Podcast appearances and mentions of phil thomas

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. 

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. 

Effie Worldwide CEO Traci Alford and Phil Thomas, Chair of Cannes Lions and Executive Chair of Informa Festivals, join WARC's David Tiltman for an exclusive interview about the future of Effies and how the two brands will be working together moving forward.

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!

25/08 - Truth, Love & Leadership In The Family Of God (1 Tim 4) - Phil Thomas by mccmedia

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: 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: 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.  

MERRY FLIPPIN' CHRISTMAS you absolutely amazing lot! Welcome to the final episode of The Parlour for 2023, in which, as per tradition, I am joined by the delightful Rich Taylor & Phil Thomas to pick our favourite things of the year. Grab a lovely mulled beverage and enjoy! The SPCP Best of 2023 Spotify Playlist The Parlour on X The Parlour tip jar Music by Starbomb

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, 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.

CTL Script/ Top Stories of June 10 Saturday Publish Date: June 9 Friday   Henssler :15 From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast    Today is Tuesday, June 10th, and happy heavenly birthday to famous attorney F Lee Bailey ***Bailey***     I'm Brian Giffin and here are the top stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia State award named after longtime Cherokee County fire safety pioneer Report finds automatic voter registration growing voter rolls in Georgia And the Cherokee Sheriff's Office receives over $500K grant for cameras to talk about high grocery prices     We'll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast      Commercial:  CU of GA   Story 1. award     The Georgia Public Safety Educators Association (GPSEA) has honored Capt. Ann Segers, a long-serving firefighter and fire safety educator in Cherokee County, by naming its Educator of the Year award after her. Segers, who joined the fire department in 1988, was instrumental in promoting fire safety and education in the community. She was the first person in Georgia to obtain credentials as an NPQ Fire Safety Educator and made significant contributions to the field. After her retirement in 2005, Segers continued volunteering with the department until her passing in May 2022. The first Ann Segers Educator of the Year Award will be presented at the 2024 Georgia Fire Safety Symposium. Read more on this story at tribuneledgernews.com     STORY 2: voters   According to a report by the Center for Election Innovation & Research (CEIR), Georgia's voter registration rate increased from 78% to 98% during the first four years of implementing automatic voter registration. The state introduced automatic registration in 2016, updating voter records whenever an individual updates their driver's license information. The report also highlights that 97% of Georgians have both a driver's license and Social Security number associated with their voter registration, improving the accuracy of voter rolls. The registration rate has become more representative of Georgia's population, with a narrower gap between the overall population of younger voters and registered voters. The report also shows a significant decrease in inactive voters on the rolls. Automatic voter registration has proven successful, saving taxpayer dollars and reducing voter challenges.   Story 3: 500k   The Cherokee Sheriff's Office has been awarded a $518,000 grant from the state to purchase new license plate-reading cameras. The funds will be used to buy 35 Flock Safety cameras, which can capture license plates, and cover their maintenance for five years. These cameras are valuable for locating missing and wanted individuals and are frequently utilized by detectives investigating crimes. The grant is part of a larger allocation of over $83 million for public safety projects throughout the state. The funding aims to enhance law enforcement staffing, support violent crime reduction initiatives, and invest in technology and equipment to address community violence exacerbated by the pandemic. The grant is provided through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program established by the American Rescue Plan Act.   Back in a moment   Break:  ESOG -  Detox- Drake   STORY 4: health   The Cherokee County Health Department is organizing Back to School Health Clinics at their Canton and Woodstock Health Centers. The clinics will take place on July 18, 25, and August 8, from 1 to 6 p.m. These clinics will provide required screenings for hearing, dental, vision, BMI/nutrition, with a total cost of $60. Additionally, immunizations necessary for school children will be offered at a cost of $21.90 each for uninsured or underinsured individuals. Various insurance providers, including Medicaid, Peachcare for Kids, and private insurers, are accepted. The Canton office is located at 1219 Univeter Road, and the Woodstock location is at 7545 N. Main St. For more information, contact 770-345-7371 for Canton or 770-928-0133 for Woodstock.   Story 5: water gm   The Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA) will hold a called meeting on June 8 at 1 p.m. at their offices in Canton. The purpose of the meeting is to interview applicants for the position of assistant general manager. As per Georgia law, these interviews can be conducted in an executive session. The CCWSA offices are located at 110 Railroad St. in Canton.     Story 6:  fca   The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Cherokee is hosting a fundraiser called "UGA Night of Champions" on July 7 at First Baptist Church Woodstock. The event will feature inspirational talks from current and former University of Georgia football stars, including Ben Watson, Sedrick Van Pran, and Malaki Starks. Former Bulldog Head Coach Mark Richt will also be a featured speaker and present the Cherokee FCA Coach of the Year Award. The event aims to raise funds for the nonprofit's year-long activities, and while tickets are free, individual donations will be accepted. The evening will include a silent auction with signed memorabilia and local business displays.   Back, after this   Commercial: Elon - Ingles 10   Story 7: soccer   Phil Thomas, the head coach of the River Ridge boys soccer team, has been named the Cherokee County Coach of the Year for 2023. Under Thomas' leadership, the Knights had a remarkable season, reaching the Class 6A state championship game and winning their second consecutive region title. With a strong and well-rounded roster, including standout players like Matthew Dean, Rezin Samstag, and Gracen VanGilder, River Ridge demonstrated their talent and competitiveness. Despite facing initial challenges, the team finished the season with an impressive record and showcased their abilities in tight games throughout the playoffs. Looking ahead, Thomas is optimistic about the future of the program, with key players set to return in 2024.     Story 8:  P.O.Y.   Matthew Dean, a standout player for the River Ridge boys soccer team, had a remarkable season in 2023. He led the Knights to the Class 6A state championship game after helping them win the Region6 6A title for the second consecutive year. Dean's contributions were instrumental in the team's deep postseason run, as he scored 11 goals and provided six assists. His outstanding performance earned him the title of the 2023 Cherokee County Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Despite a slow start to the season, Dean and his teammates displayed resilience and fought their way to the championship game, ultimately finishing as runners-up. Dean's speed and skill were key factors in the team's success throughout the playoffs.   Final thoughts after this   Henssler 60   Thanks again for spending time with us listening to today's Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast. Get more on these stories and other great content at tribune ledger news.com. Giving you important information about our community and telling great stories are who we are. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcast   www.henssler.com   www.ingles-markets.com  www.cuofga.com www.esogrepair.com www.drakerealty.com   www.elonsalon.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

With interest in growing storage needs and the expanding electric vehicle market driving demand for batteries, we spoke with geologist Phil Thomas at Recharge Resources. We chat with Phil on the various end markets that consume lithium, including construction and ceramics, but as will come as little surprise he shares Recharge is preparing for the expected ramp in global EV demand. The why behind that is the expected mismatch between lithium demand and supply. During our conversation, Phil shares the intricacies of lithium mining, and why Recharge opted for the locations it has, a key consideration for mining companies. We also discuss the steps ahead for Recharge, which is a pre-revenue company, a factor that will keep the AAP portfolio on the sidelines at least for now. Folks that want to know more about the lithium market and how its mind, may want to review Recharge's latest investor relations presentation and the forecasts shared for lithium demand.

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: Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. In this episode, we take a closer look at Destructive Creations, the team behind previous episode Hatred.  We examine the other controversy connected to Hatred, one that was connected to the beliefs of its creators, and how a team that claimed to make a statement against politics in gaming made some political games in the years to follow Hatred's release. Content warning: Discussions of racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, fascism, and Neo-Nazis.Topics discussed include:  A brief history of Polish right-wing politics, Alan's conflict with his neighbors, and the guys guessing whether some gaming-related quotations came from Hatred or other games. Kevin's sources on the role of right-wing politics in Poland:Agnieszka Dudzinska and Michal Kotnarowski, “Imaginary Muslims: How the Polish Right Frames Islam,” Brookings, July 24, 2019: https://www.brookings.edu/research/imaginary-muslims-how-polands-populists-frame-islam/.Farid Hafez, "Street-level and government-level Islamophobia in the Visegrád Four countries," Patterns of Prejudice 52, Iss. 5 (November 6, 2018): 436-447, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0031322X.2018.1498440.Kornelia Kończal, “The Invention of the ‘Cursed Soldiers' and Its Opponents,” East European Politics and Societies and Cultures 34, No. 1 (February 2020): 67-95, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0888325419865332;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: Elford Stephens, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. In this episode, we look at Hatred, the 2015 PC game developed by Destructive Creations where you play out a mass shooting enacting by a guy whose name is not important (aka Alan). We dissect the controversy and how this was a game designed by trolls for trolls.Topics discussed include:  How Destructive Creations basically trolled everybody--video game news sites, the ESRB, and GamerGate--to market their homage to Postal, a surprising number of Star Wars references, and how did Alan afford the weapons and ammo for his rampage?For a detailed look at Hatred in the context of both the Postal series and GamerGate, check out,  Noah Caldwell-Gervais, "Postal, Hatred, and Weighing the Worth of Asshole Simulators," YouTube, https://youtu.be/kivtv6wabBk One small correction: at one point, Kevin said Grand Theft Auto V came out in 2014. It actually came out in 2013.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: Elford Stephens, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. This time around, we continue our look at the  relationship between crypto and gaming by taking a closer look at the mainstream games industry's brief but notable foray into NFTs.  We examine the crypto escapades of the likes of Atari, Konami, Square-Enix, and Ubisoft, how game makers tried to sell the idea of NFTs to their players, and the incredible backlash against them.Topics discussed include:  The role of the Darkmoon Greatsword in the crypto scene, Peter Molyneux doesn't know history, the mystery of the missing Atari arcade NFTs,  and is there a way to make NFTs work in gaming? To learn more about the chaotic world of anarcho-capitalists, shoddy cybersecurity, questionable legality, and hilarious crypto scams, check out David Gerrard, Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain: Bitcoin, Blockchain, Ethereum & Smart Contracts (2017). https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/ For a detailed look at the convoluted history of the Atari brand, check out the They Create Worlds episode "The History of the Atari Brand:" http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-history-of-the-atari-brand/ 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: Elford Stephens, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. This time around, we dive into the world of cryptocurrency and its relationship to gaming. We examine the basics of blockchain technology, decentralized digital currencies, and NFTs as well as some of the hopes (and very, very real problems) with the current crypto scene. We use this to talk about "play-to-earn" (P2E) games, a genre where people can earn crypto by buying, selling, and trading NFTs.  Topics discussed include: How a Magic: The Gathering  online exchange/Flash game homepage ended up losing millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin, how to make a ton of money selling a Metroid Dread receipt, and the rise and fall of Scandal Coin (TM).To learn more about the chaotic world of anarcho-capitalists, shoddy cybersecurity, questionable legality, and hilarious crypto scams, check out David Gerrard, Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain: Bitcoin, Blockchain, Ethereum & Smart Contracts (2017). https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/ Check out Phil's sweet NFT: https://nflallday.com/moments/666efe5d-7a4c-4a3a-9e91-50a63fe0429b Watch the Evolved Apes trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g63XqyYL8w0Theme 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: Elford Stephens, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. This time around, we look at Thrill Kill, an unreleased 3D fighting game created by Paradox Development for the Sony PlayStation that was supposed to come out in October 1998. We look at its surprising evolution from Mesoamerican-themed sports game to BDSM-themed fighting game, its cancellation by Electronic Arts, and its afterlife as a game starring the Wu-Tang Clan.Topics discussed include: Why people think Electronic Arts is worse than a bank; how Harvard Bonin is a hilarious name; and if hell exists and we all go to it, what will be the manifestations of our worldly vices? For more on the history of Thrill Kill from the people who made it, see: Steven T. Wright, “The Secret History of Wu-Tang Clan's Bizarre Hip-Hop Fighting Game,” Variety, February 15, 2019, https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/wu-tang-shaolin-style-thrill-kill-1203140669/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: Elford Stephens, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. We finally wrap up our series explaining how video games got age ratings in the United States. We address the December 9, 1993, Congressional hearing about video game violence and how this led to the games industry creating a trade organization--the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA, now known as the Entertainment Software Association)--as well as a comprehensive ratings system: the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).  Topics discussed include: How different game companies handled content before 1993, how Sega and Nintendo brought their marketing feud into the halls of Congress, and how the ratings system, in many respects, made it easier to put racy content in games.To learn more about the creation of the ESRB, check out:Blake J. Harris, Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle That Defined a Generation (Dey Street Books, 2015): https://www.amazon.com/Console-Wars-Nintendo-Defined-Generation/dp/0062276700.Blake J. Harris, "Content Rated By: An Oral History of the ESRB," Gamesbeat: https://venturebeat.com/2019/11/22/content-rated-by-an-oral-history-of-the-esrb-excerpt-doom-to-the-power-of-ten/.Jimmy Maher's four-part series on the ESRB's creation, The Ratings Game: https://www.filfre.net/2021/04/the-ratings-game-part-1-a-likely-and-an-unlikely-suspect/.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: Elford Stephens, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. As we work our way towards learning how video games got age ratings in the United States by learning about how violent video games, led by Mortal Kombat, made people anxious about the impact of games on kids. This increased attention to Mortal Kombat and its imitators came at a time when Americans were really concerned about violence in society, especially youth violence. These circumstances, in turn, inspired some people to call upon the industry to rate itself, lest the federal government do it for them.Topics discussed include: Mortal Kombat clones, the 1993 “Summer of Violence,” the secret origins of Mokap, the underreported epidemic of centaur leg thefts, and how the media ruined the lives of countless children (but not in the ways you might think).Content warning: (20:00-1:08:48) Discussion of mass shootings, violent crime, gun violence, and mass incarceration.Important sources for this episode:Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (New York: The New Press, 2010).Theodore Chiricos, "Moral Panic As Ideology: Drugs, Violence, Race and Punishment in America," in Justice with Prejudice: Race and Criminal Justice in America, eds. Michael J. Lynch and E. Britt Patterson (Guilderland, NY: Harrow and Heston, 1996): 19-48. Paul Colomy and Laura Ross Greiner, “Making Violence Visible: The News Media and the Summer of Violence,” Denver Law Review 77, Iss. 4 (“Symposium - Law and Policy on Youth Violence”) (January 2000): 661-688.LyNell Hancock, “When Denver Lost Its Mind Over Youth Crime,” The New Republic, November 23, 2021: https://newrepublic.com/article/164419/denver-lost-mind-youth-crime-wave-panic Sara Sun Beale, “The News Media's Influence on Criminal Justice Policy: How Market-Driven News Promotes Punitiveness,” William and Mary Law Review 48, No. 2 (2006): 397-481.To learn more about different theories about why the U.S. crime rates went down so much since the early 1990s, see: 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.Check out Jax's amazing ending cutscene from Mortal Kombat 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNkRvcUn6VM. 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. 

Jackie Cooper, Edelman's Chief Brand Officer, is joined by Phil Thomas, Chairman of Cannes Lions, at the 2022 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France. Jackie and Phil talk about highlights from this year's festival, some of the best campaigns of the year, and the findings from the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: … Continue reading "Cannes Special Part 3: Phil Thomas on Applied Creativity at Cannes"

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Elford Stephens, Phil Thomas, and Andy Hunter. In our (unprecedented) second episode of this month, we continue our look back at early 90s tech fads that influenced the conversation over video games. This is part of our multi-part series on how video games got age ratings in the United States. This time around, we look at the full-motion video (FMV) game, its origins in LaserDisc, its relationship to multimedia "convergence" (where corporations mashed together telecommunications, film, gaming, and anything else they thought would make a bunch of money), and how FMV tried to push games to a mature audience (to the horror of some). Topics discussed include: The rise and fall of LaserDisc games, the surprisingly long history of on-demand gaming services, and whether or not virtual reality and FMV games really failed.For more on the RDI Halcyon, which we only briefly mentioned, check out this amazing deep dive into the system by hbomberguy, titled "Halcyon Dreams: The Legacy of Dragon's Lair": https://youtu.be/CnPOQr1pxY8.   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. 

Phil Thomas Katt (Uncharted Zone) joins EDM singer Ditto Kiddo in this personal and revealing 30 minute conversation. Katt speaks to his early formative years, the party days and the role music played in his life: as a DJ, music video producer and musician.