Scandalous Games

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. We've covered the early history of college sports and the creation of the NCAA. Now we look at how college football became a multi-billion dollar enterprise thanks in no small part to the mad scramble for TV money.

Topics discussed include: Penn fools around and finds out, the fraught territory of ladder sponsorships, and a whole lot of talk about mayonnaise. 

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ)

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Be sure to also check out Andy and Phil's new podcast where they re-watch the 1990s animated series Beast Wars: Transformers, called So...We Were Talking About Beast Wars, wherever you get your podcasts!

Also, a slight correction: Washington State's team name is the Cougars, not the Wildcats.

Hooray for our 50th episode! Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. It's the start of the college football season in America, and we are weeks into the launch of EA Sports College Football 25, the first American college sports video game in 11 years. With that in mind, we start a deep dive into why it took so long to get a new college football game, taking a look at the history of college sports as a multi-billion dollar empire. In our first part, we examine the impact of college sports and go all the way back to their 19th century origins.

Topics discussed include: Summoning Clippy with eldritch rituals, Philly sports radio call-in guys, the 19th century equivalent of performance enhancing drugs, and the incredibly dangerous flying wedge.

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ)

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com. 

Be sure to also check out Andy and Phil's new podcast where they re-watch the 1990s animated series Beast Wars: Transformers, called So...We Were Talking About Beast Wars, wherever you get your podcasts!

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Phil Thomas, and Kate Lynch.

We're still in the midst of Scandalous Games Summer as Kevin prepares for another exciting series of video game related controversies, so we're kicking back with another syncable audio commentary. This time, join us we talk through the 2020 Paul W.S. Anderson film adaptation of the popular Capcom monster hunting franchise, Monster Hunter (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6475714/).

To sync the movie, queue up the film to 00:00:10 and wait for the countdown. If you want to cut through the intro where Kevin offers some history behind the movie and get right to the commentary, head to 00:10:27 in the recording. 

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) 

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends, but this month we're celebrating the start of our third year and the end of our 14-part (!!!) series on Dave Grossman with something we're calling "Scandalous Games Summer," a set of syncable commentary tracks while we recharge and prep for some new stories.

This month, we're watching and commenting on the 1994 live action Street Fighter movie (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111301/). So join Kevin Impellizeri, Kate Lynch, Andy Hunter, and Ryan Weaver as we celebrate the summer and have a good laugh.

There have been a bunch of fun histories written on this movie. Here are a few Kevin mentions during the commentary:
Luke Owen, Lights, Camera, Game Over! : How Video Game Movies Get Made (Schiffer, 2017): https://schifferbooks.com/products/lights-camera-game-over
Chris Plante, "Street Fighter: The Movie -- What Went Wrong?" Polygon, March 10, 2014, https://www.polygon.com/features/2014/3/10/5451014/street-fighter-the-movie-what-went-wrong.
Keith Stuart, "'I punched him so hard he cried': inside the Street Fighter movie," The Guardian, July 16, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/jul/16/inside-street-fighter-movie-jean-claude-van-damme-kylie-minogue.

To sync the movie, queue up the film to 00:00:10 and wait for the countdown. If you want to cut through the intro where Kevin offers some history behind the movie and get right to the commentary, head to 00:10:55 in the recording.

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) 

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Kate Lynch, and Phil Thomas. At long last, we have finally made it to the final episode in our extremely deep dive into the self-proclaimed "killologist" Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. In our thrilling (troubling?) conclusion, we close the book on arguably the most influential figure in the violent video games discussion by examining the violent media moral crusader/police trainer within the context of the larger atmosphere of America's increasingly militarized police.

Content Warning: Police violence, including police related killings

Topics discussed include:  Some possible explanations why police walk around in riot gear when they patrol the local farmer's market, corporate sponsored cops, Kevin is missing out on In-N-Out Burger,  Dave's possible kinks, the infuriating merch Dave sells on his online store, and a potentially fun way you can help spread the word about Dave Grossman.

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) 

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends:  Kate Lynch, and Phil Thomas. This time around, we finally start wrapping up our deep dive into Dave by learning about his career as a police trainer and the kinds of totally healthy and not dangerously upsetting messages he shares with America's law enforcement communities, school officials, and anyone else willing to pay him thousands of dollars.

Content warning: discussion of violence throughout. Brief mention of suicide (39:50-39:58, 40:48-40:52).

Topics discussed include: The state of Dave's underwear after a long tour pushing "killology," suicide bio bombers rushing across the border (?), the debate over gun control in Helldivers II, and the group shares some innovative classroom management techniques.

To check out the Bulletproof Warrior handout unveiled by Unicorn Riot in 2018, see: Niko Georgiades, "Bulletproof Warrior Training Manual Released," Unicorn Riot, May 25, 2018, https://unicornriot.ninja/2018/bulletproof-warrior-training-manual-released/.

For more on the ways the media paints a favorable view of police in America and downplays  systemic issues in law enforcement, check out: the Skip Intro series "Copaganda:" https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2ac8vr2QyTdlWwd8OQIc1it6bAfMGPPC&si=0wan2mGA9fkDooP4.

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) 

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Kate Lynch, and Phil Thomas. We continue looking at what Dave has been up to over the past decade and how the self-proclaimed killologist may be putting out more work into violent video games, quantity still doesn't equal quantity. Plus, what does it mean when a guy who thinks Bible says it's OK to kill every now and then also says the video game industry is warping kids minds?

Topics discussed include:  Kevin shows his privilege when it comes to handling explosives at the airport, the gang dissects that lost scene from Jaws, and we finally get to the bottom of whether we really eat eight spiders in our sleep. Plus, some more rounds of Pokémon or Prescription Drug?

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) 

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter, Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. We leave the quirky little town of Harvest to continue our look into the self-proclaimed "killologist" Dave Grossman. This time around, we start looking at what Dave has been up to on the violent video games train in the last decade or so, and we take some time to think about the "why" of Dave.

Topics discussed include:  Scandalous Games is officially a Pulitzer Prize nominated show (for real); Dave really wants you to buy his sheepdog branded coffee; is Dave maybe too into violence, and a skinless nightmare Christ. Plus, Andy tests whether we can tell the difference between Pokémon and prescription drugs.

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) 

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.  

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends. This time, we wrap up Harvester with an interview with Aarno Malin, host of "The Harvester Show" and the Harvester Facebook page. Aarno graciously shared his experiences as a Harvester superfan and we discuss the process of tracking down people involved with the game, and he shares his thoughts on what might have kept the Harvester from joining the pantheon of controversial 90s video games.

Be sure to check out Aarno Malin's channels for tons of inside information on Harvester, including interviews with the people who made it, promotional materials, and the game's script!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lodgelevel4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LodgeLevel4
You can also follow/reach out to Aarno via Twitter/X (@AarnoMalin) and Instagram (@aarno.malin.official).

For more on Burnhouse Lane, developed by Harvester Games, where Aarno plays a character, check out the game's Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1846460/Burnhouse_Lane/.

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) 

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.     

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Andy Hunter and Kate Lynch.  Today, it's the thrilling conclusion to our look into the over-the-top PC game Harvester  (DigiFX, Merit Studios, 1996). We warp up by examining how its creators attempted to market Harvester, its reception (or lack thereof), and its surprising resurgence over the past decade.

Topics discussed include: Harvester's creators desperately try to find someone who will get mad at their game, what did Postal get right that Harvester didn't, a definitely respectful memorial to the late Joe Lieberman, and an exciting announcement.

Be sure to check out Aarno Malin's channels for tons of inside information on Harvester, including interviews with the people who made it, promotional materials, and the game's script!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lodgelevel4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LodgeLevel4
Also, check out Kevin's interview with Aarno on the feed on April 16!

Theme Music: Occam's Sikhwee by Sikh Knowledge (Free Music Archive: https://bit.ly/33G4sLO), used under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US (https://bit.ly/33JXogQ) 

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.