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Ready to replace your 6-figure salary with real freedom? This is the podcast for high earners who feel stuck in jobs they’ve outgrown. If you’re asking, “How do I actually replace $10K–$20K/month so I can quit and never look back?” — welcome home. At Action Academy, we teach you how to buy small businesses and commercial real estate to create cash flow that actually replaces your job. Monday through Friday, you’ll learn from 7–9 figure entrepreneurs, real estate moguls, and acquisition pros who’ve done it — and show you how to do it too. Hosted by Brian Luebben (@brianluebben), who quit his 6-figure sales role in 2022 to build a global business while traveling the world. If you're a high-income earner ready to become a high-impact entrepreneur, this show is your playbook. Subscribe now and start your path to freedom — or keep pretending your job will get better someday....

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Hidden Mechanics

3 years ago 50:45

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Content provided by Stefan Heinrich Simond and Studying Pixels. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Stefan Heinrich Simond and Studying Pixels or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Some games deliberately hide certain mechanics to make player actions feel more satisfying—such as barely escaping death—or secretly track player actions to determine the ending they are going to see. In this episode we are opening some black boxes for a sneak peak!

Shownotes

Games aren’t always fair, the magic lies in making you think they are (Jennifer Scheurle)

The genius of Silent Hill 2's endings (MegaBearsFan)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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91 episodes

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Hidden Mechanics

Studying Pixels

published 3 years ago

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MP3•Episode home

Content provided by Stefan Heinrich Simond and Studying Pixels. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Stefan Heinrich Simond and Studying Pixels or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Some games deliberately hide certain mechanics to make player actions feel more satisfying—such as barely escaping death—or secretly track player actions to determine the ending they are going to see. In this episode we are opening some black boxes for a sneak peak!

Shownotes

Games aren’t always fair, the magic lies in making you think they are (Jennifer Scheurle)

The genius of Silent Hill 2's endings (MegaBearsFan)

Get Studying Pixels Plus

Website | Twitter | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

… continue reading

91 episodes

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1
Studying Pixels is taking a hiatus 10:12

2 years ago10:12

10:12

We have been podcasting diligently every week for approximately two years. Now, we decided to take a hiatus to recover a bit and organize some things in our private and professional lives. We look forward to returning, because we have got so many more episodes already planned. It's going to be fun! If you are a Studying Pixels Plus subscriber, you do not have to do anything. We will pause our Patreon campaign while we are on hiatus, so you will not be billed. If you wish to stay in the loop, please stay subscribed or join our Discord , which will also be alive and running the entire time. You are the best and we are looking forward to resume our journey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Close Playing (with Theresa Tanenbaum) 43:29

2 years ago43:29

43:29

How do we go about analyzing video games? Well, close playing is one of the most prominent methods to do so. Together with Prof. Dr. Theresa Jean Tanenbaum, we discuss what close playing means and how to pragmatically go about it. Shownotes Well read: Applying close reading techniques to gameplay experiences (Jim Bizzocchi and Theresa Tanenbaum) Hermeneutic Inquiry for Digital Games Research (Theresa Tanenbaum) https://transformativeplay.ics.uci.edu/ Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Replay: Do JRPGs Need to Be Made in Japan? 52:17

2 years ago52:17

52:17

This is a replay episode, originally aired on August 14, 2022. Technically, JRPG simply stands for Japanese Role-Playing Game. Yet, it seems like the genre ascription has taken on a life of its own. Is every RPG made in Japan automatically a JRPG? And what differentiates them from Western RPGs? Here’s our take on the matter! Shownotes Japanische Rollenspiele: Was macht ein Spiel zum JRPG? – Podcast E054 (Behind the Screens) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Final Fantasy I-III 53:17

2 years ago53:17

53:17

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster was recently released for PS4 and Nintendo Switch, and you know Dan has some thoughts about it. It’s another solo episode, this time with Dan and his theories about the Final Fantasy series, it’s origins, and how it came to be what it is today. Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Origins of publisher names (Square Enix, Sony, and others) 18:16

2 years ago18:16

18:16

We are all familiar with names such as Sony, Nintendo, Ubisoft, or Konami. But how did these names come about? In this short episode, we explore the background behind some of the most influential company names. Shownotes The Stories Behind the Names of 15 Gaming Brands You Know (Kelvon Yeezy) The History and Meaning of the Ubisoft Logo (FreeLogoDesign) What's In A Name ( 1Up.com ) Sony Company History (Sony) Interview: Former Microsoft Exec Fries Talks Xbox's Genesis (Leigh Alexander) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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The Story of E3 1:19:42

2 years ago1:19:42

1:19:42

E3 was the event that kept the entire video game industry in suspense for a whole week. It brought for bouts of joy and sighs of disappointment. Now, that E3 might be no more, we reflect upon its history. Shownotes E3 (Wikipedia) A Tale of Two E3s - Xbox vs Sony vs Sega (Christopher Dring) Geoff Keighley will not participate in E3 2020 (Christopher Dring) E3 Has Been Canceled (Rebekah Valentine) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Back to the Mainstream 57:43

2 years ago57:43

57:43

Trends, they come and go. But some peculiarities of video game culture disappeared for a while only to make a more or less major comeback. Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Tips for Neurodiverse Students and Academics 1:16:52

2 years ago1:16:52

1:16:52

We discuss the problems neurodiverse students and academics may face throughout their studies and provide a series of tips and tools. Shownotes Neurodiversity in higher education: a narrative synthesis (Clouder, L., Karakus, M., Cinotti, A. et al.) Autism spectrum disorder: reconceptualising support for neurodiverse students in higher education (Evans, D., Granson, M., Langford, D., and Hirsch, S.) 5 study tips for neurodivergent college students (Cliff Weitzman) Studying tips and tricks: a Neurodivergent perspective (Alice Farion-Renard) 6 Tips For Neurodivergent College Students Going Back To School (Jayar Brenner) Three simple ways to help your neurodivergent students succeed (William Lane) 5 ways educators can support neurodiversity in the classroom (InnerDrive) Students with disabilities (National Center for Education Statistics) Neurodiversity in College Admissions (Independent Educational Consultants Association) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Replay: Learning Japanese with Video Games (with Matt/Game Gengo) 44:29

2 years ago44:29

44:29

This is a replay episode, originally aired on January 16, 2022. Learning any language is a lengthy and, at times, tedious endeavour. So why not make the process as fun as possible? – On his YouTube channel Game Gengo (ゲーム言語) our guest, Matt, does exactly that. Because how could learning Japanese be more fun than learning with video games? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Revisiting Ludo-Narrative Dissonance 1:12:41

2 years ago1:12:41

1:12:41

Ludo-narrative dissonance occurs when a game’s story appears to be at odds with the gameplay. When The Witcher has to urgently save Ciri, but must first explore every village and cave, master a trading card game, and visit all the brothels in the realm. But can ludo-narrative dissonance also have creative merit? We discuss precisely this question, based on the article “Game of Twisted Shouting: Ludo-Narrative Dissonance Revisited” by Paweł Grabarczyk and Bo Kampmann Walther. Shownotes Grabarczyk, Paweł, and Bo Kampmann Walther. “Game of Twisted Shouting: Ludo-Narrative Dissonance Revisited.” Eludamos: Journal for Computer Game Culture, vol. 13, no. 1, Dec. 2022, pp. 7–27. Ludonarrative Dissonance in Bioshock (Clint Hocking) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Super Mario Movie, The Original 59:52

2 years ago59:52

59:52

No, you didn’t misread that. Stefan and Dan watched the original Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993 and they… have some thoughts. Was it a good film? No. Was it influential in the video game adaptation space? For better or worse, yes. Let’s see what it has to offer and what we can expect from the new movie coming out in April. Shownotes Bob Hoskins: 'The Method? Living it out? Cobblers!’ (Simon Hattenstone) Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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The Magic of Motion Capturing (with Jimmy Corvan) 38:44

2 years ago38:44

38:44

Motion capturing might look so smooth and effortless on screen but it is often the result of an intricate process. Our guest, Jimmy Corvan, can attest to that. He worked at the motion capture studio House of Moves for eleven years and shares his insights on how characters in The Last of Us , Mortal Kombat , Call of Duty and many more games (and films) were brought to life. Shownotes House of Moves: https://www.moves.com Room 8 Group: https://room8group.com Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Review Round-Up: Wo Long, Forspoken, Fire Emblem Engage, and more 1:10:36

2 years ago1:10:36

1:10:36

We’ve played so many games recently and barely had the time to squish them all into the show. So that is exactly we are doing with this episode. Here are our impression of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty , Forspoken , Fire Emblem Engage , Octopath Traveller II , and the Dead Space Remake . Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Like a Dragon: Ishin! 48:05

2 years ago48:05

48:05

Dan has played Like a Dragon: Ishin, and is very excited to share not only his thoughts, but a bit of a history lesson on the Bakumatsu period, Modern Japanese history, and the ramifications of a game that uses real history for it’s narrative. Don’t miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Replay: Terrible Marketing Choices 58:13

2 years ago58:13

58:13

This is a replay episode, originally aired on May 22, 2022. How about we advertise a new game by paying off people’s speeding tickets for one day? Or, even better, how about we showcase a dead goat for some extra PR? Or maybe we plaster the inner city with racist billboards? – Sometimes it is truly impressive what publishers come up with to draw attention to their games. We go through 10 of the arguably most terrible marketing choices ever made. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Hogwarts Legacy 1:30:02

2 years ago1:30:02

1:30:02

It is one of the biggest launches this year so far and at the same time one of the most contested one. In our review, we focus on the actual game and discuss how the magic of Hogwarts enthralled us just as much as the incessant repetition of the open world repulsed us. Visit studyingpixels.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Bizarre Gaming Gadgets 1:03:15

2 years ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Every now and then, video game companies come up with the weirdest, most peculiar, and often entirely unusable gaming gadgets and accessories. Here are our favourites! Shownotes Plus 13. Heaven is a Halfpipe: The Story of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (Studying Pixels) Title image by Marcin Wichary ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/45221968804/ ) under CC BY 2.0 license; cropped image for title fitting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Surprising Post-Games 1:02:00

2 years ago1:02:00

1:02:00

Rolling the credits usually marks the end of a game. But some titles effectively flip the script. The credits are just the beginning of another adventure. We discuss games that present us with surprising, memorable, or simply extensive post-game content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Replay: Games in the Box (with Claudius Clüver) 30:08

2 years ago30:08

30:08

This is a replay episode, originally aired on November 28, 2021. We might nostalgically look back at the beauty of game boxes and fail to realize how strongly they are linked to the economization of games. With our guest, game studies scholar Claudius Clüver, we trace how games got into the box and how, with the advent of digital distribution, they made their way back out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Reading Schrape’s Gamification and Governmentality 1:07:07

2 years ago1:07:07

1:07:07

Gamification is one of the most extensively used buzzwords these days. And rightfully so, considering that the logic of play pervades just about all domains of daily life. We discuss Niklas Schrape’s critical reflection, based on the text Gamification and Governmentality . Shownotes Schrape, Niklas: Gamification and Governmentality. In: Mathias Fuchs, Sonia Fizek, Paolo Ruffino et al. (eds.): Rethinking Gamification. Lüneburg: meson press 2014, pp. 21–45. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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The Konami Code 36:30

2 years ago36:30

36:30

U, U, D, D, L, R, L, R, B, A – an abstract sequence of inputs that is deeply ingrained into cultural memory. We explore the history of the Konami Code, with lots of fun trivia and gimmicks to try yourself! Get Studying Pixels Plus Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Shownotes The Story Of The Konami Code And Early Days Of NES Development (Aria) Nintendo Power Issue #1, July/August 1988 (Nintendo Power) What Is the Konami Code, and How Do You Use it? (Benj Edwards) Konami code explained: What is the code and which games still use it? (Joe Julians) Konami Code | Full Supported Konami Video Games List (Hanna Synetska) Konami Code (IGN) Kazuhisa Hashimoto, Creator Of Famous 'Konami Code' Gaming Cheat, Dies (Jordan Pascale) Konami posts Konami Code on Twitter to commemorate Hashimoto Even the Bank of Canada can’t resist the Konami code (Megan Farokhmanesh) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Trauma in Video Games (with Thomas Spies) 32:01

2 years ago32:01

32:01

Oh no, your family has been abducted and your village burnt to the ground! Better start a bloody vendetta…or so the story of many video games starts out. Our guest, Dr. Thomas Spies, argues in favour of more complex and differentiated trauma representations. Here’s our conversation about titles such as Max Payne, Distraint, The Last of Us, Hellblade, and Disco Elysium. Shownotes Trauma im Computerspiel. Mediale Repräsentationen mentaler Extremerfahrungen (Thomas Spies) “Making Sense in a Senseless World”: Disco Elysium’s Absurd Hero (Thomas Spies) gofundme campaign: Honorare Sammelband Kritische Videospielstudien Get Studying Pixels Plus Website | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - Reunion 1:03:06

2 years ago1:03:06

1:03:06

Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - Reunion has been out for some time now, and Dan has really sunk his teeth into a game he’s already pretty familiar with. Join him and Stefan as they talk about how the Remaster stacks up to the original, and what it means for the FFVII Franchise moving forward. Get Studying Pixels Plus Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Replay: Childhood Gaming Memories 48:28

2 years ago48:28

48:28

This is a replay episode, originally aired on January 9th, 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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10 Predictions for 2023 58:52

2 years ago58:52

58:52

Merry Christmas! As is tradition, we come together to evaluate our predictions from last year and put up a bunch of new ones for 2023. Will we be even remotely correct? – Join us to find out! Get Studying Pixels Plus Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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The Callisto Protocol 1:03:39

2 years ago1:03:39

1:03:39

Great expectations were set for The Callisto Protocol. Is it going to bring back space horror in a major way? Well, it might not, because in our review we discuss how the game is impressive at first sight, but in itself conceptually torn. Get Studying Pixels Plus Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Shownotes Plus 6. The Rise and Fall of Visceral Games (Studying Pixels) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Replay: Halloween Special: Cursed Games 1:08:49

2 years ago1:08:49

1:08:49

This is a replay episode, originally aired on October 31, 2021. “I am god here.” A strangely unsettling sentence, especially if uttered by a character in a game that might very well be cursed. For this Halloween we collect and retell our favorite gaming-related creepypastas and urban legends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Game Awards 2022 58:15

2 years ago58:15

58:15

The Game Awards have become a mainstay in the annual cycle of marketing and industry celebration. We go over our high- and lowlights of the show! Get Studying Pixels Plus Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Shownotes The Game Awards 2022 Winners: The Full List (Logan Plant) The Game Awards 2022: Everything Announced (Adam Bankhurst) That Guy Who Interrupted the End of The Game Awards Has Been Arrested (John Friscia) Jason Schreier about his interview with Matan Even God of War Ragnarok is Being Review Bombed (Dalton Cooper) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet 1:17:17

2 years ago1:17:17

1:17:17

Ah, a new Pokemon game. Scarlet and Violet have quickly shown up on our Switches and have generated some controversy around it’s performance issues. Is all the vitriol really warranted? Kind of. But! It’s also one of the best Pokemon experiences to date. Join Stefan and Dan as they break down why that is! Get Studying Pixels Plus Website | Discord | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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True Sight (with Sarah Stang) 42:40

2 years ago42:40

42:40

Seeing beyond what seems to be real, seeing a ‘truth’ obscured from others—there seems to be a proper fascination with this exclusive gaze. We explore the notion of true sight in video games such as The Cat Lady and Fran Bow with Dr. Sarah Stang, Assistant Professor of Game Studies at Brock University in Canada. Shownotes Madness as True Sight in The Cat Lady and Fran Bow (Sarah Stang) Maiden, Mother, and Crone: Abject Female Monstrosity in Roleplaying Games (Sarah Stang) This is Sarah’s website: https://smstang.com Get Studying Pixels Plus Website | Twitter | Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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