Game Studies Study Buddies

We delve deep into Henry Jenkins’ essay “Game Design as Narrative Architecture,” a classic in the game studies field. Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Come hang out in our Discord channel. Support this show and all of our videos on Patreon, where you can also get our notes for this episode for $3 a month! Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Dive into the lesser-known philosophy of play through James S. Hans’ intriguing text from 1981. The discussion explores the impact of Deleuze and Guattari's works on capitalism and desire, revealing how play transcends traditional notions of work. Delve into the connections between video games and climate narratives, challenging how we perceive environmental issues. The hosts also critique the commodification of play in a capitalist society, advocating for a reexamination of values and the importance of collaboration within gaming communities.

The hosts dive into Espen Aarseth’s influential work, Cybertext, exploring its impact on game studies and narrative theory. They discuss ergodic literature, questioning traditional interpretations of reader interaction. The conversation reveals the dynamic nature of interactive fiction, contrasting linear and non-linear narratives. Adventure games are examined for their unique storytelling and player engagement, addressing complex ethical considerations. They also touch on the relationship between technology, democracy, and the politics of game design, rounding off with an intriguing announcement for their next reading.

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

We discuss C.L.R. James’s Beyond a Boundary. Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Come hang out in our Discord channel. Support this show and all of our videos on Patreon, where you can also get our notes for this episode for $3 a month! Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

We discuss Johan Huizinga’s Homo Ludens. Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Come hang out in our Discord channel. Support this show and all of our videos on Patreon, where you can also get our notes for this episode for $3 a month! Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

We discuss Aubrey Anable’s Playing With Feelings. Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Come hang out in our Discord channel. Support this show and all of our videos on Patreon, where you can also get our notes for this episode for $3 a month! Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

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

We discuss some beach reads, and do a short episode on Amanda Phillips’ essay “Shooting to Kill: Headshots, Twitch, Reflexes, and the Mechropolitics of Video Games,” which was published in Games & Culture in 2018. Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter. Follow CMRN on Twitter. Follow Michael on Twitter. Come hang out in our Discord channel. Support this show and all of our videos on Patreon, where you can also get our notes for this episode for $3 a month! Chris Hunt created the theme song for this show.

Dive into the intersection of gaming and capitalism, exploring how titles like Second Life and America's Army reflect imperial dynamics. Discover the historical ties between the military-industrial complex and early gaming, alongside the revival of the industry in the 80s driven by Nintendo. Discuss the cultural implications of the Xbox amidst console wars and the philosophy of human-object interactions. Unpack the ideological critique of Grand Theft Auto and the potential for games to act as platforms for resistance against oppressive systems.