This past Sunday, for the first time since before the pandemic, I had the opportunity to share a panel with attendees of PAX East! Demakes Decoded: From HD to 8-Bit In an age of HD remasters, demakes buck the trend by reimagining a modern game for a more primitive console. Ever wanted to play Silent Hill 2 on the NES, Disco Elysium on Game Boy, or …

Host Ken Gagne concludes eight years of Polygamer with clips and reflections from eight of his most memorable episodes. The post Polygamer #128: Reflecting on Eight Years first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

Helene Utterback discusses polyamory, why we don't see this romantic relationship modeled in video games, and how modders have closed the gap. The post Polygamer #127: Helene Utterback on polyamory first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Aenne Schumann, narrative designer of the Arcade Spirits visual novels, about social justice, ADHD, and FMV games. The post Polygamer #126: Aenne Schumann of Arcade Spirits first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

Game to Grow is a non-profit that promotes the therapeutic, educational, and community growth benefits of gaming. With structured online sessions of Dungeons & Dragons and Minecraft, as well as their own tabletop game called Critical Core, Game to Grow teaches gamers of all ages and to become more confident, creative, and socially capable. In […] T…

Cyndi Wiley is the Digital Accessibility Lead for Iowa State University’s Digital Accessibility Lab. Equipped with everything from screenreaders to Xbox consoles, the Lab helps students and faculty create, advocate for, and consume media that is accessible to users of all different abilities. In this interview, Cyndi and I chat about how disability…

Honey P. Rosenbloom is the executive director of Friendship Garden, a founding member of the Alphabet Workers Union, and an accomplished indie game developer. The post Polygamer #123: Honey P. Rosenbloom of Friendship Garden first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

A podcast interview with Allison Holt, a Webby-award-winning web developer who's worked at such video game companies as Turbine, Harmonix & 38 Studios. The post Polygamer #122: Web developer Allison Holt first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

Arthur Inasi has spent the last 15 years at Harmonix, developer of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band rhythm games, working as a sound designer, level designer, voice actor, mocap actor, and more. As creative lead of Dance Central VR, he oversaw the series’ reboot for Oculus virtual reality headsets. His side hustles include producing […] The post Polyg…

After years as a Dungeons & Dragons player, Sabriel Mastin stepped behind the DM screen to run her own campaign. She immediately loved it, creating her own adventures in the world of Eberron. With that experience under her belt, she realized she could help other DMs with their own creations as well. She now offers […] The post Polygamer #120: Sabri…

Bonnie Gordon is an actor, voice actor, and musician extraordinaire. Having previously been a Starfleet ensign at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas, she now voices the ship’s computer on the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. And as part of the Library Bards musical comedy duo, she sings pop culture songs rewritten with nerdy […] The post Pol…

Chel Wong is a Boston-based video game composter and sound designer. As a freelancer, she has worked on such titles as the music puzzler Kine, the Starfox-inspired Whisker Squadron, and the surreal adventure RPG She Dreams Elsewhere. Not only has she also helped run the Game Audio Boston group, but as a freelancer, she invests […] The post Polygame…

Dr. Lindsey Migliore, also known as GamerDoc, is a licensed esports physician. While hiking the Appalachian Trail, she realized that only by abandoning her original goal of becoming an NFL team doctor could she combine her passions for medicine and video games. She now works with esports athletes to maintain and improve their health; and, […] The p…

Beth Daggert has been a game designer, software engineer, lead programmer, director of engineering, and vice president of engineering, within and without the gaming industry. Having worked on such historic franchises as Lode Runner and Star Wars, she recently accomplished a bucket-list item of contributing to the development of an Ultima-inspired r…

Brianna Dym is a Ph.D student in the University of Colorado Boulder’s information science department under Dr. Casey Fiesler. Brianna’s field of study is fanworks: the original creations, derivations, and reimaginings of existing brands and media, from movies to video games. LGBTQIA+ authors engage in this creative component of fandom to produce or…

Dr. Melissa Chaplin is the head of client strategy at Game If You Are, a UK-based marketing firm helping indie video games get the attention they deserve. When not writing press releases, editing trailers, and landing podcast spots for upcoming developers, Melissa is busily building community. She’s the founder of Games Industry Lunch Club, a […] T…

Maia Weinstock is the creator of LEGO Women of NASA, a kit she proposed on the LEGO Ideas site that won approval to be made into a real product. Now she’s pitching the Women of Computing, a set that pays homage to Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, and other women who were instrumental in the early […] The post Polygamer #113: Maia Weinstock of LEGO Women…

Kate Olguin knew that finishing her undergraduate career and searching for a job would be difficult; she did not expect a pandemic to make it even harder. Fortunately, armed with a degree in interactive media and game design from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Kate landed as a game designer at Other Ocean Interactive, where she currently […] The …

Ivy Dolamore is an artist, cryptid, and unschooler. The product of a curriculum-free homeschooling education, Ivy quit her job at GameStop to become a full-time artist, supported by commissions, Patreon, and an extensive social media following. Her creations span a variety of art styles and media, including prints, jewelry, and Diamond Art. In this…

Amanda Pegg-Wheat is a children’s librarian and branch manager in Quincy, Massachusetts. In addition to books, movies, video games, and Internet access, Amanda offers her patrons another service: Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. As the DM, she guides young adventurers through the fantasy world of Theros — even when the pandemic keeps them from gatheri…

Dianna Lora is an account manager at Massive Entertainment, the Ubisoft studio working on the next Star Wars video game. She is an accomplished multimedia maven, having written reviews, produced videos, and edited podcasts for such outlets as Sony, DualShockers, and GoodgameTV. Now, from her new home in Sweden, Dianna manages corporate relationship…

A podcast interview with Dr. Rachel Kowert -- gamer, psychologist, author, research director at Take This, and host of the YouTube channel Psychgeist. The post Polygamer #108: Dr. Rachel Kowert of Psychgeist first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Kelsey Lewin, the co-director of the Video Game History Foundation and co-owner of Pink Gorilla retail stores in Seattle, Washington. The post Polygamer #107: Kelsey Lewin of Video Game History Foundation & Pink Gorilla Games first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

A podcast interview with Courtney Garcia, who uses media psychology to analyze video games and how they can help us develop our emotional intelligence. The post Polygamer #106: Courtney Garcia of Screen Therapy first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

Dr. T.L. Taylor of MIT is the author of 'Watch Me Play'. We talk about Twitch, esports, online play, teaching during a pandemic, and amusement parks. The post Polygamer #105: T.L. Taylor on Twitch streaming first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Creatrix Tiara, a Melbourne-based shenaniganist using stage magic & video games to advocate for immigration reform. The post Polygamer #104: Creatrix Tiara first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

An audio podcast interview with Jordan Jones-Brewster, narrative designer of the video game We should talk. The post Polygamer #103: Jordan Jones-Brewster of We should talk. first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Jason Oda of Waking, a game that uses the player's personal memories as weapons in the fight to awaken from a coma. The post Polygamer #102: Jason Oda of Waking first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

How do we hold onto our identity as gamers after becoming parents and find time for our favorite hobby? Ken Gagne talks with parents on this PAX East panel. The post Polygamer #101: Gaming After Kids at PAX East 2020 first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

Ken Gagne's podcast interview with Sarah Elmaleh, voice actor from video games Gone Home, Gears of War 5, Final Fantasy XV & co-founder of GameDev.World. The post Polygamer #100: Voice actor Sarah Elmaleh first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Dr. Dana Plank, a ludomusicologist devoted to the study of video game music and audio. The post Polygamer #99: Ludomusicologist Dr. Dana Plank first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

Nic Tompkins-Hughes talks about being a gamer parent, raising neuroatypical children on the rainbow spectrum, and transitioning themselves. The post Polygamer #98: Nic Tompkins-Hughes first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Dr. Carly Kocurek, who's crowdfunding issue #2 of Save Point zine on Kickstarter while studying the Games for Girls movement. The post Polygamer #97: Dr. Carly Kocurek of Save Point & Games for Girls first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

A podcast interview with the founder & creative director of APWOT, an independent magazine inspired by video games, about the Kickstarter for its second issue. The post Polygamer #96: Caspian Whistler of A Profound Waste of Time first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

A podcast interview with Dr. Jessica Hebert, placentologist & nerd musician with the PDX Broadsides, about nerd music, touring, Rosalind Franklin & placentas. The post Polygamer #95: Dr. Jessica Hebert of the PDX Broadsides first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

A podcast interview with Jeri Ellsworth, CEO of Tilt Five, about her successful Kickstarter to produce a mixed reality gaming headset to succeed castAR. The post Polygamer #94: Jeri Ellsworth of Tilt Five first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Dr. Aurit Lazerus, a gamer with a clinical practice who uses video & board games to incorporate playfulness into daily life. The post Polygamer #93: Dr. Aurit Lazerus on playfulness first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Bobbi Sand of Transcenders Media, developer and publisher of Knife Sisters, a BDSM visual novel released for Steam in April 2019. The post Polygamer #92: Bobbi A Sand of Transcenders Media first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

A podcast interview with Alicia Caillier, product manager at Harmonix, developer of Dance Central for Oculus. The post Polygamer #91: Alicia Caillier of Harmonix Music Systems first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

An audio podcast interview with Athena Peters, the founder and co-owner of Adventure Pub, a gaming gastropub located outside Boston in Arlington, Massachusetts. The post Polygamer #90: Athena Z Peters of Adventure Pub first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

SlyTQ is a variety Twitch streamer who hosts charity streams for Take This. We podcast about avoiding creative burnout and emotional support animals. The post Polygamer #89: Twitch variety streamer SlyTQ first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A PAX East 2019 panel, moderated by Ken Gagne, featuring independent artists who create arts and crafts inspired by video games. The post Polygamer #88: The Art of Craft at PAX East 2019 first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

The tenth annual PAX East was held last month, and I was honored to host two panels of brilliant speakers. One, “The Art of Craft: Inspiring Game Creations”, can be seen and heard on the Polygamer podcast. The other was “The Return of Couch Play”, looking at offline multiplayer as an alternative to online games such as Fortnite, PUBG, and Tetris 99…

Tifa Robles is a freelance writer whose first book, the young-adult fantasy novel The Explorers of Azullucent, is currently on Kickstarter. The post Polygamer #87: Tifa Robles and The Explorers of Azullucent first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Geneviève "Eve" Leblanc is the community manager and QA tester for Clever Endeavor Games, developer of Ultimate Chicken Horse. The post Polygamer #86: Eve Leblanc of Clever Endeavour Games first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

Shannon Symonds is a curator at the Strong Museum of Play, home to the International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG). The post Polygamer #85: Shannon Symonds of The Strong Museum of Play first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Meagan Marie of Crystal Dynamics, author of Women in Gaming: 100 Professionals of Play, a book of profiles and interviews. The post Polygamer #84: Meagan Marie, author of “Women in Gaming” first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

A podcast interview with Bahiyya Khan, the developer of after HOURS, a full-motion video (FMV) game about sexual assault & borderline personality disorder (BPD). The post Polygamer #83: Bahiyya Khan of after HOURS first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…

A podcast interview with Stacy and Mari of YouTube channel GeekRemix, in which the two women Let's Play and analyze mainstream and indie video games. The post Polygamer #82: Geek Remix’s Stacy & Mari first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.By Ken Gagne of Gamebits

A podcast interview with Cynthia Lowen, the director and producer of Netizens, a documentary that exposes the proliferation of gendered, online harassment faced by women, including Anita Sarkeesian. The post Polygamer #81: Cynthia Lowen, director of NETIZENS first appeared on Polygamer - A Podcast of Equality & Diversity in Gaming & Video Games.…