Use Your Items!

The Shadows Lengthen in Carcosa; Signalis, Madness, and Love

This week we discuss Signalis, a surprise hit for us from rose-engine, and the meaning of meat, madness, reality, love, connection, and what it means to be human.
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
Links and notes:
The King in Yellow free online
Signalis OST
del Toro YT Video
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Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

Sidequest: Toxicity in Gaming!

Our first guest episode featuring Dr. Dillon Ludemann discussing Toxicity in Gaming! Join us for this special sidequest in the anthropology, philosophy, and design of video games.
Dr. Dillon Ludemann is a professor of anthropology with a focus on online communities at the University of South Carolina
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
Links and notes:
https://www.thegamer.com/helldivers-2-the-least-toxic-online-game-ever-played/ perception of toxicity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnOWBrY2BQs&t=0s
https://www.raisinggoodgamers.com/
Liu and Agur 2023: “‘After All, They Don’t Know Me’ Exploring the Psychological Mechanisms of Toxic Behavior in Online Games” Games and Culture 18(5)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Queen_hypothesis
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Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

Just Breathe, You Can Do This; Climbing Celeste Mountain

Episode 9 discussing Maddy Makes Games hit Celeste. We touch on accessibility, friendship, anxiety, depression, and overcoming goals.
TW/CW: Anxiety, Depression, Drinking, Gender Dysphoria, etc.
0-1hrish non-spoiler
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

The Return of the Obra ft. DPI Discourse

Episode 8 and we get into 1 bit graphic design, a bit of Said's philosophy, the correct mouse sensitivity, and the making of a mystery. All our resources are noted below.
 
Listener, a heads up from Jason: I apologize for an error I made in misremembering and labeling the royalty on board as Fujianese instead of Formosan. I was recalling my previous writings on the game and did not do enough research. I will do better in future episodes and am sorry--Jason
 
0-44 non-spoiler , non-engineering discussion
44- 51:52 engineering discussion on pixels and shaders
51:52-1:15:45 remaining non-spoiler discussion
1:15:45-2:27 SPOILER TERRITORY
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
1-bit shader tutorial
Lucas Pope's creation blog
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

Final Fantasy 6 or How I Learned to Love the Opera

Episode 7 and our longest yet. Today we spend over 3 hours tackling Final Fantasy 6. Digging into the origins of operatics, drama, rpg design, and post-modern theory; don't shy away we keep it fun!
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
0--1:58:30 Spoiler Free Section
1:58:30-3:34:15 Literally the rest of the game
Classic WGUC What Is Opera
Opera 101, the Basics
How an Opera Gets Made
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Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

Kingdom Hearts part 1: HD ReMix, Re:loaded, You Can[not] Redo

Episode 6 and we fill the gaps with our favorite compound glue, KINGDOM HEARTS! Join Fran as he leads Jason through a breakdown of the series and the first game. Some spoilers within.
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games.
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Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

Subnautica: Don't Forget to Cook Your Peepers

Episode 5 and we are diving deep into Subnautica. Complete with seamoths in inappropriate places and posters of prawns.
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games.
 
Spoiler-free 0-33:00
Full spoilers 33:00-Finish
 
Credit to the Last Bacon on Youtube for some awesome Subnautica content-check them out!
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Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

Undertale: Effervescent Determination

Episode 4 and today we tackle all Undertale, intention, and how branching paths may lead to dead ends. Spoilers ahead!
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games.
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Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

Ocarina of Time: Blow your whistle, Link!

Episode 3 and we discuss the small, indie game Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I promise we only mention Elden Ring and Super Mario 64 maybe two or three times?
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games.
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Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

Banjo-Kazooie: It’s Not Bowsette Bro

Episode 2 and we talk about the merit of finishing games, Cronenberg, and Bowsette, of course. No fan art please.
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games.
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Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke