Game Studies Study Buddies

Natasha Dow Schüll, expert on machine gambling in Las Vegas, discusses the addictive 'machine zone' in casinos and the impact of design on prolonged engagement. The podcast explores capitalism's influence on the gambling industry, the architecture of casinos, and parallels between mobile games and casino aesthetics. It also delves into the allure of gaming productivity tactics and the concept of 'play to extinction' in gambling addiction.

We discuss Michael Saler’s As If: Modern Enchantment and the Literary Prehistory of Virtual Reality.  Buy the shirt! Support this show on Patreon! Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Seth Giddings, author of 'Gameworlds: Virtual Media and Children's Everyday Play,' discusses children's engagement with digital media, the concept of Soft Worlds, the impact of digital artifacts on play, and the evolution of mediatized play. The podcast explores how video games influence imaginative play and the fascination of children with Grand Theft Auto, alongside promoting support for various podcast shows.

We discuss Jacques Ranciere’s The Ignorant Schoolmaster. Buy the shirt! Support this show on Patreon! Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

We talk about Patrick Crogan’s Gameplay Mode: War, Simulation, and Technoculture. Support this show on Patreon! Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

We talk about T.L. Taylor’s Play Between Worlds. Support this show on Patreon!  Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

We talk about Mary Ann Buckles’ 1985 dissertation Interactive Fiction: The Computer Storygame “Adventure.” You can read the dissertation by clicking this link. Support this show and all of our videos on Patreon, where you can also get our notes for this episode for $3 a month! Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Come hang out in our Discord channel. Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

We talk about Lev Manovich’s The Language of New Media. Support this show and all of our videos on Patreon, where you can also get our notes for this episode for $3 a month! Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Come hang out in our Discord channel. Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

We talk about Christopher Patterson’s Open World Empire. Support this show and all of our videos on Patreon, where you can also get our notes for this episode for $3 a month! Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Come hang out in our Discord channel. Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Colin Milburn, an author and scholar, discusses his thought-provoking work, Mondo Nano, which expertly blends nanotechnology with culture and gaming. The conversation dives into the playful yet serious implications of programmable matter and its global impact. Milburn traces the journey of nanotech from Feynman to its representation in video games, while uncovering surprising connections between Shakespearean themes and modern nanotechnology. The chat also explores the narrative evolution of nano superheroes and the cultural significances of virtual identities.