Lore Party: A Video Game Lore Podcast
By Lore Party Podcast Network
Lore Party: A Video Game Lore PodcastAug 29, 2018
POKÉMON: When Humans Play Arceus
Bruce, Lawerence, and Maya explore the legend of the all-powerful deity Arceus, a mythical creature said to have created the entire Pokémon universe. But it's not the only one responsible for creating Pokémon and reshaping reality...
This is an EASY level episode, which means you will be able to follow the discussion even if you haven’t played the game. Expect spoilers.
Listen to all of our Pokémon episodes here.
MINIGAME: The Politics of 'The Sims' and 'Rollercoaster Tycoon'
Every game is political. Simulation games like The Sims and Rollercoaster Tycoon are clear examples: there is no way to "win" these games, but there are definitely "right" and "wrong" ways to play. Michael explores how the perspectives and worldviews of its creators seep into every game, no matter how apolitical it may seem.
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.
DESTINY: The Tragic History of The Fallen
Conner and Kevin explore the tragic history of The Fallen, from their Golden Age to their fall during the Whirlwind and their eventual abandonment by the Traveler. What happens to a once-powerful race when its god deserts them?
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Listen to all of our Destiny episodes here.
SPIDER-MAN: Miles Morales' Identity Makes Him a Different Kind of Superhero
Bruce and Lawerence explore how Miles Morales' multicultural identity makes him a different (and maybe "better") Spider-Man than Peter Parker. Miles and Peter approach being superheroes in very different ways because of their race, communities, and origin stories.
This is an EASY level episode, which means you will be able to follow the discussion even if you haven’t played the game. Expect spoilers.
Listen to all of our Spider-Man episodes here.
FIRE EMBLEM: The Feminists of Fódlan
Anna and Marnie explore how the women of Fire Emblem find different ways to be feminists in the patriarchal society of Fódlan. Ingrid and Dorothea may seem ideologically opposed at first glance, but both are reclaiming their power in a man's world.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Listen to all of our Fire Emblem episodes here.
STAR WARS: How To Correctly Deploy Your Squadrons
Conner and Jaden strap into their cockpits and critique the ill-advised tactics in Star Wars: Squadrons. Both Vanguard and Titan Squadron desperately need to do their homework and study iconic space battles in Star Wars canon.
This is an EASY level episode, which means you will be able to follow the discussion even if you haven’t played the game. Expect spoilers.
Listen to all of our Star Wars episodes here.
MINIGAME: Creating Your Brain in 'Disco Elysium'
Most roleplaying games let you create a character based only on stats like strength and dexterity. But what if there was a game in which you create a personality? Michael explores how the unique character creator in Disco Elysium lets you do just that.
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.
DOOM: Davoth and the Origin of Hell
Bruce and Conner explore new revelations from the Ancient Gods DLC about the Dark Lord Davoth and the shocking origin of Hell. Once a paradise created by The Father, the realm quickly fell to chaos and disarray as its people strove to obtain immortality.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Listen to all of our DOOM episodes here.
FIRE EMBLEM: Lady Rhea Is a Cult Leader
Anna and Marnie explore the deeply concerning practices of the Church of Seiros, from rewriting history to punishing nonbelievers without mercy. From her seat of power, Lady Rhea operates not only as a religious figurehead but as a cult leader.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Listen to all of our Fire Emblem episodes here.
THE LAST OF US: Ellie's Redemption [Part 2]
Lawerence and Leo continue their exploration of Ellie's life in this comprehensive deep-dive. Ever since his decision at the end of the first game, Joel and Ellie's relationship has been complicated. But before she's able to forgive him, she has to first learn to forgive herself.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Listen to all of our The Last of Us episodes here.
THE LAST OF US: Ellie's Redemption [Part 1]
Lawerence and Leo explore Ellie in this comprehensive deep-dive of her life. From her early trauma as a child to her harrowing journey in the first game, Ellie's life has been dictated by the choices of other people. In The Last of Us Part II, she finally takes back control.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Listen to all of our The Last of Us episodes here.
MINIGAME: How a Teen Developer Used TikTok To Make a Video Game
Michael is joined by Conner Rush of Fyre Games to discuss being a solo game developer, leveraging a viral TikTok video to find voice actors, and his hit new game Summerland. Summerland is available for free on Steam and itch.io.
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.
DESTINY: Clovis Bray's Obsession and the Origins of the Exos
Conner and Kevin explore the life of Clovis Bray, a narcissistic genius whose discoveries changed the galaxy forever. Do his selfish intentions tarnish his incredible creations, and can we disconnect the flawed inventor from his inventions?
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Listen to all of our Destiny episodes here.
CYBERPUNK WEEK: The Red Strings Club
CYBERPUNK WEEK: Deus Ex
Conner and Michael explore the core issue at the heart of the Deus Ex games: do augmentations make you less human, and what does it mean to be human in a society divided and controlled by technology?
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
CYBERPUNK WEEK: VA-11 Hall-A
Caleb and Lawerence are joined by Stephen from Geek Elite Media to serve up some drinks and explore the themes of corruption, robotic sentience, and human augmentation in the world of Sukeban Games' hit indie game.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Welcome To Cyberpunk Week
December 7-11 is Cyberpunk Week here at the Lore Party Podcast Network! We'll be releasing daily cyberpunk-related videos and episodes all week in anticipation of Cyberpunk 2077.
End of Season 7
Wow, it's the end of Season 7 already. Podcasts grow up so fast! Season 8 starts soon.
Original music by Lk.
Getting Inside Spider-Man's Head With Yuri Lowenthal
Lawerence and Kevin are joined by actor Yuri Lowenthal to peel back the layers of Peter Parker's trauma and explore the tough lessons he learned from his friends and enemies. Yuri has voiced iconic characters across hundreds of TV shows, films, and video games. He plays Peter Parker in Insomniac's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales games.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Listen to all of our Spider-Man episodes here.
MINIGAME: Halo, Destiny, and the Role of Lore
Having a complete understanding of the lore in Bungie's most popular franchises requires a heavy investment from the player. Michael explores how the universes of Halo and Destiny are vast, but just playing the games is not enough to comprehend them fully.
The Complete Story of Destiny! From origins to Shadowkeep [Timeline and Lore explained] by “My name is Byf” on Youtube
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.
DOOM: Subverting Western Mythology
SPIDER-MAN: The Origins of Miles Morales
Lawerence and Abu are joined by Alex from the Comic Book Club podcast to explore how the comic books and video games take two very different approaches to the origins of Miles Morales.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
INFAMOUS: Kessler's Self-Loathing
Conner and Lawerence explore the motivations behind Kessler's crackpot plan to train Cole MacGrath. The iconic Infamous villain was actually a tragic character driven by feelings of self-loathing and the guilt of his own failures.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
MINIGAME: The Vastness of a Small Open World in 'Hitman'
It's easy to get burned out by the size of many open-world games, especially when those worlds feel empty. The Hitman series is a prime example of how smaller worlds can feel huge and present new opportunites for players to 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.
ASSASSIN'S CREED: Jacob Frye Would've Been a Great Templar
Bruce and Kevin discuss the questionable decisions Jacob Frye makes in Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and explore why his issues with his father make him act out in ways that seem more Templar than Assassin.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
SPIDER-MAN: Crawling Through the Spiderverse
Lawerence is joined by Dan from the Amazing Spider-Talk podcast to jump through the Spiderverse and untangle the relationship between Peter Parker and one of his most iconic villains, Dr. Otto Octavius.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
DOOM: For the Greater Good
Bruce and Conner explore how multiple characters in the series believe in the utilitarian view that the ends justify the means, making the story of Doom a cautionary tale against overlooking atrocities in the name of the greater good.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
MINIGAME: Time Flies in 'The Last Express'
The Last Express is a game all about racing against the clock during a period of history that feels like it's running out of 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.
BATTLE CHEF BRIGADE: The Responsibilities of a Perfect Military
Bhavya and Caleb explore the many responsibilities of the soldiers in the Battle Chef Brigade, from cooking to fighting to research. A world faced with a unique challenge was forced to build a unique force to fight it, but at what cost?
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Doomguy is related to B.J. Blazkowicz and Commander Keen
In this bonus clip, Ty from the In The Keep podcast joins Bruce and Conner to explore the interconnected universe of id Software’s franchises, including the theory that Doomguy is descended from B.J. Blazkowicz and Commander Keen.
DOOM: How Fans Helped Build the Lore
Bruce and Conner are joined by Ty from the In The Keep podcast to untangle the messy and inconsistent lore of the Doom franchise. The series was never meant to have deep lore, but a passionate fanbase took it upon themselves to flesh out a lot of the world and backstory.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
SPIDER-MAN: Osborn vs Octavius
Lawerence and Conner explore the long and complicated relationship between Norman Osborn and Dr. Otto Octavius, two brilliant scientists who brought out the best and worst in each other.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
MINIGAME: Do You Own Your Humanity in 'The Outer Worlds'?
In The Outer Worlds, everything has a cost. From womb to tomb, your life is dictated by the big business in town. In this episode, Michael explores how this dystopian sci-fi world actually has roots in reality.
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.
INFAMOUS: The Irony of Brooke Augustine
Conner and Lawerence explore how Brooke Augustine's manipulative and hardline policies as the director of the Department of Unified Protection might actually be her way of trying to help her fellow Conduits.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
COFFEE TALK: Safe Spaces and Everyday Heroes
Bhavya and Caleb are joined by Michael from the Minigame podcast to explore how Coffee Talk uses its mundane barista gameplay to create safe spaces for difficult conversations.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
MINIGAME: Why Morrowind Is More Rewarding Than Skyrim
Skyrim is undoubtedly one of the most played games of all time. But in this episode, Michael revisits the third entry in the franchise and finds that his time spent in Morrowind was much more rewarding.
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.
Music by Alexander Nakarda used under creative commons attribution.
SPIDER-MAN: When a Cop and Billionaire Cross the Line
Lawerence and Abu explore why Martin Li and Yuri Watanabe became evil. Yuri is a cop with a strong sense of justice and Martin is a self-made billionaire running a massive homeless shelter. What pushed them toward murder and violence?
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
DOOM: Slaying a Broken System
Bruce and Conner explore how the Slayer in Doom Eternal disrupted the endless cycle of violence and cooperation between Heaven and Hell by simply getting caught in the middle.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
Introducing Gom Jabbar: A Dune Podcast
We're so excited to finally unveil our newest podcast! Join Abu and Leo every other Friday as they explore the vast lore of the Dune universe on Gom Jabbar. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: https://anchor.fm/gom-jabbar
Follow us on Twitter and visit our site to learn more about the Lore Party Podcast Network.
End of Season 6
Like Community, we don't have a movie deal yet. Unlike Community, we aren't canceled. Season 7 starts soon.
Original music by Lk.
MINIGAME: The Comfort of Gaming in Quarantine
A coronavirus-related health scare causes Michael to quarantine himself for two weeks. In his self-imposed isolation, he plays everything from DOOM to Coffee Talk and rediscovers the comfort that video games can provide.
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.
ZELDA: When Link Leaves Hyrule
Lawerence and Neil are joined by David from Another Zelda Podcast to explore the few times a Zelda game takes place outside the Kingdom of Hyrule. It's been 19 years since Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons released, and they're still some of the most unique and interesting Zelda games.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
BORDERLANDS: In Defense of Troy and Tyreen Calypso
Caleb and Conner make the case for why the divisive Calypso twins don't deserve the hate they received from many fans. Troy and Tyreen are amazing villains once you understand their history and motivations.
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
STAR WARS: Delta Squad's Individuality
Conner, Lawerence, and Jaden revisit Star Wars Republic Commando and explore how the unique personalities of each clone soldier in Delta Squad make them such an effective team.
This is an EASY level episode, which means you will be able to follow the discussion even if you haven’t played the game. Expect spoilers.
POKÉMON: Ukulele Pichu and Other Lost Pokémon
BORDERLANDS: The Lucky Legend of Typhon DeLeon
Caleb and Conner explore the legacy of Borderland's first vault hunter and debate whether his legend lives up to the hype.
They discuss Typhon's early life as a turd farmer on Pandora (1:48), the lucky way his iconic career kicks off (4:34), and whether he's a fortunate fool or a mastermind playing a bit (14:35).
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
We're playing Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing the wrong way
Abu and Leo discuss the irony of Stardew Valley, where they left their corporate jobs to live the life of a rural farmer but inevitably spent the entire game chasing profits. Games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing are meant to be played at a leisurely pace, without any real objectives. Yet here we are, grinding away the hours to become the richest, have the most stuff, and be the best.
STARDEW VALLEY: The Dark Side of the Valley
Abu and Leo explore the shockingly dark lives of 5 characters in Stardew Valley, and the ways in which the game tackles some heavy themes.
They discuss the heartbreak of Clint's romantic life (4:37), Marnie and Mayor Lewis' abusive relationship (8:50), the tragedy of Pam's addiction (19:48), and the beautiful message of friendship and community that ties all of their stories together (26:55).
Spotify playlist of all our Stardew Valley episodes: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tJGdZpb7QEqfaLMoSE7Bx?si=b181bf21fa5441c0
This is an EXPERT level episode, which means some parts of the discussion may not make sense unless you’ve played the game. Expect lots of spoilers.
POKÉMON: The Myths of Legendary Pokémon
Bruce and Lawerence explore how legendary Pokémon affect human society.
They discuss what makes legendary Pokémon different (1:10), how their myths are twisted by groups like Team Magma (10:25), and the types of maniacs who think they can actually capture and control the power of a legendary Pokémon (16:10).
This is an EASY level episode, which means you will be able to follow the discussion even if you haven’t played the game. Expect spoilers.
Send us your Witcher questions
Abu and Brett are doing a mailbag episode on Wind's Howling, so ask us your burning questions about the Witcher show and also our favorite ice cream flavors! Tweet at us or slide into our DMs on Twitter or Instagram. You can also submit your questions to lorepartypodcast@gmail.com.