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Welcome to Game Studies for Everyone, the podcast where complex game research becomes accessible to everyone! Join our co-hosts as they break down cutting-edge research in games and interactive media. Each 15 to 20 minute episode transforms academic findings into bite-sized, engaging discussions that everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re a gamer, developer, or just curious about the science behind the games you love, Game Studies for Everyone is your go-to source for easy-to-digest insights. No jargon, just fascinating research from peer-reviewed, published research in the humanities, computer science, narrative and more. Learn what’s new and how is shapes the way we play, learn, and develop. Hosted by Eliza Jiqiren and Nat Weizenbaum.
Episodes
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Monday Nov 04, 2024
What happens when games go beyond fun and entertainment to challenge societal norms and player expectations? In this episode, we dive into the growing field of "critical games," a transformative genre in the video game industry. These aren't your typical games; designed with a critical lens, they disrupt conventional gameplay to provoke thought and incite social commentary. We explore an insightful analysis that maps these games along two key axes: social critique vs. game mechanic critique, and continuous vs. discontinuous delivery of critique. This framework offers a fresh perspective on how critical games break boundaries, revealing that they are not examples of poor design but rather powerful tools for engagement and commentary. Tune in as we unravel how these innovative games offer new ways to understand gaming conventions and the societal issues they bring to light—transforming play into a form of activism!
Bashiri, K. (2008). You Have to Burn the Rope. [Web-Flash]. http://www.mazapan.se/games/burnTheRope.php played 22 March 2013
Cox, J. (2012). Don’t Kill the Cow. [Windows PC]. Seemingly Pointless. Oxford USA. played December 2012.
Grace, L. 2014. Critical Games: Critical Design in Independent Games. In Proceedings of the 7th Digital Games Research Association Conference (Digra 2014), Salt Lake City, Utah
Flanagan, M. (2009). Critical play: radical game design. MIT press.
Moynihan, D. (2010). One Chance. [Web-Flash]. Awkward Silence Games. England: played 12 February 2014
Pedercini, P. (2011). Phone Story. [Android], Molleindustria. Pittsburgh USA: played 2 March 2014
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