Hi! It's been a wild year. Thanks to Ian Danskin of Innuendo Studios for a conversation on loss, life, happiness, and home (and a little bit about games). Special thanks to Ben Cohn for the music ("File Select" from Land of the Gods, Vol II).
interview
Ep. 26: Appalachians Play Everquest, II
I know it's been a while, but I'm here to prove that this podcast isn't history! Even though this episode is all about history! This week we're joined by Josh Howard, public historian, Everquest enthusiast, bacon admirer, to dig down deep into what it means to love precarious places. From childhood gaming groups and the…Read more Ep. 26: Appalachians Play Everquest, II
Ep. 25: Death Mountain Lifestyle
So what exactly is a mountain lifestyle? Is it a marketing phrase? A type of view from your window? A bonified set of cultural practices? Whatever it is, it must be pretty awesome, considering how awesomely expensive the mountain lifestyle is getting these days! This week we're joined by Shaun Martin, a Nintendo loving editor working…Read more Ep. 25: Death Mountain Lifestyle
Ep. 23: The Streamers of Madison County
Creeks aren't the only types of mountain streams in Appalachia. We also have video game streamers! This week we're joined by Renee Hill, a pastry chef, gamer, and video game streamer known as "The Caked Crusader". Renee currently lives in Madison County, the same county in Western North Carolina where JD (the host) grew up. For…Read more Ep. 23: The Streamers of Madison County
Ep. 22: Modding Appalachia
What do Minecraft and Appalachia have in common? They both have people trying to modify them. So could Minecraft mods teach us something about how to go about ethically modding Appalachia? This week we're joined by Jerel Culliss (aka King Lemming), an Appalachian-raised engineer who moonlights as a reknown Minecraft modder. Jerel is founder of Team CoFH, the group responsible for Thermal…Read more Ep. 22: Modding Appalachia
Ep. 19: Kentucky Route Zero and the Route to Appalachia
It's near impossible to talk about Appalachia and video games, and games that "get Appalachia right", without talking about Kentucky Route Zero. The game itself is mysterious, filled with empty space and people with featureless faces, a five-part digital theater that leaves enough room for Appalachia to rush in. What is it about this magical…Read more Ep. 19: Kentucky Route Zero and the Route to Appalachia
Ep. 18: What Games Are Getting Right About Appalachia
In 2016, the United States collectively pointed a trembling finger of accusation at the Appalachian region. The verdict was in: America was screwed, and “Trump Country” was to blame. Journalists began to flock to the region, looking to demystify and correctly identify the dysfunctional roots of Appalachia and its people. Thinkpiece after thinkpiece was published,…Read more Ep. 18: What Games Are Getting Right About Appalachia
Ep. 17: Triple A Blues
What does it mean to work in AAA game development? In the gaming community, the term "AAA" (pronounced “triple A”) comes with a lot of baggage. While at face value AAA is just an informal way to classify games and games studios that have the highest development and marketing budgets, the category also comes with negative…Read more Ep. 17: Triple A Blues
Ep. 16: Long Distance Bromance
Long distance relationships are enough to make anyone sad. Throw in making a game together? Even sadder! How do long distance game developers stay in the game? As hard as it is to build something together when you’re not, you know, actually together, Michael and Ben of Hydezeke are proof that with the right person (and for…Read more Ep. 16: Long Distance Bromance
Ep. 15: Grief, Game Development, and the Emotional Significance of Oatmeal
Andrea Ayres, creator of The Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne, makes me feel a lot of things about hot cereal. The making of the Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne shows that oatmeal has more to do with grief and game development than you might expect. Born on the heels of grief at the loss…Read more Ep. 15: Grief, Game Development, and the Emotional Significance of Oatmeal