Game Academy

In this near-anniversary episode of Game Academy (we launched on 6 March 2022!), Steph and Adam are joined by Lisa Meek to discuss ConfettiX's recent eSports summit in Nottingham. What does an eSports course even look like? They go down the rabbit hole and follow on to also talk about strikes in academia and debunk some myths about unions, much to Adam's surprise - unions are actually really cool! Later, Lisa and Steph chat about their obsession with Disney Dreamlight Valley and the importance of Disney for millenials, despite its obvious problems as a giant corporate monolith! Adam chimes in with his latest gaming experiences, the self-care game "What We Take With Us" that a colleague is studying for her PhD (there you go, Ana, there's your shoutout!) Finally, Steph announces a slew of CFPs for upcoming MultiPlay events and Lisa plugs the University of Durham's online games research methods seminar.If you want to know more about, join or support strikes in academia, check out the UCU: https://www.ucu.org.uk/Check out What We Take With Us here: https://whatwetakewith.usAnd Ana's Discord server: https://discord.gg/mhSpKmGQkvCheck out our Linktree to join the Discord: https://linktr.ee/MultiplaynetworkGet in there! Check out MultiPlay's massive CFP library: https://multiplaynetwork.org/call-for-papers/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplaynSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Year. Not Happy New Year. Just New Year. - AdamJust kidding! Happy New Year everyone! In our first pod of 2023, Adam and Steph catch-up on everything they've been up to over Christmas and look ahead to the excitement (and exhaustion) of a new university semester. They chat about Steph's Christmas present, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin, a very fictional book about game development because one character gets too much maternity leave, and also realistic rendering engines for blood didn't exist in 1996. It is nevertheless a really good book, so it gets a hearty recommendation. After some PhD updates and a discussion on the impending end of the world (by completing a PhD), they pivot to another post-apocalypse: the world of The Last of Us. Adam badgers everyone to watch the HBO's adaptation of the PlayStation classic. Steph has some doubts about how TV should approach video game adaptations. They argue a bit. Surprise! It nevertheless gets another hearty recommendation because IT'S A MASTERPIECE.Finally, MultiPlay has some big developments! January has been a year long already. Can we go back to Christmas and Crash Bash?Check out Adam and supervisor Pete's article on how The Last of Us series expands its game's universe and values: https://theconversation.com/the-last-of-us-hbos-adaptation-elevates-the-video-games-themes-of-love-and-family-198539Check out Tomorrow and Tomorrow on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58784475-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrowCheck out our Linktree to join the Discord: https://linktr.ee/MultiplaynetworkDon't forget, MultiPlay still has an open CFP for its May hybrid anniversary conference so get those abstracts in: https://multiplaynetwork.org/call-for-papers/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplaynSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming in smoking hot and screeching into your podcast feed just before 2023 (Happy New Year everyone!), Adam and Steph are High on Christmas and full of Christmas cheer! Awww, geez! Justin Roiland would be pleased! This month, they talk about their multiple Games of the Year, Not-Games of the Year and how 2022 was possibly a bit of a nothing-burger for video games. 2023 is looking mighty tasty, though! The episode is really just a warm hug from us to you, our lovely listeners. But we couldn't resist a few hot takes about Lake or Death Stranding, because what is the cosy holiday season without some bad cosy games? Anyway, we need to wrap up this description now so Adam can get back to AC Valhalla and Steph can finish God of War Ragnarok!See you next year, everyone!Don't forget, MultiPlay still has an open CFP for its (now moved to March) big anniversary conference so get those abstracts in: https://multiplaynetwork.org/call-for-papers/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplaynSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Game Academy returns! Adam and Steph are back podding (and arguing) together after Steph's break for a very special episode reflecting on the Mass Effect trilogy after MultiPlay's 10 year anniversary conference on N7 Day. Adam and Steph are joined by the conference host Calum Evans to discuss what made the series unique and just why, so many years on, fans still can't get over that ending. Game Academy also hears from Mass Effect fans Danee, Hannah and Ravi, who share their personal experiences on why Mass Effect meant so much to them. People Make Games' chat to Mass Effect developers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhtgjmkcht8 You can catch up on our special N7 Day conference via our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdIhov-l8FHXB0eBoSoYW3znhKbjoE8Nw MultiPlay has an open CFP for its big birthday conference happening in January so get those abstracts in: https://multiplaynetwork.org/call-for-papers/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplaynSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spoooooky! An eighth Game Academy episode appears just in time for Halloween! With Steph out of commission (she's not dead, we promise) Adam bravely faces the ghouls and curses (the ones that keep preventing us from releasing podcasts on time) with special guest Dr. Peter Howell. Adam and Pete chat a bit about Pete's adventure into being a student once again post-PhD by choosing to do a Masters in Psychology before delving into the meat of our spooky special episode: A retrospective on Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. Pete helped design the second Amnesia game with The Chinese Room as part of his PhD, so now he gets to dig into his memory banks and tell us all the juicy details of its development! As it turns out, the world of 1900s London might not be too far off our own... Except with more Tesla pigs. But Tesla cars exist so I guess we're all doomed. All in a episode's work for Game Academy!Check out Pete's work:https://peterhowell.wixsite.com/whothehowellAMFP's postmortem: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/postmortem-the-chinese-room-s-i-amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs-i-Go and buy Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs on Steam or PSN (it's currently on sale):https://store.steampowered.com/app/239200/Amnesia_A_Machine_for_Pigs/https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP1188-CUSA05457_00-AMNESIACOLECTIONGet your free tickets to our special conference on N7 Day in honour of Mass Effect: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/10-years-of-the-mass-effect-trilogy-tickets-420303197177?aff=ebdsoporgprofileFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplaynSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the seventh episode of Game Academy, Steph and Adam present an incredibly delayed podcast. We battled freshers' flu to be here and we'll never leave! Long live Game Academy! Steph is more thrilled at the prospect of the academic year than Adam, who has been the target of some angry Twitterers again, having written an article NOT ABOUT GAMERGATE. It's about values. Obviously. Instead, they get dragged into the mire, and discuss the lingering impact of gamergate on the field of video game studies and the internet in general. Steph even gives her most outrageous take yet about Anthem (and since she's writing the description this month, she gets to reiterate it: Anthem is a good game!) [Adam's note: No it isn't] Read Adam's original Conversation article about Values-Conscious Games emerging in the wake of GamerGate: https://theconversation.com/how-gamergate-led-the-gaming-industry-to-embrace-more-diverse-and-caring-values-190068Why You So Angry by Innuendo Studios (Ian Danskin): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJA_jUddXvY62dhVThbeegLPpvQlR4CjFIan's GamerGate Postmortem: https://youtu.be/lLYWHpgIoIwBook your free tickets to our Gothic Games and Disturbing Play Conference: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gothic-games-and-disturbing-play-conference-tickets-419679963067?aff=ebdsoporgprofileGet your free tickets to our special conference on N7 Day in honour of Mass Effect: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/10-years-of-the-mass-effect-trilogy-tickets-420303197177?aff=ebdsoporgprofileFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplayuosSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the sixth episode of Game Academy, good times never seemed so good! Joined by Lisa Meek, Adam and Steph fondly (or, in Steph's case, not so much) remember when the Lionesses won the Euros. Lisa, amazing guest that she is, is firmly on the winning side with Adam while Steph laments Spain's misfortunes. Nevertheless, they fill us in on what it was like at Wembley during the Euro final. Adam, in an unsurprising turn of events, spills the details on his weddings by focusing solely on his shiny new Steam Deck. Our hosts also chat to sociologist and PhD candidate Lisa Meek, the host of September's Space and Place in Virtual Worlds week! Lisa tells us the details of the incredible line-up for the week and we all chat about our love of history through the lens of games and Lisa's undying love for County Durham. Steph also tries to convince Adam that Space and Place may just be the next big thing in video games studies, but as always, Adam's not having any of it. He does concede that Space and Place is interesting though, so that's a start.One of us, one of us! Book your free tickets to the opening conference of the Space and Place in Virtual Worlds week https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/space-and-place-in-virtual-worlds-tickets-354691390497Get your free tickets to Gothic Spaces Discussion: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gothic-spaces-in-virtual-worlds-discussion-tickets-392337551177?aff=ebdsoporgprofileJoin our live reading group on the 14th September https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/live-reading-group-space-and-place-in-virtual-worlds-tickets-403938519987?aff=ebdsoporgprofileFollow Lisa on Twitter: @jesuis_tiredFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplayuosSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the fifth episode of Game Academy, Adam and Steph take a breath after a hectic month! Adam fills us in on how this year's DiGRA conference went - and to Steph's despair - starts another ludology vs narratology debate. They continue, joined by Adam Crowley, to talk about his latest book "Representations of Poverty in Videogames". He opens our eyes to some fascinating approaches to dealing with socioeconomic factors in games, and finally blows our minds with his hopeful take on the future of the games industry and the m-m-metaverse. Yes, Steph made us talk about the metaverse, and typing that was excruciating. Finally, Steph gives a very long update on MultiPlay's upcoming events, with a special announcement in store for September's WEEK LONG Space and Place Conference! Presentaions and workshops and social events, oh my!Get your free tickets for MultiPlay's Space and Place in Virtual Worlds Conference here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/space-and-place-in-virtual-worlds-tickets-354691390497Follow Adam on Twitter: @AdamMCrowleyBuy Adam Crowley's book "Representations of Poverty in Videogames" here: https://www.brownsbfs.co.uk/Product/Crowley-Adam/Representations-of-Poverty-in-Videogames/9783031001437Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplayuosSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the fourth episode of Game Academy, Adam and Steph get their monthly podcast out by the skin of their teeth! Is that an idiom? What about "next lady for a shave"? None of us are really sure anymore after this month. In this episode, we lament that there isn't a dog version of Stray and talk to the wonderful Dr Matthew Higgins, Adam's colleague who somehow (by the Maker!) finished a PhD. Steph and Adam didn't even think it was possible! We talk about his PhD jouney and any tips he has for us and aspiring researchers, before chatting about his own work on the interpretation of narrative as a form of play and all the fascinating psychology that explores how we keep engaged in the games that we love. We also talk a bit about White Lake, Matt's game that will be coming to Steam in 2023! Hopefully... Finally, we talk a bit about all things Multiplay, including its new book extending June's incredible Queerness conference before teasing a jam-packed and hopefully on-time July episode.Please tell us if "next lady for a shave" is a real idiom after listening to episode 4 of Game Academy!Check out the Queerness book's CFP here: https://multiplaynetwork.org/call-for-papers/Check out the mental health in games whitepaper Adam was talking about here: https://www.takethis.org/expert-content/designing-games-to-challenge-the-stigma-around-mental-health/Follow Matt on Twitter: https://twitter.com/webedragonsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplayuosSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the third episode of Game Academy, Adam and Steph apologise profusely for the lateness of the episode release amidst the craziness of marking season, submissions and new puppies! In this episode, we talk all about our hot takes on video game crunch, how it could be solved, or if it's just a symptom of creative industries. Then, Steph delves deep into Cyberpunk 2077, how it's changed since release, how it influences her research and whether "bad" endings were really good endings all along. Finally, we talk a bit about the future of Mass Effect. Will we end the entire podcast because we simply can't agree on the ending? Finally, we chat to the lovely Greg McGuiness about Multiplay's upcoming Queering and Questioning conference next week. All this and more - third time's the charm - on episode 3 of Game Academy! Sign up for our Queering and Questioning Conference, happening on 1 June: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queering-and-questioning-video-games-conference-tickets-327926245227?aff=erelexpmltFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/multiplayuosSend questions and abstracts to networkmultiplay AT gmail DOT com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.