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Hey gamers! This week, Spencer and Jamie play everyone's favorite kitty cat game -- BlueTwelve and Annapurrna Interactive's blockbuster cat adventure platformer, STRAY! Also, because she's an overachiever, Jamie somehow finds some time to chat about INTERIOR/NIGHT and Xbox Game Studios' experimental interactive narrative game As Dusk Falls. Then we're joined by two of the fine folks at Achimostawinan Games: Art Lead and Character Designer Sadekaronhes Esquivel, and Founder, Owner, and Lead Game Designer Meagan Byrne! We loved our convo with Sade and Meagan on the world of their forthcoming game Hill Agency: PURITYdecay, and we're sure you will too! CORRECTION NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the announcement that Hill Agency has been delayed to Fall 2022. The release date mentioned within the episode is no longer accurate. https://my.captivate.fm/8:27 (8:27) - Are y'all watching The Bear on Hulu? https://my.captivate.fm/14:18 (14:18) - Stray discussion https://my.captivate.fm/32:39 (32:39) - As Dusk Falls discussion https://my.captivate.fm/51:00 (51:00) - Interview with Achimo Games Follow Achimo Games: https://achimogames.ca/ Wishlist Hill Agency on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1358370/Hill_Agency_PURITYdecay/ Side Quest cats.org.uk/support-us/pawsome-players From humble beginnings in 1927, Cats Protection has grown to become the UK's leading cat charity. We help an estimated 166,000 cats and kittens a year through our national network which includes around 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres. At Cats Protection, we’re working hard to improve the lives of cats. We offer cat adoption, rehoming and neutering assistance as well as help and advice to cat owners and cat lovers. As a leading animal welfare charity, our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness. You can visit their website to sign up to be a Pawsome Player and stream with the goal of raising money for homeless cats. If youre a first time streamer, no problem! Cats Protection will set you up with a fundraising pack, tips to support your event and great social media graphics via email to help with your fundraising. About Pixel Therapy New episodes every three weeks! Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Hey gamers! It's grab the Nintendo Switch and flop on the bed by the air conditioner weather, and we're ready to get in our feelings! After 90+ hours with just ONE storyline in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Spencer is left with a new appreciation for tactical strategy RPGs; meanwhile, Jamie finally finds the time is right for 2016's The Last Guardian and its beautifully mysterious and heart-wrenching world. Then we're joined by Kayla Ancrum (she/her), author of The Wicker King, The Weight of the Stars, Darling, and more! Kayla chats her early days as a Gameboy girl, the enduring appeal of YA literature, regardless of age, graffiti artist skater teens resisting a totalitarian police state in Jet Set Radio Future, and more! 4:44 - Our impromptu Thor: Love and Thunder movie review lol 15:25 - Fire Emblem: Three Houses discussion 38:25 - The Last Guardian discussion 1:01:54 - Interview with Kayla Ancrum Follow Kayla on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaylaAncrum Check out her work! https://kancrum.com/ Side Quest womenandchildrenfirst.com Women & Children First Bookstore believes in the transformative power of literature. As intersectional trans-inclusive feminists, we believe books are tools for liberation. Since 1979, we have celebrated and amplified underrepresented voices. In order for feminism to remain relevant, it must be forever evolving. Visit their website to learn more and donate to their Chicago Books to Women in Prison program! About Pixel Therapy New episodes every three weeks! Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Sup y'all, we're clinging to spots of joy in this burning world! This week, Spencer hosts tea parties and finds their footing as a magical warrior professor in Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo's Fire Emblem: Three Houses, while Jamie gets spooky (but not too scary) in Supermassive Games' The Quarry. Then we're joined by April Kit Walsh (she/her or gay/ghem), a kickass civil liberties lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation as well as the designer behind Gay Spaceship Games -- and the Nebula Award-winning tabletop RPG Thirsty Sword Lesbians -- to chat about her early days as a modder, how her values shine through in her storytelling and game-making, not-so-literal swords, and so much more! PS: Humans have been around for about 300 generations! (This'll make sense in the interview) Follow April on Twitter https://twitter.com/prilkit Check out Thirsty Sword Lesbians https://evilhat.com/product/thirsty-sword-lesbians/ 8:26 - Fire Emblem: Three Houses discussion 23:08 - The Quarry discussion 47:47 - Interview with April Kit Walsh Side Quest translifeline.org Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community. Trans Lifeline connects trans people to the community support and resources we need to survive and thrive. About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

'Sup, gaymers and theymers? This week, Spencer and Jamie dust off their Nintendo Switches and kick off Wrath Month! Join us as we explore Spencer's extremely late arrival to Sid Meier's Civilization VI and Jamie's dive into Triangle Strategy's SALTY political intrigue. Then we're joined by Ace (they/she), aka @A_TypicalQueer: a content creator, activist working with Equality New York and NEW Pride Agenda, and Director of DEI Consulting at Qweerty Gamers! We talked with Ace about using games to hold space for important conversations, thriving on other people’s bullshit, and how they approach activism for marginalized LGBTQIA+ folks! 10:02 - Civilization 6 discussion 27:56 - Triangle Strategy discussion 51:21 - Interview with Ace, @A_TypicalQueer 1:23:56 - CONTENT WARNING - Reference to suicide and suicidal thoughts 1:25:18 - END OF CONTENT WARNING 'Civilization and Strategy Games' Progress Delusion' by Gabriel Soares (2019): https://www.vice.com/en/article/4aggzm/civilization-and-strategy-games-progress-delusion (https://www.vice.com/en/article/4aggzm/civilization-and-strategy-games-progress-delusion) Follow Ace: https://twitter.com/a_typicalqueer Side Quest Metahealth.gg Per Gayming Mag: “Meta by Sinai Health Foundation is a dynamic and diverse online gaming community whose mission is to fundraise and support the game-changing research and services at Sinai Health, including vital programs directly serving the LGBTQ2S+ community. This Pride, Meta is gathering gamers and creators together to support young people between the ages of 16 and 29 who visit Mount Sinai Hospital’s Emergency Department in need of timely and inclusive mental healthcare.” About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

This week, Spencer toils in a mine for fun and lives to tell the tale - and rolls merrily along in Lovable Hat Cult's Journey of the Broken Circle. Then Jamie shares her experiences with Lego Builder's Journey, a surprisingly deep and incredibly satisfying puzzler that's inspired her to engage with a new IRL hobby as well! Then we welcome our first-ever return guest, social psychologist, professor, and author Devon Price! Devon joins to chat about his new book Unmasking Autism, why Link is a trans king, how autistic folks invented fandom, what Katamari Damacy has to teach us about life, and so much more. Follow Devon: https://twitter.com/drdevonprice https://www.instagram.com/drdevonprice https://www.tiktok.com/@drdemonprince Side Quest National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition Blacktrans.org  Established in 2011, The National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition is the only social justice organization led by black trans people to collectively address the inequities faced in the black transgender human experience. About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

It's time to find your place in space and join the big, beautiful, worker-owned rotating city in the sky! We're talking about developer Jump Over the Age's Citizen Sleeper of course, a cyberpunk narrative RPG centered on an escaped worker's efforts to evade their corporate would-be captors and maybe build a little life for themself -- if they can find a way to outwit the "planned obsolescence" of their company-provided synthetic body. Then we're joined by Kortney Terry (aka Sparklykiss), a tabletop actual play performer, community manager for Miscellaneum Studios, and freelance diversity consultant and sensitivity reader to chat about being a bouncer for your community, their decade-plus relationship with Earthbound, PNGtubing, which Pokemon they would eat, and more! 4:46 - Impromptu Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness review 13:03 - Citizen Sleeper discussion 39:54 - Interview with Kortney Terry Follow Kortney on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sparklykiss Side Quest https://www.blackgamedevs.com/ Here they are. Hire them. Buy their stuff. About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Welcome to the first official Pixel Therapy Spoilercast! Join us as we dive into every aspect of Horizon Forbidden West that we didn't or couldn't cover in our normal episodes! 0:54 - Intro 10:12 - Story breakdown and themes 24:30 - On Nemesis as a villain 31:20 - Tilda Van der Meer and unfortunate tropes 41:39 - On final boss battles and the underutilization of Sylens 50:59 - On Beta and healing from childhood trauma 1:00:03 - On Varl and that wild ending 1:12:22 - Identifying with Aloy and closing thoughts About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

NORCO: It's the game you can smell! Join us as we wade into the murky waters of Geography of Robots' completely singular Southern Gothic sci-fi point-and-click detective adventure, set among the billowing smokestacks and sinister twilight of a futuristic New Orleans. If you have about 10 hours to spare, it's absolutely a game you'll want to put on your must-play list this year. We can say for sure that Elijah Wood loved it. Then we're joined by Vaneet Mehta (he/him), a software engineer, writer, and public speaker working to advocate for bisexual visibility and equitable representation. We loved chatting with Vaneet about the significance of the gaming community in his own coming out story, “playersexuality,”  what games get wrong when they make queer representation and content optional, and more! 9:35 - NORCO Discussion 51:04 - Very light NORCO story spoilers, if that matters to you 56:24 - Interview with Vaneet Mehta Follow Vaneet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nintendomad888 Check out Alexis Ong's piece on NORCO: https://www.pcgamer.com/this-stunning-deep-south-fable-isnt-the-next-kentucky-route-zeroits-the-first-norco/ Side Quest IGL Foundation is a New Orleans-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring people together to learn, compete, and play by providing opportunities for students in the areas of technology, gaming, and the digital arts that are both enriching and entertaining. While using the portal of alternate dimensional experiences, we use gaming as the gateway to building networks and communities through social competitions and mental athletic training to build bonds with our students. To learn more, get involved, and donate, visit https://iglfoundation.org/ About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Rise, ye tarnished! This week, Spencer and Jamie explore the game that seems to have sucked in everyone and their grandma (if their grandma is a badass) -- Hidetaka Miyazaki and From Software's ELDEN RING! Join us as we try to put words to the inexplicable pull of Souls games, and debate what inspires some to call ELDEN RING one of the greatest games of all time. Then we're joined by Rokashi, video game developer and writer for the official HBO show tie-in game, Insecure: The Come Up (Glow Up Games), and creative director for their own game Faraway Fairway for Panic's soon-to-be-released Playdate console. Plus: Netflix's moves into the mobile game market, how Twine provides a low-barrier entry into game-making, bringing mental health conversations into gaming, and why Sonic the Hedgehog is the ultimate role model. Follow Rokashi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rokashi Learn more about the Playdate: https://play.date/ Side Quest The Hand Eye Society is a Toronto not-for-profit dedicated to supporting and showcasing videogames made primarily as a form of creative expression. We aim to provide exhibition opportunities, education, creative support, mentorship, knowledge sharing and inspiration to artists, enthusiasts, and the game-curious in Toronto. Founded in 2009, it is one of the first videogame arts organizations of its kind in the world. Visit https://www.handeyesociety.com/ to learn more about membership, volunteer as a game tester, or donate a console or equipment!

This week, a game so nice we had to cover it twice: Horizon Forbidden West! Now that your cohosts have each had 60+ hours with Aloy, join us as we take a closer look at human and machine battle mechanics, analyze the VIBES coming off of NPCs that possess so much repressed longing they should star in their own Bridgerton spinoff, and dream about the day we get some confirmation on Aloy's asexuality! Then Twitch streamer, content creator, and community builder Queerlybee (they/them) joins us in the virtual studio to chat about video games as vehicles for important conversations, how they create sensory-friendly, accessible streams where neurodivergent folks can engage in virtual parallel play, and more! Follow Queerlybee on Twitter: https://twitter.com/QueerlyBee and Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/queerlybee Side Quest https://www.twocc.us/donate/ The Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC) was created to cultivate economic opportunities and affirming spaces for trans people of color and our families, to foster kinship, build community engage in healing and restorative justice through arts, culture, media, advocacy and activism. About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Note: Spoilers for A Musical Story from 57:51 - 1:09:37! It's March, and ALL OF THE GAMES are out. Spencer and Jamie have barely scratched the surface of Horizon Forbidden West's truly epic proportions, but with 30 hours of playtime under their belts, have plenty of feelings to share on what's changed - and what's stayed the same, for better or worse. But that's not all! It's a Double Stuf'd episode this week, as your cohorts also manage to squeeze in a spirited discussion of Glee-Cheese Studio's indie rhythmic adventure, the aptly-titled A Musical Story. Then we're joined by Raccine Malcolm (any pronouns), a freelance community builder and DEI consultant in the gaming and tech space! Raccine shares what drives her to curate communities, how her own "rough entry" into the gaming industry inspired her to make the transition friendlier for other new folks entering in the future, and how her upbringing in Jamaica led to an abiding love of PC games -- plus so much more! Follow Raccine on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fibonaccirecoil Side Quest https://www.insight-ukraine.org/en/join-donate/ On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion into Ukraine. For the past days, cities have been bombed and civilian infrastructures destroyed. The number of civilian victims, including children, continues to rise. LGBTQIA+ Ukrainians are also facing additional stress as they try to navigate this emergency. Insight Ukraine is starting an urgent donation campaign to collect funds for LGBTQI+ people, to provide emergency shelter, relocation assistance, food, and basic needs.  About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Happy Tuesday, and thanks for tearing yourself away from Horizon Forbidden West long enough to get cozy and chat games with us! This week Spencer and Jamie kick things off with GoodbyeWorld Games' Before Your Eyes, a breathtaking journey through the memories of a spirit approaching judgment in the afterlife -- controlled completely through eye movements and blinking. But that description doesn't do it justice! There are also talking foxes, a mysterious gatekeeper, meditations on what truly makes a great life, and what it means to leave a legacy...come join us, then go play it! Then we're joined by Erin Parisi (she/her), a Colorado-based mountaineer who is on track to become the first openly trans woman to climb all seven of the world's highest peaks. She's completed five of the seven so far, with her sights set on Mt. Denali and Mt. Everest! We had an amazing time chatting with Erin about everything from her love of Samus Aran to her many shared qualities with another red-haired, strawberry-loving mountain climber -- as well as her dream of uplifting the trans community and flipping the script on trans narratives that so often dominate headlines. Check out Erin's org TranSending: https://www.transending7.org/ Follow Erin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinsends7/ Side Quest TranSending is a 501c3 designated non-profit dedicated to the advancement of transgender rights throughout all aspects of society by promoting athletics as a platform of transgender awareness and inclusion. Through targeted athletic projects, we seek to create a welcoming environment of understanding and assurance that all persons can partake in the learning and growth that come with inclusion in sports related activities, regardless of gender identity. Our goal is to promote rising transgender athletes and help them gain access to athletic programs, with the goal of increasing awareness from team administration, coaches and team staff, trans athletes, fellow athletes, and the audiences who support these great sports. You (or your organization) can also become a Sponsor!: https://www.transending7.org/becomesponsor/ About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Happy love month, Gamentines! That works, right? No? Well, moving on. This week Spencer is super late to the party - Night School Studio's 2019 Afterparty, to be specific: a neon-soaked bar hop through hell with besties Milo and Lola. Meanwhile, Jamie enjoys the little things in Something We Made's greyscale photography adventure Toem. Then we're joined by Diego Argüello (he/him), Editor-in-Chief of Into the Spine and featured contributor at Fanbyte! Diego shares the journey and growth of Into the Spine from an international cohort of writers looking to break into games journalism to a thriving community built upon mutual support and a genuine desire to foster diverse talent -- and how it relates to his relationship with Atlus' Persona 5. Check out Into the Spine: https://intothespine.com/ Follow Diego on Twitter: https://twitter.com/diegoarguello66 Side Quest https://nbjc.org/ Since 2003, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) has been America’s leading national civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS through coalition building, federal policy change, research, and education. Our mission is to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ+/SGL bias and stigma. NBJC supports Black individuals, families, and communities in strengthening the bonds and bridging the gaps between the movements for racial justice and LGBTQ+/SGL equity. About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Now is the winter of our gaming discontent, it seems, but so many exciting things are happening and will continue to happen, friends! Why, just now Spencer's willingly playing a hack-and-slash dungeon crawler for the first time in their life and having a blast thanks to Drinkbox's clever and irreverent Nobody Saves the World. Meanwhile, we never thought Jamie would become a League of Legends player - yet she's gotten totally sucked into Ruined King, developer Airship Syndicate's spin-off LoL turn-based RPG! Then we're joined by Ty Galiz-Rowe (he/they), writer, podcaster, and the editor in chief of Uppercut Crit - a games and media site devoted to 'punching up' through high-quality content that focuses on highlighting marginalized voices -- and great criticism. We chatted with Ty about Uppercut's homespun growth, how their "hangriness" spurs them to avoid homogeneity and boredom in mainstream gaming, and the inexplicable allure of Dontnod's mechanically rich yet narratively obtuse Vampyr. Follow Ty: https://twitter.com/owoathkeeper Check out Uppercut Crit: https://uppercutcrit.com/ Side Quest Support independent games journalism - check out Uppercut Crit's Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/uppercutcrit About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

We're back from our little winter break and ready to talk games! To kick things off, Spencer shares their begrudging enjoyment of Netflix's The Witcher (in no small part thanks to Henry Cavill's gruffly charming Geralt of Rivia) while Jamie gets hype on Arcane, the dynamic and gorgeous animated action-adventure series chronicling the origins of two League of Legends characters - as someone who knows next to nothing about League! Then we take up our burning swords and explore Bandai Namco's over-the-top epic JRPG Tales of Arise - and how it makes space for surprisingly nuanced conversations on unpacking racism and dismantling oppressive ideas and systems. Then we're joined in the virtual studio by Lindsay Rollins (she/her), a game developer, visual artist, writer and co-founder of indie studio Rocket Adrift! Their Toronto-based team is responsible for surreal dad sim Order A Pizza: A Visual Novel and the iconic, vibe-filled Raptor Boyfriend: A High School Romance. Join us as we go deep on Doki Doki Literature Club, hot cryptids, the enduring allure of coming of age tales, and more! Follow Lindsay on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LinRocketAdrift Play Rocket Adrift's games: https://rocketadrift.com/ Side Quest Dames Making Games - https://dmg.to/ DMG is a not-for-profit videogame arts organization that creates space for marginalized creators to make, play and critique videogames within a cultural context. We teach computing skills for artistic expression, offer production and exhibition facilities, and provide community support for the creation of new artworks. Our space and community is a platform and playground for artists working in games, engaging the public with the expressive potential of this medium.  About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Thanks for another great year of sharing stories, leveling up, and discovering ourselves in games! Spencer and Jamie cap the year with a new crop of completely unofficial awards, from Jamie's Game That Was Too Damn Smart for Me recipient to Spencer's Late to the Party pick, there's something here for everyone. Halo fans, we apologize in advance. Happy holidays everyone! We're taking a three-week break to recharge and binge play Tales of Arise, so we'll see you when our first episode of 2022 drops on January 11th! Side Quest The ABK (Activision-Blizzard-King) Strike Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/abk-strike-fund Jessica Gonzalez is a founding member of the ABK Worker's Alliance, and a prominent voice in the fight to end abuse in the gaming industry. She organized this fundraiser with a committee of ABK workers dedicated to ensuring the funds get to the workers who need them. About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Good...morning? Night? Who knows, it's dark when we wake up and dark before the workday is over. Perfect weather for gaming though, wouldn't you say? Spencer and Jamie kick things off by hopping on our hoverbikes and gliding across the vast expanse of Sable, an open-world exploration game about a modest, mysterious desert society and finding one's place in the world. Sable was developed by Shedworks and published by Raw Fury, and it's available now on Steam and Game Pass! Then we're joined by Marcela Huerta (she/her), community manager for worker-owned game studio KO_OP's upcoming apocalyptic coming-of-age dinosaur love story, Goodbye Volcano High! Join us as we learn all about a different kind of working culture that KO_OP is working to normalize, then go deep on the surprisingly emotional heft of this fall's cozy breakout hit, Witch Beam's Unpacking. Follow Marty on Twitter: https://twitter.com/marsmella Check out KO_OP Mode and get hype for Goodbye Volcano High: https://www.ko-opmode.com/ Listen to Spencer's favorite Stardew Valley Lofi Beats to Study To: https://youtu.be/scRoJCsy6dA Side Quests Black Healing Fund is a growing, volunteer-run initiative that exists to provide low-income Black folks in the Tio'tia:ke / Montreal area with discretionary funding and resources that contribute to mental health and wellness. blackhealingfund.com/donate Resilience Montreal is a non-profit day shelter offering food, a place to sleep, clean clothes, and support to anyone in need, with the goal of giving people a safe, supportive environment to spend their time. To donate, email resilience.volunteer@gmail.com and check out their website at resiliencemontreal.com  About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

29:11 - SPOILERS for Inscryption start 47:53 - End SPOILERS for Inscryption We foolishly thought this year in gaming was winding to a close. We were boarding up our Xboxes, winterizing our PCs, putting the Playstation to bed. (Jk idk what any of that means lmao.) Then Inscryption entered the chat and completely blew our minds, beckoning us to break through the inky-black intrigue of this rogue-like deck-building escape room adventure to find deeper understandings of ourselves as gamers and new outlooks on game creation as a whole. NBD! No but seriously, go play Inscryption. THEN we're joined by Aiden Strawhun (they/them), a news and features writer who focuses on the culture, innovation and advancement of the gaming and tech community as well as a Creator Relations Specialist at Ubisoft! Aiden's passion for nurturing and lifting up content creators in the gaming space was a joy to witness, and we had a lovely time chatting with them about trauma-informed journalism, the power and responsibility of choice in games-- and the collective idea, the shared dream, the fountain of joy and infinite possibility that is Hatsune Miku: the collaboratively constructed cyber idol and singing voice synthesizer featured in over 100,000 songs released around the world and the center of an ever-growing community. Follow Aiden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AStraww PLAY INSCRYPTION OMG: https://www.inscryption.com/ Side Quest Can I Play That? works to share stories that influence game updates, inform disabled players, educate and entertain players and developers, and provide a voice for one of the largest player bases in the industry. Learn more, read some articles, and maybe pitch one of your own at https://caniplaythat.com/ About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media (we're most active on Twitter!) @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod

Mix up your mulled cider and grab a fuzzy blanket - it's time to get cozy and grab your bi-weekly dose of Pixel Therapy! This week, Spencer takes their maiden voyage with their new gaming computer and joins Jamie in playing Witch Beam's brain massaging masterpiece Unpacking - a little game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Then Jamie explores the unexpectedly heartwarming and wholly entertaining new Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy from Square Enix -- the mashup you never knew you needed. This week we're also excited to be joined by Yup’ik and Sāmoan Columbia University student and Native rights advocate Charitie Ropati (she/they)! A film buff and iconic tweeter, Charitie is also known for their work in public education honoring the resilience and diversity of Alaska Native culture with decolonized history curricula that's since been adopted in her home of Anchorage. We had an awesome time with Charitie diving deep on Upper One Games' and E-Line Media's Never Alone (Kisima Inŋitchuŋa), a puzzle-platformer adventure game about a young Iñupiat girl and an arctic fox that was developed in collaboration with 30+ Iñupiat elders, storytellers and community members. Follow Charitie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/charitieropati Daniel Starkey's Never Alone review: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-20-never-alone Side Quest The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute is a national education and advocacy organization that works alongside Native youth—ages 24 and under—on reservations, in rural villages and urban spaces across the country to improve their health, safety, and overall well- being. All Native youth deserve to lead full and healthy lives, have equal access to opportunity, draw strength from Native culture, and inspire one another. At CNAY, this is achieved through empowerment and culturally-competent methodologies that include leadership, youth-led policy agenda, and youth-led narrative. They’re also hiring right now! Learn more about this important organization and donate at cnay.org/ ! About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) & subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod !

Note: This episode contains some light spoilers for To The Moon starting around 1:09:00! Happy Halloween, gamers!! Pick out your favorite candy from the pile and join us around the pixelated fire as Spencer plays their scariest game yet in Bloober Team's eerie and atmospheric The Medium, while Jamie takes to the stars in Outer Wilds' new expansion-slash-sequel-within-a-game, Echoes of the Eye! Then we're joined by the delightfully insightful Laura Kate Dale, video game butt reviewer, games journalist, and author of Uncomfortable Labels, Things I Learned From Mario's Butt, and the forthcoming Who Hunts The Whale- a satirical novel set in the exploitative world of big-budget game development! We had an amazing time hanging out with Laura, chatting about everything from the meaning and construction of bodies in games to choosing optimism in the face of the uglier sides of the industry. Finally, we go deep on Freebird Games' unforgettable narrative adventure To the Moon, and the way it not only made Laura feel seen in a new way, but changed the way she wanted to approach thinking and writing about games. Follow Laura on Twitter: twitter.com/LaurakBuzz Check out Who Hunts the Whale: unbound.com/books/whale/ Austin Walker's Outer Wilds review: vice.com/en/article/mb8p7y/outer-wilds-is-a-captivating-sci-fi-mystery-about-the-end-of-the-world Side Quest Deaf Rainbow UK First a Facebook group, then a website, now a community-run organization offering trainings, consultations, and surveys aimed at building a better world for Deaf LGBTQIA+ people in the UK and around the world, Deaf Rainbow UK provides information and resources for deaf queer folks, bringing attention to the lived experiences of folks who fall within this intersection of marginalization. To learn more, access resources, volunteer, and/or donate, visit deafrainbowuk.org.uk ! About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) & subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod !