Ludus Novus

Ludus Novus

Ludus Novus explores how games and other interactive art can be more than entertainment. Gregory Avery-Weir of Future Proof Games, game designer on "Majesty of Colors," "Ossuary," and "Exploit: Zero Day," produces short audio essays and creative pieces about the medium of digital and non-digital games.

Episodes

Ludus Novus 030 – Transcendentalism, Gentrification, and the Procedural Rhetoric of Stardew Valley

January 12, 2019 • 17 mins
What does Stardew Valley say about the world with the rules of its simulation, and how does it compare to another Transcendentalist game, Walden, a game? Transcript: Transcript for this episode If you like this episode, check out the other podcasts I’m involved in: Audacious Compassion, The Future Proof Podcast, and Tabletop Garden. The Ludus Novus … Continue reading Ludus Novus 030...
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Ludus Novus 029 – The Goalless Path of Bernband

September 11, 2018 • 18 mins
What do people actually mean when they say “walking simulator?” Bernband by Tom van den Boogaart doesn’t even seem to have a goal. But then why do you keep playing it? Bernband: https://gamejolt.com/games/bernband/34864 Bernband Remake Twitter: https://twitter.com/bernband Youtube (MP3 below): Transcript: Transcript for this episode If you like this episode, check out the other podcasts … Continue reading
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Ludus Novus 028: Candyland: Game as Critical Lens

September 4, 2018 • 16 mins
What is a “game?” It only matters in context. When we examine things as games to learn from them, what does that mean? Any useful definition of game used as a critical lens must encompass Soccer, Candy Land, Sim City, Doom, and Gone Home. But Candy Land doesn’t have any player choice. Is it just … Continue reading Ludus Novus 028: Candyland: Game as Critical Lens
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Ludus Novus 027: Imposition of Order Results in Escalation of Disorder

June 7, 2017 • 14 mins
In this episode of the Ludus Novus podcast: Prey 2017. The lie of a power fantasy is that power over others is something you deserve. Prey is a consequence fantasy: to take agency, you must incur risk. To escape a cage of lies, you have to open the door onto a world of new danger. … Continue reading Ludus Novus 027: Imposition of Order Results in Escalation of Disorder Read more
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Ludus Novus 026: Reflection

November 11, 2016 • 20 mins
In this episode of the Ludus Novus podcast, I discuss the election and GamerGate and how we can make a difference with games. I start with an excerpt from Austin Walker’s recent, amazing piece “A Note on Trump, Waypoint, and Why We Play.” I move on to discuss mirror neurons, Gone Home, my presumptuous racial … Continue reading Ludus Novus 026: Reflection Read more
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Ludus Novus 025: Idle, Incremental

February 9, 2016 • 17 mins
In this episode of the Ludus Novus podcast, I discuss incremental games, also known as idle games or clickers. How did a formula that started as satirical jokes from people like Ian Bogost yield things like A Dark Room? Games discussed: Cow Clicker, Progress Quest, Candy Box, Cookie Clicker, A Dark Room. The Ludus Novus … Continue reading Ludus Novus 025: Idle, Incremental Read more
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Ludus Novus 024: Decision Point

April 27, 2015 • 23 mins
This podcast is supported in part by my Patreon. You can help support it by pledging a monthly donation. In this episode of the Ludus Novus podcast, I discuss the decisions we make as game designers and developers and how we are responsible for every aspect of the games we make. I touch on polishing, … Continue reading Ludus Novus 024: Decision Point →
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Ludus Novus 023: Searching

April 17, 2015 • 10 mins
In this episode of the Ludus Novus podcast, I discuss the search for the perfect game and the creation of universes. [display_podcast] When I search through my Steam library and I look for that game, that perfect game, the perfect experience that matches the mood that I am in right that moment, I’m playing a … Continue reading Ludus Novus 023: Searching U...
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Ludus Novus 022: Countdown – A Game For Two Players

March 19, 2015 • 9 mins
In this episode of the Ludus Novus podcast, I present a new game, "Countdown," in spoken word form. Trigger warning for self-injury. Read more
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Ludus Novus 021: Tin Medals

March 17, 2011 • 18 mins
In this episode of the Ludus Novus podcast, I discuss achievements and how there are a lot more aspects to them than are immediately apparent. Games discussed: Alan Wake by Remedy Entertainment “Babies Dream of Dead Worlds” by Gregory Weir Perfect Cell by Mobigame The music for this episode is “The Temple” by Out of … Continue reading Ludus Novus 021: Tin Medals ...
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Ludus Novus 020: Acceptable Losses

August 23, 2010 • 13 mins
In this episode of the Ludus Novus podcast, I discuss the basic minion summoning and equipment mechanics of Overlord, and how they both encourage tactical gameplay and maintain the characterization of the player character. The music for this episode is from “medieval evil” by Baal Anamelech and is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 … Continue reading Ludu...
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Ludus Novus 019: False Narrativism: Awesome Zone

March 20, 2010 • 22 mins
This podcast episode is about an unreleased game from 1990 that a guy showed me at GDC. It’s called Awesome Zone, and it was created by developer Theodore Alby for a company called KnowSoft over the course of a six-week nervous breakdown. The music for this episode is from “Three Goes On Forever” by Time … Continue reading Ludus Novus 019: False Narrativism: Awesome Zone
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Ludus Novus 018: Sequelitis

June 28, 2009 • 11 mins
This podcast episode is about three games that should have been named Half-Life 3: Episode 1, Unreal Tournament 4, and Star Wars Dark Forces 3: Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast: Jedi Academy. Read more
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Ludus Novus 017: The Rules of the Game

May 17, 2009 • 15 mins
In this podcast episode, I present and discuss my definition of the word “game.” In short, a game is an interactive simulation that provides metrics which allow a user to track progress toward a goal. Listen on to hear why Microsoft Paint is a game and why winning and losing are really the same thing. … Continue reading Ludus Novus 017: The Rules of the Game Read more
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Ludus Novus 016: False Narrativism: Oszustwo

May 8, 2009 • 11 mins
This week’s episode is a special False Narrativism piece, discussing the obscure but visionary Polish game Oszustwo, or Incongruity. I can easily envision a world in which this game never existed, but fortunately we have access to the most technologically-advanced, creepiest, and hardest-to-play game ever developed. Read more
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Ludus Novus 015: Curse of Ludus Novus

October 12, 2008 • 17 mins
What do we look for in digital game sequels, and why is it different than in other forms of media? Why don’t we see more sequels that give us more of the same good stuff? References: Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 directed by Sam Raimi Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the … Continue reading Ludus Novus 015: Curse of Ludus Novus &...
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Ludus Novus 014: From Side to Side

September 27, 2008 • 29 mins
The classic Super Mario Bros. Let’s take a look at its influence and its gameplay. References: Super Mario Bros. by Nintendo The Legend of Zelda by Nintendo Final Fantasy by Square Bubble Bobble by Taito Pac-Land by Namco Adventure Island by Hudson Soft Donkey Kong series by Nintendo Wrecking Crew by Nintendo Mario Bros. by … Continue reading Ludus Novus 014: From Side to Side
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Ludus Novus 013: Over the Next Hill

September 13, 2008 • 24 mins
In this podcast, I talk about exploration games. Exploration games, as I categorize them, are games with an open world that offer an array of paths at any one time. They’re awesome because they appeal to players’ curiosity and completionism, and they help deal with player frustration. References: Morrowind Metroid Super Metroid The Legend of … Continue reading Ludus Novus 013: Over...
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Ludus Novus 012: Genre Fiction

September 6, 2008 • 22 mins
In this podcast, I discuss digital games genres and how I think they’re silly. They’re arbitrary niches based on a few popular games, and using them to describe games limits the way we think about making and playing games. I discuss the evolution of our genre system, from Crawford in 1984 to the modern overstuffed … Continue reading Ludus Novus 012: Genre Fiction
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Ludus Novus 011: Written in Blood

June 9, 2008 • 27 mins
In this podcast, I discuss the player-author contract. An interactive work sets up a trust between the player and the work’s author. This takes the form of a contract which, when violated, can cause the player to reject the work. The Player-Author Contract The work can be played by the player. Violated by games which … Continue reading Ludus Novus 011: Written in Blood
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