Studying Pixels

Learning any language is a lengthy and, at times, tedious endeavour. So why not make the process as fun as possible? – On his YouTube channel Game Gengo (ゲーム言語) our guest, Matt, does exactly that. Because how could learning Japanese be more fun than learning with video games?In our side quests we then review the language learning game Influent, discuss the announcement of PS VR2, and Dan’s affection for Deltarune.Shownotes 00:05:00 Learning Japanese with Video Games (with Matt/Game Gengo) 00:41:52 Influent 00:52:03 PlayStation VR2 and PlayStation VR2 Sense controller: the next generation of VR gaming on PS5(Hideaki Nishino) 01:02:19 Deltarune Studying Pixels Plus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is time to reminisce! This week we are taking a brief breather to think back to our childhood. Join in as we get swept away by heartwarming and bittersweet tales of the past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is the most wonderful time of the year, that is: time for our little Christmas special. So we look into our glass bowl with glee to tell you about how Bobby Kotick resigns from ActivisionBlizzard, all the details of Sony's next PlayStation VR headset, and which game will win Game of the Year 2022.Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everybody! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The swastika is certainly one of the most affective historical symbols. Under its banner, terror, hatred, racism, and profound crimes against humanity have been committed. In Germany, video games were not allowed to display the swastika for a long time at all, which has only changed in recent years. Together with the cultural historian Dr. Eugen Pfister, we explore the swastika taboo and how it has changed—from Wolfenstein 3D all the way to Through the Darkest of Times.Shownotes 00:03:28 The Swastika Taboo (with Eugen Pfister) 00:35:50 The Matrix Awakens 00:45:51 Indie Studio Forms First Video Game Union in the Country (Ethan Gach) 00:52:57 Forspoken developer raises eyebrows for describing game's Black protagonist as having "hip-hoppy" walk(Tom Phillips) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The annual Game Awards have become a staple of video game culture. Combining an award show with high-profile announcements, musical performances, and lots of advertisements, the event is a force to be reckoned with. Join us as we dissect this year's Game Awards, including the way it engages with the problems of the industry.In our side quests, we then discuss Nintendo's lawsuit against Gary Bowser, Ubisoft's engagement with NFTs, and Sony's patent of the online path building feature in Death Stranding.Shownotes 00:01:53 The Game Awards 2021 The Game Awards 2021 Winners: The Full List (Adam Bankhurst) Everything announced at the 2021 Game Awards (Giovanni Colantonio) 00:55:55 Nintendo hacker Gary Bowser agrees $10m fine (Tom Phillips) Court documents from the case against Gary Bowser Switch hacker Gary Bowser pleads guilty and offers to pay Nintendo $4.5m (Chris Scullion) 01:05:34 Ubisoft’s NFT announcement gets more than 95% dislikes on YouTube (Chris Scullion) The original video announcement has been delisted by Ubisoft, presumably due to the high amount of dislikes 01:19:57 Sony Patents Death Stranding Online Path Building Feature Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early days of video game studies, or so the story is told, there was a raging conflict between narratologists and ludologists. However much of an exaggeration this might be, Gonzalo Frasca's Simulation vs Narrative is still an important contribution to this debate. That is why we revisit it—and you are invited to come along!In our side quests, we then discuss how the Game Awards should respond to the fallout at Activision Blizzard, how Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl hails the original formula, and how Kid A Mnesia Exhibition allows us a glimpse into the world of Radiohead. Oh, and also we announce the winner for our PS5 giveaway. Congratulations!Shownotes00:00:38 The School of Podcasting: Honestly, How Long Does it Take to Create an Amazing Podcast Episode? (Dave Jackson)00:05:28 Announcing PS5 Winner00:07:29 Reading Gonzalo Frasca: Simulation vs Narrative Reading Roger Caillois: Man, Play, and Games (Studying Pixels)01:06:10 What to expect at the 2021 Game Awards (Shannon Liao) The Game Awards Won't Take Sides On Activision Fallout To Focus On Reveals (Ethan Gach) The Game Awards Advisory Board 01:16:43 Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl01:20:28 Kid A Mnesia Exhibition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We might nostalgically look back at the beauty of game boxes and fail to realize how strongly they are linked to the economization of games. With our guest, game studies scholar Claudius Clüver, we trace how games got into the box and how, with the advent of digital distribution, they made their way back out.In our side quests, we share our impressions of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, review Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy, and relish in the thought of having Gordon Ramsay visit Activision Blizzard.Shownotes 00:03:56 Games in the Box (with Claudius Clüver) 00:32:07 Update on Activision Blizzard Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick Tells Colleagues He Would Consider Leaving if He Can’t Quickly Fix Problems (Kirsten Grind, Ben Fritz and Sarah E. Needleman) Nintendo Issues Internal Response to Activision-Blizzard Reports (Imran Khan) 00:40:31 The history of the strategy game (Fraser Brown) 00:42:06 Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl 00:49:04 Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Indeed, it is true – we are giving away a brand new PS5! And for all of you who already have one or plan to get one soon we have collected some essential tips and settings. For example, did you know that the integrated microphone in the DualSense controller impacts the intensity of haptic feedback? – If you didn't, you should surely tune in!In our side quests, we talk about The Elder Scrolls VI being a Microsoft exclusive before we thoroughly go over the distressing issues at Activision Blizzard.Shownotes00:00:22 PS5 Giveaway00:05:51 Essential PS5 Tips and Settings00:37:32 How Xbox outgrew the console: inside Phil Spencer’s multi-billion dollar gamble (Sam White)00:45:45 Update on Activision Blizzard Report: Activision Blizzard's Kotick knew of sexual misconduct issues for years (Brendan Sinclair) A Message From Jen Oneal (Activision Blizzard) Jen Oneal, briefly in charge of Blizzard, expressed no faith in Activision leadership (Owen S. Good) Activision Blizzard board gives Kotick a vote of confidence (Brendan Sinclair) Activision Blizzard workers walk out, call for CEO Bobby Kotick’s resignation (Nicole Clark and Nicole Carpenter) More than 1,300 Activision Blizzard staff and contractors request Kotick's exit (Jeffrey Rousseau) Petition for the removal of Bobby Kotick (ABK Worker's Alliance) Group of Activision Blizzard shareholders call for Kotick's exit (Jeffrey Rousseau) Xbox chief says he's evaluating relationship with Activision (Jason Schreier) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's at the tip of my tongue! Have you ever forgotten the title of a video game and instead just given it a ridiculous description? Well, that is exactly what we do for this week. Enjoy our title blunders!In our side quests, we share our initial impressions of Shin Megami Tensei V, give a dreary outlook on the availability of the PS5, and discuss the intricacies of caring in video games.Shownotes 00:02:52 Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water 00:12:50 Strange Localizations 00:19:41 Title Blunder 00:41:58 Shin Megami Tensei V 00:50:28 It's Going to Get Even Harder to Buy a PlayStation 5 (Takashi Mochizuki) 00:56:06 Making players care: The ambivalent cultural politics of care and video games (Bonnie Ruberg & Rainforest Scully-Blaker) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if we could start all over again? – These days, a whole bunch of games tries to answer this question. From Hades to Returnal, from Loop Hero to 12 Minutes, and most recently: Deathloop. To help us understand why there is such an abundance of time loop games, we are joined by game studies scholar Federico Alvarez Igarzábal.Shownotes 00:05:24 Why are all games about time loops these days? (with Federico Alvarez Igarzábal) Time and Space in Video Games (Federico Alvarez Igarzábal) 00:38:16 Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water 01:01:19 Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Turns out the Nintendo Switch Online’s N64 emulator isn’t as bad as it seems (Adam Vjestica) Nintendo draws attention (and ire) to its weak online offering (Rob Fahey) Second Quarter Financial Results and Corporate Management Policy Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2022 (Nintendo) 01:12:28 Netflix Sets Launch of Games in Mobile App Worldwide, Including ‘Stranger Things’ Titles (Todd Spangler) 01:20:05 Announcing the close of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Niantic) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I am god here." A strangely unsettling sentence, especially if uttered by a character in a game that might very well be cursed. For this Halloween we collect and retell our favorite gaming-related creepypastas and urban legends.Shownotes00:05:08 The Lavender Town Incident (Pokémon Red/Blue)Pokémon Lavender Town Original Score00:13:44 BEN Drowned (The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask)00:25:39 Pale LunaPale Luna Gameplay00:36:21 Sonic.exe (Sonic the Hedgehog)00:47:48 Misfortune.gbMisfortune.gb Playthrough00:59:26 Polybius Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could that school friend really be right about this Pokémon that is not supposed to exist? Is there really a way to infinitely multiply items as this Nintendo magazine suggests? – We're diving back into our childhood to unravel how Missing No. changed the ideas about how video games work and who owns their lore.Shownotes00:06:05 The Myth of Missing No.00:31:16 Dying Light isn't available on Switch's eShop in the UK because it's banned in Germany (Matt Wales)00:44:11 Yakuza 000:50:28 Devil May Cry V – Special Edition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone is talking about it and so are we: the South Korean survival drama Squid Game. Its astounding popularity aside, we are especially curious about what the show tells us about games, play, and their relation to very real class disparity. (Our main story is spoiler free, so no to worry. We've got a separate and clearly coded spoiler part at the very end of the episode.)In our side quests, we discuss the pricing of the Nintendo Switch Online Extension Pack, the legitimacy of pirating newly released games, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits.Shownotes00:09:44 Squid Game Squid Game Is Netflix's Most Popular Series Launch Ever (Eddie Makuch) S.Korea broadband firm sues Netflix after traffic surge from 'Squid Game' (Joyce Lee) Economic inequality in South Korea (wikipedia) 00:40:07 Announcing Nintendo Switch Online Extension Pack (Nintendo)00:44:42 Stop Defending Corporations From Piracy You Freaks (Kaile Hultner)00:55:26 Kena: Bridge of Spirits01:06:00 Squid Game Spoiler Part Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many have tried (and many failed) to bring various games together in a set of comprehensive categories. Roger Caillois is one of them and we are diving into his Classification of Games to explore the categories and how they apply to contemporary video games.In our side quests, we discuss the biggest leack in the history of Twitch, Sora's introduction to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and our impressions of Kena: Bridge of Spirits.Shownotes00:04:07 Reading: Roger Caillois: Man, Play, and Games With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 10: Reading Circle — Homo Ludens (Stefan Heinrich Simond & Dan Hughes)01:07:56 The entirety of Twitch has reportedly been leaked (Chris Scullion) Twitch leak reveals streamer earnings and lack of diversity (Ed Nightingale)01:28:13 Sora Is The Final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Character (Ari Notis)01:35:44 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friendships are so precious. Video games never get tired of emphasizing that. Aside from reminiscing about the friends we made with fictional characters, we also discuss the absurd albeit necessary tendency to quantify friendships.In our side quests, we discuss the recent settlement of one of the lawsuits against Activision Blizzard and catch up with announcements in the recent Nintendo Direct, including the cast of the Super Mario movie.Shownotes00:06:26 The Friends We Make00:39:49 Activision Blizzard lawsuit Activision Blizzard Settles With Federal Employment Agency For $18 Million (Updated) (Zack Zwiezen) Activision Blizzard Sued Over ‘Frat Boy’ Culture, Harassment (Maeve Allsup) Activision Blizzard Commits to Expanded Workplace Initiatives, Reaches Agreement with the EEOC (Activision Blizzard) 00:55:59 Nintendo Direct: the biggest announcements and trailers (Andrew Webster) Super Mario Bros. Movie Lands All-Star Voice Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen (Matt Donnelly)Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.