Pages of Play

David, Caleb, and Erik take a breather to discuss burnout in Wanderstop, a whimiscal yet surprisingly vulnerable tea-shop management sim by Ivy Road studio. Pages of Play podcast is a book club for gaming narratives, where the hosts discuss their personal experience with a game and its story via book club style discussion questions submitted by listeners. Please join our discord (https://discord.com/invite/jMzR6WdpTR) so that you can chat with the amazing Pages of Play community and ask discussion questions to be featured on our next episode!The wonderful music in this episode comes form the Jusant soundtrack by Guillaume Ferran. Check it out ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Contents:(00:00) Intro(04:50) Q1(08:20) Q2(16:28) Q3(27:30) Spoiler Wall(28:56) Story Recap(32:06) Q4(34:32) Q5(43:29) Q6(01:05:16) Q7(01:12:15) Q8(01:17:10) Q9(01:26:25) Q10(01:32:04) Q11(01:34:44) ClosingReferences from the show:Erik's Wanderstop ReviewPC Gamer ArticleDavey Wreden Presentation

Dive into an engaging conversation about the emotional depth in gaming narratives! Explore the character-driven storytelling of 'The Last of Us' and the whimsical journey in 'A Short Hike.' Discover the intricate artistry of 'Kentucky Route Zero' and the thematic layers in 'Citizen Sleeper' as it navigates identity and survival. Fascinating insights into RPG mechanics and the power of player choice add to the richness. The discussion balances heavier narratives with lighter themes, showcasing the spectrum of gaming experiences.

Between the Lines is a sub-series of the Pages of Play podcast where we explore gaming narratives that are several steps off of the well-trodden path.I am honored to read an essay about the game, My Child Lebensborn, written by cherised PoP community member, SlugcatStu! Many thanks to him for submitting this essay. Please join our discord (https://discord.com/invite/jMzR6WdpTR) so that you can chat with the amazing Pages of Play community and submit your gaming essays to be featured on the show! You can also reach me here: https://bsky.app/profile/dovetail.bsky.socialThe wonderful music in this episode comes form the Jusant soundtrack by Guillaume Ferran. Check it out ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Thanks for listening!

David, Caleb, and Erik sneak their way out from their cell in the latest game from The Game Kitchen. In this discussion, Caleb discusses game accessibility, Erik looks deep into Spanish Art, and David shares conspiracy theories.Pages of Play podcast is a book club for gaming narratives, where the hosts discuss their personal experience with a game and its story via book club style discussion questions submitted by listeners. Please join our discord (https://discord.com/invite/jMzR6WdpTR) so that you can chat with the amazing Pages of Play community and ask discussion questions to be featured on our next episode!The wonderful music in this episode comes form the Jusant soundtrack by Guillaume Ferran. Check it out ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Contents:(00:00) Intro(04:20) Q1(21:19) Q2(33:53) Q3(47:42) Q4(52:50) Spoiler Wall(54:06) Story Recap(57:46) Q5(01:04:04) Q6(01:11:04) Q7(01:29:23) Closing

Off the Shelf is an interview format where we bring a guest on the show to talk about the following scenario: “Imagine you have a library full of books that represent to you the greatest video game narratives. If I were to pull 5 books at random off of those shelves, what would I find? How did each book earn a spot on your shelf?”This week, I had the honor of interviewing Kate from the No Small Games podcast. Below you will find episodes from the No Small Games podcast that cover the games we discuss on this show:IndikaThirsty SuitorsVampire TherapistThe discussion of each game contains spoilers, so please refer to the timestamps below to avoid those as needed. It’s a long episode, so feel free to skip around!(00:00) Introduction & Spoiler Policy(06:33) A Good Gardener(29:58) Florence(49:43) Indika(01:01:48) Thirsty Suitors(01:19:18) Vampire Therapist(01:29:00) Closing CommentsIf you enjoy the show please join our discord to stay up to date on the podcast. Thanks for listening!

David, Caleb, and Erik roll the dice in the latest game from Jump Over the Age. In this discussion, Caleb details a game mod he built, Erik explains why he took over 40 screenshots of the game , and David forgets about everyone he met in Citizen Sleeper 1. Pages of Play podcast is a book club for gaming narratives, where the hosts discuss their personal experience with a game and its story via book club style discussion questions submitted by listeners. Please join our discord (https://discord.com/invite/jMzR6WdpTR) so that you can chat with the amazing Pages of Play community and ask discussion questions to be featured on our next episode! The wonderful music in this episode comes form the Jusant soundtrack by Guillaume Ferran. Check it out ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy.Contents:(00:00) Intro(09:26) Q1(20:33) Q2(44:30) Spoiler Wall(45:40) Plot Summary(47:50) Q1 Revisited(54:36) Q3(1:05:01) Q4(1:10:55) Q5(01:21:12) Q6(01:38:50) Closing

Off the Shelf is an interview format where we bring a guest on the show to talk about the following scenario: “Imagine you have a library full of books that represent to you the greatest video game narratives. If I were to pull 5 books at random off of those shelves, what would I find? How did each book earn a spot on your shelf?”This week, I had the honor of interviewing Jake from The Pre-Order Bonus podcast. Below you will find episodes of The Pre-Order Bonus podcast that cover the games we discuss on this show:PentimentA Plague Tale: InnocenceChained EchoesArcoUntitled Goose GameThe discussion of each game contains spoilers, so please refer to the timestamps below to avoid those as needed. It’s a long episode, so feel free to skip around! (00:00) Introduction(09:30) Pentiment(40:00) A plague Tale: Innocence(59:30) Chained Echoes(01:15:50) Arco(01:36:40) Untitled Goose Game(01:55:25) Closing CommentsIf you enjoy the show please join our discord to stay up to date on the podcast. I also made a guest appearance on Jake’s Indie Impression episode for Before the Green Moon here, if you want to check that out. Thanks for listening! 

Caleb and Lydia explore the magical world of Chrono Trigger, sharing personal reflections and unforgettable experiences. They dive into the moral complexities of Frog's journey and the emotional weight of character arcs. The duo also discusses the intricate puzzles tied to the game's time-travel narrative. With a nod to the importance of preserving classic games, they highlight the innovative mechanics and storytelling that make Chrono Trigger a timeless gem. Join them for laughter, nostalgia, and a deep appreciation for a true gaming masterpiece.

Off the Shelf is an interview format where we bring a guest on the show to talk about the following scenario: “Imagine you have a library full of books that represent to you the greatest video game narratives. If I were to pull 5 books at random off of those shelves, what would I find? How did each book earn a spot on your shelf?” This week, I interview Dan from The Greatest Story Ever Played podcast. I highly recommend you check out his full podcast here. Also, here are the TGSEP episodes that cover each game we discuss: The Walking Dead The Last of Us & The Last of Us: Part 2 Horizon Zero Dawn What Remains of Edith Finch Emily is Away <3  The discussion of each game contains spoilers, so please refer to these timestamps to avoid those as needed: (00:00) Introduction (07:30) The Walking Dead (19:03) The Last of Us Part 1 & 2 (40:35) Horizon Zero Dawn (49:00) What Remains of Edith Finch (58:10) Emily is Away <3 (01:09:05) Closing Comments

David, Caleb, and Erik bust out their paintbrushes in their discussion on Neva, the latest game from Nomada studios. Caleb educates Erik on Studio Ghibli, Erik pays tribute to Monet and Dalí, and David shares a deeply personal story about partenting. Pages of Play podcast is a book club for gaming narratives, where the hosts discuss their personal experience with a game and its story via book club style discussion questions submitted by listeners. Feel free to submit your book club questions for their next game at pagesofplay@gmail.com.The wonderful music in this episode comes form the Jusant soundtrack by Guillaume Ferran. Check it out ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Contents: (00:00) Intro(07:20) Q1(20:47) Q2(32:17) Q3(37:53) Spoiler Wall(38:50) Plot Summary(41:58) Q4(50:16) Q5(1:01:11) Q6(01:08:28) Q7(01:25:45) Closing