We launch a possible new segment called Item Bags! Where we gather ideas for various ideas we have regarding the industry, genre, and freeform discussion. Less research and more chatter. Let us know what you think on our discord! Link below: Skill Up interview with Yoshi P Games Discussed: Dark Cloud (more mentioned tbh) Dragon's Dogma 2 (and 1 technically) Cyberpunk Rogue Nethack Skyrim FF1, 2, 7, 16 CoD MW2 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 ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

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 ---------------------------- 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

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 ---------------------------- 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

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 ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

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 ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

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 ---------------------------- 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

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. ---------------------------- 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

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! ---------------------------- 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

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. ---------------------------- 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

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. ---------------------------- 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

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. ---------------------------- 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

Join us on our inaugural episode of Use Your Items! 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.   Francisco and Jason discuss FF7 and the idea of the podcast. ---------------------------- 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