Pixel Project Radio is a video game podcast dedicated to analyzing the games we love. Each week, we play through a videogame and talk about it in a book club fo...
As December winds down, Pixel Project Radio is putting out some more "relaxed" episodes, some content that's more approachable and digestible. To start, I thought I'd put out a fairly informal and personal essay: reflecting on ten games from my childhood that really stuck with me and influenced my tastes. Some formed lifelong preferences, others simply gave me many pleasant memories. Please enjoy these musings on sincerity, the idea of "play," and my favorite childhood games!Click on the following to find PPR on the web!PatreonJoin our DiscordTwitter Instagram Bluesky Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
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49:24
Cogito, Ergo Sum | The Talos Principle (Ep. 125)
"The answer that came to me again and again was play. Every human society in recorded history has games. We don't just solve problems out of necessity. We do it for fun...Games are part of what makes us human. We see the world as a mystery, a puzzle, because we've always been a species of problem-solvers." This week, Rick is joined by Alex (Low Five Gaming) to approach the brinks of phenomenal consciousness and transhumanism in The Talos Principle, a 2014 puzzle game by Devolver Digital. Though the storyboarding and "plot" are fairly light (and reminiscent to the Book of Genesis), the implications of the story are far reaching: what is the fundamental turning point into the notion of Qualia, or phenomenal consciousness? And what of free will - do we have it? Join us as we discuss this, the Garden of Eden, how games can foster community, and much more. Please enjoy! (Below are only a few sources consulted for the episode that you may find interesting. I mention a few more in the episode!)Philosophize This! on consciousnessSam Harris and Daniel Dennet debate free willNick Bostrom's Simulation HypothesisClick on the following to find PPR on the web!PatreonJoin our DiscordTwitter Instagram Bluesky Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
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2:14:05
There Was Always A Choice | Spec Ops: The Line (Ep. 124)
"I never meant to hurt anyone." "No one ever does, Walker."This week, Rick is joined once again by Chris Coplien (Retro Hangover Podcast) for a critical analysis of Spec Ops: The Line, Yager Development's masterclass in subversive narratives in gaming. Players take control of Walker as he, along with squadmates Adams and Lugo, embark on a rescue mission in Dubai. Heroes...right? Deontology versus consequentialism, morality through the lenses of Hobbes, Locke, and Zizek, and the importance of perspective - all of this and more, in this week's episode. Please enjoy!Click on the following to find PPR on the web!PatreonJoin our DiscordTwitter Instagram Bluesky Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
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3:18:30
Why Do We Play Video Games? | Roundtable Discussion (Ep. 123)
We bring back roundtable discussions with this week's episode! Rick is joined by Charlie Young and Eric Gess (The Unlockables Podcast) to talk through the reasons we've gravitated toward video games throughout our childhoods as well as adult years. Power fantasies to escapism, rekindling old friendships to discovering new communities, honing a craft as one might an instrument to just relaxing with your spouse...the reasons are endless, but one thing is clear: there's almost no "wrong" way to enjoy this medium. Please enjoy the discussion, and look forward to more roundtable discussions in the future!Are Video Games Good for You? (Cleveland Clinic)Video Games and Cognitive Performance (NIH)The Benefits of Playing Video Games (American Psychological Association - PDF)Team Young CurlingMore Unlockables PodcastClick on the following to find PPR on the web!PatreonJoin our DiscordTwitter Instagram Bluesky Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
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2:05:51
Swear To Me It's True | The Last of Us, Part III (Ep. 122)
You think we have a choice, is that it? Rick is joined once again by Jon (Video Game Lounge Podcast) for the finale of their narrative analysis of The Last of Us! Ethical and moral lines are examined as Joel is confronted with a question that shapes the core of his character: how far is one willing to go for what one perceives as "justice?" Please enjoy!Overview of Thomas HobbesGene Park interviews Neil DruckmannTLOU "Alternate" EndingClick on the following to find PPR on the web!PatreonJoin our DiscordTwitter Instagram Bluesky Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
Pixel Project Radio is a video game podcast dedicated to analyzing the games we love. Each week, we play through a videogame and talk about it in a book club format. We summarize the plot beats while also analyzing the themes, discussing the mechanics, and generally talking about what worked and what didn't for us. It's a celebration of all things gaming, and whether you're playing every day or liked games as a kid, we've got something for you.
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