Ep. 24: Gaming Religion (Live Recording from SXSW 2018)

Hey Broadbeans! Today we’re interrupting our regularly scheduled programming to bring you a special live recording! On March 13th 2018, JD had the great honor of sitting alongside Dr. Gregory Grieve, Dr. Vit Sisler, and Helen Osman for a panel at SXSW titled “Gaming Religion: Finding Faith in Digital Games”. Religion, video games, and ethics have…Read more Ep. 24: Gaming Religion (Live Recording from SXSW 2018)

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Ep. 22: Modding Appalachia

What do Minecraft and Appalachia have in common? They both have people trying to modify them. So could Minecraft mods teach us something about how to go about ethically modding Appalachia? This week we're joined by Jerel Culliss (aka King Lemming), an Appalachian-raised engineer who moonlights as a reknown Minecraft modder. Jerel is founder of Team CoFH, the group responsible for Thermal…Read more Ep. 22: Modding Appalachia

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Ep. 20: #ReclaimTheBasement (Live Recording from PAX South 2018)

In the golden age of massively multiplayer online games like Overwatch and Destiny, why are some players choosing to go it alone? Is it a radical act of self-care, anti-social tendencies, an effect of online harassment, or something else? Take a break from Gaming Broad(cast)'s regularly scheduled programming and tune in to this special LIVE recording of…Read more Ep. 20: #ReclaimTheBasement (Live Recording from PAX South 2018)

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Ep. 19: Kentucky Route Zero and the Route to Appalachia

It's near impossible to talk about Appalachia and video games, and games that "get Appalachia right", without talking about Kentucky Route Zero. The game itself is mysterious, filled with empty space and people with featureless faces, a five-part digital theater that leaves enough room for Appalachia to rush in. What is it about this magical…Read more Ep. 19: Kentucky Route Zero and the Route to Appalachia

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Ep. 18: What Games Are Getting Right About Appalachia

In 2016, the United States collectively pointed a trembling finger of accusation at the Appalachian region. The verdict was in: America was screwed, and “Trump Country” was to blame. Journalists began to flock to the region, looking to demystify and correctly identify the dysfunctional roots of Appalachia and its people. Thinkpiece after thinkpiece was published,…Read more Ep. 18: What Games Are Getting Right About Appalachia

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Ep. 17: Triple A Blues

What does it mean to work in AAA game development? In the gaming community, the term "AAA" (pronounced “triple A”) comes with a lot of baggage. While at face value AAA is just an informal way to classify games and games studios that have the highest development and marketing budgets, the category also comes with negative…Read more Ep. 17: Triple A Blues

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Ep. 15: Grief, Game Development, and the Emotional Significance of Oatmeal

Andrea Ayres, creator of The Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne, makes me feel a lot of things about hot cereal. The making of the Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne shows that oatmeal has more to do with grief and game development than you might expect. Born on the heels of grief at the loss…Read more Ep. 15: Grief, Game Development, and the Emotional Significance of Oatmeal

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Ep. 11: Why Are You So Angry?

Ian Danskin of Innuendo Studios joins JD this week to talk the WHY of violence. Specifically, why does violence matter so much to so many people who play games? Ian explores why the mission to keep violence in video games feels so personal to so many people, and why conversations about the cultural implications of violence in video games get…Read more Ep. 11: Why Are You So Angry?

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Ep. 10: Moral Combat–Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong

In a time of nation-wide unrest and division, it's surprising to hear that politicians from both sides of the aisle are united on one thing: violent video games are bad and must be stopped. Blamed for everything from school shootings, suicide, and even rickets, video games have been shouldering the burden for our society’s ills…Read more Ep. 10: Moral Combat–Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong

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Ep. 07: The Pleasures of Back-Seat Gaming

JD brings it home this week... by literally interviewing the other person who lives in her home, Nora Green, about the pleasures of back-seat gaming. Nora, JD's roommate, is an avid video game spectator. Rather than playing games, Nora prefers to spend countless hours WATCHING people play games. She spectates in a number of ways: by sharing…Read more Ep. 07: The Pleasures of Back-Seat Gaming