Game Academy

Adam and Steph are back after a long break for Season 3 of Game Academy! 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.

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.

On the second episode of Game Academy, Adam and Steph chat about how they got into game studies, the power of Pokémon in our lives, and what we've learned so far in our academic careers. And the most important question: Can you make a career out of talking about games? Find out more in episode 2 of Game Academy!Join our workshop on raising your profile and finding employment in academia happening on May 16th: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/x/raising-your-profile-and-finding-employment-tickets-308593079207Check out our CFP for our Queerness conference on 1 June!: https://multiplaynetwork.org/events/Follow 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 first episode of Game Academy, Adam and Steph are joined by special guest and games scholar Imo Kaufman to discuss sex and romance in video games. How are games handling aspects of sex and romance right now? Are games creating queer characters or queer stories? Will Imo - or the rest of us - ever get over our love for Dragon Age's Dorian? Find out in episode 1 of Game Academy!CFP for the Last of Us journal: https://multiplaynetwork.org/cfp-journals/Check out our upcoming events, including the Queerness conference on 1 June!: https://multiplaynetwork.org/events/Follow 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.