Not long ago, there use to be a time when being into gaming was frowned up. Fast forward a few decades later and its common for a gamer to be a celebrity and a millionaire. What changed? No seriously, what changed so the podcast can copy that formula??

This week the podcast is joined with returning guests, Kyle and Sam, as we discuss the moments that helped make gaming culture mainstream. We talk about the influence of Pokemon, the impact of the internet, and everyone provides tips on how to find your own welcoming community.

Culture usually comes from a form of history and gaming is no different. The past decade has seen the rise of gaming in museums and we took this week to highlight one of these venues.

The Chicago Gamespace is launching a new exhibit this week titled "Nom Nom: 40 Years of Pac-Man Design and History" and we discuss how the game's legacy has survived the test of time.

Raf and Ray are joined by Jonathan Kinkley, Director of the Gamespace, and Tim Lapetino, the curator of the exhibit and bestselling author of "Art of Atari" where they all talk about the impact of design on gaming history, how museum interactivity helps connect different age generations, and much more.

"Railroading" is a term used in Tabletop RPGs to describe when the DM/GM/Storyteller uses pre-written techniques to force the party onto a particular path. Although not controversial, this technique can create conflict within a gaming group.

This week the co-hosts are joined by Liz, Kyle and Logan to discuss the impact of this technique, explain how these RPGS help people with socializing, and - SLAP 'EM WITH A SALMON (you'll get the reference after you listen)!

*This episode is probably best for beginner to advanced Tabletop RPG players. That being said, if you have ever been interested in joining a campaign, this episode does help describe some social techniques useful to having a great experience.

With the recent Microsoft acquisition of Bethesda, Gaming with RnR revisits the societies and lore that make their games memorable.

Raf and Ray are joined by Paul where they discuss society interactions in their Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Wolfenstein games. A LOT happens this episode, here are just some of the highlights: Ray provides hot takes on what groups are the alt-right versions in the Bethesda games, Ray also gets fact checked (not alt-right related), Paul spoils EVERYTHING (now is a good time for a #spoileralert), Raf doesn't feel guilty about his decisions, and we all agree that Nazis are bad.

Its a fun episode. FUNNNNNNNNNNN.....and insightful.

October brings fall mornings, pumpkin flavored food and beverages, and PLENTY OF HORROR. This week, co-hosts Raf and Ray compare the horror video game medium to film, how its different, similar, and how it has changed over the years.

They are joined by horror enthusiast, John, and from the Love Life of an Asian Guy, Ranier. Subnautica will of course, make its spooky return, along with discussions on the changing form of the "other", memories of being terrified by our siblings, and more!

With the high popularity of Animal Crossing New Horizons, the inaugural season of a Sims 4 competition show, and the constant birth of new life simulation games, 2020 may become known as the year of "Slice of Life" gaming.

This week, Raf and Ray are joined by extra special guest host, Sims 4 cat creator extraordinaire, Mari (Ray's life partner) as well as NBA 2k bitcoin expert, Hasan, and Stardew Witch Alia. The group discusses all the factors that make slice of life gaming unique, how gender might be an influence, and plenty of recommended games for you to try out during this pandemic time.

20 years ago, games generated revenue primarily through the costs of initially purchasing a game. Today, some of the most popular games are free-to-play and recuperate costs through items called "microtransactions". Although they are less controversial today, they can polarize a gaming community and have a huge impact on the industry (Fortnite vs Apple/Google).

As we launch Season 2 of Gaming with RnR, Raf and Ray are joined this week by Fifa correspondent, Jessie, and MMORPG correspondent, Jessica, to discuss their thoughts on how microtransactions became so relevant in gaming. Later in the episode, Raf and Ray discuss the implications of Fortnite's recent battle with Apple and Google.

Welcome back and hope you enjoy the start of Season 2!

Our first season is over and as Raf and Ray take this brief time off between seasons we thought it would be helpful for listeners to hear from the creators about the state of the podcast, where we plan on going from here and our general thoughts about season one.

We would like to take this time to thank all of our listeners, family and friends who have supported us throughout the inception of this podcast. Your support has made this experience meaningful!

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast, on whatever platform you use as we will probably drop a few surprise episodes before season two launches in August of this year.

Just as the "Last Dance" is really a documentary about MJ, this podcast is really about community. Its an important fulcrum in which all other topics sprout from, whether its mental health, personas or inclusivity; everything stems from the strength and weaknesses of its gaming community.

This week, Gaming with RnR is joined by the creators of the Youtube channel "Desperate Pace", James and Mike, as they converse with us about the importance of a gaming community, how to make it inclusive, and how to create one from scratch.

If you would like to learn more about Desperate Pace check out their Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJzCyZ3b42s1rLZzWQuLs5A or support their work at https://www.patreon.com/desperatepace.

*This is the final episode of Season 1! Tune in next week to learn more details about the next stages of the podcast and the launch of Season 2 in August of 2020.

The feeling of wonder and amazement of discovering a new world is prevalent in gaming. Some games leverage its strengths of scope and ambiance to push a player to explore and uncover new characteristics about the world and the player. Exploration in gaming can also be intimidating and terrifying.

This week Gaming with RnR discusses "Open World" Games and how they enhance this feeling of creation and discovery. They define what an open world game is, why its such a popular medium, and exemplary games that moved them. Raf and Ray are joined this week by Kelsey, Paul and newcomer, Muss!