Geeks & Grounds is an asynchronous, monthly game club where we play video games and brew good conversation, together! β Each week, receive a newsletter with a reflection question and curated materials meant to help you thoughtfully connect with the games we play.
Discussing Chicory: A Colorful Tale [Geeks & Grounds #108]
this week's brew π§
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Out now is our Chicory: A Colorful Tale discussion episode with Josh Boykin of Intelligame! Please check out his work on Twitch (where you'll find links to his website, Discord, and other social channels!)
In today's episode, we explore what it means to pursue a craft, what happens when that craft turns from hobby to obligation, and the role community can play in enabling creative pursuits. We also discuss the main question of the month: what is your relationship to your creative self, your creativity, and your craft?
Going into Chicory, I knew it was going to be an impactful game for me...but I did not expect the ways that it would weave so many different (and relevant) story arcs together across it's wide range of characters, while never really losing sight of it's core themes and messages. This is an episode I'm very excited for you all to listen to, especially with the insight Josh brings!
Also: I initially set the goal for myself to draw (or do some sort of visual art) daily this month. I'll admit, that was pretty ambitious of me! π On the plus side, while I didn't draw every single day, I did try out doodling and coloring a bit more than I would have (aka more than zero times!) I also found that, in the spirit of connecting with artistic expression, I wrote more consistently in my journal this month and opted to take more dance classes as well, so I felt like the core aim in pursuing creativity -- and getting off of technology -- was achieved. I hope if you also chose to focus on getting in touch with a craft this month, or just decided to go outside more and appreciate nature, you found it fun!
If you'd like to share more about your time with Chicory, please feel free to hop into the Discord: we've got a thread dedicated to the game where you can share your thoughts (and screenshots!)
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Finally, save the date: we'll have our community hangout (in Discord) to discuss the game, live, on April 25th at 3 pm PT!
Listen to the episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts! β
βThe Pastry Case:
βOur grab-bag of media we're engaging with outside of our game of the month.
What we're excited about:
Josh:
- βTitanium Court just released, and it's hard to describe, but definitely worth taking a look at!
Jenny:
- Being a tourist in my own city, including getting to visit the Tulip Festival for the first time and revisiting Multnomah Falls (see below). Yay for friends visiting and helping you rediscover where you live!
- Currently reading Wife Shaped Bodies -- mycological body horror -- and the Friren manga -- heart-warming adventures in a fantasy world. Highly recommend both so far!
Next Month's Brew: Unbeatable
βMusic is illegal...and we're doing crimes!
Get ready! Next month we're playing and discussing the stylish rhythm game, Unbeatable (out now on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox):
In the next newsletter and podcast, launching May 5th, I'll have the co-host announcement, playthrough guide, and supplementary resources to help expand your understanding as you play. This game likely will take you about 10-13 hours to play (depending on your rhythm game proficiency), so if you feel like you need the extra time -- or are just excited! -- please feel free to start now!
Stay in the loop -- listen to the weekly podcast on Spotify and Apple, hang with the community in Discord, and find us on Instagram!
βTake care, and talk soon!
π» Jenny
Jenny | Geeks & Grounds
Geeks & Grounds is an asynchronous, monthly game club where we play video games and brew good conversation, together! β Each week, receive a newsletter with a reflection question and curated materials meant to help you thoughtfully connect with the games we play.
this week's brew π§what we discussed in this week's episode! Listen to our latest episode, out now! This week, we're doing our kick-off for Chicory: A Colorful Tale, and introducing the wonderful Josh (of Intelligame). Please check out his work on Twitch (where you'll find links to his website, Discord, and other social channels!) I remember Josh playing Chicory: A Colorful Tale years ago and immediately knew I wanted to chat with him about this game once we were playing it for Geeks &...
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this week's brew π§what we discussed in this week's episode! This month, we're joined by Katie to talk about Kentucky Route Zero! Before I hop into the usual newsletter musings ~ I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your patience and flexibility. The end of January and this first half of February has been a particularly challenging one, with the loss of a friend and then of my dear cat, Rosie (who many of you have seen over the last years on videos, streams, and even in this...