052: Equity in Games Research and Design with Dr. Gerald Voorhees
Games Institute Podcast
This week co-hosts Toben (English Language and Literature) and Sid (Environment) interview faculty member Dr. Gerald Voorhees (Communication Arts), about his past, present, and future research on race, decolonization, whiteness, and masculinity in games. Voorhees reminisces on past research about masculinity and “Dadification” in games, and discusses his research in eSports examining the performance of gender, whiteness, and masculinity. He also talks about joining the GI and First Person Scholar over a decade ago and leading the ADE speaker series that was held at the GI last year. ...
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051: Mechanically Achievable Gameplay with Sasha Soraine
Games Institute Podcast
Co-hosts Toben Racicot (English Language and Literature) and Sid Heeg (Environment) interview Computing and Software PhD candidate Sasha Soraine (McMaster University) about her experiences with games and games research. Sasha is part of the interdisciplinary Gaming Scalability Environment (G-ScalE) Lab at McMaster. Fun fact, G-ScalE was a part of the IMMERSe network that helped establish the GI! For our 51st episode, Sasha goes in-depth about the concept of "mechanically achievable gameplay" and how it could help the game industry. This concept systemically evaluates if the target demographic...
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050: Knowledge Translation and Mobilization in Game Studies and Beyond with Dr. Emma Vossen
Games Institute Podcast
For our 50th episode, Toben (English Language and Literature) and Sid (Environment) interview OG GI member Dr. Emma Vossen about her academic life with games before becoming the GI’s Research Communication Officer. She discusses how she got into games as a kid, her time as EIC of First Person Scholar, and how much game studies has changed since she started her PhD in 2012. Links
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049: A Year In Gaming - 2023 Edition
Games Institute Podcast
This month, hosts Sid Heeg and Toben Racicot are joined by Pamela Maria Schmidt and AC Atienza as they discuss the games they've played in 2023 and are looking forward to in 2024. Catch the latest details about their experiences with Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3, and some exciting indie games. All this and more on this special edition of the GI podcast! Stay in touch with the Games Institute! LinkedIn: X: Instagram:
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048: Adapting Player Experience with Joe Tu
Games Institute Podcast
This week we are joined by Joe Tu, who is a PhD student and GI member pursing a degree in Systems Design Engineering. Follow along as we discuss Joe's experiences with gaming, his educational journey at The University of Waterloo, and his experiences/work at the GI. Further, we dive into the insights of Joe's recent project on incorporating heartrate monitors into gaming, and his goals for potential future projects. In addition, we reminisce about Joe's experiences at CHI Play (Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction), and gaming in his free time. Email: Or find Joe's desk at the GI (It has a...
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047: Theatre and Narrative Games with Shawn Desouza-Coelho
Games Institute Podcast
This month we are joined by Shawn Desouza-Coelho, who is GI alumni, U-Waterloo Graduate with a Masters in English - Experimental and Digital Media, avid gamer and theatrical performer. Follow along as Shawn discusses topics around the amazing impacts of gaming in games like Final Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons, Baldurs Gate, and plenty more. Shawn also explores his experience’s in the early days of The Game Institute, the projects he worked at the GI and how they relate to digital games and modern cinema. In addition, Shawn discusses his love of theater and his current research...
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046: Home-Away-Home with Dr. Derritt Mason
Games Institute Podcast
This month we are joined by Dr. Derritt Mason, who is a associate professor in English at the University of Calgary. Follow along as Dr. Mason discucsses topics surrounding their love of video games, queer representation in games, and coming of age stories in gaming. Dr. Mason additonal dives into how adolescent roles are displayed in horror games, the unique aspects of "bildungsroman" in gaming, and his book “Queer Anxieties of Young Adult Literature and Culture”. Email: Website: Book: Queer Anxieties of Young Adult Literature and Culture University...
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045: Lord of the Rings and Adaptation with Dr. Neil Randall
Games Institute Podcast
Dr. Neil Randall is not only the Executive Director of the Games Institute Research Facility at the University of Waterloo, but also an avid guide and participant in the fellowship of the Lord of the Rings universe. Here, he discusses interesting particulars in how the Lord of the Rings franchise has reconfigured itself through decades of adapatations. Alongside the scope of adaptation, our three experts touch on the importance of medium in adaptation, the specific cultures affiliated with adapatations, and issues surrounding the importance of source text. More information: ...
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044: Serious Games for the Aging Population with Dr. Lili Liu and Dr. Hector Perez
Games Institute Podcast
Dr. Lili Liu, Dean of Health at the University of Waterloo, and Dr. Hector Perez, Postdoctoral Fellow, discuss the concept of serious games and their application in research for the aging population This includes how Drs. Liu and Perez have used games in their research such as exercise games, games for memory, social interaction, and cognitive thinking. Their work has been used to with the intent of decreasing the effects associated with older adults living with dementia, and has led to collaborative research and design processes with First Responders in First Nations communities in Quebec,...
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043: Living History and the DMZ Project with Dr. Daria Ho
Games Institute Podcast
This month, the GI podcast is joined by Dr. Daria Ho, who is a professor in History at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Daria Ho talks about her passion for history, her childhood with gaming, and the importance of performance and choice in teaching. Using avant garde teaching techniques, Dr. Ho talks about the incredibly creative and diverse experiences she and her students have shared through the implication of realism and role-play in the classroom. Teams: Email: DMZ Project Trailer: DMZ Project Documentary: If you are interested in learning to play Gō with Dr. Daria Ho, please...
info_outlineAC Atienza joins Toben and Sid to discuss their pathway to becoming a board game designer and consultant, as well as their experiences in those roles. Learn about the board game industry, design philosophies, and the importance of hands-off playtesting.
Other topics covered include:
Why are there fewer resources for learning board game design as opposed to video game design?
How does one get a job in the board game industry?
What are the secrets to success with a board game Kickstarter?
What is the difference between input and output randomness in design?
Why are some games more fun to design than play?
How do you identify systemic problems while playtesting?
And what is Gen Con, the largest tabletop game convention in North America, really like?
SHOWNOTES:
Learn more about Wiggles 3D here: https://wiggles3d.com/
Check out Captain's Gambit: Kings of Infinite Space: https://www.cloudfallstudios.com/captainsgambit
About GenCon: https://www.gencon.com/aboutus
Who is Tom Vasel? https://www.dicetower.com/team-members/tom-vasel
Stardew Valley Board Game: https://shop.stardewvalley.net/products/stardew-valley-the-board-game
Azul: https://www.boardgamehalv.com/azul/
Cats: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/257814/cats
Contacts:
AC is reachable at: https://www.cloudfallstudios.com/
AC Atienza's Twitter: https://twitter.com/acatienz
You can learn more about the Games Institute at https://uwaterloo.ca/games-institute/