
Game Studies Study Buddies
Learn all about the academic field of game studies!
Latest episodes

Jul 1, 2025 • 1h 50min
83 – Raser – Simulation and Society
We talk about John R. Raser’s Simulation and Society.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.d

May 31, 2025 • 2h 35min
82 – Gunkel – Gaming the System
Dive into a quirky discussion on David J. Gunkel's work that blends gaming, philosophy, and technology! Discover deconstruction in video game studies and its ties to colonialism. The hosts tackle the irony of expertise and explore the emotional attachments we form with AI. They'll challenge your perceptions of reality versus virtual interactions, all while intertwining humor with serious ethical dilemmas. Plus, they share amusing anecdotes and insights on how technology shapes our social links.

May 1, 2025 • 1h 34min
81 – Jørgensen – Gameworld Interfaces
We talk about Kristine Jørgensen’s Gameworld Interfaces.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Mar 31, 2025 • 2h 4min
80 – Grand Theft Hamlet
The hosts celebrate their 80th milestone with humorous anecdotes, including tales of a mischievous cat. They delve into the fascinating crossover of Shakespeare and video games, particularly looking at 'Grand Theft Hamlet' and 'Grand Theft Auto V.' Their discussion explores the impact of modern adaptations on traditional storytelling and the evolving role of narratives in gaming. They also critique a gaming documentary, balancing its flaws with redeeming qualities, while reflecting on the dynamic nature of storytelling in both digital and theatrical spaces.

Feb 27, 2025 • 1h 45min
79 – Humphreys – Manifest Destiny 2.0
We talk about Sara Humphreys’ Manifest Destiny 2.0: Genre Trouble in Game Worlds.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Feb 1, 2025 • 2h 7min
78 – Dibbell – My Tiny Life
We talk about Julian Dibbell’s My Tiny Life.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Dec 31, 2024 • 2h 14min
77 – Flanagan and Jakobsson – Playing Oppression
We talk about Mary Flanagan and Mikael Jakobsson’s Playing Oppression.
You can read the book open access on The MIT Press website: https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5547/Playing-OppressionThe-Legacy-of-Conquest-and
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Dec 1, 2024 • 1h 46min
76 – Trammell – Repairing Play
We talk about Aaron Trammell’s Repairing Play. It is open access on The MIT Press’s website: https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5530/Repairing-PlayA-Black-Phenomenology
Note: Did one last final check — Riven did eventually release for the Sega Saturn.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Oct 31, 2024 • 2h 31min
75 – Jameson – Postmodernism
We talk about Fredric Jameson’s “Postmodernism, or The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism” which was originally published in New Left Review in 1984.
Note: Checked one more time — Riven did eventually release for the Sega Saturn.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Sep 30, 2024 • 1h 33min
74 – Guerra – Slantwise Moves
We talk about Douglas Guerra’s Slantwise Moves: Games, Literature, and Social Invention in Nineteenth-Century America.
Note: Checked again — Riven did eventually release for the Sega Saturn.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.