Headshots: Psychology + Gaming

#44: Fortnite is huge. Everybody is playing it. But why? We discuss some of the reasons why we think people love Fortnite and compare it to other phenomenons like GTA5, Minecraft, and Pokémon GO. *This episode includes an advertisement for Gamefly. If you use the link geektherapy.com/gamefly, Geek Therapy may receive compensation. (Affiliate Disclosure) — Visit us […] The post The Fortnite Phenomenon appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#43: Josué and Lara played A Way Out, directed by Josef Fares.  They had a lot of fun but Josué really disliked how it made him feel at one point because he disagreed so strongly with the choices he was given. Join us for a spoiler full discussion of A Way Out. *This episode includes an advertisement […] The post A Way Out appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#42: This episode of Headshots is actually episode #130 of another show on the Geek Therapy Network called GT Radio where talk about all the ways and reasons why we love co-op games. What are your favorite co-op gaming memories? *Consider subscribing to Geek Therapy on Twitch. For instructions on how to subscribe for free using Amazon […] The post The Joys of Co-Op Gaming appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#41: Kelli and Josué take a look at One Hour One Life, “a multiplayer survival game of parenting and civilization building” created by Jason Rohrer. We think it’s a unique game that we want to keep revisiting for many different reasons. *Consider subscribing to Geek Therapy on Twitch. For instructions on how to subscribe for free using Amazon Prime […] The post One Hour One Life appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#40: The future of location-based games looks very bright now that Google has made its Maps API available to game developers. Josué and Kelli pitch ideas for new games based on some of their favorite properties. *Consider becoming a member of Geek Therapy on Patreon. For more information visit patreon.com/geektherapy. Notes: TaleBlazer – http://bit.ly/2GeQ5nf Headshots #19 – How […] The post What’s the Next Pokémon GO? appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#39: Some games are just better than others at conveying emotions through gameplay. We played the mobile game Florence and were floored by its ability to make you feel something through game mechanics. We talk about other games as well this week but Florence takes center stage. *Check out GT Radio, the original Geek Therapy […] The post Play to Feel appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#38: Josué is really enjoying Monster Hunter: World. He thinks it may be the quest for mastery in the game that has made this one of the most fun gaming experiences he’s had in a very long time. Josué and Kelli try to explain and find a name for what he’s experiencing. *Check out GT Radio, […] The post Mastery Hunter appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#37: Celeste’s Assist Mode got us thinking about “easy mode” in other games and why we don’t see them more often. Also, how is mocking players who choose an easier difficulty a good idea? *This episode includes an advertisement for Humble Monthly. If you use the link geektherapy.com/humblemonthly Geek Therapy may receive compensation. (Affiliate Disclosure) […] The post Easy Mode? appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#36: We discuss some of the mental health issues that streamers face by looking at the toll streaming can take on them and also what happens when viewers come to a stream for support and advice. *This episode includes a promotion for Geek Therapy on Patreon. For more information visit patreon.com/geektherapy. (Affiliate Disclosure) Notes: Geek […] The post Streaming and Mental Health appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#35: We discuss the World Health Organization’s proposed Gaming Disorder diagnosis from the beta draft of the ICD-11. *This episode includes an advertisement for Humble Monthly. If you use the link geektherapy.com/humblemonthly Geek Therapy will receive compensation. (Affiliate Disclosure) — Visit us at www.HeadshotsPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter: @HeadshotsCast @KelliNDunlap @JosueACardona Headshots is a member of the Geek Therapy Podcast […] The post Gaming Disorder (Beta) appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#34: Josué is joined by Patrick O’Connor who shares how everyone in his home is playing Super Mario Odyssey, very differently. We talk playing games as a family, how parents can be actively involved in their kids’ gaming, and how to monitor responsibly. Notes: Common Sense Media – https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ Patrick O’Connor on Twitter – @Comicspedia — Visit […] The post Super Family Odyssey appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#33: Kelli and Josué weigh in on the loot box discussion. Is everyone talking about the same thing? — Visit us at www.HeadshotsPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter: @HeadshotsCast @KelliNDunlap @JosueACardona Headshots is a member of the Geek Therapy Podcast Network. Join us on the Geek Therapy Facebook Group. Geek Therapy Discord server – www.GeekTherapy.com/discord Geek Therapy Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/GeekTherapy The post Loot Boxes appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

Content warning: This episode feature discussion of suicide and depression. #32: Josué interviews his friend Jonathan, a disabled veteran, about how video games and streaming communities saved him during a tough time. Notes: Jonathan on Mixer – https://mixer.com/Johnny7500 Jonathan on Twitter – https://twitter.com/johnny75001 Rolling for Change podcast – http://podcast.rollingforchange.com Geek Therapy Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/GeekTherapy — Visit us at www.HeadshotsPodcast.com. Follow […] The post Streaming Saved Me… Video Games Saved Me appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#31: Josué has had a pretty rough couple of months but his Switch helped him get through it. This is a quick update on what we’ve been up to and when to expect new episodes. Notes: PAX Unplugged panel – http://bit.ly/2m8kb34 In Post-Hurricane Puerto Rico, This Used Game Store Is A Welcome Escape – http://bit.ly/2iJOBUw — Visit […] The post I Love My Switch! appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#30: Kelli and Josué discuss Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, perhaps the greatest representation ever of mental health topics like psychosis. Notes: Hellblade – http://www.hellblade.com Hellblade Help – http://hellbladehelp.info — Visit us at www.HeadshotsPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter: @HeadshotsCast @KelliNDunlap @JosueACardona Headshots is a member of the Geek Therapy Podcast Network. Join us on the Geek Therapy Facebook Group. Geek Therapy Discord server […] The post Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#29: Kelli and Josué discuss what it takes to build a gaming community. Notes: GriffballHub – http://www.grifballhub.com/ Geek Therapy on Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/geektherapy Guided Games | Destiny Wiki – http://destiny.wikia.com/wiki/Guided_Games Geek Therapy Discord server – www.GeekTherapy.com/discord — Visit us at www.HeadshotsPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter: @HeadshotsCast @KelliNDunlap @JosueACardona Headshots is a member of the Geek Therapy Podcast Network. Join us on the Geek Therapy […] The post Building a Gaming Community appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#28: Josué and Lauren take a deep dive into Giant Sparrow’s What Remains of Edith Finch. Spoilers. Notes: The Villain of Edith Finch by Joseph Anderson on YouTube – http://bit.ly/2vZYVOk Lauren Keller on Twitter – @ChickenDinosaur — Visit us at www.HeadshotsPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter: @HeadshotsCast @KelliNDunlap @JosueACardona Headshots is a member of the Geek Therapy Podcast Network. Join us on the Geek […] The post What Remains of Edith Finch appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#27: Can games improve mental health in prisons? We start the conversation by discussing Waypoint’s excellent week-long feature titled “At Play in the Carceral State.” Notes: At Play in the Carceral State: A Letter from the Editor – Waypoint – http://bit.ly/2vDvFz4 Geek Therapy Discord server – www.GeekTherapy.com/disord — Visit us at www.HeadshotsPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter: @HeadshotsCast @KelliNDunlap @JosueACardona Headshots is […] The post Mental Health and Games in Prisons appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#26: Kelli and Josué have been playing a lot of Disney Emoji Blitz. A LOT. It may have to do with how “juicy” the game is, meaning that its feedback is emotionally satisfying. Notes: Disney Emoji – http://bit.ly/2tX6nY3 How to Design for the Gut (Good article on “juiciness”) – http://bit.ly/2tXazH7 — Visit us at www.HeadshotsPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter: @HeadshotsCast @KelliNDunlap @JosueACardona […] The post Disney Emoji Blitz is so juicy! appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.

#25: Rewards are a big part of why we play games so Kelli and Josué discuss a GDC 2017 presentation on reward psychology by Ben Lewis-Evans, a user experience researcher at Epic Games, that address the good and bad rewards we see in games and how they affect us. Notes: GDC Vault – Throwing Out the […] The post Reward Psychology appeared first on Headshots: The Psychology and Gaming Podcast.