaking the Game: Finding Meaning in "You"
What if the point of a game wasn’t to win, but to question why we play at all? In this episode, we explore the thought-provoking and unconventional video game You, a critical gameplay experience that…
Games You Should Know: Breaking Boundaries and the Surprising Impact of Stolen Kisses
In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking mobile game Stolen Kisses, designed to upend the heteronormative tropes of traditional affection games and create a more inclusive, diverse experience…
S3E11 Games You Should Know: Emoji, Literature, and Play: The Game of Meaning
What happens when you adapt a literary classic into a game using only emoji? In this episode, we dive into The Unbearable Lightness of Meaning, a game inspired by Milan Kundera's The Unbearable…
S3E10 Games you should Know: Unplaying War: The Radical Mechanics of 'Healer
In this episode, we explore a fascinating case study from the "Critical Gameplay" series, focusing on the video game Healer and its bold reimagining of what it means to play. Healer challenges the…
Breaking the Game: The Power of Critical Games in Challenging Conventions
What happens when games go beyond fun and entertainment to challenge societal norms and player expectations? In this episode, we dive into the growing field of "critical games," a transformative…
Code & Creativity: Unveiling the Philosophy Behind Software Design
Ever wondered how the software you use shapes your creativity? In this episode, we unpack a thought-provoking study from the International Journal of the Humanities that dives into the philosophy…
S3E7 Games as Art, in Scotlands Blank Arcade 2016
Step into the immersive world of digital games and interactive art with our latest episode, where we dive deep into Blank Arcade 2016, an early and pioneering exhibition that showcased games as art…
S3E3 Play with Purpose: Unraveling the Art of Critical Gameplay Design
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of "critical gameplay design," an innovative form of game development that challenges the norms of traditional gaming. Discover how critical…
Frequently Asked Questions
Game Studies for Everyone has published 40 episodes since October 2024, covering topics in Education, Leisure.
Game Studies for Everyone is currently dormant with new episodes daily. Average episode length is 11m.
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