Y-Button

On this special epsiode of Y-Button, host Kyle Starr takes a moment to reflect on his relationship with games and games related media in a time of life changes, growing responsibilitites, and future considerations.------SocialHost: Kyle StarrBluesky | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonBluesky | Threads | Instagram | Mastodon

Kevin Nguyen, author and Features Editor at The Verge, discusses his new novel "Mỹ Documents", what it means to write about video games, comparisons between mediums as a critic, and the unfortunate sale of Polygon.(01:30) - Intro and Blue Prince (03:08) - The sale of Polygon to Valnet (06:42) - Pivoting to My Documents (15:04) - Brazil and Bossa Nova in New Waves and My Documents (16:34) - First gaming memory (18:47) - How does gaming come up in the writing? (30:08) - Gaming sweet spots (34:40) - A-ha moments (37:24) - Favorite games (39:37) - What is the draw to games? (46:36) - Lightning round (50:43) - The future of games (51:58) - Blue Prince pro strats (52:46) - Final thoughts ------Links"Mỹ Documents" (Penguin Random House)"New Waves" (Penguin Random House)Strong Songs Podcast (Website)Game Maker's Toolkit - Developing (YouTube)Press Reset: The Story of Polygon (YouTube)------SocialGuest: Kevin NguyenBlueskyHost: Kyle StarrBluesky | Threads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonBluesky | Threads | Instagram | Mastodon

Video game journalist Andy Robertson discusses his new project Ludocene — a game discovery service in the form of a deck-building dating app. Ludocene is based on human-curated data and offers users the ability to augment their recommendations with filters and "Expert cards" — games journalists and trusted curators who've been paid to provide recommendations — to offer a truly one-of-a-kind discovery experience.Andy also dives into his origins with video games and why he thinks they're important for people of all ages and the culture at large.------LinksLudocene (Kickstarter)Family Gaming Database (website)Taming Gaming (Unbound | Amazon)------SocialGuest: Andy RobertsonBluesky | Twitter/XHost: Kyle StarrBluesky | Threads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonThreads | Instagram | Mastodon

Writer and programmer Alanna Okun shares how video games influenced the recent decision to leave her tenured career in journalism for an education in interactive technology — a conversation through the boom and bust of the 2010s media landscape to a revelation of control and expression found in making video games. ------Linksbitsy (website)Knit a Hat: A Beginner's Guide to Knitting (Microcosm Publishing)NYU Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) (website)------SocialGuest: Alanna OkunWebsite | itch.io | InstagramHost: Kyle StarrThreads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonThreads | Instagram | Mastodon

Pixar Creative Director (Theme Parks), Tasha Sounart, discusses her career journey, from animating at Pixar on A Bug's Life through Cars to directing Double Fine's Costume Quest, to her return to Pixar and overseeing the implementation of Pixar properties in Disney Parks. She shares how video games influence physical attractions, gaming as a family, and her fondness for RPGs and MMOs.[DISCLAIMER: Kyle here. My Host audio quality is subpar in this episode. I failed to realize that I was peaking a bit when captured. AJ did everything in their power to clean this up, but there's only so much that can be done with poorly captured audio. I've listened back to this episode a few times and I don't feel it detracts from Tasha's interview whatsoever. That said, I'll be more mindful in the future.]------LinksPikuniku (website)Pixar pixel-art tile artwork (LinkedIn) ------SocialGuest: Tasha SounartMastodon | LinkedIn Host: Kyle StarrThreads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonThreads | Instagram | Mastodon