Gerg and Muxl: A Podcast on Video Game Theory

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The field of video games is wonderful and complex. Games can be considered an art or a national sport. Join Mark and Greg as they get under the hood to explore the unexplored topics of games.

Mark Bishop and Greg Morsfield

  • Sep 2, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • infrequent NEW EPISODES
  • 57m AVG DURATION
  • 64 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Gerg and Muxl: A Podcast on Video Game Theory

Comeback Mechanics

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2020 84:42


Why add comeback mechanics and feedback loops to boost the performance of losing players? Many games seem fair and balanced without the addition of these extra mechanics so what is their purpose in game design? Gerg and Muxl discuss how these mechanics can be used to improve the gaming experience... or ruin it.

Strategy and Tactics

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2019 64:56


The genre of real time strategy games is surprisingly diverse as Muxl discovered playing Startcraft 1 for the first time. Join Gerg and Muxl as they discuss what makes a game "strategic" and how that effects gameplay.

The State of Multiplayer Shooters

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2019 50:29


Apex Legends, Fornite, Anthem, Destiny 2, what can looking at these games tell us about the audiences and demand for multiplayer shooters and why do some have such a hard time even getting off the grounds? Gerg and Muxl discuss.

Learning vs. Playing

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2019 50:52


Some games require focused, dedicated practice while others you can improve at almost without noticing. What sorts of game fall into each category and how does the introduction of multiplayer elements factor in? Gerg and Muxl discuss this and more.

Fighting Games and Spectacles

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2019 59:36


Fighting games can be a tough nut to crack for those interested in watching and appreciating their complexities. Gerg and Muxl discuss some of the nuances and levels of understanding when it comes to these matches of "high speed chess."

Learning "They Are Billions"

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2019 55:51


We spent the last several weeks playing a came called "They Are Billions" which is an interesting combination of elements from RTS and city-planning genres. We talk about how different elements of the game work together, why this game is so spoiler sensitive, and why we loved it along with some things we missed from other RTS titles.

UI: Gauges and Meters

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2018 67:12


The UI of a game ranges from you standard screen sprites and menus into the level design itself. This week Gerg and Muxl are discussing measurements and how numerical information is conveyed to the player in the context of various game genres.

Gerg and Muxl Play: Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2018 24:27


Momentum and movement seems to be a recurring theme lately on this show as Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 got chosen for our random game stream (unfortunately Envirobear 2000 didn't work out). Tune in to find out what we thought after spending a couple of hours revisiting this skating masterpiece. 

Cinematic Moments and Level of Detail

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2018 55:39


As games get more detailed we are seeing so many more detailed environments and specific actions that players can take. How should designers tackle the increasing complexity of the game world and wield the incredible graphical power of modern titles? Join Gerg and Muxl as they discuss!

Gerg and Muxl Play: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2018 23:54


We're jumping into the world-renown platformer Super Mario Galaxy 2 in our journey through highly (and very lowly) rated games. After 2 hours with the game this was our take on this highly praised game. Check out the playthrough at https://youtu.be/nwa-L_SBhN4

Collections in Games

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2018 62:00


What is it about collecting things that makes it fun? How can finding all the moons in Mario Odyssey be super fun while other collections feel tedious, holding you back from the good parts of the game? Greg and Muxl dive into these questions to understand the relationship between collections and games.

Gerg and Muxl Play: Perfect Dark

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2018 30:01


This week we played Perfect Dark. The last of a now-extinct breed of single-joystick shooters with fast-pace action and fun multi-player. Looking back on this game with fresh eyes it's hard to imagine how it must have felt back in 2000.

Special Announcement and Clips from Horror Presentation

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2018 2:15


We have a special announcement about Gerg and Muxl going forward this episode! We are going to start streaming games biweekly! Also stick around for some clips from a lost recording we did on horror presentation. Unfortunately tech ate our podcast and you really don't want to sit through the distortion for the second half so we just cut that out.

Monsters in Media

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2018 53:29


What makes a good monster? Gerg and Muxl go over some of our favorites and how they uniquely embody the environment that they are a part of. Join us for this Halloween themed break down.

Negative Space in Games

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2018 63:57


How can the creators of horror games use the absence of stimulation to provoke a scary moment and what role does absence play in the development of fear. Gerg and Muxl discuss on the first October Horror Cast!

Battle for Azeroth: Between Players and Evolving Systems

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2018 64:30


The latest WoW expansion has ruffled some feathers for a number of understandable reasons. Gerg and Muxl take a look at the subjective experience of players under different progression systems as well as the difficulty of maintaining freshness and quality in the design of complex games.

Superhero Games: Power and Responsibility

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2018 62:52


Characters in video games are often more powerful than the average bear (let alone human) but something strange starts to happen as heroes approach deity levels of control. Join Mark and Greg and we discuss super hero games; what works and what doesn't when it comes to these beloved icons.

Cycles in Gaming

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2018 62:13


We wrap up Gaming Mechanics season 1 with this analysis of the way three different games organize their pacing into cycles and discuss the impact that has on the player's experience. Find out what kind of games lend themselves well to periodic time to slow down.

Overcooked and Gamification

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2018 60:59


Gamification is becoming increasingly popular. Taking an everyday task and distilling it down to its most basic, measurable and rewardable elements is making its way into education, the work place and scheduling. This week we're discussing our experience with Overcooked and how it has managed to make players feel like they were managing a kitchen while still having them only press three buttons. 

Multiplayer, Multilayer

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2018 60:50


Over the last decade in gaming it's becoming increasingly popular to add network and multiplayer modes to games. Even games which don't really need it... In this episode we discuss various multiplayer blunders in games and what happens when a game grow to very large scales.

Subnautica vs. No Man's Sky

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2018 62:19


After getting our hands dirty with subnautica, we're contrasting it with the lack luster debut of No Man's Sky to see how this similar concept of survival on an alien terrain is made so much more intriguing.

Cheating in Games

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2018 62:33


Cheats used to be a staple in games. Whole books and menus were dedicated to them and now they're a rare sight. So what happened to cheats? Why did they go the way of the dodo and how have developers supplemented the disappearance of cheats in modern games?

Violence or Play: A Gamer's Look at Combat

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2018 67:20


Violence, combat and competitions that end in one party "KO"d are everywhere in games. How does the pervasiveness of this seemingly brutal metaphor shape how we understand video games and those who engage in them?  Also check out our Patreon and help us get a PS4: https://www.patreon.com/gamingmechanics  

God of War: A Franchise's Evolution

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2018 65:11


The God of War series has been known for its gratuitous violence, brutality and satisfying combat. The most recent entry to the series maintains the thrill of combat while striking a radically different tone of relationship and responsibility. The Gaming Mechanics discuss the evolution in this franchise and why this major shift seems to have worked so well.

Minigames: Tiny Triumphs or Little Landmines

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2018 60:42


Minigames can be the cherry on top or a fly in the ointment of a good game. When does this game-within-a-game work well to complement the larger project and when does it leave players frustrated? The Gaming Mechanics put it all under the microscope.

Content in Games

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2018 59:01


How can some games go their entire existence without people shouting about "lack of content" while others seem to get that criticism right out of the gate? What do people even mean by that criticism and what can developers do about it? The Gaming Mechanics take on these tough questions.

Gaming: A Movement in 4 Parts

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2018 63:05


Gaming has gone through a renaissance over the last 15 years with amazing, genre defining titles like Super Mario, Halo, War Craft but recently these main stream giants have been challenged by indie developers and major changes in the publishing landscape. The Gaming Mechanics talk about the cycles of innovation in gaming and give you a deeper insight into the dynamics of technological progress.  Credit to MatPat of The Game Theorists for inspiring this episode. Check out his video here (https://youtu.be/gxzKZdTxNp8)

The Scope of Competition

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2018 56:42


In recent years gaming has gone global and this has profoundly effected the competitive landscape. Matching making systems seem geared toward pushing you along in skill but what happens to players who don't want to be the best and how can competition be fostered at higher levels?

Time: Narratives and Mechanics

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2018 56:51


Time is dilated to give narrative weight or summarized in a montage to give the summary of a process and In some video games time is more than just a setting for linear causality but a character in itself. This week the Gaming Mechanics are talking about the many ways that players interact with time!

RPGs: Analog vs Digital

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2018 53:17


RPGs are a broad genre of video games born out of the pencil and paper games of old. The Gaming Mechanics discuss how these high-tech counterparts stack up against their tried-and-true counterparts. The differences might surprise you.

Fortnite vs. PUBG: A Battle Royale

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2018 58:22


Fornite has exploded onto the gaming scene and elevated the Battle Royale to its own genre! Join The Gaming Mechanics as we discuss the differences between these two popular games. From asthetic, to item selection and pacing everything is on the table!

Sequels in Games

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2018 61:53


How do you follow up a smashing success and why are the second iterations of games often better than the first? The Gaming Mechanics take on these questions and more in this episode of Gaming Mechanics!

Fighting the Revolution: Combat in 3D

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2018 57:46


Continuing our discussion on 3D gaming, we're turning our attention to combat! Just as with movement, combat saw a jump in complexity as games moved to including a 3rd special dimension but are players really able to cope with this complexity? The Gaming Mechanics discuss the possibilities and shortcomings of fighting in 3D.

Platformers and Racing in the 3D Age

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2018 63:18


Some of video gaming's most iconic characters originate from platforming, a genre which came into its own in the early 1990s and then became virtually unrecognizable while its fast-paced sibling made a clean transition. How can two genres with similar ideas interact so differently with the advance of technology? Join the Gaming Mechanics as they discuss.

Gaming Goes 3D

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2018 64:29


In any art there are epoch-defining innovations which create both creative space and a lot of hype for a particular sub-genre of that art. 3D technology was just such an innovation for video games. Join Greg and Mark as they intro a series on the changes that the 3rd dimension brought to the gaming landscape. 

Looking Backward and the End-Game

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2017 63:49


A lot of games aren't over even after the ending. There are special challenges, secret items, and a completion percentage on your save file that offensively glows "43%" Just what is the purpose of having a game after a game in both single and multiplayer genres? 

Happy Holidays (Live Episode Next Week)

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2017 0:39


Ending Game Stores

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2017 68:40


Endings of stories are usually bittersweet. It's the culmination of everything and also then end of a journey but games aren't just stories, they also rich experiences involving unique skills. End a game might mean there's still much left to explore so what does it look like to conclude a video game? 

Replayability in Games

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2017 57:23


Ever finished your favorite game only to go back for seconds? As part of our series about finishing games it felt fitting to talk about how to keep things fresh during replays. Join Greg as he discusses just what makes a game replayable!

Bosses At Work

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2017 67:12


Bosses can bring an epic note of finality to a section of a game or be a sour note in the harmony between player and game. What makes for a good boss fight? and where did bosses even come from to being with?

Loot Boxes: A Behaviorist's Booty

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2017 65:15


The controversy surrounding the use of loot boxes in triple A titles has come to a head with the release of EA's Battlefront II (2017). The Gaming Mechanics take you on a psychological tour of loot boxes, the problems they present and what they might still be good for. 

The Story of Destiny's Lore

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2017 61:06


Destiny 1 and 2 were hugely anticipated titles with all the space-opera epicness you've come to expect from Bungie. How that epicness is communicated to you, the player, has been a point of controversy, consternation and, at last, this podcast. Greg and Mark discuss what worked and what didn't in Destiny 1 and 2's presentation of lore (no spoilers).

Finding The Game

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2017 65:13


Games are so complex and unique that it is necessary for games to teach themselves to players. From the in-world tutorial of Red Dead Redemption to the tutorial-as-world of Portal, the Gaming Mechanics tackle tutelage and trajectory in all its forms.

Episode Delayed

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2017 0:19


The Future of Fear

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2017 61:53


After much spookiness and fright, Greg and Mark take a look back at the last month of gaming and a look forward at what the future might hold for horror genre. Join us as we discuss the innovations taking place to scare gamers (There's also some creepy pasta at the end!).

An Air of Fear

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2017 64:40


What separates those games which are dark or merely brutal from those which are horrific? Can we come up with a helpful way to categorize games which are designed to cause fear from those which use a dark aesthetic?

Psychological Horror and Doki Doki Reaction

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2017 70:47


Psychological horror is plausibly unnerving. Join Mark, Greg and special guest Xander as they discuss the internally unknowable, frailness of sanity and their experience of Doki Doki Literature Club (spoilers are well marked). 

Death and Survival

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2017 74:11


Survival, death and horror often go together in gaming. The question on our minds today is how can we make survival seem important and avoid making death feel cheap or inconsequential in a game which poses no bodily risk?

Expectation and Horror

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2017 66:50


Expectations play a huge role in any game so it should come as no surprise that the creators of horror games weave the expectation of being scared into virtually every aspect of their game. Mark and Greg discuss how this can be done well and how it might backfire.  

The Effect of Violent Games

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2017 66:30


Controversy abounds when it comes to discussing the effect of violent games on gamers. Thankfully the Gaming Mechanics are at home sorting through psychological research and presenting some of the more pertinent findings. It's not conclusive but it's food for thought.  

Rating Systems

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2017 64:27


The way a game is rated plays a crucial role in its expectation, audience and reception. Greg and Mark discuss the history and present state of rating games in the US and some notable cases in the history of ratings.  

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