Minigame: Bite-Sized Video Game Stories: Recent Episodes

Lore Party Media

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.

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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

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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/1468424336

Follow Minigame on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MinigamePodcast

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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

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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/1468424336

Follow Minigame on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MinigamePodcast

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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 & @minigamepodcast

Michael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheel

Website: loreparty.com

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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 & @minigamepodcast
Michael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheel
Website: loreparty.com

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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 & @minigamepodcast
Michael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheel
Website: loreparty.com

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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/@treasureman

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 & @minigamepodcast
Michael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheel
Website: loreparty.com

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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=9mbDXvDNqTU
Visit Lore Party:
Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party & @minigamepodcast
Michael’s Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @farristhewheel
Website: loreparty.com

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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.

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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.

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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 & @minigamepodcast

Website: loreparty.com

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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 & @minigamepodcast
Website: loreparty.com

Music Attribution:
Adventure by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Nowhere Land by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Check out Gom Jabbar in your favorite podcasting app and let’s explore the universe of the classic Sci-Fi series, Dune

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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 & @minigamepodcast
Website: loreparty.com

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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 & @minigamepodcast
Website: loreparty.com
B - Somber Ballads by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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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 & @minigamepodcast
Website: loreparty.com

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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 & @minigamepodcast
Website: loreparty.com

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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.

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This episode originally aired on September 10, 2018
It’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.

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With Apple releasing their new gaming service, Apple Arcade, Michael takes a look at Neo Cab, one of the more unique games in the library and discovers that sometimes the most compelling stories are the ones we tell each other when the lights go out.

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Interplay and Bethesda. The two main developers of the Fallout franchise. Despite working with the same canon, the two developers handled the universe very differently. In this episode, Michael explores the franchise as a whole and the themes and story the two developers wanted to tell. 
Visit Lore Party:
Twitter & Instagram: @lore_party
Website: loreparty.com
Michael's Twitter & Instagram: @farristhewheel

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The story is whatever you make it in No Man’s Sky. Only a video game can give you the tools and the world to craft a narrative only you can. That’s why we love games.

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Mass Effect 3 disappointed many long time fans. However, in this episode, Michael discusses the final DLC and how it was the perfect ending to the Mass Effect Trilogy

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Michael Farris (@Farristhewheel) examines Metal Gear Solid V and its odd place in the franchise and gives his prediction as to what we can expect from Death Stranding.
MINIGAME is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel).  Lore Party can be found on Twitter and Instagram @Lore_Party and at loreparty.com

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In part 2 on game designer Hideo Kojima, Michael Farris (@farristhewheel) explores the campy adventures of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and the disappointing sequel: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. 
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.

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Life is Strange is a game that confronts the realities of nostalgia, and how it can be both painful and unproductive for our lives.

MINIGAME is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel).

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It’s no secret that Hideo Kojima has always had ambitions to become a film director, and it becomes even more obvious when you look at the evolution of the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Michael explores Kojima’s cinematic inspirations, and how Death Stranding is the continued evolution of Kojima’s ambitions.

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Minigame is a deep-dive into video game stories and why we love them. It's part diary, part essay and each episode will be 5 - 10 minutes long.