Video Game Journalism 101: Storytelling (Patreon)

In this episode, we'll learn how stories became the most powerful tool on the planet to change people's minds and harden their hearts. We'll spot the invisible materials that we can use to build our own stories. And we'll examine the methods storytellers use to shape our culture, politics, emotions, and identities.

We'll also learn how to conceptualize, pitch, and plot our own stories.

And, I'll tell you about the mystery of an average man who uncovered a malicious conspiracy involving a cabal of wealthy doctors who attempted to hoard the world's supply of bread.

Reading materials:

Weiner, J. (2011, July 21). Where Do Dwarf-Eating Carp Come From? NYTimes. (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/magazine/the-brilliance-of-dwarf-fortress.html?pagewanted=all)

Parkin, S. (2012, June 11). The Rise and Collapse of Yoshinori Ono. Eurogamer.com. (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-06-11-the-rise-and-collapse-of-yoshinori-ono) 

Fagone, J. (2008, Nov. 20). The Video-Game Programmer Saving Our 21st-Century Souls. Esquire. (http://www.esquire.com/features/best-and-brightest-2008/future-of-video-game-design-1208) 

UGO Team (2011, Oct. 27). Video Game Hotties: Who's The Hottest? UGO.com. (http://www.ugo.com/games/video-game-hotties)

Plante, C. (2013, Jan. 10). Ken Levine and the Infinite Idaho. Polygon.com. (http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/1/10/3853198/ken-levine-bioshock-infinite-vgas)

Bonus materials:

The Really Big One (pulitzer.org / New Yorker)

Pain & Gain (Miami New Times)

All the President's Men (JustWatch)