Media Mavens

By Pam and RileyVideo Games

Media Mavens episodes

October 17, 2016Stevenbomb (Episode 15)
This week we talked to BrothaDom about the Cartoon Network hit, Steven Universe. We cover everything from representation, to how it appeals to people of all ages and answer a lot of listener questions.
Guest Intro (00:00:45)
An introduction to our guest, BrothaDom. You can find his writing at Lady Geek Girl and Friends and listen to him on the Character Reveal podcast.
What we've been up to (00:02:22)
BrothaDom (@BrothaDom)
Overwatch

Luke Cage

Soundtrack Attack

Panic at the Disco: Death of a Bachelor
Kaleri (@kaleri_)
World of Warcraft

Overwatch

Girl on the Train

The Adventure Zone
Pam (@jasyla_)
Overwatch

Blaster Master

Grey's Anatomy

Triangle

Lady Problems
Steven Universe (00:20:10)
This conversation does contain spoilers!
What is Steven Universe?

How the appeal spans from children to adults

How is Steven Universe different from the shows you watched as a kid? Would SU have made a difference for you growing up? (@the_doc_webb)

World building in short, condensed episodes w/ lots of plot!

How do you think they fit so much story into a small amount of time without it feeling rushed? (@TheForEverNoob)

Who is your favourite Gem (and why is it Lapis)? (@FWNuminous)

Gemsonas? (@Walkstweets)

One thing I love about SU is how fleshed-out the “normal” characters are. Who is your favourite ‘non-gem’ character? (@the_doc_webb)

Value of episodes focused on beach city residents vs the gems and lore? (@Walkstweets)

Queer representation

Pearl and Rose - What are your thoughts on their relationship? Is the relationship rooted in Pearl’s tendency to serve, or is it a two-way street? (@Pontelon)

Any theories you’d like to share? (@TheForEverNoob)

What the heck is going on with their schedule? (aka what is a Stevenbomb!) (@IFlyDragons)

Music

What are your thoughts of Lars and why do you think he acts the way he does? (@TheForEverNoob)

What are your thoughts on how they treated Bismuth? (or how Steven reacted to Bismuth compared to Peridot) (@Pontelon)
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.
Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 27 min
October 03, 2016To All the Games I've Never Played (Episode 14)
Today we're talking about AppleCider's article, Looking Back on Gaming without Nostalgia! We chat about feeling left out of the conversation, and how you don't necessarily have to play a game to talk about it.
Guest Intro (00:00:45)
Brief intro to our returning guest, AppleCider!
What we've been up to (00:01:19)
AppleCider (@appleciderwitch)
World of Warcraft

Fall TV Shows: Atlanta, Chef's Table: France
Kaleri (@kaleri_)
World of Warcraft

Zootopia

Once Upon a Time

Grey's Anatomy
Pam (@jasyla_)
Virginia

The Bunker

Attack the Block

Hard Candy

The People vs OJ Simpson

American Horror Story

Chez Lindsey
Gaming and Nostalgia (00:36:03)
AppleCider's article : https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/09/looking-back-on-gaming-without-nostalgia.html
Why write this now? What spurred you to talk about it?

Gatekeeping in gaming

Positives and negatives that come from having a lack of nostalgia

How much mainstream dialogue around games requires extra knowledge (ex describing a game as a 'Metroidvania')

Cultural osmosis of gaming knowledge

There are so many ways to experience a game now (Let's Plays, Streaming) so do you need to play a game to talk about it?
Twitter/Listener questions (01:27:47)
Does a gender double standard also apply to requiring childhood gaming for credibility or is that universal? @lonelyboardgame

Does a remake of a classic owe a duty to new players to do more than just modernize the graphics? @alatinolawyer
AppleCider's new article is up on Kotaku! Check out her writing on Overwatch and femslash here: http://kotaku.com/why-overwatch-fans-are-obsessed-with-shipping-its-femal-1787244865?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=Kotaku_twitter
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.
Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 37 min
September 19, 2016Disturbing on a Narrative Level (Episode 13)
This week we talked to returning guest Dia Lacina about open world games. We cover everything from Fallout 4 to Dead Rising to Grand Theft Auto. Plus a whole bunch of Bioware games (surprise!).
What we've been up to (00:01:22)
Dia (@DiaLacina)
X-Men The Animated Series (Standards & Practice notes, Loose Canon:Mystique)

Grand Theft Auto 5

Witcher 3

Dragon Age: Inquisition
Riley (@Kaleri_)
World of Warcraft: Legion

New D&D game

Nice Dragons Finish Last

Geek to Geek Podcast: No Man's Sky
Pam (@Jasyla_)
Overwatch

Deus Ex

The Neon Demon

America's Next Top Model

Not Your Mama's Gamer: Just too Canadian
Open World Games and listener questions (00:33:03)
How do you define an open world game?

What's biggest draw of OW games? Freedom to do things out of order? Exploration? Sense of realism/scale? @_Rades

Thoughts on open-world survival games ie Rust, 7 Days to Die, compared to like Skyrim? @_Rades

Different types of open world - is to best suited to a certain genre, or does it all depend on execution?

How does one balance exploration with the potential loss of narrative drive? @Sheepthediamond

Is there a place for an OW structure in games that are heavily focused on narrative? What's it look like? @soetzufit

A common complaint (mine as well) is that the central story tends to pale in comparison to the world itself. Which games overcame this problem, and what suggestions do you have for others to improve? @The_Doc_Webb

The Spatiality and Themes of Fallout New Vegas

How Dead Rising started an open world pandemic

How to present lore to players

Do you ever make up your own stories when playing open-world? If so how strictly do you adhere to them/how does it affect gameplay? @DariaPlays

How often do you play the evil side in your video games (i.e. picking the dark-side or all the evil choices in an AD&D game) & Why? @UrzasRage

Why does everyone love Skyrim so much and I hate it? @SerrinneWoW
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.

Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 40 min
September 05, 2016We Want to Stand Up (Episode 12)
Today it's just Pam and Riley talking about what we've been up to and answering listener questions.
What we've been up to: (00:01:44)
Riley:
WoW: Legion

Overwatch

Batman v Superman

Jason Bourne

Bad Moms

The Intern

Love and Friendship

League of Legends North American Finals @ ACC in Toronto

Room

Nice Dragons Finish Last

Girl on the Train

The Adventure Zone
Pam:
Overwatch

Beyond Good and Evil

Hidden object games

Deus Ex Mankind Divided

BroForce

Phantasmagoria

Star Wars (ep 1,5,6,7)

The Americans

You're Next

Ali Wong: Baby Cobra

Console Wars

Oryx and Crake

Tavit and Yussef's Gaming Hour: Inside
Listener Questions (01:02:55)
Your thoughts on games being released unfinished then trickle of content to follow as free or paid DLC? @mustyhobbit

Where do you go for the majority of your gaming, tv and movie news? @CartridgeBros

If you could learn one non-contemporary style of dance what would it be and why? @MToAllpro

If you could live in one game world what would it be and why? @MtoAllpro

Have you ever made a recipe / dish to match a video game theme? @Walkstweets

What game soundtrack makes you want to drop everything, ignore all adult responsibilities and go play the game again? @Nintenlo

You're in a room with two games, one single player and the other co-op, what are they and how long before you're sick of 'em? @CantstopDrew

Do all the trolls/haters/weirdos and their wonky comments/requests/suggestions make you want to run away or stand up to them? @alatinolawyer
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.
Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 20 min
August 22, 2016That's Not What A Demogorgon Looks Like (Episode 11)
Today we're talking about the hottest new show of the summer - Stranger Things. We spoil lots.
Guest Intro 00:01:00
We start with a quick introduction to our guest, Sara. You can find her on Twitter @SerrinneWoW !
What we've been up to (00:01:57)
Sara
New Diablo 3 season

League of Legends

Pokemon GO

Zodiac

Honeymoon

The Big Short

Deliver Us From Evil

Tragically Hip concert
Riley (@Kaleri_)
No Man's Sky

Hearthstone - Karazhan expansion

Tragically Hip concert
Pam (@Jasyla_)
No Man's Sky

Shovel Knight

This War of Mine

The Expanse

Console Wars
Stranger Things and listener questions (00:29:30)
80s nostalgia and throwbacks to old movies

Was the time setting of the 80s a gimmick to draw audience or a necessary ingredient to the story? @STCPod

Rewarding viewers for knowing things - the value of information

Eleven

Who wins in a duel between Eleven and Rey (The Force Awakens)? @alatinolawyer

Winona Ryder makes a comeback and other casting choices

The D&D connection

The Upsidedown

Are the adults in Stranger Things too quick to accept the supernatural they encounter? @alatinolawyer

Some outlets have been criticizing the portrayal of the female characters - is this warranted?

Did Barb deserve better? (spoiler: yes) @The_Dec_Webb

What did you think of Nancy staying with Steve at the end? @Matteo138

Why was this show such a hit?

Was it a mistake to show the monster?

I’d like to hear your thoughts on practical vs digital creature effects. Did it work here? What would you change? @mustyhobbit

Do you want a second season where the kids are grown up and awkward? A completely different season 2? Or no new season? @xhugglesx

What theories do you have for season 2? @VintageVGGeek
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.
Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 31 min
August 08, 2016It's Bi Noon (Episode 10)
We're finally cashing in on the Overwatch hype, sit down with us as we tackle what it is and why we love it with Sabriel.
What we've been up to (02:23:00)
Sabriel (@Sabriality or sabriel.me )
Overwatch

Kerbal Space

A Very Secret Service

Archer

Star Trek TNG
Riley (@Kaleri_)
Overwatch

Pokemon GO

Pokemon

Stranger Things

Star Trek Beyond
Pam (@Jasyla_)
PS2 Games

Hero Defense: Haunted Island

No Man's Sky

Masterchef Australia

Stranger Things

Jane the Virgin

The Jinx
Overwatch and Listener Questions (00:24:36)
What is Overwatch?

PC v PS4?

Who's your favourite character and why? Which character just doesn't click with you at all? @grnmushroom

The Importance of Ana by @appleciderwitch

The online experience

Player feedback at the end of the match; medals, stats, Play of the Game, voting for MVP?

How do you actually learn to play the game?

(00:58:23) What would you like to see as a future brawl? @_rades

(01:02:30) Quien es Sombra? @OrkChop

Lore? Where is the lore?

(01:12:00) Where are the gay characters, Blizz?! How should Blizzard introduce them? @MtoAllPro

(01:17:57) Overwatch and its cultural appropriation @MtoAllPro

(01:24:00) Can Ana solo heal or is she better alongside a Lucio? @Makofury

(01:27:21) Which characters are most likely to listen to your podcast? @walkstweets

(01:29:10) How quickly do they have to push updates to keep you in, and how awesome would the Titan MMO have been? @TDwelve

(01:33:58) Do you think the hype momentum will last? Is this the next esport? @serrinneWoW
Extra credit reading on Pharah:
Child of a Jackal: Quick Thoughts on Overwatch’s Pharah

Giant Beastcast: Breakdown of Pharah's skins via a listener letter

Dialacina breaks down Pharah's skins.
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.
Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 41 min
July 25, 2016My Favourite Swear Word (Episode 9)
This week we don't have a guest so we get right into what we've been doing!
What we've been up to (00:02:11)
Riley - (@kaleri_)
Overwatch

Pokemon GO

Orange is the New Black

The Big Short

The Secret Life of Pets

The Real History of Science Fiction
Pam - (@jasyla_)
Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser

Inside

Arkham Knight

The Invitation

Buried

Swimming with Sharks

Star Wars: A New Hope

Pretty Little Liars

Daredevil
Listener questions (00:42:00)
Are you thinking of popping back into WoW for Legion? @Orkchop

What 80s or 90s cartoon or tv show would you next like to see turn into a movie? @Orkchop

How can I reconcile enjoying media created by questionable folks (I.e. Chris brown's music, etc.)? @serrinnewow

Thoughts on alternate skins from Overwatch? Are they goofy fun or just weirdly out of tone with the lore? (NOTE: I'm talking about, e.g., Pirate Torbjorn, not the culturally-appropriative skins, which are a whole separate discussion) @The_Doc_Webb

You both are very active on social media. How do you balance social media against all of the other things that you do? @MustyHobbit

As two women dating men who game, do you play cooperatively often or do your gaming and romantic lives run parallel? @alatinolawyer

What’s your favourite swear word? @CartridgeBros
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.
Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 16 min
July 11, 2016F*ckboy Murder Simulator (Episode 8)
This week we invited Dia Lacina to dish about our favourite murder simulator and overall great scary game, Until Dawn.
Our main segment has spoilers for the game Until Dawn, and there are minor spoilers for Game of Thrones, Dragon Age Inquisition and Orange is the New Black in our first segment.
What we've been doing 01:41:00
Pam - @jasyla_
Guested on Character Reveal Podcast

Hand of Fate

Dragon Age Inquisiton

XCOM2

Orange is the New Black

The Girl With All the Gifts
Dia - @dialacina
Final Fantasy XIV

Shadowrun Returns: Dragonfall

Enterprise

Game of Thrones

Friends at the Table S2
Kaleri - @kaleri_
Critical Role

Orange is the New Black
Until Dawn 00:36:00
Characters

Teen horror genre

How it compares to other horror games

How much choice is there, really?

The Wendigo Myth & use of totem imagery
Listener Questions 01:35:00
Do we forgive hero Mike for being past person Garbage Mike? @ckunzelman

Do you want a sequel? If so what would you want to see the sequel do, story- or gameplay-wise? @CrossChopChris
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.
Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 45 min
June 27, 2016The Empire Needs to Get a New Schtick (Episode 7)
Today we're talking about Star Wars! Our main segment has spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Also we talk Game of Thrones s6ep9 spoilers between 33:27 and 37:44
Today's topics:
Guest intro 00:00:36
We start with a brief introduction to our guest, Tzufit. You can find her on Twitter and listen to her podcast, Pop Culture Coven.
What we've been doing 00:02:13
Tzufit - @soetzufit
80 Days

Overwatch

Prison Architect

Lost

Friends at the Table
Riley - @Kaleri_
Hearthstone

Critical Role

Game of Thrones

Running the Game
Pam - @jasyla_, Cannot be Tamed
Dragon Age Inquisition

State of Decay

Overwatch

Goosebumps

Pony Island

Mad Max: Fury Road

Game of Thrones
Star Wars 00:37:50
Original trilogy

Prequels

The Force Awakens

Rey

Kylo Ren

Too close to A New Hope?

What will happen next episode?

Finn and Poe
Listener Questions 1:20:30
Yub Nub: Glad it’s gone or bring it back? @Collectorcast

Is Star Wars political? Or does its Hero’s Arc merely require political strawmen that align with dark vs light side? @aLatinoLawyer

Living Force or Unifying Force, and why? @The_Doc_Webb

Did Clone Wars redeem the prequel era? @The_Doc_Webb

Which is your favorite Star Wars game, and why? @The_Doc_Webb

What’s your favourite Old Republic class? @orkchop

How do romances compare to other Bioware games? @orkchop

Favourite KOTOR (or KOTOR 2) party member? @MustyHobbit
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.
Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 46 min
June 13, 2016The Real Question is; Who would you romance? (Episode 6)
This week it's just Pam and Riley talking about X-Men and what they've been up to lately.
What we've been up to (00:01:01)
Pam - (@jasyla_)
Dragon Age: Inquisition

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Darkest Dungeon

Firefly
Riley - (@kaleri_)
Overwatch

Hearthstone

Bo Burnham's comedy special: Make Happy

Warcraft
X-Men: Apocalypse (00:32:05)
Apocalypse: Silliest villain ever?

Does Magneto really need another origin story?

Quicksilver!

Jean Grey

Middle-aged male superheroes
Listener questions (00:59:09)
Who is better, Charles Xavier or Jean Luc Picard? - @TheDonovanViper

Do you feel that Days of Future Past was part of hitting a big reset button on the X-Men universe? - @angryCDNdecepticon

Do you read X-Men comics, or any comics? And if so, what's your favourite? @Duke0619 (Retro Nonsense)

If you could have one of the X-Men's powers which would you choose? @Buried_on_Mars

(Hypothetically) BioWare has just secured rights to make an X-Men game. Party of 3, who would you bring to the fight? - @MustyHobbit
Listener questions (not about X-Men) (01:09:03)
As I'm largely a 'retro gamer' these days, part of what I love about the hobby is hearing people's origin stories. What are some of your nostalgic memories in gaming and how have they helped establish your gaming habits today? - Paul "Catridge Canuck"

Just curious about the equipment you use to record? - Keno/@lifespiller79

If you could bring any one Game of Thrones character back to life, which would it be and why? @StevenEidher
If you’ve got any feedback, questions, people or topics you’d like to hear on future episodes of the show, you can reach out at [email protected] or on Twitter @_MediaMavens. If you like the show, please give us a review on iTunes or Stitcher.
Music: Vivacity by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1 hr 22 min

About Media Mavens

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This is Media Mavens with Pam and Riley - a biweekly podcast where we discuss our favourite, or not so favourite, movies, shows and video games.

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