Gaming the Mind Podcast

Gina, known as Z2_Conjurer, completed a 24-hour Twitch streaming marathon for Gaming the Mind. In the podcast, she shares her motivations, preparation for the event, and the challenges of exhaustion. She also discusses her mental health experiences and the supportive role of her streaming community.

Thelxie's Fantastic Adventures campaign from Genshin Impact, recorded in 2024, explores mental health by addressing "loneliness syndrome." The game details its causes, symptoms, and treatments while inviting players to assist a boy suffering from the condition. It also prompts discussion on fantasy as a therapeutic escape, including sensitive themes like suicide.

Vampire Therapist is a visual novel where players assume the role of Sam, a cowboy vampire offering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to fellow vampires. The game integrates CBT concepts into its gameplay, allowing players to identify cognitive distortions. This podcast discusses how the game depicts and educates regarding CBT.

This podcast discussion delves into generative AI's potential applications, including in gaming, and raises ethical concerns about AI using others' work and replacing human workers. It questions whether we should attribute human qualities to AI and explores the concept of AI providing therapy without being recognized. Additionally, it ponders the meaning of AI "hallucinations" and suggests considering the term "confabulation."

Recorded at MCM Comic-Con. Join us as we verse-jump through the multiverse of the deeply profound masterpiece, ‘Everything, Everywhere, All At Once’! Jason, Hammy and Sarah journey into directors the Daniels’ exploration of the beautiful mess of human existence, and how the film teaches us to be kinder to ourselves and each other. Weaving together […]

We take a look at World of Horror, which has now left Steam Early Access! This stark black-and-white horror RPG is inspired by Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft. Otherworldly horrors promise to test the sanity of Shiokawa, Japan. In the game, your character has a “Reason” meter, which measures their ability to mentally cope with […]

We have another “anime takeover” for our podcast, as we cover Makoto Shinkai’s latest film: Suzume! Though it’s an animation, Suzume covers traumatic disaster events that are very real and recent in history. We discuss what the film has to say about the outcome of disasters in terms of mental health. We also chat about […]

Capcom’s refreshed look at Resident Evil 4 adds a wealth of depth to characters such as Leon, Ashley, Luis and Ada. So what can we now understand about the mental health of these characters who are going through such a harrowing experience? How has Leon’s traumatic experience from Resi 2 affected him, and is he […]

(Content warning: this podcast describes suicidality and suicide in media, including non-detailed descriptions of suicide methods). We know there are guidelines around the depiction of suicide in media, but now there are games in which the player must make their character enact suicide, and with virtual reality this can be an immersive experience. Hammy, Don, […]

FromSoftware’s games have had profound effects on the lives of players, especially those going through their own real challenges. And the games, such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring, allude to mental health struggles within their story arcs. Want to know more? Grab your Sculptor’s Idol, light your bonfire and join us in the Hunter’s […]