MidBoss | Polygamer

Polygamer #78: Katie Kaitchuck of GaymerX

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Ken Gagne

Katie Kaitchuck is the executive director of GaymerX, an LGBT-focused gaming convention. In the past year, the organization became a non-profit, separated from the for-profit MidBoss Games, sent diverse indie developers to GDC, and began planning next year’s GaymerX conventions. Amid all this and after only two months as GaymerX’s program director, Kaitchuck became executive director in April 2018 and is now charting the future of the organization.

In this episode, Kaitchuck and I discuss the need for a safe space like GaymerX, and whether other gaming conventions have changed; when and where future GaymerX events will occur, and whether they’ll rely on crowdfunding; the benefits of becoming a non-profit; how GaymerX’s relationship with MidBoss has evolved; her previous games industry experience working for Ubisoft and Feminist Frequency; bisexuality and bi-erasure; and the many games starring queer characters (Life Is Strange, Gone Home, Mass Effect, and more!) that GaymerX is promoting for Pride Month.

Stream the audio edition of this interview below or from iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Mixcloud, acast, or TuneIn. Click past the jump for links to resources mentioned in this episode.

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Polygamer #59: Video game culture photographer EMiSpicer

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Ken Gagne

EMiSpicer is a video game culture photographer who travels the world capturing gaming events and moments. From GaymerX in New York and California to Fantastic Arcade in Texas and Blip Festival in Japan, EMiSpicer has documented conventions, conferences, festivals, and competitions with her artistic photography. When not moving, she’s at home as the social media manager for MidBoss Games, developer of 2064: Read Only Memories.

In this interview, I asked EMiSpicer how she evokes the spirit of gaming in still photography; her process for shooting and editing photos, including her gear, equipment, and backup storage setup; her favorite conventions to attend, and the capacity in which she works with the organizers; what she’s found works and doesn’t work to crowdfund her work through Patreon, and the exclusive projects she’s shared with her supporters, including Games on Planes; and how she got involved with MidBoss Games.

Stream the audio edition of this interview below or from iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Mixcloud, acast, or TuneIn. Click past the jump for links to resources mentioned in this episode.

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Polygamer #32: Matt Conn of Read Only Memories

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Ken Gagne

Matt Conn is the CEO of MidBoss, the studio behind Read Only Memories, a point-and-click adventure game featuring a diverse cast of characters. It is the first game from the same studio that produces the annual GaymerX (GX3) convention and the documentary Gaming in Color.

In this interview (originally recorded for the IndieSider podcast), Matt and Ken discuss why MidBoss chose the first-person adventure genre as a vehicle for social justice; who the game’s target audience is and what the reception has been from those quarters; what challenges are inherent to writing a script featuring diverse characters; and whether it is the responsibility of indie or AAA studios to include marginalized voices in their games’ casts.

Stream the audio edition of this interview below or from iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Mixcloud, acast, or TuneIn. Click past the jump for links to resources mentioned in this episode.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:09:56 — 32.9MB) | Embed

Polygamer #22: Philip Jones, director of Gaming In Color

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Ken Gagne

Gaming In Color is a feature documentary exploring the queer side of gaming. After being Kickstarted in 2013 and enjoying a limited release in 2014, the film had its official debut on May 19, 2015. Featuring interviews with GaymerX organizers and attendees and discussing topics such as representation in video games, Gaming In Color serves as a 62-minute primer on the intersection of sexuality and gaming.

In this interview, Gaming In Color director Philip Jones discusses how they took over the project after its acquisition by MidBoss Games; the documentary’s coverage of transgender issues; the reception the film has received from industry developers and publishers such as Riot Games and Electronic Arts; and why, in a pay-what-you-want distribution model, a customer paying only $1 to stream the movie was evidence the film was reaching its target audience.

Download the audio edition of this interview below or from iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Mixcloud, acast, or TuneIn. Click past the jump for links to resources mentioned in this episode.

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Polygamer #01: Matt Conn of GaymerX

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Ken Gagne

Welcome to the premiere episode of Polygamer, where we look to expand the equality and diversity of the gaming industry. New episodes of Polygamer air every other Wednesday on YouTube and iTunes.

Today’s guest is Matt Conn, founder of GaymerX, an annual gaming convention for the LGBTQ community and its allies. How does the gaming industry and community benefit from having a convention specifically for this unique intersection? Who is the target audience? Are corporate sponsors willing to support this event? Conn discusses these issues, as well as the lack of queer protagonists in video games — a situation he hopes to improve with Read Only Memories, a game being developed by his company, MidBoss, and releasing in late 2014 for PC/Mac/OUYA and early 2015 for iOS, Android, and game consoles.

This year’s GaymerX is being held in San Francisco on July 10–13. There’s still time to register! Use discount code GAMEBITS for $20 off.

A video of this interview is embedded below; for the interview-only audio edition, please click the links below the video, or subscribe in iTunes.

Conn also appeared in executive produced the 2014 documentary Gaming in Color, currently available for download.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:13:19 — 38.0MB) | Embed