Are You Playing The Wrong Game? Localization and Cultural Game Studies With Dr. Marina Fontolan скачать в хорошем качестве

Are You Playing The Wrong Game? Localization and Cultural Game Studies With Dr. Marina Fontolan

🚀 Subscribe to Storytelling Movement for more conversations:    / @thisisryanmcpherson   🎮 How do video game localization, intercultural communication, and decolonizing game design reshape the games we play—and who feels welcome playing them? In this episode of the Storytelling Movement Podcast, host Ryan McPherson sits down with Dr. Marina Fontolan, game studies scholar and associate professor of instruction at UTSA, to unpack the complex world behind your favorite titles. Dr. Fontolan explains how video games are adapted for different cultures and languages, why “authenticity” in localization is harder than it sounds, and how AI is disrupting jobs in the gaming industry. From Disney’s Haunted Mansion and Super Nintendo World to Tomb Raider, Assassin’s Creed, Never Alone, and the upcoming Brazilian Pokémon-style game Bagdex, she shows how games can either reinforce harmful stereotypes—or become powerful tools for representation and cultural pride. Whether you’re a communication or game design student, an indie dev, or just a curious gamer, this conversation will change how you see games, theme parks, and immersive worlds. 🎯 Chapters: 00:00:00 – Haunted Mansion cold open & meet Dr. Marina Fontolan 00:01:52 – Theme park localization: Haunted Mansion to Super Nintendo World 00:09:53 – From EFIGS to Global South: how the internet changed localization 00:11:08 – Generative AI, translation costs & why human localizers still matter 00:12:52 – What localization really is: culture, laws & “heroes don’t use drugs” 00:18:04 – Decolonizing games: imperialism, conquest & resistance in game worlds 00:23:16 – Better representation in games: Never Alone, Assassin’s Creed & Bagdex 00:31:51 – Indie games, esports & learning design by playing in another language 00:35:11 – Authenticity, jokes, puns, fan translations & localization fails 00:41:03 – Indie dev realities: DIY localization, pipelines & teamwork 00:44:27 – Vibe coding, Unity, Unreal & AI-assisted game creation 00:48:04 – Big takeaways, game studies resources & where to find Dr. Fontolan 💬 In this episode, we cover: What video game localization really is (beyond simple translation) How intercultural communication shapes theme park rides and game worlds The rise of localization for the Global South and emerging markets How generative AI is disrupting localization and programming jobs Decolonizing game narratives and rethinking imperialism in games Fan translations, indie dev realities, and why context matters Key principles of game design: level design, collaboration, and “vibe coding” How to critically enjoy games and see the structures behind them 👤 Guest: Dr. Marina Fontolan Associate Professor of Instruction, Department of Communication, University of Texas at San Antonio. Specializes in video game localization, game studies, intercultural communication, and decolonization in games. 🎙 Host: Ryan McPherson Professor of Practice at UTSA Founder of Storytelling Movement Communication at Work https://www.storytellingmovement.com/ 🚀 Subscribe to Storytelling Movement for more conversations on storytelling, media, games, and AI in communication:    / @thisisryanmcpherson   👍 If this episode gave you a new way to look at video games, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT with your favorite culturally rich or well-localized game!