Extra Credits

S1 • E1

Bad Writing - Why Most Games Tell Bad Stories

Discussion on video game writing and the importance of narrative.

S1 • E2

The Future of MMOs - Why Are There So Many WoW Clones?

A look at Massive Multilayer Online games, why so many of them fail and what the future may be for them.

S1 • E3

Innovation - How AAA and Indie Games Can Learn From Each Other

Discussion of the Indie and AAA branches of the game industry, and how joining forces might help them to drive innovation.

S1 • E4

Where Did Survival Horror Go? - How Franchises Kill Mystery

Survival Horror games and why the genre is suffering.

S1 • E5

No Redeeming Value - Why the God of War Sequels Failed at Storytelling

Discussion of the "God of War" trilogy's triumphs and failings in storytelling.

S1 • E6

Free Speech - The Supreme Court Case Against Violent Video Games

Discussion of a Supreme Court case and what it could mean for the future of video games.

S1 • E7

Enriching Lives - What Mass Effect 2 Teaches Us about Morality

Discussion of a moral choice sequence in Mass Effect 2, and the power video games have to teach us about ourselves.

S1 • E8

"Gamer" - What's in a Name?

Discussion of the problems surrounding the term 'Gamer'.

S1 • E9

Video Game Music - How to Create a Timeless Theme

A look at the way video game music has evolved over the years, and compares the strengths of today's game music with the chiptunes of gaming past.

S1 • E10

Project Ten Dollar - EA Campaigns Against Used Games

A look at EA's "Project Ten Dollar" and suggestions of some alternatives.

S1 • E11

Kinect and Move - Can Motion Control Ever Succeed?

Analysis of motion controls in the video game industry and the potential future to which they might lead.

S1 • E12

Diversity - Why Do Games Lack Diverse Characters?

A brief overlook of the different types of diversity in video games or the lack thereof.

S1 • E13

Mailbag #1 - Questions About the Game Industry

Several frequently asked questions are answered.

S1 • E14

Symbolism 101 - How Horror Games Instill Fear

A Halloween special considering how symbolism can make horror games more frightening.

S1 • E15

Facing Controversy - How to Stand Up for Games as a Medium

A discussion of the negative stereotypes of video games and how gamers can rise above it.

S1 • E16

So You Want to Be a Game Designer - Career Advice for Making Games

Advice for making video games and making a career out of them.

S1 • E17

Easy Games - What Happened to Hardcore Games?

A discussion of how video games have gotten easier over time and the different ways that difficulty can be implemented in a game.

S1 • E18

The Skinner Box - How Games Condition People to Play More

An explanation of how some video games use the Skinner Box, a method of conditioning an individual to do what you want.

S1 • E19

Sex in Games - How Games Need to Mature as a Medium

A discussion about sex and sexuality in video games and how sexual representation can be improved.

S1 • E20

Sexual Diversity - How a Gay Character Made Persona 4 Great

An analysis of the character Kanji Tatsumi from Persona 4 and the example this game sets for portraying sexual orientation in video games.

S1 • E21

Narrative Mechanics - How Missile Command Tells a Story

The idea is proposed that narrative can be told exclusively through gameplay mechanics, citing Missile Command as an example.

S1 • E22

A Season of Hope - Child's Play Charity and the Games Community

This week, we take a break from all the "art and design" talk to appreciate the Child's Play Charity Dinner Auction.

S1 • E23

Choice and Conflict - What Does Choice Mean in Games?

A look at the concept of choice and how it is implemented in video games.

S1 • E24

Mailbag #2 - Questions About the Game Industry

Frequently asked questions are answered.

S1 • E25

Non-Combat Gaming - How to Make Social Mechanics Fun

This week, we consider the neglected potential for game experiences that aren't combat based.

S1 • E26

Piracy - How Can the Game Industry Stop Illegal Downloads?

S1 • E27

Amnesia and Story Structure - Character Development in Fallout: New Vegas

S1 • E28

Playing Like a Designer - I: Examine Your Experiances

S1 • E29

Playing Like a Designer - II: How to Analyze Game Design

S1 • E30

Achievements - Creating a Meaningful Meta-Game

S1 • E31

An Open Letter to EA Marketing - Why EA's Controversial Ads Harm the Industry

S1 • E32

Ludus Florentis - Embracing Change in the Games Industry

S1 • E33

True Female Characters - How to Write Deep and Interesting Characters

S1 • E34

Tutorials 101 - How to Design a Good Game Tutorial

S1 • E35

Tangential Learning - How Games can Teach us While We Play

S1 • E36

Gamification

S1 • E37

Metrics

S1 • E38

Console is the New Coin-Op

S1 • E39

Games You Might Not Have Tried (or Heard of #1

S1 • E40

Learning From Other M