The Longest Rainy Sunday https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/series/the-longest-rainy-sunday/ Welcome to The Longest Rainy Sunday Podcast, a production by Emory University students in David Morgen’s Play, Make, Write, Think class. Time has stopped, everything is uncertain, we’re physically distanced and socially disconnected as a pandemic and fights for justice rage around us. The world might be forever changed after the events of 2020 but where does that leave us in the meantime? It’s felt to a lot of us like one almost unending rainy afternoon staring at video screens, either to escape, to connect, or to imagine a better way forward. Even the World Health Organization, one year after designating video game addiction as a mental health disorder, is now urging people to play more video games and celebrating the “important messages” that the video games industry can communicate. So in this series, we’ll turn our critical gaze to the games we have been playing, examine what they have to offer right now. How do these games define identities, foster a sense of belonging, encourage empathy, or subvert systems? How do they encourage certain types of problem solving and learning? What sorts of values do they promote? The world hit pause, lets hit play. Thu, 14 Jan 2021 20:40:08 +0000 en © 2020 Play Make Write Think Playing Games in 2020 Play Make Write Think episodic Welcome to The Longest Rainy Sunday Podcast, a production by Emory University students in David Morgen’s Play, Make, Write, Think class. Time has stopped, everything is uncertain, we’re physically distanced and socially disconnected as a pandemic and fights for justice rage around us. The world might be forever changed after the events of 2020 but where does that leave us in the meantime? It’s felt to a lot of us like one almost unending rainy afternoon staring at video screens, either to escape, to connect, or to imagine a better way forward. Even the World Health Organization, one year after designating video game addiction as a mental health disorder, is now urging people to play more video games and celebrating the “important messages” that the video games industry can communicate. So in this series, we’ll turn our critical gaze to the games we have been playing, examine what they have to offer right now. How do these games define identities, foster a sense of belonging, encourage empathy, or subvert systems? How do they encourage certain types of problem solving and learning? What sorts of values do they promote? The world hit pause, lets hit play. Play Make Write Think dmorgen@gmail.com false https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Longest-Rainy-Sunday-1-scaled.jpg The Longest Rainy Sunday https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/series/the-longest-rainy-sunday/ yes c512e290-cd55-5c4e-9d73-9929c5cde00f https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 178723093 The Binding of Isaac https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/podcast/the-binding-of-isaac/ Sat, 28 Nov 2020 16:30:29 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?post_type=podcast&p=1492 Today we will be talking about the Binding of Isaac. The Binding of Isaac is a roguelike game designed by Edmund McMillen Florian Himsl initially released in 2011. Roguelike games are a genre of rpg games that usually have procedurally generated dungeons, to different extents of turn based gameplay, and often pixelated graphics. Dungeons in this case would usually mean randomly generated stages that have different enemies and drops each time players enter them. 

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]]> Today we will be talking about the Binding of Isaac. The Binding of Isaac is a roguelike game designed by Edmund McMillen Florian Himsl initially released in 2011. Roguelike games are a genre of rpg games that usually have procedurally generated dungeons, to different extents of turn based gameplay, and often pixelated graphics. Dungeons in this case would usually mean randomly generated stages that have different enemies and drops each time players enter them. 

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Binding-of-Issac-image.png?fit=1110%2C1110&ssl=1 The Binding of Isaac false no 9:32 No no Time To Settle This With Catan https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/podcast/time-to-settle-this-with-catan/ Sat, 28 Nov 2020 16:20:20 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?post_type=podcast&p=1487 The Settlers of Catan is a game that almost everyone has at least heard of, if not played. Although released in 1995, its popularity is only growing all these years later. There are so many layers and facets to this game, that a single 10-minute podcast episode cannot do justice to it. Still, we try our best to touch upon some of the factors that make this game unique and relevant. ‘Strategy’ is a word that comes up very often while talking about Catan, and we talk about what kinds of strategies we need to use in the game, the way we need to think while playing, and why this is relevant to everyday life. We also talk about why Catan is a more accurate representation of how Capitalism works, as compared to other games, like Monopoly. Lastly, we also mention how the game has an underlying message of Colonialism, and why it is important to recognize that every part of the game has not aged well.

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]]> The Settlers of Catan is a game that almost everyone has at least heard of, if not played. Although released in 1995, its popularity is only growing all these years later. There are so many layers and facets to this game, that a single 10-minute podcast episode cannot do justice to it. Still, we try our best to touch upon some of the factors that make this game unique and relevant. ‘Strategy’ is a word that comes up very often while talking about Catan, and we talk about what kinds of strategies we need to use in the game, the way we need to think while playing, and why this is relevant to everyday life. We also talk about why Catan is a more accurate representation of how Capitalism works, as compared to other games, like Monopoly. Lastly, we also mention how the game has an underlying message of Colonialism, and why it is important to recognize that every part of the game has not aged well.

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-1.jpeg?fit=1012%2C1012&ssl=1 Time To Settle This With Catan false no 11:08 No no Fantasy Football https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/podcast/fantasy-football/ Sun, 22 Nov 2020 16:54:24 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?post_type=podcast&p=1400 While baseball may still be on the books as “America’s favorite pastime” it is very clearly no longer America’s favorite sport. As baseball fans clutch onto pre-war glory days of the previous century, filled with legends like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, they stay memories. Slowly fading into obscurity with lowered fan attendance and network ratings, the future of sports has pivoted towards more action packed games with more concise seasons - football and basketball. Football - Gridiron football, a game so American almost no one else outside of the hemisphere plays it - has been a shining success in usurping the throne as a cultural mainstay, with games regularly topping viewership records and the cementing of the Super Bowl as a national holiday. With this huge boom in popularity in the information age, both of these sports have experienced the effect of a novel interloper: fantasy leagues.

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]]> While baseball may still be on the books as “America’s favorite pastime” it is very clearly no longer America’s favorite sport. As baseball fans clutch onto pre-war glory days of the previous century, filled with legends like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, they stay memories. Slowly fading into obscurity with lowered fan attendance and network ratings, the future of sports has pivoted towards more action packed games with more concise seasons - football and basketball. Football - Gridiron football, a game so American almost no one else outside of the hemisphere plays it - has been a shining success in usurping the throne as a cultural mainstay, with games regularly topping viewership records and the cementing of the Super Bowl as a national holiday. With this huge boom in popularity in the information age, both of these sports have experienced the effect of a novel interloper: fantasy leagues.

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Fantasy-Football-feature-image.png?fit=976%2C976&ssl=1 Fantasy Football false no 10:53 No no Is Moderation the Solution? https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/podcast/is-moderation-the-solution/ Sun, 22 Nov 2020 00:11:58 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?post_type=podcast&p=1391 The 2020 US presidential election might be over, but just as other elections in the past, its stories and lessons remain: why did the winner win and the loser lose? What issues do American care deeply about at this moment? How will the country look like 4 years from now? Each question unfolds other questions that would take forever to find the right answers. Luckily, Democratic Socialism Simulator will help us solve part of our wonders, if not all. In this episode, we examine the choices a president makes during his/her term as well as the repercussions they bring. We hope you will gain insights into what makes a successful presidency. 

Sources

  • Flanagan, Mary. Critical Play: Radical Game Design. p. 4-6 Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2009.
  • Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter. p. 26-27. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.
  • Ketsa. "Empty Playground." Free Music Archive.
  • Engel, Kai. "Homeroad." Free Music Archive.
  • Democratic Socialism Simulator by Unity, 2020

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]]> The 2020 US presidential election might be over, but just as other elections in the past, its stories and lessons remain: why did the winner win and the loser lose? What issues do American care deeply about at this moment? How will the country look like 4 years from now? Each question unfolds other questions that would take forever to find the right answers. Luckily, Democratic Socialism Simulator will help us solve part of our wonders, if not all. In this episode, we examine the choices a president makes during his/her term as well as the repercussions they bring. We hope you will gain insights into what makes a successful presidency. 

Sources

  • Flanagan, Mary. Critical Play: Radical Game Design. p. 4-6 Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2009.
  • Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter. p. 26-27. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.
  • Ketsa. "Empty Playground." Free Music Archive.
  • Engel, Kai. "Homeroad." Free Music Archive.
  • Democratic Socialism Simulator by Unity, 2020

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DSS-feature-image.png?fit=1090%2C1090&ssl=1 Is Moderation the Solution? false no 11:51 No no Journey through Quarantine https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/podcast/journey/ Sat, 21 Nov 2020 23:46:06 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?post_type=podcast&p=1386 In this episode of The Longest Rainy Sunday, we look at Journey; a game that is seen as a work of art by many. Journey certainly has its complexities beneath the stunning visuals and simple concept. In this episode, we analyze the meaning behind the Journey through probing, analyzing the multiplayer aspect, relating it to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and much more. Enjoy our take of the indie adventure-game, Journey. We can make it through this journey together!

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]]> In this episode of The Longest Rainy Sunday, we look at Journey; a game that is seen as a work of art by many. Journey certainly has its complexities beneath the stunning visuals and simple concept. In this episode, we analyze the meaning behind the Journey through probing, analyzing the multiplayer aspect, relating it to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and much more. Enjoy our take of the indie adventure-game, Journey. We can make it through this journey together!

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/journey-image.jpg?fit=840%2C840&ssl=1 Journey through Quarantine false no 14:04 No no Super Mario in Quarantine https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/davids-posts/super-mario-in-quarantine/ Tue, 10 Nov 2020 12:53:21 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?p=1301 In this episode of the Longest Rainy Sunday, we bring our listeners to Super Mario Odyssey, which on one hand connects people’s childhood memories and emotions, but also extends horizons to the future modern world. In our podcast, we mainly analyze the elements that remained the same in Super Mario Odyssey when comparing it with previous versions in the series and the elements that become new in this newest version. Finally, we connect that with our current social and pandemic time, illustrating how Super Mario Odyssey is related to people’s daily lives under such a unique circumstance. 

Sources:

Super Mario Odyssey for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details. 

Thier, Dave. “'Super Mario Odyssey' Review: A Perfect Game With One Problem.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 2 Nov. 2017, .

Flanagan, Mary. Critical Play. I, “Introduction to Critical Play”. MIT Press, 2009. 

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]]> In this episode of the Longest Rainy Sunday, we bring our listeners to Super Mario Odyssey, which on one hand connects people’s childhood memories and emotions, but also extends horizons to the future modern world. In our podcast, we mainly analyze the elements that remained the same in Super Mario Odyssey when comparing it with previous versions in the series and the elements that become new in this newest version. Finally, we connect that with our current social and pandemic time, illustrating how Super Mario Odyssey is related to people’s daily lives under such a unique circumstance. 

Sources:

Super Mario Odyssey for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details. 

Thier, Dave. “'Super Mario Odyssey' Review: A Perfect Game With One Problem.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 2 Nov. 2017, .

Flanagan, Mary. Critical Play. I, “Introduction to Critical Play”. MIT Press, 2009. 

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Super-Mario-in-Quarantine.png?fit=832%2C832&ssl=1 Super Mario in Quarantine false no 13:52 No no Hidden Folks and Unhidden Childhood https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/podcast/hidden-folks-and-unhidden-childhood/ Tue, 03 Nov 2020 12:46:01 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?post_type=podcast&p=1263 Hidden Folks and Unhidden Childhood takes a look at the relatively unsung game: Hidden Folks. It is an interactive hidden objects game. The basic premise of the game is similar to Where’s Waldo, but in reality, it’s so much more. We think that Hidden Folks, on some subliminal level, instills a sense of appreciation for the smaller moments in life. As we grow older, we are so engrossed in the constant pursuit of ‘productivity’ and finding meaning in everything we do. It’s just not easy to fascinate us anymore. Hidden Folks allows you to just slow down and take a moment, and relive that childhood excitement. In the episode we also talk about other skills this game can teach you, what makes it different from other games of its genre, and its relevance in this unprecedented year.

Sources:

Webster, Andrew. “Hidden Folks is a serene, gratifying Where’s Waldo for Adults.” The Verge. February 15, 2017.

Martens, Todd. “Surviving as a single-player in video game’s multiplayer world.” Los Angeles Times. June 19, 2018.

Everything Bad Is Good For You by Steven Johnson.

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]]> Hidden Folks and Unhidden Childhood takes a look at the relatively unsung game: Hidden Folks. It is an interactive hidden objects game. The basic premise of the game is similar to Where’s Waldo, but in reality, it’s so much more. We think that Hidden Folks, on some subliminal level, instills a sense of appreciation for the smaller moments in life. As we grow older, we are so engrossed in the constant pursuit of ‘productivity’ and finding meaning in everything we do. It’s just not easy to fascinate us anymore. Hidden Folks allows you to just slow down and take a moment, and relive that childhood excitement. In the episode we also talk about other skills this game can teach you, what makes it different from other games of its genre, and its relevance in this unprecedented year.

Sources:

Webster, Andrew. “Hidden Folks is a serene, gratifying Where’s Waldo for Adults.” The Verge. February 15, 2017.

Martens, Todd. “Surviving as a single-player in video game’s multiplayer world.” Los Angeles Times. June 19, 2018.

Everything Bad Is Good For You by Steven Johnson.

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 Hidden Folks and Unhidden Childhood false no 10:14 No no Oxenfree: Finding Certainties in Uncertainties https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/podcast/oxenfree-finding-certainties-in-uncertainties/ Tue, 03 Nov 2020 12:38:49 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?post_type=podcast&p=1258 In this episode of The Longest Rainy Sunday, we look at Oxenfree, a game that consistently ranks among the best fifty games since its release by Night School Studio in 2016. The game certainly has its complexities from the characters’ personalities to the daunting supernatural elements that take over the game when players least expect it. In this episode, we analyze how a game in which we seemingly have no control teaches players to find control, a helpful tool during these uncertain times. We hope you sit back and come listen to our critical take on Oxenfree.

Sources

Crouch, Chad. “Ellipsis.” Free Music Archive: Chad Crouch - Ellipsis, Free Music Archive, 13 September, 2019.

Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter. p. 26-27, 32. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.

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]]> In this episode of The Longest Rainy Sunday, we look at Oxenfree, a game that consistently ranks among the best fifty games since its release by Night School Studio in 2016. The game certainly has its complexities from the characters’ personalities to the daunting supernatural elements that take over the game when players least expect it. In this episode, we analyze how a game in which we seemingly have no control teaches players to find control, a helpful tool during these uncertain times. We hope you sit back and come listen to our critical take on Oxenfree.

Sources

Crouch, Chad. “Ellipsis.” Free Music Archive: Chad Crouch - Ellipsis, Free Music Archive, 13 September, 2019.

Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter. p. 26-27, 32. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/oxenfree-feature-image.png?fit=1139%2C1139&ssl=1 Oxenfree: Finding Certainties in Uncertainties false no 10:49 No no Valorant https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/podcast/valorant/ Sat, 31 Oct 2020 18:17:00 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?post_type=podcast&p=1234 Rush A! Drop me a Vandal! Smoke mid, Brimstone! These are the kinds of expressions that you will typically hear in this week’s game. This game is a 5 vs. 5 multiplayer, first person shooter game where one team attacks and one team defends. Officially released to the world by Riot Games on June 2, 2020, this fresh game is booming in popularity all over the world. With the game developers releasing new patch notes every 2 weeks to keep the game updated and hyped, it seems like the game won’t die anytime soon. ​Let’s talk about Valorant and how this game teaches us to be more logical, have more trust, and take greater risks.

Sources

Audio:

"Deliberate Thought" by Kevin MacLeod

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]]> Rush A! Drop me a Vandal! Smoke mid, Brimstone! These are the kinds of expressions that you will typically hear in this week’s game. This game is a 5 vs. 5 multiplayer, first person shooter game where one team attacks and one team defends. Officially released to the world by Riot Games on June 2, 2020, this fresh game is booming in popularity all over the world. With the game developers releasing new patch notes every 2 weeks to keep the game updated and hyped, it seems like the game won’t die anytime soon. ​Let’s talk about Valorant and how this game teaches us to be more logical, have more trust, and take greater risks.

Sources

Audio:

"Deliberate Thought" by Kevin MacLeod

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/valorant.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1 Valorant false no 14:41 No no Plague Inc. https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/podcast/plague-inc/ Mon, 26 Oct 2020 14:52:56 +0000 https://eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/?post_type=podcast&p=1212 Plague Inc is an old best selling game that was released in 2012 by Ndemic Creations; it was the #1 paid app for both iPhone and iPad in the U.S. for two weeks after launch. This game became wildly popular again this year with the spread of the pandemic. In this episode of The Longest Rainy Sunday, we’ll be talking about how this game evokes the public awareness on public health, and how people could learn from playing this game. 

Sources:

“Plague Inc.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2013/04/plague-inc/. 

“Plague Inc: Evolved (PC).” Plague Inc: Evolved (PC) - Ndemic Creations, www.ndemiccreations.com/en/25-plague-inc-evolved. 

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]]> Plague Inc is an old best selling game that was released in 2012 by Ndemic Creations; it was the #1 paid app for both iPhone and iPad in the U.S. for two weeks after launch. This game became wildly popular again this year with the spread of the pandemic. In this episode of The Longest Rainy Sunday, we’ll be talking about how this game evokes the public awareness on public health, and how people could learn from playing this game. 

Sources:

“Plague Inc.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2013/04/plague-inc/. 

“Plague Inc: Evolved (PC).” Plague Inc: Evolved (PC) - Ndemic Creations, www.ndemiccreations.com/en/25-plague-inc-evolved. 

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]]> https://i0.wp.com/eng101f20.davidmorgen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Plague-Inc.png?fit=1036%2C1036&ssl=1 Plague Inc. false no 10:08 No no