The apocalypse is something we often perceive as a cataclysmic event or phenomena representing the harbinger of the end- the utter extinguishment of life as a society has come to know it. But, how true is this assumption? This month, we discuss the popularity of post-apocalyptic settings in video games, our biases and assumptions about them, and how, ultimately, they can often yield something greater than the sum of their parts.

#60: War… Changes? Exploring the Popularity of Post Apocalyptic Settings in Video Games

This month Collin, Sabrina and our two guests have a blast talking about the ins and outs of dating, virtual relationships, and human sociality in video games. A can't miss episode if there ever was one, tune in for an exploration of how games have (or haven't) succeeded in digitizing one of the most integral parts of the human condition.

In fact, we had so much fun, we'll be streaming Dream Daddy over on the First Person Scholar with our guests from this month as an extension of discussion! Stay tuned for a link and more information in the days to follow.

#61: Min/Maxing and The Economy of Digital Love

This month Collin is joined by Aleks from our essays department as well as special guests Ruby (Codex Entry) and Spencer as they explore the very nature of art and entertainment as the concepts apply to the medium of video games. That is to say, do games need to be "fun" to be "good"? 

With a special focus on Ice Pick Lodge's cult classic Pathologic, the conversation juxtaposes the subject at hand against the mediums of theatre and visual art and explores the value of unpleasantness when a piece of art "pushes back" against its audience.

#62 The Bitter Rind: Exploring the Paradoxical Attraction to Punishment and Extreme Difficulty

The First Person Scholar Podcast it advocates for a new dynamic, one in which we demonstrates our relevancy through timely, rigorous, and accessible criticism that challenges all players to engage in what Mary Flanagan calls critical play.

The podcasts we produce encourage players—be them developers, scholars, critics, or enthusiasts—to consider alternatives to popular interpretations of games,  game play, and games culture. Through this discourse we seek to establish and sustain a critical conversation amongst those producing and playing games, demonstrating in the process that the player is a figure capable of enriching and challenging our understanding of games and what they are capable of.

First Person Podcast is produced by Collin Walsh in association with the Games Institute at the University of Waterloo. You can find us @FPSWeekly, or start a conversation using the #FirstPersonScholar on Twitter.

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