

Game Studies Study Buddies
Ranged Touch
Learn all about the academic field of game studies!
Episodes
Mentioned books

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.

17 snips
Aug 31, 2024 • 2h 22min
73 – Wardrip-Fruin – How Pac-Man Eats
We talk about Noah Wardrip-Fruin’s How Pac-Man Eats.
Note: Still confirming that Riven eventually released for the Sega Saturn.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Jul 30, 2024 • 2h
72 – Myst: Masterpiece Edition
We talk about Cyan’s Myst.
Note: Riven did eventually come out for the Sega Saturn.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Jul 1, 2024 • 1h 27min
71 – Pinchbeck – Doom: Scarydarkfast
Dan Pinchbeck, a key figure behind Doom: Scarydarkfast, joins to discuss the evolution of the iconic game and its design principles. They humorously explore the concept of 'monster closets' in modern tech and how fears have changed over time. The conversation delves into the technical innovations of Binary Space Partitioning that revolutionized graphics, along with the balance of speed and quality in gaming design. Pinchbeck also reflects on the lasting impact of Doom on the industry and its cultural significance, showcasing his unique insights into game studies.

May 31, 2024 • 0sec
70 – De Koven – The Well-Played Game
We talk about Bernard De Koven’s The Well-Played Game.
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Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Apr 30, 2024 • 1h 59min
69 – Hunter – Playing Real
Lindsay Brandon Hunter discusses mimesis, media, and mischief in Playing Real. They explore Shakespearean performances, authenticity in media, and the intersection of ARGs and conspiracy theories. The episode delves into the challenges of replicating live theatre essence on film and the concept of acting authenticity.

Apr 1, 2024 • 1h 30min
68 – Švelch – Player vs Monster
Jaroslav Švelch discusses 'Player vs Monster' in a lively chat about video game monstrosities, literary comparisons, D&D creatures, and the evolution of monster designs in games. The hosts explore Christeva and Douglas's views on monstrosity in literature, Gary Gygax's legacy in D&D, and the future of monsters in gaming.


