Gaming with RnR

Not long ago, there use to be a time when being into gaming was frowned up. Fast forward a few decades later and its common for a gamer to be a celebrity and a millionaire. What changed? No seriously, what changed so the podcast can copy that formula?? This week the podcast is joined with returning guests, Kyle and Sam, as we discuss the moments that helped make gaming culture mainstream. We talk about the influence of Pokemon, the impact of the internet, and everyone provides tips on how to find your own welcoming community.

Culture usually comes from a form of history and gaming is no different. The past decade has seen the rise of gaming in museums and we took this week to highlight one of these venues. The Chicago Gamespace is launching a new exhibit this week titled "Nom Nom: 40 Years of Pac-Man Design and History" and we discuss how the game's legacy has survived the test of time. Raf and Ray are joined by Jonathan Kinkley, Director of the Gamespace, and Tim Lapetino, the curator of the exhibit and bestselling author of "Art of Atari" where they all talk about the impact of design on gaming history, how museum interactivity helps connect different age generations, and much more.

"Railroading" is a term used in Tabletop RPGs to describe when the DM/GM/Storyteller uses pre-written techniques to force the party onto a particular path. Although not controversial, this technique can create conflict within a gaming group. This week the co-hosts are joined by Liz, Kyle and Logan to discuss the impact of this technique, explain how these RPGS help people with socializing, and - SLAP 'EM WITH A SALMON (you'll get the reference after you listen)! *This episode is probably best for beginner to advanced Tabletop RPG players. That being said, if you have ever been interested in joining a campaign, this episode does help describe some social techniques useful to having a great experience.

With the recent Microsoft acquisition of Bethesda, Gaming with RnR revisits the societies and lore that make their games memorable. Raf and Ray are joined by Paul where they discuss society interactions in their Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Wolfenstein games. A LOT happens this episode, here are just some of the highlights: Ray provides hot takes on what groups are the alt-right versions in the Bethesda games, Ray also gets fact checked (not alt-right related), Paul spoils EVERYTHING (now is a good time for a #spoileralert), Raf doesn't feel guilty about his decisions, and we all agree that Nazis are bad. Its a fun episode. FUNNNNNNNNNNN.....and insightful.

October brings fall mornings, pumpkin flavored food and beverages, and PLENTY OF HORROR. This week, co-hosts Raf and Ray compare the horror video game medium to film, how its different, similar, and how it has changed over the years. They are joined by horror enthusiast, John, and from the Love Life of an Asian Guy, Ranier. Subnautica will of course, make its spooky return, along with discussions on the changing form of the "other", memories of being terrified by our siblings, and more!

With the high popularity of Animal Crossing New Horizons, the inaugural season of a Sims 4 competition show, and the constant birth of new life simulation games, 2020 may become known as the year of "Slice of Life" gaming. This week, Raf and Ray are joined by extra special guest host, Sims 4 cat creator extraordinaire, Mari (Ray's life partner) as well as NBA 2k bitcoin expert, Hasan, and Stardew Witch Alia. The group discusses all the factors that make slice of life gaming unique, how gender might be an influence, and plenty of recommended games for you to try out during this pandemic time.

20 years ago, games generated revenue primarily through the costs of initially purchasing a game. Today, some of the most popular games are free-to-play and recuperate costs through items called "microtransactions". Although they are less controversial today, they can polarize a gaming community and have a huge impact on the industry (Fortnite vs Apple/Google). As we launch Season 2 of Gaming with RnR, Raf and Ray are joined this week by Fifa correspondent, Jessie, and MMORPG correspondent, Jessica, to discuss their thoughts on how microtransactions became so relevant in gaming. Later in the episode, Raf and Ray discuss the implications of Fortnite's recent battle with Apple and Google. Welcome back and hope you enjoy the start of Season 2!

Our first season is over and as Raf and Ray take this brief time off between seasons we thought it would be helpful for listeners to hear from the creators about the state of the podcast, where we plan on going from here and our general thoughts about season one. We would like to take this time to thank all of our listeners, family and friends who have supported us throughout the inception of this podcast. Your support has made this experience meaningful! Make sure to subscribe to our podcast, on whatever platform you use as we will probably drop a few surprise episodes before season two launches in August of this year.

Just as the "Last Dance" is really a documentary about MJ, this podcast is really about community. Its an important fulcrum in which all other topics sprout from, whether its mental health, personas or inclusivity; everything stems from the strength and weaknesses of its gaming community. This week, Gaming with RnR is joined by the creators of the Youtube channel "Desperate Pace", James and Mike, as they converse with us about the importance of a gaming community, how to make it inclusive, and how to create one from scratch. If you would like to learn more about Desperate Pace check out their Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJzCyZ3b42s1rLZzWQuLs5A or support their work at https://www.patreon.com/desperatepace. *This is the final episode of Season 1! Tune in next week to learn more details about the next stages of the podcast and the launch of Season 2 in August of 2020.

The feeling of wonder and amazement of discovering a new world is prevalent in gaming. Some games leverage its strengths of scope and ambiance to push a player to explore and uncover new characteristics about the world and the player. Exploration in gaming can also be intimidating and terrifying. This week Gaming with RnR discusses "Open World" Games and how they enhance this feeling of creation and discovery. They define what an open world game is, why its such a popular medium, and exemplary games that moved them. Raf and Ray are joined this week by Kelsey, Paul and newcomer, Muss!

Video gaming is a relatively new medium that has only been recognized as an art form over the past decade. Despite this recognition, gaming has a lack of recognition for its artistic values. Raf and Ray are joined this week by local Atlanta artist and gamer, Josh, where they argue (with bias) whether gaming is an art form or not. They talk about its unique features as a medium, how it overlaps and shares characteristics with others and they critique various games that have been considered art.

Gaming exists in multiple formats and one of these, tabletop (pen and paper) gaming, is a form that emphasizes community, story telling and fun. Ray and Raf are joined by Liz and Paul as they discuss why they love all forms of tabletop gaming, how its a great medium to address conflict resolutions, its ability to be inclusive, and why this form of gaming is more popular then ever. Although we recommend everyone to listen, we think its most beneficial for new/potential players to check this out and learn more. DISCLAIMER: This was one of our first recordings so we were not properly equipped to sound well. We apologize and have upgraded our podcast equipment since then (partly due to your support).

The impact of COVID-19 has been huge on the lives of everyone in the world. Everyday we wake up and have to interact with the virus in one way or another. It causes stress, anxiety, and new challenges that our community has never faced before. Quarantine life has also led to beautiful moments where families and loved ones are reconnected virtually, sometimes in the form of gaming. In this week's mini episode, Raf and Ray discuss how gaming has helped them cope with COVID-19. This episode is off-script and unplanned but we hope its just as meaningful.

We originally recorded this episode for Mental Health Awareness Month and then in typical RnR fashion, we overlapped with current events and talked about a topic that may be too close to home for some. We promise though, its a good talk about anxiety! Co-hosts Ray and Raf are joined by Liz and Sam as they discuss their first experiences of interacting with anxiety in games, how games are great coping mechanisms for surviving against the anxiety caused by the world (aka Covid-19) and everyone bonds over that "one water level" they experienced as a kid.

As a gamer grows older, they begin to value autonomy just as much as mechanics. Why is it that we want to have a choice and have a product that is our own? Is this needed in video gaming? Your co-hosts, Raf and Ray, are joined by Decision Making Correspondent, Liz, as they discuss the evolution of decision making in games, how it can enhance an experience, and how it unfolds in all types of mechanics. As usual, there is plenty of gaming recommendations for everyone to check out! DISCLOSURE: This was one of our first recordings so we were not properly equipped to sound well. We apologize and have upgraded our podcast equipment since then (partly due to your support).

Cooperative board gaming has always existed but the past decade has seen a rise of cooperative experiences over competitive. Inversely, competitive gaming is on the rise. Why is it that board games are having a thriving market for collaborative experiences? Raf and Ray discuss the trials and tribulations that happen in the living rooms across the world with our DnD 5E correspondent, Paul, and our Board Game Correspondent, Kelsey! *Cited Article: :"Collaborative Games: Lessons Learned from Board Games" by Jose Zagal, Jochen Rick and Idris Hsi.

Gaming is more than a hobby, it is part of our identity. In this episode our co-hosts are joined by Katamari Damacy lover, Alia, as they discuss the trials and tribulations of getting loved ones to appreciate gaming as much as we do. Although gaming is a central focus, this episode discusses the importance of getting others to appreciate your hobby (whatever that may be) and tactics to to increase this respect in order to strengthen relationships. Check out the second half for a list of recommended games to try out on a love one!

It is our first ever "mini" episode! Co-hosts Raf and Ray discuss the high's and low's of the past decade in video gaming with our DnD fifth edition correspondent, Paul. They argue their perspectives over loot crates, the era of reboots and remakes, and list their top five influential games over the past ten years. If you want a little trip down nostalgia lane, this is the episode for you!

Do our moral choices differ when we play a game? Do our choices in a game reflect who we are as a person? Wait, let's back up...what exactly is morality? Co-hosts Raf and Ray are joined by their Philosophy Consultant, Cameron and Civ V conqueror, Sam, as they tackle the concept of morality and how it intersects with gaming. They talk about the controversial topic of violence in gaming, the responsibility of developers to create a morally just playground, and they argue a couple of hypothetical situations that may reveal their deepest, darkest intents. Maybe.

How do you act while gaming alone? Do you notice any tendencies when you game? Do you have a similar persona throughout your gaming experiences? Does this differ if someone is watching you? These are the questions we ask in our very first episode! Deep stuff...we know, that is what you will be getting with Gaming with RnR. P.S. This first episode was recorded before we gathered our field experts, #foreshadow. We didn't want to overwhelm you, we (*cough* Raf *cough*) can be a handful.