Episode 15: Unpacking What We Take With Us, PhDs, Jedi Survivor, Massively Multiplay Month, Conferences, Open World Games. Just ALL The Things

This month on Game Academy, we’re cracking open a booster pack of nostalgia, tabletop secrets, and indie dev wisdom with the one and only Matthew Bell!Matt’s had the kind of career that makes you go, “Wait, you did what?” He started out wrangling tournaments and managing organised play for Yu-Gi-Oh! across Europe (yes, the one with Blue-Eyes White Dragon), before jumping into video game production at Sumo Digital, and now going full indie with his new card-based tabletop strategy game, Robot Raiders.We get into the wild world of organised play (turns out, it’s more spreadsheets and fewer holographic dragons than you might expect), how Matt transitioned from TCGs to AAA production, and what it’s really like launching your own tabletop game in 2025. Spoiler: it’s hard, it’s exciting, and yes, there’s a Kickstarter!We also chat about the craft of designing games for the people who play them, what makes a great gameplay loop in card games, and how Matt approaches “getting people to play the game” - the hardest design challenge of all.Whether you're a lifelong duelist, a budding designer, or just someone believes in the heart of the cards, this one's got something for you. Your move!Links & Shoutouts:🎲 Back Robot Raiders on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mattorigusstudios/robot-raiders-a-1-4-player-epic-card-game-battle-experience📢 Keep up with Mattorigus Studios on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MattorigusStudios📧 Got a question or guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]🐶 Follow Adam’s extremely nerdy ramblings at https://bsky.app/profile/twoleft.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Game Academy is back (again, like we are every episode, but we really are this time!) with a fresh coat of paint! This season, it's just Adam, so we’re shaking things up—no more long rants about his PhD (he finished it!), no more co-host (RIP to Steph’s podcasting era), just Adam nerding out in conversations with game designers, journalists, academics, and whoever else he can convince to talk to him. Expect passionate chats about game development, the industry, and the creative process, but let's not forget the occasional existential crisis about academia, because let’s be real, that never really goes away.To kick things off, Adam is joined by the incredible Nina Freeman—an award-winning indie designer known for her deeply personal, sometimes gut-wrenching, always beautifully crafted games like Cibele, How Do You Do It?, and Last Call. If you love games that make you feel things (too many things), Nina’s work is required reading. We get into everything — how she went from theatre and poetry to making games, why she loves telling small, intimate stories, and how she goes about turning real life into interactive experiences. We also talk about the state of the industry, freelancing, and how AA and AAA studios are changing. Finally, because Adam couldn’t help myself, they also get into indie horror (Nina’s working on a new horror game, Size Zero), we shout out Pete's Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, and discuss whether going to GDC is actually worth it.Links that you should definitely go to:Check out all of Nina's amazing work: https://ninasays.so/Nina's My Perfect Console podcast episode: https://shows.acast.com/my-perfect-console/episodes/nina-freeman-gamemaker-cibele-tacoma-last-callGo and buy Lost Records - Side 1 is out today: https://dont-nod.com/en/games/lost-records-bloom-and-rage/The More Perfect Union video we were discussing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WORsxfgoVjc&ab_channel=MorePerfectUnionNina's GuadalIndie 2024 Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqurS9ZHe8Q&pp=ygUdR3VhZGFsaW5kaWUgMjAyNCBuaW5hIGZyZWVtYW4%3Dhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFa6GVL1apQ&pp=ygUdR3VhZGFsaW5kaWUgMjAyNCBuaW5hIGZyZWVtYW4%3D Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Steph are back after a long break! They chat about the struggles with layoffs in academia and the games industry that has been all over the news lately. Then, they bring on special guest William Mellamphy, a PhD candidate an expert in all things nostalgia, video games, and, much to Steph's delight, Pokemon! A long chat ensues around the commodification of nostalgia, the newfound ability for parents to share gaming passions with their children, and what it all means for capitalism. We then zero in on some Pokemon myths, the mechanics of gender in the series, and the power of the hero's journey in children's media.The podcast finishes off with talk of the many CFPs MultiPlay has out right now, including one for a special edition Game Boy issue of MultiPlay's new journal, as well as a call for abstracts around the communities of play in video games and "Gitting Gud".Check out MultiPlay's active CFPs: 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.

Adam and Steph are back! This academic year started but never quite stopped. Life, PhD, and students, oh my! Exciting things are happening in the world of Game Academy. Steph submitted her thesis! And Adam's submitting before Christmas! The light at the end of the tunnel? They both hope so!After a crazy few months of teaching their lovely students, Adam and Steph have some top tips for everyone at the start of their university journeys. The Game Academy is the best place to be, so enjoy every second. They then turn their attention to The Game Awards, which comes to us all at the end of a both very slow and blazingly fast year. Who are our host's GOTYs? Who's going to win Game of the Year? Adam and Steph have a particular pick they're both in love with but they would also like readers to very much convince them that sequel-itis is not a thing in video games.It's full steam ahead for a holiday-themed episode next month! It truly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!Links:Vote in the Game Awards: https://thegameawards.com/Check out MultiPlay's active CFPs: 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.

Adam and Steph may have been hibernating throughout August, but at least the summer is over and their PhDs are almost done! And Steph got a new job! Yay! This month, they actually talk about video games. Steph discusses how FIFA/EAFC had made her fall back in love with football amidst the chaos of the Women's World Cup, while Adam regales with tales of nearly falling asleep at the wheel with Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. Why can't open world games just respect players' time?!In the most unlikely saviour, in swoops two MOBILE GAMES?! We also had a lot of fun playing Good Pizza, Great Pizza and Pokémon Sleep which, at the very least, do respect our time. We almost forget that Cyberpunk 2077's DLC, Phantom Liberty, was coming out, but we suddenly remember, and talk a bit about that, too! Will Adam ever play it? Maybe...Links:Good Pizza, Great Pizza: https://www.goodpizzagreatpizza.com/Pokemon Sleep: https://www.pokemon.com/uk/app/pokemon-sleep/Check out MultiPlay's active CFPs: 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.

This month, Adam and Steph are joined by a special guest, Dr. Emma Reay. Contrary to what we say in the podcast, we're not early though! Sorry to our three listeners!This month, we dive deep into the work of Dr. Emma Reay, who guests to tell us all about her work on childhood in games, her upcoming monograph, and the logical next step: a project about death. We talk about the horrors of the PhD experience (what would a Game Academy podcast be without it?) and Emma's tips on making it better before looking at Emma's work on the various ways children are portrayed in games, and what that might say about us as adults. We then continue our conference talk from the last episode where Emma and Adam give the rundown on GGC and Emma regales us with stories of DiGRA (and Eric Zimmerman's new book!), before turning our attention to the difficulties of conference season overall, and just how much work attending a conference really is.Some links from the episode:The Bildungsroman Innuendo Studios video on Life is Strange: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19xgdLF5agUEmma's Child in Game thesis (in lieu of the book, coming next year!): https://api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/api/core/bitstreams/9e6d8e66-8b9f-49b3-a213-ee0fafca64ee/contentThe Rules We Break (Eric Zimmerman's new book): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rules-We-Break-problems-better/dp/1648960677/ref=asc_df_1648960677/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606806103574&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1550320857166075467&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045774&hvtargid=pla-1643543564116&psc=1&th=1&psc=1Check out MultiPlay's active CFPs for next academic year: 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.

Adam and Steph are back together again! It has been a long time, but they promise they're back and better than ever, with so much to catch up on! They unpack Adam's PhD game, What We Take With Us (yes, the one he's been advertising non stop on the podcast for months) and the recent workshop for it that Steph went to. They also talk about all the other amazing events from the Massively Multiplay conference, including the amazing events by podcast favourites Dr. Matt Higgins and Lisa Meek. They then both briefly give PhD updates and dive into a discussion of the dark side of conferences.Steering away from work, Adam gets Steph to gush about Jedi Survivor, her potential GOTY, and why she's not a fan of new announcement Outlaws or other "open world games". Adam agrees: too many open worlds, too little time (at least, until their PhDs are done)! Check out all the awesome talks from Massively Multiplay: https://www.youtube.com/@multiplaynetwork/videosWe love this one in particular: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUpuNYJImEs Check out our Linktree to join the Discord: https://linktr.ee/MultiplaynetworkYou can still check out Adam's game, What We Take With Us here: https://whatwetakewith.usOr even join the Discord server (the ARG is over. Now we mostly play Wordle): https://discord.gg/mhSpKmGQkvCheck out MultiPlay's active CFPs for next academic year: 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.

Because it's just Adam this time, he gets to write all the show notes! Adam is joined by Dr Matt Higgins and Dr Peter Howell to talk all about making some games. Yes, he's taken over the podcast, and he's talking about the usefulness of making things! Of course, we all agree that there are multiple perspectives to study games from, but with a Practice research IN Games conference coming up, we thought it might be nice to spread the good news, including some book recommendations, how our lives affect the things we make and what practice research even is.So many show note recommendations this time! Check out our Linktree to join the Discord: https://linktr.ee/MultiplaynetworkAbstracts for the PING conference go in here: https://wadeg.myweb.port.ac.uk/games-technology-portal/ping23-submissions.htmlBooks:Lost in a Good Game by Pete Etchells: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Good-Game-video-games/dp/1785784811The Game Writing Guide by Anna Megill: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Game-Writing-Guide-Your-Dream-ebook/dp/B0BZ5V41ZM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=P3SILEAW8XPE&keywords=anna+megill&qid=1684168275&s=books&sprefix=anna+megill%2Cstripbooks%2C59&sr=1-1Rules of Play by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rules-Play-Design-Fundamentals-Press/dp/0262240459/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K6TAPYC5B5S&keywords=rules+of+play&qid=1684168344&s=books&sprefix=rules+of+play%2Cstripbooks%2C60&sr=1-1Game Design Workshop by Tracy Fullerton: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Game-Design-Workshop-Playcentric-Innovative/dp/1138098779/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2UWL0SUXRDL5Q&keywords=game+design+workshop&qid=1684168370&s=books&sprefix=game+design+workshop%2Cstripbooks%2C67&sr=1-1Narrative Designer's Toolbox by Tobias Heussner et al.: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Narrative-Toolbox-Focal-Design-Workshops/dp/1138787086/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18LRYPLUZ06YJ&keywords=narrative+designer%27s+toolbox&qid=1684168476&s=books&sprefix=narrative+designer%27s+toolbox%2Cstripbooks%2C57&sr=1-1Writing for Games by Hannah Nicklin: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Games-Practice-Hannah-Nicklin/dp/1032023058/ref=sr_1_5?crid=24BEHZHVQWHL0&keywords=writing+for+games&qid=1684168529&s=books&sprefix=writing+for+games%2Cstripbooks%2C63&sr=1-5Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Game-Design-Lenses-Third/dp/1138632058/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=book+of+lenses&qid=1684168629&s=books&sprefix=book+of+lens%2Cstripbooks%2C70&sr=1-1And all our lovely Massively Multiplay Events:Researching the Video Game with Lisa Meek on 17 May 2023: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/researching-the-video-game-tickets-546223829177?internal_ref=socialThe Pokelab Mini Conference with Steph Farnsworth and many guest speakers on 30 May 2023: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poke-lab-a-multiplay-conference-tickets-630750831717?aff=odcleoeventsincollection Psychology in Games with Matt Higgins, Lisa Meek and Catharine Cross on 31 May 2023: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/psychology-in-games-tickets-602340134557?aff=odcleoeventsincollectionUnpacking What We Take With Us with Adam Jerrett, now moved to 7 June 2023 at 1pm: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/unpacking-what-we-take-with-us-a-workshop-tickets-600327133617?aff=eemailordconf&ref=eemailordconf&utm_campaign=order_confirm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_term=vieweventLiving and Dying Well with Andy Porter on 7 June 2023 at 5pm: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/living-and-dying-well-seminar-massively-multiplay-tickets-596170731707?aff=odcleoeventsincollectionPlants and Powerupswith Steph Farnsworth on 14 June 2023: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/plants-and-power-ups-tickets-602354046167?aff=odcleoeventsincollection Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the actual anniversary episode of Game Academy, Steph and Adam talk about their busy, busy lives. PhDs are a drag. They never stop. But they should! Don't forget about your personal lives, everyone! They then split off a bit to do something different: two separate interview segments! First, Steph is joined by Amy Ahn to talk all things eSports and Overwatch 2 in the wake of the eSports courses many universities are loving so much. Then, Adam has a chat to Ana Kirlitz, resident also-PhD student who is studying gaming communities for wellbeing through the self-care game "What We Take With Us". The takeaways? Join Multiplay's eSports leagues and go and play What We Take With Us. Two excellent ways to take care of yourselves as we approach Easter! Finally, Steph catches us up on all things Massively Multiplay, including Adam's "What We Take With Us" workshop (how did Ana drag him into all this again? Something about values, probably), and all the open CFPs, including a reminder about the Pokelab conference, which is now happening as part of Massively Multiplay's Massive Month!Check out our Linktree to join the Discord: https://linktr.ee/MultiplaynetworkJoin our Overwatch 2 eSports team: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HgCgBAEvJS0ZHc7Ng372_n98FJR9CBPefYMcgQm8na0/edit#gid=0Join our Rocket League eSports team: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hT2hRb59k58U2OXH6ugtl2kSATIkf1Zh-QYyJNLhRQs/edit#gid=0Check out What We Take With Us here: https://whatwetakewith.usAnd Ana's Discord server: https://discord.gg/mhSpKmGQkvCheck 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.

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.