Theology Gaming Podcast: Recent Episodes
Theology Gaming
Visit http://theologygaming.com. Theology Gaming's official Podcast. We discuss video games, Christianity, personal experience, theology...and whatever the heck else comes up in our minds.
The Theology Gaming Podcast returns! Find out why we took a long hiatus, the renewed focus of the group on Facebook, and maybe some video game talk!
What can we say? We like talking about Dark Souls! Zach, Josh, Joe (first-timer), and Brandon talk a whole lot about it, and that is a pretty good summary.
We return with our Game of the Year 2016 Podcast! Join Zach, Brandon, and Joe as they talk about Uncharted 4, Dark Souls III, DooM (2016), Hitman, Final Fantasy XV, Guilty Gear Xrd: Revelator, and the Nintendo Switch!
Zach and Brandon play HOTS and talk at the same time! So yeah, feel free to listen in either format!
Why do I like Symphony of the Night more than Super Metroid? What blasphemy! Listen to my miserable pile of secrets as I regale you about my weird preferences!
Let's talk about discernment and discerning content in video games! Simple, but complex...
So...yeah. Zach, Brandon, and Ted go in without a topic, and end up with one of the longest, most rambling podcasts we've ever done. We're entitled to something every once and a while, right?
You know...I think we should have a podcast about Dark Souls III as well, right? Zach and Brandon talk about the game on Monday of its release week, before either of us had played it. Now, you can see whether our predictions came true or not!
Zach, Brandon, and new guest Jon Rendall ask themselves a whole lot of questions about virtual reality!
Zach, Brandon, Nelson (from Video Games and the Bible) and Eric Anderson (of Nerd Chapel) join us to talk about the grey markets of video games - used games, Steam keys, and the like!
A lot of rambling with Zach, Brandon Z, and Shawn Key of Christian-Gaming.com! Also, a pretty long discussion about Bayonetta and Dark Souls, their world, and their mythology.
Let's talk about being super uncomfortable with things! Zach and Brandon Z (or BrandonBall Z, which seems more accurate) ramble on about a bunch of stuff!
Zach and Ted talk about games they bought this year, and whether they played them or not!
Zach and Andrew Crawford return for yet another shopping podcast! We go through the list of this year's holiday season games, and see what sticks! Game included are Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Fallout 4, and more!
What of the Entertainment Software Review Board? Zach, Ted, and Michael Morejon (of Geeks Under Grace) talk about the ESRB is good or bad!
V HAS COME TO! Listen to us talk about Metal Gear Solid V, spoiling all of the things! Zach and Josh go for broke and talk about everything in The Phantom Pain, from mechanics to story spoilers! Spoilers begin at the 30 minute mark approximately!
What's player agency, anyway? Let's disagree on opinions of concepts with Zach and Josh! Topics include Call of Duty, John Price, SOMA, Vin Diesel body-shaming, Metal Gear Solid V, hamburgers, planning, Wittgenstein, pie, video game trailers, etc...
Yay! Ted Loring returns from a long absence to talk with Zach and Josh about...well, video games. Lots of MGSV and Dropsy talk!
Arcade games are dead...or are they? Zach and Roberto talk about how fighting games and arcade gaming is doing in the year of 2015!
Let's talk about Yasumi Matsuno's wonderful strategy RPG...and possibly a lot about the use and abuse of history!
Let's talk about emotions! Or, more specifically, analyzing them correctly and acting on them in the right way.
Let's talk about sin and video games! Zach, Josh, and Bryan try to figure a way through the vast, swampy morass of sinful stuff.
On this podcast, Zach, Bryan, and Josh (The TheoBroGameTrio) talk about things. A lot of things. But we mostly talk about TGU community stuff!
Mega Man is awesome...but not always for the reasons you might think. Those reasons tend to be myriad and complicated, ranging from a child-like art style to great game design. Maybe games shouldn't grow up.
Video games cost money. How do we use money wisely without letting money control us? Zach, Justin, Ted, Clauson, and Yann Wong talk about it! Also, a constant echo persists throughout (apologies in advance!).
So yeah, E3 was interesting this year. Zach, Cody, and Roberto talk way too much about it!
Cody, Justin, Ted, and Zach talk a whole lot about a ton of topics (but especially Justin talking about his new theological ideas). That includes praying.
Cody Kolbinske, Zach, Roberto, Ted, and Justin talk about all sorts of things! Lots of things! Possibly Fallout 4 maybe!
WARNING: This content is for adults only, and contains adult subject matter and language. You have been warned. What do theology and Conker's Bad Fur Day have to do with each other? Hopefully this Monologue will help!
So, about The Witcher III: Wild Hunt...how much sex is really in this thing? How about sex in video games in general? So what should Christians do about it? Zach, Ted, Bryan, and Justin talk about it!
Francis Chan makes a tweet about childish things, some of us get up in arms, and some of us don't. Course, we talk about actual video games along the way as well! Guests include Ted, Elijah, and Justin Fox (of ReElise infamy).
With the recent Kojima/Konami controversy, is this the end for a once-beloved video game company? Roberto, David, Elijah, and Justin have a rambling conversation about it!
Elijah is mad about Star Wars Battlefront and its trailer of useless information. Zach and Ted help him work through his issues!
Zach, Jonathan, Ted, Roberto, and Bryan talk about healthy game time. When is it unhealthy to play video games, and vice versa?
Roberto Iraheta, Nathan, and Zach plumb the depth of the sea and solve a mystery that has plagued our generation for years: what in the blue blazes IS an Infinity Mijinion?! We also talk a whole lot about Bloodborne and Mega Man!
M. Joshua Cauller returns to host! Zach, Ted, and Elijah talk about Holy Week and the exciting developments in the video game ministry sector!
We start one place and end in another. Isn't that always the way? Zach, Bryan, Elijah, Ted, and Jonathan talk about magic, magical powers, their implications, and the importance of relationships.
We talk about a lot of things...also about bad decisions we made in our lives, including free to play purchases and butterfly vomit! Topics range from VR technology to Minecraft to who know what.
Zach, Ted, Elijah, and Prince David Doherty talk about inaccessible games, and how they can be more accessible without compromising their depth.
Zach, Ted, Elijah, Jonathan Clauson, and Eric Anderson talk about lots of stuff! Specifically, games you thought you were going to hate that you love, and whether or not evil in games is actually done well.
Nathan Marchand writes about Batman and the police, and makes Fifty Shades of Grey videos. Trolls from all corners of the Internet attacked him for white privilege and called him various names. So let's talk about it!
Artistry in Games invades Theology Gaming's podcast! Oh no! This has to be the biggest, most rambly podcast ever.
Zach, Ted, Elijah, and Bryan talk about the worst games they've played (which mostly come down to expectation, but hey, who's counting?). Then we go on super tangents for most of the podcast! Topics include Assassin's Creed, Lord of the Rings, and Thief.
Zach and Nathan Marchand discuss: what is cheapness? How do we determine what's fair and unfair in single-player and multiplayer games?
If you get the accounting joke in the title, you are a nerd. Zach reunites with Ted Loring, and Elijah Beahm + Michael Jones come along for the ride! Topics include retro games, Hotline Miami 2, and skiing accidents!
So why do you play games you've played before? It's strange, but people who play video games really like to replay games. Why do we do that? Nathan Marchand, Bryan Hall, and Zach talk about this, and more!
Elijah Beam (of Artistry in Games) and Cody Kolbinskie (of Truths in All Gaming) talk about all manner of things! Gaming included!
The question "Do you play video games?" was much easier 20 years ago! With such variety and difference in video games, how does one answer that anymore? In this podcast, Zach, Josh, and Nelson from Video Games and the Bible discuss this and stuff!
Theology Gaming talks about a smattering of its awards for Best of 2014! Zach, Josh, and Bryan try to condense things into an hour, and mostly succeed.
Zachery Oliver and Michael Justin Jones talk about Christmas. A lot about Christmas, both historically, personally, and theologically!
Video games, even in their short life span, influenced lots of entertainment media in positive, and negative, ways. Let's take a look at it with Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel and Nathan Marchand, nerd writer! Lots of nerds on this one!
So we talk in dichotomies this week - worship songs conveying meaning through musical progression and how games can convey meaning via mechanics - mechanical theming, in other words. They are similar, yet different!
Listen to me gush about The Wonderful 101 for about 30 minutes straight. So yeah, it's fun and you should own it.
Here is Theology Gaming's official Christmas Holiday Shopping Hype-o-meter podcast! We give our opinions on games we have and have not played, and somehow this constitutes a well-informed opinion!
So let's talk about forgiveness in video games! Zach, Josh, Ted, Jonathan, Matt, and Nelson (of Video Games and the Bible fame) talk things!
Zach, Eric of Nerd Chapel, Matthew Eyler (some dude) and Jonathan Clauson talk about what we're playing, gaming habits, screaming children, and violent sneezes.
What else can we say? A controversial character buttressed by one of the finest (if not THE finest) character action game combat in existence, Bayonetta abounds in endless joy, dumb reference, and self-awareness. Find out why Zach likes it a whole lot!
Zach, Josh, and Jon(athan Clauson) talk about the most dreaded of all anti-Christian/possibly Christian holidays, Halloween!
Zach, Michael, and Johnathan talk about a whole lot of things. Many things. And our favorite games! Topics include, end times prophecy, Bible movies, adventure games, dialogue trees and miscellaneous rambling about video games.
First up, I figured my recent Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay overview would do wonders in monologue format, so here you go. Comments, feedback, and the like are much appreciated!
Thomas Henshell, director and developer of Archmage Rises, talks about Archmage Rises! How does a great concept turn into a game? We find out! Is it a Christian game, and what inspired it?
Zach, Josh, Ted, and Jonathan R. Clauson talk about mature things and pigeons. Topics include Destiny, Akiba's Trip, Diablo III, Dragon's Crown, Roundabout, Gang Beasts, Lethal League, Hatoful Boyfriend, and I don't know, maybe pigeons.
The Holy Spirit is a complicated, confusing subject with a lot of varying opinions as to its existence, effects, and efficacy (hurray for alliteration!). Zach and Michael go from history lessons to charismatic ideas to how we disagree and agree.e
Episode 50! We made it! Sort of! Topics include eschatology, Heaven, Revelation, Paradise, and a whole lot of other timely stuff (Destiny being the most notable). Maybe PSP-related things, as well as SRPG recommendations!
Zach, Andrew Crawford, Thomas Henshell, and GameChurch City Mayor April-Lyn Caouette talk about time management. Will it be slow or fast paced? Topics include Diablo III, Doritos, Peter Jackson, The Abyss, a theology of leisure and work, Minecraft,, etc.
Zach, Michael Jones, Eric Anderson, Justin Fox (and his wife Lauren), and Matt Eyler talk about why they play games, and Anita Sarkeesian. Confused? So was I, but we come up with things on the fly, like the Lightning Round!
So why are a bunch of Christians dudes playing Diablo? Find out! Topics range from Diablo's lore to Lars von Trier, for some reason!
Zach, Josh, Ted, and Johnathan R. Clauson talk about lots of things, but mostly video games. And tangents, because that's a podcast in general. What else would you expect? We talk a little about the "Being a 'Gamer'" article, among other things!
Ever have a conversation, and then things go in a completely different direction you didn't anticipate, but turned into something fascinating regardless? That happened to Zachery Oliver, Matt Eyler, Thomas Henshell, and Michael Jones!
Zach, Ted, and Josh talk about how they got into video games, and how that affected their faith, or spiritual formation. Sounds boring? Well, you'd be wrong! Topics go all over the place, from Bayonetta to Bally Astrocades!
Zach and Michael Jones, the Guidance Counselor Pastor Person (?) talk about Puzzle and Dragons. Also, lots of rambling! And eating sounds! Topics include Puzzle and Dragons (duh), Dynasty Warriors, Smash Bros., Kingdom Hearts, and other stuff.
Video games are fun. Let's talk about play and playing video games theologically! WELCOME TO THE FUNCAST. Topics include a whole lot of stuff we're playing. Listen!
A pompous sounding title for a down-to-earth discussion. Join Zach and Eric Anderson as we talk about how Christians should approach media from non-Christian sources and also how to deal with faith in general when seen in different contexts.
Sure, why not? Eschatology is always fun...or incendiary...or everyone gets angry at each other! Not so here though. Listen to Zach, Ted, and Josh talk about it!
Zach and Justin talk about how the intergenerational gap between Church members is cause for concern, and possibly how to fix it in this (obviously, considering our focus here) important pop culture arena.
Theodicy and the problem of evil have been problematic and debatable issues in the Christian tradition for centuries. See us try to comprehend it within the span of an hour...mostly with success. Michael Jones, Eric Anderson, and Andrew Crawford star!
E3: The Home of Trailers! E3: Everything Comes Out Next Year! So let's talk about hype for things that don't exist yet and other such stuff.
Zach, Michael Justin Jones (Theology Gaming University's Guidance Conselor...sorta) and Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel talk about the concept of "fandoms", or pop mythologies. Why do people get into these things so much? Also a ton of Dr. Who spoilers!
As I drone on and on about the Souls series, somebody finally wants to play it due to my incessant pleading: Ted Loring! So we had a Soul to Soul talk! Topics include Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Dark Souls II, lore, and other stuff.
Ted talks about the missions and rains in Africa! Or maybe it has something to do with the Toto song, who knows? Also some talk of Xbox One and Dark Souls II
A new series for us! We just about theology this time. Michael Jones wanted to know about atonement theory, so that's what we talked about!
Zach, Jonathan Clauson, Eric Anderson, Andrew Crawford and fashionably late Guidance Counselor Pastor Person Michael Jones talk about identity! Also Josh Cauller gets name-dropped a few times for some reason!
Zach and Justin talk about obscure game that we've played that we want other people to play. Or, really, we just ramble on about a bunch of stuff. Valkyrie Profile and Bushido Blade feature rather prominently, along with Square-Enix!
Listen to us ramble on about the Resurrection cogently, and subsequently fail to talk about video games in relation to it! Or maybe we did better than we thought?
We FINALLY get a second one of these out! Spoilers up to Magus' Castle, so fair warning on that. Justin Fox join Zach and Bryan for the Chrono Trigger stuff! Spoilers up to Magus' Castle if you haven't gone there yet, so fair warning!
We talk about exploration as a concept, experiencing new ways of seeing the same truths in Christianity and in video games. Ted's story from Senegal also makes its way here!
Satanic attacks for video game developers? How to determine which video games are appropriate for Christians to play? Facebook buy Oculus Rift? Video gaming and discipleship?
Healing's such a regular part of video games, but we don't often think of it as we play. What if we did, though, and suddenly broke out of our normal habit? This podcast would result. Topics include cessationism, continualism, and vidya games!
Bryan Hall has never played Chrono Trigger in its entirety. We intend to change that! Inspired by GameChurch's playthrough, we've decided to do our own. We talking about the battle system, whip-smart pacing, "fun", and plot up to The End of Time
Today, Zach, Justin, Pat, and new guest Ian Rosser talk about fighting games from a billion different angles, and also shamelessly self-promote our various projects and stuff we are doing! Topics include Tee Church, rapping, and fighting game knowledge!
Suffering remains an essential topic in Christian circles. So how can we apply video games to it? Topics include Soundshapes, Game Gear, Sega Master System, Chrono Trigger, The Last of Us, The Banner Saga, Shin Megami Tensei, NieR, The Shivah, and others.
Learn about competitive gaming with Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel and Richard Terrell of the Critical Gaming blog (and developer of BariBariBall). Topics vary from Smash Bros. to board games competitions to bobsledding - yes, bobsledding.
Zach and Josh, alone in the wilderness, talk about a variety of topics from the controversy surrounding Ken Levine to why Olympic video games are so bad. Includes talk of the State of Theology Gaming, Savant: Ascent, Sang-Froid, and tug of war.
What is Christian Art? How can video games fit into this? How do you make them accurate and genuine vehicles for the Gospel while also being pretty good video games? Zach, Josh, Justin Fox and Michael Uzdavines discuss these issues in-depth.
What motivates you to play video games? Zach, Ted, and Josh discuss how we play games and, perhaps, come to some differing conclusions regarding our own motivations. Talk includes creation debates, indie games, etc. Apologies for the audio problems!
Preterism is a Christian view that interprets Biblical prophecies as events which already happened. So guess our topic this week? Achievements! And Mass Effect rumors! And possibly Nintendo stuff if we ever get to it.
Phew! Long title. Due to extenuating circumstances, Zach and Ted talk about game collecting, classic literature from the last millenium, and Yann Wong joins us to talk about Sleeping Dogs. This is a weird, weird podcast.
Bryan Hall's gotta a grudge with indie games. So does Zachery Oliver, to a degree. So let's talk (or virtual hug) it out. Topics range from the definition of "indie games" to what we like and hate about them in equal measure, to complete tangents.
You've read a review before, right? Ever hear of a game being "addicting"? Video games compel you to play them, and this compulsion makes them the perfect haven for addiction. So how can Christians respond to game addiction?
Today, I'm talking with Michael Uzdavines of Saved Games, Inc. and their latest game project, Heroes of Issachar. Described as a castle-building sim plus an action RPG, it's a rather ambitious project for two developers. That's why they have Kickstarter!
TG Sessions are one-on-one conversations. We pick three topics, we riff on them. Joshua Cauller and Bryan Hall talk about depressing games, moral agency, and growing. Music tracks by Brian Boyko (contact at Brian.Boyko@netqos.com)
Jacob Toman, gaming missionary and affiliate with Gospel And Gaming talks to Theology Gaming (why does the word gaming appear so often in this sentence) about his thoughts, his methodology, and the passion he has for reaching a new demographic.
Immaturity? Never! Topics include Minecraft and moral agency,The Last of Us, Uncharted, NBA 2k14, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, biking, The Virginia Creeper, Fire Emblem: Awakening, and Bayonetta. Send questions at submissions@theologygaming.com!
So we talk about The Wind Waker. And some other stuff. But lots of Zelda. M. Joshua Cauller and Ted Loring both join me for stuff ranging from Cauller's Game Cell ministry to DmC: Devil May Cry! And retro games in the middle somewhere.
Ryan Baker and Ryan Burrell of Pixelscopic takes the time to talk about their game in development, Delver's Drop. Topics range from Zelda to Hunt the Wumpus! Maybe some talk about Christianity in there too.
A strange podcast that bounces all over the place! No surprise with us. Zach, Josh, Ted, and Justin Fox (of ReElise fame/infamy) talk about Shelter, Diablo III, Guacamelee, DOTA2, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, and Ridge Racer. Also, much talk of churros.
Eric Anderson gets the interview treatment for his own ministry, Nerd Chapel. Topics range from board game culture, Pogs, Risk, Settlers of Catan, Ameritrash, comic books, natural disasters, multiple personalities, and all that crazy comics stuff!
The root subject, let's be honest, was intimacy, and how our culture lacks the ability to comprehend it in any way but through sexual relations. So let's here M. Joshua Cauller, Bryan Hall, Yann Wong, and Eric Anderson address varied topics about sex.
What does it take to make a MMORPG with an all volunteer staff and no budget? Ask Laurene Wells, the director of the Christian MMO Visions! This podcast contains a rather exhaustive discussion of Mrs. Wells' past and her ten year devotion to the project.
Given the title, you should not expect an explication of the Biblical theology of wealth! Moreover, Steam Sales don't allow for that sort of thing (kidding!) Rather, listen to Zach Oliver, Ted Loring, M. Joshua Cauller, and Bryan Hall discuss games!
Jay Tholen and Pat Gann have wonderful game ideas: Dropsy's clown adventures and Stasis Concerto's visual novel stylings Each talks about their fascinating games and tell us all about the process of Kickstarter.
Are our choices in-game a reflection of our true selves or are we just playing? Zachery Oliver, M. Joshua Cauller, and Ted Loring talk about it! Topics range from The Last of Us' hobo combat to photobombing Tim Schafer during PAX East (Cauller's fault).
M. Joshua Cauller's conversation with Richard Terrell, a developer on indie game BaraBariBall and proprietor of the Critical Gaming Network/blog. Topics range the gamut from Terrell's life experiences to his approach in game design and the industry.
Today, we find a bunch of dudes talking about feminism in games...and in general! As per the title, some sensitive material (both relating to gender, race, and otherwise) gets talked about rather freely, so fair warning.
We just talk about video games this time around. Talking about what our menagerie of writers decided to play in recent weeks, as well as some light mocking of Xbox One (TV!)
Joe David Soliz, PR Manager at Dinosaur Entertainment, give us the lowdown on their game MechKnight Chronicles as well as his influences, his experiences at various workplaces and cons, and a lot of talk of the Holy Spirit.
Justin Fox tells us about his Christian RPG ReElise, a fascinating project of Biblical proportions (or maybe that's just hyperbole). Get into the theological workings of his mind and the mechanics of the game (and his favorite games).
Zachery Oliver wakes up far before he ever should to talk about PAX East with fellow attendee M. Joshua Cauller and Ted Loring (our question-asker). Topics range from evangelism to experiences talking to developers to the overwhelming nature of it all!
Dan "Echo" Burch knows his business. A longtime journalist, now producer at Mugen Studios, here him talk about the cost of promotion, how not to do things, and the travails of entrepreneurship and making games...the dark side, if you will!
Reuniting childhood friends is always a delight, Zach talks with Joe Mazzaglia and Ryan Egnet about a wide variety of topics, from our own childhood memories to the artistic qualities of video games like The Last of Us, Journey, Braid, and Devil May Cry!
So I made Joshua Cauller buy the game...then I talked about the game on a day he wasn't around. In the interest of fairness, here is that discussion just for you fans! We talk about all sorts of things, from the Chaldean language to Darren Aronofsky.
Our objective was to talk about El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron and its relation to the actual book of Enoch.What Zach, Ted, and Joe talked about instead was a variety of stuff, from the new Tomb Raider to canonicity to Jesus kissing people (huh?)
Zach, Josh, Joe, Patrick Gann, and Alex (Zach's brother) talk much of Mega Man 2, game mechanics, the concept of "cheap", difficulty and challenge, and the theological import of it all -namely, the idea that maybe life is constructed with particular rules
Surprise: a lot of talk about thatgamecompany's Journey along with criticisms and applications. Starring Wild Man Ted, Joshua Cauller, and Yann Wong (from Singapore)! Also, lots of indie game talk (Antichamber, Miasmata).
Zach, Joe, and Wild Man Ted talk about Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Wii U, the THQ bankruptcy, Patch the Pirate, cyborg bodies (with theology, somehow), and hilariously intricate nonsensical Japanese titles!
My friend Joe and I talk about random things - mostly as a test. All video game talk, folks! And some stuff about academia too!