Episode 40: Surviving Mars - People only want a teensy bit of the real

Episode 40: Surviving Mars - People only want a teensy bit of the real

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from October 10 to October 17, 2019, the city building simulation game, Surviving Mars (2018). This allows us to consider the function of realism and authenticity in media, the way tutorials can derail a game experience, and the escapist fantasy of a game about technology and utopia. We also return to the important fact that Ray secretly has a (Martian) dictator in him

Episode 39: Minit - Does it please the suburban coupon woman?

In this episode, we discuss the 2018 quirky action adventure Zelda-like, Minit, which Epic gave away for free from October 3 to October 10, 2019 (bonus - I didn't notice until right now that October 3, 2019 is also when my second daughter was born!). This allows us to talk about gimmicks in games, in many different ways about representations of animals, about game pacing, the continued significance of mines, factories, and submarines in indie games, and what "charm" means when it comes to popular culture. We also had some technical difficulties, apologies, so there is a brief period that may be a bit rough.

Episode 38: Everything - Let us take communion of Mountain Dew and Cheetos

In this episode, we discuss the 2017 universe simulation game Everything, which Epic gave away from September 26 to October 3, 2019. We explore the idea of a game with a message or a serious game, say more about indie games as alternative forms of therapy, and consider the ecocritical possibilities of games (and simulations). This also allows us to consider what philosophical voices would be good games, and whether we would like to be washing machines.

Episode 37: Metro 2033 Redux - Ladies and gentlemen, Soviet Wonderwall

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from September 26 to October 3, 2019, the survival horror first-person shooter Metro 2033 Redux (initially released in 2010, with the Redux version from 2014). We discuss the ethos of the game (modernist, Soviet-core, etc.), chat about the history of mine carts in video games (with thanks to this post: https://www.resetera.com/threads/a-brief-history-of-the-mine-cart-level.653622/ [https://www.resetera.com/threads/a-brief-history-of-the-mine-cart-level.653622/]), discuss heterotopias and realpolitik, and admit how much we hate children (in games)

Episode 36: Batman Arkham Trilogy - Jim Gordon is Basically Princess Peach

After a hiatus due to business and health, we are back on track with an episode on the Batman Arkham Trilogy (Asylum, 2009; City, 2012; and Knight, 2015), which Epic gave away from September 19 to September 26, 2019. We discuss why superheroes are so appealing, what types of games would work for superhero narratives, the sexualization of characters in these games, and the mental health narratives in popular culture, among other topics. We also ask the important question: Is Joker sexy?