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Welcome to Keywords in Play, a joint collaborative podcast between Critical Distance and the Digital Games Research Association! In this series, we deliver interviews with writers, thinkers, makers, and critics working with games in an approachable and conversational format, suitable for fans, players, and critical thinkers alike.
Episodes
Monday Jun 27, 2016
Monday Jun 27, 2016
Welcome to another episode of the Critical Distance Confab!
We are taking a mid-summer break from our series on video producers and critics to talk about Critical Distance. Senior Curator Zoya Street and I have decided to talk about the site and our process of curation, mainly in the This Week In Videogame Blogging feature.
Every person is different with what they curate and why, and so we felt it might be a good idea to introduce our newest Senior Curator's views on the matter now that he's settled into the role. We discuss what we're looking for in TWIVGB entries, how standards of inclusion have risen over the years, the behind-the-scenes logistics, as well as touching on the other features Critical Distances publishes.
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Monday May 02, 2016
Monday May 02, 2016
Time for a few games more on the Critical Distance Confab.
The purpose of these minisodes is for two of us to highlight 3 games each. These are games that haven't gotten a lot of criticism or any at all. The idea is that one of you listening right now will try one of them out and write about it. The games we talk about range from itch.io art games, to prestige level indie games, right on through AAA games that may not have tried.
Co-hosting with me this month is independent game critic, Nick Capozzoli.
Nick's Picks
Reap by Daniel Linssen
Barrier X by PINKAPP
Rusty Lake Hotel by Rusty Lake
Eric's Picks
Composition in a Minor Key by Aleks Samoylov
1979 Revolution: Black Friday by iNK Stories
Pony Island by Daniel Mullins
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Tuesday Apr 19, 2016
Tuesday Apr 19, 2016
Welcome to another interview on the Critical Distance Confab!
This month our guest is Chris Franklin, aka Campster, talking about his YouTube series Errant Signal. Over time, he has innovated on an established YouTube format to evolve his own personal style, featuring holistic close readings on games as well as video essays on theoretical concepts. He has also experimented with short form, quick-turnaround content, and he reveals what this experience taught him about criticism and video creation.
During our interview, we talk about his process, the technical challenges he faces in creating a video essay, as well as the "logjam" created by trying to reconcile different facets of his personal approach to criticism.
SHOW NOTES
Errant Signal - The Stanley Parable
Errant Signal - "Keep Your Politics Out of my Video Games"
Errant Signal - Hotline Miami (Spoilers)
Errant Signal - (Spoilers) Fallout 4 and Role Playing
Errant Signal - The Beginner's Guide (Spoilers)
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Wednesday Apr 06, 2016
Wednesday Apr 06, 2016
A fistful of games on the Critical Distance Confab.
These minisodes highlight games that haven't gotten a lot of critical attention, in the hope that one of you intrepid listeners will try one of them out and correct that oversight. The games we talk about range from itch.io art games, to prestige level indie games, right on through AAA games that might have slipped through the cracks.
Co-hosting with me this month is editor of CreativeFluff, Fred McCoy.
Fred's Picks
Salt by Lavaboots Games
Choice of Robots by Choice of Games
Kingdom by Noio, Licorice
Eric's Picks
Hotel Dusk Room 215 by Nintendo
Gathering Sky by A Stranger Gravity
Shadowrun Hong Kong by Harebrained Schemes
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Tuesday Mar 22, 2016
Tuesday Mar 22, 2016
Welcome another interview here at Critical Distance!
This month we interview the host of Matt Chat, English Professor at St. Cloud State University, Matt Barton. Inspired by the books he published on the history of video games, Dungeons & Desktops and Vintage Games, Matt Chat became a channel focused on older game. As the episodes went on he was fortunate enough to get the creators of these older games on for interviews and has been doing so for 6 years. He has interviewed such gaming luminaries as John Romero, Ralph Baer, Chris Avellone, Brian Fargo, Lord British and many many more you've never heard of.
During our interview, we talk about the facts of interviewing, setting them up, the behind the scenes work going into them and how to develop a rapport with the subject. We also go into the hopes for future uses of the material he has produced and archieved on his remarkable channel.
SHOW NOTES
Dungeons & Desktop: The History of Computer Role Playing Games
GamePlay: The Story of the Videogaame Revolution
Matt Chat 40: Sword of Fargoal with Jeff McCord
Matt Chat 44: Ralph Baer, the Father of Videogames
Matt Chat 51-55: Interview with John Romero
Matt Chat 78: Arnold Hendrick Interview
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Monday Feb 29, 2016
Monday Feb 29, 2016
More undiscussed games on the Critical Distance Confab.
For those who may not know, the purpose behind these minisodes is highlight some games, 3 a piece, that haven't got a lot criticism or any criticism at all. The hope being that it will inspire some of you to go out, play them and write something about them. The games we highlight run the gamut from itch.io art games, through prestige level indie games, right on through AAA games that might have slipped through the cracks.
Co-hosting with me this month is critic, Heather Alexandra.
Heather's Picks
Hylics by Mason Lindroth
Memory of a Broken Dimension by xra
Jet Set Radio by SEGA
Eric's Picks
Pillars of Eternity by Obsidian Entertainment
Prune by Joel McDonald
The Hobby Shop by Jacsn - Myst Jam
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Monday Feb 15, 2016
Monday Feb 15, 2016
Welcome another new podcast here at Critical Distance!
Continuing with video-based criticism, we have one of the original videogame pundits, Bob Chipman. His Game Overthinker series began in 2008, making his one of the few early voices to set up shop on YouTube. The original run of the show ran for 100 episodes, during which time it started with the angry young man shtick that was popular at that time, before incorporating skits and ongoing storylines. Now the show has been revamped using a personality-driven, pundit-like presentation style.
During the interview, we talk about his influences, his evolution in production, as well as his place in the landscape over the years, and how said landscape itself has changed regarding both the style and the culture of internet video.
SHOW NOTES
GAME OVERTHINKER EP 25: VIOLENCE IS GOLDEN
Game OverThinker V32: I Heart Bayonetta
GAME OVERTHINKER V45: AntiThinker - Mega Man
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Monday Feb 01, 2016
Monday Feb 01, 2016
New year, new games to discuss on the Critical Distance Confab.
With the minisodes, every month, both I and a co-host, go back and forth listing off a game we think hasn't gotten the critical attention it deserves until we've each done three. The hope being that some of you listening will take the initiative and fix that oversight. These games can be from anywhere. Itch.io art games, prestige level indie games or even AAA games that fell through the cracks for whatever reason.
Co-hosting with me this month is lecturer and critic, Professor Todd Harper.
Todd's Picks
Xenoblade Chronicles X by Monolith Soft
Dragon's Crown + Odin's Sphere + Muramasa: The Demon Blade by Vanillaware
Super Robots Wars Z by Namco Bandai
Eric's Picks
Sunless Sea by Failbetter Games
Knee Deep by Prologue Games
Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist by Crows Crows Crows
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Friday Jan 15, 2016
Friday Jan 15, 2016
Welcome to the new year of podcasts here at Critical Distance!
Last year we went over publications, both books and magazines, in the critical video game sphere. Having, for the most part, run out of those we turn our eyes to different forms of criticism. Now we turn out eyes to video. Joining me this month is game designer and the writer behind the Extra Credits series, James Portnow.
Starting out as a final course project for fellow Extra Credits creator, Daniel Floyd, the series has only grown in the years since. Every week the crew at Extra Credits creates a short cartoon Youtube video as a basic introduction of design concepts, craft implementation and surrounding issues of the video games industry. Over the years, supplementary shows have been added. You can check them all out (as well as specific episodes we discuss on the podcast) below!
SHOW NOTES
Power Creep in Hearthstone - What it teaches us about games
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Wednesday Dec 30, 2015
Wednesday Dec 30, 2015
Welcome back to another end of year podcast! 2015 is behind us, so just lean back and listen as myself and a couple of colleagues skim over some of the major discussions that came up during the year.
CAST
Eric Swain: The Game Critique
Kris Ligman: Dire Critic
Alan Williamson: Five out of Ten
Riley MacLeod: Twitter
SHOW NOTES
Colorblind: On The Withcer 3, Rust and gameing's race problem by Tauriq Moosa
Battlefield Hardline Review: Cop Out by Austin Walker
Undertale Is Tearing GameFAQs Apart by Patricia Hernandez
Hideo Kojima Is the Jonathan Franzen of Video Games by Kevin Nguyen
Punk Games by Zoe Quinn
We are not colonists by Gita Jackson
The queer masculinity of stealth games by Riley MacLeod
Video Games' Blackness Problem by Evan Narcisse et al
Peter Molyneux Interview by John Walker
The vast, unplayable history of video games by Gita Jackson
Should I Stay or Should I Go: How To Stay Afloat in the Games MEdia by Luke Winkie
Opening Theme: 'Close' by The Alpha Conspiracy
Closing Theme: 'Wishing Never' by The Alpha Conspiracy