PBS Game/Show

The idea of watching a stranger play a video game for hours seems counterintuitive to many. But they are actually quite popular. HUGELY POPULAR, in fact. Let's Play Video creator Pewdiepie currently holds the record for most subscribers, with over 12 MILLION!!! Considering that people could just play the games themselves, what's behind the immense popularity of Let's Play Videos? Is it about learning game strategies? Entertainment? Community? Mind Control?!

Ah, bashing video games for their senseless violence. It's a time honored tradition... at least since the 80s. But is this violence really a VIDEO GAME issue? If we look at other games - sports, even board games - we'll see echoes of these violent game mechanics. In our complex competitive world, we may need these simulations to help us learn and train for the unexpected. So are violent video games possibly more helpful than harmful?

Is League of Legends teaching us good citizenship? This game is crazy popular, which has unsurprisingly attracted more than a few trolls. But League of Legends may have figured out how to prevent them and create a healthy online community. The game has implemented a Tribunal to punish bad behavior and reward system to encourage good behavior. What makes this work?

Sexism in game culture is back in the spotlight. As seen in the comment section of Carolyn Petit's recent review of GTA 5 and, of course, the hate spewed toward Anita Sarkeesian's Feminist Frequency, there is a strong undercurrent of anti-woman sentiment that has surfaced in the gamer community. Why? Because there are those who believe that women can never be "true gamers." But there are those that are fighting back!!! So does that make Anita a video game Rosa Parks?

Are videogame stereotypes... hurting MEN?! There's been a lot of discussion about female portrayals in games (re: our last episode), but maybe we should be talking about dudes, too. Games continue the cultural narrative of big and strong men, "manning up" and being the hero. As you play, you kill hundreds or thousands of other men, without regard for the emotional toll on one's psyche. This pattern trains us to suppress emotion and sacrifice, and can even lead to male body issues (we can't all be Duke Nukem). So are videogames bad for guys?

Since the heyday of arcades, death has been a key element in videogames. But does it actually teach us anything about our own lives? Over the years developers have created many variations of death in games: 3 lives, checkpoints, saved games...yet the human experience of death is a lot more, well, absolute. We don't have the option to continue or try again. In some games like DayZ, death works the same way: it's permanent. So does this make DayZ's permadeath a more meaningful gaming experience?

Are you weird if you're a guy who likes to play as a female avatar? Or a woman who likes to play as a male character? It's not unusual for gamers to play avatars that look nothing like them, often even playing as the opposite GENDER! But why do we decide to do this? Is it about winning? How other players treat you? Or is it a reflection of identity? The anonymity of videogames makes them safe spaces to explore gender options. At the same time, gender swapping can allow you to use to your advantage the sexism already in existence. So, is it really that weird to gender swap?

Games make us ANGRY. Who hasn't come down to the wire in Street Fighter IV, toe to toe with some jerk named "ryukiller4eva", and suddenly you make a stupid mistake and KO, you are done. What do you do? Take a deep breath, slam your controller against the wall, try to pull it into two pieces, scream? Experiencing anger while we play video games is very real, but why does it happen, and does it help us? There are physiological reasons, emotional reasons, and psychological reasons for our anger, and your crazy drive and steaming ears just might help you succeed.

ARE GAMES RACIST? Probably. Game characters are pretty white... like 85% white... and when minorities are included, they are not always cast in the best light. Why is this? Are game designers actually racist? Or are there technical reasons for not creating more minorities? Either way, gaming definitely does have a balance problem in terms of race, and that IS a big deal

Videogames are addictive. FACT. But how seriously should we take gamer addictions? There is scientific proof that brain scans of excessive gamers are similar to drug addicts, and addiction to videogames can even destroy lives, just like alcoholics or junkies. And with advancements in technology, game developers are continuing to create games that are EVEN MORE engrossing. Should we worry about gamers, or possibly even regulate the industry?

Are you less of a gamer if you drop the level down to easy? It just might be so. We all know that challenging games can be incredibly frustrating, so why do we put ourselves through this? Well, there is a greater satisfaction, but it goes deeper than this, hard games are what makes gaming a unique experience unlike any other. Games that call for physical dexterity, moral deliberation, and tough problem solving is what separate out the noobs, but it's also what separates games from every previous art forms like books, theater, and the movies. So are hard games better than easy games? YESSSS!!!!!!

So, there's been a ton of debate recently about the resolution disparities of certain games on PlayStation4 and Xbox One, aka RESOLUTION GATE. And this of course follows a long tradition of gamers and marketers obsessing over next-gen graphics. But after taking a look, we began to wonder do great graphics make for a great game? Sure, graphics allow game designers to do amazing things, but what most gamers truly want is IMMERSION - that feeling of being fully sucked into a game. And when we looked at the psychology of immersion, we found that graphics might not be that important :/. In fact, our obsession with graphics might be holding us back from spreading games into other more artistic avenues. So we had to ask how much do graphics really matter?

Where are all the gay main characters in gaming?! It's hard to think of ANY gay characters in videogames, which seems odd in a country that is increasingly pro-gay rights. Even when one does come across a gay character in a game, that character mostly likely isn't playable. What are the arguments for the lack of representation, and are they legit?

It's time for Game/Show's 1st Annual YEAR END REVIEW!! We've assembled a collection of the BIGGEST IDEAS in gaming of 2013! Yes, there are numbers, but we swear, it's totally not a list. From voice activated control to consoles, from ASCII to narratives, see what was on our list, and then complain about all the things we forgot about!

2014 is here, and with it will come a fantastic (hopefully) new array of games!! Here's what we're excited for. Let us know what games you're looking forward to, and get ready for a new full episode next week!

We all know that Minecraft is huge! The overwhelming success of Minecraft undoubtedly surprised a lot of people given it's lo-fi graphics, fully open environment, and goal-less play. Yet, it has sold 33 million copies, and it's not just individual players who love it: it's in schools, and even the UN! The game's distinct qualities have made it a massive hit and critical darling, so you'd think it would have spawned tons of imitators. But it hasn't and we wondered why? Maybe the reason is that Minecraft isn't just a new game, but an actual paradigm-shifting invention!! Is this the case???

People LOVE The Sims. The best selling PC game of all time, The Sims allows people to watch their Sim characters go through their simulated daily lives - eating, sleeping, socializing, etc. Sounds a lot like reality TV, right? Both have manufactured drama, and satisfy our desire to eavesdrop on other's lives. Is Sims the ultimate reality television show?

Are virtual worlds real or fake? Are you "traveling" to new worlds even if you don't leave your couch? Exploring video game worlds can be as appealing as following the plot, but when we wander around Los Santos in GTA5, is it the same as hopping on a plane and visiting somewhere in the "real" world? Sure, it's not a physical location, but studies have shown that many of the experiences we have in the "fake" world of videogames have numerous "real world" benefits. So that leads us to ask, are those experiences REAL?

Does Artificial Intelligence have a place in eSports? Computers are pretty good at playing games and in many modern sports (such as Formula 1 and Nascar) they're often a critical component during competition. So should we be thinking about how to integrate A.I. teammates into eSports? If we did allow A.I. team-members, people would no longer have to worry about mindless tasks like respawn times, incubating aliens, or farming minions. Instead they could focus on being awesome and going on crazy killing sprees - making the game more exciting for everyone. But there is a dark side to A.I. teammates. It's also entirely possible that A.I. teammates would eventually just replace humans. So would these human/A.I. collaborations change e-sports for the good? or for the worse?

The Legend of Zelda has been massively popular for over 30 years running. People LOVE the series, creating fan art, cosplay, and diligently purchasing each new release in the series. But does this Zelda series exploit our feelings of nostalgia? We remember playing as kids, and the music, world, and even sounds bring back warm fuzzy feelings. Are the creators riding that success and using our childhood memories to their own gain? Are the games really that great?

The internet has been an amazing place for fandoms. Fanboys and fangirls can celebrate their love of a game, connect with other fans, and even reach out to creators. We now have the ability for greater levels of participation, but can this power turn ugly? Some fans spew anger and hatred when disappointed with a videogame, often directing their ire at the creators themselves. Is there a danger with this sort of behavior? Are fanboys hurting themselves, and the rest of the gaming community?

The term "Gamer" is widely used, but there doesn't seem to be a real consensus of what it means. Is it just players of computer or role-playing games? What about mobile gaming like Clash of Clans and Candy Crush - does that make you a gamer? The word "gamer" can be helpful - allowing individuals self-identify as part of a social group. But people can get pretty nasty over this issue of who is and who isn't a gamer, and the debate over the term pushes the community in an exclusionary direction. So what exactly is a "GAMER?" Is it Hardcore players, casual players, mobile or console players, just people who like "Games" in general?

NPCs (non-playable characters) are a massively important part of the gaming experience, so we thought we'd show our love and appreciation. Though they're fictional computer-generated characters, we often develop real feelings for these beings. Sure, they serve functional roles, guiding you through the game. But their presence and personality can allow us to form strong bonds and real emotions, leading us to truly care about their wellbeing. So which NPCs are our favorites?

Everyone loves to talk about the Oculus Rift, but are we going to be TERRIBLE at virtual reality? For most of us, the answer is probably yes. The footage of Oculus Rift looks crazy and amazing, and we can't wait. BUT the lack of physical separation between player and game means our minds are unable to distinguish between virtual reality and ACTUAL reality (motion sickness anyone?). These games might also require wholly unique physical and mental skills, meaning games in the future may be completely different from what we're currently playing. Are We Ready? Will we be any good at it?

Videogames generally suck when it comes to storytelling. Their stories are often ineffective, clumsy, or just plain unnecessary. And so many cutscenes!!! We're disengaged, and it breaks our immersion. WE want to play the game, not have it told to us. Enter Dark Souls: the plot may seem threadbare, but when you dig in, whole new backstories and depth begin to emerge as you interact with the things you find. Is this the future of storytelling? Or should games even be TRYING to tell stories?

Arthur Chu's recent Jeopardy streak got us thinking: what is a cheater, and are they really all that bad? Cheaters can be infuriating, but they actually may be a positive force in gaming. Instead of breaking the rules, they manipulate them to their benefit, and expose aspects of the game that had been previously ignored. So should we be ENCOURAGING cheating?

Reviews have been a part of gaming culture for a while, but game journalism may have some trouble-spots. Can we really rate games the same way we would a movie or a car, when each person has such a different experience when playing them? Skill level and choices made in the game can lead players down different paths, and thus different views on the experience. Plus, what's important when rating a game? Resolution? Difficulty? Experience? So can we ever really trust reviews?!

We're on hiatus this week, but we still made a quick episode for ya! We've listed some of the BEST videogame GIFs out there. From the funny to the touching, and then back to the funny, we've collected our top picks. What are some of your favorites?

Why are bad games SO BAD? Be it crappy voice acting, confusing AI, or bad stories, there seems to be an unending list of ways games can fail, and an unending list of games that exemplify them. We've all played 'em: lazy knockoffs, terrible media crossovers, Duke Nukem Forever... but maybe we can learn from these games, and heed the lessons of failure. So what are the worst games of all time, and why are they so bad?

Since all of us gamers are such unique snowflakes, it stands to reason that we're not all drawn to the same types of games. What do your gaming preferences say about you? Are you drawn to competition? To exploring the terrain? Or do you want a game that tells a great story? We all search for different experiences, and these preferences might even say something about our IRL outlook. So what different gaming personalities are there?

Are JRPGs are makin' a comeback?!?! Hugely popular in the 80s and 90s (Final Fantasy VII, anyone?), the distinct gameplay of JRPGs is appearing in new releases like Child of Light and South Park: Stick of Truth. BUT there's a big question: can we call these games true JRPGs if they weren't made in Japan? Is "JRPG" an unmistakable style that can be applied to any game? Or is there something inherently Japanese about them, linking to the country's cultural heritage, that makes them more than just the gameplay itself?

Games are an EXPEN$IVE hobby. Besides the games themselves, there's the consoles, high def TV, plus handhelds, smartphones, and a variety of other potential equipment. A player can easily spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars, and that's just not an option for most people. Is gaming becoming an elitist hobby (akin to golf)? Are we stuck on a path where more and more people will be only able to experience a game through Let's Play videos? Or, like Candy Crush & League of Legends, should all games be FREE?

What does THE FUTURE hold for videogames? The gaming world is constantly evolving, so we decided to look into our crystal ball and see what the next 10, 20, even 50 or 100 years might hold! How will spectators and players converge? What equipment will we be using? Will WARS be fought through videogames, a la Enders Game?!?!?!?

We talk about indie games. A lot. But what qualifies as an indie game? Does it need to have scrappy DIY beginnings? Is the amount of funding important? How about the number of copies sold? Today's cornucopia of "indie games" and their wide-ranging success seems to indicate a golden age for game creators. But who truly deserves the "indie" moniker, should these diverse properties even be under that same label, or should we get rid of the term entirely?!

Have you ever had an experience while gaming that was so transcendent, so powerful, that it could almost be described as spiritual? Whether you consider yourself a religious person or not, the feeling of cosmic connectedness can strike anyone. But is there something about videogames that lends to this elevated experience? Can they be more than merely a game?

FPS games are the cornerstone of the gaming industry. Ever since Doom, hundreds of FPS games have been released over the past 20 years. But now that the FPS has been perfected, what's next? Even as companies spend millions developing bigger and better releases, are they really that unique? Genre fatigue may be around the corner (or already here), and FPS could go the way of the Western. Is there room for experimentation and evolution within the genre?

Yes, it was released on April Fools Day, but Goat Simulator may be a surprisingly revolutionary title. Games often struggle to make us laugh, and GS is, well, hilarious. Sure, there have been several games that have been intentionally and successfully funny, but not in a way that is unique to gaming. The beauty of videogames is that they give authority to the player, which is exactly what Goat Simulator does. But is Goat Simulator really so radically different than its funny predecessors?

Should gamers care about net neutrality? If you're someone who uses the internet on a regular basis (and I'm betting you are), you should make yourself aware of the current Net Neutrality debate. The FCC is considering new rules in which internet providers could charge companies (like Steam, Sony or Microsoft) for a "fast lane", the costs of which could be passed on to the consumer (YOU). With so many gamers downloading, playing, streaming online, what could this "fast lane" environment do to gaming as we know it?

Twitch.tv has revolutionized the world of video games, but are we still in the honeymoon phase? Will Twitch ultimately have a negative effect on the world of gaming? It's fun and popular, but will it make you a better gamer in the end? According to science: maybe not. Performance is a tricky thing.

Can't we all just get along? The nastiest, most hateful things are being said over voice chat, in chatrooms, and turning up in your inboxes. And while this is a problem across the internet, it seems particularly acute in the online gaming realm. Will online players ever play nice? The hate speech can ruin perfectly fun experiences, and abuse and alienate innocent players. What can be done? and even if you don't participate yourself, is doing nothing adding to the problem?

This might go without saying, but videogames do a terrible job at depicting sex. Awkward cut scenes, terrible graphics, and unhooking a bra with the d-pad? Is this really the current state of sex in videogames? Most of the time it's so blatant and ridiculous that it pulls you right out of the game. It's not like games have ever shied away from mature topics. Yet while games are filled to the brim with hyper-sexualized titillation, it's rare when a game has anything profound to say about sex, other than "you did it man!" great job. So why are videogames so bad at sex?

One of the greatest things about videogames is that they allow us to live out our fantasies. But what about those darker, maybe even... psychotic desires? While it seems that many games see sick or twisted behavior emerge from players, DayZ has become THE place to live out the darkest of all mischievous deeds. Why are players so motivated to live out these sinister fantasies? And why specifically in DayZ? Is this who they really are? Or is there something else going on here?

Women are awesome. Obviously. But for some reason, developers are reticent to give women larger roles in their games. The females we see most often are overly sexualized, at the mercy of men, and when they happen to be solid characters, the game doesn't allow you to play as them!! So who ARE the best female characters in games?

Obviously we're fans of videogames here at Game/Show. But we also think they might be SAVING THE WORLD!!!!! Yup, we're talking about Minecraft. Why Minecraft, you ask? Well, there's a whole generation of kids who are OBSESSED with Minecraft, and the game may be a necessary respite from their helicopter parents. It also may be preventing a future generation of neurotic and psychotic adults.

HEY ERYBODY, we're trying out some new formats for the show! Starting with… Secret Histories!! Videogames about war are obviously super popular, and war itself is becoming more and more like a videogame (drones, anyone?). But do you know about the links between the government and the videogame industry, dating back almost 60 years?!?!

Our world has become increasingly accommodating towards the disabled. But videogames have not. Common disabilities such as color blindness and hearing loss can diminish player experiences, and muscular dystrophy can prevent gamers from using standard controllers. With all the resources that are directed towards playability and graphics, it seems reasonable to assume that games could easily devise options for differently-abled players, yet they often don't. So is it fair to say that videogames have an accessibility problem? What can be developers do to help?

Videogames are THE MOST creative medium on the planet. So why do we see the same gaming tropes over and over again?! Where is the originality? Fear not Game/Show viewer, creativity does exist! So what are THE MOST creative games? And what the heck is the criteria for a list like that?

Console vs PC: it's the debate that will never end, each camp passionate, nay, HOSTILE in their defense of their chosen mode of play. While arguments of graphics and processor speeds continue to fling back and forth, we've started wondering if there's something deeper to this 20 year debate. Does "Console vs PC" reflect something about our attitudes toward technology?

Sword Art Online is an anime series set inside a CRAZY advanced virtual reality MMO. While the show's fictional technology "Nervegear" may have some, well, slightly negative side effects (i.e. death), the idea of being completely immersed in a virtual world is incredibly appealing. Would YOU want to live in Sword Art Online? Watch the episode and hear Jamin parse out some of the coming technological possibilities with a special guest from… THE FUTURE!!!

There's been a lot of skepticism regarding the statistic that 50% of gamers are female. If this stat is true, why does it seem like gaming is a male dominated activity? Where are all the ladies? Ughhh, are we about to reopen the "What is a Gamer?" conversation?

Mario jumps. This may seem insanely obvious, but it's more significant than you may know. For such a ubiquitous game mechanic, it's not such an obvious movement to include. Humans, for instance, are TERRIBLE at jumping. But Mario is, like, CRAZY good at it. So what is it about Mario's jump that inspired hundreds of games to follow?

E-sports are a really big deal. Like, really big. MILLIONS of dollars are in the prize pools for these events, and the players dedicate themselves to hours of grueling work and stress in preparation. But many people question whether these are true SPORTS, pointing to the lesser physicality involved. Sure, e-sports and their players are incredibly competitive and skillful, but is it enough to deserve a space in high school and college athletic programs? Should educational institutions be supporting e-sports because of the numerous "intangibles" they offer?

From DOOM to Call of Duty, First Person Shooters seem to TRANSCEND TIME AND SPACE with their staying power. Persisting through periods of both public praise and ridicule, they’ve proved to be one of gaming’s greatest legacies. But this also means that their persistence and tropes are ripe for very deserving parody, most notably in TEAM FORTRESS 2 and FAR CRY 3. Jamin DIGS IN and see who best TURNS THE GENRE ON ITS HEAD in this week’s Game Show!

HALLOWEEN! If it isn’t the costumes, candy, or pumpkins, it’s the videogames that surround it that we love most. Devilishly scary games that seem to want nothing more than to invoke a heart attack upon our already white-knuckled bodies pull us back time and time again. BUT horror games weren’t always the scary affairs they are now — in fact, they used be somewhat quaint! JOIN JAMIN as he walks us through the EVOLUTION OF HORROR IN VIDEOGAMES!

WHAT IS A GAME? It seems like an easy question to answer, and one, that if not already answered, has been at least a lot. A LOT. Not only that, but everyone seems to fall on different sides of the line when it comes to answering it. Games like Gone Home, Mountain, and Journey have made us question what it even means to BE a game anymore. But if they’re games, is everything a game?

Videogames are VIOLENT! Yes, there are examples that suggest otherwise, but the large majority of games involve the player taking some sort of violent action towards other players or characters. This makes videogames an easy target for media aggression, but what about other violent acts that people watch? What about football, one of THE MOST VIOLENT sports, yet accepted by everyone? What is it about videogames that draws this attention? Join Jamin as he dives into this messy topic!

WHY DOES IT FEEL SO GREAT to walk through an IKEA? In fact, it feels a lot like beating a videogame, complete with awards in the form of delicious cinnamon rolls once you make your way through the bowels of the warehouse level. And the whole main floor is a maze, filled with specific themed areas and… WAIT, IS IKEA A VIDEOGAME?

How do you get your family into gaming!? We all know you love to play games and they likely know it as well, but why does it always seem so hard to get the rest of your family playing? Just in time for the holidays, Jamin gives some pointers on getting your family to engage with your favorite hobby!

If you're watching this channel, you already think that gaming is pretty great. But you probably don't realize how great. Games can improve empathy, motor skills, eye sight (yes even EYE SIGHT!!), as well as help decrease fatigue, depression, and manage anxiety. And that's only a fraction of their awesomeness!!! SO we've collected a bunch of arguments you can lob at anyone who tells you to stop playing so much.

It’s been more than a DECADE since the first SUPER SMASH BROTHERS, yet with the recent release of the WiiU and 3DS version, it seems just as popular as EVER. WE WANT TO KNOW WHY. What is it about Smash that gives it a lifetime longer than almost everything else? Join Jamin as he digs into Smash Bros. and finds out why we are still playing.

WE LOVE GAME DEALS! But have you ever considered how the means in which you acquire games affects how you play them? What if all the wonderful sales from Steam and Humble Bundle were actually making you want to play games less. But the deals are also so good, does it matter? Join Jamin as he dives in to the magical world of game discounts!

With 50 million active users, Tinder seems to be doing something right. As online dating continues to surge in popularity, we couldn't help but notice the similarities between dating and gaming. After all, the act of mating is one of the oldest forms of competition, and if you look closely, also shares some of the basic behaviors of play. So how do the creators of Tinder use game mechanics in designing this digital mating ritual?

2015 is finally here, and with it will come a HUGE new array of games!! Here's what we're excited for. Let us know what games you're looking forward to in the comments! See you in the new year!

“Let’s Play” videos are GIGANTIC! The most subscribed to YouTuber is a Let’s Play channel, and Twitch.tv has built a whole site around livestreaming video games! It’s apparent that everyone loves Let’s Play, but there is something lurking that people aren’t talking about… their legality. Are Let’s Play videos… illegal?

Whether you started with Mario on the NES or just recently joined in with Angry Birds, it’s very likely you have memories of playing a game. But are those memories “real”? All you were REALLY doing was manipulating your thumbs. Yet when looking back on games, we tend to describe our experience as something WE personally DID. So what’s up?

We all love playing games, but why is it that we think we increasingly don’t have enough time for them?! Or, why do we think we need to make time for games instead of them making time for us? Maybe games are just… too long?

As games mature, they are sometimes tasked with tackling issues and themes in the greater realms of society at large. The portrayal of gay characters in games is one of these such issues, and one that games all too often fail to portray in a light that doesn’t condemn or mock. However, there are some bright lights! Bioware, in their expansive RPG series’ like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, exist on the opposite side of the spectrum in that their portrayal of gay characters is done in a way that makes them neither stand out or disappear, but instead appear like normal parts of the universe. But why is it so important for us to have the option to play as gay characters in videogames, and why is it that Bioware is one of the few companies to provide that option?

It's very likely that you've been chased by the ghosts of Pac-Man for as long as you can remember. Maneuvering through tight corners, ducking to the other side of the screen, dodging between walls... all to just avoid those singular baddies that never seem to give up. BUT HOW DO THEY WORK? Why do some of them seem to always know where you are? Why do others seem...dumb? Join Jamin in this week's Game/Show as he looks at the mechanics behind Pac-Man's ghosts!

We like WINNING. Whether that means dominating in online multiplayer or holding local competitions against friends, there’s something about the act itself that is just…addicting. Why DOES winning FEEL so good? Join Jamin and special guest Joe Hanson from It’s Okay To Be Smart as they look into winning and how it affects our brains!

We’ve already tackled the idea of games being racist here on Game/Show, but what about the characters that populate them? That’s right, those lovely people you get to talk to that send you on your grand quest, the NPCs. Our interactions with them are often all too brief, but is that an excuse for lazy game design that invokes stereotypes?

Creative Director of Ready at Dawn Ru Weerasuriya stopped by the Game/Show set to talk to Jamin about The Order 1886 how he and his team created the Victorian England world in their game.

For over a decade Halo has been a force in the competitive shooter genre. Why? Well the simple answer is the one staring you in the face: THE GUNS!! The slightly longer answer: Halo's Guns are balanced based on the principles of the school yard game rock, paper, scissors, but with a special covenant kicker that gives the game a surprising strategic complexity. Do you think Bungie's intentions of perfect balance matched up with the realities of the game? Let us know.

Minecraft is MASSIVELY popular, in part due to its nearly UNLIMITED potential. The world is constantly generated as you venture forth from your starting point, but has anyone ever really asked HOW? How does Minecraft keep generating beautiful places for you to explore? Join Jamin as he talks about how Minecraft generates and creates its worlds on this week’s episode of Game/Show!

Violence and death pervade video games in a way that is atypical of most other forms of media, but why? Outside of the act of just shooting a gun or swinging a sword, the smallest moments of “winning” or “overcoming” in a game are marked by forms of violence and aggression — even Kirby is known to swallow enemies whole. But is it something deeper than just game designers that have a propensity towards violence? Maybe the system, or more specifically computers, favor violent acts at their most elementary building blocks?

The Legend of Zelda series’ titular hero figure Link makes an appearance in EVERY Legend of Zelda game, and each time with a few minor differences. The ONE constant is that Link is ALWAYS a guy, to which at Game/Show ask…why? According to lore, every Link is actually just a version of the “Hero of Time,” and a girl link actually fits into this definition, so, why not? Join Jamin on this weeks episode of PBS Game/Show as he dives into the question “Why Can’t Link Be A Girl?”

Call of Duty, Battlefield, and Medal of Honor are among some of the MOST popular games right now, meaning that war is also on the forefront of a lot of gamer’s minds. However, games like Call of Duty choose to portray war in a very specific fashion, specifically, one that presumably makes it “fun.” But should games like Call of Duty and Battlefield do more than that? Should they be held accountable for what they choose to portray, as well as how they choose to portray it? And if so, how can these games do a better job at portraying at least some of the complexity of modern warfare? Watch this week’s episode of Game/Show and find out!

Speedrunning! The competitive genre of choice recently that’s popping up on Reddit, Twitch, Youtube, and basically anywhere you can watch video. Recently popularized by people like Cosmo through his run of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, speedrunning is becoming the next big thing (and possible foil) to most games’ competitive scenes. Instead of doing your best to play by the rules, you break them! You try and beat the game as fast as you can in an exhibition of wit, reflex, and raw talent. But how? How do people become MASTER speedrunners? And can you become one too?