Author: Staff Writer

Bringing people together in play to help animals sounds like a winning combination, and so it was for Playing for Pets 2022. The first instance of the charity event at Southern Illinois University raised $605 and included over 50 participants. Playing for Pets is a two-day event held April 7 and 8 from 8 AM to 8 PM both days. The event livestreamed faculty, students, and staff playing video games together across Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. Most of the games were multiplayer focused, allowing multiple people to appear on camera playing together. Games included Gang Beasts, Mario Kart 8…

Justin Young was recently interviewed about his Video Games: Art, History, and Culture of a Medium course at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Holly Sparkman, a graduate student in the creative writing program, interviewed Young as part of her Beyond the Bio series. The series tries to get beyond surface-level credentials and get to know SIU faculty better. Beyond the Bio itself is part of the Neophyte Studios project run by the SIU English program. They produce a variety of videos looking at narrative within games as well as hosting game jams. You can see more of their work over on…