Pixel Therapy Pod

Pixel Therapy's Games of the Year 2025

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In 2025, so many video games helped us laugh, helped us escape, and helped us connect. Join us for our annual discussion and celebration of the games that made our year.

00:00:46 - Some bittersweet news

00:09:56 - 2025 year of gaming overviews

00:26:47 - Spencer and Jamie's Top 5 Games of the Year

01:31:30 - Honorable Mentions

01:43:52 - Favorite characters of the year

01:47:36 - Favorite games journalists/content creators of the year

01:52:15 - Most hype for in 2026

Watch the live stream recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/SE2sNC_uE3Q

Side Quest

https://transasylumsupport.github.io/

The Trans Asylum Seekers Support Network is an interdependent, solidarity-based network of queer and trans asylum seekers, loved ones, collective members, and volunteers dedicated to the abolition of all cages and borders, revolutionary compassion and trans liberation. Our goal is to free transgender asylum seekers languishing in detention centers and help them relocate to and create thriving lives in Western Massachusetts. Learn more by visiting their website or @transasylumsupport on Instagram!

About Pixel Therapy

We're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Demonschool, Because It's Turn-Based RPG Season

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

As the temperatures drop, the coziness factor turns up, and the impending arrival of a new year looms ominously on the horizon inviting us to dissociate from reality for just a little bit (just us?), it's just the perfect time to escape the stress and excitement of the holidays with a lengthy RPG you can sink your teeth into. At least, that's our tradition. Enter Demonschool (Necrosoft Games, published by Ysbryd Games), a campy, queer, isometric tactics RPG set at the cusp of Y2K with a delightful cast of college students banding together to save the world from monsters and gangsters while finding time for karaoke dates, fishing, petting dogs, and maybe kissing. WHAT ELSE COULD YOU WANT?

00:07:34 - Plate Up!

00:16:00 - s.p.l.i.t

00:20:28 - Demonschool

Watch the live stream recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/vdzIo5MlaYU

Side Quest

https://transasylumsupport.github.io/

About Pixel Therapy

Fight Time and Flirt with Doom in Hades II

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

This week we're chatting about Hades II, the long-in-early-access follow up to 2020's Hades from Supergiant Games. Like its predecessor, Hades II is an action RPG roguelike chock full of eye-popping art, callous-forming combat, and a steady supply of sexual tension set in the deep lore of Greek myth while telling the all-too-relatable story of confronting toxic family dynamics and breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma. So grab a bottle of ambrosia and activate God Mode with us as we unpack all our thoughts and feelings about this game of the year contender.

1:57 - Dispatch final thoughts

11:29 - Hades II

53:30 - **SPOILERS for Hades II**

1:32:32 - Outro

Watch the live stream recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/XZ-HrL-XNNQ

Side Quest

https://transasylumsupport.github.io/

About Pixel Therapy

What do Dispatch, Consume Me, and BALLxPIT Have in Common?

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Idk, but let us know in the comments! We continue our scattershot indie game revue reviews this week with Dispatch (AdHoc Studio, Critical Role), a superhero workplace comedy where choices matter, Consume Me (Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson), a WarioWare-esque slice-of-life RPG about that time when your parents, your friends, and society at large all conspired to make you feel ugly, lazy, stupid, and unloved despite the brilliant human spirit contained within you (aka high school), and BALLxPIT (Kenny Sun and Friends), a brick-breaking, ball-fusing, base-building survival roguelite!!!!111

02:10 - Halloweens Past & Present

12:16 - Adventures in Multiplayer with Phasmophobia and Power Wash Simulator 2

23:33 - Dispatch

58:42 - BALLxPIT

01:16:07 - Consume Me

Referenced article: "Coming-of-age horrors cut deep in Consume Me", by Giovanni Colantonio, https://www.polygon.com/consume-me-review/

Watch the live stream recording of this episode on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/VfDPY5IK1Hk?si=l6Ji_QAHVBftQo8U

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

A Bunch of Games About Little Guys

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Bricks and sticks, pixels and lines. This week we cover a crop of endearing and surprisingly emotional indie games that have carried us through some tumultuous past few weeks. Also, Spencer draws an unhinged connection between Zach Cregger's summer thriller Weapons and Okomotive's atmospheric alpine expedition game Herdling. I feel like you guys will get it.

Games discussed this episode:

01:36 - Phasmophobia - Kinetic Games

10:19 - Herdling - Okomotive

29:29 - Is This Seat Taken? - Poti Poti Studio

36:05 - Time Flies - Playables, Raphaël Munoz

46:56 - LEGO Voyagers - Light Brick Studios

Watch the live stream recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/m8Ijpui2RCY

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

Queer Theory? In Front of MY Death Stranding 2: On the Beach?!

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500

It's more common than you think. Join us this week as we load up our top-heavy backpacks, strap our tiny sentient dolls to our hips, and unpack DEATH STRANDING 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions' and Sony Interactive Entertainment's much-anticipated sequel to 2019's polarizing Death Stranding. While we likely could have spent 6+ hours unpacking this genre-defying experience of a game, what we can promise is this: Opposing viewpoints! Can something be somehow super trans AND super not queer? Norman Reedus MPREG fantasies! Gender essentialism?! AND MORE!

**Heads up! We unfortunately were having some significant internet connection issues while recording, some of which did carry through to the final podcast. Apologies!

02:12 - Pixel Therapy is looking for a third

09:55 - Twisted Metal Season 2

14:53 - Main Topic: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

01:14:04 - SPOILERS BEGIN for Death Stranding 2

01:57:59 - END OF SPOILERS, Outro

Referenced article - "The Women of Death Stranding 2 Are Stuck in a Sad Cycle" by Maddy Myers, https://www.endlessmode.com/video-games/death-stranding-2/the-women-of-death-stranding-2-are-stuck-in-a-sad-cycle

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

Everdeep Aurora Mines for Truth in the Midst of the Apocalypse

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In the midst of an ongoing apocalyptic meteor shower that has forced the world's population of adorable pixelated animals underground, a kitten named Shell awakens to discover her mother missing. Join us as we dig into Nautilus Games' Everdeep Aurora, published by Ysbryd Games, which we had the pleasure of demo-ing at PAX West 2024!

01:38 - Death Stranding 2 impressions

08:24 - Quick film/TV talk (The Bear S4, Superman, Yuri on Ice)

16:06 - Everdeep Aurora discussion

Referenced in this episode: "Everdeep Aurora review: Searching for a home at the end of the world", Will Borger, Shacknews - https://www.shacknews.com/article/145053/everdeep-aurora-review-searching-for-a-home-at-the-end-of-the-world

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube at https://youtube.com/live/qjH3LH3kMS4

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

Slay the House Down Boots, Body is Tree and Forest is Mother

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

This Pride Month, we played three iconic LGBTQ+ visual novels that are each a little spooky, a little spicy, and have a whole lot of heart: Midnight Scenes: From the Woods (White Blanket Games), Mediterranea Inferno (Lorenzo Redaelli, Santa Ragione), and We Know the Devil (pillowfight)! Plus: Is the Babdook a queer icon? Are trans people actual biblically accurate angels on earth? Does kink belong at Pride? (yes) All this and more await you!!

05:18 - Why does the horror genre pair so well with stories that explore LGBTQ+ themes?

12:59 - Midnight Scenes: From the Woods discussion

30:03 - We Know the Devil discussion

45:35 - Mediterranea Inferno discussion

01:16:00 - Some final thoughts

Watch the live recording of this episode at https://youtube.com/live/RWv4zXg0YIE

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Has a Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Could it really be a contender for Game of the Year 2025? Join us as we break down Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG...or maybe...J'RPG (with MANY a twist) from French studio Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive. This episode includes a heated debate on the game's endings if you wanna stick around for our spoiler discussion (and don't worry, we'll warn you when it's coming!).

00:58 - Patreon shoutouts

03:10 - Game Informer's back!

05:25 - Summer Game Fest

25:34- Herdling preview

33:36 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 discussion

01:44:28 - SPOILERS for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

02:19:51 - END OF SPOILERS & Episode Outro

Check out the articles referenced in this episode:

"We're Really Just Going Through With All This, Aren't We," Luke Plunkett, Aftermath - https://aftermath.site/summer-game-fest-2025-switch-2-launch-geoff-keighley

"The 'deprofessionalization of video games' was on full display at PAX East," Bryant Francis, Game Developer - https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-deprofessionalization-is-bad-for-video-games

"No, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wasn't made by 30 people," Nic Reuben, Rock Paper Shotgun - https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/no-clair-obscur-expedition-33-wasnt-made-by-30-people

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/TmpmX1_Vfak

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

HBO's The Last of Us Season 2 Spoilercast

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We didn't mean to record a 2 hour, 42 min podcast, but sometimes these things just happen. Join us as we dissect the second season of the show the internet loves to hate: HBO's The Last of Us. Episode contains full spoilers for both the games and the show.

No time stamps for this one because we pretty much jump right in!

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/tCfOAWyECX0

Side Quest

https://gazafunds.com/

Gaza Funds is a project that connects people to crowdfunding campaigns for individuals and families from Gaza, surfacing different campaigns each time the page is reloaded. Please visit, share, and donate if you can.

About Pixel Therapy

Blue Prince, Your House, and the Allure of the Abandoned Space

Tue, 13 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Spencer is freshly back from Tokyo and the jet lag is strong, but they're pushing through it for this month's double hitter of an episode that has the Pixel Therapy pals discussing a pair of recently released games about mysterious, abandoned houses: the visual novel/point-and-click puzzle adventure Your House, from quirky Spanish studio PATRONES & ESCONDITES, and the smash hit, first-person, genre-defying Blue Prince from Dogubomb and publisher Raw Fury. Put your thinking caps on and get curious with us as we unpack these two unique experiences with similar themes and marvel at the innate human desire to rifle through other people's shit.

0:57 - Patreon shoutouts

3:59 - Spencer went to Japan!

22:25 - Your House discussion

46:57 - Blue Prince discussion

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/3VLsIlPjpsc

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

Burning Out and Embracing Boredom in Wanderstop

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Join us as we chat about Wanderstop, a "cozy" tea shop management game about "change and tea" from the new indie developer Ivy Road, co-founded by the creator of The Stanley Parable and folks who've worked on games like Gone Home and Minecraft. In Wanderstop we play as the young fighter, Alta, once the greatest in the world, who suddenly can't pick up her sword. And she's tired. Super tired. But it's nothing. She just needs to keep going, keep pushing, like she always has. But when Alta passes out in the forest and is saved by the affable tea shop owner, Boro, he suggests she stay and take on a role at his woodland tea shop. Just until she can pick up her sword again, of course. Maybe Alta just needs a break?

1:07 - Patreon shoutouts

4:12 - Steven Universe (the show)

21:54 - Wanderstop conversation begins

Watch the live recording of the episode on YouTube! https://youtube.com/live/1XBngY4OmH4

Side Quest

https://chuffed.org/project/justice-for-mahmoud-khalil

Mahmoud Khalil is a Columbia University grad student and Palestinian activist who, despite being a lawful green card holder and lawful resident of the US, was abducted from his home by ICE without being shown a warrant or any charges, and is now in a detention center in Louisiana facing deportation. This chuffed fund is raising money to support Mahmoud’s legal fees and support his wife and unborn child during this time, in return for his lifelong dedication to advocating for justice himself.

About Pixel Therapy

In Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, Lost Memories and Found Family

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Jump Over the Age and Fellow Traveller's Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is a dice-driven RPG focused on choice, risk, and survival in a hostile interstellar world. A game that is inherently queer and earnestly hopeful, it explores themes of collective care, bodily autonomy, and capitalistic greed within a compelling tabletop-inspired framework. In this episode we explore its many layers, and where it hits and misses.

0:47 - Patreon shoutouts

6:22 - crafting talk

14:30 - Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector conversation begins

35:38 - ** CONTENT WARNING ** for discussion of abuse and sexual assault

37:39 - End of ** CONTENT WARNING **

Watch the live recording of the episode on YouTube! https://youtube.com/live/8FKXJkolD28

Side Quest

transdefensefundla.org

Trans Defense Fund LA is a mutual aid resource and network collecting info about ways to help community members as well as distributing safety kits and funds to trans folks across the city.

About Pixel Therapy

Crushes and Coalition-Building in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In light of a slew of layoffs at BioWare, the future of the Dragon Age series is unclear. But at a time when storytelling like this -- of building community across differences to fight back against impossible odds, and of finding spots of joy along the way -- feels more important than ever, we kind of surprised ourselves with how much we had to talk about. It's Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the fourth installment in BioWare and Electronic Arts' long-running fantasy RPG saga full of side quests and flirting!!!!

0:46 - Patreon shoutouts

11:24 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard conversation begins

1:09:13 - *SPOILER WARNING* for a detailed conversation about a specific companion romance moment

1:16:49 - *END SPOILERS

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/live/-FCVout3irU?si=Ae4gE2yepvciaAo7

Side Quest

transdefensefundla.org

Trans Defense Fund LA is a mutual aid resource and network collecting info about ways to help community members as well as distributing safety kits and funds to trans folks across the city.

About Pixel Therapy

Pixel Therapy's Games of the Year 2024

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

It's time for our fourth annual totally unserious end of year roundup! Let's revisit the games that got us through the trash fire that was 2024, and get excited for a new year of gaming ahead of us.

1:24 - Patreon shoutouts

3:56 - Holiday catch-up

9:17 - 2024 year of gaming overviews

20:22 - Spencer and Jamie's Top 5 Games of 2024

1:26:05 - Favorite characters of the year

**SPOILERS** 1:30:20 - 1:33:23 for some mid-game narrative stuff in Metaphor: ReFantazio

1:35:57 - Honorable mentions

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/n7UB2y6-ph8

About Pixel Therapy

Metaphor: ReFantazio Will Radicalize You

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

From developer Studio Zero and publisher Atlus (creators of the beloved Persona series) comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, the developer's first foray into the fantasy genre -- with a sprawling epic RPG that imagines a utopic new world and fights to make it real. Built upon radical ideas from as far back as 1516, Metaphor brings them to life for a new generation to draw strength from as the fight for liberation and equality across our real world continues.

The game was nominated for Game of the Year at this year’s Game Awards, where it won Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction. Whether you're an art history nerd like Spencer or love little bat guys like Jamie, this rich tapestry of a game has something for everyone. What are you waiting for?! FANTASY IS ALIVE!

1:43 - Patreon shoutouts

6:43 - Our trip to New Orleans

12:50 - Metaphor ReFantazio conversation begins

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/zBu6hd3SypY

About Pixel Therapy

In Neva, Making Meaning and Moving Forward

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500

From Nomada Studio, the creators of Gris, comes new puzzle-platformer Neva: the moving tale of a young swordswoman named Alba and her lifelong bond with a magnificent wolf as they embark on a thrilling adventure through a rapidly dying world. And all we have to say is...HOW DARE YOU?! But forreal though, this game packs a ton of emotional weight in a short, beautifully wrapped package, with lessons on grief, growth, and the cyclical nature of life. Let's get into it!

1:01 - Patreon shoutouts

3:32 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard said trans rights

14:22 - Neva discussion begins

57:41 - SPOILERS begin

1:09:59 - SPOILERS end

"In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, This Dialogue Option Lets You Declare Your Character Is Trans" by Kenneth Shepard for Kotaku - https://kotaku.com/dragon-age-veilguard-trans-choice-rook-gender-pronouns-1851682607

"Neva Review: Parenting at the End of the World" by Mitchell Demorest for Slant Magazine - https://www.slantmagazine.com/games/neva-review/

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/live/EWRIG2BF_-M

About Pixel Therapy

Our Favorite Games from PAX West 2024: Part 2

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Welcome to Part 2 of our PAX West 2024 coverage! PAX West is one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world, existing as a celebration of gaming and gaming culture and featuring panels, a massive expo-hall, and more. While there, Spencer and Jamie got hands-on demos with more than 40 games (!!!) and recorded interviews with over a dozen game-makers. We've boiled down our experience into the best stuff we saw presented for you in these two hefty podcast episodes.

Find the full list of all our favorite games from PAX, with links to Wishlist on Steam and learn more, on our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/fill-up-your-our-112451704

0:45 - Patreon shoutouts

3:47 - Whisper of the House

9:24 - Winter Burrow, feat. an interview with Benjamin Salqvist (he/him), CEO & Creative Director at Pine Creek Games

18:13 - Moonlight Peaks

22:00 - Woodo

27:58 - Rooster, feat. an interview with Sticky Brain Studios Art Director Connie Choi (she/her)

37:29 - Moses & Plato - Last Train to Clawville

42:17 - Urban Myth Dissolution Center

47:34 - Drăculești, feat. an interview with Mads Mackenzie (they/them), Director at Fine Feathered Fiends

57:51 - Heartworm

1:02:35 - Love Eternal, feat. an interview with Lead Developer (among other titles) Toby Allden (they/them) from brlka

1:18:26 - Usual June

1:22:34 - Time Flies

1:28:17 - While Waiting, feat. an interview with Dong Zhou (he/him), Founder of Optillusion & Creative Director

1:34:39 - Spirit of Midnight

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

Our Favorite Games from PAX West 2024, Part 1

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500

At the beginning of September, we spent a jam-packed whirlwind of a weekend at this year's PAX West Convention in Seattle, WA. A celebration of gaming and gaming culture featuring panels, a massive expo-hall, and more, PAX West is one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world with over 100,000 attendees present this year alone. We put our time there to good use, getting hands-on demos with more than 40 games and recording interviews with over a dozen game-makers, so now we're breaking down the best stuff we saw in two hefty episodes releasing a week apart. Here's Part 1, enjoy!

Find the full list of every game we're covering with links to Wishlist on Steam and learn more on our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/fill-up-your-our-112451704

0:53 - Patreon shoutouts

3:58 - We went to fucking PAX West!!

16:45 - The Big Con

21:09 - Astro Bot

27:43 - Spiral, feat. an interview with Jess Vaillancourt (she/her), Project Manager at Folklore Games

37:35 - Seasonspree

41:51 - Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

47:08 - Beastieball, feat. an interview with Director Greg Lobanov (he/him) and Beastie Art Director Alexis Dean-Jones (she/her) from Wishes Unlimited

53:35 - Techno Banter, feat. an interview with Tom Tomaszewski (he/him), Head of Studio at publisher Crunching Koalas

1:02:36 - Outrider Mako

1:05:33 - Tears of Metal

1:10:14 - Feltopia, feat. an interview with Andrea Love (she/her), Creative Director at Wooly Games

1:17:40 - Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch

1:22:04 - Everdeep Aurora

1:27:49 - Herdling, feat. an interview with Co-Founder and Creative Director Don Schmocker (he/him) and 3D Artist Samuel Flores (he/him) from Okomotive

1:42:02 - despelote

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is More Than Meets the Eye

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500

You give me a genderless, silent protagonist, and you bet I will project ALL OF THE FEELINGS onto your tower defense game. A unique blend of action and strategy, Capcom's Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess puts players in the role of Soh, protector of the maiden Yoshiro, as they slice with elegant, dance-like sword moves and strategically command villagers against ominous foes in their journey to cleanse their mountain home of corruption.

1:05 - Patreon shoutouts

4:34 - Yuri on Ice

9:20 - Creatures of Ava

12:37 - Kunitsu-Gami conversation begins

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/vFyXnYqPiaE

About Pixel Therapy

Struggle and Sisterhood in 1000xResist with Sunset Visitor's Remy Siu and Pinki Li

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We do not choose what we inherit, but we can choose what we carry. This week we're joined by sunset visitor 斜陽過客 Creative Director Remy Siu and Narrative Designer Pinki Li to chat about their journey as indie devs bringing 1000xRESIST to life -- and the resonance that has been deeply felt by players within and outside of the Asian diaspora.

Hailed by PASTE Magazine as one of the best games in the genre AND one of the best games of the year (agreed), 1000xRESIST is a thrilling sci-fi adventure where a disease spread by an alien invasion keeps you underground. You are Watcher, dutifully fulfilling your purpose in serving the ALLMOTHER -- until the day you discover a shocking secret that changes everything.

1:11 - Patreon shoutouts

2:21 - Welcome Pinki and Remy!

11:29 - 1000xResist conversation begins

52:34 - 1:01:45 - SPOILERS!!

1:05:42 - 1:13:15 - MORE SPOILERS!!

Read the essay '1000xRESIST is a game for a post-2019 Hong Kong protest generation of diaspora children that doesn't exist yet' by kastelpls: https://cohost.org/highimpactsex/post/5960606-1000x-resist-is-a-gam

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/YIubeBZyPbM

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

CRYPTMASTER Keeps the Craft (Un)Alive

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0500

This week on the podcast we're chatting about Akupara Games' CRYPTMASTER -- a bizarre dungeon-crawling adventure where words control everything. It's like Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, but with more necromancy. And we mean that in the best way possible.

0:55 - Patreon shoutouts

3:22 - We're going to PAX West!

6:28 - Cryptmaster conversation begins

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/RT775n2Zep4

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

About Pixel Therapy

Little Goody Two Shoes: A Sapphic '90s-Era Shoujo Folk Story!

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

This week we're joined by AstralShift's Kira (António Lopes / @kirariinn) to talk everything Little Goody Two Shoes -- a lush, gorgeously detailed horror-adventure-visual novel following Elise, a rebellious young woman daring to build a better life for herself in a deceptively peaceful small town. The game expertly explores the queer subtext beneath the horrors of witch hunts and religious ostracization, and we had an absolutely lovely time unpacking it with the game's lead artist and co-director!

PS - there's still time to enter our giveaway of a Steam key for Little Goody Two Shoes! Just visit patreon.com/pixeltherapypod and sign up as a free or paid subscriber! The winner will be notified on Patreon by this Sunday, May 5th. Thanks, AstralShift!

0:52 - Patreon shoutouts

3:04 - Introduction of Kira

7:19 - Discussion of Little Goody Two Shoes begins

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/wp8zS3TyjX8

About Pixel Therapy

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother(s Remake)!

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, originally released in 2013 to critical and fan acclaim, transformed the way many people thought about what games could be and laid the groundwork for director Josef Fares' later explorations in cooperative mechanics (y'all may remember his title It Takes Two won Game of the Year in 2021!). Lovingly remade by Italian developer Avantgarden, critics have been torn on Brothers 2024 -- but we sure aren't! Join us as we re-traumatize ourselves on this heartbreaking adventure while Spencer recaps their experience at GDC 2024.

For real though: Content warning for discussions of gameplay involving depictions of attempted suicide and death.

0:58 - Patreon shoutouts

3:09 - Spencer went to GDC

34:58 - Brothers conversation begins

1:07:27 - Content Warning: Mention of Suicide

1:10:35 - End of Content Warning section

1:17:09 - SPOILERS for Brothers

1:35:10 - End of Spoilers

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/Etg-ZgICP-g

About Pixel Therapy

Love, Death + Ghosties in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Join us as we break down DON'T NOD's spiritual Vampyr successor, the doomed love story of ghost hunters Red and Antea in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden.

0:45 - Patreon shoutouts

3:05 - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

9:10 - Showtime's The Curse

16:51 - discussion of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden begins

Side Quest

tinyurl.com/opolivebranch

Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.

Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/Cppl6h4hWh8

About Pixel Therapy

Story Craft: A Conversation with In Stars and Time's Adrienne Bazir

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

This week, we're so excited to welcome cartoonist, animator, and game developer Adrienne Bazir (she/they) into the studio to talk about their 2023 timeloop RPG, In Stars and Time!

In Stars and Time is a turn-based RPG that follows a group of adventurers at the end of their journey to defeat a king slowly freezing the land in time. It's also a game about found family, snacks, cosmic indifference, and the power in knowing where you come from and embracing who you are. Safe to say it has us in a chokehold.

0:57 - patreon shoutouts

2:07 - introduction of adrienne

6:53 - discussion of In Stars and Time begins

Learn more about Adrienne and In Stars and Time:

https://www.insertdisc5.com/

https://www.instarsandtime.com/ - available now on Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch!

Side Quest

https://www.instagram.com/anat.international/

Salma Shawa (@anat.international) is a content creator pushing followers to think critically about Palestine. Give her a follow on Instagram!

About Pixel Therapy

Pixel Therapy's Games of the Year 2023

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Welcome to our third annual totally unserious end of year review! Let's dive into some of the games that we were especially delighted, transported, and inspired by in 2023.

3:27 - thank you!

7:14 - 2023 in games - great games vs. terrible layoffs

17:04 - recapping our year in games

31:49 - our 2023 Top 5 games

1:41:58 - honorable mentions

1:48:32 - favorite character of the year

Articles Referenced

https://www.theverge.com/24009039/video-game-layoffs-2023

Side Quest

https://www.instagram.com/connectinghumanity_/

Connecting Humanity is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting vulnerable people in conflict zones by distributing e-sims, digital sim cards allowing for connection to a cellular network, bringing vital communication to family, between medical providers and patients, and more in Gaza and beyond. Check them out on Instagram!

About Pixel Therapy

In Jusant and Chants of Sennaar, It's the Climb

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

As we close out a difficult year, two great games with interesting parallels remind us to keep it pushing -- with profound meditations on what happens when we look away from the world and from each other. In Rundisc's Chants of Sennaar, a hooded protagonist strives to reach the top of a mysterious tower while decoding language barriers that have kept its inhabitants isolated for generations. In Don't Nod's Jusant, a young climber scales an abandoned mountain in a treacherous journey to restore balance to a planet trapped in limbo. And they both slap!!!!

1:51 - Patreon shoutouts! Thank you all!

4:09 - Casual home disaster chat (thanks for your patience as we've rescheduled lately!)

6:27 - We both finished Sea of Stars!

17:23 - Jusant and Chants of Sennaar conversation

Article referenced:

https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23864920/chants-of-sennaar-review-puzzles-stealth

Side Quest

https://www.antipoliceterrorproject.org/

The Anti Police-Terror Project is a Black-led, multi-racial, intergenerational coalition that seeks to build a replicable and sustainable model to eradicate police terror in communities of color. We support families surviving police terror in their fight for justice, documenting police abuses and connecting impacted families and community members with resources, legal referrals, and opportunities for healing.

About Pixel Therapy

In Thirsty Suitors, Maximalism Meets Emotional Maturity

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Jala Jayaratne is a bisexual mess! In Outerloop Games' Thirsty Suitors (published by Annapurna Interactive), she skates, cooks, and battles her way through emotionally intense psychodrama encounters with her exes on the path towards accountability and redemption. You know, your classic visit home. Join us as we gush over this absolutely gorgeous game and dive into its endearing emotional depth and celebration of queer truth!

Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel and check out our upcoming streams!

Tue, Nov 28 @ 8PM ET
Thu, Nov 30 @ 8PM ET

Article referenced:

https://www.wired.com/review/thirsty-suitors-review/

Side Quest

https://ceasefiretoday.com/

This is an international collection of resources designed to help you demand a ceasefire in Gaza from your local representatives, spread awareness in your social networks, and donate to humanitarian causes on the ground who are working tirelessly to provide lifesaving medical aid to children and other vulnerable civilians.

About Pixel Therapy

Sailing Towards Utopia in Saltsea Chronicles

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Nautical nonsense is absolutely something we wish -- and we never want it to end. Especially when it comes to Die Gute Fabrik's latest narrative adventure masterpiece, Saltsea Chronicles! Join us as we dive into a game full of riches to share, lessons to teach, and mechanics that continue to reimagine and expand what a "visual novel" can be.

4:09 - Our Flag Means Death S2 reactions (no spoilers!)

7:50 - Fingersmith and The Handmaiden

15:24 - Saltsea Chronicles discussion begins

Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel and check out our upcoming Let's Play streams as we scream our way through Alan Wake Remastered!

Tue, Oct 31 @ 8PM ET
Thu, Nov 02 @ 8PM ET

Articles and posts referenced:

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/deep-dive-designing-the-narrative-for-multiple-middles-and-multiple-heroes-in-saltsea-chronicles

https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/saltsea-chronicles/saltsea-chronicles-beautifully-finds-a-way-forward

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/die-gute-fabrik-and-the-necessity-to-tackle-climate-inaction

Side Quest

https://gazachildrensfund.org/

The Gaza Strip has been under siege for over a decade, with a dangerous decline in the standard of living, unrelenting poverty and inadequate healthcare. Gaza is a continuing disaster zone.

Gaza Children’s Fund Inc. is a not for profit organisation founded in 2010, by a group of volunteers and social activists, to help address the issues concerning disadvantaged Palestinians.

About Pixel Therapy

It's a Megagame Extravaganza! Baldur's Gate 3 vs Starfield!

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0500

It's a beefy one this week, bois and gworls! Join us as we dive into the year's biggest RPGs -- Larian Studios' long-awaited Dungeons and Dragons adventure Baldur's Gate 3, and Bethesda's much-hyped interstellar action installment Starfield, its first new universe in 25 years!

PLUS: We're livestreaming now! Check us out on YouTube, and thanks for all of your support!

4:55 - Patreon shoutouts

7:20 - Spencer's big surprise

11:02 - The triumphant return of Mr. Peepers 💀

13:29 - Starfield and Baldur's Gate 3 discussion begins

Articles and posts referenced:

https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/60561/1/baldurs-gate-iii-larian-studios-the-queerest-video-game-of-all-time-bear

https://roleplayersguild.wordpress.com/2016/04/06/ed-greenwood-on-dragonspears-controversy/

https://twitter.com/WritNelson/status/1677632079792668673

Side Quest

Did you know that the five day workweek in the US was established in October? So this week we wanted to let you know about Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, a coalition of community, faith, and labor groups in Massachusetts organizing working people and allies to fight for the rights of all workers: locally, nationally, and internationally.

Their mission is to defend working people’s standard of living, fight for job security, protect our right to organize and support contract campaigns and strikes.

Donate and get involved at massjwj.net!

About Pixel Therapy

In Stray Gods and Goodbye Volcano High, a Spectrum of Queer Musical Adventures

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500

An end-of-summer extravaganza of queer coming-of-age narrative adventure musicals was not on my bingo card for 2023, but here we are and we're not complaining about it! Join us as we explore two games that could not be more different in their tone and execution, but are linked by coincidental parallels in the form of two player characters striving to understand themselves and their respective worlds through song (and maybe kiss someone along the way). Check out KO_OP's Goodbye Volcano High and Summerfall Studios' Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, out now on Steam and PlayStation 4/5 (as well as Xbox and Nintendo Switch for Stray Gods!).

0:56 - Patreon shoutouts

5:01 - Check-in on Starfield and Baldur's Gate 3

7:20 - Stray Gods and Goodbye Volcano High discussion

Heads up that our next episode will be out in 4 weeks, as we wrap our heads around two beefy bois: Starfield and Baldur's Gate 3!!!

Side Quest

Grimalkin Records provides queer, trans, BIPOC, disabled, and neurodiverse artists support and access towards living authentic, healthy and fulfilling lives through partnerships and connections with other individuals, collectives, organizations, and nonprofits.

As a non-profit, volunteer-run, mutual aid organization, they rely on community support to do the work that they do. Learn more about financial and non-financial ways to support at grimalkinrecords.com!

About Pixel Therapy

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is a Same Same (But Different) Sequel

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Thanks for your patience on our slightly-longer than usual episode break! We're so happy to be back with each other and all of you for a deep dive into Night School Studio's Netflix-produced Oxenfree II: Lost Signals! Who doesn't love a good end-of-summer multi-dimensional haunting?

Spoiler warning: Light spoilers for the first Oxenfree throughout, as well as very light story spoilers for Oxenfree II.

1:04 - Patreon shoutouts

7:29 - First class travel

14:47 - Oxenfree II discussion

Side Quest

bit.ly/mauimutualaide

IG: @mauirapidresponse

FB: ‘Maui Fire, Flood & Disaster Relief Group

Support Maui wildfire relief! All funds will be distributed as quickly as possible to vulnerable Hawaiians in need, prioritizing elders, people with disabilities, renters, and those who are uninsured or under insured. Needs lists and drop off locations are also being posted to the referenced social media accounts.

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes every three weeks! Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

A Vivid Sense of Place in Dordogne's Hand-Painted Escape

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Cannes Award-winning director and animator Cedric Babouche crafts a cinematic feast for the senses in sun-soaked Dordogne, a bite-sized narrative adventure from his studio Un Je Ne Sais Quoi and Umanimation and published by Focus Entertainment. Join us as we explore a summery tale about family wounds and childhood memories that may not deliver on all of the plot points it sets up but provides a rich backdrop to explore an idyllic portrait of the French countryside -- perfect for a quiet afternoon, or while your partner hogs the TV getting bodied by Margit the Fell Omen for the 20th time (Spencer's writing this).

Articles referenced:

Dordogne, the story behind a watercolour video game - https://www.cnc.fr/web/en/news/dordogne-the-story-behind-a-watercolour-video-game_1905450

An interview with Cedric Babouche by Takayuki Sawahata - https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/20230621-19630/

The hand-painted beauty of indie game Dordogne by Andrew Webster - https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/6/21249119/dordogne-indie-game-interview-steam-nintendo-switch

Side Quest

https://cia-oiifrance.org/

Collectif Intersexe Activiste is the only association by and for intersex people in France.

Intersex refers to the social status of people born with primary and/or secondary sex characteristics considered to fall outside typical social and medical definitions of feminine and masculine. Learn more about their campaigns to raise awareness and education about the lived experiences of intersex people, access their resource library, and donate to their community efforts at the link

About Pixel Therapy

Wandering Alone, Linked Together in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500

There's no better way to close out Pride Month than crying about The Legend of Zelda, in our opinion. Join us as we dive into Tears of the Kingdom, the latest entry in Nintendo's storied, cyclical, ever-endearing saga starring a princess, a hero, a land alive with history, and the players who love them.

0:50 - Patreon shoutouts!

2:35 - Are y'all watching The Bear?!

9:53 - Tears of the Kingdom discussion

Articles referenced:

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: the Kotaku Review by Carolyn Petit - https://kotaku.com/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-the-kotaku-r-1850570840

A Link Between Genders: Trans Joy and the Legend of Zelda by Linda Codega - https://gizmodo.com/legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-link-trans-1850430832

In Tears of the Kingdom, Everyone Is Chill About the Second Apocalypse, for Better or Worse by Fran Ruiz - https://www.escapistmagazine.com/zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-chill-second-apocalypse/

Side Quest

https://www.gofundme.com/f/queer-diy-space-in-richmond-va

Mutual aid request! Richmond, VA is in dire need of DIY spaces for dance music and for BLACK PEOPLE!! Any donation helps as it will go towards helping DJ/producer Herbert Vasquez build a queer and trans focused DIY space where music and community can thrive.

About Pixel Therapy

More Like Horizon Forbidden West: Slow-Burning Shores, Amirite?

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Join us as we soar upon a Sunwing into Guerilla Games' long-awaited epilogue to 2022's Horizon Forbidden West, among the sun-soaked Burning Shores of post-post-apocalyptic Los Angeles! It's both a bittersweet final adventure with the late, great Lance Reddick and a new kind of journey for the emotionally distant Aloy we've all come to know and love. PS - Happy Pride!

3:35 - Let's get into the PlayStation Showcase!

24:49 - Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores discussion

29:00 - The next-gen-ness of it all

33:42 - Background and setup

45:55 - Aloy's emotional coming-of-age

53:53 - Traversal-focused gameplay

1:03:27 - SPOILER WARNING! Spoilers for Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores from here forward!

1:05:00 - "Wow" moments and scaling up enemies

1:16:00 - THAT part

Side Quest

https://neads.org/

NEADS was established in 1976 and has trained over 1,900 Service Dog teams since its founding. Check out their mission, get involved in helping working pups find their people, and donate at the link above!

About Pixel Therapy

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is the Horny Card Battler We All Need

Tue, 16 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500

I was an agender explorer in a polycule with a hot alien and a goth loner. I was a lesbian scientist who betrayed my lover to save our home, my relationship torn apart by regret and shame. I was a queer botanist who saved our space colony from famine and discovered an ancient civilization. I was all of these people and more in Northway Games and Finji's award-winning I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, released in 2022! Join us as we dive into this story-rich and lovingly rendered RPG/life sim!

2:56 - Guardians of the Galaxy 3!

11:37 - Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom FOMO

16:17 - I was a Teenage Exocolonist discussion

Side Quest

safewithusanimalrescue.org

Safe With Us Animal Rescue is a registered, nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal rescue located in Massachusetts. They are an all-volunteer, shelter-less rescue. Check them out, get involved, and donate at the link above!

About Pixel Therapy

Persona 3 Portable is 14 Years Old and Still Serving

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

CONTENT WARNING: Persona 3 Portable contains themes and imagery of death and suicide that are discussed in this episode.

Break out your eyeliner, let your hair down (preferably over one eye), and dust off your PSP (RIP) -- it's time to dive into everyone's favorite emo high school RPG: Persona 3 Portable!!! It's like Pokémon, if the protagonist wandered into Hot Topic and got REALLY into My Chemical Romance. In the best way. P3P is messy, intense, a little cringe, and a little silly -- but its blackened heart is still beating, and it boldly tackles themes of death and absurdity that the series hasn't quite approached in the same way since.

1:05 - Patreon shoutouts - Welcome Ava & Sammi!! <3

10:42 - Jamie saw the Mario movie lol

19:54 - Persona 3 Portable discussion

Side Quest

www.walkout2learn.org

On April 21st, Floridian high school and college students are walking out of class to reclaim their rights! Black, queer, trans, and female-identifying people and their histories are the targets of government censorship, and students are pushing back against the government’s authoritarian takeover of public education. Walkout2Learn is coordinating student walkouts across the state of Florida on April 21st, where students plan to join together, register to vote, and receive 5-minute banned history lessons from one of their peers, who will have been trained by Harvard educators. Learn more, get involved, donate, and spread the word by visiting walkout2learn[dot]org!

About Pixel Therapy

HBO's The Last of Us Spoilercast!

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Let's get into it! This episode contains spoilers for both Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part I and HBO's television adaptation starring Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal. This episode brought to you by Dunkin' oat milk macchiatos and Jamie's slow descent into tsundere romance anime.

0:37 - Patreon shout-outs and check-ins!

6:43 - Reflecting on 10 years as TLOU fans and initial thoughts on the adaptation

21:12 - About that ending...

41:15 - Is TLOU the "greatest story ever told in video games?"

43:23 - On being Joel vs watching Joel

48:31 - Any critiques of the show?

1:01:57 - The David debate

1:13:32 - Is HBO's TLOU the best video game adaptation of all time?

Thanks as always for your support!

Side Quest

MushroomsformyFriends.com

Over the past decade Tyler Akabane has been showing people how to search for and safely identify mushrooms on forest floors, tree trunks and decomposing wood piles. Akabane wants to demystify the magic of mushrooms through workshops, conversations, and culinary exploration. For groceries, education, and exposure to more mushrooms, check out their IG (@mushroomsformyfriends) or visit The Mushroom Shop in Somerville, MA!

About Pixel Therapy

SEASON: A Letter to the Future is Everything, and to Everything There is a Season

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

This week we're covering Scavengers Studio's SEASON: A Letter to the Future, where a bike riding journey to make an apocalyptic scrapbook had us examining the connectedness of all things and turning to the teachings of Octavia Butler, Grace Lee Boggs, and Renata Price's excellent review for Waypoint to wrap our heads around its poignant, heartwrenching message. Join us in the space between storytelling and memory as we explore this incredible game!

0:58 - Patreon shoutouts and intros

11:58 - Scavengers Studio's 2019 controversy and accountability updates

24:25 - SEASON discussion and deep dive (Note: While we don't have a spoiler section this week, mild spoilers are included in the discussion, with the intent of illustrating the worldbuilding, themes, and mechanics of the game.)

1:27:41 - Wrap up and Side Quest

Side Quest

https://esii.org/

The Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute

Emergent strategy is a path that invites us to think about change as a constant state of being and how to align and direct it towards that which affirms and creates more life. ESII is a portal for people who are transforming from the current paradigm of racial capitalist, patriarchal, power-over, scarce and disconnected existence into one that is adaptive, relational, resilient, post-capitalist, feminist, BIPOC-centered and full of possibility. We invite people into a liberatory experience, giving people in movement both theoretical offerings to help them learn emergent strategy, and practice ground to help them embody it. The Institute developed out of adrienne maree brown’s obsession with writers, thinkers and organizers Octavia Butler, Grace Lee Boggs, Charity Mahouna Hicks, and Margaret Wheatley.

About Pixel Therapy

Love at the End of the World in A Space for the Unbound

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

This week we're all about Mojiken Studio and Toge Productions' A Space for the Unbound: a slice-of-life adventure game with beautifully detailed pixel art set in rural Indonesia in the late 1990s - following high school sweethearts Atma and Raya as they grapple with coming of age as their world falls apart and the very fabric of reality is tested. Ah, youth!

CONTENT WARNING: A Space for the Unbound includes depictions of anxiety, depression, and suicide which are discussed during this episode.

0:53 - Patreon shoutouts, eyebrow bleaching, and Ant-Man

6:44 - A Space for the Unbound discussion

46:27 - SPOILERS START HERE! (Discussing specific emotional beats and themes upon completion of the game)

1:07:00 - END SPOILERS - Closing thoughts and reflections

Side Quest

Let’s Adopt! Indonesia Animal Shelter

paypal.me/letsadoptindonesia

Saving animals through education and partnership. TNR as well as adoption services. Check them out on IG and Facebook!

About Pixel Therapy

Peeling Back the Layers of Pentiment's 16th-Century Onion

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Yes, the horrors are indescribable, but you've got to serve. Join us as we dive into Obsidian Entertainment's Pentiment, a painstakingly detailed medieval murder mystery that reminds us that time is a flat circle (and what we know of history is often from just one perspective...). Meanwhile, Spencer's falling in love with Murder, She Wrote, Jamie's bingeing Hacks, and everyone is gagged over HBO's The Last of Us!

4:25 - What is this, TV Therapy?

17:39 - Pentiment discussion

Side Quest

gofund.me/F804BB72

On January 21, at least 11 individuals were killed and many more seriously injured in a shooting spree that occurred at a dance studio in Monterey Park California, just blocks away from a joyous New Year festival where thousands of people gathered.

Please donate to this collective fundraiser by Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Stop AAPI Hate, Asian Pacific Community Fund, The Asian American Foundation, AAPI equity Alliance, Gold House, Stand with Asian Americans, Chinatown Service Center, and Ann Wang. This fundraiser is put together by 18millionrising, an organization utilizing the power of community to grieve, process, and connect, even if we are physically apart.

gofund.me/F804BB72

About Pixel Therapy

Marvel's Midnight Suns is a Queerplatonic Polycule

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

New year, still queer! Spencer and Jamie kick off 2023 with some new directions for the show. Then Spencer tries to communicate the life-changing magic of FuturLab's PowerWash Simulator, which is cheaper than therapy and basically just as effective, while Jamie unpacks the extremely earnest and undeniably queer energy of Marvel's Midnight Suns from Firaxis Games.

0:57 - Intros & catch-ups

7:23 - 13 Going on 30 does NOT hold up

14:27 - BREAKFAST PIZZA?!

19:10 - PowerWash Simulator discussion

37:07 - Marvel's Midnight Suns discussion

Side Quest

Let's rebuild a home for a cherished Black, disabled family in Florida!

givebutter.com/yocheved

Yocheved (yo-heh-ved) and Miss Wanda urgently need funds to repair their family’s home in Gainesville, FL. Most of their family members are disabled, and due to abysmal healthcare in Florida, are unable to seek proper care. They have to rebuild their off-the-grid home for what is now the third time due to repeated displacement.

givebutter.com/yocheved

About Pixel Therapy

Pixel Therapy's Games of the Year 2022

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

It's somehow that time again...for our completely unofficial end-of-year reflection and round-up of all the games that made us laugh, cry, and obsess over for weeks! Join us as we close out another great year of sharing our favorite pastime with you, and gear up for another awesome year of gaming yet to come.

1:03 - Announcements, Patreon shoutouts, etc

10:45 - Our play counts

19:27 - 2022 in gaming news highlights

33:07 - Our totally subjective and specific awards!

1:08:00 - Games we missed in 2022

Side Quest

Help fund housing security for over 1,000 black trans folks in need

www.linktr.ee/transisbeautiful

About Pixel Therapy

Growing Up and Getting Better in God of War Ragnarök

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Heellloooooooo! We're back from our fall break and you KNOW we had to bring y'all up to speed on everything God of War Ragnarök, the latest installment in the storied series and the direct sequel to Sony Santa Monica Studios' 2018 soft reboot of Kratos' epic coming of age-- even if that age is pushing 1,000. Join us as we revel in each lovingly crafted detail of this masterpiece, try not to cry, and predictably run out of time. Also, Spencer pets a giant isopod and Jamie masters the art of doggie dental health.

SCROLL TO SEE TIMESTAMPS FOR SPOILER SECTION

NO SPOILERS BEFORE 1:04:18

3:41 - Catch up and annoucements!

12:35 - Intro to God of War Ragnarök review and discussion

15:25 - Nominations and really cool gameplay data insights

30:18 - Gameplay and combat: because sometimes hitting stuff just hits

41:10 - Spencer's ONE critique lol

45:02 - 3D sound design? Slaying

48:45 - The animation? Breathtaking

52:51 - The writing and performances? GIVING

1:04:18 - SPOILERCAST DISCUSSION BEGINS HERE

Side Quest

Transanta - transanta.com

Right now, young trans people, particularly Black and Brown trans youth, are under attack across the country and around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated unsafe conditions for trans youth who are houseless, in foster care, in detention, and in abusive or otherwise unsafe housing situations.

We want to show trans young people that they are loved, supported, and have a family of people around the world who care about them and want them to succeed.

Anyone can be a Santa, join us!

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes every three weeks! Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Embedding Values into AI and Finding Focus in Gaming with Wells Santo

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Welcome to our 50th episode! Whaaaaat? Thanks for spending two years and countless hours talking games and being gay with us. This week, Spencer and Jamie dive into the delightfully devilish Cult of the Lamb from Massive Monster and Devolver Digital, an addicting mash-up of Hades and Animal Crossing with plenty of poop management.

Then Wells Santo (he/she/they) an educator, researcher and activist on the societal implications of technology - especially artificial intelligence - joins to chat PhD life, the power, potential, and dangerous misconceptions of AI, the perfect Boba tea order, and how 2018's Florence brought Wells back to video games after a decade away!

After this episode we'll be taking a short break for some Life Events and mysterious medical leave, so enjoy your spooky season and we'll catch you in November 2022!

10:15 - Jamie shows off her new STEAM DECK!

17:49 - Cult of the Lamb discussion

45:07 - Interview with Wells Santo

Follow Wells on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WellsLucasSanto

Side Quest

https://linktr.ee/PBO

PEOPLE’S PROGRAMS is an Oakland-based Black/New Afrikan organization dedicated to the liberation and unification of ALL Afrikan people through scientific socialism. We are governed by the ideologies, theories, principles, and practices of Revolutionary Nationalists and Pan-Africanists, and we are aiming to do our part to contribute to the New Afrikan Independence Movement.

Volunteer/donate/sign up for mutual aid efforts/check out PBO’s podcast Hella Black, and more!

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes every three weeks! Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Indigenous Cyber Noir in Hill Agency: PURITYdecay with Achimostawinan Games

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Hey gamers! This week, Spencer and Jamie play everyone's favorite kitty cat game -- BlueTwelve and Annapurrna Interactive's blockbuster cat adventure platformer, STRAY! Also, because she's an overachiever, Jamie somehow finds some time to chat about INTERIOR/NIGHT and Xbox Game Studios' experimental interactive narrative game As Dusk Falls.

Then we're joined by two of the fine folks at Achimostawinan Games: Art Lead and Character Designer Sadekaronhes Esquivel, and Founder, Owner, and Lead Game Designer Meagan Byrne! We loved our convo with Sade and Meagan on the world of their forthcoming game Hill Agency: PURITYdecay, and we're sure you will too!

CORRECTION NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the announcement that Hill Agency has been delayed to Fall 2022. The release date mentioned within the episode is no longer accurate.

8:27 - Are y'all watching The Bear on Hulu?

14:18 - Stray discussion

32:39 - As Dusk Falls discussion

51:00 - Interview with Achimo Games

Follow Achimo Games: https://achimogames.ca/

Wishlist Hill Agency on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1358370/Hill_Agency_PURITYdecay/

Side Quest

cats.org.uk/support-us/pawsome-players

From humble beginnings in 1927, Cats Protection has grown to become the UK's leading cat charity. We help an estimated 166,000 cats and kittens a year through our national network which includes around 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres. At Cats Protection, we’re working hard to improve the lives of cats. We offer cat adoption, rehoming and neutering assistance as well as help and advice to cat owners and cat lovers. As a leading animal welfare charity, our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness.

You can visit their website to sign up to be a Pawsome Player and stream with the goal of raising money for homeless cats. If youre a first time streamer, no problem! Cats Protection will set you up with a fundraising pack, tips to support your event and great social media graphics via email to help with your fundraising.

About Pixel Therapy

Stories as Safe Havens and Jet Set Radio Future with YA Thriller Author K. Ancrum

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Hey gamers! It's grab the Nintendo Switch and flop on the bed by the air conditioner weather, and we're ready to get in our feelings! After 90+ hours with just ONE storyline in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Spencer is left with a new appreciation for tactical strategy RPGs; meanwhile, Jamie finally finds the time is right for 2016's The Last Guardian and its beautifully mysterious and heart-wrenching world.

Then we're joined by Kayla Ancrum (she/her), author of The Wicker King, The Weight of the Stars, Darling, and more! Kayla chats her early days as a Gameboy girl, the enduring appeal of YA literature, regardless of age, graffiti artist skater teens resisting a totalitarian police state in Jet Set Radio Future, and more!

4:44 - Our impromptu Thor: Love and Thunder movie review lol

15:25 - Fire Emblem: Three Houses discussion

38:25 - The Last Guardian discussion

1:01:54 - Interview with Kayla Ancrum

Follow Kayla on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaylaAncrum

Check out her work! https://kancrum.com/

Side Quest

womenandchildrenfirst.com

Women & Children First Bookstore believes in the transformative power of literature. As intersectional trans-inclusive feminists, we believe books are tools for liberation. Since 1979, we have celebrated and amplified underrepresented voices. In order for feminism to remain relevant, it must be forever evolving.

Visit their website to learn more and donate to their Chicago Books to Women in Prison program!

About Pixel Therapy

Thirsty Sword Lesbians and Creating an Aesthetic of Emotion with April Kit Walsh

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Sup y'all, we're clinging to spots of joy in this burning world! This week, Spencer hosts tea parties and finds their footing as a magical warrior professor in Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo's Fire Emblem: Three Houses, while Jamie gets spooky (but not too scary) in Supermassive Games' The Quarry.

Then we're joined by April Kit Walsh (she/her or gay/ghem), a kickass civil liberties lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation as well as the designer behind Gay Spaceship Games -- and the Nebula Award-winning tabletop RPG Thirsty Sword Lesbians -- to chat about her early days as a modder, how her values shine through in her storytelling and game-making, not-so-literal swords, and so much more!

PS: Humans have been around for about 300 generations! (This'll make sense in the interview)

Follow April on Twitter

https://twitter.com/prilkit

Check out Thirsty Sword Lesbians

https://evilhat.com/product/thirsty-sword-lesbians/

8:26 - Fire Emblem: Three Houses discussion

23:08 - The Quarry discussion

47:47 - Interview with April Kit Walsh

Side Quest

translifeline.org

Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community. Trans Lifeline connects trans people to the community support and resources we need to survive and thrive.

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

The Strategic Satisfaction of FPS and Games as Connection with Ace aka A_TypicalQueer

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0500

'Sup, gaymers and theymers? This week, Spencer and Jamie dust off their Nintendo Switches and kick off Wrath Month! Join us as we explore Spencer's extremely late arrival to Sid Meier's Civilization VI and Jamie's dive into Triangle Strategy's SALTY political intrigue.

Then we're joined by Ace (they/she), aka @A_TypicalQueer: a content creator, activist working with Equality New York and NEW Pride Agenda, and Director of DEI Consulting at Qweerty Gamers! We talked with Ace about using games to hold space for important conversations, thriving on other people’s bullshit, and how they approach activism for marginalized LGBTQIA+ folks!

10:02 - Civilization 6 discussion

27:56 - Triangle Strategy discussion

51:21 - Interview with Ace, @A_TypicalQueer

1:23:56 - CONTENT WARNING - Reference to suicide and suicidal thoughts

1:25:18 - END OF CONTENT WARNING

'Civilization and Strategy Games' Progress Delusion' by Gabriel Soares (2019): https://www.vice.com/en/article/4aggzm/civilization-and-strategy-games-progress-delusion

Follow Ace:

https://twitter.com/a_typicalqueer

Side Quest

Metahealth.gg

Per Gayming Mag: “Meta by Sinai Health Foundation is a dynamic and diverse online gaming community whose mission is to fundraise and support the game-changing research and services at Sinai Health, including vital programs directly serving the LGBTQ2S+ community. This Pride, Meta is gathering gamers and creators together to support young people between the ages of 16 and 29 who visit Mount Sinai Hospital’s Emergency Department in need of timely and inclusive mental healthcare.”

About Pixel Therapy

Unmasking Autism and Embracing Your Inner Alien Prince with Devon Price

Tue, 24 May 2022 05:00:00 -0500

This week, Spencer toils in a mine for fun and lives to tell the tale - and rolls merrily along in Lovable Hat Cult's Journey of the Broken Circle. Then Jamie shares her experiences with Lego Builder's Journey, a surprisingly deep and incredibly satisfying puzzler that's inspired her to engage with a new IRL hobby as well!

Then we welcome our first-ever return guest, social psychologist, professor, and author Devon Price! Devon joins to chat about his new book Unmasking Autism, why Link is a trans king, how autistic folks invented fandom, what Katamari Damacy has to teach us about life, and so much more.

Follow Devon:

https://twitter.com/drdevonprice

https://www.instagram.com/drdevonprice

https://www.tiktok.com/@drdemonprince

Side Quest

National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition

Blacktrans.org

Established in 2011, The National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition is the only social justice organization led by black trans people to collectively address the inequities faced in the black transgender human experience.

About Pixel Therapy

How Citizen Sleeper Sows Hope at the Edge of Space and Knowing Your Nos with Kortney Terry

Tue, 10 May 2022 05:00:00 -0500

It's time to find your place in space and join the big, beautiful, worker-owned rotating city in the sky! We're talking about developer Jump Over the Age's Citizen Sleeper of course, a cyberpunk narrative RPG centered on an escaped worker's efforts to evade their corporate would-be captors and maybe build a little life for themself -- if they can find a way to outwit the "planned obsolescence" of their company-provided synthetic body.

Then we're joined by Kortney Terry (aka Sparklykiss), a tabletop actual play performer, community manager for Miscellaneum Studios, and freelance diversity consultant and sensitivity reader to chat about being a bouncer for your community, their decade-plus relationship with Earthbound, PNGtubing, which Pokemon they would eat, and more!

4:46 - Impromptu Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness review

13:03 - Citizen Sleeper discussion

39:54 - Interview with Kortney Terry

Follow Kortney on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sparklykiss

Side Quest

https://www.blackgamedevs.com/

Here they are. Hire them. Buy their stuff.

About Pixel Therapy

Space Lesbians: The Horizon Forbidden West Spoilercast

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the first official Pixel Therapy Spoilercast! Join us as we dive into every aspect of Horizon Forbidden West that we didn't or couldn't cover in our normal episodes!

0:54 - Intro

10:12 - Story breakdown and themes

24:30 - On Nemesis as a villain

31:20 - Tilda Van der Meer and unfortunate tropes

41:39 - On final boss battles and the underutilization of Sylens

50:59 - On Beta and healing from childhood trauma

1:00:03 - On Varl and that wild ending

1:12:22 - Identifying with Aloy and closing thoughts

About Pixel Therapy

NORCO's Beautiful F-You to the Universe and the Optional Queer Content Problem with Vaneet Mehta

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0500

NORCO: It's the game you can smell! Join us as we wade into the murky waters of Geography of Robots' completely singular Southern Gothic sci-fi point-and-click detective adventure, set among the billowing smokestacks and sinister twilight of a futuristic New Orleans. If you have about 10 hours to spare, it's absolutely a game you'll want to put on your must-play list this year. We can say for sure that Elijah Wood loved it.

Then we're joined by Vaneet Mehta (he/him), a software engineer, writer, and public speaker working to advocate for bisexual visibility and equitable representation. We loved chatting with Vaneet about the significance of the gaming community in his own coming out story, “playersexuality,” what games get wrong when they make queer representation and content optional, and more!

9:35 - NORCO Discussion

51:04 - Very light NORCO story spoilers, if that matters to you

56:24 - Interview with Vaneet Mehta

Follow Vaneet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nintendomad888

Check out Alexis Ong's piece on NORCO: https://www.pcgamer.com/this-stunning-deep-south-fable-isnt-the-next-kentucky-route-zeroits-the-first-norco/

Side Quest

IGL Foundation is a New Orleans-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring people together to learn, compete, and play by providing opportunities for students in the areas of technology, gaming, and the digital arts that are both enriching and entertaining.

While using the portal of alternate dimensional experiences, we use gaming as the gateway to building networks and communities through social competitions and mental athletic training to build bonds with our students.

To learn more, get involved, and donate, visit https://iglfoundation.org/

About Pixel Therapy

Elden Ring's Siren Song and Creating for Panic's Playdate with Rokashi

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Rise, ye tarnished! This week, Spencer and Jamie explore the game that seems to have sucked in everyone and their grandma (if their grandma is a badass) -- Hidetaka Miyazaki and From Software's ELDEN RING! Join us as we try to put words to the inexplicable pull of Souls games, and debate what inspires some to call ELDEN RING one of the greatest games of all time.

Then we're joined by Rokashi, video game developer and writer for the official HBO show tie-in game, Insecure: The Come Up (Glow Up Games), and creative director for their own game Faraway Fairway for Panic's soon-to-be-released Playdate console. Plus: Netflix's moves into the mobile game market, how Twine provides a low-barrier entry into game-making, bringing mental health conversations into gaming, and why Sonic the Hedgehog is the ultimate role model.

Follow Rokashi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rokashi

Learn more about the Playdate: https://play.date/

Side Quest

The Hand Eye Society is a Toronto not-for-profit dedicated to supporting and showcasing videogames made primarily as a form of creative expression. We aim to provide exhibition opportunities, education, creative support, mentorship, knowledge sharing and inspiration to artists, enthusiasts, and the game-curious in Toronto. Founded in 2009, it is one of the first videogame arts organizations of its kind in the world.

Visit https://www.handeyesociety.com/ to learn more about membership, volunteer as a game tester, or donate a console or equipment!

Thirsty NPCs in Horizon Forbidden West and Sensory-Friendly Streaming with Queerlybee

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0500

This week, a game so nice we had to cover it twice: Horizon Forbidden West! Now that your cohosts have each had 60+ hours with Aloy, join us as we take a closer look at human and machine battle mechanics, analyze the VIBES coming off of NPCs that possess so much repressed longing they should star in their own Bridgerton spinoff, and dream about the day we get some confirmation on Aloy's asexuality!

Then Twitch streamer, content creator, and community builder Queerlybee (they/them) joins us in the virtual studio to chat about video games as vehicles for important conversations, how they create sensory-friendly, accessible streams where neurodivergent folks can engage in virtual parallel play, and more!

Follow Queerlybee on Twitter: https://twitter.com/QueerlyBee and Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/queerlybee

Side Quest

https://www.twocc.us/donate/

The Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC) was created to cultivate economic opportunities and affirming spaces for trans people of color and our families, to foster kinship, build community engage in healing and restorative justice through arts, culture, media, advocacy and activism.

About Pixel Therapy

Keeping Empathy at the Core of Gaming Spaces with Community/DEI Director Raccine Malcolm

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Note: Spoilers for A Musical Story from 57:51 - 1:09:37!

It's March, and ALL OF THE GAMES are out. Spencer and Jamie have barely scratched the surface of Horizon Forbidden West's truly epic proportions, but with 30 hours of playtime under their belts, have plenty of feelings to share on what's changed - and what's stayed the same, for better or worse. But that's not all! It's a Double Stuf'd episode this week, as your cohorts also manage to squeeze in a spirited discussion of Glee-Cheese Studio's indie rhythmic adventure, the aptly-titled A Musical Story.

Then we're joined by Raccine Malcolm (any pronouns), a freelance community builder and DEI consultant in the gaming and tech space! Raccine shares what drives her to curate communities, how her own "rough entry" into the gaming industry inspired her to make the transition friendlier for other new folks entering in the future, and how her upbringing in Jamaica led to an abiding love of PC games -- plus so much more!

Follow Raccine on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fibonaccirecoil

Side Quest

https://www.insight-ukraine.org/en/join-donate/

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion into Ukraine. For the past days, cities have been bombed and civilian infrastructures destroyed. The number of civilian victims, including children, continues to rise. LGBTQIA+ Ukrainians are also facing additional stress as they try to navigate this emergency. Insight Ukraine is starting an urgent donation campaign to collect funds for LGBTQI+ people, to provide emergency shelter, relocation assistance, food, and basic needs.

About Pixel Therapy

How a Real-Life Celeste is Reaching New Heights for Trans Rights with Erin Parisi

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Happy Tuesday, and thanks for tearing yourself away from Horizon Forbidden West long enough to get cozy and chat games with us! This week Spencer and Jamie kick things off with GoodbyeWorld Games' Before Your Eyes, a breathtaking journey through the memories of a spirit approaching judgment in the afterlife -- controlled completely through eye movements and blinking. But that description doesn't do it justice! There are also talking foxes, a mysterious gatekeeper, meditations on what truly makes a great life, and what it means to leave a legacy...come join us, then go play it!

Then we're joined by Erin Parisi (she/her), a Colorado-based mountaineer who is on track to become the first openly trans woman to climb all seven of the world's highest peaks. She's completed five of the seven so far, with her sights set on Mt. Denali and Mt. Everest! We had an amazing time chatting with Erin about everything from her love of Samus Aran to her many shared qualities with another red-haired, strawberry-loving mountain climber -- as well as her dream of uplifting the trans community and flipping the script on trans narratives that so often dominate headlines.

Check out Erin's org TranSending: https://www.transending7.org/

Follow Erin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinsends7/

Side Quest

TranSending is a 501c3 designated non-profit dedicated to the advancement of transgender rights throughout all aspects of society by promoting athletics as a platform of transgender awareness and inclusion. Through targeted athletic projects, we seek to create a welcoming environment of understanding and assurance that all persons can partake in the learning and growth that come with inclusion in sports related activities, regardless of gender identity. Our goal is to promote rising transgender athletes and help them gain access to athletic programs, with the goal of increasing awareness from team administration, coaches and team staff, trans athletes, fellow athletes, and the audiences who support these great sports.

You (or your organization) can also become a Sponsor!: https://www.transending7.org/becomesponsor/

About Pixel Therapy

On 'Into the Spine' and Persona 5 with Fanbyte's Diego Argüello

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Happy love month, Gamentines! That works, right? No? Well, moving on. This week Spencer is super late to the party - Night School Studio's 2019 Afterparty, to be specific: a neon-soaked bar hop through hell with besties Milo and Lola. Meanwhile, Jamie enjoys the little things in Something We Made's greyscale photography adventure Toem.

Then we're joined by Diego Argüello (he/him), Editor-in-Chief of Into the Spine and featured contributor at Fanbyte! Diego shares the journey and growth of Into the Spine from an international cohort of writers looking to break into games journalism to a thriving community built upon mutual support and a genuine desire to foster diverse talent -- and how it relates to his relationship with Atlus' Persona 5.

Check out Into the Spine: https://intothespine.com/

Follow Diego on Twitter: https://twitter.com/diegoarguello66

Side Quest

https://nbjc.org/

Since 2003, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) has been America’s leading national civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS through coalition building, federal policy change, research, and education. Our mission is to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ+/SGL bias and stigma. NBJC supports Black individuals, families, and communities in strengthening the bonds and bridging the gaps between the movements for racial justice and LGBTQ+/SGL equity.

About Pixel Therapy

The Effectiveness of Spite and the Allure of Vampyr with Uppercut's Ty Galiz-Rowe

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Now is the winter of our gaming discontent, it seems, but so many exciting things are happening and will continue to happen, friends! Why, just now Spencer's willingly playing a hack-and-slash dungeon crawler for the first time in their life and having a blast thanks to Drinkbox's clever and irreverent Nobody Saves the World. Meanwhile, we never thought Jamie would become a League of Legends player - yet she's gotten totally sucked into Ruined King, developer Airship Syndicate's spin-off LoL turn-based RPG!

Then we're joined by Ty Galiz-Rowe (he/they), writer, podcaster, and the editor in chief of Uppercut Crit - a games and media site devoted to 'punching up' through high-quality content that focuses on highlighting marginalized voices -- and great criticism. We chatted with Ty about Uppercut's homespun growth, how their "hangriness" spurs them to avoid homogeneity and boredom in mainstream gaming, and the inexplicable allure of Dontnod's mechanically rich yet narratively obtuse Vampyr.

Follow Ty: https://twitter.com/owoathkeeper

Check out Uppercut Crit: https://uppercutcrit.com/

Side Quest

Support independent games journalism - check out Uppercut Crit's Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/uppercutcrit

About Pixel Therapy

We Accidentally Made a Twilight Episode with Rocket Adrift's Lindsay Rollins

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

We're back from our little winter break and ready to talk games! To kick things off, Spencer shares their begrudging enjoyment of Netflix's The Witcher (in no small part thanks to Henry Cavill's gruffly charming Geralt of Rivia) while Jamie gets hype on Arcane, the dynamic and gorgeous animated action-adventure series chronicling the origins of two League of Legends characters - as someone who knows next to nothing about League! Then we take up our burning swords and explore Bandai Namco's over-the-top epic JRPG Tales of Arise - and how it makes space for surprisingly nuanced conversations on unpacking racism and dismantling oppressive ideas and systems.

Then we're joined in the virtual studio by Lindsay Rollins (she/her), a game developer, visual artist, writer and co-founder of indie studio Rocket Adrift! Their Toronto-based team is responsible for surreal dad sim Order A Pizza: A Visual Novel and the iconic, vibe-filled Raptor Boyfriend: A High School Romance. Join us as we go deep on Doki Doki Literature Club, hot cryptids, the enduring allure of coming of age tales, and more!

Follow Lindsay on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LinRocketAdrift

Play Rocket Adrift's games: https://rocketadrift.com/

Side Quest

Dames Making Games - https://dmg.to/

DMG is a not-for-profit videogame arts organization that creates space for marginalized creators to make, play and critique videogames within a cultural context. We teach computing skills for artistic expression, offer production and exhibition facilities, and provide community support for the creation of new artworks.

Our space and community is a platform and playground for artists working in games, engaging the public with the expressive potential of this medium.

About Pixel Therapy

Pixel Therapy's Games of the Year 2021

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Thanks for another great year of sharing stories, leveling up, and discovering ourselves in games! Spencer and Jamie cap the year with a new crop of completely unofficial awards, from Jamie's Game That Was Too Damn Smart for Me recipient to Spencer's Late to the Party pick, there's something here for everyone. Halo fans, we apologize in advance.

Happy holidays everyone! We're taking a three-week break to recharge and binge play Tales of Arise, so we'll see you when our first episode of 2022 drops on January 11th!

Side Quest

The ABK (Activision-Blizzard-King) Strike Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/abk-strike-fund

Jessica Gonzalez is a founding member of the ABK Worker's Alliance, and a prominent voice in the fight to end abuse in the gaming industry. She organized this fundraiser with a committee of ABK workers dedicated to ensuring the funds get to the workers who need them.

About Pixel Therapy

Unpacking a Big Box of Feelings with KO_OP's Community Manager Marcela Huerta

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Good...morning? Night? Who knows, it's dark when we wake up and dark before the workday is over. Perfect weather for gaming though, wouldn't you say? Spencer and Jamie kick things off by hopping on our hoverbikes and gliding across the vast expanse of Sable, an open-world exploration game about a modest, mysterious desert society and finding one's place in the world. Sable was developed by Shedworks and published by Raw Fury, and it's available now on Steam and Game Pass!

Then we're joined by Marcela Huerta (she/her), community manager for worker-owned game studio KO_OP's upcoming apocalyptic coming-of-age dinosaur love story, Goodbye Volcano High! Join us as we learn all about a different kind of working culture that KO_OP is working to normalize, then go deep on the surprisingly emotional heft of this fall's cozy breakout hit, Witch Beam's Unpacking.

Follow Marty on Twitter: https://twitter.com/marsmella

Check out KO_OP Mode and get hype for Goodbye Volcano High: https://www.ko-opmode.com/

Listen to Spencer's favorite Stardew Valley Lofi Beats to Study To: https://youtu.be/scRoJCsy6dA

Side Quests

Black Healing Fund is a growing, volunteer-run initiative that exists to provide low-income Black folks in the Tio'tia:ke / Montreal area with discretionary funding and resources that contribute to mental health and wellness. blackhealingfund.com/donate

Resilience Montreal is a non-profit day shelter offering food, a place to sleep, clean clothes, and support to anyone in need, with the goal of giving people a safe, supportive environment to spend their time. To donate, email resilience.volunteer@gmail.com and check out their website at resiliencemontreal.com

About Pixel Therapy

Trauma-Informed Gaming and the Divine Collective Dream of Hatsune Miku with Aiden Strawhun

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

29:11 - SPOILERS for Inscryption start

47:53 - End SPOILERS for Inscryption

We foolishly thought this year in gaming was winding to a close. We were boarding up our Xboxes, winterizing our PCs, putting the Playstation to bed. (Jk idk what any of that means lmao.) Then Inscryption entered the chat and completely blew our minds, beckoning us to break through the inky-black intrigue of this rogue-like deck-building escape room adventure to find deeper understandings of ourselves as gamers and new outlooks on game creation as a whole. NBD! No but seriously, go play Inscryption.

THEN we're joined by Aiden Strawhun (they/them), a news and features writer who focuses on the culture, innovation and advancement of the gaming and tech community as well as a Creator Relations Specialist at Ubisoft! Aiden's passion for nurturing and lifting up content creators in the gaming space was a joy to witness, and we had a lovely time chatting with them about trauma-informed journalism, the power and responsibility of choice in games-- and the collective idea, the shared dream, the fountain of joy and infinite possibility that is Hatsune Miku: the collaboratively constructed cyber idol and singing voice synthesizer featured in over 100,000 songs released around the world and the center of an ever-growing community.

Follow Aiden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AStraww

PLAY INSCRYPTION OMG: https://www.inscryption.com/

Side Quest

Can I Play That? works to share stories that influence game updates, inform disabled players, educate and entertain players and developers, and provide a voice for one of the largest player bases in the industry.

Learn more, read some articles, and maybe pitch one of your own at https://caniplaythat.com/

About Pixel Therapy

Reclaiming Narratives and Centering Community in Never Alone with Charitie Ropati

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Mix up your mulled cider and grab a fuzzy blanket - it's time to get cozy and grab your bi-weekly dose of Pixel Therapy! This week, Spencer takes their maiden voyage with their new gaming computer and joins Jamie in playing Witch Beam's brain massaging masterpiece Unpacking - a little game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Then Jamie explores the unexpectedly heartwarming and wholly entertaining new Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy from Square Enix -- the mashup you never knew you needed.

This week we're also excited to be joined by Yup’ik and Sāmoan Columbia University student and Native rights advocate Charitie Ropati (she/they)! A film buff and iconic tweeter, Charitie is also known for their work in public education honoring the resilience and diversity of Alaska Native culture with decolonized history curricula that's since been adopted in her home of Anchorage. We had an awesome time with Charitie diving deep on Upper One Games' and E-Line Media's Never Alone (Kisima Inŋitchuŋa), a puzzle-platformer adventure game about a young Iñupiat girl and an arctic fox that was developed in collaboration with 30+ Iñupiat elders, storytellers and community members.

Follow Charitie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/charitieropati

Daniel Starkey's Never Alone review: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-20-never-alone

Side Quest

The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute is a national education and advocacy organization that works alongside Native youth—ages 24 and under—on reservations, in rural villages and urban spaces across the country to improve their health, safety, and overall well- being. All Native youth deserve to lead full and healthy lives, have equal access to opportunity, draw strength from Native culture, and inspire one another. At CNAY, this is achieved through empowerment and culturally-competent methodologies that include leadership, youth-led policy agenda, and youth-led narrative. They’re also hiring right now! Learn more about this important organization and donate at cnay.org/ !

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) & subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod !

To the Moon and the Spider Diagram of Autism with Laura Kate Dale

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Note: This episode contains some light spoilers for To The Moon starting around 1:09:00!

Happy Halloween, gamers!! Pick out your favorite candy from the pile and join us around the pixelated fire as Spencer plays their scariest game yet in Bloober Team's eerie and atmospheric The Medium, while Jamie takes to the stars in Outer Wilds' new expansion-slash-sequel-within-a-game, Echoes of the Eye!

Then we're joined by the delightfully insightful Laura Kate Dale, video game butt reviewer, games journalist, and author of Uncomfortable Labels, Things I Learned From Mario's Butt, and the forthcoming Who Hunts The Whale- a satirical novel set in the exploitative world of big-budget game development! We had an amazing time hanging out with Laura, chatting about everything from the meaning and construction of bodies in games to choosing optimism in the face of the uglier sides of the industry. Finally, we go deep on Freebird Games' unforgettable narrative adventure To the Moon, and the way it not only made Laura feel seen in a new way, but changed the way she wanted to approach thinking and writing about games.

Follow Laura on Twitter: twitter.com/LaurakBuzz

Check out Who Hunts the Whale: unbound.com/books/whale/

Austin Walker's Outer Wilds review: vice.com/en/article/mb8p7y/outer-wilds-is-a-captivating-sci-fi-mystery-about-the-end-of-the-world

Side Quest

Deaf Rainbow UK

First a Facebook group, then a website, now a community-run organization offering trainings, consultations, and surveys aimed at building a better world for Deaf LGBTQIA+ people in the UK and around the world, Deaf Rainbow UK provides information and resources for deaf queer folks, bringing attention to the lived experiences of folks who fall within this intersection of marginalization. To learn more, access resources, volunteer, and/or donate, visit deafrainbowuk.org.uk !

About Pixel Therapy

The Antidote to Doomscrolling and The Witcher 3 with Games Journalist Isaiah Colbert

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Happy SpOoKy SeAsOn!! Spencer has orange hair and Jamie wants a 12-foot tall skeleton! We're on theme with the games this week, too: join us as we dive into the bleak, unsettling-yet-sweet visual novel Little Misfortune from Killmonday Games, and the vibrant, gorgeous, decaying world of action-adventure debut Kena: Bridge of Spirits from Ember Lab.

Then we're thrilled to be joined by Kotaku staff writer Isaiah Colbert (he/they)! We had an absolutely lovely time chatting with Isaiah on writing about games as experiences rather than products, striving to make space for seeking solutions in the industry, jumping into games journalism as a self-proclaimed filthy casual who plays Tetris every day, becoming emotionally ready to receive media, and how Geralt of Rivia awoke a new appreciation for fantasy inside of them - with some smooth JoJo references sprinkled in along the way.

Follow Isaiah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeZehUhh

Patricia Hernandez' piece referenced ~1:05: https://kotaku.com/hello-kotaku-its-me-your-new-eic-1847192727

GIANT SKELETON: https://ebay.to/3oSGCIh

Side Quest

Support Black Streamers! Here are a few of our faves:

https://www.twitch.tv/ctrlaltquin

https://www.twitch.tv/cypheroftyr

https://www.twitch.tv/gameonysus

https://www.twitch.tv/chrislaawrence

https://www.twitch.tv/iambrandon

Supporting Twitch streamers with Amazon Prime: https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/how-to-subscribe?language=en_US#Prime

About Pixel Therapy

It's Our 1-Year Anniversary! with Your Co-Hosts, Jamie and Spencer

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Do you feel that fresh, crisp mountain breeze? Catch the light scent of weed smoke lilting jauntily in the air? This week, Spencer and Jamie kick things off from the sun-soaked roof deck of Alex Chen, resident empath detective of Haven Springs, Colorado and the heroine of Life is Strange: True Colors from Deck Nine and published by Square Enix. Join us as we explore the game's stacked emotional toolkit and expressive nuance that, dare we say, sets a new standard in games.

Then we take a beat to jump in the guest seat and share our experiences with games that have had significant impacts on our own lives: Guerilla's Horizon Zero Dawn and Supergiant's Transistor!

P.S., TIL that marking significant events in your life and giving yourself moments to PROCESS is really important for fighting off burnout! Thanks Jamie! With that in mind, your co-hosts take some time to marvel at the fact that we've been doing this for a whole year - and don't worry, we have no plans of slowing down. Thank you for joining us on this wild ride and for downloading us 50,000+ times! Here's to Year 2!

Side Quest

Buckle Bunnies Fund

https://www.bucklebunnies.org/

Our organization came to be in April of 2020, when Texas temporarily banned abortions at the beginning of COVID-19. A group of young queer folks who were passionate about Reproductive Justice knew that we had the power to mobilize across Texas and help people get the abortions they needed. After seeing the momentum that we started, we knew we needed to make ourselves a permanent fixture in abortion funding.

Our work is done by unpaid volunteers who are dedicated to the autonomy of abortion seekers, not just in Texas, but everywhere. We are explicitly pro-abortion and believe that abortion is freedom, absolutely no shame or stigma allowed here. We will continue to harness our beautiful rage into our work until every person everywhere is able to access abortion freely, safely, and on demand.

About Pixel Therapy

How Kena: Bridge of Spirits was Shaped by Balinese Gamelan with Dancer and Artist Ayu Larassanti

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 05:00:00 -0500

It's an exciting time to be a Playstation fan, or a Sony pony, as Jamie always says! Fresh off of the forthcoming God of War: Ragnarok trailer that debuted at Sony's Playstation Showcase 2021, we kick things off with some excited speculation about the new characters that were introduced: Tyr, Thor, and Angrboda! Then, Jamie takes us on a ride through the sun-drenched, small-town roads of Providence Oaks in Gamious' new mailperson simulator/slice of life drama, Lake.

But the fun doesn't stop there! This week we're joined by dancer, musician, vocalist, and voice-over artist for Kena: Bridge of Spirits' titular heroine: Dewa Ayu Dewi Larassanti! We chat all about her unexpected but absolutely joyful experience bringing Kena to life after the game's developer, Ember Lab, reached out to her family's organization Gamelan Çudamani for help in bringing Balinese music into its score and atmosphere-- and ended up contributing to the fabric of the game in more ways than one!

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a Playstation exclusive coming out on September 21st, 2021 - learn more about Ember Lab here: https://www.emberlab.com/

Side Quest

Trash Hero Indonesia

https://trashhero.org/donations/

Trash Hero mobilises thousands of people around the world to take action on waste in their communities, change their everyday behaviour and reduce their dependency on single-use plastic. We rely on your help to do this.

About Pixel Therapy

DIYing Game Dev with Game Designer in Residence and Author Anna Anthropy

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Hi, everybody! This week, Spencer returns to the fold of Microsoft after a long hiatus (like, since the Xbox 360 in 2005!) and joins the rest of you gamers in the future with a brand-new Game Pass-installed Xbox Series S! Spencer and Jamie return to the island of Tsushima with the new Ghost Director's Cut (thank you Sucker Punch), and Jamie takes us on a tour of the short and bittersweet Necrobarista!

Then, we're joined by Anna Anthropy, video game and role-playing game designer, interactive fiction author, and the mind behind Rise of the Video Game Zinester: part manifesto, part critical essay, part DIY handbook encouraging "Freaks, Normals, Amateurs, Artists, Dreamers, Drop-outs, Queers, Housewives, and People Like You" to get out there and make some games! Anna has been thinking about, talking about, and making games for many years, and we were stoked to share this space with her to chat about fostering the next generation of game makers and democratizing game development.

Check out Anna's games and projects: https://w.itch.io/

Side Quest

THE ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE is the only philanthropic organization working exclusively to advance LGBTQI human rights around the globe. We support brilliant and brave grantee partners in the U.S and internationally who challenge oppression and seed change. We work for racial, economic, social, and gender justice, because we all deserve to live our lives freely, without fear, and with dignity.

Your support for Astraea’s Collective Care Response enables LBTQI- and people of color-led grassroots movements to boldly confront the impacts of COVID-19 across the globe now and for the long haul while building interconnected ecosystems of support and resilience.

https://www.astraeafoundation.org/donate-collective-care-response/

About Pixel Therapy

Envisioning Our Best Selves in Mass Effect with Professional Trekkie Swapna Krishna

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Can YOU nonchalantly say that LeVar Burton has been a steadfast friend to you? This week's guest can, and we're still recovering. But before we get to that, Jamie and Spencer kick things off by diving into two 10-hour visual novel-esque games that couldn't be more different in their content and execution: Kitfox Games' Boyfriend Dungeon and Modern Storyteller's The Forgotten City! Join us as we date weapons and sink our teeth into some queer subtext, and work to escape a time loop while evading avenging angels, respectively. Is humanity truly capable of taking responsibility for each other? Is a polyam queer utopia possible? Join us as we discuss all this and more!

Quick content note: Since we recorded this episode, Boyfriend Dungeon discourse has emerged around the role of content warnings in games. Our discussion didn't touch on the more challenging and/or possibly triggering aspects of the game, so if our episode inspires you to check it out, we just encourage you to do your own research before playing to make sure it's the right choice for you!

Then, we're joined by the incredibly delightful Swapna Krishna (she/her), a journalist who writes for outlets including SyFy Wire, The Verge, Engadget, and StarTrek[.]com at the intersection of technology, space, and pop culture. She’s also the co-editor of Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices, an anthology of inclusive retellings from the vast lore surrounding King Arthur, Camelot, and the Knights of the Round Table. AND she’s the co-host of the geek pop-news podcast Desi Geek Girls! We had so much fun with Swapna, covering everything from pandemic parenting, to gaming while anxious, to looking to the stars, gushing about Sir Patrick Stewart, and so much more. Join us to find out why Mass Effect (and other space stories) work so well at helping us see our best selves and get outside of our own heads.

Learn more about Swapna: https://www.swapnakrishna.com/

Check out Sword Stone Table: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/634028/sword-stone-table-by-edited-by-swapna-krishna-and-jenn-northington/

Side Quest

"In response to the alarming escalation in xenophobia and bigotry resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University launched the Stop AAPI Hate coalition on March 19, 2020. The coalition tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States."

Learn more and donate at https://stopaapihate.org/

About Pixel Therapy

Adapting to Change and Shifting Perspectives with Beekeeper Ang Roell

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Sup y'all! August already?! Spencer kicks things off this week by hurling baseless accusations at Jamie for not vocally praising Ratchet and Clank: A Rift Apart enough (which has dimensionated itself right into Spencer's heart and the top of their totally unofficial Games of the Year list), while Jamie shares a peek into Death's Door and the life and times of a soul-reaping crow.

Then we continue the totally unintentional animal friend theme, as apiarist aka BEEKEEPER and co-founder of They Keep Bees, Ang Roell (they/them) joins us in the studio to talk bees, queens, community, and embracing change. Also, someone definitely needs to make a video game about beekeeping - if that someone is you, let's talk!

Follow Ang (They Keep Bees): https://www.instagram.com/theykeepbees/

Side Quest

"The SUSU commUNITY Farm is a Afro-Indigenous stewarded farm and land-based healing center in Southern Vermont that elevates Vermont’s land and foodways. We do this by co-creating a life-affirming and culturally relevant platform for Black, Indigenous, People of color, youth, under-resourced folx, and allies to thrive and experience safety and connection while beginning to develop the tools and agency to heal from the trauma of colonization."

Learn more and donate: https://www.susucommunityfarm.org/

About Pixel Therapy

Games as Explorations of Desire with Writer and Adult Developer Ana Valens

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Note: This episode includes discussions of sexuality, with some references to BDSM and kink.

Howdy, y'all! Spencer and Jamie kick things off this week with a little HOT, SPICY, and SPIRITED debate (for us) on Armature Games' new surreal narrative adventure: Where the Heart Leads! Tumble into the time sinkhole with us as we delve into this 600,000-word everyday epic about a family man who finds himself reliving the formative moments of his life, including his present and even his future- and gains the ability to change them.

Then we're joined by the wonderful Ana Valens, a writer and adult game developer who, in her words, "specializes in the intersection of sexuality and video games and what the two have to say about the other." UMM, how cool is that?! We unpack the capacity for games to engage with sexuality beyond providing titillation, from education, to self-expression, to helping us gain deeper understandings of our own desires and providing safe places to explore them. We interviewed Ana during Pride Month, so we also touch a bit on the last few decades of U.S. LGBTQ+ history and the importance of honoring and understanding kink's place in queer culture! It's truly an action-packed episode so thanks for reading this far but please stop and press play!

Check out Ana's queer adult games: https://acvalens.itch.io/

Follow Ana on Twitter (private, but listeners can request access): https://twitter.com/acvalens

Check out Ana's book, Tumblr Porn: http://www.instarbooks.com/books/tumblr-porn.html

Side Quest

Red Canary Song

Originally founded in 2017 to provide legal and healthcare support to the family of massage worker Yang Song who was killed during a police raid, Red Canary Song is today a grassroots massage worker coalition in the U.S. and organizes transnationally with Asian sex workers across the diaspora in Toronto, Paris, and Hong Kong. To learn more and support their work, please check out:

https://www.redcanarysong.net/

About Pixel Therapy

Navigating Hope and Despair in Danganronpa with Indie Developer Courtland Messam

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We're so excited to kick things off this week by gushing about a brand-new masterpiece called Chicory: A Colorful Tale by Greg Lobanov, Lena Raine, Em Halberstadt, Alexis Dean-Jones, and Madeline Berger. This adorable, irreverent painting adventure manages to hit on so many levels- it's an ode to artmaking and what it means to be someone, wrapped up in a disarmingly cute world of food-named animals and self-aware humor.

Then, we're joined by gaming QA analyst and indie developer Courtland Messam to talk about cult favorite visual novel Danganronpa, and everything it has to teach us about surviving life and understanding privilege.

Check out Chicory: https://chicorygame.com/

Check out Courtland's games: https://itch.io/profile/courtlandmessam

Side Quest

The Black Trans Travel Fund

Donated funds are redistributed directly to Black trans women in need, who can then have the autonomy to purchase private car ride services, purchase gas for their own vehicles, pay family or friends for a ride, or other alternatives of their choosing that best suit their comfort and needs.

https://www.blacktranstravelfund.com/donate

About Pixel Therapy

How QTBIPOC Theatremakers Built a Solarpunk Mystery Game! with Gregory Keng Strasser and Sara Eskandari

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Content warning: This episode contains discussion between Spencer and our guests about some of our personal experiences navigating our biracial identities, which have been painful at times.

This week's episode is all about the brand-new four-part QTBIPOC-led solarpunk detective visual novel series and debut video game by award-winning 4615 Theatre Company, DARK CITY! Your co-hosts sit down with the game's director and writer Gregory Keng Strasser (he/him), as well as artist and designer Sara Eskandari (they/she) to dive into this thrilling, urgently present story tackling big themes, from complicity in systemic oppression, to the threat colonialism poses to Indigenous stewardship of the earth, to imagining a future that prioritizes sustainability and communion with nature-- all packaged within a gorgeously rendered and thoughtfully cast (and voiced!) game whose birth at the hands of theatremakers and artists is beautifully felt.

Plus: Tales of Symphonia, capturing the spirit of theatricality, Phoenix Wright, and more! We're so excited to share this one with you, and hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Play DARK CITY: https://4615theatreco.itch.io/

P.S. - Spencer mentioned a "book" by Loretta Todd, but it's an essay- "Aboriginal Narratives in Cyberspace" (1996).

Side Quest

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo's Young Artists at Work (YAAW) program

https://theartscommission.org/support

Since 1994, Young Artists at Work (YAAW) has offered paid summer apprenticeships to area teens to learn creative skills and job skills alike and to connect to community through the creation of public art and salable works. Each year more than 40 teens from diverse neighborhoods and communities in and around Toledo come together to find a completely unique summer employment opportunity and access to an experience designed to impact for a lifetime.

About Pixel Therapy

The Future of VR and Learning to Drive in GTA V with Sugar Gamers' Esha Todd

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Our little break behind us, we're so happy to be back! This week Spencer and Jamie kick things off with a deep dive into the mysterious island of Die Gute Fabrik's Mutazione -- a breathtaking game about friendly mutants, small-town gossip, chosen family, and redefining our relationship to the earth. Omg, just typing this has me in my feels all over again.

Then we're joined by the hilarious and effortlessly awesome Esha Todd, a writer and artist drawing on her experiences working with Apple, Makerbot, and Oculus to imagine the future of gaming and help people embrace emerging technology. Esha currently works for Sugar Gamers, a content creation hub and community founded in 2009 by Keisha Howard as a platform for women gamers that has since evolved into a diverse group of trendsetters and aficionados within the worlds of technology, gaming, and the arts. We chat about the power of immersion, how living in VR isn't THAT far off from how we operate today, and how Grand Theft Auto V helped Esha process and move through her trauma with driving!

Plus: That time Spencer became a tree, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, mixed martial arts, and more!

Follow Esha: https://twitter.com/eshaknows_

Side Quest

https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuild-gazas-samir-mansour-book-store

"Gaza’s largest and most beloved book shop and library was destroyed by air strikes. The two-story Samir Mansour book store was built 21 years ago and served as a community centre and book shop for the local Gaza community and Palestinian school children. Tens of thousands of books were destroyed. All of the heart, creativity and talent poured into this magical place is gone. As a result of the complete siege on Gaza Strip, construction supplies are in extreme short supply and heavily inflated. Please donate generously and help Palestinians get books back. All funds will be given directly to Samir Mansour to rent new space and rebuild a new library and book shop. This fundraiser is managed by human rights lawyers Mahvish Rukhsana and Clive Stafford Smith."

About Pixel Therapy

Uplink 2021: Gaming as Therapy with Pixel Therapy Pod

Tue, 25 May 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Hey y'all! Your co-hosts both have some stuff going on: big house moves for both of us, and an opportunity to see family after over more than a year for Jamie! With that in mind, in lieu of introducing you to a new guest this week, we're sharing our first-ever live episode! This was originally recorded in February during UPLINK 2021- the largest gaming conference celebrating gaming history and retro games.

Join us as we chat about making the show, gaming through the pandemic, and dive into some research from Jane McGonigal (SuperBetter, Reality is Broken) on the links between gaming and managing depression!

Thank you so much for supporting us - we'll be back with our regularly scheduled programming in two weeks!

About Pixel Therapy

Laziness is a Lie and Ico is Trans! with Social Psychologist Dr. Devon Price

Tue, 11 May 2021 05:00:00 -0500

OMG y'all, why's everyone keep talking about "return to work" when we never stopped working? Not just in places like jobs, but literally working to emotionally, physically, and mentally survive a literal pandemic? This week, Spencer and Jamie kick things off by chatting through the feelings of overwhelm and tiredness that a lot of folks seem to be able to relate to right now, especially as technology continues to blur the boundary between work and life. You are not alone! Capitalism just wants you to think you are! And who better to break it all down than Dr. Devon Price, nonbinary icon, social psychologist, and author of Laziness Does Not Exist! This convo was absolutely electric, as Devon helps us see how the "laziness lie" and our society's obsession with productivity is hurting all of us, traces its origins to white supremacy, and shows us how playing video games (and other activities often seen as "lazy") are actually really, really good for us. And you know we couldn't let them leave the studio without sharing their transmasculine reading of Ico!!

Plus: Returnal's mixed accessibility reviews, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, Emily is Away <3, Mad Men?!, and more!!!

Check out Steve Saylor's work and perspective on Returnal: https://stevesaylor.net/

Read Devon's book: https://bookshop.org/books/laziness-does-not-exist/9781982140106

Follow Devon: https://twitter.com/drdevonprice

Side Quest

https://www.lightfoundchi.org/

The Lighthouse Foundation invests in Black LGBTQ+ liberation internally by developing Black Queer Leaders: a cohort that builds community, sets goals, and creates public programming for Black Queer people in Chicagoland.

About Pixel Therapy

Practicing Failure in Breath of the Wild with Poet Angbeen Saleem

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Spring has sprung and our backlogs are already piling up! Spencer kicks things off by spotlighting a few under-hyped indie titles that have come out recently: Studio Seufz's 9,600hr long idle adventure The Longing, Captilight's charming puzzler Path of Kami (https://www.captilight.com/pathofkami), and 4615 Theatre Company's QTBIPOC-led solar punk visual novel DARK CITY (https://www.4615theatre.com/dark-city) -- the latter two are both free to download on itch.io (but by all means support these indie devs if you're able)! Meanwhile, Jamie shares the view from her haunted island in Cozy Grove, a charming new life sim that's like Animal Crossing-meets-Spiritfarer, plus bears.

Then we're joined by writer, poet, and connector Angbeen Saleem! Angbeen works as a digital communications coordinator for North Star Fund, a social justice org based in New York. We chat about their previous life working in social impact for MTV, how games teach Angbeen to write poetry, and how Breath of the Wild provides a safe space to practice failure-- and why that's something we need.

Get 20% off TomToc's Nintendo Switch Lite case with promo code "pixeltherapy" using our affiliate link!: https://amzn.to/31miLnj

Check out Angbeen's work and writing: https://www.angbeensaleem.com/

Side Quest

The Let Us Breathe Fund is the only NYC-based fund led by and for Black activists organizing around police reform and building Black liberation. Learn more and donate at https://northstarfund.org/

About Pixel Therapy

The Quest for a Trans Tag on Twitch (plus, Pokemon!) with The Juliancito

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Hey, y'all! This week we're so excited to welcome the_juliancito to hang with us in the virtual studio! Juliancito is a queer, trans, Puerto Rican, and Jewish Twitch streamer who is a member of Radically Kind Gamers (a stream team founded by our Episode 1 guest, ZombaeKillz). He has also been a super vocal advocate for the inclusion of a trans tag on Twitch - and why it matters to have one for the trans community that's separate from the LGBTQIA+ tag that already exists. We'll let him tell you more about why, as well as about his lifelong love for Pokemon.

Meanwhile, Spencer shares their Theyfriend Review of Red Dead Online, and Jamie talks about Narita Boy and hypes up some cool recent Xbox news! Game Pass looks like it's creating really interesting opportunities for indie games to get noticed and devs to get their coin. Among the titles coming to the Netflix-like gaming service are Backbone (shoutout to Alex, our Ep 15 guest!), Boyfriend Dungeon, and She Dreams Elsewhere, plus so many more!

Follow the_juliancito: https://www.twitch.tv/the_juliancito

Side Quest

The Deaf Queer Resource Center (DQRC) is a national nonprofit that works to support, inform, empower, and bring more visibility to and awareness about marginalized Deaf LGBTQ communities through events, fundraisers, and advocacy.

Their new website is under development at deafqueer.org, but you can also find them on Facebook and Twitter @deafqueer!

About Pixel Therapy

Alternative Controls and the Importance of Touch with Designer Amanda Hudgins

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0500

CW/TW: Since this is a space where we hold our pain as well as our joy, we just wanted to note that Spencer takes a moment [3:44 - 9:49] to share some feelings about the recent rise of anti-Asian violence in America, which may be triggering for some. Thanks for being here with us. On a lighter note, Spencer concludes Firewatch (no spoilers) despite being too gay to read a map, and Jamie breaks down the recently released folksy narrative card game, Signs of the Sojourner, where encounters are conversations instead of combat. Also, our incredible Episode 9 guest Sisi Jiang contributed to the narrative design of this game! Omg!

If you've made it this far with us, you know we firmly believe video games are art. Our guest this week, Lexington, Kentucky-based alternative controls designer and Unwinnable editor Amanda Hudgins (they/them), enthusiastically agrees. When they're not pushing the boundaries of the physical forms video games can take and wow-ing crowds at museums and galleries, their day job is at SuperSoul, an indie game studio. We love how Amanda approaches games as a highly tactile experience, and we hope it will TOUCH you as much as it did us. (Sorry lol)

Follow Amanda on Twitter: https://twitter.com/barelyconcealed

Side Quest

Donate to Stop AAPI Hate, an organization collecting data on the recent rise of anti-Asian hate crimes in the US and providing critical community resources: https://stopaapihate.org/

About Pixel Therapy

Facing Our Fears in Super Mario 64 with Game Critic Gameonysus aka Janet Garcia

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Note: Major plot spoilers for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim from 38:15 to 50:00.

We recently hit 10k downloads - thank you so much! This week, Jamie concludes her journey with the sprawling, 2019 sci-fi epic 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim - and you know we have some insights to excavate together! Meanwhile, Spencer's started the spooky walking simulator Firewatch; we muse over its themes of isolation, grief, and emotional trauma as an appropriate parallel to our current reality as we come upon the anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic.

Then we're joined by Janet Garcia (Gameonysus, Game Industry Guides), a game critic, content creator, Twitch streamer, podcaster, Youtuber, and former IGN Guides editor! We go IN on the somewhat-surreal shared fever dream we call Super Mario 64, binge-watching our favorite comfort shows, glowing up, and so much more. As our eponymous plumber would say, LET'S-A GO!

Follow Janet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gameonysus

Gameonysus on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Gameonysus

Side Quest

Donate to The Black Resilience Fund, an emergency fund dedicated to fostering healing and resilience by providing immediate resources to Black Portlanders: https://www.blackresiliencefund.com/

About Pixel Therapy

Crafting a Modern Dystopia with Backbone's Narrative Designer Alex Korabelnikova

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We got tea to spill this week! Turns out Troy Leavitt, the lead developer of Hogwarts Legacy (an upcoming open-world Harry Potter RPG), is a far-right conspiracy theorist with the YouTube receipts to prove it. And this is on top of JK Rowling already outing herself as a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), which makes things complicated for her queer and trans fans to contend with. Yikes! Meanwhile, Pokemon turns 25 this year with some exciting announcements for Nintendo fans. Spencer and Jamie break it down for you with some of our own hot takes and muse on the complexities of engaging with popular media when you're a member of one or more marginalized groups.

Then we're joined by the whip-smart and incisively funny Alex Korabelnikova, a narrative designer and co-founder of EggNut, a fully decentralized indie game studio. Their upcoming game Backbone, a Noir roleplaying adventure about a raccoon detective in a dystopian Vancouver, absolutely CANNOT be missed. We get into Disco Elysium, Planescape Torment, and what it means to be a person. Nbd!

Check out Backbone on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/865610/Backbone/

Follow Alex on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almightyplate

Side Quest

Donate to the Sisters Center, a Moscow-based non-governmental, non-profit helping survivors of sexual violence: sisters-help.ru/donation_eng.html

Our February Patreon-Exclusive Co-Op Mode episode is out now. Visit patreon.com/pixeltherapypod to unlock bonus episodes for $2/mo!

About Pixel Therapy

The Emotional Benefits of Gaming with Counselor Jamiere Leslie

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Y'all been hitting that pandemic wall lately? Us too. Spencer's coping by working through half the Assassin's Creed series, which just HAPPENED to be super on sale in the Playstation Store, and getting elbow-deep in the lore. Meanwhile, Jamie's cleansing her palate from 200+ hours of Persona 5 with Aegis Rim: 13 Sentinels, a reality-altering JRPG starring high schoolers jumping into another reality for turn-based fights-- wait a minute.

Here's a follow-up article on the Ubisoft diversity debacle Jamie mentioned from 2020: https://kotaku.com/head-of-ubisoft-announces-plans-to-shakeup-the-company-1844252024

Then we're joined by Jamiere Leslie, a counselor based in Massachusetts's south shore who's rediscovered her love of gaming during the pandemic. How can you tell if you have a gaming addiction? Can Animal Crossing cure depression? What's the deal with therapy? All this and more awaits you.

Follow Jamiere on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JayTeeEll17.

Looking for a therapist in MA? Check out Northeast Health Services: https://www.northeasthealthservices.com/.

SIDE QUEST

Support the global organization working to end white supremacy and creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy: https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Our February Patreon-Exclusive Co-Op Mode episode is out now. Visit patreon.com/pixeltherapypod to unlock bonus episodes for $2/mo! We're also going to be LIVE at Uplink 2021 on February 20th, 2021, at 6-7 pm EST! If you're interested in the convention, get your tickets on our website: pixeltherapypod.com.

This episode is sponsored by the following Patreon supporters: Yinka Araromi

About Pixel Therapy

Queer Theory, Fandom, and Relationship Dynamics with Power Couple Jude and Kerey

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We're joined by Keridwen Luis (she/her) and Jude McLaughlin (they/them) this week, a queer power couple who share decades of experience making games, running games, teaching on the intersections of queer theory and fandom, writing Lambda Literary Award-nominated science fiction and fantasy, and still managing to find time to sit with us and chat about fandoms, queer bodies, representation, and how Final Fantasy VII is basically a microcosm of their relationship's early years.

Meanwhile, Spencer breaks down the whole GameStop situation that's been all over the news this week and talks about a new multiplayer game they've been playing called Knights & Bikes, while Jamie shares the view from the top of the mountain of completing Persona 5: Royal.

Buy Kerey's book Herlands: https://www.amazon.com/Herlands-Exploring-Womens-Movement-United/dp/0816698252

Learn more about Glitter Collective: https://www.glittercollective.com/

Side Quest

Help secure the future of the Quileute tribe by moving the at-risk community to the safe zone where their culture and heritage can continue to thrive for generations to come: https://mthg.org/

This episode is sponsored by the following Patreon supporters: Yinka Araromi

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) & subscribe! Want more? Join our little community over on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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Archiving the Past and Building Black Trans Futures with Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We're joined by Danielle Brathwaite Shirley (they/she) this week, a game maker and artist living and working in London. Danielle creates work that seeks to archive the Black Trans experience. In Danielle's words: I USE TECHNOLOGY TO IMAGINE OUR LIVES IN ENVIRONMENTS THAT CENTRE OUR BODIES...THOSE LIVING, THOSE THAT HAVE PASSED AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN. We were thrilled to share space with them, discussing their games THE BLACK TRANS ARCHIVE and RESURRECTION LANDS, Afrofuturism, trans tourism, and Blade.

Meanwhile, Spencer wants to know if we really need Uncharted to be a TV show and Indiana Jones to be a game when we could tell stories about literally anything else, and Jamie introduces a brand-new segment!

Follow Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley...

Website: https://www.daniellebrathwaiteshirley.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladydangfua/

Side Quest

Support our previous guest Mars Dixon's (@mmdizzie on Instagram) new project, which aims to rebuild computers for QTBIPOC and bridge the digital divide! https://www.instagram.com/rebooty_computers/

This episode is sponsored by the following Patreon supporters: Yinka Araromi

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) & subscribe! Want more? Join our little community over on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Gamifying Mental Health Management in Dofus and Dark Souls with CelesMeh

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We kick off the new year with CelesMeh, a queer Latina scientist who edits genes and builds robots by day, streams games on Twitch with an emphasis on mental health and self-care by night, and is an all-around badass and delight 24/7! Celes joins us for an energizing conversation on the power of games to help us overcome our inner challenges and see our own resilience. Please note: This episode contains frank discussions of mental illness, including depression and suicide.

Meanwhile, Spencer claims Assassin's Creed: Valhalla for the queer community, and Jamie explains how Persona 5: Royal dashed all of her big plans to finally tackle her gaming backlog over the holiday break.

Follow CelesMeh on...

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/celesmeh

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CelesMeh

Side Quest

Donate and learn more about Take This: https://www.takethis.org/

This episode is sponsored by the following Patreon supporters: Yinka Araromi

About Pixel Therapy

Pixel Therapy's Year in Gaming 2020

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 05:00:00 -0500

As we collectively drag ourselves towards the 2020 finish line while tempering our expectations for 2021, we're taking a break from guest interviews this week to bring you a special end of year episode! Join us as we share our completely unofficial picks for this year's Pixel Therapy Game Awards (cue applause). From Jamie's nomination for Best NPC Hugs to Spencer's pick for Game That Lived Rent-Free in My Head, we promise there's a little something for everyone.

Finally, it wouldn't be Pixel Therapy without crying. So please allow us to take a moment to share our reflections on this podcast's first 90 days (That's it?!), and how thankful we are for all of the love, support, and energy we've received from all of you.

Side Quest

Donate to GLBTQ+ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD): https://donate.glad.org/

This episode is sponsored by the following Patreon supporters:

Yinka Araromi

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) & subscribe! Want more? Check out our little community over on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

From God of War to Baten Kaitos: The Spectrum of Narrative Game Design with Sisi Jiang

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 05:00:00 -0500

This week we're joined by game engineer, narrative designer, and journalist Sisi Jiang (they/them)! Their work is known for covering themes of queerness and orientalism, and their critically-acclaimed game LIONKILLER got nominated for the Independent Game Festival's Excellence in Narrative award. We talk all about the importance of narrative design-- and tbh, how lots of folks have the wrong idea about narrative.

MEANWHILE, your co-hosts dissect the series that has become synonymous with Playstation: GOD OF WAR! From the history of the series, to the lessons it offers on everything from managing one's emotions to parenting as an adult survivor of abuse, there is quite a lot to unpack here. Also, Kratos can get it.

Find Sisi Jiang on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/six6jiang/

Learn more about AbleGamers: https://ablegamers.org/

About Pixel Therapy

Gaming Misconceptions and Musings with Glass Artist Momoko Schafer

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 05:00:00 -0500

This week, we're joined by molten glass sculptor and artist Momoko Schafer (she/her)! Momo starred in season 1 of Netflix's glassblowing competition show Blown Away, and also founded Self Love Social Club, a QTBIPOC-led platform for your healing journey!

This is definitely Momo's first video game podcast, and we're stoked to have her. We talk about gaming culture through the lens (lol, glass, get it?) of an artist, the growing popularity of Twitch and possibilities in the medium of streaming, mobile gaming, gaming as pop culture, and so much more!

Meanwhile, your co-hosts can't wait to tell you about our sparkling new PATREON! We're psyched to build community with you and hope you'll join us. We also read our first LISTENER EMAIL!?!? Also, BUGSNAX. Omg, this is a can't-miss episode.

Find Momo Schafer on IG: https://www.instagram.com/glassymomo/

Donate to the Fundraiser for Black Mental Health: https://ioby.org/project/easy-activism-fundraising-black-mental-health

About Pixel Therapy

How Destiny's Lack of Inclusive Design Spawned "Can I Play That?" with Courtney Craven

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:00:00 -0500

It's been a rough couple weeks. We hope you're all hanging in there and protecting your space. Recharge and hang with us! This week we're joined by Courtney Craven (they/them), a video games industry accessibility consultant, captioner for Epic Games, and the editor-in-chief of Can I Play That?, the online destination for gamers and developers to find reviews, news stories, and features spotlighting accessibility advocacy within the gaming industry.

Courtney shares the frustrating and disturbing personal story of how playing Destiny with their late partner inspired them to break into the video game accessibility industry, and Spencer freaks out a little bit over having the chance to vent about Tell Me Why with another trans person. (It gets a little spicy.) We LOVED having time with Courtney and we think you will too!

Follow Courtney on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CyclopediaBrain

Visit Can I Play That?: https://caniplaythat.com/

Queering Gaming Culture and The Sims' Secret Gay History with Mars Dixon

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 05:00:00 -0500

This week, we're joined by Black queer YouTuber, musician, model, and artist Mars Dixon (they/she/he), who streams games everywhere as @wii_gay from Twitch to PornHub (you read that right), builds computers for trans people, believes in making gaming content more accessible to non-gamers, and is an absolute ray of gay light.

Mars shares how The Sims gave them a place to visualize a queer future, and provided sanctuary and validation during a rough childhood. Then, we dive into the story of a queer game developer, Patrick J. Barrett III, who pretty much accidentally made The Sims gay and changed the landscape of gaming forever. It's a powerful reminder of how queer people have always existed and have always contributed to the creation of culture--and we will persevere!

Also, your co-hosts do a bit of a deep dive on our experiences playing Spiritfarer and its impact on our relationships to death and our mental health journeys.

Heads up: This episode contains story spoilers for Spiritfarer (20:45 - 37:30) and The Haunting of Bly Manor (29:40 - 37:30).

Follow WiiGay on Patreon and YouTube

Follow Mars Dixon on Instagram

Donate to the Homeless Black Trans Women Fund

About Pixel Therapy

Ghost of Tsushima's Norio and Other Unsung Heroes with Earl T. Kim

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Norio is best boy in Ghost of Tsushima, and we refuse to hear otherwise. Just like Norio, actor, director, fight choreographer, and dreamer Earl T. Kim is an absolute cinnamon roll, and we are overjoyed to have him on the podcast! We chat about queer fat Asian representation, the NUANCE in Jin Sakai's and Norio's relationship, and the parallels Earl found to Norio's story in his own life, from his real-life friendship with Jin's motion capture/voiceover actor Daisuke Tsuji, to his own painful lessons in letting go. Then, we go IN on the lasting impact of Final Fantasy Tactics, which literally makes Earl cry just talking about it.

Also, your co-hosts checked out Ghost of Tsushima: Legends and New Game+, which is kind of ironic since we just spent an episode talking about how we never play multiplayer... let's just say Sucker Punch certainly changed that!

Find Earl on Twitter @earlofsammich and check out Earl and Daisuke's new Twitch channel, DandE Saga!

About Pixel Therapy

Co-Op Mode: What Makes a Video Game Great? Plus, Why We Don't Like Multiplayer

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Welcome to Co-Op Mode, a whole new segment from your Pixel Therapy Pod co-hosts, Spencer (they/them) and Jamie (she/her). In this one-on-one bonus episode, get to know your co-hosts a little better as we dive deep into a specific topic around why we game and how we relate to gaming. This week, we answer two questions: Why do we both tend to avoid multiplayer? And what do we look for in a video game?

Donate to the Transgender Emergency Fund: https://transgenderemergencyfund.org/

About Pixel Therapy

Resilience Building in Final Fantasy X with Jamila Bradley

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Y'all, your co-hosts have just returned from a long night on the Zero -- Kentucky Route Zero, that is! Spencer and Jamie do a little review and excavation of our emotions about this beautiful, haunting, and painfully real series from the folks at cardboard computer that culminated earlier this year after a 7-year journey. This is a generation-defining game that truly defies the bounds of the medium. It's a story about people; but it's also about all of us. It's a masterpiece, and we can't wait to tell you about it (or at least try).

Then, we are certifiably BLESSED to have Jamila Bradley (they/them/theirs) in the studio with us, where we discuss the role of gaming in understanding one's place in the world, as well as how Final Fantasy X taught Jamila how to build resilience in themself -- and awakened some other things in them, too!

Other topics discussed: Gaming as self-care, Tomb Raider hot takes, learning a little something about yourself, that empath life, badass women, wishing Spira was real, applying the sphere grid to real life, getting through childhood, moving through the systems around us, inclusive design, dreaming about the future, and also like, what is real?

About Jamila

Jamila Bradley is a non-binary icon! In Massachusetts, they co-authored the State Plan to End Youth Homelessness, and designed critical research initiatives on marginalized youth experiencing homelessness. Jamila has spent YEARS lifting up LGBTQIA+ youth, and as a political and community organizer they have developed language for rallies, protests, and demonstrations together with trans, indigenous, and immigrant activist groups. Oh, you thought that was it? Jamila is also a fragrance artist and an olfactive anthropologist, currently based in Italy where they're exploring the art of fragrance to tell human stories!

Follow Jamila on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightblackhoney/

Donate to Y2Y - Young Adults Uniting to End Homelessness: https://www.y2ynetwork.org/get-involved/

About Pixel Therapy

Dating Sims as Virtual Performance with Dillon Yruegas

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Dillon Yruegas (he/him/él) is a queer, trans, Latinx and Coahuiltecan theatremaker. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dillon has participated firsthand in conversations about the future of theatre in a post-pandemic world-- and has a lot of feelings about all-digital art forms, which have actually been around for a LONG time. We also chat about dating sims--particularly Dream Daddy and Hatoful Boyfriend--and how he uses them to create experimental performances where queer and trans folks can be silly, have fun, and hang.

Other topics covered include: How does being a trans gamer change your relationship with video games?, interactive art, white cis het identity, hot takes on first-person shooters, toxic masculinity, getting into gaming as an adult, competition culture, dating birds, and unapologetic queerness.

About Dillon

Originally from the Austin area, Dillon now resides in Boston, where he works to produce and devise performances on a national scale. Through his artistry as an actor, director, and writer, Dillon strives to give a voice to those whose history has gone unnoticed, unseen, or has been eradicated by colonialism and white supremacy.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dillonyruegas/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dillonyruegas

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes drop every three weeks on Tuesdays. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe!

ARK: Survival Evolved as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with ZombaeKillz

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 05:00:00 -0500

ZombaeKillz, rising Twitch streamer star, joins the Pixel Therapy podcast to talk Blacktivism, invisible disabilities, parenting, and her video game history. Then, she shares how ARK: Survival Evolved taught her how video games could help her manage and overcome chronic pain-- and how she built an inclusive community of gamers on Discord that continues to grow and push back against the "overwhelming monolith of whiteness" that Black folks, non-Black POC, queer and transgender folks, and the disabled and chronically ill community often experience when trying to break into the video gaming industry. Other topics covered: what's it mean when streamers say 'no politics?', gaming with kids, privilege, dealing with racists sliding into your DMs, being on 75 Discord servers, survival games, poop management, paying it forward with love, self-care, living with lupus, moving through grief, lifting each other up, the Black Lives Matter movement.

About ZombaeKillz:

ZombaeKillz is a variety streamer, activist, BLERD and swear word extraordinaire. Zombae's popularity has exploded in her year-long career-- she's appeared all over the internet, from streams with Lowco, to chatting on Spawn on Me with Kahlief Adams, to mentions in articles from GameStop and TIME. As an activist and community organizer, she advocates in Jackson, Mississippi for the rights of women who are incarcerated, people who are houseless, and the hungry. Follow ZombaeKillz for "C+ gaming but A+ entertainment!"

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/Zombaekillz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZombaeKillz

Donate to Draw A Smile in Jackson, Mississippi: https://www.drawsmile.org/donate/

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes drop every three weeks on Tuesdays. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe!

An Introduction to Pixel Therapy with Hosts Spencer and Jamie

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Get cozy, Pixel Therapy is now in session! In this introductory episode, Spencer (they/them) and Jamie (she/her) discuss what Pixel Therapy means to us and what our goals are for the podcast.

Topics discussed include: Our personal histories with video games, Ghost of Tsushima, why pronouns are important, being a QTPOC trying to enjoy games, who gets to call themselves a "gamer"?, the stigma that video games are a lazy hobby, are video games empathy machines?, feeling connected to others.

About Pixel Therapy

New episodes drop every other week on Tuesdays. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe!

Pixel Therapy (Trailer)

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Launching Sep 22, 2020, Pixel Therapy Pod is a monthly podcast and YouTube Let's Play Channel focused on queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers. We believe that games can serve as tools for understanding ourselves, each other, and the world around us— and we want to celebrate gaming in its many contexts: as a hobby; as an art form; as therapy.

Every episode, hosts Spencer (they/them) and Jamie (she/they) deep dive on their time with a specific game - how it connects and interacts with their identities, the emotional connections they've formed with the game and its characters, and its resonance with their lives and modern culture. The show regularly features guests, focusing on people who have historically been underrepresented or invisible in the industry and centering the experiences of QT/+POC folks while challenging conventional notions of what it means to be a gamer— and who gets to call themselves one.

New episodes drop every four weeks on Tuesdays. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe!