Pixel Therapy Pod

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 shoutouts4:12 - Steven Universe (the show)21:54 - Wanderstop conversation beginsWatch the live recording of the episode on YouTube! https://youtube.com/live/1XBngY4OmH4Side Questhttps://chuffed.org/project/justice-for-mahmoud-khalilMahmoud 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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts6:22 - crafting talk14:30 - Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector conversation begins35:38 - ** CONTENT WARNING ** for discussion of abuse and sexual assault37:39 - End of ** CONTENT WARNING **Watch the live recording of the episode on YouTube! https://youtube.com/live/8FKXJkolD28Side Questtransdefensefundla.orgTrans 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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts11:24 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard conversation begins1:09:13 - *SPOILER WARNING* for a detailed conversation about a specific companion romance moment1:16:49 - *END SPOILERSWatch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/live/-FCVout3irU?si=Ae4gE2yepvciaAo7Side Questtransdefensefundla.orgTrans 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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts3:56 - Holiday catch-up9:17 - 2024 year of gaming overviews20:22 - Spencer and Jamie's Top 5 Games of 20241:26:05 - Favorite characters of the year**SPOILERS** 1:30:20 - 1:33:23 for some mid-game narrative stuff in Metaphor: ReFantazio1:35:57 - Honorable mentionsSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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-ph8About Pixel TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts6:43 - Our trip to New Orleans12:50 - Metaphor ReFantazio conversation beginsSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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/zBu6hd3SypYAbout Pixel TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts3:32 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard said trans rights14:22 - Neva discussion begins57:41 - SPOILERS begin1:09:59 - 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 Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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_-MAbout Pixel TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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-1124517040:45 - Patreon shoutouts3:47 - Whisper of the House9:24 - Winter Burrow, feat. an interview with Benjamin Salqvist (he/him), CEO & Creative Director at Pine Creek Games18:13 - Moonlight Peaks22:00 - Woodo27:58 - Rooster, feat. an interview with Sticky Brain Studios Art Director Connie Choi (she/her)37:29 - Moses & Plato - Last Train to Clawville42:17 - Urban Myth Dissolution Center47:34 - Drăculești, feat. an interview with Mads Mackenzie (they/them), Director at Fine Feathered Fiends57:51 - Heartworm1:02:35 - Love Eternal, feat. an interview with Lead Developer (among other titles) Toby Allden (they/them) from brlka1:18:26 - Usual June1:22:34 - Time Flies1:28:17 - While Waiting, feat. an interview with Dong Zhou (he/him), Founder of Optillusion & Creative Director1:34:39 - Spirit of MidnightSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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-1124517040:53 - Patreon shoutouts3:58 - We went to fucking PAX West!!16:45 - The Big Con21:09 - Astro Bot27:43 - Spiral, feat. an interview with Jess Vaillancourt (she/her), Project Manager at Folklore Games37:35 - Seasonspree41:51 - Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom47:08 - Beastieball, feat. an interview with Director Greg Lobanov (he/him) and Beastie Art Director Alexis Dean-Jones (she/her) from Wishes Unlimited53:35 - Techno Banter, feat. an interview with Tom Tomaszewski (he/him), Head of Studio at publisher Crunching Koalas1:02:36 - Outrider Mako1:05:33 - Tears of Metal1:10:14 - Feltopia, feat. an interview with Andrea Love (she/her), Creative Director at Wooly Games1:17:40 - Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch1:22:04 - Everdeep Aurora1:27:49 - Herdling, feat. an interview with Co-Founder and Creative Director Don Schmocker (he/him) and 3D Artist Samuel Flores (he/him) from Okomotive1:42:02 - despeloteSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts4:34 - Yuri on Ice9:20 - Creatures of Ava12:37 - Kunitsu-Gami conversation beginsSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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/vFyXnYqPiaEAbout Pixel TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts2:21 - Welcome Pinki and Remy!11:29 - 1000xResist conversation begins52:34 - 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/YIubeBZyPbMSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts3:22 - We're going to PAX West!6:28 - Cryptmaster conversation beginsWatch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/RT775n2Zep4Side Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts3:04 - Introduction of Kira7:19 - Discussion of Little Goody Two Shoes beginsSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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/wp8zS3TyjX8About Pixel TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts3:09 - Spencer went to GDC34:58 - Brothers conversation begins1:07:27 - Content Warning: Mention of Suicide1:10:35 - End of Content Warning section1:17:09 - SPOILERS for Brothers1:35:10 - End of SpoilersSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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-gAbout Pixel TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts3:05 - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin9:10 - Showtime's The Curse16:51 - discussion of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden beginsSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation 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/Cppl6h4hWh8About Pixel TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts2:07 - introduction of adrienne6:53 - discussion of In Stars and Time beginsLearn 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 Questhttps://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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 layoffs17:04 - recapping our year in games31:49 - our 2023 Top 5 games1:41:58 - honorable mentions1:48:32 - favorite character of the yearArticles Referencedhttps://www.theverge.com/24009039/video-game-layoffs-2023Side Questhttps://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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 conversationArticle referenced: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23864920/chants-of-sennaar-review-puzzles-stealthSide Questhttps://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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 ETThu, Nov 30 @ 8PM ETArticle referenced: https://www.wired.com/review/thirsty-suitors-review/Side Questhttps://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 TherapyWe'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 or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 Handmaiden15:24 - Saltsea Chronicles discussion beginsRemember 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 ETThu, Nov 02 @ 8PM ETArticles and posts referenced: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/deep-dive-designing-the-narrative-for-multiple-middles-and-multiple-heroes-in-saltsea-chronicleshttps://www.pastemagazine.com/games/saltsea-chronicles/saltsea-chronicles-beautifully-finds-a-way-forwardhttps://www.gamesindustry.biz/die-gute-fabrik-and-the-necessity-to-tackle-climate-inactionSide Questhttps://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 TherapyWe'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? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts7:20 - Spencer's big surprise11:02 - The triumphant return of Mr. Peepers

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 shoutouts5:01 - Check-in on Starfield and Baldur's Gate 37:20 - Stray Gods and Goodbye Volcano High discussionHeads 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 QuestGrimalkin 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 TherapyWe'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? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

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 shoutouts7:29 - First class travel14:47 - Oxenfree II discussionSide Questbit.ly/mauimutualaideIG: @mauirapidresponse FB: ‘Maui Fire, Flood & Disaster Relief GroupSupport 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 TherapyNew 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

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-switchSide Questhttps://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 linkAbout Pixel TherapyNew 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

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 discussionArticles 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-1850570840A 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-1850430832In 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 Questhttps://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 TherapyNew 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

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 discussion29:00 - The next-gen-ness of it all33:42 - Background and setup45:55 - Aloy's emotional coming-of-age53:53 - 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 enemies1:16:00 - THAT part Side Questhttps://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 TherapyNew 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

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 FOMO16:17 - I was a Teenage Exocolonist discussionSide Questsafewithusanimalrescue.orgSafe 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 TherapyNew 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

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!!

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 adaptation21:12 - About that ending...41:15 - Is TLOU the "greatest story ever told in video games?"43:23 - On being Joel vs watching Joel48:31 - Any critiques of the show?1:01:57 - The David debate1:13:32 - Is HBO's TLOU the best video game adaptation of all time?Thanks as always for your support!Side QuestMushroomsformyFriends.comOver 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 TherapyNew 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

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 intros11:58 - Scavengers Studio's 2019 controversy and accountability updates24:25 - 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 QuestSide Quest https://esii.org/The Emergent Strategy Ideation InstituteEmergent 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 TherapyNew 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

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 discussion46:27 - SPOILERS START HERE! (Discussing specific emotional beats and themes upon completion of the game)1:07:00 - END SPOILERS - Closing thoughts and reflectionsSide QuestLet's Adopt! Indonesia Animal Shelterpaypal.me/letsadoptindonesiaSaving animals through education and partnership. TNR as well as adoption services. Check them out on IG and Facebook!About Pixel TherapyNew 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

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 discussionSide Questgofund.me/F804BB72On 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/F804BB72About Pixel TherapyNew 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

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-ups7:23 - 13 Going on 30 does NOT hold up14:27 - BREAKFAST PIZZA?!19:10 - PowerWash Simulator discussion 37:07 - Marvel's Midnight Suns discussionSide QuestLet's rebuild a home for a cherished Black, disabled family in Florida!givebutter.com/yochevedYocheved (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/yochevedAbout Pixel TherapyNew 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

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, etc10:45 - Our play counts19:27 - 2022 in gaming news highlights33:07 - Our totally subjective and specific awards! 1:08:00 - Games we missed in 2022Side QuestHelp fund housing security for over 1,000 black trans folks in needwww.linktr.ee/transisbeautifulAbout Pixel TherapyNew 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

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 SECTIONNO SPOILERS BEFORE 1:04:183:41 - Catch up and annoucements!12:35 - Intro to God of War Ragnarök review and discussion15:25 - Nominations and really cool gameplay data insights30:18 - Gameplay and combat: because sometimes hitting stuff just hits41:10 - Spencer's ONE critique lol 45:02 - 3D sound design? Slaying48:45 - The animation? Breathtaking52:51 - The writing and performances? GIVING1:04:18 - SPOILERCAST DISCUSSION BEGINS HERESide 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 TherapyNew 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

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

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. https://my.captivate.fm/8:27 (8:27) - Are y'all watching The Bear on Hulu? https://my.captivate.fm/14:18 (14:18) - Stray discussion https://my.captivate.fm/32:39 (32:39) - As Dusk Falls discussion https://my.captivate.fm/51:00 (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 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

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 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

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

'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 (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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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!

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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 Support this podcast

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 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 Support this podcast

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 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 Support this podcast