Bookwarm Games

In the long-awaited sequel to EarthBound, as localized by Tomato et al. , we parse some shocking developments and developer choices.  Audio clips from the soundtrack as preserved at starmen.net ; discussion audio hosted by 3rdStrongest . Join the conversation at our humble Video Game Academy . Thanks for listening.

Teddy in Ellay through Mt Itoi; EVE in her lake, Queen Mary in her memory, and the ending. Audio clips from the soundtrack as preserved at starmen.net ; discussion audio hosted by 3rdStrongest . Join the conversation at our humble Video Game Academy . Thanks for listening.

Through the desert to Youngtown; through the swamp to Ellay. Audio clips from the soundtrack as preserved at starmen.net ; discussion audio hosted by 3rdStrongest . Join the conversation at our humble Video Game Academy . Thanks for listening.

Spookane and the dentures side quest, with a digression on Nathan for You - Gas Station Rebate . Audio clips from the soundtrack as preserved at starmen.net ; discussion audio hosted by 3rdStrongest . Join the conversation at our humble Video Game Academy . Thanks for listening.

Riding the train through Reindeer to Ana in Snowman. Audio clips from the soundtrack as preserved at starmen.net ; discussion audio hosted by 3rdStrongest . Join the conversation at our humble Video Game Academy . Thanks for listening.

Lloyd's school and the factories, with a digression on music ( Twinkle Elementary and the File Select remix by Ace Waters ). Audio clips from the soundtrack as preserved at starmen.net ; discussion audio hosted by 3rdStrongest . Join the conversation at our humble Video Game Academy . Thanks for listening.

Magicant. Apologies for the lost bit of intro on this one. Audio clips from the soundtrack as preserved at starmen.net ; discussion audio hosted by 3rdStrongest . Join the conversation at our humble Video Game Academy . Thanks for listening.

At the Zoo, via Canary Village. Audio clips from the soundtrack as preserved at starmen.net ; discussion audio hosted by 3rdStrongest . Join the conversation at our humble Video Game Academy . Thanks for listening.

From the opening through Podunk and the graveyard. Audio clips from the soundtrack as preserved at starmen.net ; discussion audio hosted by 3rdStrongest . Join the conversation at our humble Video Game Academy . Thanks for listening. 

On Ch 38 The Botanic Garden and the Acknowledgments at the end of The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman. Course page for the full list of episodes and suggested reading. Thanks for listening.  

Alex Schmid and I revisit the golden age of the JRPG, with a nod to our oft-collaborating younger selves. https://videogameacademia.org/  

Lost audio from the fall. Apologies, all, for the lateness! Video Game Academy is not dead, we've just been on hiatus what with school and everything. https://videogameacademia.org/ 

We kick back with Ebb Creakknees and stack our coppers, saving up for a new tattoo from Fell. You know, the only one of the Lady's servants who when he walks, like Shakespeare's dark lady of Sonnet 130, treads on the ground. https://videogameacademia.org/ Music from the OST. 

We gather down at the Video Game Academy farm for a round-picnic-table discussion of the phenomenal Stardew Valley. For more, see the full almanac over at http://videogameacademia.org/ Music from the OST

We get acquainted with Sigil, meet some friendly denizens and fellow wanderers, and consider some of the factions vying for our services. http://videogameacademia.org/courses/planescape-torment/ Music from the OST

What makes us think this life is real? Well, we spot Bob the skull--I mean Morte--, Willem Dafoe--er, The Nameless One--, and, on the heels of Deionarra the ghost, Corey! And Mike joins us to provide some lore on the background for the OG Planescape: Torment, including World of Darkness and the Outer Planes of D&D. Dusties, zombies, etc. look out! https://videogameacademia.org/courses/pla...

Discussing ch 36-37 of The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman. https://newschoolnotes.blogspot.com/2020/02/gamecool-books-amber-spyglass.html 

Esteemed listeners, big news. Website tidyings-up and new mascots are on the way. Plus, by popular demand, t-shirt giveaways? https://videogameacademia.org/ 

It's the Sunday afternoon of the year, and we're setting up plans for the coming semesters. That means a little Planescape: Torment, a smidgeon of Shadowrun: Dragonfall, and maybe some Undertale and Stardew Valley. Help us with our follow-through? We'd love to hear from you. https://videogameacademia.org/2021/08/15/the-sunday-afternoon-of-the-year/

Discussing ch 32-33 of The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman. https://newschoolnotes.blogspot.com/2020/02/gamecool-books-amber-spyglass.html 

We throw it back to Shakespeare and Chesterton, eschewing the Holy Smokes and helping the Smuggler's friend make it back to the surface. https://videogameacademia.org/courses/deus-ex/ Music from the OST. 

Discussing ch 30-31 of The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman, with a glance towards his novel Galatea. http://newschoolnotes.blogspot.com/2020/02/gamecool-books-amber-spyglass.html 

We wanted orange and it gave us lemon-lime. It's a conspiracy! Discussing the UNATCO HQ and its bizarro alter ego in Battery Park. Videos of Prof Ben's gameplay and more course materials: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/deus-ex/ Music from the OST. 

The dreaded stealth training sequence, famed first mission, and general milieu of Deus Ex: Revision. Midway through Liberty Island, Steve's neighbor must have hacked us (that is, I forgot to refresh the recording tab) so we lost a few minutes there of Prof Ben laying out what's at stake in the interlocking character creation/progression and moral choice systems and the headless Statue of Liberty....

On ch 28-29 of The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman, with apologies for the delay and recommendations for further listening:  https://newschoolnotes.blogspot.com/2021/07/signum-academy-discussions-on-pullman.html  There's short discussions of Pullman's Fairy Tales from The Brothers Grimm, Clockwork, The Scarecrow and his Servant, and The Firework-Maker's Daughter