Why is it important to have more Asian Americans working in the video game industry? How do we get there? And what do video games have to do with tabletop RPGs? Tune in to hear Nate Yelle, game designer at Iron Galaxy Studios, share his insights from nearly a decade in the industry as he talks about Pokemon nostalgia, trends in Asian American representation, and why every game developer should play tabletop RPGs.

00:01:07 — Meet Nate!
00:14:50 — The most compelling narrative game ever
00:19:00 — Asian American identities
00:27:15 — Diversity & representation at video game studios
00:41:21 — Getting more Asian Americans in the industry
00:46:06 — Why every game dev should play TTRPGs
01:03:06 — The Nice Dad GM

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Shadowrun — https://rb.gy/hsfwyz
Animal Crossing: New Horizons — https://www.animal-crossing.com/new-horizons/
Florence — https://annapurnainteractive.com/games/florence
Toejam and Earl 2 — https://rb.gy/osknzz
Overwatch — https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/
Apex Legends — https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends
Ghost of Tsushima — https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/ghost-of-tsushima/
Street Fighter II — https://rb.gy/tlax3n
NBA Live — https://www.ea.com/games/nba-live/nba-live-19
Blades in the Dark (free download TTRPG) — https://www.evilhat.com/home/blades-in-the-dark/

Other Resources
Unreal Engine — https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/
“Asian American Game Developers Are Dreaming of Their Own Minari Moment” (IGN) — https://rb.gy/arxa4t
Hideo Kojima — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideo_Kojima
Chummer (for Shadowrun 5th edition) — https://github.com/chummer5a/chummer5a

Don’t forget to check out our friends at the Quit The Build podcast!

Credits
Guest — Nate Yelle, Game Designer at Iron Galaxy Studios
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

What happens when you take a theatrical performer, introduce them to D&D, and then quarantine strikes? Naturally, they get on Twitch. Laura Tutu (she/her or they/them) is a Black streamer and podcaster with a background in theatre and burlesque. Tune in to hear about the performance side of tabletop RPGs, Laura’s character creation methods, why barbarians are Laura’s favorite class, and how you can find your people.

01:06 — Meet Laura!
09:30 — Dramatic escapism
17:45 — Characters are everything
22:46 — The role of improv in D&D
24:50 — Why player comfort is #1
32:03 — Character creation and D&D shenanigans
40:30 — Barbarians 4ever
51:00 — Find your people

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Shadowrun — https://rb.gy/hsfwyz

Other Resources
TheWorldsGuild (live play campaigns) — https://www.twitch.tv/theworldsguild
Brunches and Dragons (live podcast) — https://www.twitch.tv/starkravingmab
Critical Role — https://critrole.com/
Consent in Gaming (with a consent checklist!) — https://rb.gy/ztx4l8

Credits
Guest — Laura Tutu, https://beacons.page/lauratutu
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

There are a lot of ways to protest. If marching isn’t for you, have you ever thought about making a game? Trey Joiner is the writer/creator of an afrofuturist supplement to the Lancer RPG, entitled The Field Guide to Mfecane. Join us as he tells us about a Star Wars RPG cry session, how he aims to honor South African culture through his writing, and why we need more afrofuturist stories.

01:09 — Meet Trey!
10:40 — Star Wars cry session
14:00 — Games as protest
19:30 — Origins of the Field Guide
30:10 — What Civ 6 left out
39:00 — The problem with white liberalism
50:18 — Creating more Afro futures

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Lancer RPG — https://massif-press.itch.io/
The Field Guide to Mfecane — https://nhp-shaka.itch.io/mfecane-field-guide
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Genesys RPG — https://amzn.to/2Tvc0zh
Apex Legends — https://amzn.to/3zuskjk
Star Wars: Edge of the Empire — https://amzn.to/2RhvRRD
Star Wars: Force and Destiny — https://amzn.to/3rx3U63
Swordsfall — https://www.swordsfall.com/
Civilization VI — https://amzn.to/2WgODKX

Shaka & Mfecane Resources
The Myth of the Mfecane — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rSx98w5fH0
Zulu Rise and Mfecane (BBC) — https://rb.gy/xlqkmn
A history of Shaka Zulu — https://rb.gy/n7vkaf

Other Resources
Black Table Arts — https://www.blacktablearts.com/
Lovecraft Country — https://www.hbo.com/lovecraft-country
Pilot Net (Discord for Lancer RPG) — https://discord.gg/CXMuMkFCwS

Credits
Guest — Trey Joiner (@StationUkuwa on Twitter)
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

Like any good necromancer, host Clara Mount is here to bring a season’s worth of interview outtakes back to life. Revisit our guests and hear brand new perspectives from inside the industry, including: a behind the scenes on making video games, strategies for building diverse gaming communities, the three kinds of “fun,” a perspective on trans narratives, one thing you can learn by GMing, and some benefits of TTRPGs for neurodivergent gamers.

01:14 — Episode overview
02:15 — Anna Stavroupolos, video game ambassador
08:50 — Whitney Risner builds diverse communities
16:27 — Vivien Grimm and the 3 types of fun
30:28 — Oliver on breaking out of the box
35:27 — Missa Dawson learns flexibility
41:20 — Jazmine Betz and neurodivergent gamers

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Madden NFL Mobile — https://www.ea.com/games/madden-nfl/madden-nfl-mobile
Destiny 2 — https://www.bungie.net/
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Apocalypse World (2nd Ed) — https://rb.gy/40ojbe
Fate (RPG) — https://amzn.to/2SEckLm
Thirsty Sword Lesbians — https://amzn.to/2R6zn0V
Wanderhome — https://possumcreekgames.itch.io/wanderhome
Urban Shadows 2 — https://rb.gy/d7cakz

More Resources
Super Heroines, Etc. — https://superheroinesetc.org/
Kickstarter (Games page) — https://rb.gy/qvd94k
Indie Press — https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/
Drive Thru RPG — https://www.drivethrurpg.com/
Be-Con — https://2019.beconlarp.com/

Intercon — https://u.interconlarp.org/
Make A Scene — https://makeascenemn.org/en/
The Gaming Goat – Mason, OH — https://www.facebook.com/TGGMasonOH/

Credits
Guests — Anna Stavroupolos, Whitney Risner, Vivien Grimm, Oliver, Missa Dawson, Jazmine Betz
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Gerardo Abril

Identities are complex and multi-layered, and these layered identities contribute to gaming experiences in ways you may not even realize. Today we talk to Jazmine Betz, Associate Manager of Consumer and Market Insights at Wizards of the Coast, about intersectional identities, her experiences as a woman of color in predominantly white gaming communities, and how tabletop RPGs can offer a safe space for people of color.
To enter the merch giveaway, head over to @victormediagrp on Instagram! Enter by May 27. Winner will be announced on the air on June 1.

01:05 — Meet Jazmine!
06:10 — “The boobs are fascinating”
11:00 — What is intersectionality?
21:35 — Welcoming diverse identities
30:30 — Raising baby gamers
41:20 — D&D diversity rewrites

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Mario Kart 64 — https://amzn.to/3eSRArO
Pokemon Stadium (N64) — https://amzn.to/3bwRdBc
Wandersong — https://amzn.to/3tUxVfz
Spiritfarer — https://amzn.to/2T1UUIZ
Animal Crossing — https://amzn.to/3fs9y3G
Champions of Norrath (PS2) — https://amzn.to/3oo9GFg
Super Smash Bros — https://amzn.to/3fn7cTK
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Edge of the Empire (Star Wars RPG) — https://amzn.to/2RhvRRD

More Resources
Wizards of the Coast — https://company.wizards.com/en
Xbox Game Pass — https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass
Steam — https://store.steampowered.com/
D&D diversity rewrites — https://www.wired.com/story/dungeons-dragons-diversity/

Credits
Guest — Jazmine Betz
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

Gaming–and the communities we meet through gaming–can have a profound impact on mental health and social development. Some can even say that gaming literally saved their lives. Tune in to hear Missa Dawson, manager of the retail store The Gaming Goat in Mason, Ohio, share stories about how gaming has given her the courage to seek the help she needs, how RPGs helped her cope with social anxiety, and how Critical Role saved her life.
CW: talk of suicide and suicidal ideation.

01:14 — Meet Missa!
06:45 — Gaming is life
14:00 — First experience with true acceptance
24:43 — Coping with mental health challenges
29:32: — How Critical Role saved Missa’s life
42:39 — Fostering positive communities

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Magic: The Gathering — https://magic.wizards.com/
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh

More Resources
Critical Role — https://critrole.com/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — 800-273-8255 (available 24/7)
**Reach out to clara@victormediagroup.co if you want help finding additional mental health resources. I am here to support you however I can.

Credits
Guest — Missa Dawson
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

Tabletop RPGs offer a unique and often underappreciated opportunity to explore elements of your identity in a safe space. Tune in to hear Oliver, our favorite Canadian forever GM, talk about his early gaming experiences including “Denny’s and Dragons,” how gaming impacted his trans journey, and how we can be better allies to trans gamers.

01:15 — Meet Oliver!
09:35 — Experimental role playing
15:10 — Gaming and gender identity
29:25 — Advice for GMs
33:05 — Advice for allies in the gaming community
44:00 — Influencing the industry

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Dark Heresy RPG — https://amzn.to/3xamAef
Ragnarok Online — http://iro.ragnarokonline.com/
Celeste — https://amzn.to/3an990F
2064: Read Only Memories — https://store.steampowered.com/app/330820/2064_Read_Only_Memories/

More Resources
Roll20 — https://roll20.net/
Discord — https://discord.com/
One Punch Man — https://amzn.to/3gsa43F

Credits
Guest — Oliver
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

How can playing games help us better understand the people we interact with every day? Tune in to hear Vivien Grimm, an avid LARPer, cosplayer, and model, give us the rundown on LARP basics, provide tips for how we can best enjoy this unique type of play, and describe why play is an essential part of being human.

01:20 — Meet Vivien!
06:40 — The power of unconditional acceptance
13:50 — What is LARP?
23:20 — The LARP renaissance
33:50 — Vivien’s LARP journey
44:30 — What LARP teaches you about empathy

Games
Detroit: Become Human — https://amzn.to/3fipfvC
The Witcher 3 — https://amzn.to/3rlSvnT
New World Magischola — https://magischola.com/
Vampire: The Masquerade — https://www.oneworldofdarkness.com/explore-vampire-the-masquerade
Dystopia Rising — http://www.dystopiarisinglarp.com/

More Resources
Be-Con — https://2019.beconlarp.com/
Intercon — https://u.interconlarp.org/
Make A Scene — https://makeascenemn.org/en/
Gen Con — https://www.gencon.com/

Credits
Guest — Vivien Grimm, https://linktr.ee/Vivienxgrimm
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producer — J.B. Adams
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka