Today, it feels like more games than ever enjoy an "expanded universe." Books, TV shows, comics, and movies all develop worlds and characters that first appeared in video games. This might be great for devoted fans, but what does it imply about games' abilities to stand on their own? This week, we use Mark Filipowich's article on cross-media storytelling as a starting point for discussing the ways in which supplemental media affect the stories games try to tell. We also lay out some plans for a cross-media adventure that will be the topic for a future show. As always, we're glad to have you all along for the ride and look forward to reading your comments!Some discussion starters:- What are some of your favorite examples of game-related cross-media storytelling and why are they effective?- How can we separate marketing cash-ins from legitimate additions to a game's story?- Does an abundance of ancillary material degrade in-game content? How can games tell stories that stand on their own?To listen to the podcast:- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the stand-alone feed.- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.Show notes:- Run time: 32 min 00 sec- "Games and Cross-Media Storytelling," by Mark Filipowich, via PopMatters- Music provided by Brad Sucks