Scandalous Games

Historian Kevin Impellizeri usually shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends. However, we're taking a few months off for the second annual Scandalous Games Summer, where we offer syncable audio commentaries for video game related movies. Join Kevin, Andy Hunter, and Kate Lynch as they talk over the 1989 coming of age tale/100-minute Nintendo commercial The Wizard (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098663/). Together, we tackle some aggressive product placement, reminisce on Nintendo video games from days gone by, and contemplate why several main characters do not end up dead in the Utah desert.For more on the history of The Wizard from some of the folks involved in its creation, check out:Anthony Maurizio, “Interview: The Wizard Director Todd Holland On Everyone's Favourite Nintendo Movie Turning 25,” Nintendo Life, June 18, 2014, https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/06/interview_the_wizard_director_todd_holland_on_everyones_favourite_nintendo_movie_turning_25Damien McFerran, “Ninterview: The Wizard's Luke Edwards,” Nintendo Life, October 21 2011, https://web.archive.org/web/20140319061639/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2011/10/ninterview_the_wizards_luke_edwards Damien McFerran, “The Wizard - An Oral History Of Nintendo's Hollywood Debut,” Time Extension, May 11, 2024, https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/05/the-making-of-the-wizard-an-oral-history-of-nintendos-hollywood-debutTo sync the movie, queue up the film to 00:00:10 and wait for the countdown. If you want to cut through the intro and get right to the commentary, head to 00:05:35 in the recording. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Andy Hunter. We bring you the thrilling conclusion of our look at John DeCamp, the disgraced former politician/conspiracy monger who sued the games industry following the Columbine shooting. We look at John's associations with some very fine people and how he tried to get to the bottom of a bunch of other conspiracies leading into his massive suit against violent video games. Topics discussed include: John's nigh infinite supply of secret information on essentially every conspiracy, the surely gripping conversations between John DeCamp and Dave Grossman, and video games gain free speech protection thanks to an unlikely hero. On the relationship of Qanon, the militia movement, and the January 6, 2021, insurrection, check out: Gia Kokotakis, "Into the Abyss: QAnon and the Militia Sphere in the 2020 Election," George Washington University's GW Program on Extremism, March 28, 2023, https://extremism.gwu.edu/into-the-abyss-QAnon-in-US.  Some resources on identifying conspiracy theories and what to do if you or someone you care about is falling into conspiracies:"Conspiracy Theories and How to Help Family and Friends Who Believe Them," Anti Defamation League, August 23, 2022, https://www.adl.org/conspiracy-theories. Stephen Lewandowsky and John Cook, The Conspiracy Theory Handbook, March 2020, https://skepticalscience.com/conspiracy-theory-handbook-downloads-translations.html.We'd also be remiss if we didn't recommend Natalie Wynn's March 24, 2025, video, simply titled "CONSPIRACY" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teqkK0RLNkI. Also, the two podcasts we mentioned today:Knowledge Fight: https://knowledgefight.com/. QAA Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qAmVJsQW0k51ZJ9bDZyZd. More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. As a new wrongful death lawsuit levied against a video game company looms, we take a closer look at Sanders v. Acclaim, the 2001 lawsuit filed against the video game industry alleging games like DOOM, Redneck Rampage, and Final Fantasy (?!?) trained the Columbine High School shooters to kill. To that end, we examine John DeCamp, an eccentric Nebraska politician, lawyer, and conspiracy monger who filed the suit on behalf of one of the Columbine victims. Along the way, we untangle the life of a man who went from soldier to senator to the whistleblower in an alleged Satanic child sex trafficking ring that provided a preview of the likes of Pizzagate and Qanon.  Content warning: accusations of child sexual assault.Topics discussed include: Kevin's increasingly eclectic book collection, a wild LaRouche appears, Kevin sets the record straight on whether he's a cannibal, and what's Jack Thompson been up to? For more on the upcoming lawsuit against, gun manufacturer Daniel Defense, Meta, and Activision, see: Brandon Drennon, “Uvalde families sue Meta, video game creator and gunmaker,” BBC, May 24, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8449dxw23do. More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

In today's installment of Scandalous Games Theatre, Dr. Kevin Impellizeri, PhD, recites Jack Thompson's "A Modest Video Game Proposal," delivered via open letter on October 10, 2005, in which the self proclaimed "only certified sane lawyer in the State of Florida" offered a $10,000 charitable donation in the name of then Take-Two CEO Paul Eibeler if a game company developed and distributed a game in which all Jack's personal enemies were brutally killed. However, when a company came forward to develop the game, titled I'm OK: A Murder Simulator (Thompsonsoft, PC, 2006) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_O.K_%E2%80%93_A_Murder_Simulator), Thompson reneged on the deal. When the makers of Penny Arcade, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, made the donation in his name to the Entertainment Software Association Foundation (on a check with the memo, "For Jack Thompson Because Jack Thompson Won't"), Jack faxed the Seattle police department on October 18, 2005, accusing Penny Arcade of instigating “criminal harassment of me by various means.”  For more on Jack's antics, including how his mad crusade against video games led to him getting permanently disbarred, check out our two-part series on Mr. Jack Thompson.Sources: "Paul Levinson vs. Jack Thompson on videogames and violence," Paul Levinson on YouTube, April 17, 2007, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XtWV-tIeVg.Bach - Violin Concerto in A minor - Complete - BWV1041, by GregorQuendel via Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/music/classical-string-quartet-bach-violin-concerto-in-a-minor-complete-bwv1041-289529/). JackThompson.org: http://jackthompson.org/archives/index.htm#10_10_05_01. This is also a useful source for a bunch of Jack's other open letters and public correspondence.All other sound effects in the public domain via Pixabay's license: https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/.More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, and Elford Stephens. We finally wrap up our look back at the year of controversies that was 2024. This time around, we look at a whole bunch of weird and wild Pokémon related stuff that came up during the previous year.Topics discussed include: the potential murder related implications of the number 286, Kevin gets scammed, Nintendo goes after Palworld, and uncomfortable allegations against Typhlosion.More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, and Elford Stephens. We continue looking back at the previous year that was with a sample platter of gaming related controversies that came up over 2024. This time around, we look at some wild backlashes against Sony in the Helldivers II community and the alleged role of video games in the December 4, 2024, shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.Topics discussed include: Precision review bombing raids, Phil's harrowing ordeal against the bugs, the horrors of Altoona pizza, and did Among Us cause a murder?More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Kate Lynch, and Phil Thomas. For our first recording of 2025, we share our favorite gaming experiences from 2024 and take a look at the tumultuous state of the games industry over the past year, including  the discussions of corporate greed, massive layoffs, and huge live service failures.Also, a scheduling note: we will not be airing a second episode this month. Check back in on March 4 for our next episode.Topics discussed include: Hilarious achievements, the Embracer Group gets too greedy, the incredible failures that were Concord and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the event horizon of maximizing profits, and firearm carrying crabs. For a deep dive into the wave of industry layoffs, check out: Phil Hornshaw, “Video Game Industry Layoffs Are Worse Than Ever. How Did We Get Here?” Gamespot, March 12, 2024, https://www.gamespot.com/articles/video-game-industry-layoffs-are-worse-than-ever-how-did-we-get-here/1100-6521799/.For more on The Stanley Parables' wild achievements, including awards for not playing the game for 5-10 years, see: "Achievements," The Stanley Parable Wiki, https://thestanleyparable.fandom.com/wiki/Achievements.More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Elford Stephens, and Phil Thomas. Part Two (of two) of our remastered edition of our deep dive at Postal 2 (Running with Scissors, Whiptail Interactive, PC, 2003). This time, we go past the game's less-than-stellar reception and learn how developer Running with Scissors found a second life in the anti-woke crowd.Topics discussed include: Running with Scissors accuses critics of giving their games bad reviews without playing them, Vince Desi vs. Jack Thompson: the epic battle the world deserved (but never got), Running with Scissors gets its place in the sun thanks to GamerGate, and a timely theory about how RWS stayed in business for years despite not making any games.For more on the tumultous history of Postal III, check out: Matt McMuscles, "Postal III - What Happened?" August 22, 2020, https://youtu.be/WJnivzm-WjA?si=jo1sxeOAnirAOVO2.For a thoughtful deep dive into the Postal series (plus previous subject Hatred), check out: Noah Caldwell-Gervais, "Postal, Hatred, and Weighing the Worth of Asshole Simulators," November 9, 2015, https://youtu.be/kivtv6wabBk?si=VFdEeIsYcK3a14Bd. More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Elford Stephens, and Phil Thomas. We're taking a month off for the holidays, so enjoy part one of a two-part remastered version of our episode on Postal 2 (Running with Scissors, Whiptail Interactive, PC, 2003), the crass magnum opus of the rudest, crudest dudes in gaming: Running with Scissors. This time, you'll be treated to tons of never-before-aired footage and additional info from Kevin.Topics discussed include: The logistics of using a cat's butt as a silencer, the tumultuous 2000s career of Gary Coleman, and games RWS could have ripped off to make Postal 2 combat's better. For more on the Nyan Cat mod for Unreal Tournament 3, check out Brandon Stines, "Nyan Cat Becomes a Weapon of Mass Destruction in This Unreal Tournament 3 Mod," Nerdeux, September 20, 2011, https://nerdeux.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/nyan-cat-becomes-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction-in-this-unreal-tournament-3-mod/More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Elford Stephens, and Phil Thomas. We reach the thrilling conclusion of our deep dive into the history of college sports video games and why there weren't college football video games for over a decade until the release of EA Sports College Football 25. Topics discussed include: The NCAA loses a whole bunch, college athletes gain NIL rights (and $600 for their troubles), that time the Supreme Court actually ruled in favor of people over corporations, the return of college football video games, Scandalous Games as written by Grok, and Ed O'Bannon did not take your college football video games away.For more on the Pottsville Maroons, check out Tim Selway, "Stolen Glory: The Pottsville Maroons," Pennsylvania Center for the Book (Spring 2008): https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/feature-articles/stolen-glory-pottsville-maroons.You can play First Person Tutor, the Flash version of The Grading Game, check out the preserved copy on the Flashpoint Project: https://flashpointproject.github.io/flashpoint-database/search/#6b16381e-d142-4d92-b356-aa252186565c. More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Elford Stephens, and Phil Thomas. On Elford's triumphant return, we start looking at the state of college football during the 2010s that led to the end of the NCAA Football video game series. This includes student athletes fighting to unionize and the backlash to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Plus, we tackle the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing match in the latest installment of Scandalous Games Sportschat!Topics discussed include: NCAA head Mark Emmert's bad day with PBS's Frontline, the NFL's worse day in Congress, NIL deals for Monster Hunter monsters, a proposed game where the Notre Dame football team solves mysteries, and Kevin misses out on a huge payout.More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Andy Hunter, and Phil Thomas. Today, we dive into the legal battle over video game likeness rights and how some experts argued the name, image, and likeness rights of college athletes came in conflict with video games' growing free speech rights in the 2010s. This discussion will get us one step closer to learning how college athletes received NIL (name, image, and likeness) rights and set the stage for EA Sports College Football 25.Topics discussed include: The legal image rights of dictators (and athletes), the twisted legal battle over Tony Twist, probably the first reference to the 1990s movie Solo in 30 years, and what's the legal standing of buying things ironically?For more on arguments for free speech in the Hart v. Electronic Arts suit, check out: Greg Lastowka, “The Erosion of Creative Freedom? The Battle Over Publicity Rights,” Gamasutra, July 11, 2012, https://web.archive.org/web/20120717033755/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/173890/the_erosion_of_creative_freedom_.php; see also: William Ford and Raizel Liebler, “Games Are Not Coffee Mugs: Games and the Right of Publicity,” Santa Clara Computer and High Technology Law Journal 29, No. 1 (2012): 1-99: https://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/chtlj/vol29/iss1/1/.For more on SAG AFTRA's AI rights deal, check out: "New SAG-AFTRA and Ethovox Agreement Empowers Actors and Secures Essential A.I. Guardrails," SAG AFTRA, October 28, 2024, https://www.sagaftra.org/new-sag-aftra-and-ethovox-agreement-empowers-actors-and-secures-essential-ai-guardrails. More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Andy Hunter, and Phil Thomas. We've focused a lot on how college sports brings in billions of dollars while the athletes have seen little to none of that for the majority of their history. Today, we start looking at how video games became the battleground where athletes pushed back against the system. On top of that, we dive into the history of likeness rights in video games. Topics discussed include: A dramatic reading of Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City, Kevin performs a series of wardrobe changes totally suited for a non-visual medium, arguably the greatest baseball player to ever exist, and that time a Panamanian dictator took on the video game industry. Plus, another installment of "Scandalous Games Sports Chat!"For more on the history of New York Mets fans storming the field, check out: Mike Vaccaro, "NYC fans have checkered history of storming field," New York Post, October 27, 2019, https://nypost.com/2019/10/26/nyc-fans-have-checkered-history-of-storming-field/.For more on Vanderbilt fans throwing the goalposts into the Cumberland River, see: Aria Gerson, "Inside Vanderbilt football goalposts march to river: Obstacles, honky-tonks and a police escort," The Tennessean, October 9, 2024, https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2024/10/09/vanderbilt-football-goal-post-river-alabama-nashville-broadway/75514929007/. For more on the New Jersey Swamp Dragons, see: Zach Lowe, "Once upon a time, the Nets seriously considered becoming the Swamp Dragons," ESPN, December 14, 2021, https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/15155466/once-nets-seriously-considered-becoming-swamp-dragons.My fellow Americans: Go out and vote! Here are resources on voting, including registering, checking your registration status, identifying your polling place, and knowing your rights:https://www.vote.org/https://vote.gov/https://www.vote411.org/https://civilrights.justice.gov/voting-resourceshttps://www.eac.gov/votersMore info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. As we get to the bottom of why it took 11 years to get a new college football video game, we take a closer look at how schools and the NCAA treat college athletes and the lengths college programs will go to not compensate players (even with a full education) to preserve amateurism. Topics discussed include: a totally not problematic discussion about crab legs, the Rhodes Scholar turned NFL player turned neurosurgeon, and how dodging worker's compensation got us the "student-athlete."For more on NCAA sanctions against players (as well as a bunch of other topics related to this series), check out Joe Nocera and Ben Strauss, Indentured: The Inside Story of the Rebellion Against the NCAA (New York: Random House, 2016): https://www.amazon.com/Indentured-Inside-Story-Rebellion-Against/dp/1591846323.For more on the college exploits of Jameis Winston and Cam Newton, check out:"Florida's Newton faces felony counts after fellow student's laptop stolen," Associated Press (via ESPN), November 21, 2008, https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3718266. "Jameis Winston: Store employee 'hooked us up' with crab legs," ESPN, April 22, 2015, https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2015/story/_/id/12739843/jameis-winston-florida-state-seminoles-says-crab-legs-were-given-not-stolen. Elliot C. McLaughlin, "FSU settles for $950,000 in Jameis Winston rape case," CNN, January 26, 2016, https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/25/us/florida-state-fsu-settles-jameis-winston-rape-lawsuit/index.htmlFor more on the SMU scandal and the college football "death penalty," check outOn the average NFL career length by position, see: Christina Gough, "Average playing career length in the National Football League," Statista, March 12, 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/240102/average-player-career-length-in-the-national-football-league/. On Dr. Myron Rolle, former NFL player and current neurosurgeon, see: Wright Thompson, "The Burden of Being Myron Rolle," ESPN Outside the Lines, http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=100218/myronrolle. Also, his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmyronrolle.  Theme Music: Occam's Sikhweee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ).Also, one slight correction: the College Football Playoff has 12 teams, not 16. More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  Be sure to also check out Andy and Phil's new podcast where they re-watch the 1990s animated series Beast Wars: Transformers, called So...We Were Talking About Beast Wars, wherever you get your podcasts!

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. We start actually talking about video games by diving into 20 years of college sports themed video games and how everybody seemed to make money on them but the players. Plus, the first installment of "Scandalous Games Sportschat!"Topics discussed include: An unprompted rant about Tim Tebow, Dick Vitale's merch game is on point, Stephen Hawking: color commentator, Phil is introduced to the magic of ESPN NFL 2K5, and how many Rutgers snuggies is too much?For more on Ski Festival, the recently uncovered Magnavox Odyssey skiing game, see: Donovan Harrell, "You can now play a rare, unreleased video game from the 70s, thanks to a Pitt lab," PIttwire, https://www.pitt.edu/pittwire/features-articles/magnavox-odyssey-ski-festival-recreated. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhweee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  Be sure to also check out Andy and Phil's new podcast where they re-watch the 1990s animated series Beast Wars: Transformers, called So...We Were Talking About Beast Wars, wherever you get your podcasts!

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. We've covered the early history of college sports and the creation of the NCAA. Now we look at how college football became a multi-billion dollar enterprise thanks in no small part to the mad scramble for TV money. Topics discussed include: Penn fools around and finds out, the fraught territory of ladder sponsorships, and a whole lot of talk about mayonnaise.  Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  Be sure to also check out Andy and Phil's new podcast where they re-watch the 1990s animated series Beast Wars: Transformers, called So...We Were Talking About Beast Wars, wherever you get your podcasts!

Hooray for our 50th episode! Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. It's the start of the college football season in America, and we are weeks into the launch of EA Sports College Football 25, the first American college sports video game in 11 years. With that in mind, we start a deep dive into why it took so long to get a new college football game, taking a look at the history of college sports as a multi-billion dollar empire. In our first part, we examine the impact of college sports and go all the way back to their 19th century origins. Topics discussed include: Summoning Clippy with eldritch rituals, Philly sports radio call-in guys, the 19th century equivalent of performance enhancing drugs, and the incredibly dangerous flying wedge.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  Be sure to also check out Andy and Phil's new podcast where they re-watch the 1990s animated series Beast Wars: Transformers, called So...We Were Talking About Beast Wars, wherever you get your podcasts!

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Phil Thomas, and Kate Lynch. We're still in the midst of Scandalous Games Summer as Kevin prepares for another exciting series of video game related controversies, so we're kicking back with another syncable audio commentary. This time, join us we talk through the 2020 Paul W.S. Anderson film adaptation of the popular Capcom monster hunting franchise, Monster Hunter (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6475714/).To sync the movie, queue up the film to 00:00:10 and wait for the countdown. If you want to cut through the intro where Kevin offers some history behind the movie and get right to the commentary, head to 00:10:27 in the recording. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends, but this month we're celebrating the start of our third year and the end of our 14-part (!!!) series on Dave Grossman with something we're calling "Scandalous Games Summer," a set of syncable commentary tracks while we recharge and prep for some new stories. This month, we're watching and commenting on the 1994 live action Street Fighter movie (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111301/). So join Kevin Impellizeri, Kate Lynch, Andy Hunter, and Ryan Weaver as we celebrate the summer and have a good laugh. There have been a bunch of fun histories written on this movie. Here are a few Kevin mentions during the commentary:Luke Owen, Lights, Camera, Game Over! : How Video Game Movies Get Made (Schiffer, 2017): https://schifferbooks.com/products/lights-camera-game-overChris Plante, "Street Fighter: The Movie -- What Went Wrong?" Polygon, March 10, 2014, https://www.polygon.com/features/2014/3/10/5451014/street-fighter-the-movie-what-went-wrong.Keith Stuart, "'I punched him so hard he cried': inside the Street Fighter movie," The Guardian, July 16, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/jul/16/inside-street-fighter-movie-jean-claude-van-damme-kylie-minogue.To sync the movie, queue up the film to 00:00:10 and wait for the countdown. If you want to cut through the intro where Kevin offers some history behind the movie and get right to the commentary, head to 00:10:55 in the recording.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Kate Lynch, and Phil Thomas. At long last, we have finally made it to the final episode in our extremely deep dive into the self-proclaimed "killologist" Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. In our thrilling (troubling?) conclusion, we close the book on arguably the most influential figure in the violent video games discussion by examining the violent media moral crusader/police trainer within the context of the larger atmosphere of America's increasingly militarized police. Content Warning: Police violence, including police related killingsTopics discussed include:  Some possible explanations why police walk around in riot gear when they patrol the local farmer's market, corporate sponsored cops, Kevin is missing out on In-N-Out Burger,  Dave's possible kinks, the infuriating merch Dave sells on his online store, and a potentially fun way you can help spread the word about Dave Grossman.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends:  Kate Lynch, and Phil Thomas. This time around, we finally start wrapping up our deep dive into Dave by learning about his career as a police trainer and the kinds of totally healthy and not dangerously upsetting messages he shares with America's law enforcement communities, school officials, and anyone else willing to pay him thousands of dollars.Content warning: discussion of violence throughout. Brief mention of suicide (39:50-39:58, 40:48-40:52).Topics discussed include: The state of Dave's underwear after a long tour pushing "killology," suicide bio bombers rushing across the border (?), the debate over gun control in Helldivers II, and the group shares some innovative classroom management techniques.To check out the Bulletproof Warrior handout unveiled by Unicorn Riot in 2018, see: Niko Georgiades, "Bulletproof Warrior Training Manual Released," Unicorn Riot, May 25, 2018, https://unicornriot.ninja/2018/bulletproof-warrior-training-manual-released/.For more on the ways the media paints a favorable view of police in America and downplays  systemic issues in law enforcement, check out: the Skip Intro series "Copaganda:" https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2ac8vr2QyTdlWwd8OQIc1it6bAfMGPPC&si=0wan2mGA9fkDooP4. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Kate Lynch, and Phil Thomas. Topics discussed include:  Kevin shows his privilege when it comes to handling explosives, and we get to the bottom of whether we really eat eight spiders in our sleep. Plus, some more rounds of Pokémon or Prescription Drug?Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. We leave the quirky little town of Harvest to continue our look into the self-proclaimed "killologist" Dave Grossman. This time around, we start looking at what Dave has been up to on the violent video games train in the last decade or so, and we take some time to think about the "why" of Dave. Topics discussed include:  Scandalous Games is officially a Pulitzer Prize nominated show (for real); Dave really wants you to buy his sheepdog branded coffee; is Dave maybe too into violence, and a skinless nightmare Christ. Plus, Andy tests whether we can tell the difference between Pokémon and prescription drugs.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends. This time, we wrap up Harvester with an interview with Aarno Malin, host of "The Harvester Show" and the Harvester Facebook page. Aarno graciously shared his experiences as a Harvester superfan and we discuss the process of tracking down people involved with the game, and he shares his thoughts on what might have kept the Harvester from joining the pantheon of controversial 90s video games. Be sure to check out Aarno Malin's channels for tons of inside information on Harvester, including interviews with the people who made it, promotional materials, and the game's script!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lodgelevel4YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LodgeLevel4You can also follow/reach out to Aarno via Twitter/X (@AarnoMalin) and Instagram (@aarno.malin.official). For more on Burnhouse Lane, developed by Harvester Games, where Aarno plays a character, check out the game's Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1846460/Burnhouse_Lane/. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.     

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter and Kate Lynch.  Today, it's the thrilling conclusion to our look into the over-the-top PC game Harvester  (DigiFX, Merit Studios, 1996). We warp up by examining how its creators attempted to market Harvester, its reception (or lack thereof), and its surprising resurgence over the past decade. Topics discussed include: Harvester's creators desperately try to find someone who will get mad at their game, what did Postal get right that Harvester didn't, a definitely respectful memorial to the late Joe Lieberman, and an exciting announcement.Be sure to check out Aarno Malin's channels for tons of inside information on Harvester, including interviews with the people who made it, promotional materials, and the game's script!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lodgelevel4YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LodgeLevel4Also, check out Kevin's interview with Aarno on the feed on April 16!Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.    

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter and Kate Lynch. This time, we continue our deep dive into the wild horror themed point-and-click adventure game Harvester  (DigiFX, Merit Studios, 1996). This time, we shift our focus to this game's troubled production and some of its pre-release hype. Topics discussed include: Harvester's diverse cast and crew, a whole bunch of talk about Event Horizon, and comparing your computer game to one of the most racist films ever made.Be sure to check out Aarno Malin's channels for tons of inside information on Harvester, including interviews with the people who made it, promotional materials, and the game's script!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lodgelevel4YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LodgeLevel4You can also check out the video "The Making of Harvester," which Kevin goes into detail during the episode, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75gb6IxpT-Y. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.   

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Kate Lynch, and Elford Stephens. This month, we take another break from the "killologist" to take a closer look at the wildest 90s PC game you may have never heard of: Harvester (DigiFX, Merit Studios, 1996). We start our deep dive into this cult piece of 90s PC weirdness by examining the impetus behind the game and what inspired its creators to try to make the most over-the-top video game ever. Topics discussed include: Horny jigsaw puzzles, the politics of Roadrunner cartoons, and Harvester is "SAYING SOMETHING" about media violence,Be sure to check out Aarno Malin's channels for tons of inside information on Harvester, including interviews with the people who made it, promotional materials, and the game's script!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lodgelevel4YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LodgeLevel4If you want to learn more about the ways networks have edited Warner Bros. cartoons, check out: "The Bugs Bunny Show Censorship," Looney Tunes Wiki, https://looneytunes.fandom.com/wiki/The_Bugs_Bunny_Show_Censorship.  Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

 Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. We've gone too far to turn back now, as we continue our long look into Dave Grossman and why people should not listen to him. Today we continue our deep dive into Dave's tactics by seeing how his "killological" philosophy made its way into the State House and the courthouse through anti-gaming legislation and wrongful death lawsuits against the games industry.Topics discussed include:  The epic bromance that was Dave Grossman and Jack Thompson, the debut of a new segment called "Scandalous Games Theatre," and all the ways politicians uncritically parrot the ideas of a pretend academic.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Andy Hunter. We continue our deep-dive into self-proclaimed "killologist" Dave Grossman starting a deep dive into how exactly Dave waged war on video games. We start we Dave's information-based battle, the types of organizations Dave felt comfortable calling comrades-in-arms, and how Dave might have started making his own research. Topics discussed include:  Dave's less than savory associates, a detour to look at the board game Stroop (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/212376/stroop), Phil makes a big announcement, and possible childhood trauma connected to Cooking Mama. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Andy Hunter. We continue our deep-dive into self-proclaimed "killologist" Dave Grossman seeing how he became a media-anointed expert on video game violence in the wake of a school shooting in his home town, and how Dave managed to insert himself into future violent video game conversations in the wake of mass shootings.  Topics discussed include: Did a school shooter go from average teen to deadly marksman by playing too much DOOM? Andy tests Kevin and Kate's ability to distinguish between Pokémon and prescription medication, we show some love for mid-level evolution Pokémon, and we examine how we might all be to blame for Dave Grossman. Content Warning:4:03-4:27: Details of a school shooting8:55-10:06: Discussion of mental illness, suicidal ideation, and self-harm14:15-14:53: Discussion of mental illness27:15-27:57: Details of a school shootingSelected Resources:Office for Victims of Crime (OVC):https://ovc.ojp.gov/news/announcements/view-resources-victims-recent-mass-violence-incidents Sandy Hook Promise: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/APA Resources for coping with shootings:https://www.apa.org/topics/gun-violence-crime/mass-shooting-resourcesAdministration of Children and Families:https://www.acf.hhs.gov/trauma-toolkit/victims-sexual-abuseNational Child Traumatic Stress Network:https://www.nctsn.org/resources/caring-kids-what-parents-need-know-about-sexual-abuseEnough Abuse Campaign:https://enoughabuse.org/get-help/survivor-support/Mental Health First Aid:https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/mental-health-resources/SAMHSA resources for youth in the US:https://www.samhsa.gov/school-campus-health/behavioral-health-resources-youthAFSP for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255); text the Crisis Text Line (text CONNECT to 741741); or dial 988 for immediate help (Press 1 if you are a veteran of the armed services).Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Andy Hunter. Whether you want it or not, we return to our long series on the self-proclaimed "killologist" Dave Grossman, and we finally get to Dave's entry into the violent video game fray as he peddled his killological wares in the wake of the March 24, 1998, Westside Middle School shooting, a less talked about school shooting that happened to take place in Dave's hometown and propel him from rando adjunct to media-anointed expert. Topics discussed include: How Dave potentially used a school shooting to propel his brand, Kevin's pretty sure Wine for Dummies is a much better book than On Killing, Dave Grossman: crisis actor(?), and Andy continues to test our whether we can tell the difference between Pokémon and prescription medicationContent Warning:9:57-10:57: Details of a school shooting34:33-39:06: Discussion of child abuse, sexual abuse of children, suicidal ideation, self-harm, mental illness, and animal abuseSelected Resources:Office for Victims of Crime (OVC): https://ovc.ojp.gov/news/announcements/view-resources-victims-recent-mass-violence-incidents  Sandy Hook Promise: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/ APA Resources for coping with shootings: https://www.apa.org/topics/gun-violence-crime/mass-shooting-resources Administration of Children and Families:https://www.acf.hhs.gov/trauma-toolkit/victims-sexual-abuse National Child Traumatic Stress Network:https://www.nctsn.org/resources/caring-kids-what-parents-need-know-about-sexual-abuse Enough Abuse Campaign:https://enoughabuse.org/get-help/survivor-support/Mental Health First Aid:https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/mental-health-resources/ SAMHSA resources for youth in the US:https://www.samhsa.gov/school-campus-health/behavioral-health-resources-youth AFSP for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/ Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255); text the Crisis Text Line (text CONNECT to 741741); or dial 988 for immediate help (Press 1 if you are a veteran of the armed services).Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch,   Kayt Ahnberg , and Ryan Weaver. We wrap up our four-part series on Manhunt, Rockstar North's snuff film inspired follow up to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. As we close the book on Manhunt, we try to figure out what might have inspired people to think Manhunt caused a real-world murder in 2004 and how it (possibly) had more to do with the machinations of an old friend of the pod than Manhunt acting as a "murder simulator." We then go into the game's popular reception and how Manhunt as a game may be even more relevant today.Topics discussed include: The machinations of a mature legal mind, thoughts on Manhunt from the self-proclaimed "killologist," and whether Manhunt was a harbinger of the current woes of the game industry.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Kayt Ahnberg, and Ryan Weaver. Today, some of us are still here and alive to cover part three of our four-part series on Manhunt, Rockstar North's brutal 2003 survival horror title. This time, we examine whether Manhunt caused a real-life murder (spoiler alert: it did not), and how the British tabloids gave us the infamous July 29, 2004, headline "Murder by PlayStation."CONTENT WARNING: brief discussion of a murder (5:30-7:17)Topics discussed include: The British papers have a wobbly over Manhunt,  a fun look at some Daily Mail headlines, the positive aspects of playing horror games, and how to "accidentally" turn a video game into a best seller. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch,  Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. This time, part two of our four-part series on Rockstar Games' 2003 snuff film inspired stealth/horror game Manhunt. This time, we look at the moral backlash against Manhunt leading up to and following its 2003 and try to place that within the context of anxieties over video games as an art form during the early 2000s. Topics discussed include: Manhunt gets banned in Germany and New Zealand, and Jack Thompson enters the fray!  For more on the challenge to Alan Moore's Neonomicon  in Greenville County, SC, see: Carolyn Kellogg, “Alan Moore graphic novel banned from South Carolina library,” Los Angeles Times, December 6, 2012, https://www.latimes.com/books/la-xpm-2012-dec-06-la-et-jc-alan-moore-graphic-novel-banned-from-south-carolina-library-20121206-story.html Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch,  Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. This month, we finally keep our promise and take a break from Dave Grossman for a four-part series on Manhunt, Rockstar North's 2003 snuff film inspired follow up to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Today, we go into the game's inspirations and its early reception in the gaming press to set up the brouhaha that ensued following its release.Topics discussed include: a (very) brief history of snuff films, whether Manhunt almost caused a mutiny at Rockstar, the Sadism Spectrum (TM), and the environmentally friendly uses of canvas bags for suffocations. For more on the history of Rockstar during Manhunt's development and release, check out: David Kushner, Jacked: The Unauthorised Behind-the-Scenes Story of Grand Theft Auto (London: Collins, 2012), http://www.davidkushner.com/book/jacked/. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends...except it's Halloween and we want to do something fun and scary, so buckle up for our second synchable audio commentary. This time, Kevin, Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, Elford Stevens, and Andy Hunter are ripping and tearing through the 2005 film adaptation of DOOM (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419706/) directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. We're watching the theatrical cut, which is 1 hour 45 minutes and not to be confused with the unrated director's cut.To sync the movie, queue up the film to 00:00:05 and wait for the countdown. If you want to cut through the intro where Kevin offers some history behind the movie and get right to the commentary, head to 00:11:57 in the recording.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Elford Stevens, and Phil Thomas. We finally close the book on On Killing and three whole months on Lt. Col. Dave Grossman by taking a closer look into more of his profoundly sad so-called accomplishments and wrap up by a look at the popular reception to Dave's first book.Topics discussed include: Dave Grossman: martial arts master? Kevin is a master of Gamekata, the martial art of the video game. The strange case of the guy with three doctorates, and the kinds of people who really took to Grossman's rhetoric in On Killing (spoiler: it's exactly the kinds of people you'd think would like it). Be sure to check out our syncable audio commentary for DOOM (2005)(https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419706/), which drops on the feed on October 31, 2023! Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Elford Stevens, and Phil Thomas. Sorry, folks, but it's one more month on everyone's "favorite" "killologist" Dave Grossman.  This time, we shift away from Dave's debut book On Killing to some of his other alleged accomplishments (Spoiler alert: they're not much better than his book warning everyone about the "Virus of Violence").Topics discussed include: On Killing's tepid reception, Dave wants everyone to know he's been to mountains and deserts, and is Dave Grossman a furry? Plus, more about Kevin's experience as a failed academic, and Scandalous Games "earns" a Pulitzer Prize nomination. Plus, we share an exciting Halloween treat.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. We continue our deep dive into self-proclaimed "killologist" Dave Grossman and his foundational work On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1995). This time around, we take a closer look at Dave Grossman's research process and learn how, shockingly, the sources that aren't based on a World War II journalist who made some stuff up are also pretty bad.  Topics discussed include: Kevin's run-in with Soldier of Fortune,  Andy's natural aversion to giving Dave Grossman money, Dave's looking out for the real victims (spoiler alert: it's white supremacists and fascists), a brief interlude about the 1994 Winter Olympics, and the ongoing debate over who stole valor. Plus, some more rounds of Pokémon or Prescription Drug!For a look at the history of Rhodesia: check out Well There's Your Problem's episode - https://youtu.be/7dtJGRIWEls?si=2lJ2S3fFTAwVcsVy.  Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. We continue our deep dive into self-proclaimed "killologist" Dave Grossman and his 1995 book On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1995). Today, we tackle Dave's central argument--that as many as 85% of American soldiers in World War II outright refused to fire their guns, which led the Army to trick its soldiers into becoming killing machines--by looking at his one source: the work of Samuel Lyman Marshall. Topics discussed include: The epic tale of a jet setting adventurer and war correspondent (or is it?), Dave Grossman is (shockingly) not a diligent researcher, what happens when historians make up their sources, the great debate over who stole valor, and the gang offers some exciting new dieting advice. Plus, some more rounds of Pokémon or Prescription Drug!Sources on Kevin's World War II numbers: "U.S. Army Divisions, in World War II," US Army Divisions, https://www.armydivs.com/; "Life in the Army," PBS, https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-war/life-in-the-infantry; "Research Starters: US Military by the Numbers," National World War II Museum, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/research-starters-us-military-numbersFor more info on S.L.A. Marshall and his "ratio of fire," see: Frederic Smoler, “The Secret of the Soldiers Who Didn't Shoot,” American Heritage (March 1989): 36-45: https://www.americanheritage.com/secret-soldiers-who-didnt-shoot.  Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. We continue our deep dive into self-proclaimed "killologist" Dave Grossman and his 1995 book On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1995), dissecting his claims that America is in the midst of a hellish Purge style world of violent teens who have been activated by watching too many horror movies and playing one too many light gun games.Topics discussed include:  Dave Grossman has never watched a horror movie or played a video game (but that won't stop him from having strong opinions anyway), whether Rodney King was a serial killer, Kevin has a problem with A Clockwork Orange, the gang learns there actually is no crime, and Andy offers more choices between Pokémon and prescription drugs.For more on possible theories behind America's dramatic crime decrease since the 1990s, check out: Dana Lind and German Lopez, “16 Theories for Why Crime Plummeted in the US,” Vox, May 20, 2015, https://www.vox.com/2015/2/13/8032231/crime-drop. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Elford Stephens, and Andy Hunter. In honor of our second full year of doing this show, we start a deep dive into a guy who may be the single most influential figure in the violent video game discourse over the last 30-odd years: Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Starting our six-month (don't worry, we'll take breaks along the way) deep dive into the self-proclaimed killology expert. Today, we start with Dave's early life and start looking at his most influential work on how we thing about video game violence: On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1995), and how a lot of the violent video game discourse is based on a bad book.Topics discussed include:  The horrifying thought of soldiers not killing people (and how we allegedly "fixed" it), some sketchy wheelings and dealings among our panelists, Dave Grossman warns those nasty video games are teaching kids to kill (citation needed), and Andy tests the gang's knowledge on Pokémon and prescription drugs.For more on the evolution of the public perception of the American soldier between World War II and the Vietnam War, check out Andrew J, Huebner, The Warrior Image: Soldiers in American Culture from the Second World War to the Vietnam Era (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2008: https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Image-Soldiers-American-Culture/dp/0807858382.   Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Elford Stephens, and Andy Hunter. In our jam-packed grand finale of our (longer than expected) deep dive into Pokémon fan projects, we examine how fans responded to Nintendo's legal strike against Pokémon Uranium and Pokémon Prism and whether legal attacks against fan projects actually matter.  Topics discussed include:  Gamers' mixed feelings about Nintendo's legal strike. What do ROM hacks have to do with Rifftrax? The weird alternate history where "Nintendo" became a generic brand for video games, a bonus mini controversy related to ROM hacks, and  Elford's surprising musical number. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Elford Stephens, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. In part six of our look at Pokémon fan projects, Nintendo finally sets its sights on Pokémon Uranium and Pokémon Prism, and we look at Nintendo's quest to destroy emulation by any means necessary.  Topics discussed include:  Nintendo vs. emulators, Nintendo vs. YouTubers, and that time Nintendo wrecked Bowser's life. For more on the recent court ruling against the Internet Archive, see: Christine Kelley, "If we lose the Internet Archive, we're screwed," The [Stony Brook] Statesman, April 4, 2023, https://www.sbstatesman.com/2023/04/04/if-we-lose-the-internet-archive-were-screwed/. Want to see some fun Pokémon solo runs and other challenges? Kevin recommends:VanMan: https://www.youtube.com/@vanman9142Gym Leader Matt: https://www.youtube.com/@GymLeaderMatt1987Mah Dry Bread: https://www.youtube.com/@MahDryBreadPointCrow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR6FyQtHv8mPCPHkCBzyBbcBQuqGgMuFYTheme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Elford Stephens, and Andy Hunter. In part five of our look at Pokémon fan projects, we finally edge ever closer to Nintendo's response to Pokémon Uranium and Pokémon Prism by examining the ways other game companies have responded to fan-developed games that use their IP. Topics discussed include:  The wild lore behind Twitch Plays Pokémon, the lost beauty that was Chrono Resurrection, the ways video game companies centralize and monetize fan creations, Kevin's (possibly) erotic Dark Souls II fanart, and the potential of poop-themed Pokémon, Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Elford Stephens, and Andy Hunter. In part four of our look at Pokémon fan projects, we finally get into the controversy around Pokémon fan games and ROM hacks by looking at probably the two most famous/infamous unauthorized Pokémon games: Pokémon Uranium and Pokémon Prism, focusing on their development and their relationship to Pokémon fandom. Topics discussed include:  2016 was a great year so long as you're a Pokémon fan and don't read the news; Pokémon GO was kind of a big deal, despite being built on a bad game called Ingress; and why won't Nintendo let us play the early generation Pokémon games?  For more on the Niantec lawsuit over Pokémon GO, see: James Bareham, "Niantic is tweaking Pokémon Go to settle a lawsuit with angry homeowners," The Verge, February 15, 2019, https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/15/18226604/niantic-pokemon-go-lawsuit-changes-settlement-private-property-pokestop-gym. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. In part three of our look at Pokémon fan projects, here is the second part of this month's episode. This time, we take a closer look at the motivations behind fan projects and we get closer to the actual controversy behind this series and address whether Pokémon fan games and ROM hacks are legal. Topics discussed include:  Reasons people develop fan projects and the discourse surrounding them, a whole bunch of amateur takes on intellectual property law, that time John Carmack made a Super Mario Bros.  clone, and Andy Hunter's one-man show of Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. In part two of our look at Pokémon fan projects, we shift from ROM hacks to fan games, Pokémon inspired games developed by fans that are built from the ground up, usually with third-party game engines. Topics discussed include:  Fascists don't like Pokémon, that time Pac-Man ate too many dots, the wild history of RPG Maker, the merits of video game buyback programs, Kevin's failed RPG, and whether there might be an NFT of Kate out there somewhere. Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. In this episode, we start a three part series on Pokémon, specifically fan-developed Pokémon projects, beginning with the history of Pokémon ROM hacks, original games made by fans that are built on commercially released Pokémon games.Topics discussed include:  An introduction to Pokémon for video game newbies, fan-created Pokémon challenges, an amazing deep dive into the technical background of ROM hacking courtesy of Kate and Phil, that time 4chan made a Pokémon ROM hack, and what would a Scandalous Games Pokémon ROM hack look like? Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

 Historian Kevin Impellizeri usually shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends. However, this month Phil Thomas takes the lead and teaches Kevin, Elford Stephens, and Andy Hunter about the (as of this recording) ongoing global computer chip shortage and why it has been so hard to get a next-gen game system (or a car or ballistic missiles or anything else you might need).Topics discussed include:  A brief history of video game related chip shortages, the most important company you've never heard of,  how we are possibly a war/global pandemic/ecological disaster away from a digital dark age, and whether you'd be willing to jump on a box for a cell phone.To learn more, check out: Chris Miller, Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology (New York: Scribner, 2022)https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Chip-War/Chris-Miller/9781982172008 Also, for more on Magnavox and the Odyssey,  check out the Video Game History Hour episode "Magnavox: The Great Voice": https://gamehistory.org/ep-94-magnavox-the-great-voice/.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends...except this month we're doing something a little different with our very first syncable commentary track!  Join Phil Thomas, Andy Hunter, Elford Stevens, and Kevin as we sit down and watch the 2003 video game flop The House of the Dead, directed by infamous maker of bad video game movies (and subject of a previous episode), Dr. Uwe Boll.  To sync the movie, queue up the film to 00:00:10 and wait for the countdown. If you want to cut through the intro where Kevin offers some history behind the movie and get right to the commentary, head to 00:08:20 in the recording.Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.