Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the American version, and to a lesser extent the British and Australian versions, of this reality game show that originated in 2021 in the Netherlands, based on the party game Mafia (aka Werewolf), plus Survivor-like challenges and a gothic tone. How does such a simple (stupid?) concept end up creating compelling TV? Are we cruel for … [Read more...] about PMP#171: The Traitors – A Multi-National Reality Game Show Phenom
Live-Action Gaming
PMP#108: Board Game Ideology
As board games are becoming increasingly popular with adults, we ask: What's the relationship between a board game's mechanics and its narrative? Does the "message" of a board game matter? Mark is joined by game designer Tommy Maranges, educator Michelle Parrinello-Cason, and ex-philosopher Al Baker to talk about re-skinning games, designing player experiences, play styles, … [Read more...] about PMP#108: Board Game Ideology
PMP#96: Modernizing D&D w/ Amanda McLoughlin (Join the Party)
What's the current status of table-top role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons in pop culture? Thanks to D&D's recent depiction in Stranger Things and the enormous popularity of fantasy properties like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings, interest in elves and magic and such is no longer fodder for Satanic panic, but the idea of actively pretending to be a character … [Read more...] about PMP#96: Modernizing D&D w/ Amanda McLoughlin (Join the Party)
PMP#34: Escape Rooms and Other Puzzlers w/ Adal Rifai
The comic and the tragic are well-established modes within entertainment, but what about the puzzling? Riddles may have been a chief pastime in days of yore (well, they're featured in Oedipus and The Hobbit, anyway), but does this way of being entertained have a place in today's age of mass media? Improviser and podcaster Adal Rifai joins Mark, Erica, and Brian to discuss … [Read more...] about PMP#34: Escape Rooms and Other Puzzlers w/ Adal Rifai