Minigame: Bite-Sized Video Game Stories

Over nearly 30 years, the Metal Gear series has changed how they use music to tell their stories. In this episode, Michael goes over every major entry in the series to see how they use music in their unique ways. Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame: https://pod.link/1468424336 Follow Minigame on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MinigamePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BioWare are masters at telling stories in videogames and in this episode, Michael goes over how music plays a role in their storytelling process.Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame: https://pod.link/1468424336Follow Minigame on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MinigamePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This season on Minigame, Michael is setting out to explore how music plays a central role in video game storytelling. In this episode, he looks at how theme music for characters like Master Chief and Sephiroth can tell us so much about these iconic heroes and villains.Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less.Follow Minigame on Twitter: @minigamepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This season on Minigame, Michael is setting out to explore how music plays a central role in video game storytelling. From the sci-fi soundtrack of Mass Effect inspired by films from the 60s and 70s to the bombastic score of Assassin's Creed, he'll unpack the many ways music can tell stories in our favorite games.Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame: https://pod.link/1468424336Follow Minigame on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MinigamePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CyberPunk 2077 has already been the target of many criticisms, mostly related to technical issues and other design problems. But what about the game's story. Unfortunately, despite the game's marketing, the game only loosely falls into the cyberpunk genre.Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame wherever you listen to podcasts and follow Minigame on Twitter.Visit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastMichael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheelWebsite: loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's understandable to want videogames to avoid political discussion, but since games are art, politics are inevitable. Despite their apolitical exterior, simulation games like Sim City are full of political messages.Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame wherever you listen to podcasts and follow Minigame on Twitter.Visit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastMichael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheelWebsite: loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most RPG's allow you to create your character based only on their stats, but what if there was a game in which you create a personality? Disco Elysium is that game. In this episode, @farristhewheel takes a look at Disco Elysium's character creator and explains why it's far more compelling than most other character creators.Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame wherever you listen to podcasts and follow Minigame on Twitter.Visit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastMichael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheelWebsite: loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conner Rush of Fyre Games joins us to discuss game development, becoming an overnight success on TikTok, and his new game Summerland. Summerland is available for free on Steam and itch.io Conner's Social Media: fyregames.com twitter.com/fyregamesreal tiktok.com/@treasuremanMinigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris.  Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame wherever you listen to podcasts and follow Minigame on Twitter.Visit Lore Party: Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcast Michael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheel Website: loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stories of Halo and Destiny can be confusing. In this episode of Minigame, Michael (@farristhewheel) tries to unpack not just the stories of these two series, but the overall role of lore in a games’ story.Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame wherever you listen to podcasts and follow Minigame on Twitter.The Complete Story of Destiny! From origins to Shadowkeep [Timeline and Lore explained] by “My name is Byf” on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mbDXvDNqTUVisit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastMichael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheelWebsite: loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s easy to get burned out by the size of many open world games. Especially if it’s just for show. The Hitman series is a prime example of how smaller worlds can feel huge and present opportunities for new ways players can create their own stories. Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame wherever you listen to podcasts and follow Minigame on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Last Express is a game all about running against the clock in a period of history that feels like is running out of time. In this episode of Minigame, Michael explores the role that time plays in this mystery-adventure game that just so happens to be his favorite game of all time. Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Subscribe to Minigame wherever you listen to podcasts and follow Minigame on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In The Outer Worlds everything has a cost. From womb to tomb, your life is dictated by the big business in town. But does this fantasy world have roots in reality?MINIGAME is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel).Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less.Visit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastWebsite: loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Skyrim is undoubtedly one of the most played games of all time, but in this episode, Michael goes on an adventure through the series' third entry, Morrowind, and despite the archaic presentation, has a more meaningful quest.MINIGAME is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel).Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less.Visit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastWebsite: loreparty.comMusic Attribution:Adventure by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Nowhere Land by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out Gom Jabbar in your favorite podcasting app and let’s explore the universe of the classic Sci-Fi series, Dune Follow Gom Jabbar on your favorite podcast platform: https://link.chtbl.com/lpm-gj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A health scare causes Mike to go into quarantine. While there, he rediscovers the comfort and power that video games can provide.MINIGAME is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel).Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less.Visit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastWebsite: loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Death Stranding is an odd game full of mystery and intrigue. However it also shows that sometimes it is the mundane aspects of life that makes things feel the most comfortable in times of need.MINIGAME is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel).Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less.Visit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastWebsite: loreparty.comB - Somber Ballads by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributionlicense (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All that stuff around you is not just junk, it’s the story of your life. In this episode of MINIGAME, Michael explores the game One Night Stand and learns more about a mysterious companion by using the stuff in her bedroom.Second Nature by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Artist: http://audionautix.com/MINIGAME is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel). Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less.Visit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastWebsite: loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Until Dawn is full of gore and kills, the storytelling itself is the scariest part of the game. MINIGAME is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel). Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less.Visit Lore Party:Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcastWebsite: loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Rise of Skywalker just down the corner, @farristhewheel takes a look at Star Wars games of the past to see where the series has gone right and wrong.Minigame is a bite-sized dive into why we love video game stories. Twice a month, Michael Farris explores how video games are more powerful and more meaningful than ever. These are the stories that stay with us long after the galaxy is saved and the final boss is defeated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode originally aired on September 10, 2018It’s one thing to read about the Syrian refugee crisis in an article, or to see it on TV. But only a video game like Bury me, my Love could make the tragedy feel so real.MINIGAME is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel). Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or central ideas of our favorite games in 10 minutes or less. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices