This week we've all played Atomfall. by Rebellion and we're talking about the experience!

What We're Playing
Atomfall*
Blue Prince
Sunderfolk
R.E.P.O.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Fallout 76

What We're Reading
Fledgling by Octavia Butler
Model Home by Rivers Solomon

What We're Drinking
Sneaky Sneaky
Sprecher Orange Dream
Xila by Flor de Luna

*Code received for streaming and review purposes

This week we're talking about games and videogame pairings. Not specifically the music from the specific videogames, but music that we pair with the specific games that we are playing or thinking about.

What We're Playing
Atomfall*
South of Midnight*
Nobdy Saves the World
Split Fiction
Minecraft
Fallout 76

What We're Reading
Fahrenheit-182 by Mark Hoppus
Model Home by Rivers Solomon

What We're Drinking
Great Notion Blueberry Muffin Tart Sour
Water
Cold Brew Coffee

*Code received for streaming and review purposes

What We Paired


Victoria
“You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid” The Offspring – Fallout New Vegas
“Rox in the Box” The Decemberists – Don’t Starve Together
“Hiding in the Blue” The Fat Rat & Riell – Minecraft
“Feed the Machine” Poor Man’s Poison – Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
“Mothman (Cryptid)” Rat Wyfe – Fallout 76
Lord of the Rings soundtrack – Warlords Battlecry 3
“Mezmerize” (album) System of a Down – Final Fantasy VIII


Jordyn
"Kingdom Fall" Clare Wyndyam - FFXV
"Two Roads" Janani K. Jha - Life is Strange, Life is Strange: Double Exposure
"Here, Before, Now, and After" Morgan Clae - Kena: Bridge of Spirits
LoTR - particularly Concerning Hobbits, Old Friends, Into the West - Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom
"Same Old Energy" + "Burn Your Village" (Explicit) Kiki Rockwell; "The Consequence of Imagination is Fear" Junie and the Hutfriends - Little Hope


Sam
Bad Ass Women Playlist: Call of Duty
Writing: Black Ops 6 Paratext Playlist: Call of Duty
Be Real Black For Me Playlist: Mafia III
Gregorian Chant Playlist: Metaphor ReFantazio
South of Midnight OST: Literally EVERYTHING right now (but moving to Minecraft and farming sims?)
Bastion OST: Playing over Bastion (But not the Build A Wall level)

This week we are talking about our favorite games of 2023 as we look forward to 2024.

What We're Playing
Dead by Daylight
Baldur's Gate 3
Palia
Born of Bread*
Bilkin's Folly*
Call of Duty*
*Code Received for streaming and review purposes

What We're Reading
Avatar Comics
The Legacy of Yangchen by F.C. Yee
Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

What We're Drinking
Modern Times Coffee Roasty Stout
Grapefruit Radler

Episode 157: Navigating Spaces: Being Together In and Through Games (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, BlogTalk Radio, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we chat about always online games that don't offer a single player experience. We talk about the positives and negatives (and the in-betweens) of this newly (?) popular experience. We also talk […]

Episode 156 Pizza Party is the Best Party...Oh, and Our Video Game Summer Run Down 

This week we chat about what we've been playing this summer and what we are going to be playing to close the summer out before school starts back in a few weeks. We also talk about representation through character body types in Overwatch and Fortnite (aka thick thighs and lies?) , streaming as a gamer, and community building.

Links of Note:
Sam's (nymgamer_saffista) Mixer channel http://mixer.com/nymgamer_saffista
What We’re Playing:
OverwatchHearthstonePerceptionBoard Games (7 Wonders, Splendor)FortnitePath of Exile betaDead Rising 4
What We're Reading
Poor Unfortunate Soul by Serena ValentinoThe Expanse by James S. A. CoreyVermillion by Molly TanzerComics (Paper Girls, Vision)The Gendered Society by Michael KimmellThe Proteus Paradox by Nick Yee
 

This week we have a conversation with Carly Kocurek, author of Coin-Operated Americans: Rebooting Boyhood at the Video Game Arcade (2015) and Brenda Laurel: Pioneering Games for Girls (2017) and developer of games like Choice Texas. We chat about Al Capone and money laundering, Disney and film preservation, video games (of course), and much more.

What We’re Playing:

-Overwatch

-Ever Oasis

-Perception

-Lego Dimensions

What We’re Reading

-Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer

-Mort (Discworld) by Terry Pratchett

-Technofeminism by Judy Wajcman

As a follow up to episode 153, this week we talk about what we saw and played at E3 as well as talking about the things that we are most (and least) excited to get our hands on.

What We’re Playing:
Super Lucky’s TaleAshenRefunctOverwatch
What We’re Drinking
Varied Cranberry Peach mock/cocktails

Episode 153: Champagne Wishes and E3 Dreams (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, BlogTalk Radio, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week in the podcast we talk what we want to see (or not) at E3. A good conversation between Sam and Alisha about upcoming games and what the future holds for gaming hardware with the […]

Episode 152: Then is Not Now: On Nostalgia in Games (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, BlogTalk Radio, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week in the podcast we talk about nostalgia in and around video games. We also talk a lot about playing games with our kids because we do that sometimes. What We’re […]

Episode 151: Coming Together Over Streams: A Conversation with Justin Clark (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, BlogTalk Radio, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week in the podcast we are joined by Twitch streamer Justin Clark (Twitch & Twitter: TrueZeldaFan) as we talk about the culture of streaming, why he streams, and lots of things […]

Episode 150: On Recognition, Representation, and Revolution: A Conversation with TreaAndrea Russworm (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, BlogTalk Radio, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week in the podcast we had an amazing conversation with TreaAndrea Russworm (@ProfessorTMR) is an associate professor at UMass Amhearst, author of Blackness is Burning: Civil Rights, Popular Culture, and […]

This week in the podcast that was cursed (aka the cursedcast) we talk about streaming, streamers, and representation as an part of our ongoing series of podcasts talking to streamers from marginalized populations. We lost our original podcast but the guest we had scheduled will be back soon.

What We’re Playing:
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildMass Effect: AndromedaHearthstoneBlackwood CrossingThe Sexy Brutale
What We’re Reading
Between the World and MeThe Homesick Phone Book
What We’re Drinking
Ace Perry Hard Cider3 Floyds Gumball HeadNew Glarus Spotted Cow

This week are joined by early childhood education specialist Heather Bernt (@ece_nerd) of the Cause An Effect podcast and Lauren Woolbright, Assistant Professor of New Media Studies at Alma College. We had an amazing conversation about the role of play in early childhood and elementary education. We shared a lot about our own experiences as educators and parents, and had a lot of fun while doing it.

What We're Playing:
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildMass Effect: AndromedaHorizon: Zero DawnLittle InfernoThe Flame and the FloodFallout 4Little Big Planet 3Never AloneYahtzee with Buddies
What We're Reading:
Video Games and CreativityThe Geek FeministJane EyreChanging Minds: The Art and Science of Changing Our Own and Other People’s Minds

This week we are talking about living our best (or worst) lives among the stars in Starfield.

What We're Playing
Starfield
Inscryption
Baldur's Gate 3
Moving Out 2,
Persona 5 Royal
Illiterati
Call of Duty
Fae Farm*
Tiny Witch*
*Code Received for streaming and review purposes

What We're Reading
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
In Every Generation A Slayer is Born: How Buffy Staked Our Hearts by Evan Ross Katz
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
From Blood and Ash 1 and 2 by Jennifer Armentrout
Air Awakens 1-3 by Elise Kova

What We're Drinking
Sprite
Samuel Smith's Chocolate Stout
Grapefruit Radler

In this week’s episode we talk with Jen (@MotoOnXbox) co-founder and podcast co-host at Girl Tribe Gaming and streamer on Beam

What We’re Playing:
Halo Wars 2Riptide GP: RenegadeGems of WarShift HappensHorizon: Zero DawnLeaving LyndowMetal Gear Solid VKentucky Route ZeroAnother Lost Phone
What We’re Reading:
The Girl with All the GiftsSpeakThe Dark Side of Game Play 
 

Episode 146: Sometimes We Play Games on Boards (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). In this week’s episode we talk about board games with our guest Tony Bushner. There’s also lots of talk of...

Episode 145: Sometimes You Have to Kill Things: On Games and Self-Care (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). In this week’s episode we talk about games and self-care. We spend some time talking about...

Episode 143: The F*ck You Line: Games and Emotion (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). In this week’s episode we talk about games and emotion using a chapter from Katherine Isbister’s book How Games...

Episode 143: Best, Worst, and Everything In Between: GOTY 2016 (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). In this week’s episode we talk about our picks for GOTY as well as the games we...

Episode 142: 2016: A Podcast Year in Relief (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). In this week’s episode several of us have chosen our favorite podcast moments from the last year and brought them...

Episode 141: All I Want for Giftmas (2016 Edition) (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). In this week’s episode we take some time to talk about gifts that we’d like to give to...

Episode 140: Racism and Worldbuilding: A Conversation with Joshara Edwards (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). In this week’s episode we talk with Joshara Edwards. Joshara is a game developer at Blind Squirrel Games...

Episode 139: When Horror Gets Real: The Halloween Episode (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we talk about what we are playing and watching as we all hold our own private Halloween celebrations....

Episode 138: “Her Name is Moon-Moon!”: Remasters, Sequels, and A Tale of Games to Come (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we talk about what we are playing and looking forward...

This week we are talking about the cozy aesthetic and how your faves can be problematic.


What We're Playing
Sims 4* (with Horse Ranch DLC)
Pikmin 4
Palia
Venba*
Atelier Marie
Persona 5
Tears of the Kingdom
Dicey Dungeons
Railway Empires 2
7 Wonders Duel
Diablo 4
*Code Received for streaming and review purposes


What We're Reading
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
Avatar Legends Republic City Expansion
The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
In Every Generation A Slayer is Born: How Buffy Staked Our Hearts by Evan Ross Katz


What We're Drinking
Cherry Limeade
Two Towns Ciderhouse- Strawberry Lemonade
Chocolate Malt

Episode 137: A Turtle Named Shelly: Firewatch With Me (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we come together to talk about turtles, bees, and mysteries in the Wyoming mountains. That’s right...

Episode 136: Dangerous Depictions: A Conversation with Tommi Godwin (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we are joined by guest, Tommi Godwin. Tommi is a veteran, she was an officer, a...

Episode 135: Just Too Canadian: A Conversation on Feminist Game Studies with Emma Vossen  (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we talk with outgoing Editor-in-Chief  of First Person Scholar, Emma Vossen...

Episode 134: Hauntings: A Conversation with The Deep End Games’ Amanda Gardner  (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we talk with writer, producer, and co-founder of The Deep End Games, Amanda...

Episode 133: On Toxic Activism with Gil Almogi: Ignore the Trolls and Focus on the Systems  (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we talk with freelance games writer Gil Almogi (@gilmeansjoy)...

Episode 132: Fade to White: Colorblind Racism in Games (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we talk about what role race and racism play in representation and characterization in video games....

Episode 131: Gamer Classes and Gamer Personalities: What Kind of Gamer Are You? (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we talk about our own personality traits and how they align (or...

Episode 130: The Games We Need: A Conversation with Evan Narcisse (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week we are joined by pop culture critic Evan Narcisse (@EvNarc) to talk race and...

Episode 129: Gay Farming; On Digging, Dating, and Identity Politics in Stardew Valley (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). This week Jynx joins us for their first podcast and we have a little fun....

Episode 128: Never Alone and the Gifts of Our Ancestors: A Conversation with Amy Fredeen (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). Last night we were privileged (nay blessed) to have a conversation Amy Fredeen of...

This week we are talking about the games that have had the biggest impact on our lives.

What We're Playing
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Diablo IV
Jedi: Survivor
Minecraft
Fallout 76
Sanake.io
Crime O'Clock*
Noob: The Factionless*
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life*
*Code Received for streaming and review purposes

What We're Reading
Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Thrawn by Timothy Zahn

What We're Drinking
Water
Imperial Stout
Rootbeer Float

Episode 127: Brains and Games: A Chat Deborah Budding on Neurodiversity and Games (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). In this episode we talk with Deborah Budding (@Nebula63), neuropsychologist and podcaster at neurocurious.org This week we talk about neurodiversity, brains, and games. We also about environmental, social, and cultural factors at work […]

Episode 126: A Conversation Under the Shade Tree With André Brock.  (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn). In this episode we talk with André Brock (aka @DocDre). André is an Assistant Professor of Communication...

Episode 125: Speaking Light Into the Darkness: A Conversation with Nico D.  (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). In this episode we talk with Nico D. (aka@appleciderwitch) formerly of the Justice Points podcast. We had a fascinating conversation about internet shaming, Rust, and feminist game studies and podcasting. We learned what what […]

Episode 124: Alison Rapp, Nintendo, and the Future of the Games Industry (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). In this episode we talk amongst ourselves about Nintendo’s termination of Alison Rapp, online harassment, and the future of...

Episode 122: Where the River Takes Us: A Conversation with Gwen Frey of The Molasses Flood (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). In this episode we talk with Gwen Frey from The Molasses Flood the developers...

Episode 122: “We Got You A Pony!”: A Conversation with Lauren Stone and Travis Stout (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). In this episode we return to Trumbull Valley for more discussions with folks from...

Episode 121: Everything Is Awful: But For Now We Fight (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). The episode in which we talk about our lives and how we see them matching up with the questionable methods of disagreement on the internet. It reminds us all that even when everything is […]

Episode 120: Who's Your Daddy?: Society's Take on Faulty Fathers and Monstrous Mothers (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). The episode in which we talk about Joe Williams' early access Steam game, Who's Your Daddy, and how it reflects on the way maintain society sees mothers, fathers, and gender […]

Episode 119: Sometimes We Study Vaginas: The 5th Anniversary Episode (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). Tomorrow marks our fifth(!) anniversary, and in celebration, we gathered the whole current crew for this episode to talk games, origin stories, and why some of us refuse to give Bungie any more dollars […]

Episode 118: Who Gets to Be a Gamer?: A Conversation with Latoya Peterson (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). In this episode we talk to the fabulous Latoya Peterson, creator of Fusion's Girl Gamer documentary. A rousing conversation about gaming as women, online games community, and so much more. Games […]

This week Sam and Jordyn and joined by material artist Christian Vasquez and environment artist Leah Augustine to talk about working in the games industry as artists.

Links of note:
Chris Vasquez (he/him)
https://www.artstation.com/chrisnvasquez
Leah Augustine (she/her)
https://www.artstation.com/leahaugustine

What We're Playing
Potionomics
Travelers Rest
Valorant
Deceive Inc*
PUBG
Resident Evil 4 Remake

*Code Received for streaming and review purposes

What We're Reading
Babel by R.F. Kuang
The Complete Making of Indiana Jones by J.W. Rinzler & Laurent Bouzereau
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

What We're Drinking
Ace Pear Cider
Strawberry and Cream Dr. Pepper and Whiskey
Negroni
Black House Modern Times Coffee Stout

Episode 117: Lost in Liminal Space: A Chat with Melissa Bianchi (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). In this episode we talk to Melissa Bianchi from University of Florida about her research . We talk...

Episode 116: Submerged: An Interview with Ed Orman of Uppercut Games (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). In this episode we talk to Ed Orman of Uppercut Games about their beautiful games, Submerged...

Episode 115: Life is…Weird: On Choice and Consequences in Life is Strange (Right click and save as to download, or find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn). This episode we sit down and talk about DONTNOD’s episodic game, Life is Strange. All of...