Bad End

Hearthstone controversy, food vs. videogame crit with Soleil Ho, MTG:A, What the Golf

Episode Summary

This week, BAD END is joined by a special guest - San Francisco Chronicle food critic Soleil Ho (@hooleil). As a fellow *gamer*, Soleil talks to us about the parallels between food and videogame consumption and criticism, her love for Harvest Moon, and the importance of evaluating games and food in their social contexts. After that, we discuss the international controversy surrounding Hearthsone, and a potential new chapter for "gamer activism." Finally, we talk about MTG:A, What the Golf, Bleak Sword, and WACCA - a frontrunner for rhythm game of the year. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 2:08 - Food, videogames, taste, subjectivity, and political objects 20:28 - Soleil's gaming history, Harvest Moon, Breath of the Wild  27:25 - Food "fandom" vs. gaming fandom 37:43 - Hearthstone and the Hong Kong controversy, thinking about games politically 59:54 - Magic The Gathering Arena1:04:37 - What the Golf?1:09:06 - Bleak Sword 1:16:15 - WACCA (year's best rhythm game?) Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST

Episode Notes

This week, BAD END is joined by a special guest - San Francisco Chronicle food critic Soleil Ho (@hooleil). As a fellow gamer, Soleil talks to us about the parallels between food and videogame consumption and criticism, her love for Harvest Moon, and the importance of evaluating games and food in their social contexts. After that, we discuss the international controversy surrounding Hearthsone, and a potential new chapter for "gamer activism." Finally, we talk about MTG:A, What the Golf, Bleak Sword, and WACCA - a frontrunner for rhythm game of the year.

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

2:08 - Food, videogames, taste, subjectivity, and political objects
20:28 - Soleil's gaming history, Harvest Moon, Breath of the Wild 
27:25 - Food "fandom" vs. gaming fandom
37:43 - Hearthstone and the Hong Kong controversy, thinking about games politically
59:54 - Magic The Gathering Arena1:04:37 - What the Golf?1:09:06 - Bleak Sword
1:16:15 - WACCA (year's best rhythm game?)

Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST