Episode 76: For Non-Gamers — Stigma

Because of their relative youth as a type of entertainment, pastime and as a form of art, video games are often relegated to lower levels of appreciation or even ridicule. In this first episode of a new series, entitled "For Non-Gamers," we want to take a hard look at the criticisms people level at video games, as well as how and why they do so. When compared to media such as television, books and movies, why are video games discarded as wasteful when they can offer more interactive, thought-provoking and complex emotional experiences? We welcome Phoebe Lewis, self-proclaimed "non-gamer," to help us unpack some of these issues. In particular, we hope listeners who are unfamiliar with gaming as a medium will pay close attention to this series and engage our discussions thoughtfully. We also hope to bridge some of the cultural gaps between gamers and non-gamers. We would also like to thank Will Quam, Tom Hoefner, Alexandra Harmes, Ivan Lescanec and Mark Webster for their written contributions.